Birmingham Bowl

[WASU 93]

My gut tells me Rondo/Manuel, McCantos and LittleJohn will play.

If they care anything about rivalries and TIGMA.

I don’t think the rivalries and TIGMA matter to that group, but it’s a chance to pad their resume and play in the only game that day on the mothership.

But, will DLo let them???

What are you babbling about?

???

[AppStFan1]

Ok. We have another chance to end the season on a positive note and to get some revenge on our biggest rival. How sweet it would be to lift that bowl trophy up and do it at the stink’s expense. Lets get it done APP!

We had a chance last month and were too incompetent to line up correctly so the TD got called back. If they are going to play in this game then we better clean up the mistakes made against Arkansas State. A big reason to play is to get better so they better play a lot better this time. I was really hoping to just have this nightmare of a season behind me and focus on the potential of an improved 2026 season.

Okay bud. Then don’t watch. Start your scouting now for next season and email the coaches. We have been gifted another App State Football game in 2025. No other explanation or statement is going to make me care less or complain about it. Enjoy life and the good surprises like this.

Going from focusing solely on 2026 to now this could prove to be a challenge for the team. I wonder how many players will opt out? A lot of players on teams good enough to earn a bowl opted out and I could see players who are happy with their offers deciding not to risk injury and hurt their value. I wonder if the SBC or ESPN put any pressure on us to do this. If so, I hope Gillin got something in return for it.

[AppStFan1]

If the team wants to play let them. Y’all saying decline it are scrooges.

Don’t play your biggest rivalry with a chance to avenge the regular season? In a pretty good tv slot? And bring the conference money?

If the team wants it then so be it but they better not lose. Last thing we need is another loss this year.

Good grief.. go get your Linus security blanket

I just hope we win because I don't know if this board can take another blowout loss. Hopefully the staff and players learned from the last game and we see a much smarter and better effort.

[biggie]

The question now becomes who will be left from portal.

[ah59396]

Ok. We have another chance to end the season on a positive note and to get some revenge on our biggest rival. How sweet it would be to lift that bowl trophy up and do it at the stink’s expense. Lets get it done APP!

We had a chance last month and were too incompetent to line up correctly so the TD got called back. If they are going to play in this game then we better clean up the mistakes made against Arkansas State. A big reason to play is to get better so they better play a lot better this time. I was really hoping to just have this nightmare of a season behind me and focus on the potential of an improved 2026 season.

Okay bud. Then don’t watch. Start your scouting now for next season and email the coaches. We have been gifted another App State Football game in 2025. No other explanation or statement is going to make me care less or complain about it. Enjoy life and the good surprises like this.

Going from focusing solely on 2026 to now this could prove to be a challenge for the team. I wonder how many players will opt out? A lot of players on teams good enough to earn a bowl opted out and I could see players who are happy with their offers deciding not to risk injury and hurt their value. I wonder if the SBC or ESPN put any pressure on us to do this. If so, I hope Gillin got something in return for it.

Man I just cannot get this mentality at all. Gimme more app state football. 0-12, 12-0, who cares. Especially great for the seniors and guys like Larkins who get one more.

Crazy to see people second guessing this.

[Apptiger]

If I'm awake enough to count properly 10 Sun Belt teams will be in post season play???? Gotta be a record. Wonder how much money will come in from these games.....

[AppStFan1]

Ok. We have another chance to end the season on a positive note and to get some revenge on our biggest rival. How sweet it would be to lift that bowl trophy up and do it at the stink’s expense. Lets get it done APP!

We had a chance last month and were too incompetent to line up correctly so the TD got called back. If they are going to play in this game then we better clean up the mistakes made against Arkansas State. A big reason to play is to get better so they better play a lot better this time. I was really hoping to just have this nightmare of a season behind me and focus on the potential of an improved 2026 season.

Okay bud. Then don’t watch. Start your scouting now for next season and email the coaches. We have been gifted another App State Football game in 2025. No other explanation or statement is going to make me care less or complain about it. Enjoy life and the good surprises like this.

Going from focusing solely on 2026 to now this could prove to be a challenge for the team. I wonder how many players will opt out? A lot of players on teams good enough to earn a bowl opted out and I could see players who are happy with their offers deciding not to risk injury and hurt their value. I wonder if the SBC or ESPN put any pressure on us to do this. If so, I hope Gillin got something in return for it.

Man I just cannot get this mentality at all. Gimme more app state football. 0-12, 12-0, who cares. Especially great for the seniors and guys like Larkins who get one more.

Crazy to see people second guessing this.

I get why you want another game just because the off-season is long and you want more football. I do get it. I just look at this season as a huge failure and I turned the page mentally. There are a lot of reasons why so many teams declined this. I hope we get some revenge and beat GSU and get some revenge but after having a strong signing day I think a loss would hurt any positive momentum we have been able to create. I also feel like we do not deserve this. We went 5-7 and needed several teams to decline just for us to be asked to play in this.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

If I'm awake enough to count properly 10 Sun Belt teams will be in post season play???? Gotta be a record. Wonder how much money will come in from these games.....

With all the expenses I suspect about $3.50.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

If the players want to play then I support this. Limping in with a losing record and only qualifying due to others turning it down, I do hope the contracts are written where getting to a bowl like this does not generate a coach’s bonus. I feel like that money could go to others teams or areas.

[MrCraig]

Ok. We have another chance to end the season on a positive note and to get some revenge on our biggest rival. How sweet it would be to lift that bowl trophy up and do it at the stink’s expense. Lets get it done APP!

We had a chance last month and were too incompetent to line up correctly so the TD got called back. If they are going to play in this game then we better clean up the mistakes made against Arkansas State. A big reason to play is to get better so they better play a lot better this time. I was really hoping to just have this nightmare of a season behind me and focus on the potential of an improved 2026 season.

Okay bud. Then don’t watch. Start your scouting now for next season and email the coaches. We have been gifted another App State Football game in 2025. No other explanation or statement is going to make me care less or complain about it. Enjoy life and the good surprises like this.

Going from focusing solely on 2026 to now this could prove to be a challenge for the team. I wonder how many players will opt out? A lot of players on teams good enough to earn a bowl opted out and I could see players who are happy with their offers deciding not to risk injury and hurt their value. I wonder if the SBC or ESPN put any pressure on us to do this. If so, I hope Gillin got something in return for it.

How many guys does App even have who have gotten offers from other teams to transfer? And of that number, how many of them played this year anyway? Based off the year’s performance, I feel like you’re talking about, like, 2 players.

[Rick83]

Ga Southern is 6-6, SO that means we can hand them a losing record for the season...that's reason enough right there to play the game!

[appvette]

If I'm awake enough to count properly 10 Sun Belt teams will be in post season play???? Gotta be a record. Wonder how much money will come in from these games.....

12 teams made a bowl 2 years ago. The entire east and all but 2 in the west. ULM and USM sat out.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Initially, I thought this was a joke, then I wondered if we should be playing in another game. But the extra practices and getting young guys reps plus a chance to give our rival a loss is good for me. I'm sure GaSo will be not be playing all their players, too. One question I have is, I know it's unusual to be playing a conference team in a bowl and doesn't happen often, but has it ever happened where two teams from the same conference play in a bowl? I'd rather play GaSo than Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville St, or Ohio to give some examples.

[WASU 93]

I know everyone talks about extra practices, but we practiced in Spring Ball, summer workouts and for 13-14 weeks this season. We have injuries.
Are we going to gain that much from extra practices in the era of the portal?

If the players want to play, then I support it. Life is too short and you only get X amount of times to suit up.

Plus, another game of game management experience for our head coach has to be worth something.

[Bigdaddyg1]

I’m sure it’s been said but I will ask. In a situation like this do the coaches ask players if they want to play? Either some (hopefully most) love it and want to return to or stay on campus for yet 3 more weeks of practice for one more game or some say screw it I’m done. I guess I get the whole portal/extra film thing but does that really matter? There has to be a good bit of added cost for the athletic department during the 3 weeks. Do guys go home for a Christmas break? Surely they do so is that amount of added practice really what was mentioned? Does App eat the travel expenses?

[Yosef10]

We had a chance last month and were too incompetent to line up correctly so the TD got called back. If they are going to play in this game then we better clean up the mistakes made against Arkansas State. A big reason to play is to get better so they better play a lot better this time. I was really hoping to just have this nightmare of a season behind me and focus on the potential of an improved 2026 season.

Okay bud. Then don’t watch. Start your scouting now for next season and email the coaches. We have been gifted another App State Football game in 2025. No other explanation or statement is going to make me care less or complain about it. Enjoy life and the good surprises like this.

Going from focusing solely on 2026 to now this could prove to be a challenge for the team. I wonder how many players will opt out? A lot of players on teams good enough to earn a bowl opted out and I could see players who are happy with their offers deciding not to risk injury and hurt their value. I wonder if the SBC or ESPN put any pressure on us to do this. If so, I hope Gillin got something in return for it.

Man I just cannot get this mentality at all. Gimme more app state football. 0-12, 12-0, who cares. Especially great for the seniors and guys like Larkins who get one more.

Crazy to see people second guessing this.

I get why you want another game just because the off-season is long and you want more football. I do get it. I just look at this season as a huge failure and I turned the page mentally. There are a lot of reasons why so many teams declined this. I hope we get some revenge and beat GSU and get some revenge but after having a strong signing day I think a loss would hurt any positive momentum we have been able to create. I also feel like we do not deserve this. We went 5-7 and needed several teams to decline just for us to be asked to play in this.

This whole “deserve it” narrative carries no weight IMO. It’s not like we were campaigning for an invite. They asked us. We said yes. Good for the seniors who thought they had played their last game. Good for the young guys to get reps in during these practices. I don’t see how anyone can form really strong opinions on something like this.

[MrCraig]

I’m sure it’s been said but I will ask. In a situation like this do the coaches ask players if they want to play? Either some (hopefully most) love it and want to return to or stay on campus for yet 3 more weeks of practice for one more game or some say screw it I’m done. I guess I get the whole portal/extra film thing but does that really matter? There has to be a good bit of added cost for the athletic department during the 3 weeks. Do guys go home for a Christmas break? Surely they do so is that amount of added practice really what was mentioned? Does App eat the travel expenses?

I don't think the actual PRACTICE practice is that important or helpful, but the experience of another live game, a post-season game at that, is almost certainly beneficial for players and coaches alike.
There might be a player or two who want to get some extra film to improve their portal chances, but I'd assume most of the guys just want to play one more game.
I'd also assume the players will get to go home for Christmas, but not for very long.
Someone wrote an explainer about how bowls work, especially for smaller teams, and the schools do have to cover travel expenses. However, the bowl payouts more than cover those costs. The Birmingham Bowl is a good payout for a smaller bowl.

[biggie]

If I'm awake enough to count properly 10 Sun Belt teams will be in post season play???? Gotta be a record. Wonder how much money will come in from these games.....

With all the expenses I suspect about $3.50.

Only thing that came to mind.

https://southpark.wiki.gg/wiki/The_Succ ... File:E.jpg

[AppSt94]

I’m sure it’s been said but I will ask. In a situation like this do the coaches ask players if they want to play? Either some (hopefully most) love it and want to return to or stay on campus for yet 3 more weeks of practice for one more game or some say screw it I’m done. I guess I get the whole portal/extra film thing but does that really matter? There has to be a good bit of added cost for the athletic department during the 3 weeks. Do guys go home for a Christmas break? Surely they do so is that amount of added practice really what was mentioned? Does App eat the travel expenses?

Gillin gets a call about playing and he talked to Loggains and the team. The players, or at least enough to field a team have to agree to play. Then we accept. This happened very fast last night. Doug wanted the game and the money is there to cover the cost. They can bus there which saves some money. Although you have the cost of housing and feeding them over the time the school is closed. I doubt they go home for Christmas. They are probably in Birmingham on Christmas Day.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Since 1979 (outside of playoff bowls), this is only the 2nd time that two teams from the same conference played each other in a bowl game. The only other time was in 2015, Colorado St vs Nevada. At least, that is what AI told me.