I'm still in amazement, the ASun days are nearly over. Mercer might follow ETSU wherever the Bucs land. I'm just so happy our long Buccaneer nightmare is nearing an end....(to loosely quote Gerald Ford after he took over from Richard Nixon). It's going to take awhile to get back to where the Bucs have been (if even for a moment) with national rankings in football and basketball. The challenge is daunting...but it's better to try than to never make the attempt. ETSU is returning to big boy-girl athletics. This alumnus could not be happier. I have a feeling that the Bucs will become the focus of the region and Tennessee will not obliterate all that is blue and gold ever again. In some respects, losing the game has come with a mighty price....but in some ways a fresh start provides in incentives to go to the highest level...to build a new moral...to bond the community together all with one goal....bring ETSU to a new level of prominence in the region. The medical and pharmacy schools have helped but there is nothing like winning athletics to bring visibility and recognition to the area. Remember the excitement for game day in the movie "We are Marshall?" It will be at ETSU better than it's ever been before. That should fire up any true Buc!

(01-17-2013 04:15 PM)Mister Jennings Wrote:  I'm still in amazement, the ASun days are nearly over. Mercer might follow ETSU wherever the Bucs land. I'm just so happy our long Buccaneer nightmare is nearing an end....(to loosely quote Gerald Ford after he took over from Richard Nixon). It's going to take awhile to get back to where the Bucs have been (if even for a moment) with national rankings in football and basketball. The challenge is daunting...but it's better to try than to never make the attempt. ETSU is returning to big boy-girl athletics. This alumnus could not be happier. I have a feeling that the Bucs will become the focus of the region and Tennessee will not obliterate all that is blue and gold ever again. In some respects, losing the game has come with a mighty price....but in some ways a fresh start provides in incentives to go to the highest level...to build a new moral...to bond the community together all with one goal....bring ETSU to a new level of prominence in the region. The medical and pharmacy schools have helped but there is nothing like winning athletics to bring visibility and recognition to the area. Remember the excitement for game day in the movie "We are Marshall?" It will be at ETSU better than it's ever been before. That should fire up any true Buc!

Absolutely! Yes we are ten years behind now but I believe we can start catching up exponetially once we take off which I think will be in the next few weeks. I think we are all ready to launch!

Well, hold on. Marshall has yet to so much as beat WVU in football and are still predominantly the No. 2 team in West Virginia, and I'm not sure the SoCon is "big boy" athletics, though I have always enjoyed it and do think it's a pretty decent level.

Furthermore, there hasn't been so much as a real announcement on football.

Just sayin' not to count your chickens before they hatch.

(01-17-2013 04:15 PM)Mister Jennings Wrote:  I'm still in amazement, the ASun days are nearly over. Mercer might follow ETSU wherever the Bucs land. I'm just so happy our long Buccaneer nightmare is nearing an end....(to loosely quote Gerald Ford after he took over from Richard Nixon). It's going to take awhile to get back to where the Bucs have been (if even for a moment) with national rankings in football and basketball. The challenge is daunting...but it's better to try than to never make the attempt. ETSU is returning to big boy-girl athletics. This alumnus could not be happier. I have a feeling that the Bucs will become the focus of the region and Tennessee will not obliterate all that is blue and gold ever again. In some respects, losing the game has come with a mighty price....but in some ways a fresh start provides in incentives to go to the highest level...to build a new moral...to bond the community together all with one goal....bring ETSU to a new level of prominence in the region. The medical and pharmacy schools have helped but there is nothing like winning athletics to bring visibility and recognition to the area. Remember the excitement for game day in the movie "We are Marshall?" It will be at ETSU better than it's ever been before. That should fire up any true Buc!

well said! I'm sure UTC is watching what we are going to do with interest as well. Great time to be a Buc!

There is no way ETSU would go this far bringing the football movement forward if it were not to going to happen. I believe it's a done deal. Why would our forward thinking president want egg on his face? He has done his due diligence and football is on his way back. Wake up to that fact. The medical doctor president has retired. Its a new day. Yes I'm an optimist...but the evidence is clear. Get on board. Big boy/girl athletics offer the chance to play the shots...and beat them....a great accounting of ETSU victims is in the record books. I look forward to future slayings....perhaps some on campus!

(01-17-2013 04:40 PM)Mister Jennings Wrote:  There is no way ETSU would go this far bringing the football movement forward if it were not to going to happen. I believe it's a done deal. Why would our forward thinking president want egg on his face? He has done his due diligence and football is on his way back. Wake up to that fact. The medical doctor president has retired. Its a new day. Yes I'm an optimist...but the evidence is clear. Get on board. Big boy/girl athletics offer the chance to play the shots...and beat them....a great accounting of ETSU victims is in the record books. I look forward to future slayings....perhaps some on campus!

Since I'm fairly new to the boards, are you THE Mister Jennings that played on the Bucs BB team? I agree with you too...I think its going to happen..too much going on for it not to. The efforts that have already been made far exceed those made back in 06-07

Oh please, you can't actually think that's Keith Jennings.

Tell me you're being sarcastic or playful or SOMETHING!

Since I'm fairly new to the boards, are you THE Mister Jennings that played on the Bucs BB team? I agree with you too...I think its going to happen..too much going on for it not to. The efforts that have already been made far exceed those made back in 06-07
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The real Mister Jennings is the finest basketball player I've ever seen. He is also the best ambassador of ETSU I've ever seen. Noland is topping him...but Mister has the advantage of being a an ETSU All American. He can fire you up with his public speaking. Love of ETSU can't be manufactured. Mister Jennings is a lover of ETSU. I look forward to the day when he's back on campus full time. What highlight reel he brings to the table....leading ETSU to it's greatest days in athletics. Calvin and Greg could put on a show...but Mister was the leader. In the days of follow the money, Mister follows his heart. He had stated numerous times of his desire to be back in Johnson City. I can't wait till that happens.

(01-17-2013 04:50 PM)PittsburghBucs Wrote:  Oh please, you can't actually think that's Keith Jennings.

Tell me you're being sarcastic or playful or SOMETHING!

now, now Pitt...don't be jealous.....it's OK if the world doesn't revolve around you, your posts, or your cab for 5 minutes!

(01-17-2013 04:15 PM)Mister Jennings Wrote:  I'm still in amazement, the ASun days are nearly over. Mercer might follow ETSU wherever the Bucs land. I'm just so happy our long Buccaneer nightmare is nearing an end....(to loosely quote Gerald Ford after he took over from Richard Nixon). It's going to take awhile to get back to where the Bucs have been (if even for a moment) with national rankings in football and basketball. The challenge is daunting...but it's better to try than to never make the attempt. ETSU is returning to big boy-girl athletics. This alumnus could not be happier. I have a feeling that the Bucs will become the focus of the region and Tennessee will not obliterate all that is blue and gold ever again. In some respects, losing the game has come with a mighty price....but in some ways a fresh start provides in incentives to go to the highest level...to build a new moral...to bond the community together all with one goal....bring ETSU to a new level of prominence in the region. The medical and pharmacy schools have helped but there is nothing like winning athletics to bring visibility and recognition to the area. Remember the excitement for game day in the movie "We are Marshall?" It will be at ETSU better than it's ever been before. That should fire up any true Buc!

I'll be honest, I don't want it to be what it was. From a football perspective, I want to see it reach consistent, high performing conference championship winning, national title contending levels. It can happen. Same for basketball, I want to see it rise to the newest of heights. The goal shouldn't be NCAA appearances but NCAA RUNS. It won't happen every year, but getting there and winning games should be the expectation. Knocking off out of conference, name teams and not considering the OOC a separate season with the expectation of not winning many of them.

(01-17-2013 07:23 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 04:15 PM)Mister Jennings Wrote:  I'm still in amazement, the ASun days are nearly over. Mercer might follow ETSU wherever the Bucs land. I'm just so happy our long Buccaneer nightmare is nearing an end....(to loosely quote Gerald Ford after he took over from Richard Nixon). It's going to take awhile to get back to where the Bucs have been (if even for a moment) with national rankings in football and basketball. The challenge is daunting...but it's better to try than to never make the attempt. ETSU is returning to big boy-girl athletics. This alumnus could not be happier. I have a feeling that the Bucs will become the focus of the region and Tennessee will not obliterate all that is blue and gold ever again. In some respects, losing the game has come with a mighty price....but in some ways a fresh start provides in incentives to go to the highest level...to build a new moral...to bond the community together all with one goal....bring ETSU to a new level of prominence in the region. The medical and pharmacy schools have helped but there is nothing like winning athletics to bring visibility and recognition to the area. Remember the excitement for game day in the movie "We are Marshall?" It will be at ETSU better than it's ever been before. That should fire up any true Buc!

I'll be honest, I don't want it to be what it was. From a football perspective, I want to see it reach consistent, high performing conference championship winning, national title contending levels. It can happen. Same for basketball, I want to see it rise to the newest of heights. The goal shouldn't be NCAA appearances but NCAA RUNS. It won't happen every year, but getting there and winning games should be the expectation. Knocking off out of conference, name teams and not considering the OOC a separate season with the expectation of not winning many of them.

Right on!

Mercer and ETSU would be a great package deal for a conference to receive.

Is Mercer gonna play scholarship football?

(01-17-2013 09:09 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Mercer and ETSU would be a great package deal for a conference to receive.

:iagree: SoCon or OVC?

(01-17-2013 09:18 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Is Mercer gonna play scholarship football?

I think eventually, but it's also not a dealbreaker. Davidson plays in Mercer's football conference. Plus the OVC took Belmont and they aren't even discussing football.

(01-17-2013 09:24 PM)etsudolfan Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:09 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Mercer and ETSU would be a great package deal for a conference to receive.

:iagree: SoCon or OVC?

I'd say SoCon would be perfect. Add 1 public and 1 private. Both teams with administration actively improving athletics. ETSU would likely go for scholarship football while Mercer would be non with Davidson, but have the ability to add scholarships should they desire. Mercer starting with 10,200 seat stadium with plenty of room to expand. Sounds like more than non-scholarship forever.

(01-17-2013 09:09 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Mercer and ETSU would be a great package deal for a conference to receive.

You don' build what ya'll did without scholarship football in mind. With the C-USA announcement today, I wonder if the Sun Belt goes on ahead and brings Ga. Southern/App on board. The other issue there is it looks more and more like Tulsa is going to jump either to the Mountain West or the Hot Mess (formerly Big East), once that goes down then they'll cherry pick Western Kentucky. Ultimately, there will be atleast two openings for football schools in the SoCon, and one non-football opening with CofC's departure to the CAA.
With ETSU, Mercer, Kennesaw, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina and perhaps UNC-ASHEVILLE with its' new arena and recent on court success out there, it'll be interesting to see how it all goes.
I've wondered if for the sake of ensuring stability they don't go with a strength in numbers mentality, bump up to 14 for basketball and 12 for football. It's not a requirement to play a conference championship in football and could potentially cut travel even more with divisional play. Purely speculation on my part.