(10-09-2018 10:19 PM)GreenGate2006 Wrote: I think you mean you've been in the FBS since 2012
No, not officially. We've been in an FBS conference since our 2nd year of football, but the NCAA didn't recognize us as an official FBS program until our 4th year. They have a rule stipulating that startup programs need to wait until their 3rd season of FBS play to be eligible for a possible bowl.
..................................................
We went 8-4 in our second season against the following schedule...
South Alabama
A&M-Commerce
Georgia State
NW Oklahoma State
New Mexico State
Rice
San Jose State
Utah State
LA Tech
McNeese State
Idaho
Texas State
Even though we were 8-4, we didn't have enough wins against official FBS teams that year to be eligible anyway, even if that rule hadn't existed.
..................................................
We then went 7-5 in 2013 (our 3rd year, but only 2nd of FBS play) against the following schedule, and would've actually been bowl eligible that year if not for the NCAA rule requiring us to be in our 3rd year of FBS play...
New Mexico
Oklahoma State
Arizona
UTEP
Houston
Marshall
Rice
UAB
Tulsa
Tulane
North Texas
LA Tech
That was terribly frustrating for our coaches, players, fans, and anyone affiliated with our university because that was probably the best team we've ever fielded.