Jeff Monken is a PIMP.

[SuperHornet]

Uh, hooligan, since when does D-II status a mitigating factor in a playoff appearance? Playoffs are playoffs, no matter how you cut it. And sure we lost those bowl games. But we got there. A team that has never been to a bowl game shouldn't run smack about those who have.

Oh, BTW, Sac has never quit football. GA Southern quit for 41 years.

[Pwns]

GSU fans that think Keel is making a mad dash to the FBS are going to be very disappointed. I mean, look at all App. State has done in the last four years and how they have been dithering on the FBS issue. The decision to make the move to the FBS isn't as cut-and-dry as some people like Opie think it is.

[OpieGSU]

GSU fans that think Keel is making a mad dash to the FBS are going to be very disappointed. I mean, look at all App. State has done in the last four years and how they have been dithering on the FBS issue. The decision to make the move to the FBS isn't as cut-and-dry as some people like Opie think it is.

Dithering? They are set up perfectly for when a spot opens up. What you call dithering, I call biding there time to see how C-USA shakes out. I suspect they'll accept an invitation to the sunbelt before the year is out actually.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Georgia Southern Eagles are a bunch of cowards. Hell, they're afraid to play to marginal MVFC teams like the NDSU Prairie Cows. Just ask JBB.

[Saint3333]

GSU fans honestly think they're in front of ASU on FBS conferences expansion lists?

Step away from the computer.

[Baldy]

GSU fans honestly think they're in front of ASU on FBS conferences expansion lists?

Step away from the computer.

Really? Who made that comment?

[Skjellyfetti]

can't verify for sure if he's a pimp or not

but, jeff monken for sure reminds me of chris cooper in american beauty

[kalm]

I don't understand why FCS teams can't do nice things without the fans assuming FBS is on the horizon, as if the FCS doesn't deserve great facilities and etc.

This is the exact disconnect with a lot of FCS fans.
Listen, FCS is great. It's a good level of football, and the playoffs are really fun. However, what most diehard FCS fans fail to understand is that if a school is looking to continually grow their program, then in most cases, FBS is the ultimate goal. It's a natural progression.
If you're not moving forward, then you're standing still or falling behinds.

Wrong.

You are maybe describing the situation for the top 10% of the division. Hell, a good chunk of the rest don't even fully fund scholarships. Schools are upgrading facilities for a variety of reasons and some have been moving forward at the same level for the last 30 years.

[CID1990]

Good luck to GSU if they want to go up. The same goes for ASU.

It is a little antagonistic to claim, however, that if a school's fan base does not care to try to go up to the FBS level that they are somehow misguided, locked in fallacious paradigm, whatever. Some schools do not feel the desire to spend obscene amounts of money to simply be relegated to playing the Troys and the WKU or being an OOC pad for CUSA teams each year.

Marshall used to be one of the finest programs in FCS and then they went up. Pretty much the only FCS school that has enjoyed they type of success that all the others seem to expect by going up is Boise State. Boise State has a much different recruiting profile than the more densely packed eastern part of the country. I would certainly wish GSU well if their priority is to move up. I would not want to entertain the thought at The Citadel, even if we were a perennial power. Money has killed a lot of what was good about college football, and the majority of the money ills we see in college football occur at the FBS level.

[ODUalum11]

Good luck to GSU if they want to go up. The same goes for ASU.

It is a little antagonistic to claim, however, that if a school's fan base does not care to try to go up to the FBS level that they are somehow misguided, locked in fallacious paradigm, whatever. Some schools do not feel the desire to spend obscene amounts of money to simply be relegated to playing the Troys and the WKU or being an OOC pad for CUSA teams each year.

Marshall used to be one of the finest programs in FCS and then they went up. Pretty much the only FCS school that has enjoyed they type of success that all the others seem to expect by going up is Boise State. Boise State has a much different recruiting profile than the more densely packed eastern part of the country. I would certainly wish GSU well if their priority is to move up. I would not want to entertain the thought at The Citadel, even if we were a perennial power. Money has killed a lot of what was good about college football, and the majority of the money ills we see in college football occur at the FBS level.

Great post. It will be interesting to see what kind of success GSU would have at the FBS level having to compete with Georgia Tech and Georgia in state and being in the middle of SEC country.

[Aho Old Guy]

GSU fans that think Keel is making a mad dash to the FBS are going to be very disappointed. I mean, look at all App. State has done in the last four years and how they have been dithering on the FBS issue. The decision to make the move to the FBS isn't as cut-and-dry as some people like Opie think it is.

There is a vocal minority pumping FBS for Appalachian.

The reasonable silent majority (without those rose-tinted glasses) weigh the pluses and minuses, and generally accept the headaches and costs associated with a move to FBS ain't worth it.

[Saint3333]

In reality there are three groups, vocal FBS, vocal FCS, and the actually majority which would prefer the FBS under the right circumstances (adequate revenues streams to offset the increase in expenses).

[ASUMountaineer]

GSU fans that think Keel is making a mad dash to the FBS are going to be very disappointed. I mean, look at all App. State has done in the last four years and how they have been dithering on the FBS issue. The decision to make the move to the FBS isn't as cut-and-dry as some people like Opie think it is.

There is a vocal minority pumping FBS for Appalachian.

The reasonable silent majority (without those rose-tinted glasses) weigh the pluses and minuses, and generally accept the headaches and costs associated with a move to FBS ain't worth it.

What was that about "rose-tinted" glasses? There's very little that is ever "reasonable" about fans (short for "fanatics"). Most ASU fans I hear discuss this topic, from both sides, are anything but "reasonable"--most are emotional/ passionate about the side they lean to. As such, I couldn't disagree with you more. I think some pro-FCS folks are quite vocal.

I am not privy to the information the committee and administration are (and I would be surprised if you were). While I support a move to the FBS, I certainly accept that my support is mostly based on my opinion and the little bit of info we've been given from the research and the current state of the FCS. In other words, my opinion is worth very little in this discussion and not based on much substance because we just don't have the data to form a reasonable, substantive opinion (unlike the committee and administration). However, I'd be interested to know what makes the "reasonable, silent majority" (and thus, yourself) 100% correct that ASU should remain FCS...

[AZGrizFan]

I don't understand why FCS teams can't do nice things without the fans assuming FBS is on the horizon, as if the FCS doesn't deserve great facilities and etc.

This is the exact disconnect with a lot of FCS fans.
Listen, FCS is great. It's a good level of football, and the playoffs are really fun. However, what most diehard FCS fans fail to understand is that if a school is looking to continually grow their program, then in most cases, FBS is the ultimate goal. It's a natural progression.
If you're not moving forward, then you're standing still or falling behind. This is the exact reason why Ga Southern had fallen so far over the past decade. Our A.D. has been satisfied with us resting on the laurels of our 6 titles, and he really failed to do anything to move the program forward since Paul Johnson left. The results are obvious. App State passed us by with facilities and the on-field product, because they have an administration that "gets it". They understand the importance of setting lofty goals and taking risks, and the benefits that come with that type of leadership. Only now is Ga Southern starting to wake up from the slumber that Sam Baker put us under with his incomptence and lack of ambtion.

If you read the article I posted closely, the single most important line is the one where the writer specifically says that this project is being spearheaded by Jeff Monken and President Keel. The glaring omission there is the absence of any mention of A.D. Sam Baker. Think about that for a second. This is possibly the biggest athletic project in GSU history, and our A.D. isn't on the forefront of it?
Our A.D. is being marginalized for a reason. For one, he has proven to be the probably most divisive man to ever set foot on campus, and he may in fact actually be a hinderance at this point for raising money believe it or not. There is no middle ground among GSU fans with Sam Baker, and I would say that most think he has worn out his welcome in Statesboro. Secondly, Baker is clearly in over his head at this level, and I think Dr. Keel got that message loud and clear last year when Baker screwed up the playoff bidding and embarassed the entire University.

We now have an administration that understand the vital importance of continued growth. Based on Monken's comments, it's clear that he understands that FBS is simply the natural progression for Ga Southern as we continue to grow. Quite frankly that progression to FBS is what Coach Erk Russell originally dreamed about. We got off track over the past 10-15 years thanks to Sammy and a general complacency among our fanbase, but now we seem to have the right people in place. Look out.
GATA, Eagles.

Either a) you were resting on your laurels or b) its possible your AD just hired a series of shitty coaches. Either way, GSU was moving backwards (at least for where they'd set their OWN bar in the previous decade)....

And if Baker is that divisive, it makes me wonder if he's related to you.

[Appaholic]

Uh, hooligan, since when does D-II status a mitigating factor in a playoff appearance? Playoffs are playoffs, no matter how you cut it. And sure we lost those bowl games. But we got there. A team that has never been to a bowl game shouldn't run smack about those who have.

Oh, BTW, Sac has never quit football. GA Southern quit for 41 years.

Agree. If Delaware gets to claim all of their national titles, we can't begrudge SackSt their playoff appearance. AS far as pointing out the 41-yr absence of GaSouth football?.....well played, SH...well-played indeed...

[GSUhooligan]

Uh, hooligan, since when does D-II status a mitigating factor in a playoff appearance? Playoffs are playoffs, no matter how you cut it.

When you're on a I-AA board. Just like if we were to move up to FBS and start the "We've Got 6" crap with the Oklahoma's and Ohio States of the world. We'd get laughed out of the room.

And sure we lost those bowl games. But we got there. A team that has never been to a bowl game shouldn't run smack about those who have.

We have as well. I know a Sacramento State fan would know very little about the FCS(I-AA) national championship, but it was known as the Diamond Bowl when we played for it in both 1985 and 1986.

Oh, BTW, Sac has never quit football. GA Southern quit for 41 years.

Well, when you've got a campus full of left coast draft dodgers, it's easier to keep your football team in times of war.

[SuperHornet]

I think you've got us confused with another campus an hour and a half to the west, hooligan.