What about 2013?

[APPRIDE]

If I'm Scott Sattefield, this is how I spin it:

The playoffs start in Montana this year. Every game is a playoff game and our bowl game is in Athens, GA this year.

Don't expect to see our starters get benched to keep everyone healthy at UGA. Things could get REAL interesting.

Yup - I'd spin it that we need to beat the hell out of Montana so we can finally say we won in Missoula, beat the hell out of every SoCon team we play, so we can laugh at whoever claims to be SoCon Champs. We need to pound GSU to let 'em know we'll still have their number when we move up to SBC, and we need to pull out all the stops against UGA to let teams know that we won't be a cupcake once we have 22 more scholarships to play with!

Aside from that - you play for team, glory, the fans, for every player that made it possible to get us to this point, and your family. I trust Scott will have them ready to go.

Damn good post. Let's play with a chip on our shoulder and serve notice WE'RE COMIN !

[GoAppsGo92]

then why not accept tentative and file late in hopes of keeping championship playoff hopes? i dont like sun belt as it stands, they are the worst league...and playing for a small time bowl isn't what i call stepping it up. if we can...then go out and play for a final championship. keep north dakota state from three-peating. we agree to disagree but this would be the last year we ever...EVER play for a national championship and i dont want to miss that opportunity. yep, im selfish...so what....maybe if theres a major team influx into the sb from va and parts in between then the confernce looks more enticing but as it stands, im not in favor with current teams. others will say, well, we can move after a few years...to where? all major conferences are locked up or looking for one or two more big named schools...and it aint app. yep, wet blanket alert and ill go to games but if you guys are thinking we'll be anywhere other than shreveport, motor city or mobile for a bowl, then you are smoking some of the best weed i never was able to lay my hands on.

Because that is not what our new conference wants us to do. Sorry if it looks like we lost you in this process, but its been heading this way for a long time, more than enough time to adjust to it. The SBC is a strong league in football, and could very well at or near the top of the Gang of 5 when the dust settles. We will have potentially 2 post-season games: a campus-hosted championship game and a bowl game, both of which will be nationally televised. We get the job done as we have for the last 20 years, we will be in great shape in the FBS. Good luck to you, and Go Apps!

[AppSt94]

Oh crap! Bar-B-Q discussion.

Sorry. I was just trying to talk PBR off the ledge.

[ASUMountaineer]

then why not accept tentative and file late in hopes of keeping championship playoff hopes? i dont like sun belt as it stands, they are the worst league...and playing for a small time bowl isn't what i call stepping it up. if we can...then go out and play for a final championship. keep north dakota state from three-peating. we agree to disagree but this would be the last year we ever...EVER play for a national championship and i dont want to miss that opportunity. yep, im selfish...so what....maybe if theres a major team influx into the sb from va and parts in between then the confernce looks more enticing but as it stands, im not in favor with current teams. others will say, well, we can move after a few years...to where? all major conferences are locked up or looking for one or two more big named schools...and it aint app. yep, wet blanket alert and ill go to games but if you guys are thinking we'll be anywhere other than shreveport, motor city or mobile for a bowl, then you are smoking some of the best weed i never was able to lay my hands on.

It has to happen at some point, would you say the same thing next year? We can disagree on whether it's a "step up" or not, but I don't think there's any debate that can be had that the status quo was just not in App State's best interest. I am hopeful for the future, and while change is hard, sometimes it's just what is needed.

[ASUMountaineer]

Just trying to get used to playing for nothing, 2 year transition of it.

That's a discredit to the players out their busting their tails. It is hardly "for nothing."

Its meant to be nothing against the players, I'm sure they want to win. I look at it from a fan's point of view, cause that's what I am (or maybe used to be, fanatic doesn't describe my current feelings for this 'brand' of football).

You may not mean it as anything against the players, but it is a discredit to the players. They are giving their all for our alma mater. You're welcome to be upset about the decision, but to say they are playing for nothing is disrespectful and incorrect.

[biggie]

Again it is towards the whole, not the pieces.

It goes for any FBS school in football, except about 10 every year they all are playing for basically nothing. If you don't have a chance at a national championship it is meaningless to me. I have nothing against FBS schools, I do against the FBS itself for being nothing but money hungry and barely a sport based on its configuration for competition.

Wouldn't surprise me if some players don't like it as well and wonder if we will see anyone leave. Have seen one former player that doesn't like the move at all and appologized on a FB post.

[ASUMountaineer]

Again it is towards the whole, not the pieces.

It goes for any FBS school in football, except about 10 every year they all are playing for basically nothing. If you don't have a chance at a national championship it is meaningless to me. I have nothing against FBS schools, I do against the FBS itself for being nothing but money hungry and barely a sport based on its configuration for competition.

Wouldn't surprise me if some players don't like it as well and wonder if we will see anyone leave. Have seen one former player that doesn't like the move at all and appologized on a FB post.

I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree. I can't believe that there are so many FBS schools that play "for nothing." I'm glad you clarified your position by saying it's "meaningless to me," because it's simply a personal preference.

I view college sports differently than I do professional sports. Pro sports, it's all about winning and championships--and should be, it's a job. Obviously, college sports is about that too, but to me it's to a much smaller degree. The #1 goal of any student-athlete should be to get an education. The participation in sports is in many ways a means to that end. It also provides the student with additional lessons and a different type of education. I am quite confident that I'm in the minority nowadays with that view, but like you, that's how I see it.

I just hope you're able to get past your disappointment and continue being the ardent supporter of Appalachian State that you are. I have no doubt that you will continue to support your alma mater. Hi-Hi Yikas!

[appgrad]

I already think we need to propose a BBQ Bowl moniker for our games vs. Texas St! Salt Lick vs. Lexington!

[ASUMountaineer]

I already think we need to propose a BBQ Bowl moniker for our games vs. Texas St! Salt Lick vs. Lexington!

How about Salt Lick vs. Whole Hog?

Don't want folks to confuse "Lexington" with Kentucky.

[appgrad]

Ok...Brisket vs. Whole Hog then! Have to say, between Texas cue, Tex-Mex, New Mexico, Cajun & gulf coast seafood, we are joining (and adding to) a tasty conference!

[YesAppCan]

I like the smell of that!!!

[appalum2003]

So when do we start getting additional scholarships? 2013? 2014? 2015?

If we're ineligible in 2013, we should get extra schollys now.

[appgrad]

I believe we'll be at 74 this year...mostly transfers...and 85 in 2014. Might have the timeline wrong though.

[appskins]

Thanks for the responses guys - I definitely wasn't trying to stir up a positive vs. negative spin on this. I am one that is pro-FBS, I just wished we had something substantial to play for over the next two years, not just pride. Guess the best way to look at it is how someone else put it, which is you take this 2 year transition period for what it is and look forward to the next 50 years.

[ggasu]

Again it is towards the whole, not the pieces.

It goes for any FBS school in football, except about 10 every year they all are playing for basically nothing. If you don't have a chance at a national championship it is meaningless to me.

College football has always had that problem, FBS football is the only sport on the planet where you can go undefeated and not have a chance at the national championship in your own division. That is just ludicrous.

If college basketball had the same format, no one would care at all about the teams outside the top 5. Could you imagine #1 and #2 playing a game for the national championship in basketball? But for some dumb reason the fans of college football have taken it. (All we needed to do was a boycott of the bowls)

Now that they have started a 4 team playoff, it will hopefully expand to 16 within 10 years so all the conference champions will get an invite. Then and only then will a true champion be decided.

[ASUMountaineer]

Thanks for the responses guys - I definitely wasn't trying to stir up a positive vs. negative spin on this. I am one that is pro-FBS, I just wished we had something substantial to play for over the next two years, not just pride. Guess the best way to look at it is how someone else put it, which is you take this 2 year transition period for what it is and look forward to the next 50 years.

They do: teammates, coaches, school, self, possible football future, love of the game, etc. WCU isn't going to make the playoffs, are they playing for nothing substantial? Do Yale players play for nothing substantial? I feel like I'm on a soap box about this, and I do apologize, but I just think this is discrediting to the players and their efforts to give their all for Appalachian State.

[WVAPPeer]

for ASUMountaineer - you are no longer the VP as you have taken over as the President with my retiring so therefore I hope you will dig this comment out during the season when some of our "fans" begin hammering our players for their perceived lack of performance on the field --- Good luck with that ---

"You may not mean it as anything against the players, but it is a discredit to the players. They are giving their all for our alma mater."

[ASUMountaineer]

for ASUMountaineer - you are no longer the VP as you have taken over as the President with my retiring so therefore I hope you will dig this comment out during the season when some of our "fans" begin hammering our players for their perceived lack of performance on the field --- Good luck with that ---

"You may not mean it as anything against the players, but it is a discredit to the players. They are giving their all for our alma mater."

Thanks WV!

I am sure that this will happen, and I'm sure any points I make then similar to the ones I'm making now will fall on deaf ears. But, all one can do is try. Good seeing you back on here, even if not as frequently. Hope you and yours are doing well!

[SpeedkingATL]

As someone stated, there is a lot to play for:

Revenge for 2 heartbreaking losses at Montana,
Revenge for a complete beatdown by Citdogs,
Revenge for a disapointing loss to the Ankle-Biters,
A last beatdown to the Whee and keeping the Jug for eternity,
Another beatdown to the mouthy Mocs who continually crow only to have to eat it,
Another chance at a National Power in Georgia that might have its best team since Hershall Walker,
To stay undefeated against Sammy since they joined the SoCon,
Get closer to evening the series against Furple,
Show the Swag how a Champion travels one more time,
A nice SoCon Championship ring for the players and the opportunity to keep the Stink from earning the same.

Appears there is a lot to play for. Let the Sunbelt know we're coming!

[JTApps1]

then why not accept tentative and file late in hopes of keeping championship playoff hopes? i dont like sun belt as it stands, they are the worst league...and playing for a small time bowl isn't what i call stepping it up. if we can...then go out and play for a final championship. keep north dakota state from three-peating. we agree to disagree but this would be the last year we ever...EVER play for a national championship and i dont want to miss that opportunity. yep, im selfish...so what....maybe if theres a major team influx into the sb from va and parts in between then the confernce looks more enticing but as it stands, im not in favor with current teams. others will say, well, we can move after a few years...to where? all major conferences are locked up or looking for one or two more big named schools...and it aint app. yep, wet blanket alert and ill go to games but if you guys are thinking we'll be anywhere other than shreveport, motor city or mobile for a bowl, then you are smoking some of the best weed i never was able to lay my hands on.

If we file later then we can't be a full FBS member until 2016, and instead of being FCS transitional this year it would be next. It's a two year deal no matter how you slice it so lets go ahead and get started. We've had 30 years to go to the playoffs and win I-AA/FCS Championships. Its time to move forward.