CBSSports.com has a lengthy opus on the ATU. It’s a descent read.
The thrust of the article is, five years later, what in college football has changed?
The answer comes after 2,000 words, give or take.
The game is largely unchanged from The Day That Changed College Football. Appalachian State continues to rule FCS. Michigan is getting close to reclaiming its spot in that top layer of the sport.
And you know, he’s right … kinda (We wouldn’t say App State still “rules” FCS).
Of all the major sports, it seems I-A FBS football is the one which changes the least.
Consider the preseason polls. Compare and contrast the preseason FBS top 25 from 2007 and the new ones from a few weeks ago. Positions change, but names stay the same.
Seventeen of the top 25 in 2007 are among the top 25 now. Two of the top three are still in the top three, with the other – West Virginia – dropping just eight spots.
The top 11 teams in 2007 – all eleven – are represented in the current top 25.
Meanwhile, in the FCS, 11 teams ranked in the 2007 preseason Sports Network poll* are in this season’s top 25. That includes seven of top 10.
2012 FCS SPORTS NETWORK
1 Sam Houston State
2 North Dakota State
3 Georgia Southern
4 Montana State
5 James Madison
6 Appalachian State
7 Towson
8 Old Dominion
9 Northern Iowa
10 Wofford
11 Montana
12 Eastern Washington
13 Youngstown State
14 New Hampshire
15 Delaware
16 Lehigh
17 Stony Brook
18 Eastern Kentucky
19 Illinois State
20 Stephen F. Austin
21 Maine
22 Jacksonville State
23 Indiana State
24 Central Arkansas
25 Harvard
These are preseason polls, of course. They’re based on hype, expectations and habit.
But five years after the college football world supposedly changed, the penthouse is much more allergic to evolving than the division with the actual playoff system.
* Earlier version of this post had the wrong FCS preseason poll listed.
I think the way the ATU changed football was the game it self. Players have changed, the mobile quarteback before was one who stepped out of the pocket to throw. Now the quarter back that is the leading rusher is considered a mobile quarterback.
Denard Robinson isnt at Michigan without this game.
Also, good to see Hans Batichon get his photo up. He was my favorite player that year.
Still gives me goose bumps… what a day!
I thought it was a really solid read actually
I have never heard of a descent read. Does that mean the words go down instead of across?
What that FBS poll ought to remind everyone of is that just because your school plays in the FBS, it doesn't mean your school is really an FBS school. We have seen how hard it is to move up a level, but that's nothing compared to how hard it is to move up within that level once you get there. The road to FBS relevancy is much longer, much harder, and much, much more difficult than most people think.
Just think how relevant WCU was in the FCS or IAA 30 years ago and where App was 30 years ago as well.
What that FBS poll ought to remind everyone of is that just because your school plays in the FBS, it doesn’t mean your school is really an FBS school. We have seen how hard it is to move up a level, but that’s nothing compared to how hard it is to move up within that level once you get there. The road to FBS relevancy is much longer, much harder, and much, much more difficult than most people think.
I don't know if you are talking about Niner fans or not – I am guessing at least a little of that is directed at us. I for one know that the path in FBS is going to be very difficult. Winning on a lower FBS or FCS level is one thing, consistently winning at a high FBS level is very difficult to do. Just look at what TCU, Boise, Utah and USF have had to do to even be considered. The good news is IF you manage to get high enough on that ladder the powers that be will bring you into the fold as they have done with several of those schools.
For Charlotte the road to FBS was really more about the rest of our sports than it was about football. It just works out that way. IMO if the Socon had let us in for football only I think there would have been a 50/50 chance our AD turns down the CUSA invite to stay in the A10 and let our football program have a little more time to get it's feet under it.
As for football I expect us to be able to compete in CUSA in football in a few years, I expect all of our other sports to perform well in conference as well. With that said I am well aware of how hard it is to move up and that there is a real chance that decades could go by without ever really making a splash in FBS. The good news is that if we time things right and can keep improving our conference then the money that comes with those moves would at least make it more possible but certainly not a promise.
It does suck though that the power conferences will keep their hands on the money and a foot on the throats of the folks that sit a few rungs down the ladder. Not good for any of us not in the Big 6 – or really Power 5 since the BE days as a power conference look to be fading, hell another few years and I am not sure the ACC will qualify as a legit football league.
Dear god. Give it a rest already. No one cares about UNCC. Please take your broken record and find a 49er fan site.
LOL Thanks Gonzo – I missed you guys!
I have to agree with Gonzo. Believing this post has anything to do with UNCC is giving yourself far too much credit. Sometimes I forget there is even a school in Concord. But seriously… no one cares.
Yeah good point. I wouldn't give it too long before Barber-Scotia passes App.
If Barber-Scotia was in a top 25 media market, I wouldn't be surprised.
http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=583201
Hypocrites?
49ers,
All that shows is you're a power hungry douche!
Since UNC-Concord has never won a football game, I'd say Barbara Scotia has already passed them. Sorry to ignore you losers (as everyone else does) but we are getting ready for a football game- something you know nothing about. Continue to dream of your upcoming game with your new rival Campbell (ESPN or ABC?) if history repeats itself, you will continue to choke (Marquette, UNC Soccer, Clay Aiken). Come back when you actually WIN something.
Considering all of the animosity harbored by uncc fans for app fans, reciprocated by app fans to uncc fans, I think it would be a great idea to be conference mates/rivals down the road. The "rivalry" is already heated and we have never even played each other. These regionalized rivalries build conferences from the groud up rather than relying on the media market myth and geographic location. Consequently it lowers travel costs and creates media buzz. What a novel idea..
NWA, what in the name of God Almighty gave you the idea that my comment had ANYTHING whatsoever to do with your school? Geez, get over yourself.
Agree with Orange–good article. Unfortunate slip at the end, where he says App State continues to rule FBS. Appfan is correct–we can't now claim to still rule FCS, except perhaps in attendance; we can't even get into FBS, much less rule it.
Not sure where else to put this – thought you all would like to see this if you haven't already.
http://theeastcarolinian.com/?p=4746
Not surprising NWA. Good read though. This why students at other schools hate UNC. The Tar Holes are paying J Cole over $100,000 to play at homecoming, meanwhile ASU and others are laying off teachers and dropping classes to deal with budget cuts. 15 institutions obeying the graduates of one.
Yeah Gonzo – drives me up the wall! Kudos to App for having three reps on the board – we have zero.