Birmingham Bowl

[ASU85Grad]

Anyone know if GSU is facing the same problems we are? Players coming back, opting out, etc.. I am sure they are having some like everyone is, I just don’t know what their message board is saying.

[T-Dog]

The timing of the bowl games helps out, IMO. It's three weeks from today. Many Sun Belt bowl games are next week on weekdays as the CFB takes over Saturday.

The biggest hurdles IMO are the logistics, such as making sure the players/staff is fed while the dining halls are closed.

Yeah, Monday at 2 p.m. isn't great, but it's Dec. 29, so it's essentially a holiday Monday. No other bowl on that day. Nothing else is gonna be on besides the soaps, ESPN talking heads, Maury and Let's Make a Deal.

Plus, if you REALLY want to, MNF is in Atlanta that night, a 2:15-hour drive away after our game.

[appdaze]

So...

For everyone saying we shouldn't take this bowl. What negative do you think will happen for Appalachain State? Are you worried we will lose? So what we are already 5-7. Are you personally embarrassed we took? So what, we were the 8th date G-stink committee asked to the dance and we said yes. If that embarrasses you we'll see you next season. What have we got to lose? Even if we win we still have a losing record so smwhy not? Everyone thats anyone knows these games are mere exihibition in the portal era. Players will be playing that were 2nd and 3rd string in some cases. And they will take that with them the rest of their lives. If any are worried about injuries then I thank them for their time at App and wish them well.

We had around 105 players on the roster at varies "levels" of being on the roster. We will have something to field a team.

So....positives
A small paycheck that will cover enough of the costs to make a regional southern trip worth it.

DLo and Co. Get more game experience.

Our team on TV as we hit portal season.

More experience for 2nd and 3rd string to see who will hang next year.

Potential win over the stink.

Fans get one more game to watch and cheer for/whine about.

The positives Far outweigh any negatives after the season we just had.

So ill see you whiners next season. Enjoy the holidays and the off season. To those with a cup half full, I won't see you in Alabama but I will see you on TV! Roll Ne.........Go fight! Kick Ass!

[biggie]

Anyone know if GSU is facing the same problems we are? Players coming back, opting out, etc.. I am sure they are having some like everyone is, I just don’t know what their message board is saying.

When I searched for GS portal entries I don't see any.

[mike87]

The timing of the bowl games helps out, IMO. It's three weeks from today. Many Sun Belt bowl games are next week on weekdays as the CFB takes over Saturday.

The biggest hurdles IMO are the logistics, such as making sure the players/staff is fed while the dining halls are closed.

Yeah, Monday at 2 p.m. isn't great, but it's Dec. 29, so it's essentially a holiday Monday. No other bowl on that day. Nothing else is gonna be on besides the soaps, ESPN talking heads, Maury and Let's Make a Deal.

Plus, if you REALLY want to, MNF is in Atlanta that night, a 2:15-hour drive away after our game.

Nashville is 2:30 minutes away. Good New Years spot.

[RaleighApp27609]

If anyone is so inclined, could we have a list of those from both teams who won't be playing on 12/29?

[ah59396]

Sharing this again because I just think it’s exactly what we should all be excited about and thinking

The players - or at least guys like Mbake and Robinson - want to go.

https://x.com/2_ahmadrobinson/status/19 ... 75044?s=46

[ASU843]

I would like to add this Birmingham Bowl trophy to the trophy case. Looks sweet.

I actually like Birmingham. I have heard the stadium is really nice and is downtown. For years the bowl game was played at Legion Field which was in poor shape and in a rough part of town. Going to try to make this one!

[WataugaMan]

Yeah I think our seniors are more on the track of let me play one last time.

Particularly since they've lost to The Stink three times in a row and at home twice. Save Face Bowl

[AppGrad78]

I would like to add this Birmingham Bowl trophy to the trophy case. Looks sweet.

I actually like Birmingham. I have heard the stadium is really nice and is downtown. For years the bowl game was played at Legion Field which was in poor shape and in a rough part of town. Going to try to make this one!

Fond memories of Birmingham and Legion Field, even if the neighborhood was less than posh. Watched a quarterback named Brett Favre pass for 341 yards in Southern Miss’s loss to N.C. State in 1990 in what would become the final All-American Bowl game. Can’t wait to go back.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Amtrak Crescent train 19 can get you to Birmingham at 1:00 pm, which is not going to work to get you to the game that very day and be on time but you can go down a day early. The Northbound Crescent train 20 leaves Birmingham at 5:24 PM so you could get the train after the game if you don't want to be a part of post game victory celebrations.

Amtrak station is about a 30 minute walk to the stadium so great way to get some steps in. I can't vouch for city transit in Birmingham but it looks like about a 5-6 minute walk on either side of the bus ride.

This is a good option to lower carbon footprint and attend the game. Triad area can board in Greensboro or High Point, Salisbury, Charlotte, and Gastonia are other options. From the Triangle one could come over the evening before on the Carolinian 79 and have couple hour lay over. For most it would be easier to drive over to Greensboro given the distance.

Crescent has coach and private rooms.

[biggie]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... redictions

Monday, Dec. 29
JLab Birmingham Bowl

App State Mountaineers vs. Georgia Southern Eagles

Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2 p.m., ESPN

Kudos to Appalachian State, which said yes when many others did not, and gave Georgia Southern an opponent to close out the season. These Sun Belt teams have already played, which isn't ideal, but their first meeting delivered some late drama before Georgia Southern prevailed 25-23. Georgia Southern's last four wins all came by seven points or fewer, while Appalachian State lost four games by eight points or fewer. Neither team is particularly strong on defense, but Georgia Southern boasts star power on offense with wide receiver Camden Brown, who has 1,049 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, and adds to those totals in a win.

Prediction: Georgia Southern 37, Appalachian State 31

[Captain Morgan]

we need the extended practice and game experience with a new coach....glad we got it.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Sun Belt message board, everyone giving App props, even Southern fans, about us accepting the bid. Also, was mentioned about our portal losses and nothing was mentioned of Southern losing portal guys.

[Stonewall]

The guys are going to have to play multiple positions. Both of them.

[RaleighApp27609]

we need the extended practice and game experience with a new coach....glad we got it.

Agreed.

[RaleighApp27609]

Sun Belt message board, everyone giving App props, even Southern fans, about us accepting the bid. Also, was mentioned about our portal losses and nothing was mentioned of Southern losing portal guys.

I thought the portal didn't open until January? Are the guys that already declared their intention to enter the portal already gone or will they plan the bowl game and then leave?

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Sun Belt message board, everyone giving App props, even Southern fans, about us accepting the bid. Also, was mentioned about our portal losses and nothing was mentioned of Southern losing portal guys.

I thought the portal didn't open until January? Are the guys that already declared their intention to enter the portal already gone or will they plan the bowl game and then leave?

That’s a very good question, one that I don’t have the answer to, but based on Stonewall’s comments, it looks like they are likely gone.

[biggie]

Sun Belt message board, everyone giving App props, even Southern fans, about us accepting the bid. Also, was mentioned about our portal losses and nothing was mentioned of Southern losing portal guys.

I thought the portal didn't open until January? Are the guys that already declared their intention to enter the portal already gone or will they plan the bowl game and then leave?

Probably up to them if they want to play and then up to the coaches if they let them. Previously we had some grad transfers that played and others didn't. So who knows what will happen. Assume we will be down 20 players or more. And some may be holding their entry until later now, but assume they told the coaches already.

[AppStFan1]

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.

I've never gotten worse when putting structure time into learning an activity.

What's the down side to playing this game? Probably the biggest one is someone balls out on TV and gets noticed. I'll take the extra reps and experience for the seniors at that risk.

Agree. There is no tangible downside to playing this game.

For seniors trying to attempt the NFL they do risk injury. Opting out is not new as we have seen many seniors opt out for several years now so it will be interesting to see what guys like Dubinion decide to do.

Next man up. Everyone risks injury and we unfortunately live in an era where the athletes have a choice. But you can’t play scared, and that goes beyond the playing field.

With the portal and agents in their ears next man up is even more important these days than in prior eras. It will be interesting to see who plays. I don't blame anyone who is looking to transfer who wants to sit out.