Saturday, June 30th, 2007

Countdown to Kickoff: 70 more

I’m running late today … but with the recent acknowledgment of how well bald eagles are doing in the wild, Adam H sent us this dandy:

If you have some, send them to us!

Friday, June 29th, 2007

And another one studies the I-A issue …

The University of Massachusetts, 18,225 students strong, has announced a Trustee Taskforce to study whether the program should seek to compete at the FBS (formerly I-A) level.

“We intend to assemble a taskforce that will include representatives from all of the relevant constituencies and will conduct an open, inclusive and comprehensive review of this issue. The Division 1-A question has been out there for many years, and we would like to provide a conclusive answer. We enter this process with open minds and with no predefined outcome in mind,” Trustee Matthew E. Carlin, chairman of the athletics panel, said.

The preliminary report will be ready by THIS FALL. We should change our colors at GSU from Navy to Green (with envy).

UMass will have a lot more to do than we would, they only averaged 11,663 fans per game in 2006. They also would need to build a new stadium, increase scholarships, and the Boston Globe (biased by the faculty) puts the cost at $70 to $100 million for that school.

But, even with all that against them … they have an administration that is willing to independently study the issue in open forums and make the process transparent.

I ask again, WHERE IS OUR LEADERSHIP?

Thanks to Opie for the link … also a BIG THANKS to Opie for ruining what’s left of June for me. ;)

Good grief.

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Countdown To Kickoff: 71 days left

Here’s another user submission … you gotta love our fans!

Send us yours!

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

In the News: Heckuva job Greenie

Alex Pellegrino talked with the Citadel’s athletic director Les Robinson and posted his take on playing with the big boys. As with many conversations I have had with ADs regarding this topic, the comments in the article are telling.

“It’s mostly about relationships,” said Robinson, who developed plenty while playing and coaching basketball at the Atlantic Coast Conference’s North Carolina State, where he later served as athletic director.

Rather than sitting around waiting for his phone to ring, Robinson has initiated most of the big-time games he’s scheduled. The affable leader makes an effort to travel to the school he wants to play, preferring to visit his fellow ADs in person.

With her article on Appalachian State and then the major enlightening piece on former rivals making the I-A move, Alex has really gone above and beyond any of the bigger papers with her coverage of this topic.

Savannah’s rags have been severely lacking in covering the I-A topic and with the hostility thrown towards Alex it is no wonder. Of course they have a whole lot less to lose than the Herald in our opinion … so why aren’t they willing to cover the various tangents of this topic?

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Countdown to Kickoff: 72 more

The original Gus … 72 more to go!

We’ve received a few more this week, send us your pictures!

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

Countdown to Kickoff: 73 to go

Here’s number 73 …

Send us any pictures you may have … we still need more!

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

Countdown to Kickoff: Day 74

Seventy four more to go … but I’d be happy to stand here for a little while :)

As a bonus, here’s one of the best GSU videos we’ve had the pleasure of seeing in a long time … The baptism of Furman …

Send us links to your pictures!

Monday, June 25th, 2007

SouthernFACTS.org Contest Winner #1

Congrats to Laura H, one of a number of GSU students who signed the petition, for winning one of the SouthernFACTS.org baseball caps! Laura, we will be contacting you shortly to verify your mailing address and to send it over! The number drawn out of the virtual hat was 594.

Remember to be entered for the drawing you must do the following:

1. Sign up on the petition for an independent I-A study. If you’ve already filled it out, you can login here.
2. Confirm your email, if you haven’t already.
3. And make sure that the survey has your mailing address listed!

Congratulations to Laura once again!

Look for another drawing next Monday!

Monday, June 25th, 2007

Countdown to Kickoff: 75 to go!

GOOOOOOOOO BLUUUUUUUUUUEEEE!

Send us links to your photo albums, we’ll do the rest!

Sunday, June 24th, 2007

In The News: Former rivals make the I-A move

Alex Pellegrino wrote another great article on some of our former rivals who have made the I-A move. We got a shout out during the article it appears too!

The empirical evidence is unreal … Troy’s BOOSTER DONATIONS DOUBLED. The I-A games they schedule are WORTH TWICE what we get at I-AA. The Hilltoppers have generated FOUR MILLION DOLLARS in new revenue through student fees that was APPROVED BY THE STUDENTS.

There are some great clips from the article, including Troy’s Assistant AD (and former GSU AD staffer) Scott Farmer showing how much press one regular season game provides in comparison to I-AA titles. More…