Is the Marshall vs App State game Saturday on CBS the most important game for CUSA and Sun Belt in decades?

Yes or No. Why or why not?

That is the question I wanted to ask, but was too long for a thread title.

And I didn't want this discussion to just get lost in the other threads, so I thought it was important to create this dialogue here.

Yes or No, and why or why not?

Because it is on a major network? I mean I think it's a great opp but I would not say most important in decades. This year will be an asterisk year for years to come as well.

Here is why I say yes, and it's not just because of Marshall.

I say this is the most important game from a perception changing CUSA perspective since the 2011 CUSA championship, when we had two ranked top 25 teams gutting it out on ESPN.

Nationally televised CBS games at 3:30 p.m. EST just don't get handed out every year.

On top of that, we have a ranked opponent, the winner guaranteed to cement a spot in the top 25 going forward.

This is a major rub opportunity for both conferences.

It is the most important on the field game? no

It is the most important game for conference perception/recognition because of the potential size of the audience? yes

I voted yes because CUSA needs to make all of the noise we can on a national level in both football and basketball when we can since we don't get those opportunities very often.

(09-15-2020 04:23 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  It is the most important on the field game? no

It is the most important game for conference perception/recognition because of the potential size of the audience? yes

I voted yes because CUSA needs to make all of the noise we can on a national level in both football and basketball when we can since we don't get those opportunities very often.

Completely agree. Not the most important game on the field we've had over the years, but this will go a long way in changing perception for either side.

It's a balls out game.

clt says it is unfortunate that marshal isn't playing the best lowly sun belt team.

I think it is more important for CUSA than it is for the Belt. Yes, it is important for the Belt too, but they just ran the table at Big 12 opponents, and we are wallowing at 1-6. In the big picture, the national landscape of college football, it is hardly a blip on the radar. The Big 12 got spanked, and that brought some chuckles from fans of other P5 conferences, but no one has assigned any real meaning to their 0-3 weekend. No one has elevated the Belt to some elite status either. Just got the Belt some respect and has set the table for them to build on it...if they can.

But, CUSA sucks. We stank it up last year, and the 1-6 start has already put us in a hole. For the sake of pride and a bit of prestige, we need the Herd to beat Appy State.

This is the other thing that we all need to comprehend.

In covid world 2020, having many fans in the stands is a great emotional lift.

I know it was for me when we played on ESPN a couple weeks ago.

For example, I'm a suffering New York Giants fan, just watched my Giants get clobbered by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. No fans.

Marshall is going to have a nationally broadcast game on CBS in front of 12,500 fans. That IMHO is going to look really good for both conferences.

I am curious, if you voted NO, then why?

Could you provide details?

Mind you, this is a free and open discussion, no ill intent here, I am just curious for feedback. Thanks all!

I’m just pleased that because of this most of you will not be watching the Battle for the Palladium Part I, because really I don’t want to subject any of you to MT football this year. Friends don’t let friends watch 2020 MT football. You’re welcome.

I voted no just because it's still just G5 vs G5. Despite the network picking it up, most viewers will still likely be Marshall and App fans. Important games still require one of us taking down someone in a shocking upset like the App-Michigan game. Those are the games, to me, that move the needle nationally.

Or alternatively, you need something ridiculous to happen that gets played for years to come like the UNT punt return against Arkansas that Fox Sports just posted about again today.

Thats the only stuff the P5 fans will remember.

Is it important- absolutely it is! Is it "the most important game for CUSA and Sun Belt in decades"? Absolutely not. This game doesn't decide anyone's season, it doesn't affect a potential Access Bowl slot, or a conference championship,... It is a head to head game between two of the best in each conference, so CUSA needs Marshall to win this game.

Cool. Thanks for your feedback.

But realize, there is a major psychological win for CUSA and Sun Belt getting this slot. Fans in the stands we're not even at many NFL games this weekend.

This is THE marquee SEC time slot. There will be many bars, many homes that will have this on . I disagree with one of the commenters that said their will only be Marshall and App State fans watching,

No sir, big no to that.

This is a major negotiating TV viewership opportunity for our next contract. We should have enough data with Marshall playing on ESPN a few weeks ago, and TV numbers from this matchup to build a much better case going forward.

(09-15-2020 05:31 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  I’m just pleased that because of this most of you will not be watching the Battle for the Palladium Part I, because really I don’t want to subject any of you to MT football this year. Friends don’t let friends watch 2020 MT football. You’re welcome.

Lol. MTSU will still find a way to pick off Marshall or WKU.

That would be such a CUSA thing to happen.

My main no reason is it is G5 vs G5. If you were playing Alabama and beat them on CBS then yes, maybe the biggest game is decades. To the ignorant masses App State is either a university devoted to building phone apps or some small school that once beat Michigan.

(09-15-2020 05:50 PM)DogsWin1 Wrote:  Is it important- absolutely it is! Is it "the most important game for CUSA and Sun Belt in decades"? Absolutely not. This game doesn't decide anyone's season, it doesn't affect a potential Access Bowl slot, or a conference championship,... It is a head to head game between two of the best in each conference, so CUSA needs Marshall to win this game.

We do know Sun Belt came out swinging in week 2, and want to take our lunch. Let me use a wrestling analogy (because, yes, I love wrestling).

One of these teams is going to get "the rub" from this matchup. And in wrestling, you don't have to win to get the rub. You can show out, look good and even in losing can gain respect and notoriety.

I think that will happen on Saturday, these will be two very evenly high-powered teams with A LOT on the line. I think we will represent CUSA well, and I believe App State will come swinging.

And I disagree with your sentiment, I know for a fact a lot of SEC fans here in Lexington are watching more CUSA, American and Sunbelt games because let's face it, half of the teams are not playing.

It's Top Tier CUSA v. Top Tier SBC doesn't change much regardless of who wins. If Marshall got beat by Coastal or S. Alabama that would be important since it would be Top Tier losing to Bottom Tier. A big deal for Marshall yes, but it won't result in CUSA getting new found respect, that comes from P5 wins.

I have to be completely honest. I'm a little shocked so many on here do not see the big picture ramifications on the line.

So far 66% of the vote is going towards "no"

I think it is the most important game between the two conferences this season, but I'm not sure about the last 20 or so years. We certainly need Marshall to win. UTSA's win over Texas State was good for C-USA, and Charlotte's close loss to App was encouraging. But, we need Marshall to beat Appy, especially if both end up being the best programs in our conferences.

Yeah, I think it’s a pretty big deal. Cusa in the SEC afternoon honey slot? More people will tune in than they would on friggin Stadium or Facebook watch.