Time will tell, it's tough to make that judgement at the moment.

(12-24-2015 10:11 PM)airtroop Wrote:  

(12-24-2015 09:53 PM)NWGaEagle Wrote:  

(12-24-2015 09:41 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  I will always have great memories of the NC's, but the bowl experience is far better than anything I experienced in Chatty.

I'd agree, except for that game we had vs YSU with "the run" was something special. Felt very similar to the bowl game and we packed Chattanooga. That place was rocking. The city wasn't near the event host as seen in Mobile though.

And unfortunately the weather robbed you guys of the true bowl experience this year.

You mean that the "true bowl experience" isn't a stadium that can't handle a reasonable crowd, concessions that are a joke, being leaked on by the 700 year old stands while waiting in the insane concession lines, and running out of t-shirts before the game starts?

(12-24-2015 10:11 PM)airtroop Wrote:  

(12-24-2015 09:53 PM)NWGaEagle Wrote:  

(12-24-2015 09:41 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  I will always have great memories of the NC's, but the bowl experience is far better than anything I experienced in Chatty.

I'd agree, except for that game we had vs YSU with "the run" was something special. Felt very similar to the bowl game and we packed Chattanooga. That place was rocking. The city wasn't near the event host as seen in Mobile though.

And unfortunately the weather robbed you guys of the true bowl experience this year.

Not at all. Weather be damned, we had a blast.

I was at all three National Championship games, but unfortunately I couldn't attend the Bowl game this year in person so I can't comment on the experience AT the game. Regarding how the two wins compare in my mind, I think they are both benchmark achievements so in my mind they were comparable. The difference is that the NC win represented the pentacle of possible achievements in our "old" world whereas the Camellia Bowl represents a huge achievement for our program but also a new beginning with many more possibilities ahead. To me, that is exciting and it is precisely why App fans have wanted to move up for several years (or at least many of us).

I admit as an older fan I waited many years for App to finally finish the drill in 2005 and win the NC. That game will always be very special as were all the NC's but I gotta say the experience at the Bowl game this year was an absolute blast and a perfect next step for the App program.

Both the NC's and Bowl were awesome experiences. I would give the edge to the Bowl game as it is more relevant in the college football world.

(12-25-2015 04:29 PM)appsfan Wrote:  Both the NC's and Bowl were awesome experiences. I would give the edge to the Bowl game as it is more relevant in the college football world.

The win at Michigan...

The NC's are an important part of App history, but I'd take the bowl win over them anyday.

(12-26-2015 12:30 AM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(12-25-2015 04:29 PM)appsfan Wrote:  Both the NC's and Bowl were awesome experiences. I would give the edge to the Bowl game as it is more relevant in the college football world.

The win at Michigan...

The NC's are an important part of App history, but I'd take the bowl win over them anyday.

For me, the bowl game and win. It was a ton of fun and as others have stated it was a great overall experience.

They're completely different experiences. I think being in FBS by itself is much better than FCS. What I was wrong about was my original feeling of non-New Years Bowls being exhibitions that didn't matter much. These games sure as heck matter.

The bowl is more of an event. Getting there several days before the game allows for fans to enjoy the experience. It also is nice to have more notice -- at least 2 weeks -- before game. Plus it is 1 game with no chance for another game the following week.

All in all bowl game is easier and better for fans

The playoffs lost a lot of their luster when the NCAA used the circumstances of 9/11 to introduce geographical seeding to the tourney. Before 2001, teams were seeded 1-16 and each game had it's own Bowl-type atmosphere playing an unfamiliar opponent. I attended 89,90,99, and 00 NC games and each was special with 89 being 15-0 and Erk's last year and still our highest attendance. That said, the Bowl win is at least equally as special and, like others have said, apples and oranges. The Bowl win is another objective on the goal tree toward playing on Jan 1 and the first two years of FBS have lined up with our history since our first official season in 1984. Most of App's fans are younger (after 2005) but they have a much longer history. What's interesting about their story to me is watching them work towards competing against their old rivals Marshall and East Carolina.

There are over a hundred FCS schools without a championship and pretty much every FBS school has a bowl win. They are both very important and huge milestones but it's an apples to oranges comparison.

This will sound dumb to many but I've always looked forward to the day my team being listed on the bowl picks that I fill out every December at work.

(12-27-2015 08:57 PM)Eagles Cliff Wrote:  The playoffs lost a lot of their luster when the NCAA used the circumstances of 9/11 to introduce geographical seeding to the tourney. Before 2001, teams were seeded 1-16 and each game had it's own Bowl-type atmosphere playing an unfamiliar opponent. I attended 89,90,99, and 00 NC games and each was special with 89 being 15-0 and Erk's last year and still our highest attendance. That said, the Bowl win is at least equally as special and, like others have said, apples and oranges. The Bowl win is another objective on the goal tree toward playing on Jan 1 and the first two years of FBS have lined up with our history since our first official season in 1984. Most of App's fans are younger (after 2005) but they have a much longer history. What's interesting about their story to me is watching them work towards competing against their old rivals Marshall and East Carolina.

Agree completely.

The I-AA playoffs jumped the shark beginning that 2001 season for the reason you mentioned, and once the NCAA went full-bore on "regionalization" the playoffs became more like an extension of the regular season where we were pretty much guaranteed to see a rematch with Furman or Appalachian State.

When the NCAA decided to grant auto-bids to the FCS playoffs for leagues not even sponsoring scholarships, that was the defining moment for me where I was ready for Georgia Southern to leave the SoCon. Now that the FCS playoffs are at a ridiculous 24 teams, I'm completely glad we've outgrown that setup and have moved on to a new challenge.

I'm 48 years old, been a Georgia Southern fan for 33 years. Seen a lot of progression, and wherever we end up down the road ... whether it is always in the Sun Belt or somewhere else, I'm just hopeful we'll be playing against like-minded institutions that fully support athletic scholarships. I know I've mentioned this several times in the last two years but I'm quite glad we're in a league where there are other programs that seem to really care.

(12-27-2015 09:37 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  This will sound dumb to many but I've always looked forward to the day my team being listed on the bowl picks that I fill out every December at work.

I understand completely! Obviously we have yet to make that bowl pickem sheet but I look forward to all of the "when did TXST become D1" questions that will happen when we do!

(12-27-2015 09:54 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(12-27-2015 09:37 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  This will sound dumb to many but I've always looked forward to the day my team being listed on the bowl picks that I fill out every December at work.

I understand completely! Obviously we have yet to make that bowl pickem sheet but I look forward to all of the "when did TXST become D1" questions that will happen when we do!

Y'all were screwed out of that opportunity last season. I really thought this was going to be a big season for Tx State, posted it multiple times preseason on this board. Hopefully a new coach will get the ball rolling that way again.

(12-27-2015 09:40 PM)Eagle22 Wrote:  

(12-27-2015 08:57 PM)Eagles Cliff Wrote:  The playoffs lost a lot of their luster when the NCAA used the circumstances of 9/11 to introduce geographical seeding to the tourney. Before 2001, teams were seeded 1-16 and each game had it's own Bowl-type atmosphere playing an unfamiliar opponent. I attended 89,90,99, and 00 NC games and each was special with 89 being 15-0 and Erk's last year and still our highest attendance. That said, the Bowl win is at least equally as special and, like others have said, apples and oranges. The Bowl win is another objective on the goal tree toward playing on Jan 1 and the first two years of FBS have lined up with our history since our first official season in 1984. Most of App's fans are younger (after 2005) but they have a much longer history. What's interesting about their story to me is watching them work towards competing against their old rivals Marshall and East Carolina.

Agree completely.

The I-AA playoffs jumped the shark beginning that 2001 season for the reason you mentioned, and once the NCAA went full-bore on "regionalization" the playoffs became more like an extension of the regular season where we were pretty much guaranteed to see a rematch with Furman or Appalachian State.

When the NCAA decided to grant auto-bids to the FCS playoffs for leagues not even sponsoring scholarships, that was the defining moment for me where I was ready for Georgia Southern to leave the SoCon. Now that the FCS playoffs are at a ridiculous 24 teams, I'm completely glad we've outgrown that setup and have moved on to a new challenge.

I'm 48 years old, been a Georgia Southern fan for 33 years. Seen a lot of progression, and wherever we end up down the road ... whether it is always in the Sun Belt or somewhere else, I'm just hopeful we'll be playing against like-minded institutions that fully support athletic scholarships. I know I've mentioned this several times in the last two years but I'm quite glad we're in a league where there are other programs that seem to really care.

The regional structure of the early rounds really did take the pure playoff format away from the tournament. That and the bidding of home games rather than playing at the higher seed. Add to that the NCAA went from 16 to 24 teams and suddenly 6-6 teams are in the FCS playoffs just like 6-6 teams are in bowls.

But, when comparing how teams and fans are treated at bowl games vs. the FCS national championship games... Bowls win hands down. Not even close.

(12-28-2015 09:22 AM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  

(12-27-2015 09:40 PM)Eagle22 Wrote:  

(12-27-2015 08:57 PM)Eagles Cliff Wrote:  The playoffs lost a lot of their luster when the NCAA used the circumstances of 9/11 to introduce geographical seeding to the tourney. Before 2001, teams were seeded 1-16 and each game had it's own Bowl-type atmosphere playing an unfamiliar opponent. I attended 89,90,99, and 00 NC games and each was special with 89 being 15-0 and Erk's last year and still our highest attendance. That said, the Bowl win is at least equally as special and, like others have said, apples and oranges. The Bowl win is another objective on the goal tree toward playing on Jan 1 and the first two years of FBS have lined up with our history since our first official season in 1984. Most of App's fans are younger (after 2005) but they have a much longer history. What's interesting about their story to me is watching them work towards competing against their old rivals Marshall and East Carolina.

Agree completely.

The I-AA playoffs jumped the shark beginning that 2001 season for the reason you mentioned, and once the NCAA went full-bore on "regionalization" the playoffs became more like an extension of the regular season where we were pretty much guaranteed to see a rematch with Furman or Appalachian State.

When the NCAA decided to grant auto-bids to the FCS playoffs for leagues not even sponsoring scholarships, that was the defining moment for me where I was ready for Georgia Southern to leave the SoCon. Now that the FCS playoffs are at a ridiculous 24 teams, I'm completely glad we've outgrown that setup and have moved on to a new challenge.

I'm 48 years old, been a Georgia Southern fan for 33 years. Seen a lot of progression, and wherever we end up down the road ... whether it is always in the Sun Belt or somewhere else, I'm just hopeful we'll be playing against like-minded institutions that fully support athletic scholarships. I know I've mentioned this several times in the last two years but I'm quite glad we're in a league where there are other programs that seem to really care.

The regional structure of the early rounds really did take the pure playoff format away from the tournament. That and the bidding of home games rather than playing at the higher seed. Add to that the NCAA went from 16 to 24 teams and suddenly 6-6 teams are in the FCS playoffs just like 6-6 teams are in bowls.

But, when comparing how teams and fans are treated at bowl games vs. the FCS national championship games... Bowls win hands down. Not even close.

Very true, but Marshall and GA Southern had the privilege of playing NC games in our home stadiums. Can't get better treatment than that.

Have to agree with a lot of the comments concerning the playoffs. Before we go new teams in from all over the country it was way more interesting. Once it became rematches until the semi's it lost its charm a bit. Still winning those NC's is why we are winning bowl games today. I did not get to make this bowl but I am going to have a hard time believing the feeling of winning a bowl will top the 2000 NC game. The opponent would have to be a big P5 probably.

That 2000 game went to the wire and was very exciting. The atmosphere in Mobile was very similar for the first half and the second half was a party. Was at both games and both are equally meaningful for what they meant for the program.