[Stevev]

Playing two division 2 teams in a year is unacceptable especially in our case. We have got to get our act together on this issue or it is going to kill us in future as far as playoff consideration (I almost hate to bring this up but I must) and overall respect as a program. It is bad enought that we are in the Big South and I would think that that fact alone would necessitate the need for us to schedule up out of conference. If we were in the Colonial or the Southern this might not be an issue but being in the Big South it is a big issue and we must find a solution to it.

[ATrain]

Well the Big South is a decent conference now, since Coastal is having immense success, especially for a start-up program. However, I also do not like 2 D-IIs. Unfortunately, it seems we have no other options. I'd rather see us fly out to Cal-Poly or a GWFC team provided they return the game to us next season.

[ATrain]

^^Not that we necessarily have the money to do that, but if we did I'd rather do that than play two D-IIs

[Stevev]

The Big South, whether it is a descent conference or not (personally I can't say that it is) does not give us the possiblility of an auto birth. That is the problem. The only way to rectify that issue is to schedule up and playing two division 2 teams would go against us if we were to stumble upon the playoff picture if things worked out. Our only possibility right now is to upset Toledo and hope that someone else on the schedule ends up a top 10 team (Maybe William and Maryif things returned to what they were 3 years ago) provided that we beat them too. The BSC wins don't hold much weight.

[SuperJon]

In 08 we really don't have to worry about this type of stuff. We'll have Presby, JMU, Elon, and a few other good non conference teams.

[Stevev]

I think that we have Youngstown and Lehigh too.

[BJWilliams]

Coach Rocco said that they hope to finalize the last 3 contracts and have that announced in the next couple weeks at the press conference today

[Chris Lang]

You all are going to be incredibly unhappy with the 2007 schedule.

[SuperJon]

Chris, I hate you.



Not really.

[Sly Fox]

Perhaps putting up a nice record will ease the pain of not making the playoffs ... or maybe not.

I was hoping having the new Fieldturf down would help us get another regional FCS school to consider coming to us.

[Libertine]

Right now, it seems like we're in that bizarro world where nobody out there knows exactly how good we are and they're putting us off to '08 and beyond. Nobody really knows what to expect. The good teams don't gain anything (yet) by coming here and the mediocre to bad teams look at the FBS transfers on our website and don't want to risk getting embarassed.

[Stevev]

You all are going to be incredibly unhappy with the 2007 schedule

That is not exactly what I wanted to here right now. Hopefully these issues will be resolved the following year and beyond. We just have to go with what we got and hopefully the team will take care of business.

[bigsmooth]

i know most will be disappointed, but with our program the way it is now, im sure many do not want any piece of us right now. i feel like we will have to go 10-1 to have any shot at the playoffs, but it is a building process.

[Cider Jim]

I, for one, would rather have a too-easy Rocco schedule than a too-difficult Karcher schedule. Those multiple 60-3 losses from 2 years ago still hurt. I don't care how much money we get for playing those (formerly) 1-A schools; scheduling 2 of those in a single season was just suicide.

[Sly Fox]

I think most of us agree we don't want two FBS schools on our schedule right now. We just wish we could avoid the DIIs. Oh well ... I'm sure the staff has worked as hard as they could. Sometimes things are beyond your control.

[ATrain]

Anyone know if we're going to continue the series with W&M after this year?

[PeterParker]

That would be a wise move since the local markets in Hampton Roads cover them so it would provide a little bit of exposure in the Hampton Roads Market which has proved over the years to be a pretty decent market for football talent.

[bigsmooth]

well, no carson-newman, hampton , or app. most will be very disappointed when the schedule is released, but it is what it is. the focus should be on winning the big south title.

[Sly Fox]

Did c-n get a better payday somewhere else? I assumed that was a slam dunk.

[bigsmooth]

i will PM you.

[Libertine]

Wasn't Smoothie the one who said C-N in the first place?

[bigsmooth]

yep i was...my source was wrong

[SuperJon]

Lang confirmed it was Carson-Newman as well.

Now I have no clue who's going to be the opener or week 2.

This sucks.

Does your source have any clue who the other teams are? Are we still talking three D2's or were we able to pull in another FCS school?

[bigsmooth]

one new development , but i cannot say anything till my source confirms. it would be a small upgrade.

[Chris Lang]

My source was pretty good. But circumstances change.