It got me thinking after seeing JMU is hosting MTSU. What was the first FBS team that you hosted after joining FBS (or D1-A or whatever it was called at the time)?
For TXST it was Texas Tech in 2012. I went to the game and it was a blast, so much hype after coming off the UH win the game prior. They put extra temporary bleachers behind the south end zone to help with ticket demand. The hype all ended after TT scored 28 unanswered points but still a fun way to start of FBS and the newly expanded stadium.
Looks like for Georgia State it was Troy. A 35-28 loss in the year we went un-feated. I'm sure I was there but have intentionally blocked all memories of that season.
Eastern Michigan has an interesting place in ODU football history, being the team we hosted for our first FBS game (which we won), and the team we played for our first bowl (which we won)
We hosted South Alabama and got the breaks beaten off of us. Made their QB look like a Heisman candidate.
South Alabama. We lost 47-21.
The home game against Georgia State a few weeks later was more memorable, winning 44-0 in sleet and snow.
Marshall @ WVU- Aug. 30, 1997; 31-42 loss.
Chad Pennington threw for three TD passes, two to Randy Moss, and had a 31-28 4th quarter lead before lack of depth on a hot day finally took its toll.
Western Illinois. First FBS at home was Akron. First ever game was at WVU. First win was at Army.
I believe the first REAL D-1 team ULM ever hosted was 20th ranked Richmond in 1973 which the then-Indians won 14-8.
The first FBS team we hosted after we became FBS was Minnesota in 1996. We had made the move up in 1994.
(02-02-2022 10:04 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]Western Illinois. First FBS at home was Akron. First ever game was at WVU. First win was at Army.
I like how you added to it.
TXST's first game and first win were Houston. That was the year after USM had upset them in the CUSA Championship and UH thought they were hot stuff. Got us a single top 25 vote.
(02-02-2022 10:13 AM)slycat Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:04 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]Western Illinois. First FBS at home was Akron. First ever game was at WVU. First win was at Army.
I like how you added to it.
TXST's first game and first win were Houston. That was the year after USM had upset them in the CUSA Championship and UH thought they were hot stuff. Got us a single top 25 vote.
So this would be after Keenum and Sumlin correct?
(02-02-2022 10:17 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:13 AM)slycat Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:04 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]Western Illinois. First FBS at home was Akron. First ever game was at WVU. First win was at Army.
I like how you added to it.
TXST's first game and first win were Houston. That was the year after USM had upset them in the CUSA Championship and UH thought they were hot stuff. Got us a single top 25 vote.
So this would be after Keenum and Sumlin correct?
Piland was the QB. Not sure who the coach was but I assume after he left. UH thought they were headed to an Access Bowl until the USM loss. They had high hopes the next season and our win seemed huge. They ended up being pretty average that year but it got us some good press beating them 30-13 in Week 1.
Eastern Michigan. 17-3 win.
(02-02-2022 09:50 AM)slycat Wrote: [ -> ]It got me thinking after seeing JMU is hosting MTSU. What was the first FBS team that you hosted after joining FBS (or D1-A or whatever it was called at the time)?
For TXST it was Texas Tech in 2012. I went to the game and it was a blast, so much hype after coming off the UH win the game prior. They put extra temporary bleachers behind the south end zone to help with ticket demand. The hype all ended after TT scored 28 unanswered points but still a fun way to start of FBS and the newly expanded stadium.
NC State in September 1963. Later that season we hosted stAte and traveled to (then) USL. 1963 was our first season as a university in the equivalent of what is now FBS. Prior to that we were in the "college division", where we won national titles in 1958 and 1962. We were classified 1-A when that divide happened, we never were 1-AA.
(02-02-2022 10:17 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:13 AM)slycat Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:04 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]Western Illinois. First FBS at home was Akron. First ever game was at WVU. First win was at Army.
I like how you added to it.
TXST's first game and first win were Houston. That was the year after USM had upset them in the CUSA Championship and UH thought they were hot stuff. Got us a single top 25 vote.
So this would be after Keenum and Sumlin correct?
Yes, the coach was Tony Levine. I believe he was fired that season.
(02-02-2022 10:21 AM)slycat Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:17 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:13 AM)slycat Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2022 10:04 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]Western Illinois. First FBS at home was Akron. First ever game was at WVU. First win was at Army.
I like how you added to it.
TXST's first game and first win were Houston. That was the year after USM had upset them in the CUSA Championship and UH thought they were hot stuff. Got us a single top 25 vote.
So this would be after Keenum and Sumlin correct?
Piland was the QB. Not sure who the coach was but I assume after he left. UH thought they were headed to an Access Bowl until the USM loss. They had high hopes the next season and our win seemed huge. They ended up being pretty average that year but it got us some good press beating them 30-13 in Week 1.
I want to say we were the second biggest upset in FBS history by point spread at that time. The biggest maybe being APP vs Michigan.
Astate’s first Division I-A (aka FBS) season was 1992.
First game against FBS opponent: @ Toledo (lost 49-0)
First Home game against FBS opponent: NIU (lost 31-0)
First win against FBS opponent: @SW Louisiana (aka Louisiana) (20-7).
The crappy years!
(02-02-2022 10:02 AM)BurlingtonApp Wrote: [ -> ]We hosted South Alabama and got the breaks beaten off of us. Made their QB look like a Heisman candidate.
I was there. It was a real wake up call as a fan to the difference between FBS and FCS football.
For Troy, it was North Texas in 2001 while we were an Independent. They were SBC champs, and we beat them 18-16.
Soon after, Troy was invited to the SBC.
Not counting other FBS transitioning teams, our first FBS opponent at home was Troy. It had rained several days leading up to the game as was a monsoon during the game. We were expecting a potential sellout had it not been for the rain, but ended up with about 24,000. It was an ugly game with a combined 5 interceptions and 4 fumbles that Troy won. Atlanta Trojan and I are still trying to dry out from the game.