(02-06-2018 11:30 PM)panama Wrote:  

(02-04-2018 11:09 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(02-04-2018 10:49 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(02-03-2018 11:51 PM)sctvman Wrote:  Going through the last few years there are programs in many sports that have become major forces around the country.

Gonzaga was a little known WCC school until they started making their NCAA runs, now everybody knows them. Wichita State had made 1 NCAA tournament in 24 years prior to Gregg Marshall becoming coach there. In football we all know UCF and Houston have awoken in the past few years.

There are other programs though which could be huge if they have success at the right times.

Charlotte- Basically a dead program now with no football success to speak of and the basketball team having won 5 games all year and firing their coach in early December this year. Get the right basketball or football coach though and Charlotte could gain a lot more popular. Top 25 metro area, dedicated fan base, decent conference to do well in. CHARLOTTE HASN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING IN 10 YEARS IN ANY MAJOR SPORT. THEY FINALLY GOT RID OF THEIR VERY UNPOPULAR AD, BUT THEY'VE GOT A HUGE REBUILDING JOB IN FRONT OF THEM. THEY'RE ALSO IN A VERY COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR FOOTBALL (NFL TOWN AND LOTS OF REGIONAL COMPETITION) AND BASKETBALL (NBA, REGIONAL COMPETITION AND DAVIDSON). YES, THEY COULD RISE, BUT THEY'RE BASICALLY STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

Georgia State- They are definitely gaining a lot of popularity, especially over the past few years. The new football stadium at Turner Field will give them an edge in recruiting, but they also need a new basketball arena to cash in on the success they’ve had recently (especially the upset over Baylor). Can recruit anybody from metro Atlanta. AFTER MAKING EVERY BAD MOVE IMAGINABLE FOR A MOVE UP (RISKY OLD MAN COACH, MOVING UP BEFORE THEY WERE READY, ETC.), THEY'VE MADE SOME GOOD MOVES RECENTLY. ATTENDANCE REMAINS A BIG PROBLEM THERE. THE FACT THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS BE BELOW A LOCAL TEAM (TECH) AND A SEMI-LOCAL TEAM (GEORGIA), PLUS THE IMPACT OF THE NFL IS A PROBLEM. YES, THEY'VE FIXED THEIR FOOTBALL CREDIBILITY PROBLEM. BUT THAT BASICALLY ONLY GETS THEM TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN EXPECT TO GET 10K REAL BUTTS IN THE STANDS. LAST YEAR WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR THEM, BUT EVERY TEAM THEY BEAT HAD A LOSING RECORD AND THEY LOST TO A FCS. YES, THERE'S PROGRESS, BUT LETS NOT GET CARRIED AWAY.

Seattle- Most people think Grand Canyon is the sleeping giant in the west, but Seattle is another. Formerly made it all the way to the NCAA finals in 1958 (lost to UK), but dropped to NAIA in 1980, then moved back to D1 a few years back. Western Washington version of Gonzaga, but has more resources than Gonzaga had prior to 1999. A couple NCAA years and that program could grow quick. LETS SEE IF THEY CAN GET TO THE NCAAS AND WIN A GAME OR TWO BEFORE WE START RUNNING AWAY WITH OURSELVES.

What are your thoughts of programs that are sleeping giants?

My comments in BOLD

While its not particularly satisfying, programs on the rise usually rise slowly, rather than quickly. Attendance builds over years. Recruiting networks build up over years. Sure, there are teams that can have a good season or so (see Eastern Michigan in 2016, or Tulane in 1998) and then cannot sustain it.

Here are the teams that appear to be on the watch list for making a move towards sustainable improvement

Georgia State - But they started out so far in the hole that it will take years. There's also a question if GaSt can really capture more than a small slice of the very competitive Atlanta sports market. Growth is likely to be slow.

UAB - See Georgia State

Arkansas State - All the pieces are there, all they need to do is to win some OOC games.

SDSU - Lets see if they can leverage top dog status in San Diego into greater prominence

If Georgia State concentrates on getting a good slice of the state of Georgia along with a small slice of the Atlanta market, I think the Panthers could do well. The key is not limiting themselves to the Atlanta market. Act like a state-wide interest program.

Naw, Atlanta is the answer. Leave the Metropolitan Area and it's Dawgs Country. But it's a city of 6.5 million with a lot of people with no allegiance.

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Being in a pro sports town is a big drag on pulling yourself up. As for Georgia St., they are walking distance from Georgia Tech. They have almost no chance of being more than a UAB or Southern Miss for the forseeable future. And Atlanta has lots of people with allegiance. Most UGA. Many GT. Quite a few Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida, etc.