Official 2015 Sun Belt Football Thread

[Pwns]

I think there are several reasons why Sun Belt is looked down on

1) Half the conference is recent FCS teams
2) Some of the worst teams in FBS over the past few years (Ga St, Idaho, NMSU) play in the Sun Belt
3) The Sun Belt has NEVER had a team even ranked in the top 25. The MWC has Boise, AFA, Colorado State, etc - some teams that have made national noise. The AAC has Houston, Memphis, ECU, Cincy - again, teams that have been highly ranked. The C-USA had Houston, even now Marshall was ranked last year. The MAC has had teams ranked, and NIU was top 10 a couple years ago.
4) The fact that two teams (ASU and GSU) that didn't make the FCS playoffs in their last year came in and have so far dominated the Sun Belt also is a negative for the Conference - they had to dip into the So Con to improve quality.



Until the Sun Belt gets some ranked teams, it will always be looked down on.

1. CUSA has UTSA, Charlotte, Old Dominion, WKU, FAU, and FIU. Most of their members are former FCS schools.

2. True, but all G5 leagues have teams that have been bottom feeders for at least several years now.

3. I would argue that has more to do with who the Sun Belt schedules for its P5 games. Honestly, how many of the MAC teams that got a ranking beat a P5 team that was worth a crap? Example: NIU in 2012 got a ranking losing to a an Iowa team that ended up 4-8 for the year. WKU is in the ORV with a loss to Indiana and a win over Vandy. Meanwhile Arkansas State plays Southern Cal and GSU plays West Virginia and UGA and App plays Clemson. Does anyone think Toledo or WKU would be rated where they are if they played any of those teams?

4. That's one year. Between Marshall leaving and our leaving for FBS GSU and App State won at least a share of 15 of the 16 SoCon titles they were eligible for.

[Ivytalk]

I watched part of the entertaining Arkansas State- Louisiana Lafayette game last night. GSU doesn't play either one this year, but GSU could beat either of them handily.

[Skjellyfetti]

I was speaking to the general football population.

Ok. But, I don't see why we should care what the general football population thinks. They are going to look down on Appalachian whether they are FBS or FCS. They didn't look up to us when we were FCS. They didn't look up to us when we were had a 3-peat.

The only time the general football population looked up to us was when we embarrassed Michigan.

You're right. We aren't looked up to in the Sun Belt. But, it wouldn't be any different if we were in the SoCon, so I don't see what the point is.

[93henfan]

Who gives a shit what the rest of the country thinks? I'm looking forward to a historic rivalry between two teams with good records tomorrow night on TV.

This matchup is much more appealing to me than, say, an FCS game between Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville St.

[ASUG8]

Who gives a shit what the rest of the country thinks? I'm looking forward to a historic rivalry between two teams with good records tomorrow night on TV.

This matchup is much more appealing to me than, say, an FCS game between Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville St.

It's a battle of two highly ranked FCS schools with some extra schollies , right Jon?

[Baldy]

Who gives a shit what the rest of the country thinks? I'm looking forward to a historic rivalry between two teams with good records tomorrow night on TV.

This matchup is much more appealing to me than, say, an FCS game between Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville St.

It's a battle of two highly ranked FCS schools with some extra schollies , right Jon?

Since both teams' starters are still probably 90%+ FCS recruited players, this would essentially be a #1 vs. #2 matchup if we were still both FCS.

[AshevilleApp]

It's a battle of two highly ranked FCS schools with some extra schollies , right Jon?

Since both teams' starters are still probably 90%+ FCS recruited players, this would essentially be a #1 vs. #2 matchup if we were still both FCS.

Maybe, or not.

I hope App can do something to contain that fullback averaging over 10 yards a carry though.

In the end, I hope the two teams finish 1 and 2 in the conference. Alphabetically of course.

[Baldy]

Since both teams' starters are still probably 90%+ FCS recruited players, this would essentially be a #1 vs. #2 matchup if we were still both FCS.

Maybe, or not.

I hope App can do something to contain that fullback averaging over 10 yards a carry though.

In the end, I hope the two teams finish 1 and 2 in the conference. Alphabetically of course.

I don't know if I would call Breida a FB.
Just hope he can find a hole or two to run through. He has the ability to wreak havoc if he can get loose.

Alphabetically is good enough for me...Eagles do come before Mountaineers.

[Pwns]

Maybe, or not.

I hope App can do something to contain that fullback averaging over 10 yards a carry though.

In the end, I hope the two teams finish 1 and 2 in the conference. Alphabetically of course.

I don't know if I would call Breida a FB.
Just hope he can find a hole or two to run through. He has the ability to wreak havoc if he can get loose.

Alphabetically is good enough for me...Eagles do come before Mountaineers.

He's not running over many defenders, but he is more than just a pure slasher IMO.

[93henfan]

GSU stole Penn State's road uniforms and slapped numbers on the helmet.

This is some bullshit.

[Ivytalk]

Well, it sure wasn't an Eagle night tonight.

[Skjellyfetti]

GSU stole Penn State's road uniforms and slapped numbers on the helmet.

This is some bullshit.

As opposed to their normal Alabama uniforms that are blue instead of red?

[Baldy]

GSU stole Penn State's road uniforms and slapped numbers on the helmet.

This is some bullshit.

It's the same helmet we wore last week with our normal road unis.

[Baldy]

GSU stole Penn State's road uniforms and slapped numbers on the helmet.

This is some bullshit.

As opposed to their normal Alabama uniforms that are blue instead of red?

Ummm...they're called Crimson Tide for a reason.

[AshevilleApp]

Nice win. Now run the table in your remaining games GSU.

[93henfan]

GSU stole Penn State's road uniforms and slapped numbers on the helmet.

This is some bullshit.

As opposed to their normal Alabama uniforms that are blue instead of red?

Yes.

[93henfan]

As I was watching that game, I was channeling the inner voice of AhoOldGuy.

"C'mon convict 36, break one!"

But they were covering Convict 36 pretty well last night.

Also sodomy and fuck Appy State.

[Skjellyfetti]

Also sodomy and fuck Appy State.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej3g-cUIXu4[/youtube]

[Baldy]

Nice win. Now run the table in your remaining games GSU.

No, you got lucky and the refs stole it.

[AshevilleApp]

As I was watching that game, I was channeling the inner voice of AhoOldGuy.

"C'mon convict 36, break one!"

But they were covering Convict 36 pretty well last night.

Also sodomy and **** Appy State.

[93henfan]

Also sodomy and fuck Appy State.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej3g-cUIXu4[/youtube]

I can't keep people from Jersey from attending my state's University any more than you can keep toothless hillbillies from attending yours. It's a matter of geography really.

[AshevilleApp]

Nice win. Now run the table in your remaining games GSU.

No, you got lucky and the refs stole it.

So you're a UNC basketball fan as well?

[ASUG8]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej3g-cUIXu4[/youtube]

I can't keep people from Jersey from attending my state's University any more than you can keep toothless hillbillies from attending yours. It's a matter of geography really.

You should visit the best of the Sun Belt schools and let us prove you wrong. No Flacco.

[93henfan]

I'm actually going leaf watching on the blue ridge this weekend, but not that far south. It gets dangerous down there in deliveranceville.

[Baldy]

No, you got lucky and the refs stole it.

So you're a UNC basketball fan as well?

Better than Dook or that Cow College.