(03-07-2024 10:07 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote: (03-07-2024 07:38 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote: (03-06-2024 02:38 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote: (03-04-2024 10:47 PM)LexColonel Wrote: (03-04-2024 11:13 AM)andybible1995 Wrote: I blame both sides.
I blame the FCS schools for their delusional thinking that they are going to move up to the FBS, rise through the ranks, and then dethrone the Alabama's and Ohio State's when they get to the top. That's never going to happen. These FCS teams don't have the legacy and influence that the Alabama's and Ohio State's have. That all was established long before this current crop of players were even born.
I also blame the FBS for wasting money on these games. $1 million dollars could be better spent on their athletes rather than a small directional state school who they were going to blow out anyway. Also, fans aren't going to show up to a blowout game like that. The FBS teams lose money with low attendance at games like this.
I would bet $$ that there is not a single “delusional “ EKU fan who thinks we would “rise up through the ranks and dethrone an Alabama or Ohio State”. That’s an absurd comment.
It is no secret EKU has wanted to move and has worked toward that goal. Recently the parameters have leaned toward universities in large metro areas (re: Kennesaw State, a large enrollment…but a large population of commuter students….and have you ever checked the number of colleges/universities in the Atlanta area? Including Ga Tech). I know there’s always a pushback against FCS move ups, but I don’t understand WHY others, especially the average fan, would care, much less have an opinion of who can/should/could make that move.
There's a few reasons.
1.Because some feel that others are not worthy and don't want to be associated with what are perceived to be lesser schools thereby lessening the perception of their own school.
2. Fear of increased competition, both on and off the field.
3. Decrease in the amount per CFP share.
I'm sure others could add to this list.
Fear of watching another FCS callup pass them by
Fear others didnt recognize their superiority to the FCS call ups
In reality the FCS call ups are as deserving and as good as most G schools. FCS is full of programs on par or could be on par with G schools.
Well yeah. Who wants to get passed up or even caught up to? Of course that's on existing FBS schools to stay ahead and not let that happen.
Clearly there have been a ton of recent FCS call ups that have been deserving of the call up. Those that have had success, fan support, financial support, a relatively decent history, and infrastructure buildup. They might not have all of those but some combination of those factors. Your JMU, GS, App, CCU, JSU, Delaware etc. Most would agree those were all very deserving schools.
Then you have SHSU, KSU, and potentially Tarleton. They might have one or two of those factors but look A LOT different than the other schools.
I've said this many times but from my perspective it's frustrating to see schools that haven't done any leg work or have fans get the call up simply because a conference was trying to resucitate itself, BUT at the end of the day if they make it work then more power to them. I used to strongly be against Tarleton moving up because they've simply had everything handed to them by daddy A&M instead of things happening organically but I've come to accept that its probably inevitable and look forward to seeing how it goes and rooting for them in CUSA play if that happens.
Sure there are some FCS programs that are "on par with G schools", but what do you mean by G5 schools? You talking about the ULMs and USMs of the world or the App States and the UTSAs?
Coastal “very deserving” vs. Kennesaw “frustrating to see”… lol? Would love to know what made CCU such a worthy FBS football program back in 2015 and where they profile different from Kennesaw.
They were drawing around 8,000 fans per game.
Accounting for inflation ($23.8m->$31m), their initial Sun Belt budget wasn’t any higher than Kennesaw’s in CUSA.
They hadn’t been playing football significantly longer than KSU.
They don’t have a history of FCS success, unless you count a pair of quarterfinal exists as history… which Kennesaw also boasts, out of the same conference.
Both had/have “work-in-progress” facility question marks.
Of course, using lovely hindsight, we can say that Coastal was
very deserving as they’ve made the most of their FBS invitation, built a brand and become a cornerstone in the Sun Belt. But to put them in the same class as App, JMU, GS, Delaware is revisionist history IMO. I’m sure there were plenty of football fans crapping all over the SBC for adding them.
Who knows how kind the future will be to Kennesaw. Chances are they don’t reach the heights of a Coastal Carolina (ranked in year four, hosting CGD, games on ABC). But they could certainly build a reputable G5 program (whatever that is) in time.
CUSA’s options aren’t deep like the Sun Belt’s were circa. 2010. You have to bank on “potential”. Could SHSU and KSU be the next ULM or South Alabama or FIU or Charlotte? Sure. Could they become your average G5 program? I think both are making strides towards that. Like, what’s stopping Kennesaw from being another Georgia State, or a UAB or Middle Tennessee? Give it time. Of all people, this shouldn’t be frustrating to TXST fans.
I’m not saying the conference should go off adding Tarleton State and Central Oklahoma and Delta State… but the current additions aren’t worthy of too much ire.
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Story: Could a move by WKU in conference realignment help EKU into the FBS?
