NORTH TEXAS FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE ON GRIDIRON, AGAIN

2013 DREAM SEASON?

Did the 2013 season for the North Texas Mean Green really ever happen? After a decades long losing slump, 3rd year Head Coach Dan McCarney lead a Senior laden team to one of North Texas best seasons ever. The season ended with an impressive win in the Heart of Dallas Bowl over a competitive UNLV team.

The 2013 campaign for North Texas felt as if the Mean Green program had finally turned the football corner. 2013 held many promising advances for the struggling North Texas program. An invite to Conference USA, a conference with more star power than their previous conference, the Sun Belt, a brand newish  stadium and a Head Coach in Dan McCarney with a proven winning track record. With so much promising upside in 2013, many of  North Texas faithful believed that it was finally the year that would launch a new era in North Texas football, one that the loyal Mean Green fan base had been dreaming of for many, many years.

2014 BEGINS WITH A PROMISE

Further raising the hopes of the Mean Green faithful and contributing to the new found swagger of the program, happened  in 2014 , when Conference USA Head Coaches picked North Texas to win Conference USA's Western Division. Any time a College Football program gains the respect of the tight knit Head Coaching  fraternity it is time to stand up and  take notice. Unfortunately for the North Texas fan base however, the promise of another great season quickly faded as the 2014  campaign found North Texas in an all to familiar place, on the losing end of a dismal  season.

WHAT HAPPENED?

It turns out that former North Texas Head Coach, Todd Dodge, had recruited one heck of Senior class.  In 2013 , McCarney plugged Dodge's former recruits into his pound and ground system and found a great mix of skill players and gritty performers . With players like OLB Zach Orr and Qb Derrick Thompson, the Mean Green were able to impose their will on many of their new Conference USA Mates. In 2014 however, the North Texas program found itself unable to replace Orr , Thompson or a host of other Seniors who brought both leadership and a winning attitude to the program.

McCarney's North Texas squad struggled at almost every position this year, including the all important  QB  position.  North Texas, in fact,  struggled to find one QB who could do what OC Mike Canales needed his signal caller to do, win games.  While the Mean Green returned some experience and talent to their offensive line this year, no one emerged in the backfield capable of taking advantage of the brawn and talent of the big guys  up front.  All of this uncertainty culminated in The Mean Green having one of the worse offensive teams in the country this year,  finishing as the 113 ranked Offense out of 126 FBS teams.

The one bright spot this year for the Mean Green was on the defensive side of the ball. In spite of no one emerging  to fully pick up  Zach Orr's on field production, North Texas still managed to end the year with a respectable  43rd  ranked Defense in the FBS. North Texas new defensive coordinator Chris Cosh( fixed from earlier ) will have some talent in the stable next year as he looks to install his own defensive philosophy to the program.

WHAT NEXT?

Okay North Texas fans, here is the G5 Conference News and Issues blueprint to ensure that  North Texas gets the job done on a consistent basis.  We will start with the mother's milk of all College Football Programs, recruiting.


1. Recruiting has to get better:
North Texas sits in the very fertile recruiting grounds of Dallas and its suburbs. If North Texas is going to ever turn it's program into a consistent winner it will have to  make headway into these rich High School recruiting grounds. Few FBS programs  find themselves so close to some much talent and yet unable to capitalize on it. In looking at Dan McCarney's last several recruiting class, he like so many before him at North Texas,  are missing the mark. North Texas will need to rebrand itself among the area recruits if it hopes to attract some of best in the area. Until the Mean Green program can capitalize  on the man power in its own back yard, it will continue its struggle to be relevant in College Football and in Conference USA.

2.Change the offensive philosophy:
There is a reason why the majority of mid majors now employ some type of Spread Offense. The Spread allows less talented teams to compete with more talented teams. Head Coach Dan McCarney needs to decide what the program is capable of doing and who it is capable of recruiting. McCarney can't decide if wants to ground and pound or throw the ball for a living. Let's make this easy North Texas fans, your team should be throwing the ball all over the field, every day, all the time. McCarney needs to take his staff to visit the coaches of ECU, Cincy, and Marshall. Sit at the feet of these teams and beg them for some plays. North Texas needs to become the Texas Tech of Dallas. Until there is a clear run and gun philosophy at North Texas, the Mean Green faithful can look forward to many more years of disappointing seasons and coaches that will be packing their bags on a regular basis.

3. Its about winning dummy:
Here is the last suggestion from us, someone in the North Texas Presidents office, needs to spray paint on the wall of every one from the President down to the lowliest administrator that it is about the winning dummy. The most successful mid major programs begin the winning process not with the Head Coach, but with the President of the University. In truth, it has never been clear to those of us who follow College Football, that the North Texas leadership has ever fully understand how important a winning football program is to the school. Heck were not ever sure if  previous North Texas President's even knew the school had a football team. Until there is commitment to win from the top-down at North Texas, the Mean Green faithful will be doing what they are going to be doing this Bowl Season, watch other programs  compete on tv and wonder , yet again, what could have been .

CONCLUSION

North Texas is like the underachieving friend that all of us have had at one time or another in our lives. Like that friend, we want to ask the North Texas Football program one question. What are you  waiting for? Really, what is the North Texas program waiting for?  North Texas finds itself in the middle of one of the best football states in the country with some of the best recruits in the country. We could come up with a dozen or so schools that would  geographically  trade places with  North Texas in a heartbeat.

Until however, there is a top to bottom evaluation of what the Mean Green football program wants or needs, North Texas will continue to struggle and consistently reflect on what could and should have been. Now, with the split between the G5 and P5 as distinctive as it has ever been, North Texas is quickly running out of time in its need to improve and put itself in the best situation possible for its football program.  If the Mean Green program hopes to keep pace in the new world of College Football and to  become an attractive candidate for any new wave of realignment, it will need to act fast. Time is running out for a  vision and mission that will make the Mean Green program an  attractive  partner for a better conference looking to expand its future footprint. Stay tuned.

MARSHALL'S DOC HOLLIDAY LIKELY TO MAKE MOVE THIS OFF SEASON

After a rocky start, Marshall's Doc Holliday has done a masterful job raising the profile of a decades long struggling Thundering Herd team. Holliday has reinvigorated the Herd program  to become the top team in Conference USA. In fact, Holliday's recruiting has put Marshall head and shoulders above every other team in Conference USA.(read Marshall Football) Now, with rumors swirling  that Holliday and Pitt are interested in each other, it seems reasonable that Holliday's time at Marshall might be coming to an end.

Holliday was hired in 2009 by  AD Mike Hamrick to turn the Marshall program into a winner. Marshall,no stranger to Championships and winning seasons, had been in a long winners slump since entering Conference USA in 2005.  Hamrick hired Holliday in the midst of a coaching arms race in Conference USA. Former Conference USA school's, UCF, ECU, Houston,  and Tulsa as well as current conference mate, Southern Miss, had dominated the Conference USA winners circle for years. Good schools push other schools in their conference to either get better or get worse, Hamrick decided that he wanted the Thundering Herd to get better. If Marshall was going to keep up with the cream of the Conference USA crop, the program would need to hire a superior coach. In many ways, Holliday represents the last of the old guard in Conference USA. A conference  that once was a cradle for talented coaches  learning  their craft and then moving on to larger schools.

Holliday's biggest asset  has been his strong recruiting ties to Florida. Holliday quickly made the Thundering  Herd recruiting classes the highest rated in Conference USA. Early on in his Head Coaching career with the Herd however, it looked as if his teams would have great on field talent, but average coaching. As a first time head coach, Holliday made some rookie mistakes that cost the Herd games early in his coaching tenure. He quickly learned however, that just as important as good players, are good assistant and position coaches. To his credit, Holliday, over the last two years, has assembled one of the best coaching staff's in Conference USA. The result of which, have been two 10 win seasons in a row and the reality of being one of the best G5 programs.

Marshall's dilemma  in keeping Holliday is two fold, money and conference prestige. Holliday is not even the highest paid coach in Conference USA this year. Couple this with very public comments by the CFP( College Football Playoff Committee) of no confidence in Marshall's bid for the coveted Access Bowl this year( largely because of its weak schedule in Conference USA) and the time looks right for a speedy Holliday departure. Further complicating Marshall's attempt at keeping Holliday is the reality  that a 12-1 season this year has landed the Thundering Herd in an a bad bowl game against a G5 opponent that will garner little interest to the rest of the  college football world.

Doc Holliday will be an asset to any P5 school looking for a coach with strong  ties to talent rich Florida  and a proven ability to learn from his mistakes. If Holliday does leave after this season, the Marshall program will face a very uncertain future. Holliday is a double edged sword for Marshall, as his gift to the program is largely  himself, a gift that will be very difficult  to replace if he leaves. Marshall has become the envy of Conference USA. If Holliday were to stay for several more years, the Thundering Herd would almost certainly become a  worthy candidate for the AAC if a slot were to open up in that conference. If Holliday does leave this year, Marshall recruiting will almost certainly regress. This regression, and the reality of playing in a watered down Conference USA, will make for some very nervous Thundering Herd fans. Stay tuned.

G3: CONFERENCE USA, SUN BELT AND MAC WILL NEED STRONG VISION AND LEADERSHIP GOING FORWARD

SOUTHERN MISS PLAYERS CELEBRATE AFTER A TOUCHDOWN

B2 VS G3
Marshall fans were understandably upset, when after waiting weeks to see their very good Herd football team finally get ranked by the CFP committee, they found themselves positioned behind a two loss Boise State team. Game over for Marshall.  Game over that is for the coveted Access Bowl slot .(The Access Bowl is awarded to the top G5 school)The CFP committee had sent a not so subtle message to Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick; if you want to play with the big boys, schedule like the big boys. This sounds like reasonable advice, except when you look at Boise State's record and realize that their two losses had come from one P5 school and a good , but not great Air Force team. Something else was going on here. In a sport that has become dominated like no other by pedigree and blood lines, the CFP was essentially telling Marshall, that the league you are in, Conference USA, is not as good as the MWC or for that matter the AAC. The AAC as you recall, had one it's newest members, a one loss( at the time) East Carolina team, also ranked above the undefeated Thundering Herd  in the initial CFP poll. It does not take a  fortunate teller to read the tea leaves on what happened to Marshall this year. The College Football world has quickly and not so quietly divided the the G5 into two distinct categories, the  B2 and the  G3. The MWC and AAC are now the B2(Bridge leagues, bridge to the P5) and the Sun Belt, Conference USA and MAC are G3 (Gang of 3, )

G3
After just one short year in which the G5 and P5 were officially split by both nomenclature and money, there is now a discernible  split between the G5 as well. The AAC and MWC are in their  own B2 division, while the Sun Belt, Conference USA and the MAC are in their own G3 division. Within that G3 division, the ranking goes like this: 1. Conference USA  2. The MAC  3. The Sun Belt
When the CFP ranked both a one loss East Carolina team and a two loss Boise State team in front of an undefeated Marshall team, the split among the G5 was made official. The question for the G3 going forward however, is what now? It is unlikely that we will see a team among the G3 as talented as the Thundering Herd were this year for at least another decade or so. This means that the front runners for the Access Bowl slot in most years will likely come from the AAC or the MWC. This not only means that the G3 are likely to miss out on the Access Bowl money and prestige most years, it also means that the G3 have a full blown existential crisis facing them.

G3 VISION
I will begin this segment  with good news and bad news. First the good news, Conference USA, the Sun Belt and the MAC still have  some very good programs with which to compete. Georgia Southern, NIU, Marshall, La Tech, Ark State, ULL, Ohio, and WKU represent the top of the food chain in these leagues. Schools like MTSU, ODU, App State, Southern Miss, Rice and South Alabama, are teams that have great potential as well. These schools, along with the addition of a few others could form the backbone of a new league capable of making the MWC and the AAC stand up and take notice

The bad news however, is that these 3 conferences also have some of the worst teams in College Football both in terms of on the field play and brand recognition. Both of these facts  spell difficulty for the respect of the 3 leagues and  in the amount of money Tv Networks are willing to pay for their football and basketball product. It is telling for example, that Conference USA's new tv partner this year, The American Sports Network, paid little to no money to broadcast  Conference USA football and basketball this year.

Couple the struggling football product of these 3 conferences with not so good basketball as well as  fading fan attendance and you have some very real structural problems with the business model of the G3 going forward. One has to wonder if the tragic demise of UAB football a few weeks ago, awaits some of the other schools in the G3 as well.

SAVING THE G3
The G3 finds itself in an unenviable  position at the moment. At issue is how to generate more fan support, respect and dollars for the the 3 leagues. Unfortunately the options to  make the G3 more relevant are limited right now. With a clear emphasis in College football now on the P5 and the 4 spot playoff, the G3 are on the verge of becoming irrelevant in College Football.

Perhaps the best and only solution left for the G3 is for the creation of a new best of 3 conference. This conference would take the best schools in the G3 and then hope that this new group  would put pressure on the B2 for both dollars and respect. Any new best of the G3 would need schools like Marshall, La Tech, Ark State ,ULL and NIU to serve as anchors. Add schools like Ga Southern, ODU, Southern Miss, WKU and  Ohio. Add two more schools in addition to these 10 and you have a competitive and compelling new league. A league that would also certainly garner more Network and fan interest than what any of the G3 are doing now on their own.

What has become increasingly clear is that the status quo for the G3 almost certainly equals a slow march towards irrelevancy. Bold thinking and courageous leadership are called for if  the best of the G3 are going to make it in the new world of College Football. Time will tell if these schools understand how much they need each other and how important they are to each others survival. Time will tell also, if anyone will step forward and propose such a league. Stay tuned.

2 CHOICES FACING CUSA POST UAB

INTRO
With the  death of UAB football now a tragic reality, it's time to start thinking about the future of Conference USA post UAB.  Conference Commissioner  Britton Banowsky will need to think long and hard about who will replace UAB, if they are replaced at all. It seems unlikely that CUSA will allow UAB basketball to remain in the conference without football. Sorry Blazer's fans, but Conference USA has to treat the latest news from Birmingham as an opportunity to dip back into the murky waters of realignment. Here then are two choices Conference USA has in regards to moving forward in a post UAB world.

CHOICE A 
DO NOTHING: 
Pros :Yes, doing nothing is an option for CUSA. Even without UAB, the league would still have 13 schools to solider on with. Doing nothing, slims the conference a bit and puts more money in  each of the remaining school's treasure chests. With an uncertain tv contract looming it certainly can be argued that staying at 13 members gives the league a little more financial piece of mind and allows the dust to settle from the last round of realignment. It also affords the 13 remaining teams a chance to build rivalries something the conference desperately needs.
Cons:There are some schools that could add  value to CUSA, or at least keep the conference on an even footing. Also, remaining at 13 teams makes for uneven divisions within the conference.
CHANCE OF CONFERENCE USA REMAINING AT 13 SCHOOLS: 30%

CHOICE B
ADD ONE OR MORE SCHOOLS TO THE CONFERENCE:
Pros: Adding one or more schools to CUSA gives the league yet another chance to raid the Sun Belt or perhaps even entice a school from the MAC to join them. Call it conference realignment 2.5. Adding another school gives CUSA an equal number of schools again at 14 and could position CUSA as the clear number 3 conference behind the MWC and the AAC. In fact, if C USA wants to be really bold, why not go after the best 2-4 teams from the Sun Belt. This would put considerable pressure on the Belt to stay even with CUSA and would give the Sun Belt fewer schools in which to pick from in their attempt to reload.

Here are my top choices for a CUSA invite from the Sun Belt:

1. ULL:
 Rich Louisiana recruiting grounds, a rabid fan base when motivated, think New Orleans Bowl, and a renewed commitment to win in football backed by a thorough long term strategic plan.
2. Ark State
Consistent winner over the last 4 years, one of only two FBS schools in their state, a commitment to win from the President of the School all the way to the grounds and maintenance guys.
3. Georgia Southern
Strong fan support, proven winner, a commitment to win( See Ark State description above) is a true football school from top to bottom.
4. South Alabama
Great recruiting grounds, has close to the same footprint as outgoing UAB, and could become a dominant player in CUSA sooner rather than later.

Choices from the MAC:
1.Akron: CUSA would give Akron an identity apart from the crowded Ohio schools already in the MAC, is a scrappy program that given the right support could become a consistent winner.
1a.Ohio: Consistent winner in the MAC, also, see the description for Akron above

HOW MANY SCHOOLS?
Okay, I am going to be bold here, if I was Britton Banowsky I would add my top 3 picks from the Sun Belt  to join CUSA. Yes it would mean less money for the schools.  But let's be honest,  CUSA is being paid peanuts now and I expect that their next contract will be for even less money than they are being paid now. Adding three schools is not about immediate gain, but rather a long term vision. Raiding the Sun Belt and taking ULL, Ark State and Georgia Southern, would leave a hole in the Sun Belt that I do not believe they would ever fully recover from. If we have learned anything from UAB its that the G5 schools are in a fight for their lives. The MWC and the AAC are  in much better financial and brand positions that CUSA, The MAC and The Sun Belt are not. While I hate for any G5  to suffer, we have entered a new and more dangerous phase of college football, a phase that has the potential to cripple many of the schools that are not in the Power 5 world. It now seems pertinent  for CUSA , The MAC and The Sun Belt to re-envision their long term plans. Adding, dropping or consolidating among the 3 now appear more necessity than luxury.

CONS: There are of course risks to adding one or more schools to CUSA. More schools mean more mouths to feed and  more time for the league to gel and form rivalries that matter to fans and more importantly to tv networks. The pros of adding one or more schools, however, far outweigh the risks of adding no one. CHANCE OF ADDING ONE OR MORE SCHOOLS 70%

CONCLUSION: College football has entered  a dangerous high stakes game of chicken.  In order to survive this new world,G5  schools will have to make hard choices going forward. UAB may just be the tip of the iceberg as Universities struggle to come to terms with rising football and scholarship costs. CUSA has an opportunity to re-envision  itself  in light of the new realities of college football. Why not make choices  with an eye towards the future, not just the present. Adding 3 or more schools from the Sun Belt meets this goal and then some. Stay tuned.

RIP TO A SCRAPPY, NEVER SAY NEVER UAB FOOTBALL PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE MISSED

What was once only a cruel rumor for the Blazer faithful has now become a stinging reality of the current college football landscape. G5 Conference News and Issues, has been high on both the Blazer fans(read:UAB FANS )and their new football coach Bill Clark(read:Bill Clark) since the inception of this blog. Now,after a dramatic and painful day, the UAB Blazer nation is searching for answers and struggling to come to terms with the decision of President Ray Watts and company to shut the program down.

Watts, during his 20 minute press conference given somewhere in the UAB command center/bunker, pointed to the growing deficit of the UAB athletic department and the drain the football team had put on the entire University budget. For all of the gory details click here to read the NYTimes synopsis of President Watts decision to drop UAB Football( click :UAB Drops Football)

UAB, who had struggled of late with both football attendance and winning, seemed to have been given a ray of hope in first year Head Coach Bill Clark. Clark led the Blazers to a 6-6 record this year and helped the program to become bowl eligible for the first time in many years. Clark however, and the Blazer's .500 record proved to be to little to late for the likes of Watt and the other bean counters at the University.

UAB is now the proverbial miner bird for College Football. It no longer seems out of the question that other struggling football programs like Ga State and UMASS might be next on the chopping block. Other University Presidents who are looking for a model of how or how not to kill a program, can now point to UAB as the case test.

What is clearer now than ever before, however,  is that all G5 schools are in a fight to the death. Any G5 leadership who fails to understand this new reality does so at their school's own peril. UAB fans have now learned this lesson in a cruel and unforgiving way.

SO, RIP UAB FOOTBALL, you will be remembered as a scrappy, can do program, who fought to the bitter end on a shoe string budget with  considerable odds stacked against you. You fought the good fight longer than most school's could have done given the considerable head winds your faced on a daily basis. For now, we raise a glass to the UAB Football Program and its incredibly loyal fan base. We will miss you on the football field, but more importantly will miss the spirit of your program and the Blazer faithful.

CUSA FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

Conference USA( link)

AAC MEDIA DAY TODAY : 12 PM LIVE COVERAGE ESPN 3: ALSO 5 QUESTIONS FOR THE AAC

5 QUESTIONS FOR THE AAC(LINK)

G5 NEWS AND ISSUES 2014 PRESEASON PREDICTION: BOISE STATE WILL WIN THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

BOISE STATE PLAYERS GOING THROUGH PRE-GAME RITUAL

G5 Conference News Original Content


MWC

No conference in the non BCS world of the last decade has carried as much prestige and demanded as much respect as the Mountain West Conference has. Led by perennial power Boise State, the MWC was the gold standard by which all of the other non BCS conferences measured themselves by. The last few years however, has found the MWC in the midst of some unaccustomed growing pains. With a major coaching change to its flagship program, an unpredictable maze of FBS conference realignment and increased competition from the newly formed AAC Conference , its understandable why the Mountain West may feel a bit off center of late.

Any idea or hope however,  from the other G5 Conferences that the MWC is planning to somehow quietly fade into the background is unwarranted. The MWC continues to be one of the top two conferences in the G5 world in spite of some new challenges the conference faces. Schools like San Diego State,Air Force, Fresno State, Boise State and Colorado State, all provide the MWC with both regional and national footprints. The league still sports some of the most loyal fans in all of College Football and the MWC continues to do what it has always done, play very good football.

Because of some of the recent MWC challenges, picking a winner this year for the MWC has proven to be the most difficult out of all of the G5 Conferences.( for other G5 Conference predictions click here:Conference USA prediction, SunBelt prediction, AAC prediction) The difficulty comes as an unusual number of MWC programs are going through some serious transitioning or rebuilding. Having said this however, my pick for the 2014 MWC Champion is Boise State.

BOISE STATE

I am not a band wagon kind of  guy and I looked for every reason not to pick Boise to win the MWC this year.  But when you examine what Boise State has coming back this year, including 12 starters from last years 8-5 record, it is hard to justify  not picking them to win the MWC for 2014.

Here is what I like about Boise State this year:

* One of the leagues best backs in  Jay Ajayi( let's hope he has put his fumbling issues behind him)
* Good talent at WR including returning starters Matt Miller and Shane William Rhodes.
* One of the best secondaries in the MWC

All is not perfect in Bronco country though as they have some issues that have the potential to derail their Championship hopes this year. The Broncos for example begin the season with a  very average D line and an Oline that has some major question marks including having only two starters return from last years squad.

Perhaps the biggest unknown for Boise State this year however, is new head coach Bryan Harsin. After a successful year as head man at Arkansas State, Coach Harsin returns to Boise State as team leader. Harsin knows the Bronco program well as he spent  9 years on the Boise State staff from 2001-2010. While I think Harsin is one of the best young coaches in the country, it will be a tall order for him to replace the highly successful and much loved Chris Peterson. Let's take a wait and see approach to see  how this works out for both Boise State and Bryan Harsin.

In addition to Boise State this year, look for Fresno State and Utah State to have strong seasons. If Boise State falters, either of these schools, especially UTah State with the ubber talented Chuckie Keeton, will be more than happy  to be crowned league champ. I think it is  highly likely that all three of these teams will be in the running for the MWC Championship for much of the season.

CONCLUSION

The MWC continues to be a strong and competitive football league. With a great lineup of football centered schools and a superb winning tradition, don't expect for the MWC growing pains to last long. It also seems highly likely that the MWC will be battling the AAC for the top G5 Conference spot for many years to come.   Stay tuned.


2014 MWC CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

Boise State MWC Conference Champion

MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Boise State
Utah State
Colorado State
Wyoming
Air Force
New Mexico

WEST DIVISION
Fresno State
San Diego State
Nevada
UNLV
San Jose State
Hawaii

TEMPLE LOOKING TO WIN OVER PHILLY FOOTBALL RECRUITS

Temple looking for Philly recruits

CONFERENCE USA COMMISSIONER BRITTON BANOWSKY: " THE MOST CHALLENGING TIME IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS"

CONFERENCE USA COMMISSIONER BRITTON BANOWSKY SPEAKS TO REPORTERS DURING MEDIA DAY YESTERDAY

Original G5 Blog Content

Twitter: @GFiveConf

Conference USA held their annual Media Day in Irving, Texas yesterday. Among the parade of Head Football Coaches and Conference USA star football players, Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky addressed the media with a few important conference details. Among them were:

*COMMITMENT TO COST OF ATTENDANCE FEES: Conference USA  is committed to paying the so called cost of attendance  fees that have been strongly pushed for by the Power 5  in the last 18 months. Although Conference USA is in support of the extra fees, Banowsky indicated that each school in the conference will have to decide if they can afford the new costs associated with these new fees. It is not entirely clear at the moment what schools  , if any , will choose not to pay the new cost of attendance rate hikes.

*"THE SECOND FIVE" Britton Banowsky was asked what the 5 non power conferences should be called.( This blog refers to the five as the G5 or Gang of 5) Banowsky indicated that the 5 should be called,'The Second Five".

*THE POWER 5 NEED US: MTSU Head Coach Rick Stockstill, speaking to the media noted that,
"There’s no doubt in my mind that all of us are going to co-exist together" and "“I don’t see this complete separation where it’s them ... and we’re the little boys trying to take their ball from them. I think we’re set in Conference USA, set better than some of the other conferences that aren’t in that top five.” (SOURCE: Charleston Gazette )

*WKU LAST PIECE OF REALIGNMENT PUZZLE: Banowsky made the point that Conference USA was at a  "pivot point" and that WKU was the last piece of the realignment puzzle for the conference.

CONCLUSION

As I have written before,(Conference USA faces difficult challenges ahead)there are few conferences in the FBS that have experienced as much dramatic change due to realignment as Conference USA has. Listening  to the press conference yesterday however, one gets the sense that Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky understands these changes and is ready to lead  Conference USA to better days.

The challenges for the conference however, are many, including finding one or two teams that can make national headlines for winning in College Football. Conference USA, also faces the difficult task of learning to assimilate the many new programs that now fly under the Conference USA flag.

Still, if you are a fan of Conference USA, or one of the teams in the conference, you have to feel good about what Britton Banowsky said yesterday as well as the optimism portrayed  by the coaches and players  in attendance at Media Day. The next few years for Conference USA will be of utmost importance as it works  to recapture some of the  magic and respect it enjoyed from years past . Stay tuned.

CUSA MEDIA DAY WELCOMES NEW FACES AND NEW CHALLENGES TODAY

MTSU PLAYERS ASSEMBLE FOR START OF GAME

CONFERENCE USA MEDIA DAY(LINK)

G5 NEWS QUICK HIT: MARSHALL DESERVES ACCESS BOWL IF THEY GO UNDEFEATED IN 2014

MARSHALL PLAYERS PUMP  UP THIER HOME CROWD

G5 BLOG ORIGINAL CONTENT
Twitter:@GFiveConf


The debate about which team from the G5 might  be in line to receive the coveted slot  for one of the new so called Access Bowls has already begun. (for more information on the new Access Bowls click here: Access Bowl ) Under the new College Playoff system, the highest ranked team from the Gang of 5 will be chosen to compete against an as yet named  P5 team in one of the  6 new Access Bowls. The Access Bowls, formerly BCS Bowls under the old BCS system in College Football, are essentially consolation prizes for the best teams that do not qualify for the newly created 4 team playoff.

Buzz about a potential undefeated season for Marshall  has been grown steadily over the past several months.  Marshall , under Head Coach Doc Holiday, has assembled an impressive group of recruits and athletes during Holiday's 5 year tenure with the program. In addition to the players Holiday has attracted, the Herd also have a very favorable schedule this year. In fact fbschedules.com ranks the Herd schedule as  one of the weakest  in College Football this season.(Marshall has the 122 ranked SOS schedule this year out of 128 FBS teams   NCAA SOS RANKINGS )   Marshall's talented team combined with a helpful schedule could provide the Herd with  a  powerful one, two, punch this season.

Given the reality of  Marshall's weak schedule coupled with a talented squad  lends credence to the Thundering Herd being one of the early frontrunners to receive an invite to the Access Bowl this year. This seems especially true if  Marshall manages to go undefeated this year and they are the lone G5 team to do so.

If Marshall does in fact earn a perfect season in 2014, they should have their efforts rewarded with the G5  Access Bowl slot.  Here is why:

First, Marshall's scheduling woes are largely due to factors beyond their control. Louisville for example, their best and most important opponent for  2014, asked to have their game with  the Herd moved to  2016.( it is unclear at this time if the Louisville game will ever take place) In addition to not playing Louisville this year, Marshall has to  compete in  a much weakened Conference USA. Gone from the conference are UCF, ECU,  Tulsa and Houston, teams that would have given Marshall a stronger strength of schedule portfolio.  In the place of these schools are a collection former Sun Belt teams like MTSU, North Texas and WKU to name a few. While the new schools in Conference USA are quality programs, they simply do not carry the same weight  as the majority of the teams that have left Çonference USA over the past two years. Marshall, however should not be penalized for a schedule and collection of teams that they in large part have no control over. 

Second, and perhaps most important,  any FBS team  that finishes the season without a loss should be granted  the best possible reward available.  In this case, the reward should  be an invitation to one of the Access Bowls. Going undefeated in the modern College Football era is extremely difficult to do.  Difficult  because of  the many factors that  conspire against a team to win every single game during the season. Factors  like  injuries, bad calls, bad luck and playing on the road are all considerable obstacles to going undefeated.  If Marshall finishes the regular season with a perfect record   they should be given the Access Bowl slot over a one or two loss team from another G5 program.


Finally, there is precedence in College Football, especially among  non BCS, or non P5 programs, to give the undefeated team the best bowl game  available. This certainly was the case in 2004 and 2008 when  Utah went undefeated and in 2009 when Boise State went undefeated. Both Utah and Boise State were picked to play in BCS Bowl games  for each of the years their respective teams were perfect.

If Marshall hopes to go undefeated this season they will need for many pieces of the football pie to fall in place, including some good old fashioned luck.  With a favorable  schedule and some very good football players assembled in  Huntington, don't be surprised if the Thundering Herd make program history and claim a perfect FBS season. An undefeated campaign is enough to warrant big rewards for the program, the players, and the school leadership. A reward that should come in the form of an Access Bowl slot if Marshall manages to be  flawless this year. And if you really want to dream big, how about an undefeated Marshall qualifying for one of the four playoff spots this year. Why not?  Stay tuned

G5 WILL MAKE MORE MONEY IN 2014 BECAUSE OF NEW PLAYOFF TV CONTRACT, STILL MUCH LOWER THAN P5

G5 PLAYOFF MONEY (LINK)

MOUNTAIN WEST HAD BEST TV RATINGS OF THE G5 IN 2013

TV RATINGS LINK

MWC
AAC
MAC
CONFERENCE USA
SUN BELT  

G5 QUICK HIT: BOISE STATE AND THE AAC STILL NEED EACH OTHER

Follow us on twitter @GFiveConf G5 Original Content

AAC AND BOISE STATE

The philosopher Cicero was found of saying that if we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to speak it. Okay Cicero here is what I am thinking, I am thinking that it is time for Boise State and the AAC to bury the hatchet and join forces...again. Yes, I said it, and it feels surprisingly good to write it.  Boise State and the AAC need each other like John McEnroe needed Jimmy Connors. Here is the deal,  until the two reunite the AAC will never achieve the status that it so desperately wants nor will Boise State have the East Coast platform and basketball competition  it needs to continue to be relevant in College Sports. Yes, I know the two just broke up with each other. But like any great business deal, necessity is the mother of  invention or in this case reunion. Besides ,some of the greatest relationship in history have been messy at times but very necessary. Think  Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Not only does the AAC need Boise State and Boise the AAC, but Mike Aresco, the AAC Commissioner, should  dust off the AAC blueprints for a Western Division and try it again. If I was Mike Aresco I would be using some serious phone plan minutes with calls to the West Coast. This time around however, the AAC should also add Fresno State in addition to San Diego State to the mix.(note: it was widely reported that Fresno and Mike Aresco talked about membership in 2012 when the AAC was still the Big East)

It's time for a Boise State reunion and a revised Western Division AAC blueprint because uncertain and difficult times call for bold action. The AAC should reach out to  Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State because the AAC is  in a position of strength and strong organizations stay that way by acquiring other strong programs. Mr. Aresco should strike while the iron is hot and worry about flight logistics and game scheduling later. Heck, why stop with just Fresno and San Diego, Aresco should go on a buying spree and pick the best of the MWC. Think bold, think outside the box,think aggressively, but whatever you do, don't think status quo.

You know what would happen  if Boise and few of the best MWC teams became part of the AAC? It would  set off a wild scramble within the G5 system. A scramble with some major collateral fallout.  Here are three of the most dynamic and sweeping changes such a move would trigger in the G5:

1. The AAC would have their most legit argument  to date as to why they deserve P5 status and a piece of the P5 money pie. It would also create an insurmountable chasm  between the AAC and the rest of the G5.

2. BYU would feel incredible pressure  to thoroughly  review the considerable risks it faces by  remaining an Independent. If Boise State came back and the AAC created a nimble but strong Western Division  it would very difficult for the BYU leadership to argue why Independence is better than joining the AAC. 

3. If Mike Aresco and the AAC were able to pull off the creation of a new Western Division within the AAC, it would all but force a new " best of the rest" conference  within the rest of the G5. Schools like Marshall, UL, Ark State , Southern MIss, Ohio, Northern Illinois and several in the MWC just to name a few,  would have to decide if staying in their current conference configurations are worth getting left behind any further than what is currently happening in College Football.  A best of the rest conference would be competitive and offer the schools in it  a vehicle to thrive rather than just survive.

There are of course major road blocks in the way for  Boise to return to the AAC. Money being the primary issue. It is widely believed that Boise State demanded a sweat heart financial deal from the AAC in order to remain in the conference. Mike Aresco and the AAC School Presidents balked at the offer and Boise went running back to the MWC. The AAC subsequently sued Boise State for breach of contract and the two parties recently settled their financial dispute for a reported 2.3 million dollars.

Some things , however, are worth exploring and trying again even if they failed the first time around. The AAC inviting Boise and reconstituting a Western Division make for good business and conference strategy. The question still remains though, if the AAC and Boise State understand how important they are to each other. Until and unless that happens, both will be weaker and less able to navigate the new landscape of College Sports. Stay tuned.

NORTH TEXAS AND MARSHALL PICKED BY CONFERENCE USA COACHES TO WIN WEST AND EAST DIVISIONS

Original G5 Blog content:

CONFERENCE USA

The Conference USA Head Coaches have spoken. North Texas and Marshall have been given the nod to win the West and East Divisions in Conference USA this year. Last year the Coaches Poll chose ECU to win the East and Tulsa to win the West. Neither school won their  respective divisions.

In a recent post, I picked Marshall to win the East and UTSA to win the West. For a more in depth look at the G5 Blog Conference USA 2014 picks click hereCONFERENCE USA 2014 PRESEASON PICKS.

In the post, I have North Texas finishing fourth in the West. There are too many question marks at the QB, Dline and Lb positions for the Mean Green to repeat last years very good season. Regardless of where they finish this year, North Texas fans have to be feeling good about their program at the moment. After a decade of poor play, North Texas is suddenly considered a player and real threat in their new conference,  Conference USA.

The Mean Green turn around can be credited to one man, Head Coach Dan McCarney. The former Iowa State Head Coach has taken a Mean Green program in the depths of irrelevance and brought them to a place of respect and quality play. For my money, McCarney is the best motivator in Conference USA and one of the best in all of College Football.  McCarney's  brand of coaching and  player philosophy  have been just what the North Texas faithful have been waiting for.

I expect North Texas to go through a rebuilding year this year and target the 2015 Football Season to regain their 2013 form. North Texas down year , however, is good news for UTSA.  The Roadrunners  with their combination of experienced players, and  excellent Head Coach in Larry Coker, are in the drivers seat to become the Conference USA West Division Champs this year. Look for their game against Rice on November 8th to solidify the Conference USA West Division race. Stay tuned.

10 WORST MAC OOC GAMES FOR 2014

10 Worst OOC Games for the MAC in 2014(link)

BYU PLAYERS CITE TRAVEL AS A POSITIVE OF BEING INDEPENDENT

BYU TRAVEL

Travel or no travel, BYU cannot remain an Independent for long if they want to continue to be   competitive in the new landscape of College Football. I still believe they will find a home in the AAC, even if that home affords BYU special status. Stay tuned.

SOUTHERN MISS READY FOR A BETTER SEASON IN 2014

                                                          SOUTHERN MISS MAKING STRIDES (LINK)

G5 CONFERENCE NEWS PRESEASON PREDICTION: MARSHALL WILL BE CONFERENCE USA CHAMPS

Original G5 Blog content

CUSA

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD C USA WINNER

The Thundering Herd are men among boys in Conference USA this year. No team in the league comes close to matching the fire power, and talent that Head Coach Doc Holiday has gathered in Huntington. In fact, there is no conference in the G5 that has as wide a gap in quality from top to bottom as CUSA does at the moment. 

What makes Marshall so strong this year is their balance.  The Thundering Herd are far from a one dimensional team.  Yes the Herd have All Universe , Senior QB Rakeem Cato, the 2013 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and potential Heisman Candidate, but they also have a defense that should more than hold its own this year. The Thundering Herd sport a quality defensive unit  thanks in large part to 2nd year Def Coordinator Chuck Heater. Heater turned an undisciplined but talented Marshall defense into a respectable contender last year. Look for an even better Thundering Herd squad this year as Heater has some serious talent to work with including 4 Star VaTech DB transfer Donaldven Manning among others.

The Thundering Herd however, do have a few chinks in their armor, as  they  are prone to mental errors and breakdowns.  These mental breakdowns are at times costly and  occur most often when Marshall is on the road and away from Joan Edwards stadium. Last year  for example, Marshall lost to road foes Ohio and MTSU, games they should have won handily.

If Doc Holiday wants to lead the Herd  to a CUSA Championship this year, and perhaps even take the Access Bowl slot,  he will need to exercise his teams road demons and get his talented squad to work together as a team. Herd fans have every right to be excited for the start of the 2014 Football Season as their team has all the pieces in place to be one of the best Marshall teams ever.  For a more in-depth look at Marshall Football  click here( Marshall Football review).

CUSA WEST CHAMPION

My pick for CUSA West Champion is UTSA. What makes the Roadrunners such a strong contender this year are three ingredients every successful College Football teams needs; a superior O-Line,  an excellent Head Coach( Larry Coker) and strong  Senior leadership. The Roadrunners are flush in all three of these  departments including an eye popping 19 Senior Starters this year.

Head Coach Larry Coker is simply one of the best in the business. What he has accomplished with the Roadrunner program in the few years he has been its leader is a case study in how to get the most out of players and a program. What stands out the most on this  Roadrunner team is how solid they are at almost every position on the field. While Coker may not be coaching a large group of superstars, he is coaching a group of players who work hard and know how to play together as a team. Getting the most out of his players is Larry Coker's best asset as a coach. Look for him to lead his  19 Seniors and the rest of the Roadrunners  to win the Western Division of Conference USA this year

.

MOST IMPROVED IN CUSA

This award goes to FAU. Yes the Owls had plenty of drama last year, especially surrounding the bizarre events culminating in the firing of Head Coach Carl Pelini. FAU however, made a good hire in the 40 year old  new Head Coach Charlie Partridge. Partridge, a Florida native with great recruiting chops, may just be the man the OWLS need to turn their underperforming program into a winner.

FAU finished the year strong last year finishing 6-6 including a four game win streak and impressive victory over a solid Tulane team. The OWLS have some nice local Florida talent on their team and return QB Jacquez Johnson. Johnson seemed to hit his stride at the end of last season and was workmen like in his approach to the game. FAU also returns the leagues best Secondary, something that will play in their favor especially in  the pass happy Conference USA. Don't be surprised if FAU is playing for the Conference USA East Championship by the end of the season.

CONCLUSION

CUSA is in rebuilding mode at the moment. They are fortunate to have one of the best G5 programs in the country in Marshall in this year. The Herd should bring some much needed positive national attention to CUSA this season. 

Although CUSA East, is Marshall's to lose, the West looks much less settled. UTSA is my pick for the West but look for  RICE to be close on their heels. If UTSA stumbles during the season  RICE has the best path forward to win the West.

Last years biggest surprise in C USA, North Texas, faces an uphill battle this year in their attempt to repeat last years excellent season. While the Mean Green return an  experienced and quality  O-line , they simply have  to many holes to fill on both sides of the ball to be considered a serious challenger for the West this year. The good news for North Texas fans, however, is that they have in Dan McCarney, one of the best Head Coach's in  Conference USA.  Look for the  Mean Green to reload this year and become a contender for the  2015 season.

Going forward, CUSA looks to be dominated by Marshall for many years to come. Programs like Southern Miss, UAN and UTEP will need to improve and improve quickly if the conference hopes to regain its former reputation as a solid, respectable league. Stay tuned.

CUSA EAST

MARSHALL

FAU

MTSU

WKU

ODU

UAB

FIU

CUSA WEST

UTSA

RICE

LA TECH

NORTH TEXAS

SOUHTERN MISS

UTEP

JOINING SUN BELT WILL HELP APPALACHIAN STATE SCHEDULING

APP STATE PLAYERS PREPARE TO TAKE THE FIELD
SUN BELT HELPS APPALACHIAN STATE (LINK)

Appalachian State may be a bit of an enigma to the casual College Football fan, but to those in the know, this is a program with winning in its blood.  App State has a stellar history of fan support and winning games that matter, including 3 FCS Championships. While they are sure to encounter growing pains as they make the move from FCS to FBS, this is one of the programs that I have applauded the Sun Belt for taking.  Read the linked story to learn more about what membership in the Sun Belt will mean to Appalachian State.

SEVERAL G5 PLAYERS PICKED FOR 2014 THE MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST

TEMPLE QB P.J. WALKER NAMED TO MAXWELL AWARD LIST
CLICK FOR COMPLETE MAXWELL AWARD LIST

The Maxwell Football Club located in Louisville KY, announced on Monday, the watch list for their annual award naming the seasons best College Football Player. 75 players were picked as watch recipients this year.  Last year's winner of the Maxwell Award went to Alabama QB, AJ McCarron. Here is the list of G5 players chosen for the list and the schools they represent.


G5 MAXWELL AWARD LIST PLAYERS

Raymond Maples Senior RB: ARMY

Jay Ajayi Junior RB: BOISE STATE

Matt Johnson Junior QB: BOWLING GREEN

Shane Carden Senior QB: ECU

Justin Hardy Senior WR: ECU

Rakeem Cato Senior QB: MARSHALL

John O'Corn Sophomore QB: HOUSTON

Taylor Heinicke Senior QB: ODU

P.J Walker Sophomore QB: TEMPLE

Chuckie Keeton Senior QB: UTAH STATE

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BOISE STATE: A DARK HORSE FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SPOT?

BOISE STATE PLAYOFF BOUND?(link)

The article linked is early speculation about a Boise State appearance in the new 4 team College Football Playoff. While I think Boise will be competitive this year, it will take a near miracle run for them to be one of the four playoff teams. Strength of Schedule and a new Head Coach make the Broncos an improbable G5 squad to make the playoffs.

For a G5 team to earn one of the highly coveted playoff spots, they will need a strong SOS and most likely go undefeated as well. There are few teams in the G5 that have the type of SOS and players needed to squeak into the College Playoffs this year.  Schools like ECU, and UCF have very good SOS this season, but seem unlikely to go undefeated. Stay tuned.

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G5 NEWS AND ISSUES PRESEASON PICK: UL RAGIN CAJUNS WILL BE SUN BELT CHAMPS

G5 Original  Material

You are unlikely to find an FBS program that has gone from rags to riches as quickly and as convincingly  as the UL Ragin Cajuns have.  After decades of wandering the football desert, UL has found a plush and deep oasis in head football coach Mark Hudspeth. Hudspeth, has brought discipline, passion , and talent to a UL program that had been in desperate need of all three of these qualities. Mark  Hudspeth should lead the Ragin Cajuns  to a Sun Belt title this year and a possible birth in the newly formed ACCESS BOWL. For a more in depth look at the 2014 UL Football preseason click here UL Football.

UL however, will have steep competition this year in the Sun Belt. Their Oct 21st match against Ark State, my pick for the second slot in the Sun Belt, could easily help to determine the eventual winner of the Sun Belt .  Arkansas State begins the 2014 season with a talented team and looks to have chosen another excellent head coach in  Blake Anderson.

South Alabama, my third place pick in the Sun Belt, has under head coach Joey Jones( read the coaching profile on Jones here: Joey Jones) amassed some quality players. The Jaguars( read about  South Alabama ) have taken advantage of very good leadership and the talent rich state of Alabama to create a football program that is on an impressive upward trajectory.

The Sun Belt also offers some of the most intra conference intrigue this year among the G5. How for example will new Sun Belt members, Georgia Southern and App State compete against the top teams in the conference? How much rebuilding will Idaho and New Mexico State need before they can move out of the Sun Belt cellar?Will Georgia State be able to take advantage of the talent in around Atlanta to make a move up the Sun Belt ladder? All of these questions will make  the Sun Belt a fun  conference to watch this year.

We will revisit the Sun Belt picks at the end of the 2014 Football Season. Stay tuned.



PREDICTED SUN BELT 2014 FINISH

1. UL
2. ARKANSAS STATE
3. SOUTH ALABAMA
4. TROY
5. TEXAS STATE
6. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
7. ULM
8. APPALACHIAN STATE
9. GEORGIA STATE
10. IDAHO
11. NEW MEXICO STATE

THE TIMES PICAYUNE: AAC STRONG IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL

AAC VERY COMPETITIVE LEAGUE(Link)

JULY 1ST BRINGS NEW LOOK TO AAC, SUN BELT AND CONFERENCE USA. WHICH LEAGUE BENEFITS THE MOST?

Original G5 Content


HAPPY JULY 1ST

July 1st brings a new look to the AAC, CONFERENCE USA AND SUN BELT. What conference benefits the most from the changes, what  conference benefits the least. First however, lets take a look at the conference shifting that occurs today.

AAC: Loses Louisville, gains ECU, TULANE AND TULSA

CONFERENCE USA: Gains WKU, loses ECU, TULANE AND TULSA

SUN BELT: Loses WKU, gains APPALACHIAN STATE, GEORGIA SOUTHERN, IDAHO(football only) NEW MEXICO STATE ( football only)

JULY 1ST WINNERS: SUN BELT

Although losing WKU will hurt the Belt in Basketball, APP STATE and GEORGIA SOUTHERN make up for the lose of WKU in the only sport that really matters in conference realignment, Football. APP STATE and GEORGIA SOUTHERN , however, will need to prove that they can carry their winning traditions and strong fan base with them to the FBS division if the Sun Belt is going to  be fully rewarded for inviting them to the conference. IDAHO and NEW MEXICO STATE will need to considerably strengthen their game if they hope to add any  value to the Sun Belt.

I also give the nod to the Sun Belt as a winners today because losing WKU is a much less significant blow to the conference than  Louisville leaving the AAC and ECU, TULANE and TULSA leaving  Conference USA. All things considered, count July 1st as a win for the Sun Belt and the Sun Belt leadership.

JULY 1ST LOSERS: AAC AND CONFERENCE USA

AAC: It might seem strange to call today a losing proposition for the AAC. They are after all, gaining two of the best teams from Conference USA,  ECU and  TULSA . They also gain  TULANE. These three programs do not make up for the departure of Louisville. The lose of the Cardinals is a big blow to Mike Aresco and the AAC.  The AAC can take solace however, in knowing that they have reduced significantly reduced the fire power of Conference USA.

CONFERENCE USA: Conference USA is between a rock and hard place at the moment. Britton Banowsky, Conference USA Commissioner , has publicly stated that he believes  it is a good thing when Conference USA schools move on to better conferences. It is hard to imagine,  however,   that losing ECU and TULSA is  good for the conference.

While Conference USA is getting a solid pick up in WKU , the Hilltoppers simply do not have the same pedigree or winning tradition that  the Pirates or  Golden Hurricanes have in  Football. As I wrote in this earlier piece, CONFERENCE USA, July 1st Changes, no conference in the G5 has been hit harder during the recent wave of conference realignment than Conference USA. Stay tuned.

UNC CHARLOTTE FOOTBALL: A PROGRAM TO WATCH

Original G5 Content


A PROGRAM IS BORN

On November 13, 2008, Charlotte Football was reborn. After years of  student and alumni support , the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees voted to approve the creation of an FBS level program. In 2011, Charlotte Athletic Director Judy Rose, hired former Wake Forest Defense Coordinator Brad Lambert to serve as the 49ers first Head Football Coach. Lambert, who is known for his solid,  no nonsense coaching style, quickly became the 49er Football Program's best cheerleader, tirelessly making the rounds to media outlets preaching the 49er Gospel. Lambert, much like ODU's first Head Football Coach Bobby Wilder, is an excellent face and symbol for the young 49er Football Program.

The 49ers are set to fully join Conference USA and the FBS in 2015. (Charlotte basketball is already in Conference USA) The move to the FBS division of College Football is however, not without peril for the 49ers. The Mid Major market in College Football is more crowded than ever. In the past five years alone, schools like Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, ODU, UMASS and Georgia State, just to name a few, have decided to try their luck at FBS Football.

The driving force and  motivation to  enter the FBS division of College Football  is easy to understand,  Money. With soaring TV contracts for the best leagues and teams(see BIG MONEY FOR P5 CONFERENCES), often at 20 million  a year,  the allure of a potentially large payday has proven to be tempting for many schools to  ignore. So Charlotte, like the other new FBS programs,  has committed itself  to paying millions of dollars in start up costs all for chance of winning and winning big at the FBS level. Charlotte however, is unique, in that their Football Program was created specifically to go straight to the FBS Division as soon as the rules would allow.

Even with this unique mandate, UNC- Charlotte still faces many of the same challenges that any new or old  FBS Program must face.  Two of the most significant of these FBS challenges to Charlotte will be revenue streams and recruiting. We will briefly examine both of these issues, starting with the revenue issue first.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

It's no secret that the  P5 Conferences have been trying to distance themselves from the rest of College Football for the last two years. The perceived need of  the P5 to go it alone,  is in large part a product an over saturated market in College Football.  An over saturated market that they P5 believe threaten to dampen their own revenue streams.

There are,  for example,  125 FBS programs at the moment with four more set to enter in 2015. This will bring the FBS total to 129 schools. All 129 will need  money, lots of it.  One of the real challenges for Charlotte going forward will be the need for a steady flow of income.

FBS football programs are expensive to operate as the architects of Charlotte Football no doubt understand. Ever wonder just how expensive it is  to fund an FBS Program? Below is a small excerpt from an excellent article in the Journal ETHOS that breaks down the expenses and revenue of two Mid Majors. These two schools, Marshall and Texas State are very similar in size and scope to the new football program at  UNC Charlotte.

" For example, at Marshall University—a smaller top-tier program with a storied history—the expenses of the football team ($7,083,399) nearly wash out their revenue ($7,760,381).  The remaining “football” revenue only marginally supports the expenses of other sports.  Or, at Texas State University-San Marcos, a far less competitive football program at a university with enrollment numbers comparable to the University of Alabama, the revenue and expenses were both reported as exactly $5,633,155.  The point is that once you get out of the upper echelon of the top tier—let’s call it the football 1%—the sport is hardly profitable for itself, much less for universities.(ETHOS ARTICLE ON COST OF FBS FOOTBALL)

If Charlotte has hopes for a steady income stream or large payday from their newly formed football program, they will need to be creative in making this a reality.  Many new and old FBS  schools lose money or break even at best with their football programs.  UNC-Charlotte will need to negotiate the FBS carefully and wisely if they do not want the rest of their  athletic programs to suffer. The FBS is a big tank full of sharks and barracuda. Charlotte will need to avoid playing the role of minnow if it hopes to have a successful football program.

RECRUITING FOR UNC-CHARLOTTE

It is important to mention that Charlotte knows what it looks like to field a successful  men's collegiate team.  UNC-Charlotte Men's Basketball is for example a stellar program with a rich and proud tradition.  The UNC-Charlotte  men's basketball team has made the NCAA Tournament 11 times. They were also Conference USA Champions in  1999 and 2001. In fact Charlotte basketball should help raise the overall profile of Conference USA in the next several years. Basketball however, is not Football. This is especially true as it pertains to recruiting.

The state of North Carolina has suddenly become very crowded with FBS football programs. By the time Charlotte joins the FBS division of College Football, there will be 7 FBS programs vying for recruits in the state of North Carolina. Charlotte's main competitors for high school players will initially be Appalachian State and ECU. App State already has a very good pipeline of players from western North Carolina, as well as South Carolina and Georgia. ECU, the most dominant of the G5 programs in North Carolina, has a good pipeline in North Carolina, South Carolina and a renewed recruiting  relationship with Florida. Charlotte will need to convince players who are leaning towards App State or ECU, that they are a better fit for them.

Charlotte will also be competing against the rest of the FBS programs in North Carolina as well as programs like Clemson and South Carolina. All of this makes Charlotte's first few years in FBS competition crucial to the success of their program. If the 49ers start fast and win some games they are not supposed to win , then Charlotte suddenly becomes a viable option for quality recruits. Start slow and get blown out on a consistent basis and the 49er program becomes a place where marginal recruits find a home.

It has taken ECU and Appalachian State decades to not only build their fan bases, but also to carve out a niche for their programs on the recruiting trail. UNC-Charlotte will need great coaching, tremendous fan support and some good old fashioned luck to make the first few years of their FBS football life a success. Charlotte does have something however, neither of these programs have in terms of recruiting. That is they are situated in the middle of one of the most fertile recruiting areas in North Carolina, Mecklenburg County.  Charlotte will need to leverage this gold mine of recruiting to their advantage if they want to compete with the FBS schools in their region. They will need to do so fast however, as Appalachian State, the closest FBS program to Charlotte, appears to be on the brink of doing very good things once they enter the Sun Belt Conference.

GOING FORWARD

Charlotte offers a unique and intriguing FBS storyline . The school is located in North Carolina's largest city and in the midst of the recruiting hotbed of Mecklenburg county. They have a fan base that is passionate about their new  football program and a new stadium that is  both fan friendly and ascetically  pleasing. They have an excellent head coach in Brad Lambert and an administration that seems eager to make the football program a success and a priority.  Charlotte Football will also have the blessing and curse of a large media presence in both television and print.

There are  of course many obstacles that UNC-Charlotte will need to navigate if the 49er Program is going to succeed.  Two of the most difficult of these obstacles, as we have discussed, are revenue streams and recruiting. It is hard, however, not to be optimistic for the 49er Program going forward. The program, even in its infancy,  has many of the most important ingredients needed to compete and compete well at the FBS level.

UNC-Charlotte will be
a team  to watch over the next several years. If they are able to manage their considerable assets in wise and prudent ways, then Charlotte could become a Football Program that rises quickly and swiftly. Conversely, if the 49ers stumble out of the gate and fail to guide the program around the various pitfalls, they could be looking at many, many seasons of failure and disappointment.   Stay tuned....