What I Learned in FBS...

[blueballs]

As most of you probably know by now, Georgia Southern defeated Louisiana Monroe this past Saturday to run the table at 8-0 in the conference and win the SunBelt Conference title outright (9-3 overall) in their first season in FBS. Appalachian State rallied in the second half of the season to finish tied for third at 6-2 in the conference.

Frankly, in my wildest dreams I didn't see that coming. What it illustrates though is the idea that the best FCS teams can compete on equal footing with all but the very best FBS schools. I had always thought that but now I have seen empirical evidence over the course of a full season. The depth difference is real though, and isn't as big a deal in a single game as it is over the course of the season.

GS was two red zone turnovers against #12 Georgia Tech and NC State from 11-1 in their first season in FBS. This was done with two recruiting classes recruited to be FBS (2014's class almost entirely redshirted) so the guys who were playing the most were recruited as FCS players. As good as GS was this year, I wouldn't rank this year's team ahead of the 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000, or 2002 GS teams. An argument could be made that they weren't better than the 1998, 2001, or 2012 squads either. From a style and production standpoint, this team most closely resembled the 2004 team, at least in my humble opinion.

My take is, if you are a playoff team in FCS- particularly a seed- you can compete in the G5 leagues as if you were there from day one. Injuries, because of lack of depth, will be particularly worrisome but isn't that the case in FCS as well? Especially in FCS where you may play up to 16 games with only 63 scholarships? I always knew that anything could happen on "Any Given Saturday," but I now know without a doubt that it can over the course of a season as well.

Having replay available every game is great. Having every game televised- even if New Mexico State's broadcast is like late night UHF TV- is wonderful. The stadiums are better overall as is the officiating. What isn't better is my favorite time of the year- now- the playoffs. The playoffs are a wonderful thing and the most fun thing in college football. I miss that greatly.

Best of luck to all the teams still playing, I'll be watching and enjoying. I just thought I'd stick my head back in and give y'all my impressions from the "dark side."

[Professor Chaos]

Congrats to your team on a great season! I was cheering for both GSU and ASU to rip up the Sun Belt this year and I'd say you both did a fine job, GSU especially.

[PantherRob82]

As most of you probably know by now, Georgia Southern defeated Louisiana Monroe this past Saturday to run the table at 8-0 in the conference and win the SunBelt Conference title outright (9-3 overall) in their first season in FBS. Appalachian State rallied in the second half of the season to finish tied for third at 6-2 in the conference.

Frankly, in my wildest dreams I didn't see that coming. What it illustrates though is the idea that the best FCS teams can compete on equal footing with all but the very best FBS schools. I had always thought that but now I have seen empirical evidence over the course of a full season. The depth difference is real though, and isn't as big a deal in a single game as it is over the course of the season.

GS was two red zone turnovers against #12 Georgia Tech and NC State from 11-1 in their first season in FBS. This was done with two recruiting classes recruited to be FBS (2014's class almost entirely redshirted) so the guys who were playing the most were recruited as FCS players. As good as GS was this year, I wouldn't rank this year's team ahead of the 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000, or 2002 GS teams. An argument could be made that they weren't better than the 1998, 2001, or 2012 squads either. From a style and production standpoint, this team most closely resembled the 2004 team, at least in my humble opinion.

My take is, if you are a playoff team in FCS- particularly a seed- you can compete in the G5 leagues as if you were there from day one. Injuries, because of lack of depth, will be particularly worrisome but isn't that the case in FCS as well? Especially in FCS where you may play up to 16 games with only 63 scholarships? I always knew that anything could happen on "Any Given Saturday," but I now know without a doubt that it can over the course of a season as well.

Having replay available every game is great. Having every game televised- even if New Mexico State's broadcast is like late night UHF TV- is wonderful. The stadiums are better overall as is the officiating. What isn't better is my favorite time of the year- now- the playoffs. The playoffs are a wonderful thing and the most fun thing in college football. I miss that greatly.

Best of luck to all the teams still playing, I'll be watching and enjoying. I just thought I'd stick my head back in and give y'all my impressions from the "dark side."

I added you guys to my favorites on the ESPN app so I could follow. Excited for you guys to keep the run going next year.

[UNH Fanboi]

How have the folks on the Sun Belt message boards reacted to the success of GSU and ASU? Have there been a lot of obnoxious ASU and GSU posters talking trash?

[FormerPokeCenter]

On their worst day, the GSU and App posters arent anywhere near the level of absurdity normally found on the Sun Belt Boards.

If GSU and App aren't talking smack on the Slum Belch boards, they SHOULD be!

If you want insight into the delusional mindset at work in, say, Lafayette, check out this thread in which they claim that Arkansas State and USL are the top of the conference in football, and that there's clear separation beweeen them an everybody else.

http://www.raginpagin.com/louisiana/showthread.php?237919-So-if-CUSA-is-the-goal

Bearing in mind, as you read that, that Georgia Southern just went undefeated in that conference and App State just dogged USL, convincingly.

THIS is why the Southland laughs heartily at the Sun Belch...We know these pricks....We've known them their entires lives ;)

[Sitting Bull]

GSU and App are terrific programs. Nice to see some success out of the gate.

I would wonder though how the revenues changed (ticket sales) vs. the costs (travel, etc) - this year vs. last season in FCS.

[Grizalltheway]

Glad to see GSU having so much success right off the bat. But, like you said, I wouldn't trade the experience of FCS playoffs (particularly home games or nearby away games like this weekend) for anything. And definitely not for an appearance in a Tuesday night bowl game that ten people will watch. xpeacex

[marenlee]

I'm honestly not surprised how well Southern fared in their first season. I knew they would be competing for the Sunbelt Championship from the get-go. I'll continue to root and makes it even better they're around the corner from me. I'm more surprised how strong App finished after their horrible start to the season. Maybe there is hope with the coaching staff in Boone?

[FUBeAR]

As most of you probably know by now, Georgia Southern defeated Louisiana Monroe this past Saturday to run the table at 8-0 in the conference and win the SunBelt Conference title outright (9-3 overall) in their first season in FBS. Appalachian State rallied in the second half of the season to finish tied for third at 6-2 in the conference.

Frankly, in my wildest dreams I didn't see that coming. What it illustrates though is the idea that the best FCS teams can compete on equal footing with all but the very best FBS schools. I had always thought that but now I have seen empirical evidence over the course of a full season. The depth difference is real though, and isn't as big a deal in a single game as it is over the course of the season.

GS was two red zone turnovers against #12 Georgia Tech and NC State from 11-1 in their first season in FBS. This was done with two recruiting classes recruited to be FBS (2014's class almost entirely redshirted) so the guys who were playing the most were recruited as FCS players. As good as GS was this year, I wouldn't rank this year's team ahead of the 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000, or 2002 GS teams. An argument could be made that they weren't better than the 1998, 2001, or 2012 squads either. From a style and production standpoint, this team most closely resembled the 2004 team, at least in my humble opinion.

My take is, if you are a playoff team in FCS- particularly a seed- you can compete in the G5 leagues as if you were there from day one. Injuries, because of lack of depth, will be particularly worrisome but isn't that the case in FCS as well? Especially in FCS where you may play up to 16 games with only 63 scholarships? I always knew that anything could happen on "Any Given Saturday," but I now know without a doubt that it can over the course of a season as well.

Having replay available every game is great. Having every game televised- even if New Mexico State's broadcast is like late night UHF TV- is wonderful. The stadiums are better overall as is the officiating. What isn't better is my favorite time of the year- now- the playoffs. The playoffs are a wonderful thing and the most fun thing in college football. I miss that greatly.

Best of luck to all the teams still playing, I'll be watching and enjoying. I just thought I'd stick my head back in and give y'all my impressions from the "dark side."

Sorry, I don't have anything nice to say about GaSou or Appy (or Marshall)....BUT....I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post. I hope the GaSou and Appy fans are shouting this from the rooftops! Maybe an ESPN Special is in order (30 for 30...."30 bottom FBS < 30 Top FCS"...doesn't have the 'ring' of "Rand University" or "The U" though)....nah, I don't think the media has any interest in destroying the myth that there is a gulf of difference between ANY FBS Program and even the best FCS Programs...might mess with sponsorship $'s for their mid-week broadcasts & 'lesser' bowl games if corporate suits and the masses knew they could sponsor/watch essentially the same (or better, in many cases) quality of college football for a whole lot less $'s and/or hassle. Anyway...great post.

Also - just wondering how GaSou and Appy peeps are viewing the UAB situation. How many GaSou grads are on the Board of the Univ. of GA system and how many Appy grads on the UNC Board? Personally, I don't think they face similar risks that I'm hearing have caused the pending demise for UAB...for 2 different reasons...For GaSou, they are so far, geographically, from the PowerBase in Athens, that there is no perceived threat to UGa (yet)....and the UNC System is already so fragmented with UNC, NCSU, ECU...and now Appy in FBS that the PowerBrokers in the system are less likely to perceive a threat from the Appys. What say y'all?

[citdog]

WHO CARES?

[Laker]

http://www.raginpagin.com/louisiana/showthread.php?237919-So-if-CUSA-is-the-goal

Bearing in mind, as you read that, that Georgia Southern just went undefeated in that conference and App State just dogged USL, convincingly.

You are correct. The guy who keeps saying that the Big 12 is the goal??? What is he on?

[FormerPokeCenter]

LOL....USL fans are the best comedy on the interwebs. There's nothing that picks me up quite like reading their message board after they've been skulldrug. That place becomes a raging dumpster fire of epic proportions...I laugh till I cry when that happens....

I know that sort of schadenfreude is evidence of some for of character flaw, but I don't care. I can't help myself.

I've never Laughed At any school like I've Laughed at UL- Laughed At.....;)

[Gil Dobie]

Great Post blueballs, and Congrats to the Eagles.

I really miss Georgia Southern's trip to the Fargodome, come playoffs. It just didn't feel the same last year. GSU in 2012, was the best team NDSU played in the playoffs the last 3 years.

[dbackjon]

Great season for both schools.

I told the Sun Belt posters that both would dominate the conference in short order - was laughed. Was told by the experts over there that you guys would be lucky to win a couple of conference games.


The reality is that the top of FCS = Sun Belt, C-USA, MAC.

[dbackjon]

And ODU went 6-6, beating the top two teams in C-USA west division (Louisiana Tech and Rice)

[ursus arctos horribilis]

WHO CARES?
http://www.metstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/web-carson-pred_1107201artw.jpg

"The phrase uttered by every Montanan who has had to listen to some Southern ramblings by citdog."

[Twentysix]

http://www.metstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/web-carson-pred_1107201artw.jpg

"The phrase uttered by every Montanan who has had to listen to some Southern ramblings by citdog."

xthumbsupx

[citdog]

http://www.metstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/web-carson-pred_1107201artw.jpg

"The phrase uttered by every Montanan who has had to listen to some Southern ramblings by citdog."

How is this for a 'ramble'?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK1EOle6OQw

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Don't know, I don't click your links any longer. Was it good? Great, glad to hear it!