ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard recently spoke with PirateRadio1250 about C-USA expansion and he mentioned App State quite a bit. Here are some of the important tidbits:
“Very early on we did decide that we really needed some eastern teams to make it more equal, for really Marshall and ECU, and to build those regional rivalries and that’s why schools like Charlotte was picked.
Appalachian State got some real consideration, there are other schools in TN, and KY, and Florida and Ohio and other places that got a lot of consideration. And in many respects we’re still gonna go after those schools they still have a lot of attractiveness to have those real close rivalries that we’re trying to get.”
“I’d like to see 18 (teams) ultimately, but at least 16, so we can have, you know, 7 games in conference and maybe 2 crossovers and the rest non-conference games. But 16 or 18 is my goal.
I hope ODU comes, they’d be a great rival for us and Charlotte, just to name 2. They spend 33 million a year on athletics so they’re going to be a substantial competitor down the road 3 or 4 years. And that’s what we’re doing, we’re looking 5 years out, 6 years out, 7 years out.
We know Charlotte isn’t quite ready, isn’t there yet, but when you look at the revenues they have and the students they have, they’ll be ready by 2015 2016 2017, in that time period they’ll come up. Now if, uh other teams going forward, Florida Atlantic is certainly moving forward. Middle Tennessee that deserves a lot of consideration. I still like Appalachian although it’s hard to get to. Western Kentucky deserves consideration. Some old MAC schools are interested, and would actually be good for some of the eastern schools.”
(Picture Source: Reflector)
One wonders how strongly ECU pushed for ASU. I believe his comments are simply an effort to make it appear that he pushed for a sister institution to be included in CUSA. I do not believe we will ever be in CUSA. We can present all the data we want to counter the false perceptions about our location and market pull, they will not add us. We may yet make it to FBS in the next five years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we are where are right now.
If we could just get some of the conferences officials and CEO’s to campus, it would quell the assumptions folks seem to be making about us. I think Cobb is on to something when he talks about not just households in a given market… but how many people ACTUALLY WATCH… in other words viewing audience. I’d start by looking at the neilson ratings of FCS national championship games over the last decade and compare them to when ASU was in the game from 2005-2007. I’d also look at our ESPN games and our semi-final game at Montana. Pound for pound, I’m willing to bet ASU has more viewers (higher Neilson ratings) than other FCS teams in similar games.
No other , non ACC team , will bring a larger or more spirited fan base than
Appalachian State…. They saw it a couple years ago , and they will see it on their opening day!!!!! All Pirate Fans live next door to App Fans.
App state would be a great addition to CUSA. But you are experiencing the same issues that ECU is in trying to move on to a BCS conference and the choices that are made sometimes
make you scratch your head. The. You choices. Enter on money and what you can bring to the table. FBS football has been corrupted by the money and flash. I think a school like App State would be better off staying in the FCS and being a powerhouse. FCS is much more pure college game. From a Pirate fan & alumni
App state would be a great addition to CUSA. But you are experiencing the same issues that ECU is in trying to move on to a BCS conference and the choices that are made sometimes
make you scratch your head. The. You choices. Enter on money and what you can bring to the table. FBS football has been corrupted by the money and flash. I think a school like App State would be better off staying in the FCS and being a powerhouse. FCS is much more pure college game. From a Pirate fan & alumni
[...] a rush.” The likely number they would add is 2 to go to 16 for football. ECU’s AD is on RECORD as saying: I’d like to see 18 (teams) ultimately, but at least 16, so we can have, you know, 7 [...]