http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6171110

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6171110

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte athletic director Judy Rose's search for the school's first football coach took a dramatic twist when she came across a candidate she had never heard of: Brad Lambert.

"I read his letter of application and I said, 'Oh my gosh, who is this guy?" Rose said of the Wake Forest defensive coordinator. "It was not your cookie cutter letter. No, it talked about growing up on a farm in Kansas, work ethic and what he would do as coach. So I started making phone calls."

Less than three weeks later, Rose was introducing Lambert on Tuesday as the first coach of the Football Championship Subdivision program that begins play in 2013.

"I think it does show something to people -- we did look at those applications that came in," Rose said. "If I hadn't looked at it, he probably wouldn't be our coach here today."

Lambert, who received a six-year deal worth $250,000 annually for his first head coaching job, quickly announced he's hired former West Virginia offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen to run the offense. He can hire two other assistants immediately to begin recruiting for a redshirt freshmen class that will arrive in the fall of 2012.

The 46-year-old Lambert will fill the rest of his staff early next year. The 49ers' first football game is scheduled for Aug. 31, 2013 against Campbell in Charlotte's new 15,000-seat stadium. Groundbreaking on that facility is slated for later this month.

The school of more than 25,000 students plans to eventually move to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

I have heard that they have aspirations of joining the Big East.

(03-03-2011 01:58 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  I have heard that they have aspirations of joining the Big East.

It makes sense for Big East Baskeball as well.

Doesn't the Big East have enough basketball schools? Must be a mutiny about to take place with all of the non-football Big East schools forming their own conference.

Have them call the WAC when there ready to put on their big boy pants.

(03-03-2011 03:16 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

Have them call the WAC when they're ready to put on their big boy pants.

Great idea.

WAC Football West: Portland State, Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State, New Mexico State, UTSA, Texas State, Lamar
WAC Football East: Illinois State, James Madison, Louisiana Tech, Jacksonville State, Charlotte, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State

The real trick would be to get all the East schools to join for all sports, and split the conference into two 8+ member FBS conferences. I doubt Illinois State would be up for that arrangement unless if Missouri State, Southern Illinois, and two more of their MVC buddies are coming with them. James Madison might not be too enthused about leaving the CAA for sports other than football, but getting Charlotte and five MVC schools should make that more palatable.

If Illinois State didn't join, ODU or Liberty might be suitable substitutes.

(03-12-2011 09:21 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  If Illinois State didn't join, ODU or Liberty might be suitable substitutes.

Does Kennesaw State enter the equation with the addition of football?

KSU is starting as FCS in either 2013 or 2014. They would need at least one season as an independent in transition. Kennesaw State's next home will likely be the Big South or SoCon depending on what trickles down to those leagues.

Not enough D1 talent in NC for another D1 school, football wise at least. Basketball is another story. Just never been a large hotbed of top rated football talent. Plus whenever there is a highly touted high school athlete from NC an SEC school always comes in and snatches them up.

(03-14-2011 10:28 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(03-12-2011 09:21 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  If Illinois State didn't join, ODU or Liberty might be suitable substitutes.

Does Kennesaw State enter the equation with the addition of football?

For what? WAC east? Having grown up(and currently living) 15 minutes from the KSU campus, I'll believe KSU as a serious FBS candidate when I see it.