Appalachian State to CUSA?

[proasu89]

How the #@$% do you know that? Quit being such a @#$$y and get on board. Sorry, Appa but I had to rant. Everyone that's against moving up acts like it's a given that we'll make the playoffs, let alone have a deep run each season. Nothing is guaranteed in FCS or FBS. What I do know is that we're in a conference with teams that have never beaten us (Elon and Sammy) & teams that rarely beat us (Citadel, Wofford, Western, UTC). Thats' right we are 11-3 vs Wofford and 11-5 vs. Furman in the last 15 years. (Thanks to AppMan for the stats)
That leaves GSU as the only competitive team year in and year out for the last decade plus. Throw in our home OOC schedule of A&T and Savannah St. and WOW is that underwhelming. It's time to go, grow, and see if we can compete on the next level. I have the faith that we can and thankfully our leadership does as well. We have a fanbase of 25-30K for regular season home games and that will expand say Marshall or ECU come to Boone. Using the playoffs as an example to stay FCS doesn't hold water because the drop in #'s proves that it is just not that important. So why not make the regular season as attractive as possible.

Good FCS teams can compete with the level of competition you are talking about right now. I watched the ECU/ASU game and I thought ASU would pull that game out. Close but no cigar. With an extra lineup on each side of the ball I would certainly hope it's pretty clear you could compete.

I see your situation as fairly similar to Marshall's when they moved up. You enlarged the text in Appa's post that was talking about the attendance. Marshall had real similar #'s when they were in 1AA. 30K for good games, 15-18K for playoff games except for the two years MT was there in the Championship when it was 30 & 32K.

They had a good regular season run the first four or five years. Fans were excited about being on the level with W VA and so forth (They had a massive little man complex over that) and their numbers fairly consistently fell. Maybe once you get what you want, or the 1/2 of the fan base that doesn't like the move to forced mediocrity things retract a little. I don't have the answer on that one and I am just spitballin' on that. Their regular season #'s were certainly not a big jump due to the importance of the regular season and insignificance of the playoffs as some are putting forth.

If things go well like they did for Marshall where will ASU be in 5-10-15yrs.? Looking at Marshall you may be looking to get back to where you are at right now...as I said previously, the grass is always greener right? Maybe, maybe not.

Marshall

97
26,402

98
24,788 Down 1,614

99
28,674
00
28,498 Down -176

01
26,578 Down

02
27,788

03
27,837

04
Didn't see it but safe to assume around 27K

05
26,510 Down

06
26,031 Down

07
30,020

08
24,766 Down

09
22,236 Down

10
27,046

This is a stadium that expanded from 30K to 38K and at no time since residing in FBS have they averaged over the mark they started at. Maybe the importance and the FBS exposure isn't all that some of you dream it will be...especially if the very high level you are competing at doesn't make itself at home in your neck of the woods.

You have between 15-20K good, hard core fans that want to go see some football like ASUG8, and Appman, and you seem to be. Then there is a pretty frail 10-15K that are there because you are a winner RIGHT NOW. I don't know if I'd be real quick to count on them staying through the tough times like you guys do. They are not made of the same material as you are.

Good and valid points. I highlighted Appaholics point that he and others are sure that if we have a down year then we will be back to 14-15k in attendance. There's no way of knowing this although quite a few are certain it would happen. Also, many are making an assumption that if we stay FCS then we will always be at the top of the food chain there. No way in hell of knowing either of those but I continue to believe that our administration will make a decision based on what's best for the future of the university and I pray that it is a decision that has us moving forward.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Good FCS teams can compete with the level of competition you are talking about right now. I watched the ECU/ASU game and I thought ASU would pull that game out. Close but no cigar. With an extra lineup on each side of the ball I would certainly hope it's pretty clear you could compete.

I see your situation as fairly similar to Marshall's when they moved up. You enlarged the text in Appa's post that was talking about the attendance. Marshall had real similar #'s when they were in 1AA. 30K for good games, 15-18K for playoff games except for the two years MT was there in the Championship when it was 30 & 32K.

They had a good regular season run the first four or five years. Fans were excited about being on the level with W VA and so forth (They had a massive little man complex over that) and their numbers fairly consistently fell. Maybe once you get what you want, or the 1/2 of the fan base that doesn't like the move to forced mediocrity things retract a little. I don't have the answer on that one and I am just spitballin' on that. Their regular season #'s were certainly not a big jump due to the importance of the regular season and insignificance of the playoffs as some are putting forth.

If things go well like they did for Marshall where will ASU be in 5-10-15yrs.? Looking at Marshall you may be looking to get back to where you are at right now...as I said previously, the grass is always greener right? Maybe, maybe not.

Marshall

97
26,402

98
24,788 Down 1,614

99
28,674
00
28,498 Down -176

01
26,578 Down

02
27,788

03
27,837

04
Didn't see it but safe to assume around 27K

05
26,510 Down

06
26,031 Down

07
30,020

08
24,766 Down

09
22,236 Down

10
27,046

This is a stadium that expanded from 30K to 38K and at no time since residing in FBS have they averaged over the mark they started at. Maybe the importance and the FBS exposure isn't all that some of you dream it will be...especially if the very high level you are competing at doesn't make itself at home in your neck of the woods.

You have between 15-20K good, hard core fans that want to go see some football like ASUG8, and Appman, and you seem to be. Then there is a pretty frail 10-15K that are there because you are a winner RIGHT NOW. I don't know if I'd be real quick to count on them staying through the tough times like you guys do. They are not made of the same material as you are.

Good and valid points. I highlighted Appaholics point that he and others are sure that if we have a down year then we will be back to 14-15k in attendance. There's no way of knowing this although quite a few are certain it would happen. Also, many are making an assumption that if we stay FCS then we will always be at the top of the food chain there. No way in hell of knowing either of those but I continue to believe that our administration will make a decision based on what's best for the future of the university and I pray that it is a decision that has us moving forward.

I agree with ya pro...it is all an unknown and I doubt you'd go back to 15K as well. Sometimes a fighter moves out of his weight class and does well, sometimes he doesn't. Since you can't go back or wouldn't go back I'd just hate to see a storied and well respected fighter become an also ran journeyman.

Some have a revered look on the NC and others value other things more. You will never play for a NC again but the even more biting thing is that if you are very, very good you wouldn't even be given the opportunity.

[ASUSandman]

I don't think it's fair to use our regular season average to compare to playoffs.

Western Illinois was in a snowstorm. No way you're going to get thousands of people to sit on a snow covered hill. In September? No problem... the hill is packed. December? People will stay home and watch on tv instead of sit/stand in the snow with no seat.

We have 21,650 seats. 13,322 were reported as filled. Now, that's not even considering the argument that there is an incentive to under report playoff attendance.

We certainly have a drop off in attendance, even if you just consider available seats and exclude the hill. But, your 1/4 figure makes it seem like a stadium that's mostly empty. And, that just wasn't the case. It wasn't full. But, it wasn't near empty.

Agree....and that picture was taken from home side looking at the visitor side. Pretty respectable showing considering some people couldn't get up the mountain on gameday due to inclement roads or weren't willing to risk not being able to get back home after the gaem (ASUG8 & wife can attest to that).

Good grief! I thought our people had finally out grown the home side / visitor side high school reference to bed. Is it any coincidence the people who still use this terminology are the ones wanting ASU to stay FCS. Wonder what they will call the north and south end zone stands when they are built?

[ASUSandman]

sk & app, that's all well and good. Same stories for most schools, so it's not a problem App St. faces alone. But the numbers tell a story. We can all look into it as much as we want and throw around excuses, but that's not the point. What is the point, it that in FCS, the playoff games...what a team supposedly is aspiring to be in every year...is not supported by the fans the same way as the regular season. It's not an opinion that App St. was averaging almost 29k in the regular season, but had only 15k in the quarterfinal game against last years champ, Villanova. Delaware had a drop too from over 20k regular season to under 9k in the UNH quarterfinal game.

You're right about all the excuses: travel planning, weather, etc. But those excuses are the point of the sub-topic within this thread: playoffs being a dog, just like the bottom-tier bowl games are. And for the most part, that's regardless of school...it just happens we're talking App St. in this thread.

So in the end, despite our teams being in FCS, I just think that "having playoffs" isn't necessarily something people should be standing on a soapbox and beating ones chest about... when these playoffs have so little support from the fans. Why aspire for FBS to copy the FCS model and have playoffs when playoffs are of so little interest to the fans of playoff FBS schools?

Someone mentioned a 64 team football playoff...and I assume that he was just kidding. But it seems there is an argument that the system would be best with an even more limited postseason.

A playoff involving more than four teams will never work in FBS. Don’t give me the professional example because visiting pro fans do not travel in large groups for playoff games. In FCS you have programs with miniscule fan bases compared to schools like Ohio State, Texas, Southern Cal, Florida, and ect. There were perhaps 500 ASU fans that made the trip to Montana year before last. The elite FBS schools will have thousands of fans needing flights and hotel rooms on a few days notice. It is completely different from a bowl game where there are weeks to prepare.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Agree....and that picture was taken from home side looking at the visitor side. Pretty respectable showing considering some people couldn't get up the mountain on gameday due to inclement roads or weren't willing to risk not being able to get back home after the gaem (ASUG8 & wife can attest to that).

Good grief! I thought our people had finally out grown the home side / visitor side high school reference to bed. Is it any coincidence the people who still use this terminology are the ones wanting ASU to stay FCS. Wonder what they will call the north and south end zone stands when they are built?

did ya

[Appaholic]

I don't know. Everyone thought our attendance would fall off after our run of national championships was over. This was our best year attendance-wise ever. We're still growing.

Sure, attendance will drop if we have .500 season or worse. Everyone's does. Even the Florida State's and Tennessee's of the college football world. How much is anyone's guess.The folks on our committee will have a better understanding of how our fans will react to some tough transition years than anyone on this board. They're conducting focus groups with the students, alumni, Yosef Club, etc. Their guess will be much more educated than anyone else's.

I used to be pretty staunch anti-move up person. But, in the last couple of months have really come around the to prospect of moving up. The possibility of CUSA is what has really piqued my interest... but, I'm almost to the point where I could stomach a few years in the Sun Belt or MAC with the hopes of getting a better invite down the road.

I like the top of FCS. If we could play our whole season against programs like Montana, Delaware, JMU, Georgia Southern, etc. I would be very satisfied. But, when you look at FCS as a whole... it's pretty boring. Going to an away game at Wofford, Samford, Furman, Elon, etc. is just awful. It sounds arrogant... but, it's plain as day when you walk into their stadiums that we are on another level than them... and have no business being in an athletic conference with them.

I've acquiesced to both the CUSA being probably a good move and also to the fact that the committee in place at ASU would have far more in depth knowledge than I possibly could. I am not counter pointing them. They are not on here making statements of things we can have no way of knowing at this point. Other posters are, and that's who I'm playing point/counter with.

I'm not even saying that the fan base will drop off from where it's at now. I'm saying that it is not likely to jump a lot more than it is now at. Maybe a little but I can't see a big jump there considering that it isn't a normal occurence elsewhere.

You have what looks to be a similar fan situation as Montana on the FBS/FCS split. Soem of the fans that like FCS will get disgruntled quicker if things are not working out. Once the athletic packages start taking leaps forward in price because you have a lot more expenses to cover some of them will say "fuck it". There will be fans to fill their place but I'm not sure the net amount will provide ASU with a consistently bigger number than you now have. The number you have now is very good though.

Nailed it!

And with regard to Skelly's comments, I, too, am more interested in moving out of FCS if we go to C-USA since we have natural rivals & level of competition is better game-in, game-out. However, I'm not interested in moving out of FCS if we are moving to the Sunbelt or MAC. The MAC has some historically decent teams (good midwest football) but we have no natural rivals & away games are a bitch. But the Sunbelt sucks...period...flat out sucks. If we are considering the SB in an effort to improve regular season schedule, we should just save our money, stay FCS & petition the CAA as it would give us a better regular season than the SB & more natural rivals than the SB. But, and I hope this doesn't happen, I think we might be changing our tune with regard to regular season conference competition level this upcoming FB season.

[Appaholic]

Agree....and that picture was taken from home side looking at the visitor side. Pretty respectable showing considering some people couldn't get up the mountain on gameday due to inclement roads or weren't willing to risk not being able to get back home after the gaem (ASUG8 & wife can attest to that).

Good grief! I thought our people had finally out grown the home side / visitor side high school reference to bed. Is it any coincidence the people who still use this terminology are the ones wanting ASU to stay FCS. Wonder what they will call the north and south end zone stands when they are built?

Good grief! I used it as a point of reference for posters not familiar with our stadium. And I'm sorry, I've never heard of this "home side/visitor side" dilemma within the AppSt fanbase. I imagine it's a "dilemma" manufactured by persons trying to make our stadium out to be something much grander than it is. Is it any coincidence the people who would reference a supposed "home side/visitor side" dilemma with regard to our stadium are the same persons who would move to FBS at any cost in an effort to alleviate feelings of inferiority in an attempt validate App's existence within college football?

[Appaholic]

Good and valid points. I highlighted Appaholics point that he and others are sure that if we have a down year then we will be back to 14-15k in attendance. There's no way of knowing this although quite a few are certain it would happen. Also, many are making an assumption that if we stay FCS then we will always be at the top of the food chain there. No way in hell of knowing either of those but I continue to believe that our administration will make a decision based on what's best for the future of the university and I pray that it is a decision that has us moving forward.

I agree with ya pro...it is all an unknown and I doubt you'd go back to 15K as well. Sometimes a fighter moves out of his weight class and does well, sometimes he doesn't. Since you can't go back or wouldn't go back I'd just hate to see a storied and well respected fighter become an also ran journeyman.

Some have a revered look on the NC and others value other things more. You will never play for a NC again but the even more biting thing is that if you are very, very good you wouldn't even be given the opportunity.

+1...and I dobt we'll be back to 15k per se, but we running a couple of .500 seasons, we won't be 28k consistently either. A move to FBS will not bring more people in or keep people from planning other things on fall Sat's if we hit a rough patch...continuing to win or natural rival games will maintain the 28k you have now. That's why I could understand C-USA....not because it's FBS, but because of Marshall & ECU.

[Appaholic]

How the #@$% do you know that? Quit being such a @#$$y and get on board. Sorry, Appa but I had to rant. Everyone that's against moving up acts like it's a given that we'll make the playoffs, let alone have a deep run each season. Nothing is guaranteed in FCS or FBS.

Not a problem, pro. I'm used to being the "flat-earther agitator" regarding this issue. And I concede we aren't guaranteed to make the playoffs every year. If you'll concede we may not get an annual invite to even a crappy bowl, much less be given an opportunity to play for NC not matter how well we do in regular season...EVER (at least in our lifetime).

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Good grief! I thought our people had finally out grown the home side / visitor side high school reference to bed. Is it any coincidence the people who still use this terminology are the ones wanting ASU to stay FCS. Wonder what they will call the north and south end zone stands when they are built?

Good grief! I used it as a point of reference for posters not familiar with our stadium. And I'm sorry, I've never heard of this "home side/visitor side" dilemma within the AppSt fanbase. I imagine it's a "dilemma" manufactured by persons trying to make our stadium out to be something much grander than it is. Is it any coincidence the people who would reference a supposed "home side/visitor side" dilemma with regard to our stadium are the same persons who would move to FBS at any cost in an effort to alleviate feelings of inferiority in an attempt validate App's existence within college football?

The home side/visitor side thing was too fucking dumb to even really acknowledge for me but since you quoted it I am wondering how it has anything to do with the back & forth. Was it meant to denigrate your/my argument here?



Isn't it a long held fact that the visiting team has one sideline (the visitors side), and the home team has their sideline (the home side)?

WTF?

I think every team has a home side/visitor side don't they? I know every game I've ever been to there has been one. What kind of a tool would you have to be to make that insignificant point some bone of contention?

That's some real dumb ass shit.

[Appaholic]

Good grief! I used it as a point of reference for posters not familiar with our stadium. And I'm sorry, I've never heard of this "home side/visitor side" dilemma within the AppSt fanbase. I imagine it's a "dilemma" manufactured by persons trying to make our stadium out to be something much grander than it is. Is it any coincidence the people who would reference a supposed "home side/visitor side" dilemma with regard to our stadium are the same persons who would move to FBS at any cost in an effort to alleviate feelings of inferiority in an attempt validate App's existence within college football?

The home side/visitor side thing was too fucking dumb to even really acknowledge for me but since you quoted it I am wondering how it has anything to do with the back & forth. Was it meant to denigrate your/my argument here?



Isn't it a long held fact that the visiting team has one sideline (the visitors side), and the home team has their sideline (the home side)?

WTF?

I think every team has a home side/visitor side don't they? I know every game I've ever been to there has been one. What kind of a tool would you have to be to make that insignificant point some bone of contention?

That's some real dumb ass shit.

It doesn't, it's nothing more than a red herring thrown out by someone who can't "defeat" (as if there is a winner to the argument...merely two sides debating the merits of either option.. ) the logic of our argument. So instead, he, as you say, tries to denigrate our argument with the home / visitor side comment as if that, RIGHT THERE, proves you & I are nothing more than a bunch of flat-earthers impeding progress in the Greater App Nation. If he was a Griz fan, i could more readily understand the argument seeing how it's an enclosed "bull ring" of a stadium. But our stands are two distinct locations separated by a grass hill on one side and a field house on the other.....the funny thing is, when most of the "new" fans are told they are sitting in the east or west stands, their first question is usually, "which is the home side? east or west?".....

"....look at that so-called fan...he doesn't even know that we no longer have a home or visitor side anymore...hahaha....no wonder he's too ignorant to understand the SunBelt, since it's FBS, is a much better product on the football field...hahaha...."

Give me a fokking break.....

[ASUMountaineer]

The home side/visitor side thing was too **** dumb to even really acknowledge for me but since you quoted it I am wondering how it has anything to do with the back & forth. Was it meant to denigrate your/my argument here?



Isn't it a long held fact that the visiting team has one sideline (the visitors side), and the home team has their sideline (the home side)?

WTF?

I think every team has a home side/visitor side don't they? I know every game I've ever been to there has been one. What kind of a tool would you have to be to make that insignificant point some bone of contention?

That's some real dumb ass ****.

It doesn't, it's nothing more than a red herring thrown out by someone who can't "defeat" (as if there is a winner to the argument...merely two sides debating the merits of either option.. ) the logic of our argument. So instead, he, as you say, tries to denigrate our argument with the home / visitor side comment as if that, RIGHT THERE, proves you & I are nothing more than a bunch of flat-earthers impeding progress in the Greater App Nation. If he was a Griz fan, i could more readily understand the argument seeing how it's an enclosed "bull ring" of a stadium. But our stands are two distinct locations separated by a grass hill on one side and a field house on the other.....the funny thing is, when most of the "new" fans are told they are sitting in the east or west stands, their first question is usually, "which is the home side? east or west?".....

"....look at that so-called fan...he doesn't even know that we no longer have a home or visitor side anymore...hahaha....no wonder he's too ignorant to understand the SunBelt, since it's FBS, is a much better product on the football field...hahaha...."

Give me a fokking break.....

Man, I really need to get back to posting here more frequently. I miss Appa's fokking posts. Are you coming to any home games this year?

[Appaholic]

It doesn't, it's nothing more than a red herring thrown out by someone who can't "defeat" (as if there is a winner to the argument...merely two sides debating the merits of either option.. ) the logic of our argument. So instead, he, as you say, tries to denigrate our argument with the home / visitor side comment as if that, RIGHT THERE, proves you & I are nothing more than a bunch of flat-earthers impeding progress in the Greater App Nation. If he was a Griz fan, i could more readily understand the argument seeing how it's an enclosed "bull ring" of a stadium. But our stands are two distinct locations separated by a grass hill on one side and a field house on the other.....the funny thing is, when most of the "new" fans are told they are sitting in the east or west stands, their first question is usually, "which is the home side? east or west?".....

"....look at that so-called fan...he doesn't even know that we no longer have a home or visitor side anymore...hahaha....no wonder he's too ignorant to understand the SunBelt, since it's FBS, is a much better product on the football field...hahaha...."

Give me a fokking break.....

Man, I really need to get back to posting here more frequently. I miss Appa's fokking posts. Are you coming to any home games this year?

Oh yeah....and yes, you do need to post here more often....but, I should be going to GaSouth, probably A&T and probably WCU. I'll be going to @ Wofford & @ Furman since they're within an hour of my place although I realize it wouldn't be half the game of say, an AppSt-Troy or AppSt-MTSU match-up...but, I'll manage....

[ASUG8]

Man, I really need to get back to posting here more frequently. I miss Appa's fokking posts. Are you coming to any home games this year?

Oh yeah....and yes, you do need to post here more often....but, I should be going to GaSouth, probably A&T and probably WCU. I'll be going to @ Wofford & @ Furman since they're within an hour of my place although I realize it wouldn't be half the game of say, an AppSt-Troy or AppSt-MTSU match-up...but, I'll manage....

This is the good year to live where we do with El Cid, WoCo, and FU so close.

[Appaholic]

Oh yeah....and yes, you do need to post here more often....but, I should be going to GaSouth, probably A&T and probably WCU. I'll be going to @ Wofford & @ Furman since they're within an hour of my place although I realize it wouldn't be half the game of say, an AppSt-Troy or AppSt-MTSU match-up...but, I'll manage....

This is the good year to live where we do with El Cid, WoCo, and FU so close.

How far is ElCid? I mean, I know they're still a century away, but literal distance on a map...how far away are they?

[ASUG8]

This is the good year to live where we do with El Cid, WoCo, and FU so close.

How far is ElCid? I mean, I know they're still a century away, but literal distance on a map...how far away are they?

Just over 3 hrs for us, straight down 26. Tack on :40 for you.

[Appaholic]

How far is ElCid? I mean, I know they're still a century away, but literal distance on a map...how far away are they?

Just over 3 hrs for us, straight down 26. Tack on :40 for you.

I think you and the missus should buy a house there....in time for the game....

[ASUMountaineer]

Man, I really need to get back to posting here more frequently. I miss Appa's fokking posts. Are you coming to any home games this year?

Oh yeah....and yes, you do need to post here more often....but, I should be going to GaSouth, probably A&T and probably WCU. I'll be going to @ Wofford & @ Furman since they're within an hour of my place although I realize it wouldn't be half the game of say, an AppSt-Troy or AppSt-MTSU match-up...but, I'll manage....

Nice, we'll definitely have to get up and enjoy a few.

[ASUMountaineer]

Oh yeah....and yes, you do need to post here more often....but, I should be going to GaSouth, probably A&T and probably WCU. I'll be going to @ Wofford & @ Furman since they're within an hour of my place although I realize it wouldn't be half the game of say, an AppSt-Troy or AppSt-MTSU match-up...but, I'll manage....

This is the good year to live where we do with El Cid, WoCo, and FU so close.

You making it to any games in Boone this year, man?

[ASUG8]

Just over 3 hrs for us, straight down 26. Tack on :40 for you.

I think you and the missus should buy a house there....in time for the game....

If I could unload my beach property you can be sure we'd be taking advantage of either the lowcountry or highcountry with a condo or cabin.

[Appaholic]

Oh yeah....and yes, you do need to post here more often....but, I should be going to GaSouth, probably A&T and probably WCU. I'll be going to @ Wofford & @ Furman since they're within an hour of my place although I realize it wouldn't be half the game of say, an AppSt-Troy or AppSt-MTSU match-up...but, I'll manage....

Nice, we'll definitely have to get up and enjoy a few.

I'll be in Huntervegas this Fri....send me your number for some drunk dialing....

[CharlestonAppFan]

Just over 3 hrs for us, straight down 26. Tack on :40 for you.

I think you and the missus should buy a house there....in time for the game....

I have one down here Although the misses will be 8 months preggo by then, so I'm not sure how she would like the

[Appaholic]

I think you and the missus should buy a house there....in time for the game....

I have one down here Although the misses will be 8 months preggo by then, so I'm not sure how she would like the

Perfect...place to stay and and DD for the game....be there around 6-ish Fri night before the game...I'll invite some of the friends from the Delaware game you met.. ..I'm sure you're wife will be impressed with this motley crew..

[Appaholic]

Seriously though, we ought to book some rooms...Got suggestions CAF? ASUG8, Mrs. ASUG8, Mrs Appa, myself, Tom & Amy (they were at Delaware game CAF...good folks)...book some rooms & make a weekend of it...will give CAF a place to hang & party so as not to disturb the preggo missus...

[CharlestonAppFan]

Seriously though, we ought to book some rooms...Got suggestions CAF? ASUG8, Mrs. ASUG8, Mrs Appa, myself, Tom & Amy (they were at Delaware game CAF...good folks)...book some rooms & make a weekend of it...will give CAF a place to hang & party so as not to disturb the preggo missus...

there are many suggestions as to where to stay....beaches, downtown, cheap, expensive....it all depends upon your preferences and how far you want to be away from all of the bars, or if you would rather be away from things and party hard at the beach. Charleston really isn't that big of a town, and everything is relatively close which is a good thing. I'd love to have a weekend with you guys before the baby comes!