moehlerr01 said:
for the next 5-7 years, its going to be really tough, Apps cost of doing business just went up dramatically, for the next 3-5 years we are going to be the "bcs bitches" playing at whatever school will give us a huge paycheck. We are also trying to set up a yearly game with UNCC, ECU, and Wake Forest. Not saying we will not eventually play again, but atleast for the next 5 years or so, we need money, so we will take our ass kicking and collect huge paychecks from BCS schools.
What you say makes me apprehensive for you guys, though, considering what happened to the University of Connecticut with their Fiesta Bowl invite in 2011 against Oklahoma. Granted, national television exposure might just enhance recruitment and marketing, but the estimated cost of that invite for the Athletic Department of the Univ. of Connecticut was certainly more that the economical proceeds: http://articles.courant.com/2011-03-02/news/hc-uconn-fiesta-bowl-loss-20110302_1_advance-tickets-fiesta-bowl-stubhub" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The aforementioned cost being quite conservative, from what I have come to understand, with the mandated need for UConn's responsibility to sell some 17,500 tickets and eventually only selling about 2,770. Plus the 550 some hotel rooms that had to be paid for, etc. http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20101215/no-bowl-bonanza-for-uconn-football-teams-trip-to-arizona-brings-prestige-but-could-cost-school-a-bundle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Besides, UConn, being also a FCS (I-AA) school up to the time they transitioned in 2000, with a Skip Holtz as a Head coach up to 1998, has had a stellar basketball program, both men's and women's, over the past couple decades that allowed, apparently, the university to absorb, so to speak, the immense cost of their football team going to the Fiesta Bowl that year (2011). Some estimates ranging up to $ 10 million, overall. But does Appalachian State?
With the BSC (Big Sky Conference), if not mistaken, the University of Idaho is rejoining in all sports but football in the next couple years; remaining an independent in that sport, conference wise. Boise State, also a former BSC member, having been much more successful at their new level of presentation than the Vandals. Conceivably an under the surface of appearances aside reason of the difficulty of two western schools, especially from the same state, competing against each other, not only on the field and/or basketball court but against each other economically as well. On my own part it's some what surprising to me that around this time of year that people off the road travelling come into a bar and/or lounge expecting, as Bronco fans, a Boise State football game on television as a matter of fact, quite naturally, regardless of anybody else from around the area watching their games: such as the Univ. of Wyoming, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana State or the Griz. They sometimes get rather uppidty about all that, even if they're only about 'as good as' two states away.
I hope it isn't just because of Georgia Southern's intimidation of joining the Sun Belt (FBS level) Conference that may have led Appalachian State to decide to do likewise. And that if The Mountaineers are somewhat successful at their new location that a similar fate doesn't transpire that hit UConn. Which could conceivably set back your accomplishments in the athletic field in a more drastic fashion since your basketball program might not be able to bail out economically your athletic department and university as the Huskies' have been able to do.
