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Body Bag Games-Part II

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Body Bag Games-Part II

The "Body Bag" games are fun for only so long. In 2002 Middle Tennessee opened with Alabama (lost 39-34), then played Tennessee (lost by 17), then played Kentucky (lost by 22). We then came home and got beat by D-1aa SEMO. After the Bama game we were on cloud 9 because we felt we could have and should have beat Bama. By the time we got to the first home game we had a good crowd but our team was starting to get demoralize with 3 straight losses. The SEMO game basically ended our season.

One thing we have learned is that you do not need too many "body bag" games. One or two is fine. This gives you the chance to compete with the "best". You need to schedule teams that are "winnable" games. In the long run wins will get fans more excited long-term about your program than who you are playing.

Unfortunately, for the SBC schools who do not draw well, they need these games to help balance the budget. Another way to do that is to increase home attendance. You can do this by scheduling "mid-major" winnable games.

I really like the approach MT has taken over the past couple of years. For instance, we have LSU and Louisville as "body bag" games. We have 7 SBC games (we all know the SBC games are a crapshoot), we have a D-1aa game against soon to be SBC member WKU, we have a home game against ACC member Virginia (they should beat us but I don't consider this a body bad game and it is at home), and a road game against C-USA and in-state rival Memphis.

So we still get to try and compete with one of the top programs in LSU, but we also have a schedule that sees us playing 9 "winable" games. Notice I am not predicting 9 wins, but going into 9 of these games our team ad fans will feel that we have a legit shot at winning the game.

To me this is better than going into 4 or 5 games knowing that chances are we are going to get killed. It also sets up a senerio where if we don't win theSBC we might still be bowl eligible.

The whole key is to get the home attendance up so you do not need to "whore" yourself out for the money.

Also, I think recruits will take more notice if you are winning conference championships and attending bowl games vs. one upset against a bigger school.

I would bet Troy got more coverage and more response from recuits by winning the New Orleans Bowl tan they did when they upset Missouri.
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Body Bag Games-Part II

I agree 100%. I have said many times that FAU should schedule more winnable non-conference games. This could include CONF USA teams as well as lower level BCS teams. I personally would like to see FAU play Southern Miss, Memphis, Tulane, UAB, or East Carolina. Hopefully the FAU schedule will start to level out as the team improves and rises to the level of the competition. That might just be the case this year as I think FAU can pull the upset in any one of the non-conf. games apart from Florida.


On another note, is Arkansas becoming an honorary member of the SBC?? They have FIU, Troy, and North Texas on the their schedule. Talk about body bag games. Troy might hold their own, but N. Texas and FIU will lose by 30+ points each.


GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Body Bag Games-Part II

Funny, they will schedule other SBC teams but won't schedule ASU.

I truly think that FAU would have been even more competitive in the SBC (not that you guys didn't have a good run to end the season) if the early schedule would not have taken a toll on the players mentally and physically. If scheduled differently you guys may have been dancing on Burbon St.
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Body Bag Games-Part II

Scheduling other mid-majors is easier said than done.

They believe they are better than us and see us as a step down. The big boys need breather games and are easier to schedule.

When we start beating them regularly, that will change.


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Body Bag Games-Part II

'Bama and 'Burn play all kinds of 'Belt teams as well.

Troy is starting to rub at Auburn's unwillingness to play its nearby I-A team with a billboard, placed in Auburn and elsewhere.

ERROR: A link was posted here (img) but it appears to be a broken link.



See thread on the subject:

http://www.gotroytrojans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6865

and

http://www.gotroytrojans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6859

Florida plays three 'Belt teams this year, including Troy and WKU.

The Gators might be surprised.
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Body Bag Games-Part II


BMarkey said

'Bama and 'Burn play all kinds of 'Belt teams as well.

Troy is starting to rub at Auburn's unwillingness to play its nearby I-A team with a billboard, placed in Auburn and elsewhere.



See thread on the subject:

http://www.gotroytrojans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6865

and

http://www.gotroytrojans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6859

Florida plays three 'Belt teams this year, including Troy and WKU.

The Gators might be surprised.

You have to like the spirit behind the billboard. Troy is basically calling out Auburn.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Body Bag Games-Part II

Someone on the Troy board says the billboard photo is from Troy vs. Rice. Looks like Missouri to me. Rice doesn't wear black and gold.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Body Bag Games-Part II

The concenus is it is Missouri. A better picture should have been chosen.

Similar billboards are in Columbus, Ga., etc.

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Body Bag Games-Part II

I read last year that FAU has one of the smallest budgets ( I believe like 115 out of Division 1-A teams) and basically has to play the 4 monster games for that reason. It would be nice to see FAU get some return games, but that probably won't happen in the near future. It is just really tough to play that many road games. We (UofL) had to do the same thing in the 80s and 90s. It took time, but eventually the program was taken to a high level. You guys have the same coach that built our program and I have no doubt great things are ahead for FAU also. He believed in UofL from the start even though the local and national media ridiculed him every step of the way. Howard went 2-0 in bowl games at UofL defeating Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl and beating Michigan St. in the Liberty Bowl. At the time, only the diehard fans and Coach Schnellenberger thought that was possible.
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Body Bag Games-Part II


villun said

I read last year that FAU has one of the smallest budgets ( I believe like 115 out of Division 1-A teams) and basically has to play the 4 monster games for that reason. It would be nice to see FAU get some return games, but that probably won't happen in the near future. It is just really tough to play that many road games. We (UofL) had to do the same thing in the 80s and 90s. It took time, but eventually the program was taken to a high level. You guys have the same coach that built our program and I have no doubt great things are ahead for FAU also. He believed in UofL from the start even though the local and national media ridiculed him every step of the way. Howard went 2-0 in bowl games at UofL defeating Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl and beating Michigan St. in the Liberty Bowl. At the time, only the diehard fans and Coach Schnellenberger thought that was possible.

You are right. FAU has been scheduling the big boys in an attempt to balance the budget. Even with the difficult schedule FAU has managed to get some of the teams to come to south Florida to play. Oklahoma State made the trip a couple of years ago and Minnesota will be making the trip this year. I think FAU also has some future games scheduled against Michigan State, one of which is at home. It will be a slow transition to getting a better schedule, but FAU is improving at a rapid pace and things will come together in the next couple of years. I personally think, as do many on this board, that this is going to be a breakthough year for FAU. If last years end of the season momentum was any indication of what this team can do this should be an exciting year.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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