FBS
Appalachian State’s feasibility-study committee has made its recommendation that the Mountaineers should move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, but it’s still a wait-and-see as to what FBS conference might take the Mountaineers up on their aspiration.
And the goal is, according to athletics director Charlie Cobb and committee co-chairman G.A. Sywassink, not to just go to the FBS but to find a conference that makes sense in terms of geography, cost-containment, profile enhancement and the development or re-establishment of natural rivals.
How long that will take is anybody’s guess, but another round of membership shakeups among FBS conferences could get the ball rolling.
“I don’t think anybody has envisioned a specific timeline, but we certainly have some ideas going ahead,” Cobb said during a media teleconference today. “One of the things we’re going to look at is some future game contracts – where a payout if we play a road game will be based on if we’re an FCS or FBS member – but we are going to be at the mercy a little bit of what transitioning occurs above us, with some of the other BCS leagues.”
The committee concluded that a move to the right FBS conference would be viable for ASU fiscally and competitively. Cobb said that what the Mountaineers’ football program has to offer is very much in line with many FBS programs now.
“I think, frankly, you could take eight to 10 FCS schools right now, even minus 23 scholarships, and you could compete with a good majority of the FBS programs,” Cobb said.
And, he said, “The divide that exists in Division I athletics right now financially is not between FBS and FCS, the divide is truly between the BCS and the rest of Division I.”
The recommendation to move up to the FBS is as much about ASU’s future as it is its present.
He said that ASU’s growth in recent years, and its success in football, has put it well ahead of where it was not too many years ago. He cited Virginia Tech as a model, of where it was 25 years ago and he sees a lot of similarities to Virginia Tech then and ASU now.
But the key question remains where ASU could land in terms of conference affiliation at the FBS level. Perhaps Conference USA, or perhaps a restructured conference with members similar to ASU’s profile. Or perhaps another opportunity could arise if movement from one conference to another gets in high gear.
The goal, and perhaps mandate, is a smart fit.
“You get into geography, I think it would be pretty simple especially in this era of cost-containment,” Cobb said, “but you certainly have to put yourself in position.”
Which is what ASU is doing, but with hopes of finding a conference situation that makes geographical sense.
“You can take for example our first game with Virginia Tech,” Cobb said. “It’s less than three hours from Boone, it’s less than five hours from Charlotte, which is a big alumni base, and we’ve sold over 5,000 tickets for Appalachian to play at Virginia Tech. I think that means something to Virginia Tech when they look at filling out a home schedule.
“I think the geography of any conference alignment, especially those that don’t have the massive TV money that BCS schools have, (is something) you have to be very cognizant of.”
While the waiting game might take a while, Cobb hopes that the announcement of ASU’s intentions to go FBS will help get it ahead of the curve in terms of possible conference opportunities. The timing of the recommendation is a strategic move to position ASU in preparation for a changing landscape in college football.
“I think it was first and foremost to put those intentions out there from a future standpoint and give us the ability over the next period of time to figure out exactly where the college-football world is going,” Cobb said.
Cobb is aware that not all ASU fans are on board with the idea, but said that he is confident the majority are. The past success is part of the impetus for wanting to compete at the highest level.
“We recognize that we are very much in a very successful pattern,” Cobb said. “We have won more (football) games than any school in Division I the last six years. Our crowds have been fantastic. So has our fundraising on a relatively basis.”
Cobb said that he has talked with coaches of other sports at ASU and they have embraced the idea of a possible move from the Southern Conference to another conference that, at the FBS level, likely will offer the challenge of stiffer competition in other sports.
“When we first broached this idea with our coaches several months ago not one coach had reservations about it,” Cobb said. “I think that speaks volumes about the mentality of wanting to compete at a higher level.”
Among questions raised during today’s teleconference dealt with increase in ticket prices if the Mountaineers move to the FBS level, and the necessity of increasing stadium capacity at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
“We’ve looked at a number of different financial models,” Cobb said in regard to ticket costs. “I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re going to raise ticket prices. I think a lot of it depends on who you play.”
Stadium expansion could happen.
“That’s part of the conversation,” Cobb said. “We realize that we would need to do some facility improvements – not as much as what we’ve done in the last six years – but we would definitely need to look at some additional seating but that’s all part of the process going forward.”
Cobb said that he has talked with John Iamarino, the Southern Conference commissioner, throughout the study-committee process.
“I think it’s been pretty important to keep him in the loop,” Cobb said. “We had a fairly lengthy conversation (Monday) and, not to put words in his mouth, but it was a very positive conversation. He certainly understands what we’re thinking and appreciates the fact that we have been as open and up front.”
If ASU leaves, it would have to pay the SoCon $300,000 if it gives a two-year notice, or $600,000 if it’s a one-year notice.
Read more about ASU’s potential move to the FBS in Wednesday’s Winston-Salem Journal.