There are times when it is good for SBC teams to schedule a Top level FCS program. It made sense for example, for ASU to schedule UCA last year because we had been hearing criticism for years that UCA could beat us on the field, and had a team we knew was talented enough to win...it worked wonders.

But when you are near the bottom of the league, and battling to pull a 1-3 win year out of your belt, your FCS opponent better be playing in the SWAC or MEAC.

(08-31-2012 02:11 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  There are times when it is good for SBC teams to schedule a Top level FCS program. It made sense for example, for ASU to schedule UCA last year because we had been hearing criticism for years that UCA could beat us on the field, and had a team we knew was talented enough to win...it worked wonders.

But when you are near the bottom of the league, and battling to pull a 1-3 win year out of your belt, your FCS opponent better be playing in the SWAC or MEAC.

Sun Belt schools dont schedule the top teams from the MEAC or SWAC. Yes they'll schedule the Alcorn State's and Texas Southern's of the World but they're not knocking on SC State's or Grambling's door.

(08-31-2012 06:27 AM)BamaState33 Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 02:11 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  There are times when it is good for SBC teams to schedule a Top level FCS program. It made sense for example, for ASU to schedule UCA last year because we had been hearing criticism for years that UCA could beat us on the field, and had a team we knew was talented enough to win...it worked wonders.

But when you are near the bottom of the league, and battling to pull a 1-3 win year out of your belt, your FCS opponent better be playing in the SWAC or MEAC.

Sun Belt schools dont schedule the top teams from the MEAC or SWAC. Yes they'll schedule the Alcorn State's and Texas Southern's of the World but they're not knocking on SC State's or Grambling's door.

Sure we do, but after Grambling tries to soak you for 20K so their band will come and another 15K for the cheerleaders, etc, you draw the line and say... not worth it. Its always easy to get a 1AA to come to our house, but it will be on our terms.

Z

Just schedule an FBS program and avoid FCS programs period. Players are less motivated when they think they have an easy opener. The resul is a weak offseason. If you put a good team on your schedule as your opener then they are motivated to work hard to pull off the upset. It's business all offseason and day one. It's a win win situation. If you lose then you learn and move on. If you win then you build momentum. No embarrassment.

Hopefully MT doesn't pull a Western Kentucky on us and beat most of the Belt this year making us all look bad. Remember last year when WK lost to a FCS school (and every OOC game) to then turn around and go 7-1 in the Belt and finish 2nd? What does that say about our league?

(08-30-2012 10:58 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(08-30-2012 10:52 PM)Cat79 Wrote:  MT Fans

McNeese State is a consistent top 25 FCS team. Your team is going to bounce back. Texas State has lost to them at home. We had better success against them in Lake Charles. We have owned them at their place the last six times. Cowboy Fans would hate to admit it but the facts stand out. BTW, McNeese has LSU players transferring in on a regular basis. This McNeese team is loaded with talent. Nothing to be ashamed of.

Nobody cares. Any loss to FCS is a HORRIBLE loss. There is no silver lining. There are no excuses. It is VERY embarrassing - for Middle and for the Sun Belt. It is unacceptable.

Not to a program like McNeese. Not when you're a non BCS FBS school.

Hoping to do the same to ECU tomorrow.

(08-31-2012 08:28 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  Not to a program like McNeese. Not when you're a non BCS FBS school.

Hoping to do the same to ECU tomorrow.

PLEASE make this happen.

A CUSA loss to a FCS team would help wipe some of the Egg off of our face.

(08-31-2012 08:28 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  

(08-30-2012 10:58 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(08-30-2012 10:52 PM)Cat79 Wrote:  MT Fans

McNeese State is a consistent top 25 FCS team. Your team is going to bounce back. Texas State has lost to them at home. We had better success against them in Lake Charles. We have owned them at their place the last six times. Cowboy Fans would hate to admit it but the facts stand out. BTW, McNeese has LSU players transferring in on a regular basis. This McNeese team is loaded with talent. Nothing to be ashamed of.

Nobody cares. Any loss to FCS is a HORRIBLE loss. There is no silver lining. There are no excuses. It is VERY embarrassing - for Middle and for the Sun Belt. It is unacceptable.

Not to a program like McNeese. Not when you're a non BCS FBS school.

Hoping to do the same to ECU tomorrow.

Yes, it is an embarrassment.

It is always an embarrassment when you lose to a team from a division that you have so many inherent advantages over.

McNeese, with those disadvantages, played like a team and looked crisp and efficient...and the program with the advantages didn't.

That's real embarrassing.

Hey, now!

(08-30-2012 11:04 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  ...who schedules a traditional FCS power to play the home opener for a 2-10 team?

Tennessee State backed out last minute, leaving us scrambling for a replacement.

I question opening on a Thursday that the Titans and Vandy are playing. After a 2-10 season ANY fan with partial dual identities will choose the other over MT.

(08-31-2012 08:41 AM)Chappy Wrote:  Hey, now!

Sorry Chappy,

Nothing personal against ECU. I just want to have the sting of this SBC bad loss lessened a bit.

(08-31-2012 07:59 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  Hopefully MT doesn't pull a Western Kentucky on us and beat most of the Belt this year making us all look bad. Remember last year when WK lost to a FCS school (and every OOC game) to then turn around and go 7-1 in the Belt and finish 2nd? What does that say about our league?

That is a load of crap. We were in our second year of a new coach and entirely new system. We simply got better as the year went on. By the end of the year we were the best team in the conference! Year 3 will be a lot better! Sorry MTSU you are going to get blasted when you come to Bowling Green!

(08-31-2012 09:22 AM)GreekTopper Wrote:  Sorry MTSU you are going to get blasted when you come to [insert city here]!

fixed...

WKU isn't special in this regard.

Sagarin was off on this one. He had (143) MTSU as 6 point favorites over (163) McNeese State at home.

(08-31-2012 09:22 AM)GreekTopper Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 07:59 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  Hopefully MT doesn't pull a Western Kentucky on us and beat most of the Belt this year making us all look bad. Remember last year when WK lost to a FCS school (and every OOC game) to then turn around and go 7-1 in the Belt and finish 2nd? What does that say about our league?

That is a load of crap. We were in our second year of a new coach and entirely new system. We simply got better as the year went on. By the end of the year we were the best team in the conference! Year 3 will be a lot better! Sorry MTSU you are going to get blasted when you come to Bowling Green!

It was embarrassing for the league nonetheless. All you guys did last year was prove that you can’t be competitive outside the conference. That's not good for the Belt.

(08-31-2012 09:45 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 09:22 AM)GreekTopper Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 07:59 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  Hopefully MT doesn't pull a Western Kentucky on us and beat most of the Belt this year making us all look bad. Remember last year when WK lost to a FCS school (and every OOC game) to then turn around and go 7-1 in the Belt and finish 2nd? What does that say about our league?

That is a load of crap. We were in our second year of a new coach and entirely new system. We simply got better as the year went on. By the end of the year we were the best team in the conference! Year 3 will be a lot better! Sorry MTSU you are going to get blasted when you come to Bowling Green!

It was embarrassing for the league nonetheless. All you guys did last year was prove that you can’t be competitive outside the conference. That's not good for the Belt.

Yep. I think it's actually better if a team loses to FCS that they don't do well in conference. Because if they do, what does that tell you about the conference?

(08-31-2012 09:50 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 09:45 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 09:22 AM)GreekTopper Wrote:  

(08-31-2012 07:59 AM)CivilEng Wrote:  Hopefully MT doesn't pull a Western Kentucky on us and beat most of the Belt this year making us all look bad. Remember last year when WK lost to a FCS school (and every OOC game) to then turn around and go 7-1 in the Belt and finish 2nd? What does that say about our league?

That is a load of crap. We were in our second year of a new coach and entirely new system. We simply got better as the year went on. By the end of the year we were the best team in the conference! Year 3 will be a lot better! Sorry MTSU you are going to get blasted when you come to Bowling Green!

It was embarrassing for the league nonetheless. All you guys did last year was prove that you can’t be competitive outside the conference. That's not good for the Belt.

Yep. I think it's actually better if a team loses to FCS that they don't do well in conference. Because if they do, what does that tell you about the conference?

Western Kentucky was certainly a headscratcher last year.

But I still can't get over that one school who lost to an FCS team, and then went undefeated in its A.Q. conference to go to a BCS Bowl (only to get blown out in said BCS Bowl). Boy, did we make our conference look like a bunch of fools!

You could say the upside of WKU not going to a bowl last year was that it didn't share our fate in that last regard.

And having visited MTSU before and lived in Murfreesboro briefly, such a shame to see them lose against an FCS team, power FCS or not. After their bowl win and 10-win season a few years ago, I could have sworn things would continue going in that direction.

(08-30-2012 11:04 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Last data I saw, FCS wins over FBS at about the same pace as non-AQ win over AQ. Doesn't make it pleasant but such is life.

I'm sure people are calling for Stock's head but while I think highly of Massaro, who schedules a traditional FCS power to play the home opener for a 2-10 team?

Tenn. State (Nashville HBCU) backed out on us at the very last moment. Didn't even have the gall to call us. We found out from ESPN.

Supposedly we won't be playing TSU in any sport in the future.

At the end of the day, though, I think TSU could beat us right now. We are just plain horrible.

(08-31-2012 08:56 AM)RaiderATO Wrote:  

(08-30-2012 11:04 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  ...who schedules a traditional FCS power to play the home opener for a 2-10 team?

Tennessee State backed out last minute, leaving us scrambling for a replacement.

I question opening on a Thursday that the Titans and Vandy are playing. After a 2-10 season ANY fan with partial dual identities will choose the other over MT.

We scheduled our game before both Vandy and the Titans. I believe the Vandy game was originally sch. for Saturday, but got moved for ESPN.

An FCS loss on Thursday is just as bad as a loss on the weekend, I guess.

(08-31-2012 09:40 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  Sagarin was off on this one. He had (143) MTSU as 6 point favorites over (163) McNeese State at home.

He must have been way off on that latex/Cent Ark game ya'll had to eeeek out in OT last year, huh??

Get the Sagarin dna off the tip of your chin...

Z