I am aware that they have been dismissed in other threads as a possible FCS to SBC candidate. This article has me thinking a little about the potential of Jax State:

Quote:“We are committed to facility upgrades for all our teams and all our sports,” said trustee Jim Folsom, chairman of the board’s athletics committee. “I think we have a four- or five-year plan to do everything.

“There was some concern when we started with football we would never get to our other sports. We are … going to deliver on those.”

The enhancements are being done for a number of reasons. The Gamecocks’ facilities, among the best in the country when they played at the Division II level, are now antiquated by current standards. Koegel hopes one day to attract an NCAA regional hosting opportunity. And, of course, there’s the attraction to any would-be FBS conference invitation.

The Sun Belt Conference recently brought Georgia State into its fold. JSU football coach Jack Crowe said after Friday’s J-Day game that decision would be good for the Gamecocks’ desire to move up, but university policymakers and administrators at Monday’s board meeting weren’t so committal.

“We’ve made them aware of (JSU’s) long-term plan to move up,” university president Bill Meehan said. “We would make a good partner within that footprint for the FBS sometime in the future for the Sun Belt. At this point, we’re making our progress. You saw today how we’re getting our facilities up.

“I want to make sure that we make ourselves attractive for an invitation from a conference we want to be in. I don’t want to be begging on my knees like the ugly stepsister trying to get into the prom. I want to be sure that they come to us and say we’d love to have you because your facilities and your athletic reputation are what we want to have for the Sun Belt; that’s what we’re moving toward. I want to make sure we have the prettiest prom dress we can.”

What I find confusing is when I see some posters here (fans of SBC schools) who are giving Ga Southern real credibility, when Jacksonville State seems like just as much of a longshot, but with the advantages that they are better located within the footprint and are convenient to Birmingham. App State get some de facto consideration, because they have stated intentions (and I guess because they beat Michigan some years ago...)

It just seems like if we are talking about longshot FCS schools in a small market that need facilities upgrades, why not at least go with the better geographical fit?

I have to wonder if the only difference is that there are GaSo and App posters making lots of noise on this forum...