(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

(03-08-2020 01:05 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

So are they in a better spot to stay in the sun belt struggling to make money and win games with minimal fan support or is there an alternative that I'm missing?

(03-08-2020 01:11 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:05 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

So are they in a better spot to stay in the sun belt struggling to make money and win games with minimal fan support or is there an alternative that I'm missing?

ulm is stuck in no mans land. no option is a good option for them. doesnt pay to move down, doesnt pay to stay. such is the life of ulm and its fans.

(03-08-2020 01:32 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:11 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:05 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

So are they in a better spot to stay in the sun belt struggling to make money and win games with minimal fan support or is there an alternative that I'm missing?

ulm is stuck in no mans land. no option is a good option for them. doesnt pay to move down, doesnt pay to stay. such is the life of ulm and its fans.

Someone may need to help me understand this but if I recall, the conference didn't renew contracts with Idaho and New Mexico State which caused them to leave. I'm assuming ULM has a contract as well. Does anyone know when it expires? Is there a chance the conference decides they aren't providing enough value and they decide against renewing?

(03-08-2020 02:22 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  Someone may need to help me understand this but if I recall, the conference didn't renew contracts with Idaho and New Mexico State which caused them to leave. I'm assuming ULM has a contract as well. Does anyone know when it expires? Is there a chance the conference decides they aren't providing enough value and they decide against renewing?

ULM doesn't have any such contract. They are a full member unlike Idaho and NMSU. They can be voted out like anyone else can be but as long as they are a natural travel partner for UL they won't be voted out.

I do think ULM does have some things going for it. The conference is in as good as shape as it' been since it was founded, they have a pretty decent football facility they recently built, and I think they've got a football coach is doing good work there who will probably be there until he decides to retire. And it's not like the state of Louisiana can pull the rug out from underneath them and put them in panic mode because they already don't get any state support.

(03-08-2020 02:22 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:32 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:11 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:05 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

So are they in a better spot to stay in the sun belt struggling to make money and win games with minimal fan support or is there an alternative that I'm missing?

ulm is stuck in no mans land. no option is a good option for them. doesnt pay to move down, doesnt pay to stay. such is the life of ulm and its fans.

Someone may need to help me understand this but if I recall, the conference didn't renew contracts with Idaho and New Mexico State which caused them to leave. I'm assuming ULM has a contract as well. Does anyone know when it expires? Is there a chance the conference decides they aren't providing enough value and they decide against renewing?

those contracts were because of their football-only status. i assume full members would have to be voted out. i cant see the presidents voting out any full member. i think the non- football members UTA and Little rock, would be voted out first, but leadership might need to be forced into that for it to happen.

(03-08-2020 02:43 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 02:22 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  Someone may need to help me understand this but if I recall, the conference didn't renew contracts with Idaho and New Mexico State which caused them to leave. I'm assuming ULM has a contract as well. Does anyone know when it expires? Is there a chance the conference decides they aren't providing enough value and they decide against renewing?

ULM doesn't have any such contract. They are a full member unlike Idaho and NMSU. They can be voted out like anyone else can be but as long as they are a natural travel partner for UL they won't be voted out.

I do think ULM does have some things going for it. The conference is in as good as shape as it' been since it was founded, they have a pretty decent football facility they recently built, and I think they've got a football coach is doing good work there who will probably be there until he decides to retire. And it's not like the state of Louisiana can pull the rug out from underneath them and put them in panic mode because they already don't get any state support.

you make good points, but also over state how well the situations is for them. their coach is good, but 6-6 has been his ceiling to this point, and they did a facility upgrade recently, but in comparison to just the in-state FBS teams its last. its goes to my point of them being in "no mans land". there is enough good to stop them from dropping down, but not enough good, to them to gain real traction and grow.

(03-08-2020 01:32 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:11 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 01:05 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

So are they in a better spot to stay in the sun belt struggling to make money and win games with minimal fan support or is there an alternative that I'm missing?

ulm is stuck in no mans land. no option is a good option for them. doesnt pay to move down, doesnt pay to stay. such is the life of ulm and its fans.

Life is pain

I bet ULM fans love this topic coming up every 6 months on here....

(03-08-2020 03:09 PM)_x_ Wrote:  I bet ULM fans love this topic coming up every 6 months on here....

You can see why most of us stick to our own board

Yeah, I don't know why we would want ULM to drop down. If they are having financial issues, that is an internal issue for them to deal with. I don't see why opposing fans should feel obliged to argue that point. Well intended or not, it's not really our concern. ULM has been competitive in football for the past few years (including a win over App a couple of years ago) and has flirted with the top tier although they haven't quite made it. I hope they don't get in the situation where they have to drop down because that will open up the whole question of replacing them.

Scheduling extra money games is a double edged sword. It does pay the bills but it also makes it harder to make a bowl game and get momentum for the program.

Maybe everyone on this board should send ULM $25 if they beat Liberty and redeem the conference this season (looking at you, Eagle fans!).

(03-09-2020 08:24 AM)Yosef84 Wrote:  Yeah, I don't know why we would want ULM to drop down. If they are having financial issues, that is an internal issue for them to deal with. I don't see why opposing fans should feel obliged to argue that point. Well intended or not, it's not really our concern. ULM has been competitive in football for the past few years (including a win over App a couple of years ago) and has flirted with the top tier although they haven't quite made it. I hope they don't get in the situation where they have to drop down because that will open up the whole question of replacing them.

Scheduling extra money games is a double edged sword. It does pay the bills but it also makes it harder to make a bowl game and get momentum for the program.

Maybe everyone on this board should send ULM $25 if they beat Liberty and redeem the conference this season (looking at you, Eagle fans!).

I still think it's still a concern of ours. If the goal is to increase perception of the conference, teams need nice facilities to help attract good talent and retain and nurture the talent that they get. That's how you increase win totals and help the perception of your team and your conference. Right now, I'd say the team with the worst perception from A to Z is ULM and that's not totally related to football performance. I agree they have some competitive teams in football. The issues is they haven't been consistently competitive at the top of the conference in really any sport and they are bringing up the rear in a number of sports. I'd just like to see some sort of a plan to get them to a point where they can compete with the rest of the conference financially, on the field, and through facilities. I know they need more money but how are they going to get the amount needed? Will playing 2 P5's yearly get them there? When can we expect to see renovations that will bring their facilities up to speed with the rest of the conference in all sports? I just feel like I'm seeing everyone announce upgrades or at least have the money or level of competition where an upgrade isn't currently needed and ULM is kind of getting left behind. I saw them announce an upgrade in the football stadium but it seemed like a pretty small upgrade that was really more internal and let's be honest, they need way more than just that to improve the football stadium. I'm not saying we should be ready to vote ULM out of the conference neccesarily but I'd like to know what their plan is to catch up to the rest of the conference. Without a plan, they are going to fall very far behind and they will start to become an eye sore before long if they keep up at the rate that they are going and the rest of us keep improving.

I like being in a league with a scrappy school like ULM. Screw the haters.

(03-09-2020 09:20 AM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-09-2020 08:24 AM)Yosef84 Wrote:  Yeah, I don't know why we would want ULM to drop down. If they are having financial issues, that is an internal issue for them to deal with. I don't see why opposing fans should feel obliged to argue that point. Well intended or not, it's not really our concern. ULM has been competitive in football for the past few years (including a win over App a couple of years ago) and has flirted with the top tier although they haven't quite made it. I hope they don't get in the situation where they have to drop down because that will open up the whole question of replacing them.

Scheduling extra money games is a double edged sword. It does pay the bills but it also makes it harder to make a bowl game and get momentum for the program.

Maybe everyone on this board should send ULM $25 if they beat Liberty and redeem the conference this season (looking at you, Eagle fans!).

I still think it's still a concern of ours. If the goal is to increase perception of the conference, teams need nice facilities to help attract good talent and retain and nurture the talent that they get. That's how you increase win totals and help the perception of your team and your conference. Right now, I'd say the team with the worst perception from A to Z is ULM and that's not totally related to football performance. I agree they have some competitive teams in football. The issues is they haven't been consistently competitive at the top of the conference in really any sport and they are bringing up the rear in a number of sports. I'd just like to see some sort of a plan to get them to a point where they can compete with the rest of the conference financially, on the field, and through facilities. I know they need more money but how are they going to get the amount needed? Will playing 2 P5's yearly get them there? When can we expect to see renovations that will bring their facilities up to speed with the rest of the conference in all sports? I just feel like I'm seeing everyone announce upgrades or at least have the money or level of competition where an upgrade isn't currently needed and ULM is kind of getting left behind. I saw them announce an upgrade in the football stadium but it seemed like a pretty small upgrade that was really more internal and let's be honest, they need way more than just that to improve the football stadium. I'm not saying we should be ready to vote ULM out of the conference neccesarily but I'd like to know what their plan is to catch up to the rest of the conference. Without a plan, they are going to fall very far behind and they will start to become an eye sore before long if they keep up at the rate that they are going and the rest of us keep improving.

You’re not the only one who wants to see a plan, that’s been a sore point on our board for a while now.
But on the bright side, there are some planned upgrades to Malone Stadium:

(03-09-2020 09:20 AM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-09-2020 08:24 AM)Yosef84 Wrote:  Yeah, I don't know why we would want ULM to drop down. If they are having financial issues, that is an internal issue for them to deal with. I don't see why opposing fans should feel obliged to argue that point. Well intended or not, it's not really our concern. ULM has been competitive in football for the past few years (including a win over App a couple of years ago) and has flirted with the top tier although they haven't quite made it. I hope they don't get in the situation where they have to drop down because that will open up the whole question of replacing them.

Scheduling extra money games is a double edged sword. It does pay the bills but it also makes it harder to make a bowl game and get momentum for the program.

Maybe everyone on this board should send ULM $25 if they beat Liberty and redeem the conference this season (looking at you, Eagle fans!).

I still think it's still a concern of ours. If the goal is to increase perception of the conference, teams need nice facilities to help attract good talent and retain and nurture the talent that they get. That's how you increase win totals and help the perception of your team and your conference. Right now, I'd say the team with the worst perception from A to Z is ULM and that's not totally related to football performance. I agree they have some competitive teams in football. The issues is they haven't been consistently competitive at the top of the conference in really any sport and they are bringing up the rear in a number of sports. I'd just like to see some sort of a plan to get them to a point where they can compete with the rest of the conference financially, on the field, and through facilities. I know they need more money but how are they going to get the amount needed? Will playing 2 P5's yearly get them there? When can we expect to see renovations that will bring their facilities up to speed with the rest of the conference in all sports? I just feel like I'm seeing everyone announce upgrades or at least have the money or level of competition where an upgrade isn't currently needed and ULM is kind of getting left behind. I saw them announce an upgrade in the football stadium but it seemed like a pretty small upgrade that was really more internal and let's be honest, they need way more than just that to improve the football stadium. I'm not saying we should be ready to vote ULM out of the conference neccesarily but I'd like to know what their plan is to catch up to the rest of the conference. Without a plan, they are going to fall very far behind and they will start to become an eye sore before long if they keep up at the rate that they are going and the rest of us keep improving.

Managing the perception of our conference mates really is NOT our role. I also disagree that ULM is the team with the "worst perception." The factors you're mentioning aren't on the radar for most football fans outside the Sun Belt. They couldn't care less about the need for renovations. It's all semantics though. I'm not saying they don't have issues. What you're saying is true. It's just not an issue for App State fans to resolve.

TOGETHER WE RISE! I fail to see why any Sun Belt fan could perceive it as improving our image as a conference for a SECOND program to drop down to FCS from our ranks.

(03-09-2020 11:02 AM)Yosef84 Wrote:  

(03-09-2020 09:20 AM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-09-2020 08:24 AM)Yosef84 Wrote:  Yeah, I don't know why we would want ULM to drop down. If they are having financial issues, that is an internal issue for them to deal with. I don't see why opposing fans should feel obliged to argue that point. Well intended or not, it's not really our concern. ULM has been competitive in football for the past few years (including a win over App a couple of years ago) and has flirted with the top tier although they haven't quite made it. I hope they don't get in the situation where they have to drop down because that will open up the whole question of replacing them.

Scheduling extra money games is a double edged sword. It does pay the bills but it also makes it harder to make a bowl game and get momentum for the program.

Maybe everyone on this board should send ULM $25 if they beat Liberty and redeem the conference this season (looking at you, Eagle fans!).

I still think it's still a concern of ours. If the goal is to increase perception of the conference, teams need nice facilities to help attract good talent and retain and nurture the talent that they get. That's how you increase win totals and help the perception of your team and your conference. Right now, I'd say the team with the worst perception from A to Z is ULM and that's not totally related to football performance. I agree they have some competitive teams in football. The issues is they haven't been consistently competitive at the top of the conference in really any sport and they are bringing up the rear in a number of sports. I'd just like to see some sort of a plan to get them to a point where they can compete with the rest of the conference financially, on the field, and through facilities. I know they need more money but how are they going to get the amount needed? Will playing 2 P5's yearly get them there? When can we expect to see renovations that will bring their facilities up to speed with the rest of the conference in all sports? I just feel like I'm seeing everyone announce upgrades or at least have the money or level of competition where an upgrade isn't currently needed and ULM is kind of getting left behind. I saw them announce an upgrade in the football stadium but it seemed like a pretty small upgrade that was really more internal and let's be honest, they need way more than just that to improve the football stadium. I'm not saying we should be ready to vote ULM out of the conference neccesarily but I'd like to know what their plan is to catch up to the rest of the conference. Without a plan, they are going to fall very far behind and they will start to become an eye sore before long if they keep up at the rate that they are going and the rest of us keep improving.

Managing the perception of our conference mates really is NOT our role. I also disagree that ULM is the team with the "worst perception." The factors you're mentioning aren't on the radar for most football fans outside the Sun Belt. They couldn't care less about the need for renovations. It's all semantics though. I'm not saying they don't have issues. What you're saying is true. It's just not an issue for App State fans to resolve.

TOGETHER WE RISE! I fail to see why any Sun Belt fan could perceive it as improving our image as a conference for a SECOND program to drop down to FCS from our ranks.

Agreed fully.

(02-28-2020 01:10 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  Also, what's the over/under for attendance on the Wednesday night game in Statesboro?

A dozen? Two dozen? I'd say under.

Depends on the record and weather. If we are 2-3 or worse coming in it is going to suck. GA has become a tropical rain forest the last year for some reason as well. Rain does affect actual attendance for all the fanatics that like to beat there chest about it less than losing but it does especially on a weekday regardless of record. The only way we get back to 2014 is to be 5-0 coming in.

(03-08-2020 01:05 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 12:44 PM)High Country Student Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 11:33 AM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe we could get Week 2 OOC games if our admin decided to schedule games more than 2 years in advance

Serious question with no offense intended, is there a chance ULM tries to drop down to the Southland or another conference in the next few years? From what I've heard, their financials are not in a good spot, fan support is terrible, facilities are the worst in the conference, and they aren't really performing well in any sport and haven't been for quite awhile. Seems like it would make more sense at this point to drop back to the Southland where the majority of your opponents will be in Louisiana and Texas so more of your fans may become interested and the level of competition isn't as strong so having a chance to build your teams back up to a level where they can consistently compete would be feasible. Thoughts?

Being in the southland wont help with fan support. Look at the attendance averages of those schools. Not sure how yall made FCS work over in NC but most people just think its D2 over here. Youd think Sam Houston would.have a decent fanbase with the success theyve had this decade but nope.

There was a TX school that did a study and found it made sense to stay DIV I-A because they would lose less money than dropping down to I-AA or eliminating football all together. I want to say it was Rice..but its been years. I dont see ULM taking the next step after decades trying and lack of institutional support but its better than being in the wasteland that most of the FCS is or dropping football all together. I think there are benefits of having a DIV I program that are harder to quantify than just the athletic budget.