(04-05-2024 07:27 AM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  Biggest takeaway from that graphic...how tf has Army only played in 10 bowls?

So, invading your thread once again bc I'm doing a lot of procrastinating these days and there aren't a ton of good discussions going on around the boards. My take on WKU/MAC...I understand the logic, but the thought of the Hilltoppers moving to that fairly insular conference still seems strange to me. I know there are a lot of factors re: what I'm "used to" that are biasing that...but I have a hard time imagining longterm interest in those rivalries matching what you'll be able to build/maintain in CUSA or whatever else the future holds. Just my weightless thoughts...

A LOT more info and discussion on this in the CUSA/Realignment Sub-Forum listed above.

(04-05-2024 10:14 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  

(04-05-2024 07:27 AM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  Biggest takeaway from that graphic...how tf has Army only played in 10 bowls?

So, invading your thread once again bc I'm doing a lot of procrastinating these days and there aren't a ton of good discussions going on around the boards. My take on WKU/MAC...I understand the logic, but the thought of the Hilltoppers moving to that fairly insular conference still seems strange to me. I know there are a lot of factors re: what I'm "used to" that are biasing that...but I have a hard time imagining longterm interest in those rivalries matching what you'll be able to build/maintain in CUSA or whatever else the future holds. Just my weightless thoughts...

A LOT more info and discussion on this in the CUSA/Realignment Sub-Forum listed above.

Thanks!

This season WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

SHSU was snake bit last year. Played tough vs BYU and AFA. Lost another close one vs UTEP that could easily have gone the other way. A winning season could have been had with some good bounces of the ball.

(04-29-2024 11:18 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

SHSU was snake bit last year. Played tough vs BYU and AFA. Lost another close one vs UTEP that could easily have gone the other way. A winning season could have been had with some good bounces of the ball.

After building a solid lead in the first half, NMSU had to hold on for dear life to win their game against Sam Houston. If Sam Houston’s offense had come to life sooner, they might have been in the thick of the conference race.

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

Was hanging tough last year or exceeding the G5, the NY6 rep came from CUSA.

I can say this, it's a whole lot more pleasant on this board now than it was in recent years, what with all the unhappy campers whining about wanting out of CUSA. We all know if/when more conference shakeups occur there will probably be some current members wanting to jump to what they think will be a better league for them. That's understandable. But at least, as of right now, on the surface anyway it appears everyone is happy with being in CUSA. Hell, we at Tech are happy to be in a stable conference. Together with four others we got abandoned and our future was unclear.

Now, as for CUSA, well, Liberty represented CUSA in a NY6 Bowl, leaving only one G5 conference without that honor. CUSA also got a huge pick-up with DBU baseball, even if they are struggling a bit against their usual standards. Season is not over though.

The rest is up to each school to reach its potential and by doing so, elevate the conference to a higher level.

(04-30-2024 07:09 AM)Tech80 Wrote:  I can say this, it's a whole lot more pleasant on this board now than it was in recent years, what with all the unhappy campers whining about wanting out of CUSA. We all know if/when more conference shakeups occur there will probably be some current members wanting to jump to what they think will be a better league for them. That's understandable. But at least, as of right now, on the surface anyway it appears everyone is happy with being in CUSA. Hell, we at Tech are happy to be in a stable conference. Together with four others we got abandoned and our future was unclear.

Now, as for CUSA, well, Liberty represented CUSA in a NY6 Bowl, leaving only one G5 conference without that honor. CUSA also got a huge pick-up with DBU baseball, even if they are struggling a bit against their usual standards. Season is not over though.

The rest is up to each school to reach its potential and by doing so, elevate the conference to a higher level.

DBU like JSU has found CUSA baseball is better than was reported. Never trust power ratings

(04-30-2024 07:38 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  

(04-30-2024 07:09 AM)Tech80 Wrote:  I can say this, it's a whole lot more pleasant on this board now than it was in recent years, what with all the unhappy campers whining about wanting out of CUSA. We all know if/when more conference shakeups occur there will probably be some current members wanting to jump to what they think will be a better league for them. That's understandable. But at least, as of right now, on the surface anyway it appears everyone is happy with being in CUSA. Hell, we at Tech are happy to be in a stable conference. Together with four others we got abandoned and our future was unclear.

Now, as for CUSA, well, Liberty represented CUSA in a NY6 Bowl, leaving only one G5 conference without that honor. CUSA also got a huge pick-up with DBU baseball, even if they are struggling a bit against their usual standards. Season is not over though.

The rest is up to each school to reach its potential and by doing so, elevate the conference to a higher level.

DBU like JSU has found CUSA baseball is better than was reported. Never trust power ratings

DBU has actually done really well in OOC play, its just the CUSA games they seem to struggle with. Almost like we aren't that bad or something.

(04-29-2024 11:18 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

SHSU was snake bit last year. Played tough vs BYU and AFA. Lost another close one vs UTEP that could easily have gone the other way. A winning season could have been had with some good bounces of the ball.

I’m not up on the off season roster changes but otherwise, looking forward to next season, SHSU scares me the most in terms of conference matchups. LU travels to SHSU but gets WKU and Jax St at home. Still have night terrors from our matchup last season.

(04-30-2024 09:09 AM)Baldspot Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 11:18 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

SHSU was snake bit last year. Played tough vs BYU and AFA. Lost another close one vs UTEP that could easily have gone the other way. A winning season could have been had with some good bounces of the ball.

I’m not up on the off season roster changes but otherwise, looking forward to next season, SHSU scares me the most in terms of conference matchups. LU travels to SHSU but gets WKU and Jax St at home. Still have night terrors from our matchup last season.

Last year's Liberty vs. Sam Houston matchup was a nail biter! Probably best we didn't win since Liberty received the NY6 bid. Still can't believe we threw that fade route in the endzone to a guy who isn't even a starting receiver.

(04-29-2024 11:18 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

SHSU was snake bit last year. Played tough vs BYU and AFA. Lost another close one vs UTEP that could easily have gone the other way. A winning season could have been had with some good bounces of the ball.

What kept us from being more successful was simply terrible offensive production.

(04-30-2024 10:26 AM)KATatonic Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 11:18 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-29-2024 09:30 AM)Bearkat21 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 11:59 AM)jpw67 Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 12:32 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WHO was the ONLY FBS G5 school to Win an FBS Bowl Game AND earn an NCAA TOURNAMENT BID??

THE HILLTOPPERS!!!

Respect.

Amazed to see this thread still active. I will say this, the enthusiasm on display beats the heck out of the apathy we saw with the last iteration of this league. Just nice to associate with people who want to be here.

We're still more than ecstatic to be here. 180 in the fanbase vs when we first announced the move up. Just hoping for a winning season this Fall. Being known in the CFB community as possibly the unluckiest team ever after the way our season went is not the way we hoped the season would go. The 2 OT losses to Jax St and FIU plus the last second losses to Liberty and WKU still sting. winning 3/4 with how banged up we were to finish the season gives me some eekling of hope we can be competitive in CUSA. Give this league 3-4 years and we'll be hanging tough with the rest of the G5.

SHSU was snake bit last year. Played tough vs BYU and AFA. Lost another close one vs UTEP that could easily have gone the other way. A winning season could have been had with some good bounces of the ball.

What kept us from being more successful was simply terrible offensive production.

That’s the worst offense I think I’ve ever seen at Sam. I know the conference competition was much better than before but I don’t think that offense would’ve put up many points on FCS defenses. Truly a nightmare, worst-case first season. Finished with three wins, could have had six. Hopefully we find a QB and our WRs get healthy.

I think a lot of the original skepticism from Bearkats centered around the uncertainty CUSA was facing. When we joined it looked like 100 Miles was heading north. They stayed, Liberty committed, and it became a viable G5 conference. Also, I think there’s a newfound trust in administration to get facility improvements done. IMO Dr. White seems to care about the light our sports portrays our university in. Maybe others also feel this way.

Sam was a bonafide G5 team the way they played. A lot of misfortune that you lost so many close games that could have gone either way. I became a believer even in your losses. You'll do fine in Cusa, there's no doubt about that and I think we'll have a viable product on the gridiron with everyone doing much better this coming year. I can't wait, I'm glad that I was able to see most every Cusa game on subscription tv.

(04-30-2024 07:09 AM)Tech80 Wrote:  I can say this, it's a whole lot more pleasant on this board now than it was in recent years, what with all the unhappy campers whining about wanting out of CUSA. We all know if/when more conference shakeups occur there will probably be some current members wanting to jump to what they think will be a better league for them. That's understandable. But at least, as of right now, on the surface anyway it appears everyone is happy with being in CUSA. Hell, we at Tech are happy to be in a stable conference. Together with four others we got abandoned and our future was unclear.

Now, as for CUSA, well, Liberty represented CUSA in a NY6 Bowl, leaving only one G5 conference without that honor. CUSA also got a huge pick-up with DBU baseball, even if they are struggling a bit against their usual standards. Season is not over though.

The rest is up to each school to reach its potential and by doing so, elevate the conference to a higher level.

Absolutely.

Expect big long term growth in the new add Delaware could become a beast in the league. Lots of history and a true flagship university.

Kennesaw St is better positioned than GSU in the ATL market. Just look at the attendance and atmosphere of the Braves since moving to Cobb County and expect similar growth at KSU. Not in gross numbers but percentages.

Previous adds will continue to grow at varing rates. Liberty will continue to grow as a national brand and only help the conference. Love them or hate them it draws a crowd.

Sam with their beginning of improvements will also find their niche in the Houston metro market. Sam has the history and now being FBS TX football respect will grow fast.

NMSU has already seen quality of football growth and hope this coach continues the trend. While on the outer edges of the conference they are a great match up with UTEP. Look for NMSU to establish a strong growth pattern with a conference home.

JSU Im biased so someone else can give us a breakdown. But our baseball and basketball have not lived up to standards this year.

I look at the other G5 conferences and I am not see many teams who look better than our group long term. Yes a few will need a few years to develop facilities and educate the fans but that is common.

(05-01-2024 07:10 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Expect big long term growth in the new add Delaware could become a beast in the league. Lots of history and a true flagship university.

Kennesaw St is better positioned than GSU in the ATL market. Just look at the attendance and atmosphere of the Braves since moving to Cobb County and expect similar growth at KSU. Not in gross numbers but percentages.

Previous adds will continue to grow at varing rates. Liberty will continue to grow as a national brand and only help the conference. Love them or hate them it draws a crowd.

Sam with their beginning of improvements will also find their niche in the Houston metro market. Sam has the history and now being FBS TX football respect will grow fast.

NMSU has already seen quality of football growth and hope this coach continues the trend. While on the outer edges of the conference they are a great match up with UTEP. Look for NMSU to establish a strong growth pattern with a conference home.

JSU Im biased so someone else can give us a breakdown. But our baseball and basketball have not lived up to standards this year.

I look at the other G5 conferences and I am not see many teams who look better than our group long term. Yes a few will need a few years to develop facilities and educate the fans but that is common.

I hope you are correct. Both need to happen for any long-term success.

In terms of the money making sport, JSU and Delaware were “triples” (could be one of those “Home Run” adds for the conference if they make immediate noise).

Delaware’s ceiling is one of the highest in the G5. The immediate improvements they’re making to The Tub and their ability to fundraise are indicative of a high level support base. It was a matter of when, not if. A relatively large, dedicated fanbase AND legit athletics. Glad their admin came around to the idea of CUSA and I’ll enjoy them being here.

Jacksonville State was a bit more desperate to find an FBS home. But they might’ve found one years ago if the Sun Belt wasn’t so Alabama heavy. JSU was clearly building up for this moment and the fact that it was CUSA to scoop them up is a positive for everyone.

Still in wait and see with KSU and SHSU, IMHO, but both show good potential.