Just a matter of time

[Gonzo]

Let's not be jerks about this, I hope I didn't come off as such.

I just want to set our fans expectations so they aren't disappointed. Our viable options are:

Sun Belt
SoCon


CAA
MAC


CUSA

in that order.

I don't see how the Southern Conference is any where close to a viable option at this point.

[GlassOnion]

I don't see how the Southern Conference is any where close to a viable option at this point.

If FBS isnt in the cards, it HAS to be CAA. TV deal, Academics, name recognition, better Bball, its a much better fit.

Multiply that by 1000x if GSU leaves the Socon and we're stuck.

[Saint3333]

It isn't for some or most of the fans, but we don't make the decisions.

[asumike83]

Viable and desirable are two different answers. I do not think the SoCon is desirable for Appalachian long-term but it is certainly viable, especially economically. We've been here for 40 years and all our conference mates are bus trips.

Having said that, I do think we will (and should) leave the conference whether we get an FBS invite or not. Joining the CAA would improve our overall athletics, albeit not as much as an FBS move. Football would be just as good (better if GSU leaves), basketball is better and our rivalry with GSU would be easily replaced with JMU, a swap that many of our fans would gladly take.

I'm purely speculating just like the rest of us, but I'd say our most likely destination is the Sun Belt followed by the CAA, MAC and C-USA. If none of those materialize into a real option, we remain in the SoCon.

[ASUMountaineer]

So you're on record for 2/28 or before, noted.

No. I said it wouldn't surprise me to see something by the end of Feb. That is a hunch, not a guarantee.

No, this is what you said:

Don't be surprised if an announcement comes by the end of the month.

Nowhere in that post does it indicate that you wouldn't be surprised.

You then followed that post up with this:

You guys can mock, poke and make fun all you want. I've got a source who has been right on these things a lot more than wrong.

Were you blowing smoke, or are you backpedaling?

Neither. Are you fishing or catching?

Neither. Say you mean, and mean what you say.

[TheMoody1]

We fit pretty nicely into the NFC South footprint....

There seems to big a pretty big push by some to go to the NHL.

[hapapp]

I don't believe our admin would make a lateral move to the CAA. If FBS is not in the cards I don't believe we would make move to the north. While it it may be a better conference, I don't think they would forsake our existing relationships with the SoCon. I would rate CUSA as a greater likelihood than the CAA.

[Saint3333]

With JMU, Delaware, CofC, and UNCW in the CAA we would have much more in common with that group than a GSUless SoCon.

[AtlAppMan]

I think it is fair to say that we are FBS bound at some point in the reasonable future. It makes no sense whatsoever to move to another FCS conference. There would be too much wasted effort required for a very short lifecycle, if any. If we move FBS within next 3 years it would be throwing money down the drain.

[hapapp]

With JMU, Delaware, CofC, and UNCW in the CAA we would have much more in common with that group than a GSUless SoCon.

Two of those schools are ball only schools. Our joining the CAA would surprise me more than any other possible scenario.

[GlassOnion]

Under no circumstance do I want to remain in the Socon. Ever.

It would not in any circumstance be a lateral move.
The CAA has a national TV deal, for football and basketball.
The CAA is a better bball league.
The CAA with App, would be clearly better in Football to the Socon.

Richmond, JMU, Delaware, UNH, Villanova, and William and Mary. What do all these school have in common? Theyve each had a season where they havent sucked in the past decade. The Socon without App doesnt even come close.

The CAA has been represented in the NC game 7 of the past 10 years, by 5 different teams, including a 5 bid year.

[hapapp]

Under no circumstance do I want to remain in the Socon. Ever.

It would not in any circumstance be a lateral move.
The CAA has a national TV deal, for football and basketball.
The CAA is a better bball league.
The CAA with App, would be clearly better in Football to the Socon.

Richmond, JMU, Delaware, UNH, Villanova, and William and Mary. What do all these school have in common? Theyve each had a season where they havent sucked in the past decade. The Socon without App doesnt even come close.

The CAA has been represented in the NC game 7 of the past 10 years, by 5 different teams, including a 5 bid year.

It is not about what you or I want. I seriously doubt our admin is even giving any consideration to such a move. While the CAA is a better ball league, it is also a one bid league like the SoCon. It is also a conference that stretches all the way to Maine.

I'm not making a case against the CAA as a better conference. I just don't believe we make a move to a different FCS conference.

[hapapp]

BTW, the CAA is ranked 24th in the RPI and the SoCon is 27. Neither setting the world on fire.

[asumike83]

The CAA is a realistic option IF the door is slammed shut on FBS, meaning another moratorium. Given all the hectic shifting that has been happening, I believe that is a serious possibility. The NCAA wants stability.

Like most of you, I expect that Appalachian will get an FBS invite within the reasonably near future. However, if that does not happen and the NCAA locks the door again, I'd almost be surprised if we didn't go to the CAA. I listed the CAA above MAC/C-USA in terms of likelihood is because the Sun Belt is the only realistic FBS option that I see out there. IMO, getting left out of the FBS all together seems more likely than a C-USA invite at this point.

Even though it would keep us as an FCS football program, I would not see it as lateral. I hate to say it but the Big South would be more of a lateral move than the CAA.

[GlassOnion]

It is not about what you or I want. I seriously doubt our admin is even giving any consideration to such a move. While the CAA is a better ball league, it is also a one bid league like the SoCon. It is also a conference that stretches all the way to Maine.

I'm not making a case against the CAA as a better conference. I just don't believe we make a move to a different FCS conference.

Its exactly about what you, I and App nation as a whole want. Do you think ECU would be in the BE had their fanbase not demanded it for years?

If the admin hasnt considered the CAA as a serious option should we get stuck in the FCS, then theyre not doing their job.

The CAA is clearly a better conference, no doubt. Its divisions make it as regional as the Socon. It has multiple teams drawing at or above 20,000 in attendance, has excellent name recognition, and its private schools actually bring value to the conference, unlike the Socon, where App and GSU are held back in TV deals so IMarino can get Furman, Elon and Samford on TV for a weekend.

[hapapp]

The CAA hasn't used divisional play in the past.

[GlassOnion]

The CAA hasn't used divisional play in the past.

Yes they have.

Heres a quick google result:

http://www.caasports.com/fls/8500/suppo ... _82-96.pdf

North and south with an interdivision game.

[GoAppsGo92]

See Saint, almost a whole day's worth of posts and all I had to say is Big East

Seriously, I agree with your list. That being said: while remote... especially as an FCS power trying to move up, saying AppState could eventually go to the BE or being considered for it is a bit more than a pipe dream. Remote? Sure. Zero chance? Nah. To me, that would indicate that I somehow think Southern Miss and ECU are heads and shoulders above us... I can't accept that premise.

Agree that the conference that needs us most is the Sun Belt. I think that is an attractive home... especially since we would move up with Southern. Most importantly, it gets us in FBS in a league that I think has and will have better programs in it from top to bottom than CUSA.

CUSA just makes a ton of sense looking at the map and the schools that remain. Natural rivals in MTSU, Marshall and UNCC plus that fact that CUSA could actually have a chance to make a dent in the Charlotte MSA with two schools in it. I don't think UNCC will ever have the horses to deliver the Charlotte market to the conference on its own. CUSA makes more sense than it ever has... and I don't think they have much desire to take from the Sun Belt anymore save WKU... for some reason, I just feel that WKU would have been taken already if it was going to happen. I think CUSA has almost no chance of taking MAC schools.

On the flip side, I think that BE looks to MAC schools this time... and possibly Southern Miss from CUSA.

Again, Sun Belt, MAC and CUSA as a dark horse would be my list in that order. Either way, I predict a lot of CUSA home and homes in our future... no matter if we wind up in SunBelt or MAC.

[hapapp]

The CAA hasn't used divisional play in the past.

Yes they have.

Heres a quick google result:

http://www.caasports.com/fls/8500/suppo ... _82-96.pdf

North and south with an interdivision game.

Not according to their website. The standings on their official website do not break them down by division.
http://www.caasports.com/standings/Stan ... ?SPID=4660

[Kgfish]

So you're on record for 2/28 or before, noted.

No. I said it wouldn't surprise me to see something by the end of Feb. That is a hunch, not a guarantee.

No, this is what you said:

Don't be surprised if an announcement comes by the end of the month.

Nowhere in that post does it indicate that you wouldn't be surprised.

You then followed that post up with this:

You guys can mock, poke and make fun all you want. I've got a source who has been right on these things a lot more than wrong.

Were you blowing smoke, or are you backpedaling?

Neither. Are you fishing or catching?

Neither. Say you mean, and mean what you say.

I said what I meant and meant what I said.