(05-06-2014 12:14 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(05-06-2014 11:06 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  I never said it had anything to do with challenges specific to Southern either. - So we are in agreement there. In fact - we basically said the same thing. Cant win one if you don't get in! And that goes for all of us (G5) - and any G5 getting in, helps us all - especially if you share a conference (Which I know WE wont be doing)

As far as me being 70 - It wouldn't matter or change the stats since our football program had been dormant - We didn't have one - For 40 years prior to 1982.

I don't expect to have ANY losing seasons. We might this year with the transition. We have had two losing seasons since the resurrection of Football at Georgia Southern. BOTH came after a HC change - So History may be working against us for this season.

I realize the challenges we face - but good recruiting, good location, good fans and SMART scheduling may work out for us.
Nobody expects to match the winning percentages we had in FCS. We realize that while our recruiting will improve, that we will be facing tougher competition.

You said we wouldn't win any FBS Championships - I say you are wrong. A playoff game? Well - statistics in todays system and set up make that damn near impossible. Obviously - something has to change before any of us are really going to get a chance to do that.

BUT - Since you felt the need to volunteer your opinion on how we much and what we will win or not win - I felt the need to provide my opinion of MTSU's future. (And a little History that you probably wouldn't have known being such a young "whippersnapper" )

FACT is that none of us know what the future is going to hold. I hold onto the HOPE that they expand the FBS playoffs to at least 8 and ultimately 16. I'm a bit older than you yes - and I've seen a lot of change. I've seen the FCS playoffs start with 4 and expand to 16. Which was ideal - then expand too far!

FBS changed to the BCS (Roy Kramer's formula for locking out non BCS conference programs from access to the NC under the claim of guaranteeing #1/#2). Now - finally a budge in the right direction. A playoff that is at this point little more than a "plus one" system. But hey - You've got to start somewhere.

The future is un-written. The past seems to predict further expansion of the playoffs. History also suggest that Southern will likely get it handed to us this year due to changing our system as much or perhaps more than due to the FBS move. History also suggest that Southern will rise to the challenge and surpass all expectations and time lines that most predict on winning. Time will tell.

When I said FBS championships, I meant national championships, c'mon man, of course you'll win conference championships. You'll probably win more than some longstanding members have.

Now let me educate you on your own history, you've had three(not two) losing seasons since your football program was resurrected:

1996: 4-7
2006: 3-8
2009: 5-6

And if you were in your seventies(not 70 as you put it) it would make a difference, as in the last 79 years you've had eleven losing seasons(every year from 34-41 was a losing season).

You may believe I just blindly throw stuff against the wall that I think sounds good, but 95% of the time my words are measured very carefully and backed up my empirical data.


Now back to the two main points of the debate...

I'm sure you don't expect any losing seasons and it's possible, Boise is on a run of 16 straight and Southern Miss had their streak snapped at 18 a couple years ago, so it's certainly possible you could go on a run like that, but I'd call it unlikely.

The most consecutive FBS winning seasons by any Sun Belt member is five(Troy 2006-2010) and no member has played ten consecutiveseasons in the Sun Belt that didn't include at least three losing seasons, Louisiana will have the opportunity to become the first with a winning season this year, they would have only had two losing seasons over the last ten(though it would include three 6-6 seasons).

It's these factors in addition to the fact that you're in transition that I say there's a very good chance you experience as many losing seasons(3) over the next ten as you have previously in your life(unless you're in your seventies). And three losing seasons in ten years is not bad, but the Georgia Southern faithful are totally unprepared for it.


Now regarding the playoff, I think eight teams eventually is a forgone conclusion(though I think we may see 6 with byes for 1&2 first) and I think 16 is absolutely possible, but may be a ways off, if ever. I think if it could get to 12 that might finally get one(maybe even 2) G5 spot(s) built in, but again getting in will be tough and being one of the bottom seeds will make it even tougher to get more than a participant t shirt...

My God you seem to have a huge hard on for us!!!???? Whats with that and what does it have to do with what SUN BELT fans think of uniforms? Are you a college football analyst or is there some other reason that you think people should care what you think about the future playoff process?