http://www.goupstate.com/article/201303 ... s-in-SoCon

“I wonder if it's something that, once they get into to, may have them wondering if they would be better off back in the Southern Conference,” Ayers said.

Ayers has a bit of "late-career" Jerry Moore in his blood - I don't think he would ever see a bright side in coaching an FBS football team - and that's all well and good for him. I don't think Wofford could succeed as an FBS program.

BeauFoster wrote:Ayers has a bit of "late-career" Jerry Moore in his blood - I don't think he would ever see a bright side in coaching an FBS football team - and that's all well and good for him. I don't think Wofford could succeed as an FBS program.

He's the type who's made for a place like Wofford. That's why he can't see why someone else might have bigger/different aspirations

Ayers is a class act, and one of the best coaches in the FCS, always seems to do, and say the right thing. Thats why that statement is alittle curious to me, I guess I understand if he is alitte pissed at App, he was good friends with Moore, and he just lost his defensive coordinator, plus App leaving really weakens the SC.

TheMoody1 wrote:http://www.goupstate.com/article/201303 ... s-in-SoCon

“I wonder if it's something that, once they get into to, may have them wondering if they would be better off back in the Southern Conference,” Ayers said.

I honestly don't care what he or anyone else in the Small Con and the FCS thinks.

TheMoody1 wrote:http://www.goupstate.com/article/201303 ... s-in-SoCon

“I wonder if it's something that, once they get into to, may have them wondering if they would be better off back in the Southern Conference,” Ayers said.

I happen to agree.

Seems like a combination of sour grapes about what happened with Moore and plucking his Woody coupled with a small-time mindset that makes leaving the FCS nest incomprehensible.

I respect Ayers as an FCS coach. I do not value his opinion of FBS conference realignment.

So a guy that has spent his entire career coaching the same small private school at the D2 and FCS levels can't understand why someone would want to move to FBS. Does that really surprise anyone?

He isn't the only one to trash our decision. Huesman of Chattanooga had a similar remark too I believe, which is somewhat ironic, considering Chatty flirted with the idea of joining the Sun Belt.

BeauFoster wrote:Ayers has a bit of "late-career" Jerry Moore in his blood - I don't think he would ever see a bright side in coaching an FBS football team - and that's all well and good for him. I don't think Wofford could succeed as an FBS program.

Have to wonder if his satisfaction with small time football is what influenced Woody to come to App. Guessing the pending move up for us had to influence him.

IMO, here's the perspective you have to look at when you consider the remaining schools:

On Selection Sunday for the FCS playoffs, after this year, no longer will Furman/Wofford/Citadel/UTC have a game against ASU or Georgia Southern to provide some measure of exactly how their team relates to the rest of the division. The Mountaineers and Eagles, in a good year ... always provided a stiff test in the playoffs even if they bowed out in the first or second round.

I remember speaking a while with Coach Ayers when Georgia Southern canned Mike Sewak, and we moved away from the option. He had similar comments (GSU would regret it ... I agreed), and in that case I could tell he was intrigued with the idea that only Wofford would be running option in the league. He is a smart coach, gets the most out of his players, and ultimately relishes the opportunity to be the underdog and take on the biggest challenges. I don't agree with his current assessment, but that ship has sailed and I for one won't be looking over the shoulder. Guess it is being spoiled by having the opportunity to witness eight national championship games in person, but it is what it is.

Two of Wofford's biggest challenges just exited stage left. The Terriers, along with UTC ... will be the big dogs in the SoCon and it will be interesting to see how Wofford does in that role. I think UTC will gain the most from our simultaneous exodus initially, but only because IMO Wofford will be down this year working new QB's into their offense. Samford, Citadel, Elon and Furman will all beat each other up and the league likely won't have a dominant player for a while.

If Ayers has any sense of what is truly happening in the college football world he has to know that the FCS is dying a slow and painful death and given that Wofford has no chance to move up that their only choice will be to move down. Moves like what we and GaSou have done just emphasize that point and I'm sure he's not happy with the thought. Even if the Maryland case is decided in favor of the ACC and the Big 5 don't break off in their own division the power base of the FCS is shifting west and the SoCon just lost it's two most powerful teams. Quite a few sour grapes in Spartanburg these days.

Quite frankly I'm done discussing the SoCon now for anything except soccer and wrestling, as long as they are there. We are moving on. I don't discuss the NorPac on here and I see no reason why the SoCon is now any different. Our future, like it or not, is forward and upward (I'm not saying the Belt as it is today because there's a good chance things will change in 2 or 3 years). The SoCon and FCS in general is behind us and a part of history.

vegattk wrote:

TheMoody1 wrote:http://www.goupstate.com/article/201303 ... s-in-SoCon

“I wonder if it's something that, once they get into to, may have them wondering if they would be better off back in the Southern Conference,” Ayers said.

I happen to agree.

I'm stunned!

firemoose wrote:If Ayers has any sense of what is truly happening in the college football world he has to know that the FCS is dying a slow and painful death and given that Wofford has no chance to move up that their only choice will be to move down. Moves like what we and GaSou have done just emphasize that point and I'm sure he's not happy with the thought. Even if the Maryland case is decided in favor of the ACC and the Big 5 don't break off in their own division the power base of the FCS is shifting west and the SoCon just lost it's two most powerful teams. Quite a few sour grapes in Spartanburg these days.

Quite frankly I'm done discussing the SoCon now for anything except soccer and wrestling, as long as they are there. We are moving on. I don't discuss the NorPac on here and I see no reason why the SoCon is now any different. Our future, like it or not, is forward and upward (I'm not saying the Belt as it is today because there's a good chance things will change in 2 or 3 years). The SoCon and FCS in general is behind us and a part of history.

Except, we are still in the SoCon for another year.

hapapp wrote:

firemoose wrote:If Ayers has any sense of what is truly happening in the college football world he has to know that the FCS is dying a slow and painful death and given that Wofford has no chance to move up that their only choice will be to move down. Moves like what we and GaSou have done just emphasize that point and I'm sure he's not happy with the thought. Even if the Maryland case is decided in favor of the ACC and the Big 5 don't break off in their own division the power base of the FCS is shifting west and the SoCon just lost it's two most powerful teams. Quite a few sour grapes in Spartanburg these days.

Quite frankly I'm done discussing the SoCon now for anything except soccer and wrestling, as long as they are there. We are moving on. I don't discuss the NorPac on here and I see no reason why the SoCon is now any different. Our future, like it or not, is forward and upward (I'm not saying the Belt as it is today because there's a good chance things will change in 2 or 3 years). The SoCon and FCS in general is behind us and a part of history.

Except, we are still in the SoCon for another year.

Only football is ineligible. I expect one more Commish and Germann Cups next year.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote:

hapapp wrote:

firemoose wrote:If Ayers has any sense of what is truly happening in the college football world he has to know that the FCS is dying a slow and painful death and given that Wofford has no chance to move up that their only choice will be to move down. Moves like what we and GaSou have done just emphasize that point and I'm sure he's not happy with the thought. Even if the Maryland case is decided in favor of the ACC and the Big 5 don't break off in their own division the power base of the FCS is shifting west and the SoCon just lost it's two most powerful teams. Quite a few sour grapes in Spartanburg these days.

Quite frankly I'm done discussing the SoCon now for anything except soccer and wrestling, as long as they are there. We are moving on. I don't discuss the NorPac on here and I see no reason why the SoCon is now any different. Our future, like it or not, is forward and upward (I'm not saying the Belt as it is today because there's a good chance things will change in 2 or 3 years). The SoCon and FCS in general is behind us and a part of history.

Except, we are still in the SoCon for another year.

Only football is ineligible. I expect one more Commish and Germann Cups next year.

Knew I was going to get flamed for that post. I was going back to change that line and forgot to before I lost connection. Just got it back. Yes, I know we are going to be in the conference for another year. And yes I know only football is ineligible. And I still don't give a crap about them except where our athletes are concerned. If they are going to do nothing but whine about our moving then they can go do something to themselves that is usually anatomically impossible.

So let me get this straight. It was a good move for them to move up 15 years ago, but we're going to regret it?

TheMoody1 wrote:http://www.goupstate.com/article/201303 ... s-in-SoCon

“I wonder if it's something that, once they get into to, may have them wondering if they would be better off back in the Southern Conference,” Ayers said.

I would respond by saying " I wonder if its something that, once Wofford starts playing without APP and GSU, that Wofford may wish we were back in the Southern Conference"

He is hurting,things are changing and he doesn't like change. Coach Moore is gone and he lost a close coaching friend to APP. I feel sorry for him because now he can't have GSU/APP to challenge him. Wofford is now THE BIG DOG the SoCon will trying to beat.