G5 MINUTE: AAC READY TO FIGHT

Original G5 Content

The AAC  wrapped up its annual spring meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida yesterday. Mike Aresco, the AAC Commissioner, released some of the  highlights from that  meeting on the AAC   web site. In the highlights the AAC  announced that it was on board with any new NCAA structural changes as well as being fully  committed to paying any new so called cost of attendance fees to athletes.

With this  announcement also comes a sharper picture  of the AAC strategy going forward. A strategy that calls for the AAC to continue to distance itself from the rest of the G5 as well as position them as a P5 contender. It is unclear of course, how much fruit this plan will produce for the conference.

It is becoming clearer though,  that the  AAC  in recent months,  has begun to take a more aggressive , tactical  stand with its future. A stand that the league hopes will give it a strategic advantage  in the new landscape that is college sports. With  a new quasi relationship with BYU, a commitment to spending whatever it takes to compete in the new landscape of college football, and a steady drum beat from Aresco and others that the AAC is P5 worthy, the league  has announced that it is willing to fight for relevancy in college sports.

With the AAC ready to mount a campaign to compete with  the P5,  it is now up to  the Sun Belt, CUSA, MAC and MWC to clarify their own goals and vision in the months ahead. All four conferences will need to tell their fans  and supporters how they plan to remain competitive in the new landscape of college sports. Staying on the sidelines or relying on past performance guidelines are no longer an option for the G5 and the schools that make up these conferences. The AAC, with its willingness to do and pay  whatever it takes to compete and survive, has set the bar high for the other G5 conferences to follow. Stay tuned to see how the other G5  respond  with vision and plans of their own.

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AMERICAN ANNOUNCES DIVISION LINEUP

G5 QUICK HIT: P5 INTERESTED IN REDUCING WAIT TIME FOR TRANSFER PLAYERS IN FOOTBALL

NEW TRANSFER RULE ON THE WAY?(LINK)

NEW TRANSFER RULE ON THE WAY?

The Orlando Sentinel in a story published yesterday, reported that the PAC 12 has sent a letter to the rest of the P5 schools suggesting that transfer rules be softened. The letter stated that , " a more liberal transfer policy, removing penalties that force athletes to sit out a year when they jump to new schools."  The rule change would essentially allow transfer players to begin  playing for their new school immediately  Currently transfer players must sit out a year before they are allowed to join their new team. The Sentinel story( link above) comes in conjunction with their coverage of the AAC spring meetings taking place in Florida this week.

The Sentinel interviewed  UCF head coach George O'Leary,   to gage his reaction to the possible rule change. O'Leary, said the following  about the possible change, "All the sudden, you've got a kid playing real well, [and Power 5 schools say] we missed that kid [in recruiting]. ... His coach yells at him and then he doesn't want to be there anymore and [a power 5 school says], 'Hey, 'come with us, [there's] no penalty,"... "I think that rule without a penalty leads to tampering problems."

A new more liberal transfer  policy would almost certainly make life more difficult for the G5. The G5 are  already struggling under the weight of new financial burdens soon to become reality in the NCAA. If the P5 decide to make a change to the existing transfer rule,  college football  may soon resemble the free market,  free agent world of the NFL. Stay tuned.  

WHY GEORGIA SOUTHERN AND APPALACHIAN STATE ARE GREAT ADDITIONS TO THE SUNBELT

Original G5 content



GREAT ADDITIONS: Karl Benson and the Sun Belt Conference leadership made two great decisions in inviting Georgia Southern and Appalachian State to the SunBelt Conference in 2013.
Here are 5  reasons why:

CHAMPIONSHIPS: Between 1985 and the present Georgia Southern and Appalachian State have combined for a very impressive 9 FCS Championships: Georgia Southern 6, App State 3

FAN BASE: Georgia Southern and Appalachian State have two of the best and most passionate  fan bases in all of the FCS. Both fan bases are accustomed to winning and will show up in very good numbers to support their team.

SIGNATURE WINS: Both schools have impressive signature wins for their programs. The App State defeat of Michigan still seems like it was just yesterday and Georgia Southerns win against against Florida at the Swamp last year, was as good as it gets for an FCS team.

GOOD COLLEGE TOWNS FOR FOOTBALL: Statesboro, Ga and Boone NC, are very good College towns for football. Both schools have terrific Saturday Game Day traditions including good tailgating and student support inside the stadium.

TREMENDOUS UPSIDE: This is the most important metric on the list. Football is in the DNA of  Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Both schools have crafted winning traditions and winning attitudes . They have proven that they know how to recruit and know how to hire the right head coach to get the job done. Although it is likely that both will struggle as they make the switch from FCS to FBS, don't be surprised , if that within 5 yrs one or both of these schools is challenging the SunBelt for football supremacy.

CONFERENCE USA BASKETBALL NEXT SEASON: CAN ANYONE STOP LOUISIANA TECH?

COLLEGE BASKETBALL TALK LOOKS AT CONFERENCE USA BASKETBALL FOR NEXT SEASON(LINK)

G5 QUICK COMMENTARY: SUNBELT MAKES WISE DECISION NOT TO EXPAND

The Sunbelt Conference announced last week ,at its annual Spring meeting,  that it had no immediate plans to add any additional schools  to the Conference. Instead, the Sun Belt will seek further stability and brand strength by staying the course with its present 11 member line up.

In deciding this, The Sun Belt, lead by commissioner Karl Benson, made a wise and savvy decision to stay the course.  After a whirlwind of conference realignment and conference school shifting, there appears, at least for the moment to be a calm in the air. The Sun Belt, in spite of losing some very competitive programs, including MTSU and WKU, has done a good job replacing those schools with the likes of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern among others. In saying no to any further additions, the Sun Belt has given itself a chance to catch its collective breath and to be more strategic in its conference planning. It also allows the current 11 schools to keep more television  money from its current contract with ESPN and to keep more of any  future playoff payout money as well.

The FBS landscape remains one of volatility and uncertainty. The Sun Belt, in staying the course with its present line up of 11 schools,  remains nimble enough to move quickly if it needs to, but also allows for its present  members to develop much needed rivalries and connections with each other. The new name of the game in college football, especially among the G5, is one of creativity, flexibility and brand strength. The Sun Belt, in staying the course, gives itself the opportunity to work within the parameters of all three of these platforms. Something every conference in the G5 is going to need.

EARLY SIGNING PERIOD MAY HELP G5 FROM LOSING RECRUITS TO P5

GROWING MOVEMENT FOR EARLY SIGNING PERIOD IN FOOTBALL(LINK)


With the SEC announcing today that they might favor an early signing period in College Football, we may be moving towards such a day sooner rather than later. The SEC discussed an early signing period today at their annual spring meeting in Florida. This follows on the heels of the ACC recommending an early signing period a month ago. The SEC favors an early signing period to be held around Thanksgiving while the ACC favors one in August. The SEC however, seems to be less enthusiastic about the move than the ACC.  The final hurdle for an early signing period would have to be voted on  by the  Conference Commissioner  Association.

If an early signing period in College Football does become a reality the G5 schools may benefit from the decision to have one.  P5 schools often swoop in with late offers to G5 recruits, nullify months if not years of hard work by G5 coaching staffs. An early signing period may help stop some of this late recruit poaching. Stay tuned.

RANKING G5 BASEBALL TEAMS IN THE TOURNAMENT

1. UL
2. HOUSTON
3. RICE
4. SAN DIEGO STATE
5. ODU
6. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
7. UNLV

MIKE ARESCO: WE CAN BE A POWER CONFERENCE(AAC)

WE CAN BE A POWER CONFERENCE ONE DAY(link)

NORTH TEXAS: LOOKING FOR PROGRAM CONSISTENCY

MEAN GREEN PROGRAM LOOKING TO TURN CORNER 

OG5 (original G5 News and Issues content)

"WE NEED TO DO BETTER"

In October of  2010, North Texas Mean Green AD Rick Villarreal had seen enough. It was time to admit that the experiment with former  Texas High School coach Todd Dodge had failed and failed in striking fashion.  Dodge's most recent loss had come in the form a 34-10 thrashing to the FIU Panthers. A little over 14,000 Mean Green fans watched from their seats at Fouts Field, as their home team delivered yet another anemic performance. A performance that  dropped North Texas  to a paltry 1-6 on the season.  Villarreal knew , as well as the rest of the  fan base and most likely Todd Dodge himself , that it was all over. The never pleasant task of firing a head coach would not wait until the end of the season.  Dodge after all , had  compiled a staggeringly bad  6-37 record during his 2007-2010 tenure with the program. So AD Rick Villarreal, rather than dragging out the inevitable and waiting for the season to end, fired Todd Dodge after the FIU game.

Speaking to ESPN shortly after his sacking of Dodge, Villarreal told the reporter that , "We(North Texas) need to do better". Beyond that however, Villarreal had little to offer in the way of an explanation as to why things had gone so badly for Todd Dodge and the Mean Green program under his leadership.

Just four short years earlier, the same Rick Villarreal had hailed the hiring of  Todd Dodge  as someone who could in Villarreal's words,"elevate the North Texas football program". By most logical standards the  glowing prediction Rick Villarreal had  made about his new head coach seemed within the realm of possibility.  After all, Dodge had experience where it counted most, both on the collegiate  level of play and in the hollowed grounds of Texas High School football.

It was Dodge's High School coaching career however , that had garnered the most attention from  the Mean Green Program .  At the start of 2006 season,  Todd Dodge was simply  one of the best High School coaches in Texas.  Dodge's teams at South Lake Carrol High School had captured  3 State Championships, and had earned an exemplary  98-11 record over the course of his 7 yrs as head of the program. On the surface Dodge appeared to be just what the North Texas program needed, a coach with good  connections to Texas High school athletes and a someone who knew how to win at a competitive level.

In the end , Todd Dodge was unable to  revamp a North Texas program that was in  desperate need of a major overhaul. Under Todd Dodge, the Mean Green  program struggled in much the  same way  it  had for the years prior to Dodge's hiring. If North Texas, a proud football program that fielded its very first team in 1913,  was ever going to turn the corner  someone or something was going to have to change the culture and identity of the program.

NEW ORLEANS BOWL IS NICE IN DECEMBER

The North Texas program has not been without its fair share of shinning moments. Coaching legend Hayden Fry for example, took over the Mean Green program in  1973.  Six years latter he had earned  a very respectable  40-23-3 record. Fry left the program in 1978 for greener pastures and an easier path to Bowl Games, something  he was unable achieve during his tenure at North Texas.

Success for North Texas struck again in the early 2000's. This time it came via head coach,   Darrell Dickey. Dickey lead  the Mean Green program to four straight Sun Belt titles. He also lead  North Texas to  four straight appearances in the New Orleans Bowl. Dickey's ability to get the Mean Green to the New Orleans Bowl four years in row, lead many within the program  to view the  December Bowl game as  a pseudo rite of passage.

Darrell Dickey's success  did not last as long as the Mean Green faithful might have hoped. Dickey was fired in 2006 after two losing seasons in a row.  These two losing seasons coupled with Dickey's first four seasons at North Texas, also losing seasons, ultimately cost the head coach his job. Darrell Dickey's time at North Texas also  fit the pattern that had become  all to familiar  to the North Texas fan base. A pattern in which  a short period of success would inevitably followed by an  even longer period of failure. A pattern that needed to end if North Texas was ever going to live into its full potential as a vibrant , successful FBS program.

AN EXCELLENT HIRE

In the fall of 2010 Athletic Director Rick Villarreal, after dealing with the disappointment and firing of Todd Dodge , stepped to the microphone and announced the hiring of yet another head coach for North Texas. Villarreal announced to Mean Green fans everywhere, that former Iowa State  head coach Dan McCarney had been chosen to take over the program. This time, however, Rick Villarreal believed that he had finally found the right person to lead the North Texas program.

Very few within the program, especially the fan base knew what to expect going forward with McCarney. If the fan base was unsure of what direction the program was heading in,  Villarreal was not.  He seemed to be crystal clear in his own assessment  of what the beleaguered football  program needed as  he challenged the North Texas team to start acting like  in his exact words, a  "big time program".

Coach Dan McCarney had developed a reputation as an excellent motivator and football coach. McCarney was also wise enough to know  the North Texas program needed a significant culture change both in the locker room and on the field. McCarney understood from the very beginning that  the best way to change a programs culture is to recruit High School players  who were willing to be part of the vision that Coach McCarney had laid out for the program.

McCarney pressed for time and support from the Mean Green faithful. McCarney also asked for patience as he  implemented his own vision for the team and recruited the right players for the Mean Green program. The fan base it turns out, needed the patience their head coach had requested from them , as McCarney's first two seasons were losing efforts.

Then, last year,  the North Texas program experienced something it had not experienced in over a decade, a winning season. Not only had McCarney lead North Texas to a winning season , he also lead them to their first bowl game, The Heart of Dallas Bowl, in as many years .  McCarney had taken a program from the depths of despair and given it a shot of life and hope. He had also allowed the  Mean Green nation to begin to dream of bigger and better things to come.


MAJOR UPSIDE

There is a measurable excitement among North Texas fan base at the moment. An excitement that had been largely absent during the prior decade. To be clear, however, one season does not make an empire nor does it mean that North Texas has officially turned the corner. It's har  to look at the Mean  Green football program and not get excited about its potential and upside.

Part of this potential and upside was captured in the building of a new 30,000 seat, state of the art stadium later named Apogee. A stadium that in many ways reflects the new and improved state of affairs that is North Texas football.  It's also captured in the coaching staff, especially in the leadership and talent of Head Coach Dan McCarney.

McCarney has become a true believer in North Texas football. He also believes that North Texas is sitting on a goldmine  of recruiting opportunities and potential  McCarney has become a believer in the Mean Green  fan base as well.  A fan base that has potential to become very large and very vocal. Finally, North Texas now has a decent television platform and  more money to work with thanks to the invite from Conference USA. Although Conference USA is not the conference North Texas would have liked to have joined several years ago, it still represents some very good opportunities for them going forward.

TOP 15 G5 SCHOOL

North Texas fans tend to be a loyal, hardy bunch. The good news is that they now have a coach in Coach McCarney who is both a superb motivator and someone who also believes in the Mean Green program. A program that finds itself in the midst of some very fertile recruiting grounds and one that has the  facilities in place  to attract  the talent that is already in their back yard.

Fortunately for Mean Green fans their  program has everything in place  now to win on a regular basis. It also has everything it needs for North Texas to become a top 15 G5 program every year . If neither of these reachable goals ever materialize ,  then North Texas will have no one else to blame but themselves. There is little doubt  however, that Coach McCarney will do everything in his power to make both of these important goals a reality.

HOUSTON WINS AAC BASEBALL TITLE

UH WINS AAC BASEBALL TITLE (LINK)

UL FINISHES NUMBER 1 IN REGULAR SEASON POLL AND IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST SCHOOLS IN THE G5 AT THE MOMENT

CONGRATS TO LOUISIANA BASEBALL FOR THEIR NUMBER 1 RANKING TO CLOSE THE REGULAR SEASON AND FOR  HOSTING A REGIONAL IN LAFAYETTE.

G5 NEWS AND ISSUES CONGRATULATES UL ON THEIR NUMBER 1 BASEBALL FINISH AND FOR BEING  ONE OF THE HOTTEST PROGRAMS IN THE G5 CONFERENCE WORLD 

UL is simply one of the hottest schools in the G5 world right now. With a stellar football program, a good basketball season, a competitive women's softball team  and a baseball team that is one of the best in the country, G5 News and Issues congratulates the Ragin Cajun Athletic Department and Fan Base.

If UL or any other G5 school wins the college world series, G5 New and Issues will change the primary colors of this blog to the school that wins the series. For the time being, we salute the Ragin Cajuns on a job well done! 

RICE WINS CUSA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

RICE ADDS BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TO FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CUSA

RICE WINS CONFERENCE USA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

WHY TV CONTRACTS MAY FORCE ANOTHER WAVE OF REALIGNMENT AMONG THE G5

OBC(original G5 blog content)

SURVIVING THE NEW LANDSCAPE

The Gang of 5 landscape for the moment is calm, don't expect however, for that calm to last forever. While the Power Conferences drink champagne and eat caviar, the Gang of 5  are looking for ways to survive  the latest configuration of  College Football.  Don't be surprised if a new round of invites and realignment take place  as TV Networks reevaluate the value that the Gang of 5 represent  in light of the new realities in college football.

A new round of realignment  is well within the realm of possibility  as Networks take a fresh look at television values and dynamics. If a new wave of realignment were to occur then it seems likely that the new wave would almost certainly be more dramatic ,sleeker and more strategic then previous rounds. This is especially true for Conference USA, the Mac and The SunBelt, as these conferences are in an even  more precarious  position then MWC and The AAC find themselves.

MWC AND AAC SAFE FOR NOW

The MWC and the AAC are  the safest among the G5 in terms of both realignment options and television money  for the moment . Although any new realignment  among the P5 would likely come from these two conferences, the MWC and the AAC would simply reload and take their pick of the best  schools from Conf USA,  the SunBelt and even the MAC.

The  AAC and the MWC  both recently signed new primary tv contracts  with ESPN through the year 2020.  The MWC contract is  reportedly worth $116 million  while the AAC contract is reportedly worth 126 million. Both conferences also have secondary deals with CBS.

The AAC contract with ESPN, however,  was a far cry from the one that the  Big East had signed years earlier. Some of the schools in the AAC  most noticeably  SMU, UCF and Houston  had been lured away from Conf USA with promises of a big pay day with the old Big East. When the AAC eventually signed their new contract for a much lower dollar amount, many of those schools believed that ESPN had undervalued them.   It is this undervaluing or small payout relative to the Power Conferences that should have Conf USA, the MAC and the SunBelt concerned when the valuation of their conferences begin anew by the Networks.


CONFERENCE USA, MAC AND SUNBELT CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

With the MWC and AAC secure through 2020, the conferences that have the most to gain and the most to lose over the next few years are Conference USA, the MAC and The Sunbelt. Both the MAC and the SunBelt have contracts with ESPN, while Conference USA splits its contract between Fox and CBS.

The MAC contract runs through 2017 and is worth a  reported one million dollars or $100,000 a year to each school while the SunBelt contract is reportedly worth even less than this amount.  It was rumored in 2013 by various news sources that the MAC  was in negotiations with ESPN to reopen its contract for more money. As of the date of this article,however,  there has been no update on the progress of that event, if it even happened at all.

The Conference USA TV contract, split between Fox and CBS is reportedly worth 14 million a year. The Conference USA contract runs through the 2016 season. This means that Conference USA will be forced to renegotiate  in the midst of the Power Conferences grab for more authority and power.( we will examine the new contract issues facing Conf USA in a future article)

One important  question for Conference USA as it moves forward with its TV negations is this:  How much of the new landscape has changed the way television Networks view the G5 conferences, especially those that are not at the top of the G5 list?  If for example, ESPN undervalued and underpaid for the AAC, arguably the best G5 conference, does this also mean that Fox, CBS or even ESPN might  do the same to Conf USA. How much is Conference USA worth in this new Power Conference world?

WHY MORE REALIGNMENT IN THE G5 MIGHT BE A NECESSITY

If the value of Conference USA turns out to be lower than it was in the pre Power Conference era  and pre  2012-2013  realignment when teams like ECU, UCF, HOUSTON, TULSA and even TULANE called  Conference USA home then what next? The pressures to bring in revenue to feed  schools that are hungry for tv dollars might be to great to sit on the sidelines and accept the fate of smaller and smaller payouts.

At that point a further consolidation among the G3, the MAC, Conference USA and the SunBelt would become a necessity instead of a luxury. If this does occur then we could see the makings a new conference. A new conference that would take the best that the 3 conferences have to offer and to create an alliance of teams  that is leaner, meaner and more  able to compete with the MWC and the AAC. A so called best of the three could potential yield some very strong competition and value going forward.

While this scenario is not ideal as some very good programs  would inevitably be left out of any new best of three conference, any and all options have to be on the table at the moment. The Power Conferences have shown no regard for anyone other than themselves and there is no reason to believe that this will change any time in the near future

We have entered a brave new world in College Football. A world in which it is not entirely clear if every FBS program will be able to survive and flourish. There may come a time when some conferences and programs  have to make hard and unpleasant decisions. We may potentially get to a place where further consolidation is necessary in order to survive, Unfortunately given what we have  seen over  the course of the  last two years, nothing seems as impossible or unlikely as it may have just five short years ago.  Stay tuned.

UTSA ADVANCES TO CONFERECE USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

UTSA ADVANCES TO CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP

ACCESS BOWL ROULETTE : CINCINNATI BEARCATS

This is the 5th report in a series looking at G5 teams who are likely contenders for the ACCESS BOWL. 

OBC(original blog content)

OVERVIEW

In Frank Kafka's novel , "The Trial",  Josef K. the main character, finds himself caught in an endless web of illogical  bureaucratic  red tape and dead ends.  Josef K struggles in the story to make sense of an unfair and pointless system that has turned his life upside down. At one point in the novel, an exasperated Josef K. remarks,"I cannot find my way in the darkness". At times during the past 18 months it seems likely that many within the Cincinnati Bearcat family have felt like they were living Josef K's life.

Having been plucked from CUSA a decade ago by the Big East, the Bearcats  now find themselves caught in a maze of realignment politics and wondering what their next move is. The Big East is of course no more, and the Bearcats are now one of the anchor schools in  the newly formed AAC. Big East or no Big East,  Cincinnati can still play ball and should be a  contender for the ACCESS BOWL Slot.


COACHING

In Dec 2012, Cincinnati Bearcat Athletic Director Whit Babcock,  announced that he had hired Tommy Tuberville to replace former outgoing  and Tennessee bound Butch Jones.  Babcock and Tuberville had worked together when both were employed by Auburn . Tommy Tuberville who holds an overall 139-81 coaching record,  seemed like a natural fit for the Bearcats. Tuberville, who left Texas Tech in order to take the Cincinnati job, struggled while coaching the Red Raiders. In accepting the Cincinnati job, Tuberville believed that he had found  the necessary support and infrastructure  in place to succeed, something that he seemed to lack while  at Texas Tech.

If there were  concerns that Tuberville had  lost a step or two when taking over the  Bearcat football team,  they were put to rest when he lead the Bearcats to a 9-4 record in his first year with the team. In finishng 9-4,  Tommy Tuberville proved once again that he is a  talented coach who knows how to win. The Bearcat faithful are hoping that Tuberville continues to use his considerable talents to make Cincinnati one of the top G5 schools in the country.


ACCESS BOWL CHANCES

This may turn into a interesting year for the Bearcat program , as it could be  a year where it proves difficult to gage how good  the Bearcats really are. At issue for Cincinnati are some very big questions marks at key positions including QB and Defensive line.

There is a good chance for example, that the Bearcats will start highly touted but untested transfer Qb Gunner Kiel. Kiel has had an interesting journey just to make it to Cincinnati. If Gunner is the starting QB, then this former 5 star recruit could have his hands full simply learning how to play at the collegiate level.

He will, however, have some nice tools to work with including the sure handed Shaq Washington plus an OLine that returns 3 starters from last year's team.  Still, it seems a tall order for Kiel to come in and immediately start  producing for the Bearcats. This is one position definitely  worth watching during Fall Camp this year.

If Gunner Kiel is indeed the starting QB for the Bearcats, and he gets off to a fast start then Cincinnati will certainly be one of the favorites to represent the G5 in the Access Bowl. If he struggles however, and the Bearcats do not find a suitable replacement to Jordan Steep on the Dline, then Cincinnati could be  in for a long season.

The good news for Bearcat fans is that they  have an athletic team lead by a coach that knows how to win. Is this enough however, to overcome the big hole at QB and D line? If experience tells us anything about new QB's its that they tend to struggle in their first year. If this happens to Kiel, or whoever the starter is, Bearcat fans may be in for some major disappointment this year.  For this reason more than any other, getting to the Access Bowl this season may be to tall an order to overcome . Stay tuned.

BOISE STATE SELLS STADIUM RIGHTS FOR 12.5 MILLION

BOISE STATE TRADES NAME FOR CASH

SPORTING NEWS RANKS MAC COACHES

AKRON'S TERRY BOWDEN

SPORTING NEWS RANKS MAC COACHES

SOUTHERN MISS FANS : LOOKING FOR A RETURN TO NORMAL

Southern Miss fans hope to avoid scenes like this one after a loss to Texas State 

OBC(original G5blog content ) 

TRANSITIONS

In the book, "The Call of the Wild", author Jack London describes the stark transition that Buck, the powerful animal ,  experiences in the novel.  London writes the following about Buck's new reality, "He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilization and flung into the heart of things primordial.” .  These very same words can also easily be  used to describe the extraordinary transition that the  Southern Miss football program has experienced over  the last few years.  These words also seem to capture the experience of the  Southern Miss fan base as well. A fan base that had grown accustomed  to an extraordinarily  high level of success and accolades. Now, after two years of a very difficult football existence, the Golden Eagle fan base is looking forward to a return to something near normal. The question however, is what is the new normal for Southern Miss?


THINGS LOOKED SO GOOD

The 2011 Conference USA Championship game was supposed to be Houston QB Case Keenum's big day. By the time ABC* had begun to broadcast the Championship game to a national audience,  Keenum had already become the NCAA all time leader in offensive  production.  The 6th year Senior was in the midst of the one of the greatest seasons ever played by a FBS level QB. So when the Southern Miss Eagles strapped on their helmets that day, lead by then head coach Larry Fedora, they  were almost an after thought.

Soon after the game began however, it became apparent that Case was going to have a very long day. The Southern Miss defense lead by the uber talented Jamie Collins seemed to be everywhere at once, dominating the Houston line of scrimmage and Case as well. Houston Cougar fans looked on in dismay as the Southern Miss defense harassed, dominated and pummeled Keenum all day. Who can forget the look of horror on Case Keenum's wife, as the  cameras unmercifully panned to her distraught face over and over again.

The Eagle offense also had a field day on that overcast, gray December day in Houston. Southern Miss QB Austin Davis picked apart the Houston defense with a combination of throws and by handing off the ball to rb Tracey Lampley. When the final whistle blew, Southern Miss had thoroughly and completely defeated the favored Houston Cougars 49-28.

The one group that was least surprised by this victory were the Southern Miss faithful, who for decades had watched their Eagles beat programs that they were not supposed to beat.  So when UNC announced  just a few short days after the Southern Miss victory that they had hired Larry Fedora to be their coach, Southern Miss fans took it in stride. They had after all, weathered coaching changes  before( although less frequently than many FBS schools) and had always seen their program bounce back in a strong way. 

When Southern Miss announced a few  weeks after Fedora left that they had hired the 59 yr Ellis Johnson,  the Golden Eagle football program looked to be in good shape

G5 COACHING MINUTE: JUNE JONES , SMU MUSTANGS

COACHING MINUTE

OBC(original G5 blog content)

BIO: Age: 61, College Player: Oregon, Hawaii and Portland State. NFL: Atlanta Falcons

CURRENT TEAM: SMU Mustangs: 2008-Present
SMU COACHING RECORD: 36-41: Salary 2,000,000
WHY HE IS IMPRESSIVE: Turned around and guided an  SMU team that had little to celebrate since the famous "death penalty verdict". Has lead SMU to four Bowl Games during his tenure.
POTENTIAL: June Jones has been coaching for a long time and has seen it all during his career. Jones is credited with turning around an SMU team that had struggled for decades for relevance. When focused and motivated Jones is simply one of the best in the business. Recent rumblings among the SMU faithful however, might mean that Jones is struggling to connect with the SMU fan base. Regardless of these rumblings, Jones is likely the man main for the SMU program for years to come as he signed a 3yr extension in Dec, 2013.
RATING: 3 stars.    (RATING IS ON A 1-5 SCALE)

MAC GRADE SCORES ON THE RISE

MAC CONFERENCE APR SCORES ON THE RISE (LINK)

UTSA MEN AND ECU WOMEN RUN AWAY WITH CONFERENCE USA TRACK TITLES

ECU WOMEN'S TRACK

ECU WOMEN WIN CONFERENCE USA OUTDOOR TRACK TITLE(LINK)

UNLV REBELS AND UNM LOBOS SHARE MWC REGULAR SEASON BASEBALL TITLE

UNLV REBELS BASEBALL

UNLV WILL BEGIN WEDNESDAY'S MWC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AS NUMBER 1 SEED BECAUSE OF HEAD TO HEAD WINS AGAINST UNM.

UNLV AND UNM SHARE REGULAR SEASON TITLE(link to full story)

G5 FAN MINUTE: UAB BLAZERS

UAB FANS CELEBRATE IN BARTOW ARENA

OGB(original G5 blog content)

G5 FAN MINUTE: UAB BLAZERS

REASONS TO CHEER: BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL
REASONS TO BOO: FOOTBALL AND NO ON CAMPUS STADIUM
REASONS FOR SWAGGER: 14 NCAA BASKETBALL INVITES, 3 SWEET 16'S AND 1 ELITE 8 SHOWING.  11 NIT INVITES AND 2 NIT FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES 
AVERAGE FOOTBALL ATTENDANCE 2013: 10,548  source:NCAA
CURRENT MISERY INDEX: 8/10 VERY MISERABLE:  POOR FOOTBALL SHOWING AND BASKETBALL SEASON NOT UP TO UAB STANDARDS
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM: IN SPITE OF THE MANY OBSTACLES UAB FACES, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR FOOTBALL PROGRAM, UAB CONTINUES TO HAVE A PASSIONATE CORE GROUP OF FANS THAT STILL  BELIEVE IN THE BLAZERS.

ACCESS BOWL ROULETTE: UCF KNIGHTS

UCF KNIGHTS
This is the fourth in a series of articles reviewing the G5 teams that have the best chance at making the Access Bowl in January.  Next Up: Cincinnati Bearcats

(OBC( original G5 blog content)

OVERVIEW

The Irish Writer James Joyce once wrote that, "mistakes are the portals to discovery". If ever a quote fit a football coach it is UCF's George O'Leary. We will not dwell on some of the darker moments that O'Leary has had to deal with over the course of his long career. There is little dispute however, that this  battle tested,demanding , hard nosed coach,  has done the one thing that he has been hired to do time and time again, Win.  Last year, O'Leary proved once again that he knows what he is doing, when he led a talented UCF program to an upset victory over the Baylor Bears in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.  In beating Baylor, with a national tv audience as witness , O'Leary not only silenced his critics but  also proved that UCF deserved its spot in the limelight. The UCF faithful are hoping that O'Leary and the Knights can repeat their extraordinary season as they are again poised to become one of the top programs in the newly formed AAC Conference.


COACHING

The UCF Knights began playing football in 1979.  By 1996 they had moved to the FBS division of college football. In 2004 the Knights hired George O'Leary who had been serving as Def Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings . Earlier O' Leary had lost his job as the  Notre Dame Head Coach after the school noted issues with O'Leary's resume. O'Leary however, quickly bounced back showing the same fortitude and resolve that  has become a hall mark of his coaching.

The move to hire O'Leary immediately paid dividends for the Knights, who in 2005 entered Conf USA for the first time. The Knights surprised many by making  it all the way to the Championship game. UCF however,  lost to Tulsa in that  game 44-27. For his efforts that year, O'Leary received Coach of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated.

After his first year as Head Coach, the Knights and O'Leary began to settle into a pattern that has at times frustrated the vocal and growing UCF fan base. A pattern of one good year, would often be followed by one  bad year.  As of late however, the Knights have been the model of consistency and O'Leary has proven that with age comes wisdom.

WHY UCF WILL THE G5 REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ACCESS BOWL

*George O'Leary and his coaching staff have done a tremendous job convincing quality Florida recruits that UCF is a viable option to Florida or Florida State . Simply put, UCF is laying claim in the state of Florida that they are capable of playing  some serious ball.

*If AAC teams were hoping for some let up in UCF's speed and playmaking ability this year,  they might be hoping in vain . UCF returns two of its best WR's in the talented  Rannell Hall and sure handed JJ Worton. Couple this with a promising running back in  Micah Reed and the UCF offense has enough talent to do very well next year. Simply put, the Knights have some high powered juice returning to their squad this year.

*UCF defense ranked 29th last year  and returns the majority of its very good secondary. A secondary that was top 20 in pass defense . Fortunately for UCF fans, The Knights  have  enough returning talent to make a serious run at the Access Bowl.

*Let's not forget as a positive for  the Knights  an active fan base that has come alive in the last few years. The UCF fan base have shown their appreciation for the Knights program by at times averaging more than 40,000 in Brighthouse Stadium.

*Finally, the Knights have George O'Leary as their head coach. O'Leary is a hard nosed,  old school leader who demands results and the best from his players. His Pro-Style offense has proven that when a superior  team lines up in front of an inferior team, no amount of fancy passing schemes will save you from being run over by the superior team.(See UCF last season)

WHY UCF WILL NOT BE THE G5 REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ACCESS BOWL

*It is simply going to be hard for UCF to capture lightening in a bottle again this year. UCF will also have to learn to play as the hunted instead of the hunter. UCF had some nice breaks fall their way last season and clearly the football gods at times favored the Knights . This does not take away however, from the  many great games they played and won last year. It does prove however, that sometimes the ball bounces your way.

*UCF losses QB Blake Bortles, RB Storm Johnson and the majority of an Oline that was one of the best in the FBS last year. UCF ran over opponents last season and beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl in the trenches. UCF  has few starters returning from last years Oline. Fortunately gifted tackle Torrian Wilson will return for the Knights. O'Leary will need for the  Oline to step up and gel quickly if he wants he wants to power run , something that the Knights did with success last year.

*UCF  has no clear starter to replace Bortles right now.  Dual threat sophomore Justin Holman seems to have the inside track  at the moment. Still,  the longer O'Leary waits to name a starting QB, the longer it will take for UCF to know what challenges it has on offensive side of the ball.

*UCF's schedule is  no wall in the park with  OOC games against Penn State and Missouri. UCF will need to be prepared for both of us these schools who will be taking the Knights very seriously this year.

*Finally, O'Leary will need to prove that his frustrating habit of one good year , one bad year is a thing of the past. This will be a tall task this year, as UCF has a gigantic target on their collective backs.

CONCLUSION

UCF has accomplished something that many in Florida believed was impossible just a short  decade ago, they have become a viable FBS program able to recruit top Florida talent much to the chagrin of Miami, Florida State and Florida.  George O'Leary has managed to shape the UCF Knights into his own image. An image that resembles the never say die, gritty persona of his  Irish and  NYC heritage and  background.

O'Leary however, is not without his flaws as his coaching style  has at times put the Knights program in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Still, after winning the Fiesta Bowl last year, and by attracting top notch talent to his team,  he has placed his Knights in the national FBS conversation. The Knights will need to put that talent to use this year, and O'Leary will have to be at the top of his game, if UCF wants to be the G5 Access Bowl representative this year. At this point, however,  UCF is clearly one  of the favorites to earn this spot.

G5 COACHES CORNER: JOEY JONES SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS

COACHING MINUTE

BIO: JOEY JONES: AGE 51: Alabama  football  and  Atlanta Falcons

CURRENT TEAM: Head Coach ,SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS since 2008

COACHING RECORD: 25-15

WHY HE IS IMPRESSIVE: Jones has a winning  record with the  Jaguars and lead South Alabama's short transition from startup in 2009  to full FBS member  in  2012.  Jones has built South Alabama into a hard working competitive program.

POTENTIAL: Joey Jones has done a remarkable job starting a college football program from scratch in 2008 and having it transition to an FBS team in 2012 with an invite to the Sun Belt Conference. Jones has built the program in talent rich Alabama one recruit at a time. Jones has good upside for the team and has proven he knows how to win.

STAR RATING: 3 Stars

G5 NEWS COMMENTARY: BYU AND THE G5: HOW BYU COULD SHAKE UP THE G5 LANDSCAPE

COMMENTARY: BYU AND THE NEW FOOTBALL LANDSCAPE

OBC(original G5 blog content)


Yet another program finds itself in the midst of a scheduling quandary as a result of  the P5 conferences decision to schedule games that will enhance the profile of their  resumes in order to compete in the   College Playoff system set to begin  this fall. This time however, the school that finds itself in the cross hairs of this decision,  is the storied and powerful independent, BYU.  When the ACC announced that BYU would not count as P5 competition for scheduling purposes within the ACC schedule mandates, a potential major hurdle was placed in front of the traditionally  competitive  BYU program. 

The college football landscape is going through its most dramatic overhaul in more than 2 decades. The new College Playoff system threatens to place  schools like BYU on the outside looking in on the P5's  competitive and financial advantage. This is all the more dramatic for BYU, as it was only a few short years ago that the program was mentioned as a serious candidate for the B12. Now however, BYU finds itself  in the same boat  as the rest of the G5 schools, wondering what the new scheduling philosophy means to them long term.

BYU seems to be heading towards a crossroads in terms of its ability to maintain its independent  status and remain relevant   in the FBS.  Serious thought to joining one of the G5 conferences  has now become a necessity instead of a luxury for the nationally known BYU program.  In a move to  reduce some of the sting from the new scheduling reality in FBS football, BYU has already begun a quasi relationship with the AAC. Something that that American Conference and BYU can both  potentially benefit from.

With the new scheduling issues potentially facing BYU,  is it now plausible  that the best outcome for BYU going forward maybe to simply join the AAC as a member with special status. Status that would allow the school to continue to maintain its healthy financial agreement with ESPN and also have a conference that allows it to play a competitive slate of football and basketball games.

If the AAC were to land BYU, then it seems possible that we could see another round of realignment take place, this time however among the G5 conferences. If AAC commish Mike Aresco can convince BYU to join the AAC then it might give the conference enough leverage to entice MWC schools like SDSU, Fresno State and Boise State, to join the AAC as a new western division. As a former tv executive with ESPN and CBS, Aresco might then be able to convince both networks that the AAC , with a new western division anchored by BYU,  represents a viable and competitive conference deserving of more money and status.

BYU joining the AAC  would also potentially put more pressure on conferences like the MWC,  MAC, Sun Belt and Conf USA to consolidate  and create a so called best of the four. With schools like Marshall, UL, Ark State, La Tech, ODU ,NIU,  Colorado State and even Air Force  there would likely be both a market and tv money available for a new conference formed to compete with a newly reconfigured AAC conference.

While the waters remain cloudy for the G5 going forward,  it is now clearer than ever,   that the G5 conference that is the most creative and willing to shake up the status quo will be the G5 conference that finds itself at the top of the pile going forward.  It is also clear at the moment, that BYU is the prize in the G5 world. You can be sure that they will be courted heavily in the months to come by both the AAC and the MWC.  It is also not out of the realm of possibility that if BYU were to join the AAC, that  a new round of consolidation among the G5 would occur in order to compete and survive  . With the new scheduling issues created by the P5, the G5 will be looking for strength in numbers and quality  in order to  compete and survive. At this point, it is not at all clear who the winners will be in the long run. No G5 conference however, wants to be without a chair to sit in when the music stops.  Stay Tuned.

BYU FEELS THE STING OF P5 SCHEDULING LOCKOUT

BYU FEELING STING OF P5 SCHEDULING LOCKOUT (link)

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: BIZARRE STORY OF SDSU'S ADAM MUEMA AND THE NFL DRAFT

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: BIZARRE STORY OF ADAM MUEMA: SDSU

4 G5 COACHES THAT ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO IMPROVE THIS YEAR

G5 COACHES WHO HOPE TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN 2014 OBC(original G5 blog content)

 SKIP HOLTZ

LA TECH: SKIP HOLTZ

Coach Holtz inherited a La Tech team that had started to turn heads under former Head Coach, Sonny Dykes. A leveling off of the program seemed unavoidable  and Coach Holtz unfortunately found himself  the captain when the La Tech ship headed to port for some repairs. Skip Holtz can still coach. After a 4-8 record last season however, there is  restlessness among the Bulldog faithful. Coach Holtz will need to show improvement this year in order to gain the trust of the La Tech fan base. There is reason for optimism in  Ruston, as after a bad first year at ECU, Holtz rattled off 4 winning seasons including two Conf USA Championships:
CHANCES FOR  BETTER YEAR: HIGH

TODD MONKEN

SOUTHERN MISS: TODD MONKEN

If there is an FBS program that has had a greater change of fortune than Southern Miss over the last few years, we do not know who it is. Southern Miss fans have died a thousand deaths recently, as they have watched their  giant killer tradition  be reduced to homecoming fodder. To say that new Head Coach Todd  Monken struggled last year is an understatement.  Fortunately for Southern Miss fans ,however, Monken is a perfectionist who loathes to lose. Monken  also happens to have a great football mind. Although Southern Miss will not be a candidate for the Access Bowl this year, Monken seems poised to have a much better year this year than last. He will need it, as Southern Miss fans desperately need something to cheer about this fall.
CHANCES FOR BETTER YEAR: GOOD

BILL BLANKENSHIP

TULSA: BILL BLAKENSHIP: Football is a fickle sport. Just two short years ago, Head Coach Bill Blankenship lead his Tulsa team to a 31-17 victory over Iowa State. Last year however, as Tulsa was struggling, the  Golden Hurricane fan base began to grumble about Blakenship and his offensive strategy. Like Skip Holtz, Bill Blankenship has not suddenly forgotten how to coach.  He will need help from his players however, to return Tulsa to its winning ways next year. Tulsa begins play in  the AAC this fall, and will need everyone in the program to be at the top of their game. Tulsa has a habit of winning, so does Blakenship. Don't discount them just yet.
CHANCES FOR A BETTER YEAR: FAIR

RON TURNER

FIU: RON TURNER: Ron Turner deserves every penny, plus more, of his salary. Turner inherited a mess. Any time a head coach is fired, there are going to issues, both on and off the field for the new head coach to deal with. This has been true for Ron Turner as well. Fortunately  for Panther fans however, Turner  has an excellent football pedigree and brings tremendous experience to the FIU program. He will need it as FIU struggled mightily on the football field last year. Here is the good news, FIU is in the middle of some of the best recruiting  in the country. If enough good pieces fall into place, and with some luck from the football gods, Turner could be exactly what FIU needs right now. As far as next year goes, well um, we shall see.
CHANCES FOR A BETTER YEAR : NOT LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW

APP STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL: NO POST SEASON FOR 2014-15 BECAUSE OF GRADES

APP MENS BASKETBALL INELIGIBLE FOR POST SEASON

UMASS AND SUNBELT DISCUSSING MEMBERSHIP

UMASS AND SUNBELT DISCUSSION(link)

BOISE STATE UNABLE TO HELP HOMELESS FOOTBALL PLAYER SAYS THE NCAA

NCAA RULES RESTRICT BOISE FROM HELPING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN NEED(link)

TULANE READY FOR MOVE TO THE AAC

TULANE READY FOR MOVE TO THE AAC(link)

2015 CONFERENCE USA TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN BIRMINGHAM AL

2015 CONFERENCE USA TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN BIRMINGHAM AL.(link)

ACCESS BOWL ROULETTE: EAST CAROLINA PIRATES

EAST CAROLINA PIRATES

OGC(original G5 blog content)


This is the third article in a series of stories examining the  likely contenders for the G5 representative to the Access Bowl this year. Next school: UCF

OVERVIEW: The Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius writing in his book entitled "Meditations",  suggested that  if you want to understand someone or something you must first understand and  study the nature of that which you seek to understand(got all that). Using Aurelius as a guide, we can safely draw two important conclusions about the Pirate football program. 1. ECU has a  fan base that has become one of the  gold standards for G5 schools. 2. The Pirates have a  proud football tradition that should sustain their  program through whatever storms lay ahead in the new landscape of College football .

The Pirate tradition and fan base caught the eye of Mike Aresco who eventually invited East Carolina to join the AAC.  Now, after years of competing against schools like Southern Miss , and Marshall , the Pirates will join a league that is a mixture of both former CUSA schools and Big East schools. This move however, is not without risk, as the Pirates will have to show  that they can consistently win against some of the better teams in the G5 landscape. ECU alum, and Head Coach Ruffin McNeill, will have to prove that he can beat  teams with winning records week in and week out, something that the charismatic and well liked coach has struggled to do since arriving in Greenville in 2010.

COACHING: The Pirates have a long history of selecting  good coaches to run their program. So in 2004, when ECU, who in the previous two seasons had procured a forgettable  record of  3-18 , decided to fire Head Coach John Thompson, there was both relief and an uneasiness among the Pirate faithful. Newly minted AD Terry Holland, knew that the ECU program was in trouble and fired Thompson after only two years as program head. Holland then hired Skip Holtz, who had been an assistant coach with South Carolina. Holtz came in and immediately went to work turning the program around. 5 yrs later, Skip Holtz departed the Pirate the program with a winning record and leading the Pirates to two Conf USA Championships.

In 2010, AD Terry Holland, hired the former Texas Tech  Defensive Coordinator , and ECU alum Ruffin McNeil. McNeill, also became the first African American hired as head coach for ECU. When Holland brought  Ruffin McNeill to the program, he believed that he had found both a players coach, and someone who had built a reputation as a motivator of young men. McNeill began his tenure as ECU head coach, however, with a depleted roster both in talent and depth. McNeill, asked the Pirate fan base for patience in the rebuilding process, stating that he would build the program one brick at a time, and not microwave it. Coming off a 10 win season last year, McNeill seems to have the Pirates headed in the right direction.

WHY ECU WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ACCESS BOWL:
ECU is led by Conf USA Most Valuable Player,  Shane Carden and 2 time All Conf USA Wr Justin Hardy. Like Rakeem Cato of Marshall, Carden would be a top 5 Heisman Trophy candidate if not for being from a G5 conference. Carden and Hardy, a former walk-on, lead an offense that is potent and stacked at the WR position. Players like freshman stand-out Devon Grayson and sure handed  Cam Worthy should make for some very good weapons for OC Lincoln Riley. The Pirates also have some promising rb's in the stable, including Breon Allen, Chris Hairston and Marquez Grayson.

On the defensive side of the ball, 1st yr Def Cord, Rick Smith helped to turn around a unit that had struggled in both run stopping and pass defending the year before. Smith will have some talented big men to work with upfront including NT  Terry Williams and NC State transfer Khadree Hooker. Smith will have to replace several Lb's, but is fortunate to have athletic replacement players like the speedy Montesse Overton and Zeke Bigger. The Pirate secondary however, could prove to be problematic as ECU will need to replace the majority of its defensive  backfield when the season begin.

ECU's fan base is always a plus for this team, and "Pirate Nation" takes their football as seriously as they do church on Sunday and Eastern North Carolina bbq.

Coach Ruffin McNeill is also an asset for the Pirates, as his family brand of team has attracted many players who love and want to work hard for their head coach.

WHY ECU WILL NOT BE THE REPRESENTATIVE:

The OOC for ECU this year is brutal. With games against a stacked South Carolina team, Va Tech and a revenge seeking UNC , the Pirates will have to play their best football of the McNeil era and have some breaks thrown their way by the college football gods. ECU also starts  play for the first time in the AAC. The AAC will represent a step up in conference competition from Conf USA for the Pirates

The Pirates also have big questions marks at Oline this year.  The Pirates will need to replace 3 graduating  Seniors. ECU does have some talent in reserve, plus two very good Juco Olinemen who should compete for starting positions. Still, all of these questions at Oline, make a run for the ACCESS Bowl all that much harder.

Outside of last seasons victories at UNC and NC State, the Pirates during the McNeill era, have yet to have a signature win for the program. Ruffin McNeil and staff will need to find a way to both out coach and out play South Carolina and Va Tech, before they can be considered a front runner for the ACCESS BOWL.

CONCLUSION: The ECU Pirates have what most G5 schools want, fans that show up in large and enthusiastic numbers to football games. Although ECU attendance numbers suffered some last year, most G5 teams would still give practically anything to have 45,000-50,000 screaming fans show up for home games. The large and loyal fan base however, is no substitute for signature wins and winning consistently against good teams. If the Pirates and Coach Ruffin McNeill want to get to the Access Bowl this year, they will need to have their best season under the McNeil regime.

The good news for the Pirates however, is that unlike some in the G5 who will need to go undefeated in order to make the Access game, ECU can still lose one and get the invite. Ruffin McNeil however, will need to motivate and prepare his team for a brutal OOC.  Don't discount the Pirates just yet as they have a history of taking down some of the biggest players in the world of College Football. With a good collection of talented players and with a qb like Shane Carden, ECU could easily becoming the feel good story line of the  G5 this season.