(06-16-2013 03:53 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 09:33 AM)CoastalVANDAL Wrote:  I was reading how Buffalo has a new court emphasizing State University of New York at Buffalo.Seems like if they were aggressive Buffalo could be the next Rutgers maybe better .

I know Rutgers is no Giant but they did make the cut and are in a power five conference.

Buffalo has plans for a digdown and FOB to increase capacity and the overall gameday experience.
They are a AAU school with 28k students in a large population area and state.


A few years ago I did not even know Rutgers had a team and now they are in the B1G .

So my Question is what other schools with the right president ,coach and A.D. could be a power.

I don't think they are a sleeping Giant rather a dying midget.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/04/economy...peed=15000

Two facts -

1 - UB's main Campus has not Been in Buffalo for, oh, 30 or so years. It's in Amherst NY now..

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/...02000.html

2 - The population of Erie County has not actually declined much (about 100K since 1970 and its been pretty flat since 1985). What has happened is people moved out of Buffalo into the suburbs like Amherst, where UB's campus has been added.

For what it's worth Buffalo's population seems to have hit Bottom and has started to grow a bit. It's not time to take Buffalo off life supprot just yet but the condition is stable and improving.

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  6. UNC-Charlotte - Step one, get football. Step two - approve a name change to just being Charlotte. Step three - gonna have to win some games and win fast. The market is right. I know the previous two won't sit well with App fans, but until traveling to Boone is made alot easier, they have an advantage over you guys. FWIW I love Boone, NC. One of the prettiest places in the country.

Yes, I'm an App fan but I'm not a Charlotte hater. I just can't go along with them being included on this list until they done some of that winning you talk about. All the other programs listed have some sort of history. There are tons of universities on metropolitan areas with huge potential. If you're going to include Charlotte, you'd have to include Georgia State as well. There is no doubt about potential, but I think they are a step below "sleeping giant" just yet.

Charlotte getting the invitation to CUSA this early could either be the Godsend or an absolute curse. They will look good with a hand picked schedule in 2013. Nothing wrong with that. It's exactly what they should have done. Jumping into a CUSA schedule in their second year could get downright ugly though and if they can't put together a winning season within a few years, they are looking at a long stay at the bottom.

As an App fan, I'm not afraid of the Charlotte competition. I'll take our history and established program over their geograhic "advantage" and just see what happens on the playing field.

(06-17-2013 03:40 PM)Yosef84 Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  6. UNC-Charlotte - Step one, get football. Step two - approve a name change to just being Charlotte. Step three - gonna have to win some games and win fast. The market is right. I know the previous two won't sit well with App fans, but until traveling to Boone is made alot easier, they have an advantage over you guys. FWIW I love Boone, NC. One of the prettiest places in the country.

Yes, I'm an App fan but I'm not a Charlotte hater. I just can't go along with them being included on this list until they done some of that winning you talk about. All the other programs listed have some sort of history. There are tons of universities on metropolitan areas with huge potential. If you're going to include Charlotte, you'd have to include Georgia State as well. There is no doubt about potential, but I think they are a step below "sleeping giant" just yet.

Charlotte getting the invitation to CUSA this early could either be the Godsend or an absolute curse. They will look good with a hand picked schedule in 2013. Nothing wrong with that. It's exactly what they should have done. Jumping into a CUSA schedule in their second year could get downright ugly though and if they can't put together a winning season within a few years, they are looking at a long stay at the bottom.

As an App fan, I'm not afraid of the Charlotte competition. I'll take our history and established program over their geograhic "advantage" and just see what happens on the playing field.

We don't play in CUSA our second year. Our second season doesn't look too much different than our first. That could change, but I doubt we'd be willing to pay a cancellation fee on many games to play established FBS programs that would likely beat us.

See the rest of our games here:

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/conf-usa...-49ers.php

We have scheduled pretty conservatively even once in CUSA. Eastern Michigan, Temple, Ga. State. Only Kansas State is a reputable program and even they don't have the best of histories.

I think it is more important for us to win early. We can wait a few years before we really concern ourselves with conference championships or bowl games.

According to Sports Illustrated, it's OHIO.

(06-17-2013 09:12 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 03:15 AM)CoastalVANDAL Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 11:38 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  OP didn't know that Rutgers, who played in the first college football game ever, had a football team?

Before Rutgers joined the Big East they were not a big time program.

I am not sure if Louisville had a team when I was a kid either.
the doctors of dunk were pretty great though.

Louisville has been playing football for a little over 100 years, Rutgers for nearly 150.

I am in my mid forties and a college football fan I know of all of the FBS teams .The casual fan probably does not know Buffalo or most G of five schools .Growing up I knew most of the big time programs .Before Big East football what conference was Rutgers in ?

(06-17-2013 10:36 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 09:15 AM)MRD92 Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 11:40 AM)Niner National Wrote:  Old Dominion has enormous potential. They already have great success in Olympic sports, a great following, and football is off to the right start. They also have little in state competition at the FBS level.

How can you say that ODU has little in state competition at the FBS level with both UVA and Virginia Tech at the FBS level?

Because those are only two schools and both are several hours away. UVA isn't even very good, so ODU should be able to win some recruiting battles against them.

For comparison, NC has 7 FBS schools. Alabama has 4, Texas has 12, Mississippi has 3, Florida has 7, Georgia has 4, Tennessee has 4.

Virginia has a large and quickly growing population, but less FBS schools than most other states in the eastern half of the country. They play in a part of the state that is fairly far removed from the two existing FBS schools, so that should really help them grab some guys from the area since it doesn't really have as strong of an allegiance to UVA or VT than other parts of the state.

ODU can and will own their market. They have 10,000 people on their waiting list for season tickets. That's almost as many people as Ga. State averaged at their games last season (and probably more than actual butts in seats). ODU is a top 25 metro area, but has no local professional sports to compete with. They are the only show in town.

Their potential is incredible and they've already proven they can compete at the FCS level and have been recruiting well since their announced move to CUSA.

I like Old Dominion a lot as well. They sit right on top of the talent in the state and they have huge crowd potential.

ODU could wins some games right away in CUSA East and from there its no more than 5-10 years and a stadium expansion away from joining the AAC.

Buffalo really needs to go out and invest in a higher profile coach like Ohio was able to do that can make the program more of a magnet for recruiting. One issue I see with Buffalo is the notoriously bad weather which many recruits would not want to deal with.

Ohio is located in the extreme southern part of the state so its weather pattern is more like Kentucky than Michigan....warm fall Saturday's and rarely do you have rain. Its easier to get a recruit from South to come to Athens than some of there more northerly locals. A lot of players from Virginia and Maryland over the years and even had a TV station (Roanoke) broadcast our games in SW Virginia. This is in addition to being only 1 hour from Columbus and 2 hours from Cincinnati the instate FB recruiting hotbeds.

(06-17-2013 06:05 PM)CoastalVANDAL Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 09:12 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 03:15 AM)CoastalVANDAL Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 11:38 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  OP didn't know that Rutgers, who played in the first college football game ever, had a football team?

Before Rutgers joined the Big East they were not a big time program.

I am not sure if Louisville had a team when I was a kid either.
the doctors of dunk were pretty great though.

Louisville has been playing football for a little over 100 years, Rutgers for nearly 150.

I am in my mid forties and a college football fan I know of all of the FBS teams .The casual fan probably does not know Buffalo or most G of five schools .Growing up I knew most of the big time programs .Before Big East football what conference was Rutgers in ?

Independent.

(06-17-2013 04:48 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  According to Sports Illustrated, it's OHIO.

And who won the MAC East that season?

(06-17-2013 07:52 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 04:48 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  According to Sports Illustrated, it's OHIO.

And who won the MAC East that season?

A school that is rarely/never mentioned as a sleeping giant but has done an amazing job in all sports not just in the MAC but at the national level.

Perhaps if we were more egotistical more would know what school I am talking about.

(06-17-2013 07:04 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 06:05 PM)CoastalVANDAL Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 09:12 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 03:15 AM)CoastalVANDAL Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 11:38 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  OP didn't know that Rutgers, who played in the first college football game ever, had a football team?

Before Rutgers joined the Big East they were not a big time program.

I am not sure if Louisville had a team when I was a kid either.
the doctors of dunk were pretty great though.

Louisville has been playing football for a little over 100 years, Rutgers for nearly 150.

I am in my mid forties and a college football fan I know of all of the FBS teams .The casual fan probably does not know Buffalo or most G of five schools .Growing up I knew most of the big time programs .Before Big East football what conference was Rutgers in ?

Independent.

I looked it up and Mid Atlantic with Bucknell as a rival was listed.
I was thinking independent also learned they are 2-22 against PSU .

(06-17-2013 08:15 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 07:52 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 04:48 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  According to Sports Illustrated, it's OHIO.

And who won the MAC East that season?

A school that is rarely/never mentioned as a sleeping giant but has done an amazing job in all sports not just in the MAC but at the national level.

Perhaps if we were more egotistical more would know what school I am talking about.

be sour if you want, I didn't write it.

LOL nobody is being sour, what does Kent have to be sour about? They win the Reese trophy pretty much every year, have great hoops, and are getting football on track. If I could pick one department in the MAC for UB to use as a benchmark it would be Kent's. Though I would settle for Ohio level success.

It's not bitterness you detect but the sweet commonsense we taste after watching you guys walk around like the **** of the walk sor a great start in football.

(06-17-2013 04:42 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 03:40 PM)Yosef84 Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  6. UNC-Charlotte - Step one, get football. Step two - approve a name change to just being Charlotte. Step three - gonna have to win some games and win fast. The market is right. I know the previous two won't sit well with App fans, but until traveling to Boone is made alot easier, they have an advantage over you guys. FWIW I love Boone, NC. One of the prettiest places in the country.

Yes, I'm an App fan but I'm not a Charlotte hater. I just can't go along with them being included on this list until they done some of that winning you talk about. All the other programs listed have some sort of history. There are tons of universities on metropolitan areas with huge potential. If you're going to include Charlotte, you'd have to include Georgia State as well. There is no doubt about potential, but I think they are a step below "sleeping giant" just yet.

Charlotte getting the invitation to CUSA this early could either be the Godsend or an absolute curse. They will look good with a hand picked schedule in 2013. Nothing wrong with that. It's exactly what they should have done. Jumping into a CUSA schedule in their second year could get downright ugly though and if they can't put together a winning season within a few years, they are looking at a long stay at the bottom.

As an App fan, I'm not afraid of the Charlotte competition. I'll take our history and established program over their geograhic "advantage" and just see what happens on the playing field.

We don't play in CUSA our second year. Our second season doesn't look too much different than our first. That could change, but I doubt we'd be willing to pay a cancellation fee on many games to play established FBS programs that would likely beat us.

See the rest of our games here:

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/conf-usa...-49ers.php

We have scheduled pretty conservatively even once in CUSA. Eastern Michigan, Temple, Ga. State. Only Kansas State is a reputable program and even they don't have the best of histories.

I think it is more important for us to win early. We can wait a few years before we really concern ourselves with conference championships or bowl games.

My mistake about the year you start your CUSA schedule. I think the point is valid though. You don't need to win the conference, or even make a bowl game right away, but it will be important to win enough games to keep the fans interested. I hope the 49er fans give them time to continue developing because it could get tough....even with a conservative schedule. Don't misinterpret this as me hoping the Niners fail. Personally, I am expecting a very nice rivalry to develop between App and Charlotte. I think with some cooperation in scheduling App, Charlotte, ODU and GaSo can all continue to climb.

Non conference matchups with Charlotte or ODU (throw in WKU and MTSU for that matter) should yield some good football without breaking the bank. Also, it would stimulate local interest in the programs.

(06-17-2013 11:02 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  LOL nobody is being sour, what does Kent have to be sour about? They win the Reese trophy pretty much every year, have great hoops, and are getting football on track. If I could pick one department in the MAC for UB to use as a benchmark it would be Kent's. Though I would settle for Ohio level success.

It's not bitterness you detect but the sweet commonsense we taste after watching you guys walk around like the **** of the walk sor a great start in football.

And now we have your AD

(06-18-2013 07:27 AM)TrueBlueAlum Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 11:02 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  LOL nobody is being sour, what does Kent have to be sour about? They win the Reese trophy pretty much every year, have great hoops, and are getting football on track. If I could pick one department in the MAC for UB to use as a benchmark it would be Kent's. Though I would settle for Ohio level success.

It's not bitterness you detect but the sweet commonsense we taste after watching you guys walk around like the **** of the walk sor a great start in football.

And now we have your AD

Actually you have Kent's Deputy AD, not their AD

(06-17-2013 12:51 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  7. Middle Tennessee - Largest university in the state of Tennessee, bigger than UTK enrollment wise. They've got to start winning more football games consistently. 9 wins a year and up, and while the seating and views are nice at the Floyd Stadium, it needs a facade upgrade desperately along with a few more men's bathrooms. Outstanding campus and once they clear up the construction there, it'll be amazing.

Largest undergrad enrollment in the state.

I imagine our campus will be under construction for the foreseeable future between the new science building, the new admin building, hopefully before either of those are completed we will finally be getting started on our indoor facility for football, which in turn would make the last round of major renovation to the Murphy Center possible. I agree a face lift to Floyd would be really nice and will likely happen at some point, but there are definitely a couple of major projects ahead of it. Our campus is already nearly unrecognizable compared to my freshman year a decade ago, I can't imagine what it will look like a decade from now.

Love that place, was going to go to grad school there and still may. I wish they would clean up the surrounding area a little more too. My goal is to make a game this year, but with infant twins, live sports is a challenge.

(06-17-2013 01:02 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  I know the previous two won't sit well with App fans, but until traveling to Boone is made alot easier, they have an advantage over you guys.

What exactly is difficult about traveling to Boone? Scenic four-lane highways a bit too daunting for you?

I grew up in Bristol, it's two lane driving from Hampton, Tn. until you get to Boone. Same if you go through Avery County, or even if you go up 81 and head through Damascus, Virginia. All are pretty drives, but not overly convenient. I'm a Marriott guy, too.

(06-17-2013 01:22 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  9 - BYU. I rate them lower on the list because of their religious ties. You guys think Liberty is bad? Tell me another form of Christianity that doesn't welcome OPENLY nonmembers of its' church inside to learn about Christ. They're beliefs will hamstring them for life, but winning and a desperate conference wanting share of Salt Lake City will take a flier on them.

The mormons openly invite anyone wanting to come to their churches. Just not the temple.

Most worship for the mormons is in their church, but they got some secret juju going on in the temples that only card carrying members (no lie, you gotta have a card) get to do.

I suspect it's a rousing game of parcheesi, but that's just my guess.
(I know this stuff cause I got family who are members of the SLC geek squad)

The worship part is the most important thing, but I didn't realize you could be on the outer rim of sorts with those folks. I still think it's holding them back.

(06-17-2013 02:33 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Travel to Boone will make travel costs increase for opponents (primarily for olympic sports), but I don't see how it would negatively impact their ability to field quality programs in any way.

Okay, why are FBS recruits from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and other places coming to Boone, NC when they can go to Orlando, Charlotte, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, or stay closer to home with Troy, Louisiana, etc... It's a double edged sword for you guys, I hope it works out honestly, App is a great place, I love Boone, I really do but I'm not 17 years old, single and looking for fake boobs and poorly lit dance clubs.

(06-18-2013 09:33 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(06-18-2013 07:27 AM)TrueBlueAlum Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 11:02 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  LOL nobody is being sour, what does Kent have to be sour about? They win the Reese trophy pretty much every year, have great hoops, and are getting football on track. If I could pick one department in the MAC for UB to use as a benchmark it would be Kent's. Though I would settle for Ohio level success.

It's not bitterness you detect but the sweet commonsense we taste after watching you guys walk around like the **** of the walk sor a great start in football.

And now we have your AD

Actually you have Kent's Deputy AD, not their AD

Really? You're going call me on THAT? Forgive me, we have Kent States former DEPUTY AD. Sorry everyone for my mistake.

(06-18-2013 10:18 AM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:51 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  7. Middle Tennessee - Largest university in the state of Tennessee, bigger than UTK enrollment wise. They've got to start winning more football games consistently. 9 wins a year and up, and while the seating and views are nice at the Floyd Stadium, it needs a facade upgrade desperately along with a few more men's bathrooms. Outstanding campus and once they clear up the construction there, it'll be amazing.

Largest undergrad enrollment in the state.

I imagine our campus will be under construction for the foreseeable future between the new science building, the new admin building, hopefully before either of those are completed we will finally be getting started on our indoor facility for football, which in turn would make the last round of major renovation to the Murphy Center possible. I agree a face lift to Floyd would be really nice and will likely happen at some point, but there are definitely a couple of major projects ahead of it. Our campus is already nearly unrecognizable compared to my freshman year a decade ago, I can't imagine what it will look like a decade from now.

Love that place, was going to go to grad school there and still may. I wish they would clean up the surrounding area a little more too. My goal is to make a game this year, but with infant twins, live sports is a challenge.

(06-17-2013 01:02 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  I know the previous two won't sit well with App fans, but until traveling to Boone is made alot easier, they have an advantage over you guys.

What exactly is difficult about traveling to Boone? Scenic four-lane highways a bit too daunting for you?

I grew up in Bristol, it's two lane driving from Hampton, Tn. until you get to Boone. Same if you go through Avery County, or even if you go up 81 and head through Damascus, Virginia. All are pretty drives, but not overly convenient. I'm a Marriott guy, too.

(06-17-2013 01:22 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 12:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  9 - BYU. I rate them lower on the list because of their religious ties. You guys think Liberty is bad? Tell me another form of Christianity that doesn't welcome OPENLY nonmembers of its' church inside to learn about Christ. They're beliefs will hamstring them for life, but winning and a desperate conference wanting share of Salt Lake City will take a flier on them.

The mormons openly invite anyone wanting to come to their churches. Just not the temple.

Most worship for the mormons is in their church, but they got some secret juju going on in the temples that only card carrying members (no lie, you gotta have a card) get to do.

I suspect it's a rousing game of parcheesi, but that's just my guess.
(I know this stuff cause I got family who are members of the SLC geek squad)

The worship part is the most important thing, but I didn't realize you could be on the outer rim of sorts with those folks. I still think it's holding them back.

(06-17-2013 02:33 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Travel to Boone will make travel costs increase for opponents (primarily for olympic sports), but I don't see how it would negatively impact their ability to field quality programs in any way.

Okay, why are FBS recruits from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and other places coming to Boone, NC when they can go to Orlando, Charlotte, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, or stay closer to home with Troy, Louisiana, etc... It's a double edged sword for you guys, I hope it works out honestly, App is a great place, I love Boone, I really do but I'm not 17 years old, single and looking for fake boobs and poorly lit dance clubs.

Because everyone looks for different things? Some may value the big city environment that Charlotte, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, or Atlanta offer while others may enjoy a change of scenery in a quaint college mountain town.

Top FCS level recruits had no issue going to Boone when there were FCS options in major cities. FBS recruits are not fundamentally any different, they're just better athletes.

I think the one thing that will impact App at the FBS level is that their stadium looks below average with the track and piecemeal look. It was a well above average stadium at the FCS level, but now they'll be playing in a division where stadiums are much much better. The upcoming stadium renovations should take care of this problem though. Just getting rid of the track will make a huge aesthetic difference and make it seem less small-time.

I think App, like any move-up, will have an adjustment period, but the reasons you are giving for why they will not be successful are poorly thought out in my opinion.

I believe we will be OK. Coaching staff seems to be putting the study into the recruiting. Will see what clicks, the few extra we could sign mainly just went to us giving scholarships to our existing walk-ons, so not crazy about that.

I think ODU will be the best of the recent move ups. I think App and Southern will be close behind. Whether you classify that as a sleeping giant or not, I'm not sure. None of those programs are really "giants". If anyone is a "sleeping giant" that has been awoken, it's Texas A&M. I think in the next 5 years they will make it clear that they have surpassed Texas.