In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
(03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other battered around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
In our transition season with essentially 63 players recruited for a scholarship, we went 8-0 in the SBC and had #8 Ga Tech beat as well as ncsu.
I would say a program that is consistently top 10 in FCS could compete fine. Maybe the top few could compete for a conference title. I have no doubt NDSU would have a very good shot at the conference title.
(03-28-2015 07:18 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
In our transition season with essentially 63 players recruited for a scholarship, we went 8-0 in the SBC and had #8 Ga Tech beat as well as ncsu.
I would say a program that is consistently top 10 in FCS could compete fine. Maybe the top few could compete for a conference title. I have no doubt NDSU would have a very good shot at the conference title.
GaSo has been in the past, and maintains today a strong program. App and GaSo were the two strongest transiting teams and they succeeded. How will the current crop of expecting transiting teams do? You say top 10, I'll go to top 20 current FCS teams can compete and top 10 can play for conference championships.
We can expect the SBC teams to root against GaSo and App competing for the championship to not dilute the perceived strength of the conference. Those two schools succeeding only validates the strength of the top 10/20 FCS perception.
Most of the examples of schools struggling to transition fall into one of two categories.
1. Good I-AA's who transitioned without a conference home
2. Poor performing I-AA's who transitioned from below average I-AA to very below average I-A.
Having something still on the table after a few early losses means a big difference.
Why wouldn't they do OK in those conferences? Most of the schools in them have essentially been FCS until recently, except for the MAC which should have been.
(03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
While I will acknowledge that Charlotte has not been world beaters in the first two years of FCS/football period, I don't think we should be lumped with Georgia State, who had significant obstacles to overcome. We haven't played a single FBS game yet. I expect to struggle mightily this year, however, we sacrificed winning games the last two years to build toward 2015 and 2016. When we took the field for our first game ever we knew where we were going to be in two years (CUSA). I agree that we don't have a strong foundation to build upon. However, we do have a beautiful on campus stadium with nice on-campus training facilities. We are hopeful for the future. I agree with your original theory. There are several teams in FCS that could compete in FBS. Just not sure how long those same teams could sustain success if they played an FBS schedule year in and year out. It will be interesting to watch Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, South Alabama and UTSA over the coming decade.
Moving up is hard. Doesn't help if you're already in a recruiting slump right when you move up. That's what happened to UMass. We had two down years of recruiting right before we announced we were moving to FBS. So a combination of playing teams at a higher level and previously bad recruiting meant we had to pretty much start from scratch and play all freshman. Add in a bad coach for the first two years and we were lucky we even won those two games. Once Whipple was hired last year we made instant progress. This year we finally have upper classmen who were recruited as FBS players. You'll see even more progress. Takes time, good recruiting and solid coaching to make the transition work. Usually takes at least 4 years. Look at WKU as an example. Now they're doing great.
(03-28-2015 09:29 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
While I will acknowledge that Charlotte has not been world beaters in the first two years of FCS/football period, I don't think we should be lumped with Georgia State, who had significant obstacles to overcome. We haven't played a single FBS game yet. I expect to struggle mightily this year, however, we sacrificed winning games the last two years to build toward 2015 and 2016. When we took the field for our first game ever we knew where we were going to be in two years (CUSA). I agree that we don't have a strong foundation to build upon. However, we do have a beautiful on campus stadium with nice on-campus training facilities. We are hopeful for the future. I agree with your original theory. There are several teams in FCS that could compete in FBS. Just not sure how long those same teams could sustain success if they played an FBS schedule year in and year out. It will be interesting to watch Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, South Alabama and UTSA over the coming decade.
Charlotte has a great upside and will get better. The only reason in mentioning Charlotte and GaSt was they are more comparable as GaSo and App are. Charlotte and ODU may be a fair comparison but ODU did begin with quite a bang in the FCS with success. Charlotte did not have the base when picked to go FBS that ODU did.
Sustaining a winning tradition is a challenge for all, not just recent FBS additions. I believe GaSo and App will be strong in the SBC this year, and Charlotte will take their learning lumps. But you are FBS and will get better. Ask any JMU or Liberty fan if they would trade places with you now, lumps and all? We would.
What I've seen is when you bring in a fully loaded FCS program (meaning Marshall 1997 or Georgia Southern 2014) they are on fire and can go into their FBS conference right away and compete. Both won 10 games their first year.
When you are talking an average FCS program out of a strong FCS conference like Buffalo to the MAC or JMU to the MAC if that happened you see a full FCS to FBS learning curve. They don't have a performance edge on the incoming conference so the talent deficit rears its head.
The SBC is somewhat unique right now as most of its members have recently moved up from FCS. Instead of a conference wide culture its more on a school by school basis so everyone thinks they can compete for the title. That is helping the Texas State's and the Appalachian State's be competitive right away even if they weren't on fire before they moved up.
(03-28-2015 10:07 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 09:29 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
While I will acknowledge that Charlotte has not been world beaters in the first two years of FCS/football period, I don't think we should be lumped with Georgia State, who had significant obstacles to overcome. We haven't played a single FBS game yet. I expect to struggle mightily this year, however, we sacrificed winning games the last two years to build toward 2015 and 2016. When we took the field for our first game ever we knew where we were going to be in two years (CUSA). I agree that we don't have a strong foundation to build upon. However, we do have a beautiful on campus stadium with nice on-campus training facilities. We are hopeful for the future. I agree with your original theory. There are several teams in FCS that could compete in FBS. Just not sure how long those same teams could sustain success if they played an FBS schedule year in and year out. It will be interesting to watch Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, South Alabama and UTSA over the coming decade.
Charlotte has a great upside and will get better. The only reason in mentioning Charlotte and GaSt was they are more comparable as GaSo and App are. Charlotte and ODU may be a fair comparison but ODU did begin with quite a bang in the FCS with success. Charlotte did not have the base when picked to go FBS that ODU did.
Sustaining a winning tradition is a challenge for all, not just recent FBS additions. I believe GaSo and App will be strong in the SBC this year, and Charlotte will take their learning lumps. But you are FBS and will get better. Ask any JMU or Liberty fan if they would trade places with you now, lumps and all? We would.
Hard to disagree with any of that. I get the feeling that all the transitioning up is coming to an end soon. Good luck in getting Liberty into FBS. Agree about GaSo and App being strong this year. Sustaining that success will be difficult. As far as Charlotte is concerned, anything over 2 wins this year and I think we should probably throw a parade. I am keeping my fingers crossed. We have talent at a lot of positions. Unfortunately, one of the biggest question marks in my mind is QB. Should be interesting. The Georgia State game is going to be big for us. It is the first game of the year.
(03-28-2015 10:14 AM)Kittonhead Wrote: [ -> ]What I've seen is when you bring in a fully loaded FCS program (meaning Marshall 1997 or Georgia Southern 2014) they are on fire and can go into their FBS conference right away and compete. Both won 10 games their first year.
When you are talking an average FCS program out of a strong FCS conference like Buffalo to the MAC or JMU to the MAC if that happened you see a full FCS to FBS learning curve. They don't have a performance edge on the incoming conference so the talent deficit rears its head.
The SBC is somewhat unique right now as most of its members have recently moved up from FCS. Instead of a conference wide culture its more on a school by school basis so everyone thinks they can compete for the title. That is helping the Texas State's and the Appalachian State's be competitive right away even if they weren't on fire before they moved up.
I would not define JMU as an average FCS program. I believe they deserve a higher rating with their past success and how they have been able to maintain their program. The shot in enthusiasm JMU will receive when FBS likely will be comparable to App's success. They have a strong base.
(03-28-2015 10:31 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:14 AM)Kittonhead Wrote: [ -> ]What I've seen is when you bring in a fully loaded FCS program (meaning Marshall 1997 or Georgia Southern 2014) they are on fire and can go into their FBS conference right away and compete. Both won 10 games their first year.
When you are talking an average FCS program out of a strong FCS conference like Buffalo to the MAC or JMU to the MAC if that happened you see a full FCS to FBS learning curve. They don't have a performance edge on the incoming conference so the talent deficit rears its head.
The SBC is somewhat unique right now as most of its members have recently moved up from FCS. Instead of a conference wide culture its more on a school by school basis so everyone thinks they can compete for the title. That is helping the Texas State's and the Appalachian State's be competitive right away even if they weren't on fire before they moved up.
I would not define JMU as an average FCS program. I believe they deserve a higher rating with their past success and how they have been able to maintain their program. The shot in enthusiasm JMU will receive when FBS likely will be comparable to App's success. They have a strong base.
Their records in recent years have been pretty average.
Don't confuse stadium and fanbase with performance.
(03-28-2015 07:37 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 07:18 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
In our transition season with essentially 63 players recruited for a scholarship, we went 8-0 in the SBC and had #8 Ga Tech beat as well as ncsu.
I would say a program that is consistently top 10 in FCS could compete fine. Maybe the top few could compete for a conference title. I have no doubt NDSU would have a very good shot at the conference title.
GaSo has been in the past, and maintains today a strong program. App and GaSo were the two strongest transiting teams and they succeeded. How will the current crop of expecting transiting teams do? You say top 10, I'll go to top 20 current FCS teams can compete and top 10 can play for conference championships.
We can expect the SBC teams to root against GaSo and App competing for the championship to not dilute the perceived strength of the conference. Those two schools succeeding only validates the strength of the top 10/20 FCS perception.
Most teams do poorly at the start. Marshall was an exception, but they were one of the best FCS teams ever. Regular playoff teams have faltered in FBS. It takes a really strong team or a really strong start with recruiting. As I recall, Georgia Southern had a weak final year in FCS.
(03-28-2015 12:10 PM)Kittonhead Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:31 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:14 AM)Kittonhead Wrote: [ -> ]What I've seen is when you bring in a fully loaded FCS program (meaning Marshall 1997 or Georgia Southern 2014) they are on fire and can go into their FBS conference right away and compete. Both won 10 games their first year.
When you are talking an average FCS program out of a strong FCS conference like Buffalo to the MAC or JMU to the MAC if that happened you see a full FCS to FBS learning curve. They don't have a performance edge on the incoming conference so the talent deficit rears its head.
The SBC is somewhat unique right now as most of its members have recently moved up from FCS. Instead of a conference wide culture its more on a school by school basis so everyone thinks they can compete for the title. That is helping the Texas State's and the Appalachian State's be competitive right away even if they weren't on fire before they moved up.
I would not define JMU as an average FCS program. I believe they deserve a higher rating with their past success and how they have been able to maintain their program. The shot in enthusiasm JMU will receive when FBS likely will be comparable to App's success. They have a strong base.
Their records in recent years have been pretty average.
Don't confuse stadium and fanbase with performance.
JMU in recent years has been a very steady program. I'll let JMU fans state the specifics of their past years performance. I do know this about the program. They have a very exciting and athletic quarterback that is near equally passing or running. He is a true dual threat and is returning for 2015. Their defense was also very strong for 2014 and one can expect them to be equal this year. They did make the playoffs last year and simply ran into a team more hungry for the playoff win, Liberty. JMU is going to be very good this year.
They do have a very strong fan base and they have won a FCS championship and after a slow start in 2014, finished very strong. One can expect they will be very good again in 2015 and make the playoffs. They certainly are a top 20 FCS team.
(03-28-2015 12:39 PM)bullet Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 07:37 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 07:18 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
In our transition season with essentially 63 players recruited for a scholarship, we went 8-0 in the SBC and had #8 Ga Tech beat as well as ncsu.
I would say a program that is consistently top 10 in FCS could compete fine. Maybe the top few could compete for a conference title. I have no doubt NDSU would have a very good shot at the conference title.
GaSo has been in the past, and maintains today a strong program. App and GaSo were the two strongest transiting teams and they succeeded. How will the current crop of expecting transiting teams do? You say top 10, I'll go to top 20 current FCS teams can compete and top 10 can play for conference championships.
We can expect the SBC teams to root against GaSo and App competing for the championship to not dilute the perceived strength of the conference. Those two schools succeeding only validates the strength of the top 10/20 FCS perception.
Most teams do poorly at the start. Marshall was an exception, but they were one of the best FCS teams ever. Regular playoff teams have faltered in FBS. It takes a really strong team or a really strong start with recruiting. As I recall, Georgia Southern had a weak final year in FCS.
We had been to the semi-finals 3 straight years losing at NDSU twice. The last year we were ineligible for the playoffs due to transition so it was a weird year without much to play for. We did manage to finish 7-4 with a dominating win over the Florida Gators in the swamp. We followed that up with a 9-3 season in FBS with two last minute losses to GT and ncsu.
(03-28-2015 10:27 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:07 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 09:29 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
While I will acknowledge that Charlotte has not been world beaters in the first two years of FCS/football period, I don't think we should be lumped with Georgia State, who had significant obstacles to overcome. We haven't played a single FBS game yet. I expect to struggle mightily this year, however, we sacrificed winning games the last two years to build toward 2015 and 2016. When we took the field for our first game ever we knew where we were going to be in two years (CUSA). I agree that we don't have a strong foundation to build upon. However, we do have a beautiful on campus stadium with nice on-campus training facilities. We are hopeful for the future. I agree with your original theory. There are several teams in FCS that could compete in FBS. Just not sure how long those same teams could sustain success if they played an FBS schedule year in and year out. It will be interesting to watch Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, South Alabama and UTSA over the coming decade.
Charlotte has a great upside and will get better. The only reason in mentioning Charlotte and GaSt was they are more comparable as GaSo and App are. Charlotte and ODU may be a fair comparison but ODU did begin with quite a bang in the FCS with success. Charlotte did not have the base when picked to go FBS that ODU did.
Sustaining a winning tradition is a challenge for all, not just recent FBS additions. I believe GaSo and App will be strong in the SBC this year, and Charlotte will take their learning lumps. But you are FBS and will get better. Ask any JMU or Liberty fan if they would trade places with you now, lumps and all? We would.
Hard to disagree with any of that. I get the feeling that all the transitioning up is coming to an end soon. Good luck in getting Liberty into FBS. Agree about GaSo and App being strong this year. Sustaining that success will be difficult. As far as Charlotte is concerned, anything over 2 wins this year and I think we should probably throw a parade. I am keeping my fingers crossed. We have talent at a lot of positions. Unfortunately, one of the biggest question marks in my mind is QB. Should be interesting. The Georgia State game is going to be big for us. It is the first game of the year.
I still don't understand why our Athletic Directors did not come together and have Charlotte play at East Carolina to open the season this year. Instead we are playing Towson???? It would have been a great FBS opening game for Charlotte and given East Carolina the home game they needed. Way better than opening your first game in Atlanta against Georgia State in an empty Georgia Dome.
In the past few years, what transition teams is:
- top
GaSo
- ok
App St
- struggling
GaSt
(03-28-2015 10:27 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:07 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 09:29 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
While I will acknowledge that Charlotte has not been world beaters in the first two years of FCS/football period, I don't think we should be lumped with Georgia State, who had significant obstacles to overcome. We haven't played a single FBS game yet. I expect to struggle mightily this year, however, we sacrificed winning games the last two years to build toward 2015 and 2016. When we took the field for our first game ever we knew where we were going to be in two years (CUSA). I agree that we don't have a strong foundation to build upon. However, we do have a beautiful on campus stadium with nice on-campus training facilities. We are hopeful for the future. I agree with your original theory. There are several teams in FCS that could compete in FBS. Just not sure how long those same teams could sustain success if they played an FBS schedule year in and year out. It will be interesting to watch Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, South Alabama and UTSA over the coming decade.
Charlotte has a great upside and will get better. The only reason in mentioning Charlotte and GaSt was they are more comparable as GaSo and App are. Charlotte and ODU may be a fair comparison but ODU did begin with quite a bang in the FCS with success. Charlotte did not have the base when picked to go FBS that ODU did.
Sustaining a winning tradition is a challenge for all, not just recent FBS additions. I believe GaSo and App will be strong in the SBC this year, and Charlotte will take their learning lumps. But you are FBS and will get better. Ask any JMU or Liberty fan if they would trade places with you now, lumps and all? We would.
Hard to disagree with any of that. I get the feeling that all the transitioning up is coming to an end soon. Good luck in getting Liberty into FBS. Agree about GaSo and App being strong this year. Sustaining that success will be difficult. As far as Charlotte is concerned, anything over 2 wins this year and I think we should probably throw a parade. I am keeping my fingers crossed. We have talent at a lot of positions. Unfortunately, one of the biggest question marks in my mind is QB. Should be interesting. The Georgia State game is going to be big for us. It is the first game of the year.
Seems like the UAB situation will almost demand that shifts and move ups are almost guaranteed to occur. One simple change in the B12, or the UAB/CUSA decision, could create a domino effect of team swaps with the SBC, CUSA, AAC and FCS move ups.
Regrettably, I agree with you on Liberty. The school seems unable to tow the line between knowing how to play the role to get the invite without be overt and offensive. The school has more of a history of shooting itself in the foot rather than making wise moves to increase their FBS appeal. Seems like LU will only get their invite when it's needed as a last resort and the financial stability/contribution of Liberty is a factor.
Does a beginning program like Charlotte play a strong FBS program, knowing it's going to get clobbered or play a safe game FCS game? Most would likely prefer the FBS game to give the Charlotte fans a taste of what is possible and what it takes to get there. A program will advance faster playing higher quality competition rather than lower level programs.
(03-28-2015 02:33 PM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:27 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 10:07 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 09:29 AM)Norm DaNiner Wrote: [ -> ] (03-28-2015 06:29 AM)NewTimes Wrote: [ -> ]In the time before App St, Georgia Southern, and ODU made the FBS move, there was lots of discussion about how many wins a transiting team would win and how they would suffer for all the previously stated reasons. GaSt suffered and continues to struggle and Charlotte is slightly better but they both differ with no or little foundation to build on. ODU is the exception with their quick success.
Are we beyond the old viewpoint that a top 20 FCS program cannot compete in the CUSA, MAC and SBC immediately? Or can JMU, Liberty, EKU, Coastal and the many other bandied around names mentioned in transiting expect to be whipping boys like GaSt?
While I will acknowledge that Charlotte has not been world beaters in the first two years of FCS/football period, I don't think we should be lumped with Georgia State, who had significant obstacles to overcome. We haven't played a single FBS game yet. I expect to struggle mightily this year, however, we sacrificed winning games the last two years to build toward 2015 and 2016. When we took the field for our first game ever we knew where we were going to be in two years (CUSA). I agree that we don't have a strong foundation to build upon. However, we do have a beautiful on campus stadium with nice on-campus training facilities. We are hopeful for the future. I agree with your original theory. There are several teams in FCS that could compete in FBS. Just not sure how long those same teams could sustain success if they played an FBS schedule year in and year out. It will be interesting to watch Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, South Alabama and UTSA over the coming decade.
Charlotte has a great upside and will get better. The only reason in mentioning Charlotte and GaSt was they are more comparable as GaSo and App are. Charlotte and ODU may be a fair comparison but ODU did begin with quite a bang in the FCS with success. Charlotte did not have the base when picked to go FBS that ODU did.
Sustaining a winning tradition is a challenge for all, not just recent FBS additions. I believe GaSo and App will be strong in the SBC this year, and Charlotte will take their learning lumps. But you are FBS and will get better. Ask any JMU or Liberty fan if they would trade places with you now, lumps and all? We would.
Hard to disagree with any of that. I get the feeling that all the transitioning up is coming to an end soon. Good luck in getting Liberty into FBS. Agree about GaSo and App being strong this year. Sustaining that success will be difficult. As far as Charlotte is concerned, anything over 2 wins this year and I think we should probably throw a parade. I am keeping my fingers crossed. We have talent at a lot of positions. Unfortunately, one of the biggest question marks in my mind is QB. Should be interesting. The Georgia State game is going to be big for us. It is the first game of the year.
Seems like the UAB situation will almost demand that shifts and move ups are almost guaranteed to occur. One simple change in the B12, or the UAB/CUSA decision, could create a domino effect of team swaps with the SBC, CUSA, AAC and FCS move ups.
Regrettably, I agree with you on Liberty. The school seems unable to tow the line between knowing how to play the role to get the invite without be overt and offensive. The school has more of a history of shooting itself in the foot rather than making wise moves to increase their FBS appeal. Seems like LU will only get their invite when it's needed as a last resort and the financial stability/contribution of Liberty is a factor.
Does a beginning program like Charlotte play a strong FBS program, knowing it's going to get clobbered or play a safe game FCS game? Most would likely prefer the FBS game to give the Charlotte fans a taste of what is possible and what it takes to get there. A program will advance faster playing higher quality competition rather than lower level programs.
Seems like Liberty has been gaining momentum of late. I wouldn't totally count yourself out for FBS. Your facilities are quite impressive and you have good support from what I understand. Lynchburg is a great town also.
I don't think we should have played a FBS program in year one. We didn't have enough scholarship players to be competitive. I wish we had played one last year (in year two.) It would have given us an idea of where we stand. I wouldn't have wanted to play an Alabama (like Ga. State did) but maybe a Wake Forest or Vanderbilt. Instead the best teams we played were Coastal Carolina and JMU. Both teams were talented. I guess this year will tell us where we are. If we lose early in the schedule we are screwed. Overall, I am just happy to have football.
I wish we could play ECU as well. I think the Georgia State game was signed a while back. It is probably a better game for our team's psyche than starting out against the Pirates. We are still incredibly young and it gives us a chance to be competitive. Should actually be a good game. I will be in the Georgia Dome. No clue what kind of environment it will be. I know the environment we would have walked into in Greenville.
Funny how everyone always says, Well teams can transition easily in the Sun Belt.
UTSA in second year transition went 6-2 in CUSA and ODU in their second year of transition went 4-4 in CUSA play, UAB went 4-2 the first year in CUSA, USF went 5-3.
Meanwhile Sun Belt saw FIU 3-4, FAU 2-5, WKU 0-8, South Alabama 1-7, Georgia State 0-7, Georgia Southern 8-0, App 6-2.
FAU was two years from an FCS semi-final appearance, WKU five years removed from 5 straight FCS appearances 7 years off an FCS title, Georgia Southern 6 FCS titles and had won their last two Southern Conference titles, App has 3 FCS titles and tied for the Southern title their last year.
The only teams to have a winning league record their first year are two of the most dominant FCS programs ever.