re: Legitimate Questions for the APP State fans..

Money, money, money.

Two years ago our athletic club raised less than $1.0 million. With recent success we are now around $2.0mm. The cost of extra scholarships, Title IX, travel and away team guarantees make it economically prohibitive to jump to FBS.

the heart is there but the money ain't. We've got a long way to go.

Remember that ASU achieved University status in 1968/69 and was one of three teacher's colleges in NC with East Carolina and Western Carolina.

The enrollment then was in the 5,000's and that alumni base was not in a poistion to give a lot of money. Now, we are seeing a new generation of non teachers who have the wherewithall to give.

I just don't see the upside of getting to participate in the Motor City Bowl or the Humanitarian Bowl or whatever is in Shreveport or Mobile.

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I just don't see the upside of getting to participate in the Motor City Bowl or the Humanitarian Bowl or whatever is in Shreveport or Mobile.

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The upside, if you can get in a decent conference, is you get a piece of the pie for every bowl that every team in your conference goes to, not just the Poulan Weedeater Bowl.

I don't claim to be an expert at all of this, but it seems to me that if the Buffalos, and Troys, and UL Monroes of the world are making this leap and getting beat down every year, they MUST be making some money to stay in it. And I'm assuming that they are biding their time, realizing that one day they will do like Boise State or Hawaii and really have a big payday.

Think about it in SEC perspective...Vandebilt. Do you think they like "being close and competitive" every year? It is the money that keeps them in the SEC. If Vandebilt was concerned about winning conference championships, they would move out of the SEC and have a much better chance. Instead, they play for a bowl birth and enjoy the luxury of the conference payouts from the other 7 teams who earn a bowl bid. (The league deals with CBS, ESPN, and Lincoln Financial also help ease the pain as well)

Whoaaa there Appfan;

You have to keep the hotels and restaraunts full year round so they don't go broke. Can't do that with a few home games a year and leafers. Also, you need staff year round, can't keep things going with student hires.

321 and 421 expansions are good but it is more than a local issue, roads and transportation (airports for instance) are a regional issue and the area around Boone and Blowing Rock does not have the regional infrastructure. Think parking here too at the local level.

The atheletic facilities still need major upgrades. If we're going to I-A we need more than a 22,000-24,000 seat stadium. You're going to have large I-A school alumni traveling with the team. Our school travels well at I-AA but nothing like I-A. LSU fans please help me here.

Alumni support. You can't make the jump without alumni support and that means $$. Conference shares will ebb and flow but you still have to be able to pay the bills year in and year out. Can't live on credit or projected future earnings.

I know everyone there is excited about our recent success but success comes and goes. Don't think Nike would have us in any of their commercials if we hadn't beat UM. Guess what happens when we stumble (and we will at some point) or when everyone forgets the UM game (which will be the first snap this year). Chancellor Peacock and the Board know all this and won't rush into anything.

We would love to kick vandy out and bring you guys in

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We would love to kick vandy out and bring you guys in

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Yeah, I have to agree "Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Applachian State...." has a certain ring to it.

Back in the late 90's, this same question came up. Recommendations from the student panel (which i was a member of) were:

* 4 lane highways from Charlotte to Boone and Winston-Salem to Boone (of course this was something that ASU had no control over)

* More hotel rooms (which ASU had no control)

* Increase attendance at home games (back then we were averaging in 12-13k range, 1A required 17k average)

* Increase marketing in Charlotte, Triad and Triangle areas (all within 3hrs driving)

* Stadium expansion and what conference we would join

Of course this was just after Marshall had left the SoCon to go 1A and they were very good the 1st couple of years of 1A football. I think some of our Alumni at the time had some marshall envy.

Now, most of the tools are in place for us to go FBS. Personally, I dont want App to go FBS. I know making the bowl game on the smurf turf pays more money, but I love the fact FCS decides the NC on the field.

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Big East

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Delusions of grandeur. Aim for mid-major conference like Conf USA or Sunbelt ... but look before you leap.