Sun Belt to Discuss Our Membership March 9th

[Gonzo]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

Still a mile and a half above the perception of the SoCon/FCS. Perception isn't what matters to me. We'll have our chance to earn respect when we start playing FBS football.

[GlassOnion]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

Until the 4 FCSers starting whoopin some CUSA and BE behind.

[GoApps70]

My understanding is that we will still be eligible for the FCS playoffs for the 2013-2014 football season even if we file our FBS intention papers now. As long as we do not maintain more than 63 scholarships we are FCS playoff eligible.

[GoApps70]

Established teams leaving the SBC will help our football program so far as not having Sun Belt conference losses against them so soon in our transition. The 2014-2015 football season, Georgia Southern, JMU or whoever joins the SB with us would count as FBS wins if we play them in football because we would both be in FBS transitional year at that point. This could work out really well.

[Goapps15]

My understanding is that we will still be eligible for the FCS playoffs for the 2013-2014 football season even if we file our FBS intention papers now. As long as we do not maintain more than 63 scholarships we are FCS playoff eligible.

This is correct. We are still eligible if we are at 63 scholarships no matter when we file the papers. That would allow us to FCS playoff eligible as a transition team.

We could add some of our preferred walk-ons to scholarship after the year, and have a huge recruiting class to get close to 85 scholarships. Am I correct on this aspect?

[TheMoody1]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

They really have no one else better to add. I think in the long run these schools would boost the SBC's perception. What do you think UNCC does for CUSA's perception?

[hapapp]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

Until the 4 FCSers starting whoopin some CUSA and BE behind.

Let's not get a head of ourselves.

From our perspective, it would be great to be joining with those other three. I didn't mean to imply it was bad. Just saying that outsiders will perceive it that way and there will likely be some grumbling within some SBC fanbases. It doesn't bother me, but there will likely be some blowback.

[GlassOnion]

The way I understand it, we will be ineligible for 2 years, regardless.

Might as well be ineligible in 2013 as any other. That way we'll be bowl eligible in 2015, which is Sean Price's senior year, just to give some perspective.

[Gonzo]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

They really have no one else better to add. I think in the long run these schools would boost the SBC's perception. What do you think UNCC does for CUSA's perception?

Hurts it very badly.

[appst89]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

The perception of the SBC can't get much worse than it already is, even though they kicked CUSA around this past season. I think it's a matter of survival for them. Where else are they going to get schools from?

[GoApps70]

Gonz,
All the talk about being ineligible for two years refers to not being eligible for the FBS conference regular season and/or FBS bowl eligible.

We will still be FCS eligible for this year, the 2013-2014 football season, as long as we do not take on more than 63 scholarships.

[GlassOnion]

"ODU announced in May that it will move up to Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision. Because of NCAA rules, it must play next season as an FCS independent and will be ineligible for the FCS playoffs, the polls and even NCAA statistics.

There will be no Player-of-the-Week awards, no Walter Payton Award for quarterback Taylor Heinicke or any other player to aspire to. There also will be no postseason play until 2015, when the Monarchs are eligible for a C-USA title and a bowl bid."

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/transit ... ted-waters

[Gonzo]

Gonz,
All the talk about being ineligible for two years refers to not being eligible for the FBS conference regular season and/or FBS bowl eligible.

We will still be FCS eligible for this year, the 2013-2014 football season, as long as we do not take on more than 63 scholarships.

Yes, I'm aware. Did you mean to address that to me?

[Gonzo]

"ODU announced in May that it will move up to Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision. Because of NCAA rules, it must play next season as an FCS independent and will be ineligible for the FCS playoffs, the polls and even NCAA statistics.

There will be no Player-of-the-Week awards, no Walter Payton Award for quarterback Taylor Heinicke or any other player to aspire to. There also will be no postseason play until 2015, when the Monarchs are eligible for a C-USA title and a bowl bid."

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/transit ... ted-waters

ODU played in the playoffs. They lost to stink in the QFs.

It is my understanding that we will be ineligible for the SoCon championship when we announce (it will be voted on by members who will certianly vote no) but we will be able to play in the FCS playoffs this one last time.

[GlassOnion]

"ODU announced in May that it will move up to Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision. Because of NCAA rules, it must play next season as an FCS independent and will be ineligible for the FCS playoffs, the polls and even NCAA statistics.

There will be no Player-of-the-Week awards, no Walter Payton Award for quarterback Taylor Heinicke or any other player to aspire to. There also will be no postseason play until 2015, when the Monarchs are eligible for a C-USA title and a bowl bid."

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/transit ... ted-waters

ODU played in the playoffs. They lost to stink in the QFs.

They declared "officially" after June 1st, thereby putting transition off for another year. Either way, we will be ineligible for FCS playoffs for one year, and ineligible for a bowl game for a year. 2 years of transition and no post season.

[asumike83]

I'm not sure I'd elect to go ODU's route. Their two-year transition begins this season.

No matter how you slice it, a move means that we will be ineligible from any postseason play, FCS or FBS, for two years. I say we start the transition ASAP. As badly as I want another National Championship, I'd prefer that we be bowl eligible in 2015 as opposed to 2016. No need to let this move linger any longer than it already has. I'm skeptical that we'll have the option to announce before the deadline but if we do, we certainly should.

Just my $.02, I know there are many who want one more shot in the playoffs.

[GoAppsGo92]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

The perception of the SBC can't get much worse than it already is, even though they kicked CUSA around this past season. I think it's a matter of survival for them. Where else are they going to get schools from?

You mean the past couple of seasons. Against the OLD CUSA that all left for the BE. Anyway, the SBC has lots of choices and they will pick from the best potential list... its not like GSU, JMU and AppState are the toothless triplets. None of us can know how all the shake-ups with CUSA, SBC and Big East will look in 5 years, but I have to say I like the SBC's chances over CUSA of being a stronger conference in football.

[GoApps70]

Despite the overall quality of the potential FCS move ups, the perception of the SBC would take a big hit with the addition of four FCSers.

They really have no one else better to add. I think in the long run these schools would boost the SBC's perception. What do you think UNCC does for CUSA's perception?

======================RESPONSE=========================================================

UNCC may be in a much larger conference, CUSA, with maybe 16 teams. They are going to be lost in that conference in football for a good while. Marshall and Southern Miss, if they are still there, will kill them. ODU will murder them. MTSU and WKU should beat them soundly. Most wins will come from FCS schools they play over the next few years. Best thing they will have going in CUSA is how close some of their conference mates will be, at least three of them.

App State, with a much smaller conference, Sun Belt, and maybe a couple or three extra FCS schools moving up from FCS, has a much easier competition against anywhere from 7 other to 11 other schools. This will give our football program a great shot at easing into the FBS much more easily than having to play some of the schools leaving the SB. Arkansas State and Louisiana have a pretty good football home attendance, Troy and Texas State not bad either. They all pretty much have lower athletic budgets than CUSA. Not very good in basketball also, which could help us, and lord knows we need every advantage in basketball; maybe being FBS will help our basketball recruiting, that is why WKU went to FBS just before the moratorium. Most of our recruits do not care whether we are in the SB or CUSA as long as we are FBS.

[GoAppsGo92]

Heard rumor today that WKU will announce to coaches this week they are going to CUSA. March 9th may involve more than 2 schools if true. That means more room for schools from the east. Perhaps the option to pick up CAA members starts to make more sense now? A rebuilding of the east division perhaps?

Not surprising but that would not be good for us. Losing WKU hurts Sun Belt basketball considerably and also removes the closest existing member to Boone.

I still think we accept if offered with GSU but this would make the conference less attractive to our administration. Invite us with GSU and JMU, it's a slam dunk but that seems unlikely.

I've said it before, and will say it again: WKU has no bearing on this decision as far as AppState is concerned. It doesn't hurt our chances getting in, nor does it affect our decision to join.

[RankinApp]

Just my $.02, I know there are many who want one more shot in the playoffs.

Depends on if you can predict the future. A shot at NDSU in the championship, sure. Continuing to lay eggs against the likes of Maine, Villanova, Richmond and Illinois State. I'll take the early announcement.

App has 20 playoff appearances, tied with EKU for second all-time. There's nothing left to prove. And since no one bothers to show up for the playoffs anyway..