Sun Belt ... Where to visit first?

[ASUMountaineer]

Why don't you and Veg use that as a way to let this debate die and move on?

The debate is dead. We're FBS.

Perhaps it's time for others to admit defeat and save the nonsensical griping for Appfan.com.

Well, I was referring to the little squabble between you two, but I suspect you knew that. The debate is over, we are going FBS. I don't think there's any need for any debate on it now. But, if people are going to continue to debate it, let's keep it at a low level.

[goapps93]

Since you abandoned logic long ago, I'm going to stop with this nauseating dance after this post. Perhaps when you actually lay eyes on a massive new KBS with 40k screaming fans watching us beat a BCS team, you'll change your tune. Until then, I pity your misery in this exciting time in Appalachian history.

Res ipsa loquitur, let the good times roll.

Just so you know... I'm not above saying "I told you so."

But I'll reserve that right for when the time is right...

It's that attitude that bothers me more than not agreeing with the move. You sound as if you want ASU to fail in this move so you can say "I told you so." I have some reservations myself and know that it is risky. I am, however, going to make my first Yosef Club donation this year. The FBS train has left the station and, thankfully, we're on it this time and it doesn't matter whether you're on it or not. Come 2014 we'll be playing a Sun Belt schedule. I hope the program still has your support but if not, oh well.

The program will always have my support... but my money is another thing entirely.

Well, I certainly won't tell you what to do with your money but to withhold your giving because you don't like the decision or the league we're playing in seems to be very self serving and not fair to the student athletes. The student athletes are the same no matter what league we're playing in. I think you'd say the same thing to someone who might have ceased their contributions if we had remained in FCS. It also goes even further to suggest you actually want us to fail. If enough folks stop donating then your prophecy could, very well, be self fulfilling. I don't see any indication that our ticket prices will need to increase. I did some checking the other night and our ticket prices are already higher than most, if not all, current Sun Belt members.

[vegattk]

Since you abandoned logic long ago, I'm going to stop with this nauseating dance after this post. Perhaps when you actually lay eyes on a massive new KBS with 40k screaming fans watching us beat a BCS team, you'll change your tune. Until then, I pity your misery in this exciting time in Appalachian history.

Res ipsa loquitur, let the good times roll.

Just so you know... I'm not above saying "I told you so."

But I'll reserve that right for when the time is right...

It's that attitude that bothers me more than not agreeing with the move. You sound as if you want ASU to fail in this move so you can say "I told you so." I have some reservations myself and know that it is risky. I am, however, going to make my first Yosef Club donation this year. The FBS train has left the station and, thankfully, we're on it this time and it doesn't matter whether you're on it or not. Come 2014 we'll be playing a Sun Belt schedule. I hope the program still has your support but if not, oh well.

The program will always have my support... but my money is another thing entirely.

Well, I certainly won't tell you what to do with your money but to withhold your giving because you don't like the decision or the league we're playing in seems to be very self serving and not fair to the student athletes. The student athletes are the same no matter what league we're playing in. I think you'd say the same thing to someone who might have ceased their contributions if we had remained in FCS. It also goes even further to suggest you actually want us to fail. If enough folks stop donating then your prophecy could, very well, be self fulfilling. I don't see any indication that our ticket prices will need to increase. I did some checking the other night and our ticket prices are already higher than most, if not all, current Sun Belt members.

There's a difference between withholding money and not being able to afford it.

[vegattk]

Since you abandoned logic long ago, I'm going to stop with this nauseating dance after this post. Perhaps when you actually lay eyes on a massive new KBS with 40k screaming fans watching us beat a BCS team, you'll change your tune. Until then, I pity your misery in this exciting time in Appalachian history.

Res ipsa loquitur, let the good times roll.

Just so you know... I'm not above saying "I told you so."

But I'll reserve that right for when the time is right...

It's that attitude that bothers me more than not agreeing with the move. You sound as if you want ASU to fail in this move so you can say "I told you so." I have some reservations myself and know that it is risky. I am, however, going to make my first Yosef Club donation this year. The FBS train has left the station and, thankfully, we're on it this time and it doesn't matter whether you're on it or not. Come 2014 we'll be playing a Sun Belt schedule. I hope the program still has your support but if not, oh well.

The program will always have my support... but my money is another thing entirely.

Well, I certainly won't tell you what to do with your money but to withhold your giving because you don't like the decision or the league we're playing in seems to be very self serving and not fair to the student athletes. The student athletes are the same no matter what league we're playing in. I think you'd say the same thing to someone who might have ceased their contributions if we had remained in FCS. It also goes even further to suggest you actually want us to fail. If enough folks stop donating then your prophecy could, very well, be self fulfilling. I don't see any indication that our ticket prices will need to increase. I did some checking the other night and our ticket prices are already higher than most, if not all, current Sun Belt members.

There's a difference between withholding money and not being able to afford it.

[AppState89]

There's a difference between withholding money and not being able to afford it.[/quote]

I agree with you there. $1,500 will get us parking in N. Wilkesboro soon (J/K). I want to park in the stadium lot, but I just can't afford $2,500 anymore. I give what I can and have since 1989. I was in the stadium lot, but they went up $1,000. I did it for one year, but them my wife was moved to another job and lost a lot of $$ per month. I see Duncan going up to $2,500 within the next few years. I hope not, bc I won't be able to pay that. I do my share including buying away tickets to support ASU and I always will.

I know we just moved up, so I know that means more $$$$ to support FBS, just hope it's nickle and dimes and not 100's....

Go Apps!!!!!!

[Gonzo]

There's a difference between withholding money and not being able to afford it.

Not to be insensitive to any sort of financial situation, but did you not just say "The program will always have my support... but my money is another thing entirely." Is that not saying that, because of the FBS move which you do not support, you will be pulling your donations?

That's the impression I got when I read that and it seems others did too. I'm just trying to make sure we're on the same page. I would never fault anyone for dropping donations when they can't afford it, but doing so just because you're mad about a D-1 move seems quite petty and I would have trouble respecting such a decision.

[vegattk]

There's a difference between withholding money and not being able to afford it.

Not to be insensitive to any sort of financial situation, but did you not just say "The program will always have my support... but my money is another thing entirely." Is that not saying that, because of the FBS move which you do not support, you will be pulling your donations?

That's the impression I got when I read that and it seems others did too. I'm just trying to make sure we're on the same page. I would never fault anyone for dropping donations when they can't afford it, but doing so just because you're mad about a D-1 move seems quite petty and I would have trouble respecting such a decision.

No... That's one thing I WOULD NOT do... Come on now.. I'm not THAT petty!

When my construction company was building five to six million dollar plus houses a year it wouldn't have mattered in terms of being able to afford tickets... But now that I'm regulated to teaching college, taking a 1/3 pay cut, paying for my growing family's food & health insurance, AND trying to pay for a wife to stay at home with the kids... My pockets are pretty dry.

[Saint3333]

Anyway.. my criteria.

Sub .50 seasons two years in a row
Less than 18,000 fans in the stadium
Increased ticket prices/skyrocketing Yosef requirements
Lack of exposure in typical sports writing (i.e. ESPN, CO, WSJ)

And believe me... I'm not cheering for this to happen... I guess I'm more of a glass-half empty guy when it comes to where we ended up.

When does this criteria kick in? We could certainly have a couple sub .500 seasons 2014-2017 during the transition. I hope that everyone is fully aware this isn't going to be a slam dunk and we're bowling in 2015.

18k is a more than fair mark.

Tickets and Yosef giving levels have been determined by demand under Cobb thus far. If we get an ECU or better opponent in Boone those tickets will be more. Did you noticed Montana is charging us $55 a ticket this year?

I can guarantee that in the Belt our ESPN exposure will be greater. They have this thing called a national TV contract, something we've never had.

[fjblair]

To tell the

Oh how wrong you are Gonzo..

Higher Transportation Costs
Worse Post-Season
Lesser Known Opponents
Laughing Stock of an FBS Conference (you do realize that the Sun Belch is basically the Big South of the FBS?)
Games spread throughout the continental US
Less Ability to go to Away Games
Less Home Games per Season

Seems to me the move was made to stroke the egos of those in charge AND placate wealthy donors.

What exactly do you want? What should ASU have done?

[asutrnr81]

We I am going to try to get this thread back on target!

Personally I plan on going to Ga. St. and GSU....then I am going to choose a long weekend so I can stop in New Orleans with the wife! I will probably end up at South Alabama and Troy quasi regularly!

As for basketball, I will be at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament!

Other sports. New Mexico State has some seriously nice golf courses near there.

Rest of sports probably sticking to Boone as I do now but you never know!

Veg. I respect your points
89. You hit the nail on the head
Saint. As per always, squared up thinking!

[Saint3333]

The first time we play NMSU I plan on adding a state to my list. As we will only play every four years I don't expect to play out there more than twice before a shift occurs.

[kiddbrewer]

I'm glad somebody got this back on track. I've never been to Georgia Southern due to everything I have heard about their fans, all negative. So it might be there. My wife and I are planning on going to the Georgia Dome the first App game that is there. I would love for our fans to outnumber theirs. Over the course of the year, it is my intention to hit every Sun Belt school at least once.

[GlassOnion]

New Mexico is beautiful. I had always thought that it was a dry dusty, crusty, ugly armpit of a place, but I was very wrong. I drove through the the desert from Amarillo to Albuquerqe a few years back, and nearly got stuck out on the road in a snowstorm. I had left Boone in T-shirt and shorts the day before, and froze my rear off in Amarillo and New Mexico. Go figure. But all in all, I loved the scenery. I didnt make it quite down to Las Cruces, just to Truth or Consequences, which isnt too far away. I'd love to go again. Both NM and AZ are high on my list of places to go.

Eastern Arkansas however, is an entirely different animal. From the Mississippi to just this side of Little Rock is butt ugly. The roads suck and so does the scenery. Amarillo, and Eastern Arkansas are NOT on my list.

[proasu89]

I'm glad somebody got this back on track. I've never been to Georgia Southern due to everything I have heard about their fans, all negative. So it might be there. My wife and I are planning on going to the Georgia Dome the first App game that is there. I would love for our fans to outnumber theirs. Over the course of the year, it is my intention to hit every Sun Belt school at least once.

Put your thick skin on and go to Paulson. You will experience some idiot students and a handful of cussin grannies but you will also enjoy a great game day experience.

[AppSt94]

New Mexico is beautiful. I had always thought that it was a dry dusty, crusty, ugly armpit of a place, but I was very wrong. I drove through the the desert from Amarillo to Albuquerqe a few years back, and nearly got stuck out on the road in a snowstorm. I had left Boone in T-shirt and shorts the day before, and froze my rear off in Amarillo and New Mexico. Go figure. But all in all, I loved the scenery. I didnt make it quite down to Las Cruces, just to Truth or Consequences, which isnt too far away. I'd love to go again. Both NM and AZ are high on my list of places to go.

Eastern Arkansas however, is an entirely different animal. From the Mississippi to just this side of Little Rock is butt ugly. The roads suck and so does the scenery. Amarillo, and Eastern Arkansas are NOT on my list.

Flagstaff, AZ is a lot like Boone. A college town (home of Northern Arizona). Higher elevation so milder summertime temps and cold in the winter. One of my favorite towns.

[JCline0429]

Anyway.. my criteria.

Sub .50 seasons two years in a row
Less than 18,000 fans in the stadium
Increased ticket prices/skyrocketing Yosef requirements
Lack of exposure in typical sports writing (i.e. ESPN, CO, WSJ)

And believe me... I'm not cheering for this to happen... I guess I'm more of a glass-half empty guy when it comes to where we ended up.

When does this criteria kick in? We could certainly have a couple sub .500 seasons 2014-2017 during the transition. I hope that everyone is fully aware this isn't going to be a slam dunk and we're bowling in 2015.

18k is a more than fair mark.

Tickets and Yosef giving levels have been determined by demand under Cobb thus far. If we get an ECU or better opponent in Boone those tickets will be more. Did you noticed Montana is charging us $55 a ticket this year?

I can guarantee that in the Belt our ESPN exposure will be greater. They have this thing called a national TV contract, something we've never had.

How many SunBelt games do they schedule? How many do you think we can get in a given season?

[JCline0429]

-FBS homegames, in/out of conference.
Myself... Along with many other ASU fans love games... Seems to me it's YOU who care more about WHO we play rather than when and where we play.

This is the classic one here. "I don't care who we play." The whole "let's drop down to D-2" comes to mind, but I tend to avoid low hanging fruit. The fact is, the higher the profile of the opponent, the higher the interest of the fans. Were you more excited to see us play Montana last year or Jacksonville State the year before? Personally, I find App/ECU or App/Troy far more compelling than App/Samford. I think you will find that the vast majority of App Nation agrees with me in this.

-Better OOC schedule.
Where's the proof? Again, seems to me like you're more excited about the opponent than the home team? Does that make you a better fan? hmmmm....

Where's the proof? Are you kidding? Just look at the schedule of every single FCS school and compare it to every single FBS school. ODU (a school on the same transition timeline as Appalachian) just landed a homegame against NCSU,Troy just landed Ole Miss at home. We can fill our OOC schedule with ECU, UNCC and Wake forest. That's an improvement from NC A&T. Your denial is bordering on mental illness.

-Makes scheduling easier.
How?

Why don't you ask Charlie Cobb since he specifically mentioned it during the SBC presser. Since bowl eligibility is highly depended on strength of schedule, especially outside of the fab 5 conferences, an FBS App State is far more desirable to another FBS school when they're making a schedule. The Big 10 just prohibited games against FCS schools for god sake.

-Escaping the dying FCS.
Seems to me that ASU games were pretty darn packed in the FCS. Didn't seem like a dying fanbase/system to me and my 25,000+ friends on a gameday.

We have done what we have done in spite of the dying nature of the FCS. In just the last 4 years I've seem App football go from Fox Sports to PBS to having to stream every game on the internet like a d-2 school. Georgia Southern, ODU, Charlotte, JMU; programs are scrambling to get the hell out. You mean to tell me that the administrations of all these schools have the same conspiracy you assert Appalachian has? That GSU, UNCC, ODU ect are only desperately trying to move to appease wealthy donors and pad the resume's of their administrators? Give me a break.

-Better exposure.
This is a laughable argument. When was the last time that you say the Sun Belch really talked about on ESPN or any other news channel/newspaper?

TV>No TV. The SBC gets exponentially more press than the SoCon. The FCS championship game is mentioned in the same breath as the D-2 and D-3 championships, then never spoken of again until the following year or unless they upset a BCS school.

-More revenue.
I hope you're not an accountant. Football budget goes up 3 million... but expected revenue is supposed to increase by a little over 1. Math doesn't add up.

The revenue will be higher. That was my claim and that is a fact. The bottom line might be in the red at the onset, but revenue WILL be higher than a league with no damn TV contract.

-Facility upgrades.
Ummm.... Have you seen the locker room? The rock was built in the FCS from fans that came to watch FCS games... Although I suppose the coaches will get new desks since they can demand higher salaries.

I worked in the new facility for two years. I think I've seen it. Incredibly impressive facility. Does that mean we shouldn't continue to make improvements? Absolutely not. The track is going, the endzone is being bowled in, the field house is being replaced and I think you might be the only person out of tens of thousands of App faithful that aren't happy about it.

-More media coverage.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... Really?? HAHAHAHAHAHA... Maybe in the Watauga Democat.

And the WSJ, and the CO, and ESPN..... More is more.


Since you abandoned logic long ago, I'm going to stop with this nauseating dance after this post. Perhaps when you actually lay eyes on a massive new KBS with 40k screaming fans watching us beat a BCS team, you'll change your tune. Until then, I pity your misery in this exciting time in Appalachian history.

Res ipsa loquitur, let the good times roll.

Where have you seen that the track will be removed?

[GlassOnion]

Flagstaff, AZ is a lot like Boone. A college town (home of Northern Arizona). Higher elevation so milder summertime temps and cold in the winter. One of my favorite towns.

Never been there, but I've heard alot about it. My parents used to drive I-40 from CA to the east coast alot, always used to get snowed in there.

Ive been to Tuscon a bunch of times, and I loved it. A trip to Tombstone and Bisbee is well, well worth it. The Queen Mine is amazing, and downtown Bisbee, is like Boone x100. Great shops, restaurants, and the Copper Queen Hotel is fantastic.

[GlassOnion]

Where have you seen that the track will be removed?

Its in the "strategic plan" the athletic dept released a couple weeks ago. It calls for an expansion, and dedicated track facility.

[kiddbrewer]

I'm glad somebody got this back on track. I've never been to Georgia Southern due to everything I have heard about their fans, all negative. So it might be there. My wife and I are planning on going to the Georgia Dome the first App game that is there. I would love for our fans to outnumber theirs. Over the course of the year, it is my intention to hit every Sun Belt school at least once.

Put your thick skin on and go to Paulson. You will experience some idiot students and a handful of cussin grannies but you will also enjoy a great game day experience.

I may do that...now, where did I put that thick skin suit of mine?