TPoEE: Are You Adequately Prepared To Rock?!

T-Dog · Unread post by **T-Dog** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:12 pm

This week a look at the press conference of our generation that no one could watch, baseball's rebound, softball rise to the top, a spring sports update, ETSU football coming back and much more.

http://t.co/8M8w1FkglQ

kiddbrewer · Unread post by **kiddbrewer** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:03 am

Thanks T, I do enjoy reading your posts. But I have two things I want to ask.
1. Why do you use the words "poor planning" to help describe the press conference? In my eyes, the Sun Belt set the date and there were no other facilitieson campus, that day, that could hold the onslaught of people that wanted to be in attendance.
2. Also you used the words "unintended consequences" when talking about our football team's status within the the world of SoCon football. To me "unintended" means something our administration didn't foresee when they accepted the invitation and it was a total shock to them when they learned we were no longer eligible.

Otherwise, thanks for the read. I look forward to next week's edition.

Maddog1956 · Unread post by **Maddog1956** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:51 am

I good read but I think your age groups for being pro or anti don't really stand up. I have two kids there now that seem to indicate that either the students don't care/know about it or lean more anti. I know that's just their friends and classmates, but that's just their view. Also a lot of them may also be influenced by their parents, etc. (i.e. mine have been positive about it because I have too)

I know you said "Again, these distinctions are not absolute and there are exceptions, but that seems to be the trend." so it's not a big deal, just thought I'd add what they hear on campus.

Surprisingly, however most of the athletes they have talked to are positive on the move and since they are the ones most affected, that may be the most important view, if it's widespread.

Again thanks for the post, there was a lot of information there.

Gonzo · Unread post by **Gonzo** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:59 am

I think T-Dog's age model would be pretty accurate if we could somehow poll every single App State fan, but I still prefer my 3-prong model from last week.

Every App fan that still resists the move has one or more of the following:

1. Secondary allegiance to another FBS school.
2. General ignorance about Appalachian Athletics and the nature of conference realignment.
3. Selfish reasons, ie not wanting to pay more for a stadium parking pass, not wanting to travel farther, ect.

goapps93 · Unread post by **goapps93** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:35 pm

Gonzo wrote:I think T-Dog's age model would be pretty accurate if we could somehow poll every single App State fan, but I still prefer my 3-prong model from last week.

Every App fan that still resists the move has one or more of the following:

1. Secondary allegiance to another FBS school.
2. General ignorance about Appalachian Athletics and the nature of conference realignment.
3. Selfish reasons, ie not wanting to pay more for a stadium parking pass, not wanting to travel farther, ect.

Gonzo, I agree with your synopsis but would another prong. I think we have a lot of fans who like being at the top of our heap but also enjoy being able to be the underdog when we play FBS teams. They like being able to say we're the best program in the state with no real way to substantiate it.

T-Dog · Unread post by **T-Dog** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 3:40 am

Well I just completely missed this until just now.

On reflection, the age model is too simplistic. I did say there were exceptions, but didn't go into detail on it. I think Gonzo's points are valid. Going through the comment sections of Facebook, the Democrat and such, I noticed that most of the anti-FBS crowd are older.

Selfish reasons are very true. Some folks want to pull up 10 minutes before kickoff, spend the first quarter getting concessions, spend the second quarter in the bathroom and then leave at halftime and not even dirty up their Wal Mart bought App merch (nothing against buying App merch at Wal Mart, but you know what I mean) so they can make beat the traffic and make their dinner reservations at Outback.

I think another point to add is that our athletic program marketed the FCS playoffs better than most other schools and many people bought into it. And now to say that "Bowls > FCS Playoffs" seems like a money grab and not in the true spirit of the student-athlete, etc. But the truth is that many thousands of people voted in favor of bowls over playoffs by not showing up for those playoffs games. The NCAA just wants their gate money for their coffers, ESPN turned a shoulder against FCS in those infamous Frisco meetings and most FCS programs won't help themselves. It was a model proped up by the five-year moritorium on moving up and now is being dilluded and hurt by it's own indecision.