Appalachian State to CUSA?

[BlackFalkin]

fake -ass Fcs fans. "Oh I love fcs!" Untill your team announces they're moving up to a shxtstain fbs conf. Fxckin fakers!

[ASUMountaineer]

fake -ass Fcs fans. "Oh I love fcs!" Untill your team announces they're moving up to a shxtstain fbs conf. Fxckin fakers!

BF, most of us still love FCS, and will still follow it (like the WKU guy with the weight-loss threads) if our team goes FBS.

I am interested to hear your prediction on this whole matter, given your streak for last season. Do you predict ASU will move to FBS and which conference will ASU end up in?

[TwinTownBisonFan]

not for nothin' - i like fcs football and all - but if NDSU moved up to FBS for some reason - I probably would follow it about as closely as i did when the bison were in D-II... that is to say i might watch the semi-finals and the NC... and say to myself "huh grizz/delaware/app aren't in it this year... strange"

[Appaholic]

fake -ass Fcs fans. "Oh I love fcs!" Untill your team announces they're moving up to a shxtstain fbs conf. Fxckin fakers!

Don't lump me in with that crowd. I would never want to leave FCS unless a playoff system was formed for ALL D1 college football teams have an opportunity to particpate. I'm a fan of App playing FCS football, would still be a fan of App if they move out (refuse to use the word "up" in association with the bowl system) but wouldn't attend hardly any road games. I find no romance in travelling to a new "rival" games in Troy, La Tech, Memphis, et al....would probably travel to ECU or Marshall 1 out of 5 meetings, but that's it. And, even if we were lucky enough to win our conference, I doubt I'd travel to Detroit in Dec for the Motor City Bowl or any other crappy bowl....

[49RFootballNow]

1) Get rid of the subdivisions.
2) Reduce scholarships for everybody to 50 full, 25 partial.
3) a) 64 round playoff, all conference champs and top of the rest.
b) First 2 rounds at top seed home stadiums.
c) Next 3 rounds held at the 15 top established bowls.
Rotate the Champ Game through the current BCS bowl sites.

Nevermind, big boys will never give up their control. More BCS douchebaggery for decades to come.

[ASUMountaineer]

1) Get rid of the subdivisions.
2) Reduce scholarships for everybody to 50 full, 25 partial.
3) a) 64 round playoff, all conference champs and top of the rest.
b) First 2 rounds at top seed home stadiums.
c) Next 3 rounds held at the 15 top established bowls.
Rotate the Champ Game through the current BCS bowl sites.

Nevermind, big boys will never give up their control. More BCS douchebaggery for decades to come.

Interesting, so you support UNC-C staying FCS forever given the current FBS/ BCS format? Of course the current FBS/ BCS system is not ideal, but I still support a move for ASU.

[49RFootballNow]

1) Get rid of the subdivisions.
2) Reduce scholarships for everybody to 50 full, 25 partial.
3) a) 64 round playoff, all conference champs and top of the rest.
b) First 2 rounds at top seed home stadiums.
c) Next 3 rounds held at the 15 top established bowls.
Rotate the Champ Game through the current BCS bowl sites.

Nevermind, big boys will never give up their control. More BCS douchebaggery for decades to come.

Interesting, so you support Charlotte staying FCS forever given the current FBS/ BCS format? Of course the current FBS/ BCS system is not ideal, but I still support a move for ASU.

No, I support us moving up immediately. I like the FCS post season better and what thinking fan wouldn't? Sadly, and certainly not the FCS post-season format's fault, FBS has greater access and exposure, even at the non-BCS level. As increasing the University's profile in the city and nationally, and getting us into a more profitable conference, were all stated goals of starting football, I'd assume a sooner-than-later move-up is an "undeclared" goal. Our leaders will tell you otherwise, but that's for convience sake. I'd think 10 years at the extreme.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Why wouldn't App fans support the move. It's not like you'll refuse to watch your school if they move up. Even if it's the MAC or Sun Belt. A lot of fans would probably like to see how App St. would do vs. 2 or 3 BCS schools and a CUSA school or 2 in the same season a long with the top Sun Belt schools. They probably want to see if a FCS power could win the Sun Belt or MAC in their 1st or 2nd year in FBS.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Quinn, rank your CUSA replacements if/when UCF leaves. I can't see them leave out Fla. if they did, it would have to be for Temple.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

fake -ass Fcs fans. "Oh I love fcs!" Untill your team announces they're moving up to a shxtstain fbs conf. Fxckin fakers!

Kinda silly isn't this BF? You've seen the wide divide on here in Grizville alone without needing to look elsewhere for confirmation that every fan base is somewhat split on a move.

I guess you're trying to manufacture a point that doesn't exist but if not I'm at a real loss on where you're coming from here.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Why wouldn't App fans support the move. It's not like you'll refuse to watch your school if they move up. Even if it's the MAC or Sun Belt. A lot of fans would probably like to see how App St. would do vs. 2 or 3 BCS schools and a CUSA school or 2 in the same season a long with the top Sun Belt schools. They probably want to see if a FCS power could win the Sun Belt or MAC in their 1st or 2nd year in FBS.

Didn't Marshall already do that and how is that a big question anyway?

[dbackjon]

Why wouldn't App fans support the move. It's not like you'll refuse to watch your school if they move up. Even if it's the MAC or Sun Belt. A lot of fans would probably like to see how App St. would do vs. 2 or 3 BCS schools and a CUSA school or 2 in the same season a long with the top Sun Belt schools. They probably want to see if a FCS power could win the Sun Belt or MAC in their 1st or 2nd year in FBS.

Didn't Marshall already do that and how is that a big question anyway?

Yup - national champs in 96 (over Montana), MAC Champs in 97, 98, 99, 00, 02. East Division Champs in '01

Six straight Bowls, 5-1 record in them.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Didn't Marshall already do that and how is that a big question anyway?

Yup - national champs in 96 (over Montana), MAC Champs in 97, 98, 99, 00, 02. East Division Champs in '01

Six straight Bowls, 5-1 record in them.

I don't even know how it's a question. I also don't understand how winning in sub par conferences with the red headed stepchildren of FBS is something great but somehow I guess others see it as something.

If there were a dozen or so bowls and you got an invite to one I'd see the glory in that as well but this silly shit of acting like the majority of these bowls are anything more than just another game with little or no meaning is fucking silly bs. I ain't against having an extra game and so forth but saying your the Motor City Bowl Champion just doesn't mean shit to me.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Yup - national champs in 96 (over Montana), MAC Champs in 97, 98, 99, 00, 02. East Division Champs in '01

Six straight Bowls, 5-1 record in them.

I don't even know how it's a question. I also don't understand how winning in sub par conferences with the red headed stepchildren of FBS is something great but somehow I guess others see it as something.

If there were a dozen or so bowls and you got an invite to one I'd see the glory in that as well but this silly shit of acting like the majority of these bowls are anything more than just another game with little or no meaning is fucking silly bs. I ain't against having an extra game and so forth but saying your the Motor City Bowl Champion just doesn't mean shit to me.

Fresno St. is in the Don't Give a Shit bowl or the Who Gives a Fuck Bowl every year. Us fans care more about winning a conf. title or beating BCS schools more than a bowl game unless the Bowl is against a bigger name.

My point was, if App moves up the fans won't boycott watching App games. You just go with it. App would probably not care as much about beating Akron in the Motor City bowl as they would beating ECU or Louisville or NC St. If the money and exposure is better for App at FBS, along with an invite to which ever conf., including the SBC they'll go. If not they'll stay.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I don't even know how it's a question. I also don't understand how winning in sub par conferences with the red headed stepchildren of FBS is something great but somehow I guess others see it as something.

If there were a dozen or so bowls and you got an invite to one I'd see the glory in that as well but this silly shit of acting like the majority of these bowls are anything more than just another game with little or no meaning is fucking silly bs. I ain't against having an extra game and so forth but saying your the Motor City Bowl Champion just doesn't mean shit to me.

Fresno St. is in the Don't Give a Shit bowl or the Who Gives a Fuck Bowl every year. Us fans care more about winning a conf. title or beating BCS schools more than a bowl game unless the Bowl is against a bigger name.

My point was, if App moves up the fans won't boycott watching App games. You just go with it. App would probably not care as much about beating Akron in the Motor City bowl as they would beating ECU or Louisville or NC St. If the money and exposure is better for App at FBS, along with an invite to which ever conf., including the SBC they'll go. If not they'll stay.

Yeah I can go with all of that. The thing is with that scenario is that although it's an upset at times you are not climbing from a disadvantaged place since you have the same amount of schollies and all. It's not really the same as App over Michigan. Now as far as BB and all the other sports if it's a good position for your school then so be it but the silly ass "we need to be playing at the highest level" shit is always about football and you sure as the hell ain't playing at the highest level in those conferences. Once in a while you get the really good games but App has played ECU, Michigan, & LSU in the last few years at this level and at this budget. It ain't gonna be a whole lot different or better as far as playing the big teams but they may be able to pull two of those season...who knows.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Fresno St. is in the Don't Give a Shit bowl or the Who Gives a Fuck Bowl every year. Us fans care more about winning a conf. title or beating BCS schools more than a bowl game unless the Bowl is against a bigger name.

My point was, if App moves up the fans won't boycott watching App games. You just go with it. App would probably not care as much about beating Akron in the Motor City bowl as they would beating ECU or Louisville or NC St. If the money and exposure is better for App at FBS, along with an invite to which ever conf., including the SBC they'll go. If not they'll stay.

Yeah I can go with all of that. The thing is with that scenario is that although it's an upset at times you are not climbing from a disadvantaged place since you have the same amount of schollies and all. It's not really the same as App over Michigan. Now as far as BB and all the other sports if it's a good position for your school then so be it but the silly ass "we need to be playing at the highest level" shit is always about football and you sure as the hell ain't playing at the highest level in those conferences. Once in a while you get the really good games but App has played ECU, Michigan, & LSU in the last few years at this level and at this budget. It ain't gonna be a whole lot different or better as far as playing the big teams but they may be able to pull two of those season...who knows.

Well even though MWC isn't BCS they still have been getting to play in a $17 Million BCS game. 7 times if you include the 3 times the WAC schools that are moving to the MWC. It would be a little different if App is playing 12 games vs FBS schools instead of 1. I think they'd get 1st or 2nd in the SBC the first year. This is an FCS board so of course FCS seems like the better option and only retards think that Bowls are better than Playoffs. But the fuckhead presidents are making more money off the bowls so they keep them.

[49RFootballNow]

Yeah I can go with all of that. The thing is with that scenario is that although it's an upset at times you are not climbing from a disadvantaged place since you have the same amount of schollies and all. It's not really the same as App over Michigan. Now as far as BB and all the other sports if it's a good position for your school then so be it but the silly ass "we need to be playing at the highest level" **** is always about football and you sure as the hell ain't playing at the highest level in those conferences. Once in a while you get the really good games but App has played ECU, Michigan, & LSU in the last few years at this level and at this budget. It ain't gonna be a whole lot different or better as far as playing the big teams but they may be able to pull two of those season...who knows.

Well even though MWC isn't BCS they still have been getting to play in a $17 Million BCS game. 7 times if you include the 3 times the WAC schools that are moving to the MWC. It would be a little different if App is playing 12 games vs FBS schools instead of 1. I think they'd get 1st or 2nd in the SBC the first year. This is an FCS board so of course FCS seems like the better option and only retards think that Bowls are better than Playoffs. But the **** presidents are making more money off the bowls so they keep them.

Pretty good analysis of the potential financial benefits of an FBS level playoff was done in the book Death to the BCS. Most authorities seems to believe the financial benefits of moving to a playoff format in FBS would yield significant increases in profit to universities. The real problem is it would yield significant profits to ALL FBS universities. Right now about 80% of bowl profits goes to little more than half the FBS schools. A playoff format, while giving the current BCS schools even more money than they currently have, some even believe the profit for a BCS program could double; would triple or even quadruple the profits of non-BCS FBS schools. All of a sudden you'd have the non-BCS, with a glut of cash, able to fully fund their programs and able to go on a spending spree of new facilities construction. You close that financial profit gap to 70% or 60%, which a playoff would do, and all of a sudden programs that needed your BCS program to throw them a bone game to keep their scholarships funded are now showing recruits you want too their new Football Center which is much nicer than yours.

Its about control.

Money is how they control it and they (the BCS) are willing to leave hundreds of millions on the table just to make sure the non-BCS schools don't get a part of that money too.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Yeah I can go with all of that. The thing is with that scenario is that although it's an upset at times you are not climbing from a disadvantaged place since you have the same amount of schollies and all. It's not really the same as App over Michigan. Now as far as BB and all the other sports if it's a good position for your school then so be it but the silly ass "we need to be playing at the highest level" shit is always about football and you sure as the hell ain't playing at the highest level in those conferences. Once in a while you get the really good games but App has played ECU, Michigan, & LSU in the last few years at this level and at this budget. It ain't gonna be a whole lot different or better as far as playing the big teams but they may be able to pull two of those season...who knows.

Well even though MWC isn't BCS they still have been getting to play in a $17 Million BCS game. 7 times if you include the 3 times the WAC schools that are moving to the MWC. It would be a little different if App is playing 12 games vs FBS schools instead of 1. I think they'd get 1st or 2nd in the SBC the first year. This is an FCS board so of course FCS seems like the better option and only retards think that Bowls are better than Playoffs. But the fuckhead presidents are making more money off the bowls so they keep them.

I don't consider the MWC a low level conference and completely agree. Don't be confused that I was putting them in with the MAC, SB, etc...hell just the conference slate alone is exciting for a move upper in the better conferences like those.

Now I'm sure that there is still some shuffling that will be done. The moves to good conferences according to what you've said (I trust it) is gonna be done by teams that are already there. In the next couple of years that's gonna be all shaken out....there will be four or possibly five super conferences that drive all BCS revenue I would think. Where does that leave the FCS's that are just moving up? I really think it's gonna leave them in those shitty conferences with those shitty bowls and the shitty paydays while increasing their costs fairly dramatically. I'm only talking about football here and there may be MBB revenues that need to be considered as well but not for too many of these teams.

I could easily see why App would want to go to CUSA but I can't see it otherwise.

[CatMom]

Problem is, as 49RFootballNow as alluded to, the Bowls leave the majority of the schools that play in them deeply in the red for having done so. Very few make any money and what money they do actually make (in the end) is usually under 100K

[Fresno St. Alum]

Problem is, as 49RFootballNow as alluded to, the Bowls leave the majority of the schools that play in them deeply in the red for having done so. Very few make any money and what money they do actually make (in the end) is usually under 100K

Yeah we made 540K off of Boise St.'s BCS game 2 years ago. I think the bowl we went to payed 740K but when you add up all the expenses it wasn't much if any.

UAH, if only you were the BCS head. They sure as hell don't think of us as a real conf. and never will now that Utah, BYU & TCU are gone.

[ASUSandman]

Yup - national champs in 96 (over Montana), MAC Champs in 97, 98, 99, 00, 02. East Division Champs in '01

Six straight Bowls, 5-1 record in them.

I don't even know how it's a question. I also don't understand how winning in sub par conferences with the red headed stepchildren of FBS is something great but somehow I guess others see it as something.

If there were a dozen or so bowls and you got an invite to one I'd see the glory in that as well but this silly **** of acting like the majority of these bowls are anything more than just another game with little or no meaning is **** silly bs. I ain't against having an extra game and so forth but saying your the Motor City Bowl Champion just doesn't mean **** to me.

Time to be honest. How many people in college football land, other than the handul of people on this board and the players, coaches and team that wins it, gives a rat's ass about the FCS national championship? ASU has taken the Montana approach of dumbing down the regular season in order to get home field advantage. The regular season means nothing any longer. I would much rather have a great regular season schedule with the prospect of no postseason, than a sucky regular season just to make the playoffs. It is getting to the point many ASU fans now show up more for the tailgating because the games are so awful. Half the fun of winning is the prospect you could lose. That only comes into play for about 3-4 of ASU's 11 regular scheduled games these days. People are getting bored.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I don't even know how it's a question. I also don't understand how winning in sub par conferences with the red headed stepchildren of FBS is something great but somehow I guess others see it as something.

If there were a dozen or so bowls and you got an invite to one I'd see the glory in that as well but this silly **** of acting like the majority of these bowls are anything more than just another game with little or no meaning is **** silly bs. I ain't against having an extra game and so forth but saying your the Motor City Bowl Champion just doesn't mean **** to me.

Time to be honest. How many people in college football land, other than the handul of people on this board and the players, coaches and team that wins it, gives a rat's ass about the FCS national championship? ASU has taken the Montana approach of dumbing down the regular season in order to get home field advantage. The regular season means nothing any longer. I would much rather have a great regular season schedule with the prospect of no postseason, than a sucky regular season just to make the playoffs. It is getting to the point many ASU fans now show up more for the tailgating because the games are so awful. Half the fun of winning is the prospect you could lose. That only comes into play for about 3-4 of ASU's 11 regular scheduled games these days. People are getting bored.

As I've always said I couldn't give a flying fuck if the rest of the country doesn't care about what we're playing. The tailgating and the having some friends and seeing good games from some some conference rivals and then getting to play on the national scene against great teams from other conferences is what it's about for me.

To be able to play the App. States, Furman's, GA Southerns, means a whole lot to me. Some of the App fans feel like they are somehow diminished by being associated with a Wofford and others. I would love to play those kind of teams. I have a lot of respect them and what they've done. It appears to me that some of the App fans don't respect their conference as much as I and some others do. That's too bad.

I say if your fans don't get what they want out of what they are playing then you do need to move on. You may think it's gonna be some great deal and that you are gonna be in some position of respect by going FBS. I just don't see it. You're gonna be moving from a place that reveres ya to a place that you are now the Woffords of the world. If that's what your fan base needs to get by then more power to em'. I just don't think that a fan base that is bored with what's going on with App in the last decade is gonna be real happy in the next decade with a shitty conference and wallowing in new found obscurity. I've been wrong before though and wish App good luck and will be rotting for them in any game they play at the FBS level.

[dbackjon]

I don't even know how it's a question. I also don't understand how winning in sub par conferences with the red headed stepchildren of FBS is something great but somehow I guess others see it as something.

If there were a dozen or so bowls and you got an invite to one I'd see the glory in that as well but this silly **** of acting like the majority of these bowls are anything more than just another game with little or no meaning is **** silly bs. I ain't against having an extra game and so forth but saying your the Motor City Bowl Champion just doesn't mean **** to me.

Time to be honest. How many people in college football land, other than the handul of people on this board and the players, coaches and team that wins it, gives a rat's ass about the FCS national championship? ASU has taken the Montana approach of dumbing down the regular season in order to get home field advantage. The regular season means nothing any longer. I would much rather have a great regular season schedule with the prospect of no postseason, than a sucky regular season just to make the playoffs. It is getting to the point many ASU fans now show up more for the tailgating because the games are so awful. Half the fun of winning is the prospect you could lose. That only comes into play for about 3-4 of ASU's 11 regular scheduled games these days. People are getting bored.

You don't think that is going to happen if you are FBS? In order to get home games, you will have to schedule 1 FCS, and do home and home with SunBelt, etc teams. And, you will have to do 2-1 or 3-1 to get any BCS teams in your house.

Is ULL, WKU, etc going to generate any excitement as OOC opponents? Move to SunBelt, ZERO rivals. Move to C-USA, you will have ECU and Marshall.

If they dumb down the schedule to make the playoffs, they will do the same to be bowl eligible.

[ASUMountaineer]

Time to be honest. How many people in college football land, other than the handul of people on this board and the players, coaches and team that wins it, gives a rat's ass about the FCS national championship? ASU has taken the Montana approach of dumbing down the regular season in order to get home field advantage. The regular season means nothing any longer. I would much rather have a great regular season schedule with the prospect of no postseason, than a sucky regular season just to make the playoffs. It is getting to the point many ASU fans now show up more for the tailgating because the games are so awful. Half the fun of winning is the prospect you could lose. That only comes into play for about 3-4 of ASU's 11 regular scheduled games these days. People are getting bored.

As I've always said I couldn't give a flying **** if the rest of the country doesn't care about what we're playing. The tailgating and the having some friends and seeing good games from some some conference rivals and then getting to play on the national scene against great teams from other conferences is what it's about for me.

To be able to play the App. States, Furman's, GA Southerns, means a whole lot to me. Some of the App fans feel like they are somehow diminished by being associated with a Wofford and others. I would love to play those kind of teams. I have a lot of respect them and what they've done. It appears to me that some of the App fans don't respect their conference as much as I and some others do. That's too bad.

I say if your fans don't get what they want out of what they are playing then you do need to move on. You may think it's gonna be some great deal and that you are gonna be in some position of respect by going FBS. I just don't see it. You're gonna be moving from a place that reveres ya to a place that you are now the Woffords of the world. If that's what your fan base needs to get by then more power to em'. I just don't think that a fan base that is bored with what's going on with App in the last decade is gonna be real happy in the next decade with a shitty conference and wallowing in new found obscurity. I've been wrong before though and wish App good luck and will be rotting for them in any game they play at the FBS level.

You have a way about you man, that's why everyone loves UAH--no homo.

Honestly, I used to be anti-ASU going FBS. However, recently I've been for it. Not just because of our football team's success, or the "we've outgrown the SoCon," we're "the exception rather than the rule." While I agree with that, it's the benefits the university as a whole (not just athletics/ football) could possibly receive if it were to be invited to a conference on CUSA's level. Whether this is true or not, I don't know...it's very hard to ascertain (but IMO it is). However, I don't see how anyone could doubt out current leadership once they make a decision about what's best for ASU.

Thanks for your kind words about Appalachian. In 2000 when we lost that semifinal heartbreaker in Missoula I developed a deep hatred for the Griz. But, after being on this board (and AGS) getting to know some Griz fans (including AZ), the game in 09, and hearing how well you guys have treated my fellow APPS...you've gained a hillbilly as a fan. The biggest downside I see to us possibly moving on is canceling the game out in Missoula in 2013. My wife and I have been planning to head out there for a week to vacation and go to the game. We've never been out there, and we know it would be a great time. Hopefully, the game in Boone in 2012 will still happen (regardless of ASU's decision), so we can show all you guys some Southern hospitality.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

As I've always said I couldn't give a flying **** if the rest of the country doesn't care about what we're playing. The tailgating and the having some friends and seeing good games from some some conference rivals and then getting to play on the national scene against great teams from other conferences is what it's about for me.

To be able to play the App. States, Furman's, GA Southerns, means a whole lot to me. Some of the App fans feel like they are somehow diminished by being associated with a Wofford and others. I would love to play those kind of teams. I have a lot of respect them and what they've done. It appears to me that some of the App fans don't respect their conference as much as I and some others do. That's too bad.

I say if your fans don't get what they want out of what they are playing then you do need to move on. You may think it's gonna be some great deal and that you are gonna be in some position of respect by going FBS. I just don't see it. You're gonna be moving from a place that reveres ya to a place that you are now the Woffords of the world. If that's what your fan base needs to get by then more power to em'. I just don't think that a fan base that is bored with what's going on with App in the last decade is gonna be real happy in the next decade with a shitty conference and wallowing in new found obscurity. I've been wrong before though and wish App good luck and will be rotting for them in any game they play at the FBS level.

You have a way about you man, that's why everyone loves UAH--no homo.

Honestly, I used to be anti-ASU going FBS. However, recently I've been for it. Not just because of our football team's success, or the "we've outgrown the SoCon," we're "the exception rather than the rule." While I agree with that, it's the benefits the university as a whole (not just athletics/ football) could possibly receive if it were to be invited to a conference on CUSA's level. Whether this is true or not, I don't know...it's very hard to ascertain (but IMO it is). However, I don't see how anyone could doubt out current leadership once they make a decision about what's best for ASU.

Thanks for your kind words about Appalachian. In 2000 when we lost that semifinal heartbreaker in Missoula I developed a deep hatred for the Griz. But, after being on this board (and AGS) getting to know some Griz fans (including AZ), the game in 09, and hearing how well you guys have treated my fellow APPS...you've gained a hillbilly as a fan. The biggest downside I see to us possibly moving on is canceling the game out in Missoula in 2013. My wife and I have been planning to head out there for a week to vacation and go to the game. We've never been out there, and we know it would be a great time. Hopefully, the game in Boone in 2012 will still happen (regardless of ASU's decision), so we can show all you guys some Southern hospitality.

I know I don't have near the insight that your Administration does and I'm sure they will make the decision based on what they know to be the best course of action. As I say I could see the overall benefits of a CUSA affiliation, it's the others that I can not see just as a "step up" type of purpose.

I also don't think that doing a trial run in those conferences will work out because there are from all appearances many other schools in front of App that would be taken before App , that ain't gonna be good if there isn't a chair at the CUSA or one of the other second tier FBS conferences at least that would work out well for you guys. That's some pretty big expenses I would think to be in a MAC or a Sun Belt for the foreseeable future. Once this sorts out there is really nothing that is gonna get a team to move up the ranks and fill in at the bigger conferences cuz the teams in those conferences will cherish those seats at the BCS table like never before. The BCS conferences locked down, the second tier will not be moving any third tier Sun Belt or MAC or WAC teams up either. That isn't to say that those conferences become better on their own but I just don't know if it real likely when the BCS choke hold on the money solidifies.

Now an act of Congress may fix that.

Again, just talking about football which is a truncated argument to be sure.

That's why I say I could see wanting to go to the CUSA but pretending that the SB is a step up and will bring better things seems a little out of touch with what is really transpiring out there.

Glad you have been turned around on the Griz faithful my friend. FWIW, I've had a great deal of respect for ASU since that same game. A bunch of salty dogs from Boone came into the stadium and provided one of the beeter games in the stadiums history. Tough not to have respect for any of the teams from the great SoCon. I am also very much anticipating the future matchups with App and hope they continue to come to fruition. A great team with loads of great fans. Can't ask for more in your College Football experience in my reckoning.