Are you ready for Tuesday Night Football!!

[ASUG8]

You almost make it sound like FCS as a whole has relevance now. You have SEC, a couple of ACC teams, a couple of PAC 10 teams, etc. that dominate television. Going to Sunbelt isn't my cup of tea, but if we went CUSA would it be better? We sure as hell wouldn't be going ACC...or..has anybody seen an ECU game on primetime recently? If so, they're few and far between. Add in Sunday NFL and most of us are pretty saturated by Monday (sometimes by Saturday night ). I get my not live scores via box score and I should be ashamed, but I have things to do.

No. Reread my post. I specifically said the money and exposure will make you more relevant than FCS. However, you'll never have anything more to look forward to than playing Buffalo in the Bubba's Bail Bonds Bowl.

Even getting some exposure on Tuesday nights is more exposure than anyone in the SoCon for sure is currently getting, and I can't speak for other FCS conferences. I'm on record for not being a fan of the move up, but they didn't ask my opinion on it, and I'd rather be in the playoffs vs. an obscure bowl. I've had people ask me who's in the Sunbelt and I had to look it up - it's not the ideal situation IMHO, but it's the one our administration felt was the right move. App will struggle with recruiting with Wake, UNC, Ga Tech, Georgia, Tennessee, UNCC, NC State, Virginia, and Va. Tech all fighting in the same sandbox for recruits so it will be a tough road for sure.

[dbackjon]

Louisiana-Lafayette - the Flagship of the Sun Belt - only team not to be FCS at one time.

For a Flagship, let's look at the results, 2000-2012

Against BCS conference teams: 1-28 Average margin of loss - 29 points.
Only win - 2 points against Kansas State in Lafayette

Against other FBS non-conference: 8-18

Against FCS teams: 7-4 (including three FCS losses in one year)

In 2013, where they are leading the Sun Belt, they added two more BCS losses (20 and 21 points, 21 points to Kansas State), a FCS win, and a MAC win.


Impressive, don't ya think?

Well, Louisiana Lafayette had been a shitty program and has just recently started putting things together in the last 3 years. They've won a single Sun Belt title since the league was founded.

It's like posting Towson's record over the last 10 years... and then saying that the CAA obviously sucks... since a shitty team like Towson* has won two CAA titles in a row and is in the race for a 3rd straight.



Also, I like your assumption that since Louisiana Lafayette has never been FCS... that they're the flagship of the Sun Belt. I read that as FCS being somehow inferior to FBS?




*I know Towson isn't a shitty team. Just reducio ad absurdum

I've done similiar analysis for other Sun Belt teams - you get the same results from each

As far as the Ulala never being FCS - this was a dig at their fans who claim superiority BECAUSE unlike the rest of the Sun Belt, they have never been FCS - give it a few years - you will see how they look down on all "move-ups"

[Skjellyfetti]

No. Reread my post. I specifically said the money and exposure will make you more relevant than FCS. However, you'll never have anything more to look forward to than playing Buffalo in the Bubba's Bail Bonds Bowl.

I can honestly get excited about a trip to the New Orleans Bowl. And there are plenty of teams in Conference USA that I'd love to play in that bowl.

And, that's just the best realistic goal with the current system -- a system App will never play a season under in the FBS.

I know cynics will scoff at the non-Big 5 schools having any part of the new system.... but, the highest rated team from the Sun Belt, MAC, Mountain West, Big East, MAC, or CUSA earns an automatic spot in one of the 6 access bowls.

We will have something more to look forward to than playing Buffalo in the Bubba's Bail Bonds Bowl.

Tell me you wouldn't be excited about the possibility (though, extremely difficult) to play a top BCS team in the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, or Chik-fil-A Bowl.

[93henfan]

No. Reread my post. I specifically said the money and exposure will make you more relevant than FCS. However, you'll never have anything more to look forward to than playing Buffalo in the Bubba's Bail Bonds Bowl.

I can honestly get excited about a trip to the New Orleans Bowl. And there are plenty of teams in Conference USA that I'd love to play in that bowl.

And, that's just the best realistic goal with the current system -- a system App will never play a season under in the FBS.

I know cynics will scoff at the non-Big 5 schools having any part of the new system.... but, the highest rated team from the Sun Belt, MAC, Mountain West, Big East, MAC, or CUSA earns an automatic spot in one of the 6 access bowls.

We will have something more to look forward to than playing Buffalo in the Bubba's Bail Bonds Bowl.

Tell me you wouldn't be excited about the possibility (though, extremely difficult) to play a top BCS team in the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, or Chik-fil-A Bowl.

Your chances of making that spot is probably only slightly better than my chances of winning Powerball tomorrow night.

[SDHornet]

What did the football program do money wise?

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

You can't look solely at the football program - moving to FBS requires an additional two sports and 22 additional women's schollies. Those expenses have to be factored into the football equation.

Exactly. The monetary incentive between bottom tier FBS and FCS just isn't there imo. Yeah you get some TV revenue, but does it make up the cost difference to be FBS? In most cases the answer is no.

[dbackjon]

Jellybean - you know that NO Sun Belt team has ever, ever even been RANKED for one week in a major poll?

So no, the Sun Belt is not getting into a big bowl.


If you tell me that yes, the Sun Belt sucks, but we are paying our dues in hopes of getting into a real conference - I can buy that. Otherwise, you downgraded yourself.

[SDHornet]

Jellybean - you know that NO Sun Belt team has ever, ever even been RANKED for one week in a major poll?

So no, the Sun Belt is not getting into a big bowl.


If you tell me that yes, the Sun Belt sucks, but we are paying our dues in hopes of getting into a real conference - I can buy that. Otherwise, you downgraded yourself.

Naw he's got a graph proving otherwise somewhere, just have to wait for him to post it.

[Skjellyfetti]

The Sun Belt has a long history of being a shitty conference. I agree with you. There was a time, not that long ago, that I wanted absolutely no part of the Sun Belt and I would have rather stayed in the SoCon than move to the Sun Belt.

However, the Sun Belt has vastly improved over the last handful of years. You keep wanting to compare them to the BCS with their record against their schools, etc.

But, look at their record against their "peer" conferences this year. 6-1 as a conference against CUSA, MAC, and MWC. That's good. The Sun Belt also finished above all those conferences in the computer rankings last year. That's good. The Sun Belt is vastly improved... and, out of the non-BCS conferences (that we, of course, were never going to get an invite to) we joined the best one possible, imo.

You obviously disagree. Ok.

[SDHornet]

So there is no graph? WTF yo.

[CID1990]

If ASU wins enough of those "nationally televised" games, they might get the chance to play a MAC team in the GoDaddy.com bowl for the right to say they are #47 in the country!

BTW I noticed that the payout on that bowl is 750k. So basically roughly equivalent to two guarantee games for a FCS school. Except you have to share that bowl take with the conference.

[SDHornet]

If ASU wins enough of those "nationally televised" games, they might get the chance to play a MAC team in the GoDaddy.com bowl for the right to say they are #47 in the country!

BTW I noticed that the payout on that bowl is 750k. So basically roughly equivalent to two guarantee games for a FCS school. Except you have to share that bowl take with the conference.

No team ever sees the full payout for these bottom tier bowl games. After obligatory week long stays in specific hotels for $XXX dollars a night, plus paying to have the band and cheer team take part in the bowl game parade, and the requirement to purchase X,XXX amount of tickets at $XXX (even though they will be found for pennies on the dollar on stub hub and craigslist) usually results in a monetary loss.

The only people who make out in these bowl games are the promoters, bowl committee members and business folks who fleece these schools that participate in these games.

[SuperHornet]

If ASU wins enough of those "nationally televised" games, they might get the chance to play a MAC team in the GoDaddy.com bowl for the right to say they are #47 in the country!

BTW I noticed that the payout on that bowl is 750k. So basically roughly equivalent to two guarantee games for a FCS school. Except you have to share that bowl take with the conference.

No team ever sees the full payout for these bottom tier bowl games. After obligatory week long stays in specific hotels for $XXX dollars a night, plus paying to have the band and cheer team take part in the bowl game parade, and the requirement to purchase X,XXX amount of tickets at $XXX (even though they will be found for pennies on the dollar on stub hub and craigslist) usually results in a monetary loss.

The only people who make out in these bowl games are the promoters, bowl committee members and business folks who fleece these schools that participate in these games.

x ∞

[Skjellyfetti]

I know it's Tuesday and some of y'all only like football played on Saturday...

...But, Arkansas State - ULL tonight should be a pretty entertaining game if anyone's interested.

The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns and Arkansas State Red Wolves are set to square off in primetime on Tuesday night in what should be a pretty entertaining game. The two schools appear to be evenly matched on paper, and with both teams averaging upwards of 31 points per game, there should be no shortage of offense in Jonesboro.

The numbers

Rankings and records: Neither team comes into the game ranked, and the winner is unlikely to move into the top-25 regardless of the final outcome. That being said, with both teams already having four wins, a victory on Tuesday night would go a long way towards assuring a bowl game in 2013.

Arkansas State has won the last two meetings, including 50-27 in Lafayette last season.

Vegas: Louisiana-Lafayette opened as six-point favorites, though most lines have dropped to three points.

Weather: It'll be a chilly night for football in Jonesboro with temperatures in the low-50s by kickoff.

Three names to know

Terrance Broadway: The Ragin' Cajuns tend to go as their quarterback takes them. Broadway is having a fine season so far, throwing for 1,243 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Jamal Robinson: Robinson is Broadway's favorite target down the field, and his numbers reflect it. He's hauled in a team-high 26 passes for 436 yards and six touchdowns.

David Oku: Arkansas State likes to run the football, and Oku leads the way with 101 carries for 396 yards and five touchdowns.

Two things at stake

In a battle of two teams without a loss in conference play -- Louisiana-Lafayette is 2-0 against Sun Belt foes while ASU is 1-0 -- a win this evening would go a long way towards winning the conference title.

After a couple of tough losses to start the season, the Ragin' Cajuns are riding a four-game winning streak. If they're able to invade Arkansas and come away with another road win, it would be a statement win for Mark Hudspeth's program.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... edule-time" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Aho Old Guy]

Wow ... LA-Lafayette @ Arkansas State. Throw out the record books on this one, Sports Fans. The winner could ... go ... all ... the ... way ... to break 100 in the BCS rankings next week, or position themselves as Lead Sun Belt Dog in the Montgomery Bowl against the MAC. Maybe they'll break 20k at the game, and snag a fifth of the rating of the 2013 World Series of Poker on ESPN ...



You guys have hit all the highlights (and lowlights) so I won't waste my time regurgitating most of them, but a few things stick out in Appalachian's case ...

Ten years or so ago, The Rams Club (or 'Educational Foundation' - the athletic boosters in Chapel Hill) and The Wolfpack Club (NC State) greased a bill through the NC state legislature which provided athletes from out of state be classified as in-state for tuition purposes.

When the state started cutting back on system funding, the universities got their panties bunched and had the law repealed a couple of years ago (it was costing the system around $10 million/year in 'lost' tuition at the time). Last I checked, App had around 30 or so 'out-of-state' footballers with the difference between in- and out-of-state tuition being around $10,000.

That's a nice little expense ding to add in addition to the cost of another 20+ football schollies and 20+ Title IXs.

And, before he retired 2 weeks after the FBS announcement, during the 'listening tour' portion of the 'private' study, Chancellor Cheerleader opined that ticket revenues and corporate sponsors would foot the bill for the FBS move, and that not only would no new student fees be required, but student fees may well be reduced!

I hope those ticket revenue projections are based upon something close to current attendance, and that the corporate sponsors turn out to be more than that annoying banner from Lowes on the web site.

[Skjellyfetti]

Wow ... LA-Lafayette @ Arkansas State. Throw out the record books on this one, Sports Fans. The winner could ... go ... all ... the ... way ... to break 100 in the BCS rankings next week, or position themselves as Lead Sun Belt Dog in the Montgomery Bowl against the MAC. Maybe they'll break 20k at the game, and snag a fifth of the rating of the 2013 World Series of Poker on ESPN ...

You must hate FCS football.

[dbackjon]

Wow ... LA-Lafayette @ Arkansas State. Throw out the record books on this one, Sports Fans. The winner could ... go ... all ... the ... way ... to break 100 in the BCS rankings next week, or position themselves as Lead Sun Belt Dog in the Montgomery Bowl against the MAC. Maybe they'll break 20k at the game, and snag a fifth of the rating of the 2013 World Series of Poker on ESPN ...

You must hate FCS football.

No, but we are not pretending to be "big-time" football either...

[CID1990]

Damn the excitement has me about to spooge

[LDopaPDX]

I'd argue App State got more "exposure" by beating Michigan than they will get over the next 10 years in the Sun Belt. You don't need to move up for that.

I'd even bet more people got "exposed" to Eastern for beating Oregon State this year than will be "exposed" to Louisiana-Lafayette regardless of how they finish the year.

[Aho Old Guy]

Wow ... LA-Lafayette @ Arkansas State. Throw out the record books on this one, Sports Fans. The winner could ... go ... all ... the ... way ... to break 100 in the BCS rankings next week, or position themselves as Lead Sun Belt Dog in the Montgomery Bowl against the MAC. Maybe they'll break 20k at the game, and snag a fifth of the rating of the 2013 World Series of Poker on ESPN ...

You must hate FCS football.

I'm not the one with morning wood for LA-Lafayette @ Arkansas State

[MrTitleist]

ULL is growing on me.. fun team to watch.

[Skjellyfetti]

I'm not the one with morning wood for LA-Lafayette @ Arkansas State

Oh yeah. I forgot. Samford - Wofford this weekend. Should be HUGE! Might crack 8k fans!

I'll be sure to have my radio set up like it's 1926 to make sure I can follow along!

[JohnStOnge]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/bow ... d/8820569/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

By the time the dust settles on tonight's matchup between Alabama and Notre Dame, 35 bowl games will have been played and, if the past is a guide, just about every team in them will have lost money.

We're told that this is money well spent. A bargain, really, when you think about all the free publicity schools get, the spikes in alumni donations and the once-in-a-lifetime memories players take home. Considering the fact that athletic departments squander millions in guaranteed salaries when they cut losing coaches, you could make the case that spending a couple of hundred grand is a cheap way to drape yourself in postseason glory.

But it's exactly that kind of upside-down thinking that has allowed college football's postseason to become a runaway example of corporate welfare and tax abuse.

"There's no convincing evidence that going to a bowl has any significant effect on alumni giving or fundraising," says William Kirwan, chancellor of the University of Maryland system and co-chair of the Knight Commission. "There's also no reason that a 6-6 team should be going to a bowl. Instead of these games being a reward, they've become meaningless and a financial drain on our institutions."

[Skjellyfetti]

Flipping between Game 6 and Tuesday Night Football featuring Cincinnati and Memphis.

Pretty entertaining game so far. But, I understand some of y'all only like football to be played on Saturday.

[dbackjon]

Yeah. A one win team and another team that would finish in the bottom of the MVFC

[MrTitleist]

Flipping between Game 6 and Tuesday Night Football featuring Cincinnati and Memphis.

Pretty entertaining game so far. But, I understand some of y'all only like football to be played on Saturday.

Fuck.. it's only Tuesday??