Here we go!

[Kgfish]

They better expand Richardson Stadium. The App fans will buy all 15K tickets if possible.

[NWA49]

@davidscott14: .@Charlotte49ers vs. @appstate_sports at Richardson Stadium in '18, Kidd Brewer Stadium in '19.

[TheMoody1]

They will probably weasel their way out of the return game in '19. Bad move by App. Definitely need a huge buy out clause.

[HighFlying49er]

"The 49ers will host the the Mountaineers on Sept. 7, 2018 at Richardson Stadium; the second game will be Sept. 8, 2019 at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone."

“It’s a game that should be played and I’m glad that we were able to get it on our schedule,” said 49ers head football coach Brad Lambert in a statement.

“It’s exciting to set up a series with Charlotte,” added Mountaineers head coach Scott Satterfield. “The proximity of our campuses, the similarity of our schools and the familiarity that our student-athletes have with each other from the high-school level make it a natural rivalry. It will be a great series for both schools’ fans and for college football in North Carolina.”

More at: http://gmine.blogspot.com/2014/02/charl ... chian.html

[BurlingtonApp]

Despite what some are saying (and I'm sure some on your board are too), I am extremely excited for this one. Never really understood the hate of the Forty Niners from this board. Should be some great media attention to us little guys and an easy road trip for our fans.
However, I really do hope you guys have expanded at that point. From what I remember, you guys give out a really low allotment to visiting fans, and I really want to be able to get a ticket!

[Maddog1956]

I'm glad to see some smart scheduling. It will make it easy for the fans to go to and save money and travel time for the team.

[Gonzo]

Why on earth would we play at some start-up program FIRST in a home and home series? Cobb is an idiot. Talk about playing down.

[T-Dog]

I for one look forward to four-plus year of smack talk.

Also, Judy Rose needs to pour some concrete in that stadium. She'll get a return on investment by 2018.

[goapps93]

Why on earth would we play at some start-up program FIRST in a home and home series? Cobb is an idiot. Talk about playing down.

Just optimistic thinking here but maybe we have a bigger fish on the line for a home game in 2018 and since it is still a good idea to schedule UNCC this was the only way for it to work. That may not be realistic but it think it is reasonable.

[Gonzo]

I certainly hope there's more exciting scheduling news in the future than inking a glorified community college. The only upside is recruiting and putting the most delusional D-1 fan base in America in their place.

[SpeedkingATL]

This is a great move for both programs and one that should become a yearly contest. I can't understand why anyone with either university would have a problem with this one; both FBS programs, both located in NC, both battling for local recruits, and a game easy for fans and alumni to attend. In a few years, this could be smaller version of Alabama/Auburn and there are far too few good football rivalries in NC. Now if more games with ECU and the ACC schools from NC could be sprinkled in it would be great for the fans and great for the non-BCS programs.

[ASUDieHard]

There just went the air out of my balloon. Couldn't they have at least waited until after signing day to announce this? I was actually building up a lot of excitement for Wednesday. Other than a slight recruiting benefit, I just don't understand the appeal some have with this game and especially our AD's infatuation with it.

[firemoose]

Once the P5 get their way.... in 5 years we may be in the same conference anyway. Long way away and no one knows what's going to happen right now or who is going to be where. A lot can change by then.

[Gonzo]

[EastHallApp]

Other than a slight recruiting benefit, I just don't understand the appeal some have with this game and especially our AD's infatuation with it.

Other than GSU, we have no natural geographical rivals in our conference, and our shortest conference road trip is a ~5 hour drive. As an alum in Raleigh, I'm looking forward to the much easier road trip, and I'm sure many of the 20,000+ alumni in Mecklenburg and its adjacent counties are too. As are the 11,000 or so who are ~90 minutes away in the Triad area.

The fact that there is some animosity between the two fan bases just makes this game more appealing, not less so.

[Maddog1956]

Other than a slight recruiting benefit, I just don't understand the appeal some have with this game and especially our AD's infatuation with it.

Other than GSU, we have no natural geographical rivals in our conference, and our shortest conference road trip is a ~5 hour drive. As an alum in Raleigh, I'm looking forward to the much easier road trip, and I'm sure many of the 20,000+ alumni in Mecklenburg and its adjacent counties are too. As are the 11,000 or so who are ~90 minutes away in the Triad area.

The fact that there is some animosity between the two fan bases just makes this game more appealing, not less so.

But you're not taking into consideration that Michigan, Alabama and ND, is beating down our doors for a home game with us. They don't mind at all given up 100,000 ticket sales and having their fans pack into Boone.

I do think that we'll have to show the FBS a little before we'll attract major out of state teams, but maybe we do have a surprise that first year planned and that's why we're playing away.

[JTApps1]

I'm glad we're playing them even though some of their fans think they are better than well established programs. Georgia State and South Alabama are new programs, but I don't see anyone getting all worked up over playing them each year. This could easily develop into a rivalry just based off of the comments in this thread alone, and that is something our program needs based off of the travel distances we will face in FBS. We're going to have a limited number of drivable games each year so why not play someone that is within driving distance of 75% of our fans? We have 4 non-conference games a year so I don't see why some act like it's the end of the world if one of them is against UNCC. Having said all of that I do think they should have come to Boone first since we are the established program.

As others have said, UNCC better add a bunch of seats in the next 4 years. We could easily bring 15k+ fans if there is enough space for them. Can any of the 49er fans shed some light on expansion plans?

[MountainMan]

Glad to see the announcement of the match up. It's good for both schools.

Must say I don't quite understand the disparaging remarks from some of my fellow App fans. If we are that much better than UNCC in 4-5 years then we will show it on the field, and have some huge smack-talking results, and get to soak in the pleasure of those wins. I think natural rivals from somewhat similar universities within a reasonable geographic area are what we need more of! I'd much rather play UNCC, GSU, ECU, ODU, etc. than teams in Texas, Idaho and New Mexico.

[ASUchipman]

I think this is going to be a good series. It is good for both schools and I think both will be well represented at the other's stadium. UNCC's stadium will be expanded by then. I believe by conference rules, they have to seat 30,000. I think this will help APP get a foot in the Charlotte area door when it comes to recruiting. It also make good sense to have a school of like size so close a rivalry. I see it a positive for both schools. I just wish some of the people on our site would lose the superiority complex they have. It seems more like a Napoleon complex to me.

[boonetown1]

I don't mind playing them, but I do think playing at BOA would be much better instead of Richardson stadium. We could pull 20-40k by ourselves.