Belk Bowl?

[AppinVA]

Why would we trade into the Belk Bowl from the Cotton?

[Mjohn1988]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

[T-Dog]

Bowl projection articles are trash and you shouldn't listen to them.

Zero percent chance App goes to the Belk Bowl.

[EastHallApp]

They’ve made it clear that the only bowl we can go to this year besides the 5 SunBelt bowls is the cotton bowl. There is no way to “exit” the SunBelt bowls, like some other conferences do.

What other conference does that? Is there any example of a team that somehow opted out of its league's primary tie-ins?

In the AAC we're not tied down. Because we don't have a pecking order or a specific bowl where our champ goes. ESPN has leeway to maneuver pieces around in the bowls they own for better matchups and attendance.

For instance, in 2017 the AAC championship game was between two ranked teams. Someone had to lose. But it's a shame to send the loser to our meh bowls. So the conference and ESPN worked out that the loser would use our secondary tie ins and go to the Liberty bowl, which Memphis ended up doing and having a home game.

Thanks - so not totally out of the conference's tie-ins, but at least a secondary over a primary.

Well, perhaps if the Sun Belt can get some decent secondary tie-ins we could benefit from something like that one day.

[BeauFoster]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

This is a really good point, but I’m not sure how much sway the hoteliers have. A couple years back was WFU vs UConn and there might have been 20k there total. I’d think that the bowl committee would weigh overall attendance against out of town travel and see what works best.

Regardless, the likelihood that App ever plays in the Charlotte bowl game is probably very, very low.

[EastHallApp]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

This is a really good point, but I’m not sure how much sway the hoteliers have. A couple years back was WFU vs UConn and there might have been 20k there total. I’d think that the bowl committee would weigh overall attendance against out of town travel and see what works best.

Regardless, the likelihood that App ever plays in the Charlotte bowl game is probably very, very low.

I'd imagine they have some sway - although ticket sales and TV ratings are probably more important, the whole reason the bowl system exists in the first place is to drive tourism. This would be a day trip or a one-night stay for our fans, which is both good and bad.

Then again, is anyone really coming to Charlotte for more than a couple days, regardless of distance?

[ericsaid]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

If App is matched up against Virginia Tech you'd see the lower bowl filled and quite a few sections up top close to full. It wouldn't be UNC vs. USC on Week 1 full but for the Belk Bowl attendance would be good.

I'd also imagine quite a few hotels would still be booked to get the bowl experience. Charlotte can also be a fun place if you don't have kids with you and some money to spend. It's not New Orleans but Charlotte would provide an ability for far more App fans to attend.

It's not going to happen because of contracts, apparently, but it's fun to talk about.

[ericsaid]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

This is a really good point, but I’m not sure how much sway the hoteliers have. A couple years back was WFU vs UConn and there might have been 20k there total. I’d think that the bowl committee would weigh overall attendance against out of town travel and see what works best.

Regardless, the likelihood that App ever plays in the Charlotte bowl game is probably very, very low.

I'd imagine they have some sway - although ticket sales and TV ratings are probably more important, the whole reason the bowl system exists in the first place is to drive tourism. This would be a day trip or a one-night stay for our fans, which is both good and bad.

Then again, is anyone really coming to Charlotte for more than a couple days, regardless of distance?

What happened when Louisiana was bowl eligible and there was no champion designation for New Orleans? Louisiana was always sent to New Orleans. Why? Because they put butts in the seats, not because they would get hotels.

I'm not sure how App compares in ratings but the one night game on a linear network against South Carolina had the highest ratings of the night line-up I believe. You have to believe ESPN flexed three of App's games to the primary network for a reason.

If not for the CFP, I imagine App would be getting more play in the media than they currently have. The new system seems to place a "lost season" label to anyone not going to the NY6 Bowls and "playoffs". Seems the unintended consequences of this system are starting to show and that is the consolidation of recruiting power to 6 schools, lack of importance in former BCS Bowl games (old prestige Bowls), and a lack of "significance" for everyone outside the Top 4.

[EastHallApp]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

If App is matched up against Virginia Tech you'd see the lower bowl filled and quite a few sections up top close to full. It wouldn't be UNC vs. USC on Week 1 full but for the Belk Bowl attendance would be good.

I'd also imagine quite a few hotels would still be booked to get the bowl experience. Charlotte can also be a fun place if you don't have kids with you and some money to spend. It's not New Orleans but Charlotte would provide an ability for far more App fans to attend.

It's not going to happen because of contracts, apparently, but it's fun to talk about.

JMO, but VT would be the one feasible opponent this year that would make the Belk Bowl appealing were it actually an option. Louisville would be fun for obvious reasons, though more for us than any real status the game would bring.

It's just a weird year because of the ACC being so down. Belk is high enough in their pecking order that it usually draws a team that's ranked or close to it, typically one of the nearby teams. But this year, State and Duke are out, we already beat UNC (plus they're 6-6), UVa is likely going to the Orange Bowl.

Would Wake do it for you, at 8-4 but slumping and not really that impressive? I'd just as soon leave that game for next fall.

[ericsaid]

Would appear that Bonagura's logic is that Tuscon backfills their bowl slot with Liberty allowing the Sun Belt to move App to Charlotte and Louisiana to New Orleans, should things hold.

App fans seem stuck on the idea that the Sun Belt has no flexibility in their bowl games and that this couldn't happen. If App were in C-USA, some movement like this would be possible but because App is in the Sun Belt, I tend to think they are right.

[ericsaid]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

If App is matched up against Virginia Tech you'd see the lower bowl filled and quite a few sections up top close to full. It wouldn't be UNC vs. USC on Week 1 full but for the Belk Bowl attendance would be good.

I'd also imagine quite a few hotels would still be booked to get the bowl experience. Charlotte can also be a fun place if you don't have kids with you and some money to spend. It's not New Orleans but Charlotte would provide an ability for far more App fans to attend.

It's not going to happen because of contracts, apparently, but it's fun to talk about.

JMO, but VT would be the one feasible opponent this year that would make the Belk Bowl appealing were it actually an option. Louisville would be fun for obvious reasons, though more for us than any real status the game would bring.

It's just a weird year because of the ACC being so down. Belk is high enough in their pecking order that it usually draws a team that's ranked or close to it, typically one of the nearby teams. But this year, State and Duke are out, we already beat UNC (plus they're 6-6), UVa is likely going to the Orange Bowl.

Would Wake do it for you, at 8-4 but slumping and not really that impressive? I'd just as soon leave that game for next fall.

If App didn't play Wake a couple of years ago and the game wasn't scheduled for next season I could fathom that would be an interesting match-up. Honestly, playing an 8-4 Wake in Charlotte would be slightly more appealing than New Orleans only because I'd be able to go to the game in Charlotte. I also believe that the Sun Belt being able to work with Belk, the ACC, Charlotte, and New Orleans would provide some form of legitimacy to the idea that the Sun Belt, as a conference is on the up and up. Those deals don't get done without some form of leverage on behalf of the conference upgrading a team. The Sun Belt has never been in a position to try this and it shows in their unwillingness to try.

[ericsaid]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

If App is matched up against Virginia Tech you'd see the lower bowl filled and quite a few sections up top close to full. It wouldn't be UNC vs. USC on Week 1 full but for the Belk Bowl attendance would be good.

I'd also imagine quite a few hotels would still be booked to get the bowl experience. Charlotte can also be a fun place if you don't have kids with you and some money to spend. It's not New Orleans but Charlotte would provide an ability for far more App fans to attend.

It's not going to happen because of contracts, apparently, but it's fun to talk about.

JMO, but VT would be the one feasible opponent this year that would make the Belk Bowl appealing were it actually an option. Louisville would be fun for obvious reasons, though more for us than any real status the game would bring.

It's just a weird year because of the ACC being so down. Belk is high enough in their pecking order that it usually draws a team that's ranked or close to it, typically one of the nearby teams. But this year, State and Duke are out, we already beat UNC (plus they're 6-6), UVa is likely going to the Orange Bowl.

Would Wake do it for you, at 8-4 but slumping and not really that impressive? I'd just as soon leave that game for next fall.

To your point though, I'd like Pitt, Virginia Tech, Louisville, or Wake.

Bring on all the ACC schools, in my opinion. They won't be down for long. Beating Wake would also solidify the "State Championship" for App. It would put them in second in the "Carolinas Championship" behind only Clemson.

Not that those are real things but it is something you can build on.

[hotrod2001]

I would love to see App in the Belk Bowl but I’m not so sure the uptown crowd would like to have App. No doubt we would put butts in the seats but would will buy hotel rooms for the weekend? A lot of Apps fan base lives close enough to drive in for the game and go home.

This is a really good point, but I’m not sure how much sway the hoteliers have. A couple years back was WFU vs UConn and there might have been 20k there total. I’d think that the bowl committee would weigh overall attendance against out of town travel and see what works best.

Regardless, the likelihood that App ever plays in the Charlotte bowl game is probably very, very low.

I'd imagine they have some sway - although ticket sales and TV ratings are probably more important, the whole reason the bowl system exists in the first place is to drive tourism. This would be a day trip or a one-night stay for our fans, which is both good and bad.

Then again, is anyone really coming to Charlotte for more than a couple days, regardless of distance?

What happened when Louisiana was bowl eligible and there was no champion designation for New Orleans? Louisiana was always sent to New Orleans. Why? Because they put butts in the seats, not because they would get hotels.

I'm not sure how App compares in ratings but the one night game on a linear network against South Carolina had the highest ratings of the night line-up I believe. You have to believe ESPN flexed three of App's games to the primary network for a reason.

If not for the CFP, I imagine App would be getting more play in the media than they currently have. The new system seems to place a "lost season" label to anyone not going to the NY6 Bowls and "playoffs". Seems the unintended consequences of this system are starting to show and that is the consolidation of recruiting power to 6 schools, lack of importance in former BCS Bowl games (old prestige Bowls), and a lack of "significance" for everyone outside the Top 4.

I think that was pre-alignment Sun Belt when they didn’t have a championship structure and was for the most part irrelevant.

So yeah, they’d send the Cajuns to NO for ticket sales, but then once they were able to get organized I think they determined the NO Bowl would host the conference champion. Which makes sense seeing the conference is based out of there.

In the end, the best we can do is the Cotton Bowl. If we win Saturday it’s probably a lock we play in the Superdome against some CUSA midfielder.

[diehardapp18]

Yeah I've tried and tried to find a way for us to end up in Charlotte but unfortunately I've accepted there is a 0% chance. Barring a miracle this weekend, we most likely will end up in New Orleans if we win. And don't get me wrong, New Orleans is truly a great experience. BY FAR the best offered by the Sun Belt. I went last year and had an amazing weekend, probably won't make it back this year but that's fine.

What's frustrating is that I feel like the allure of a bowl game is starting to wear off. I hate that there are bowl game tie ins with conferences. What is the point? It sucks knowing that there is a total of like, five cities we can play in. I guess what I'm saying is I understand why fans of some schools lose interest in bowl games once your team has done it so many times. If we lose and get shipped to Mobile, that would really kind of be an anticlimatic end to the season lol. The bowl game experience is awesome, but this is the least I've paid to projections/talk since we joined the FBS.

I wish we could scratch bowl tie ins entirely. I'm sure there are more complex reasons for having them, but still. I understand that the Belk Bowl is a 0% chance, but I think it sucks that that's the way it is. The Belk Bowl would create enormous energy from our fanbase, whereas every other game (aside for a Cotton miracle) is just kind of like... eh. I'm ready for conference realignment to shake things up again because the Sun Belt's bowl tie ins really don't do us any favors.

[falcoapp]

Arent some of these in mix next year!

Four Selections Annually From the Following

Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama)

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Florida)

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas, Texas)

Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Florida)

Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas)

AutoNation Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida)

Myrtle Beach Bowl (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)

New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, New Mexico

[EastHallApp]

I wonder if, for the first several decades of the bowl system, you had fans of the major powers complaining about going to the same game all the time. Like, were Ohio State and Michigan fans all “dammit, not another Rose Bowl, so boring!” Were Oklahoma and Nebraska fans griping about having to spend New Year’s in Miami at the Orange Bowl AGAIN?

[AppinVA]

I wonder if, for the first several decades of the bowl system, you had fans of the major powers complaining about going to the same game all the time. Like, were Ohio State and Michigan fans all “dammit, not another Rose Bowl, so boring!” Were Oklahoma and Nebraska fans griping about having to spend New Year’s in Miami at the Orange Bowl AGAIN?

I’m thinking some of our fans think winning gets old.

[AppStFan1]

I wonder if, for the first several decades of the bowl system, you had fans of the major powers complaining about going to the same game all the time. Like, were Ohio State and Michigan fans all “dammit, not another Rose Bowl, so boring!” Were Oklahoma and Nebraska fans griping about having to spend New Year’s in Miami at the Orange Bowl AGAIN?

I can't believe anyone would get tired of going to Miami, MB, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Nassau, Hawaii, etc type locations. I think everyone I know is enjoying this.

I know the old argument was that winning the FCS titles meant more than a FBS bowl game but I think those fans are seeing the benefits of being FBS if you win. We have gotten way more media attention and are getting way better players than NDSU is and they have won like 6 of the last 7 national titles. The media cares more about a top 3 G5 team and overall top 25 team than they do a GOAT program who has a dynasty running in the FCS.

[ericsaid]

I wonder if, for the first several decades of the bowl system, you had fans of the major powers complaining about going to the same game all the time. Like, were Ohio State and Michigan fans all “dammit, not another Rose Bowl, so boring!” Were Oklahoma and Nebraska fans griping about having to spend New Year’s in Miami at the Orange Bowl AGAIN?

Are you comparing the Lending Tree and New Orleans Bowl to the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, or Orange Bowl?

The point isn't to complain about bowls, at least for me. The point here is to say how much more exciting having an opportunity for a bowl in your backyard against an ACC opponent could be. Thus you aren't tiring of bowls, only the opposing conference tie-ins. C-USA is a peer conference of course. However, when a season like this comes around, and they don't happen often at this level, you'd like to push the envelope to test the limits of your squad.

As stated earlier, a game against Wake Forest would be the final chapter in the "State Championship" in North Carolina for 2019 and 2nd place in the "Carolinas Championship". Its unofficial but it has more allure than playing the 3rd place C-USA team in NOLA. Likely is a moot point for 2019 but one can hope the Sun Belt's rise in the standings of football conferences doesn't go unnoticed.

[AppSt12]

I wonder if, for the first several decades of the bowl system, you had fans of the major powers complaining about going to the same game all the time. Like, were Ohio State and Michigan fans all “dammit, not another Rose Bowl, so boring!” Were Oklahoma and Nebraska fans griping about having to spend New Year’s in Miami at the Orange Bowl AGAIN?

I can't believe anyone would get tired of going to Miami, MB, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Nassau, Hawaii, etc type locations. I think everyone I know is enjoying this.

I know the old argument was that winning the FCS titles meant more than a FBS bowl game but I think those fans are seeing the benefits of being FBS if you win. We have gotten way more media attention and are getting way better players than NDSU is and they have won like 6 of the last 7 national titles. The media cares more about a top 3 G5 team and overall top 25 team than they do a GOAT program who has a dynasty running in the FCS.

People dont get tired of going to the same cities. They get tired of knowing we win the sun belt and can go 7-5 or 11-1 and go to New Orleans vs a CUSA team. Or if we dont win we go to alabama to play a mac team. That is not the same as going to the rose bowl every year vs the big 10 champion. Cities dont matter to most fans, it's more than matchup and chance to grow the program.

Ideally you would like a p5 shot or a huge G5 matchup after an 11-1 season. It's possible that we go 12-1 with a conference title and play a team that is the 5th best team we played all year.