What is the best conference for Furman Football? - Sun Belt?

[aqualung]

What I hear you say is that you want to be in a conference with App State and Georgia Southern. I get it. Those were fun years.

The Sun Belt doesn't make any sense for Furman. It wouldn't be super lucrative, and the operational costs would sky rocket. College athletics is financially taxing on the university enough without conference road trips to Lafayette or San Marcos.

Besides, about the only thing Furman shares in common with a lot of those schools is they used to play FCS football.

Nope. What I said was group of 5. American, SunBelt, Con USA would all make sense. So what you're saying is that all these schools that have moved up over the years have received no benefit? Yet virtually no one moves down and every year it seems more join in on the party. Strange.

[HKB60]

I am in agreement with FU Bear in that there is only one goal for the Paladins. MFUFGA!! As far as the opinion of Northeast Furman Fan, keep that opinion up north!! There should be only one sign inside the locker rooms of the football and basketball locker rooms, PLAY BETTER!! I stole that from the great mind of Buck Showalter!!

[The Jackal]

What I hear you say is that you want to be in a conference with App State and Georgia Southern. I get it. Those were fun years.

The Sun Belt doesn't make any sense for Furman. It wouldn't be super lucrative, and the operational costs would sky rocket. College athletics is financially taxing on the university enough without conference road trips to Lafayette or San Marcos.

Besides, about the only thing Furman shares in common with a lot of those schools is they used to play FCS football.

Nope. What I said was group of 5. American, SunBelt, Con USA would all make sense. So what you're saying is that all these schools that have moved up over the years have received no benefit? Yet virtually no one moves down and every year it seems more join in on the party. Strange.

I'm sure there's some benefit. I'm not sure it's worth it.

A lot of schools moving to the FBS have been financial wrecks. Some schools (Idaho) have decided it's not worth it anymore and dropped down.

In a report released last month shows how dire the picture is. Nearly every Sun Belt team loses money. Just accounting for football, most of those schools lose gobs of money. https://darik.news/texas/how-does-sun-b ... 26654.html

Do I think App or GSU is going to come back to the SoCon and admit that moving to the FBS was a financial mistake? No. They won't. They'll talk about revenue sharing from TV deals or bowl games. The actual numbers paint a different story.

In spite of all of that, Furman isn't those schools. We don't have a 15-20k enrollment or a fan base that will fill out a 25k seat stadium. If Furman was to make a similar jump you can make darn sure that our operating losses in athletics would be massive. I mean, we're in the SoCon and having to cut sports right now just to stay afloat.

[apaladin]

Affirm, like FUBear said please stop with the non-scholly fb posts. WC would laugh their a** off at such a proposal . They have higher goals than that. They have much more money than FU apparently since they can afford a baseball team and FU cannot. Tell your wife aka ED hello for us.

[aqualung]

What I hear you say is that you want to be in a conference with App State and Georgia Southern. I get it. Those were fun years.

The Sun Belt doesn't make any sense for Furman. It wouldn't be super lucrative, and the operational costs would sky rocket. College athletics is financially taxing on the university enough without conference road trips to Lafayette or San Marcos.

Besides, about the only thing Furman shares in common with a lot of those schools is they used to play FCS football.

Nope. What I said was group of 5. American, SunBelt, Con USA would all make sense. So what you're saying is that all these schools that have moved up over the years have received no benefit? Yet virtually no one moves down and every year it seems more join in on the party. Strange.

I'm sure there's some benefit. I'm not sure it's worth it.

A lot of schools moving to the FBS have been financial wrecks. Some schools (Idaho) have decided it's not worth it anymore and dropped down.

In a report released last month shows how dire the picture is. Nearly every Sun Belt team loses money. Just accounting for football, most of those schools lose gobs of money. https://darik.news/texas/how-does-sun-b ... 26654.html

Do I think App or GSU is going to come back to the SoCon and admit that moving to the FBS was a financial mistake? No. They won't. They'll talk about revenue sharing from TV deals or bowl games. The actual numbers paint a different story.

In spite of all of that, Furman isn't those schools. We don't have a 15-20k enrollment or a fan base that will fill out a 25k seat stadium. If Furman was to make a similar jump you can make darn sure that our operating losses in athletics would be massive. I mean, we're in the SoCon and having to cut sports right now just to stay afloat.

The only reason that we have to cut sports is because we have an ED problem. Soft leadership with flaccid support of athletics, especially football. Regarding enrollment, Wake Forest has about 7K and competes damn well in the ACC. I think we could swing it in the group of 5. I'm tired of this defeatist attitude like we're stuck in the SoCon due to this or that. Blah blah blah. It's not over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

[DungeonRealm]

What I hear you say is that you want to be in a conference with App State and Georgia Southern. I get it. Those were fun years.

The Sun Belt doesn't make any sense for Furman. It wouldn't be super lucrative, and the operational costs would sky rocket. College athletics is financially taxing on the university enough without conference road trips to Lafayette or San Marcos.

Besides, about the only thing Furman shares in common with a lot of those schools is they used to play FCS football.

Nope. What I said was group of 5. American, SunBelt, Con USA would all make sense. So what you're saying is that all these schools that have moved up over the years have received no benefit? Yet virtually no one moves down and every year it seems more join in on the party. Strange.

I'm sure there's some benefit. I'm not sure it's worth it.

A lot of schools moving to the FBS have been financial wrecks. Some schools (Idaho) have decided it's not worth it anymore and dropped down.

In a report released last month shows how dire the picture is. Nearly every Sun Belt team loses money. Just accounting for football, most of those schools lose gobs of money. https://darik.news/texas/how-does-sun-b ... 26654.html

Do I think App or GSU is going to come back to the SoCon and admit that moving to the FBS was a financial mistake? No. They won't. They'll talk about revenue sharing from TV deals or bowl games. The actual numbers paint a different story.

In spite of all of that, Furman isn't those schools. We don't have a 15-20k enrollment or a fan base that will fill out a 25k seat stadium. If Furman was to make a similar jump you can make darn sure that our operating losses in athletics would be massive. I mean, we're in the SoCon and having to cut sports right now just to stay afloat.

The only reason that we have to cut sports is because we have an ED problem. Soft leadership with flaccid support of athletics, especially football. Regarding enrollment, Wake Forest has about 7K and competes damn well in the ACC. I think we could swing it in the group of 5. I'm tired of this defeatist attitude like we're stuck in the SoCon due to this or that. Blah blah blah. It's not over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

[Affirm]

Affirm, like FUBear said please stop with the non-scholly fb posts. WC would laugh their a** off at such a proposal . They have higher goals than that. They have much more money than FU apparently since they can afford a baseball team and FU cannot. Tell your wife aka ED hello for us.

No, I will post what I want to post, if it is right. If WC would laugh as you said, that is their problem. I said it’s not necessary to take them with us, and it’s not. Since you’re asking me to stop with anything, I’ll tell you to quit disrespecting our president, with whom I have no relationship, professional or personal.

[Affirm]

I hope that the people on this forum will be able to give this come serious consideration and conversation. My hope is that many of the people that care the most about Furman Football will be able to be constructive in offering their thoughts and opinions on this.

I am an avid Furman fan and a season ticket holder for almost 40 years. My blood runs purple and I want the best for Furman.

On the Furman Basketball Forum, I saw the question asked if it was time for Furman to leave the Southern Conference. This post made me wonder what would be the best conference for Furman from a football perspective.

I enjoy fall weekends at Paladin Stadium and I enjoy seeing the stands as close to full as possible. Some of the games that I have enjoyed in past years are games against Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and even against Marshall. Beating these teams provided a lot of satisfaction.

Our Home Schedule (next 10 games) for the next 2 years is against the following teams;
North Greenville
Samford
Western Carolina
Chattanooga
Wofford
ETSU
Citadel
VMI
Mercer
Tennessee Tech

Which games are our biggest rivalries? Probably Wofford and Citadel and not much beyond that.

If we were in the Sun Belt, our home schedule would include the following teams;
Appalachian State
Georgia Southern
Marshall
Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Old Dominion
James Madison
Louisiana Lafayette
Troy
South Alabama
Louisiana Monroe
Texas Southern
Texas Arlington
Southern Mississippi

Also, our only games against Wofford and Citadel would be home games for us.

In addition, we could schedule home and home games with other D1 schools like Duke, East Carolina, Wake Forest, UNC Charlotte, and Vanderbilt.

This schedule has a lot more to be excited about. This schedule would draw more fans to our games. The Sun Belt would have more money to pay to Furman.

I have heard people say that the exciting thing about playing FCS football is playing for championships. When we played for our last championship in 2001, it was a lot of fun and the quality of football opponents was much deeper back then. Since 2001, many of the top programs in FCS have left for Division 1.

Furman has had over 100 home football games since 2001 and the quality of our schedule has diminished over time. I would like to up our game in terms of schedule. I would like to see Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Marshall, and Georgia State in Paladin Stadium. I would like to see 5 great football teams and games at home each year. I Think that the buzz around Furman Football would be greater and our attendance would be greater.

Again, Please provide your constructive ideas and comments. We all want Furman to be the best.

Thanks

Agree 100%. IMHO, FU and SoCon used to play quality mid-major CFB equivalent to what the top teams in the Group of Five produce now. The big increase in number of schools playing D1 football has greatly diluted the talent level combined with FU's ridiculous academic requirements for football players. Hence our decline. Not sure when this all started but back when we dominated, Coach Sheridan enjoyed a much lower academic bar to get players in. He was smart enough to always recruit guys that he thought could graduate. He never abused the privilege and the historical graduation rate speaks for itself. Then somewhere along the way somebody decided to blow it up and fix what was not broken. And here we are.

So I say let's make FU Football great again. Invest some capital, be reasonable with admissions, step up to the level we used to play at...somewhere in the group of 5, and PS will be back to 12K-16K every week and FU would enjoy a healthy ROI in building the brand.

Also agree 100% with FuBear and Fred...Pioneer league? Are you frigging kidding me? That's the worst idea I've heard since Build Back Better. Pathetic.

No, I am not kidding you. I believe and mean what I said in answer to the question asked as the topic of the present thread.

[Affirm]

Pioneer Football League would be the best conference for Furman football. Bring Wofford along if possible but not necessarily. If we bring them along, then we at least have PC and Davidson close. We are spending too much money on football, compared to the benefits, present and future. Focus on basketball (especially basketball) and other sports, though still seeking competitiveness and championships in football, such as Davidson has (finally) done in Pioneer Football League. Either stay in SoCon for all other sports, or preferably get into A-10 or CAA (or some newly -formed conference of a similar quality if we could include perhaps Wofford and Davidson). Reinstate baseball, which could be more feasible with regard to both money and Title IX after we go to Pioneer Football League.

Remember how you felt when you saw Chattanooga’s last second shot go in to win the SoCon Championship and end Furman Basketball’s hope of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 42 years?

FUBeAR felt the same way you did that night.

FUBeAR also feels that exact same feeling when he reads each of your (many & repeated) posts of the nature of this one.

Doubtful that makes any difference to you whatsoever, but FUBeAR wanted you to know.

You do not know how affirm felt when that last-second shot went in. You just assume you do. So your entire post makes no sense. I believe and meant what I wrote about what I think would be the best conference for Furman football. I wrote it in answer to the question of the present thread. I expected to be attacked by many people on UFFP, including you, for even having such thought, and even more for expressing it. I will add to my so-called many and repeated posts whenever I want to.
Again:
I think basketball is more potentially valuable to Furman athletics present and future, especially if we will be intelligent about it and stop looking to the past. Pioneer Football League would be best for Furman football, Furman athletics overall, and Furman University overall.

[FUBeAR]

Pioneer Football League would be the best conference for Furman football. Bring Wofford along if possible but not necessarily. If we bring them along, then we at least have PC and Davidson close. We are spending too much money on football, compared to the benefits, present and future. Focus on basketball (especially basketball) and other sports, though still seeking competitiveness and championships in football, such as Davidson has (finally) done in Pioneer Football League. Either stay in SoCon for all other sports, or preferably get into A-10 or CAA (or some newly -formed conference of a similar quality if we could include perhaps Wofford and Davidson). Reinstate baseball, which could be more feasible with regard to both money and Title IX after we go to Pioneer Football League.

Remember how you felt when you saw Chattanooga’s last second shot go in to win the SoCon Championship and end Furman Basketball’s hope of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 42 years?

FUBeAR felt the same way you did that night.

FUBeAR also feels that exact same feeling when he reads each of your (many & repeated) posts of the nature of this one.

Doubtful that makes any difference to you whatsoever, but FUBeAR wanted you to know.

You do not know how affirm felt when that last-second shot went in. You just assume you do. So your entire post makes no sense. I believe and meant what I wrote about what I think would be the best conference for Furman football. I wrote it in answer to the question of the present thread. I expected to be attacked by many people on UFFP, including you, for even having such thought, and even more for expressing it. I will add to my so-called many and repeated posts whenever I want to.
Again:
I think basketball is more potentially valuable to Furman athletics present and future, especially if we will be intelligent about it and stop looking to the past. Pioneer Football League would be best for Furman football, Furman athletics overall, and Furman University overall.

Original post tediously edited below to tediously remove your tedious objections…

Think about how most Furman Fans felt when they saw Chattanooga’s last second shot go in to win the SoCon Championship and end Furman Basketball’s hope of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 42 years?The looks on their faces, the tears in their eyes, and their posts here and elsewhere on social media will readily inform most feeling humans as to the pain, anger, sadness, and frustration those Furman Fans felt.

FUBeAR, a Furman Fan for nearing a half century, is almost certain he felt the same way most of those Furman Fans felt as they watched that final shot go through the net in Asheville.

FUBeAR also feels that exact same feeling when he reads each of your (many & repeated) posts of the nature of this one.

Doubtful that makes any difference to you whatsoever, but FUBeAR wanted you to know.

* There is no “attack” of you in either the original or revised post
* There is nothing “so-called” about your many & repeated posts expressing your opinions about your desire for Furman Football to be deemphasized and for Furman Football Scholarships to be defunded.
* Unless you are afraid that Stumpy may decide to de-platform you (he won’t), it seems strange to FUBeAR that you feel the need to proclaim your intention to continue posting as you desire, but as ‘they’ said back in the “Free Love” days, “If it feels good, do it!” Nothing in my post that you quoted mentions anything about what you can/should/can’t/shouldn’t post - Only let you know, very honestly, how it makes FUBeAR feel when you frequently post these thoughts and when he reads them.

Question though…Just curious…How many times is the right number of times for you to express that opinion here? Is it 10 times? 100 times? A limitless number of times?

[The Jackal]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[Affirm]

Pioneer Football League would be the best conference for Furman football. Bring Wofford along if possible but not necessarily. If we bring them along, then we at least have PC and Davidson close. We are spending too much money on football, compared to the benefits, present and future. Focus on basketball (especially basketball) and other sports, though still seeking competitiveness and championships in football, such as Davidson has (finally) done in Pioneer Football League. Either stay in SoCon for all other sports, or preferably get into A-10 or CAA (or some newly -formed conference of a similar quality if we could include perhaps Wofford and Davidson). Reinstate baseball, which could be more feasible with regard to both money and Title IX after we go to Pioneer Football League.

Remember how you felt when you saw Chattanooga’s last second shot go in to win the SoCon Championship and end Furman Basketball’s hope of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 42 years?

FUBeAR felt the same way you did that night.

FUBeAR also feels that exact same feeling when he reads each of your (many & repeated) posts of the nature of this one.

Doubtful that makes any difference to you whatsoever, but FUBeAR wanted you to know.

You do not know how affirm felt when that last-second shot went in. You just assume you do. So your entire post makes no sense. I believe and meant what I wrote about what I think would be the best conference for Furman football. I wrote it in answer to the question of the present thread. I expected to be attacked by many people on UFFP, including you, for even having such thought, and even more for expressing it. I will add to my so-called many and repeated posts whenever I want to.
Again:
I think basketball is more potentially valuable to Furman athletics present and future, especially if we will be intelligent about it and stop looking to the past. Pioneer Football League would be best for Furman football, Furman athletics overall, and Furman University overall.

Original post tediously edited below to tediously remove your tedious objections…

Think about how most Furman Fans felt when they saw Chattanooga’s last second shot go in to win the SoCon Championship and end Furman Basketball’s hope of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 42 years?The looks on their faces, the tears in their eyes, and their posts here and elsewhere on social media will readily inform most feeling humans as to the pain, anger, sadness, and frustration those Furman Fans felt.

FUBeAR, a Furman Fan for nearing a half century, is almost certain he felt the same way most of those Furman Fans felt as they watched that final shot go through the net in Asheville.

FUBeAR also feels that exact same feeling when he reads each of your (many & repeated) posts of the nature of this one.

Doubtful that makes any difference to you whatsoever, but FUBeAR wanted you to know.

* There is no “attack” of you in either the original or revised post
* There is nothing “so-called” about your many & repeated posts expressing your opinions about your desire for Furman Football to be deemphasized and for Furman Football Scholarships to be defunded.
* Unless you are afraid that Stumpy may decide to de-platform you (he won’t), it seems strange to FUBeAR that you feel the need to proclaim your intention to continue posting as you desire, but as ‘they’ said back in the “Free Love” days, “If it feels good, do it!” Nothing in my post that you quoted mentions anything about what you can/should/can’t/shouldn’t post - Only let you know, very honestly, how it makes FUBeAR feel when you frequently post these thoughts and when he reads them.

Question though…Just curious…How many times is the right number of times for you to express that opinion here? Is it 10 times? 100 times? A limitless number of times?

Limitless*, though if it hurts you so much, I will consider trying to post a warning in the beginning saying, “FUBeAR: Something in the following may hurt you, and you are therefore warned to stop reading the rest of this post now please.” I guess if I start a thread, I may have to be overly cautious in my subject line to avoid hurting you, so I will keep that in mind. However, I will not discontinue posting under my “affirm” pseudonym. As ‘they’ said in the days (and now), “Peace”.
*Possibly, 100 more times, though I would expect maybe 1,000 rebuttals or even “attacks”, etc., since we’re on UFFP.

[tim]

UFFP = Unnofficial Furman FOOTBALL Page

[Sad Din]

The SEC would be the best conference. If Vandy can survive there so could Dins

[DungeonRealm]

UFFP = Unnofficial Furman FOOTBALL Page

GoPaladins though