Paladins Wake Up the Echoes in Remarkable Win (Part 1)

Saturday was 1978 all over again.

Nearly 35 years to the day, Furman earned their first-ever Southern Conference football championship during that remarkable inaugural season under Coach Dick Sheridan. On Saturday, the Paladins pulled off an even more mind-boggling--and record-setting--13th championship.

They beat the Wofford Terriers, their oldest and perhaps most annoying rival, in order to get it. After finishing their part of the job, the post-game scoreboard watching paid off. Samford engineered a miracle comeback to beat Elon and give the Paladins their first automatic playoff bid since 2004, and first playoff appearance since 2006.

It was a terrific day, partially spent greeting old friends with whom I played during my brief and relatively forgettable (at least to everyone else) Furman career. I spoke with Brian Bratton, who was part of the last SoCon championship in 2004; and a winner of the Grey Cup as part of the Montreal team.

I also shook hands with some of the same men that won Furman's first conference title in '78, including current Furman coaches Bruce Fowler, Tim Sorrells and Jimmy Kiser; and former coach Bobby Johnson. I saw a slew of other players that I had once chased around the field for autographs after every Furman game.

I was seven years old at that first championship game. I trudged up the hill to sit on the scratchy concrete bleachers of the old Sirrine Stadium in downtown Greenville, ready to cheer on these college students who seemed like giants to me. Even in those days, Sirrine was a relic, with its rickety wooden field houses and cinderblock steps. It fit the surrounding landscape of a downtown area that was deteriorating and falling behind the times along with Furman's football venue.

This was in the shadow of the plot of land that once housed Furman University, the version that my parents and grandparents once new. It fit into a disappearing world when students could walk to the stadium after visiting Belk Simpson or Meyers-Arnold on what was once a vital Main Street. With the mills closing down and the stores moving out to Haywood Mall, downtown needed something good to happen. Why not a Southern Conference Championship?

I was decked out in whatever purple I had to wear. Affordable Furman merchandise was even harder to come across in those days than it is now. We actually took food into the game with us (Can you believe this was ever allowed?).

For every minute of that day in 1978, I sat on the edge of those concrete bleachers, hoping that Furman would beat their arch-rivals, The Citadel, for the first time in seven years to have a shot at the conference title. We saw Citadel fans wearing t-shirts that said, "Beat the Doo-Doo Out of Furman" as we walked in, forever cementing my spite for the Bulldogs.

(Side note:  I remember my mother being appalled at those t-shirts and that awful language. Yes, even in the 70s, it was a much more genteel time when southern ladies still clutched their pearls at such things. We might be relieved these days if that was the worst thing we heard or saw at a game).

The Paladins had come out of nowhere, under first-year head coach Dick Sheridan, to go 7-3. They needed help to win the conference, but they had to take care of business first.

Across the field was their despised rival and their former head coach, Art Baker. He left Greenville for the head coaching position at The Citadel, an act of treason punishable by making you an outcast at the wine and cheese tailgates of the Furman faithful.

Baker followed the "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy when he made the move. He didn't win a single game against the Bulldogs while coaching the Paladins, and changing sidelines would not change his luck. Not today.

Halfway through a somewhat lackluster game (this was in the days when football still involved defense), Furman President Dr. John E. Johns left the press box, walked down to the cheerleader microphone stand, took of the purple jacket and grabbed the mic. Apparently, he had enough of the fans saying Bravo! and clapping gently, because he looked at the crowd and said, "We're gonna make some noise!"

He went well beyond the "FU One Time!" cheer. He kept the microphone in hand until Furman's last fateful play.

The Paladins had taken a 17-13 lead on the backs of an old-school defense and methodical offense. But The Citadel had the ball for one final drive, and masterfully moved the ball to a point where they could only become a part of Furman football history.

Furman stopped the 'Dogs on the final play of the game that wasn't the final play of the game. A penalty gave The Citadel the ball at the one-yard line for one more chance with no time left on the clock. An oh, by the way, they had one of the best running backs in the nation in future Pro Bowler Stump Mitchell.

That's when it happened. The Stand.

They didn't exactly have HD in 1978...

Everyone in the stadium new who was getting the ball, and that included Steve Botkin. He was the center of the storm that greeted Mitchell before he even sniffed the goal line, along with just about everyone else. The Furman defense overwhelmed the Bulldogs and made a goal-line stand for the ages. The sidelines and the stadium erupted, players and students rushed the field, and Furman football history changed forever.

The Paladins beat The Citadel in 12 of the next 13 match-ups. They also proceeded to win 11 more conference championships and a national title, things never envisioned before Nov. 18, 1978.

I pulled my mom and dad and somewhat disinterested sister onto the field as fast as I could. I ran with my game program to get autographs from Russell Gambrell and David Kelly (whose injured arm could barely write). Then I found quarterback David Henderson, who said, "Here, want a sweatband?" He tossed it to me like Mean Joe Greene tossing a jersey to some kid with a Coke bottle. And with that fateful toss, his least important of the day, he cemented my eternal passion for Furman football.

The deal was not quite sealed at that point. There was scoreboard watching to do. For some reason, WLOS-13 carried the Western Carolina-Appalachian State game that evening, a game that Furman needed Appalachian to win in order to make their first championship official. I glued myself to our 13-inch screen inside of our wooden console television, hooked up to the stack antenna on the roof. With mom yelling at me to get up and clean my room, I refused to budge until I knew the trophy was officially coming to Greenville.

On Nov. 24, 2013, I was a 42-year old who was once again 7 going on 8. The stadium is on campus rather than downtown, with field turf and a modern, updated facelift being added. But many of the original championship players from the relic of Sirrine were still there, including Furman coaches Bruce Fowler, Tim Sorrells and Jimmy Kiser. I shook hands with Steve Williams, Bruce Lancaster, and Charlie Anderson, the same guys that I chased for autographs after every Furman game when they wore the diamond F. I also had the honor of shaking hands with guys like Don Clardy, Fred Sturgis, and Kevin Welmaker, with whom I wore the uniform during my brief and relatively uneventful career.

This time, I sat on the edge of my metal-backed seat, and took pictures with my iPhone as someone unveiled the numbers "2013" on the field house, under the sign heading that said "Southern Conference Championships". And I followed ESPN Game Cast as I sat at the restaurant, waiting for confirmation that Samford would beat Elon, giving Furman the title and the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

I don't think I was one bit less excited than I was in 1978. And I am forever grateful to that group of players who tolerated annoying little kids and overcome everyone's lack of expectations to begin a history that culminated in the unlikeliest of championships last Saturday.

Like the Originals, the 2013 edition of Furman football came out of nowhere to earn a championship, to prove that they had grit and perseverance beyond anyone's expectations. This group continues the legend of the 1978 Paladins by simply refusing to believe that it can't be done.

Paladins Need to Drop their Bad Wildcat Habit

What started as a nightmare has turned into a potentially glorious season for Furman football. For only the second time in the last seven years, the Paladins will play games in November that count for something more than pride.

With their Homecoming win over 20th-ranked Samford, the Southern Conference frontrunner, Furman moved itself into position to potentially win the conference title. It was a win that no one would have anticipated as late as October 18, and it demonstrated the marked improvement of almost every area of this very young team.

Every area except the offensive game plan, which still includes the Wildcat. Furman needs some help from other teams to earn their first conference crown since 2004. They can do a lot to help themselves by losing the Wildcat.

In their usual display of school apathy, the Furman student body cleared Paladin stadium as soon as the Homecoming winners were announced on Saturday. They could do everyone a favor by taking that momentum-killer formation out the gate with them.

Plenty of people will point to the fact that the Wildcat has had some success this season for Furman. They scored one touchdown out of the formation, and actually completed a pass from it as well. The problem is not that the Wildcat is never successful at making positive yards. The problem is that its success is mitigated by the way that it kills the rhythm of the offense under quarterback Reese Hannon.

The ever-ambiguous "eye test" says that Hannon is at his best when he is in the game and running the offense. At LSU, where the Paladins used their "supplemental" offense very sparingly, Hannon looked incredible at ease and effective against a superior opponent. In spite of some good play against Georgia Southern and Samford, Hannon seemed off when exiting and re-entering the game.

The offense was absolutely stagnant for the majority of the second half last Saturday. Hannon looked completely out of sync and uncomfortable dropping back to pass on third down after running quarterback Richard Hayes III and tailback Hank McCloud were stopped for short gains on spread option plays.

This didn't cost the team in the game, thanks to stellar efforts by the defense. But eventually, it will. If Reese Hannon is the quarterback for this team, then he needs to be the quarterback. Let him win or lose the game running the offense that is suited for him. If he's ineffective or cannot get the job done, then use the Wildcat.

It doesn't seem to be as much of a problem if the Wildcat is used selectively, perhaps even on first down rather than second down. But it makes no sense to randomly run the starting quarterback to the sidelines in the middle of a series. It also doesn't help that Hannon is the only quarterback who is any real threat to throw the football. And Furman certainly can't afford to keep Hannon on the field in some decoy role, considering that he has missed time with injuries twice this season.

Here's the thing:  Furman has produced big plays on both sides of the ball in wins over Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Samford. They've also needed sustained drives at times in all of those games, and Reese Hannon is the man that produced those against all of those teams and against LSU. That's the long-term formula for winning offense and keeping a vastly improved defense rested.

If they plan to beat a much-improved Western Carolina team and the energy-draining, clock-consuming triple option of Wofford, they're going to do it with solid play from the starting quarterback. It's time to cut the cord for Reese Hannon, and let him be the quarterback/leader for the Paladin offense.

The Wildcat is a spare offense and should be used like a spare tire:  Only in the most critical and necessary situations. If Furman wants to make the most of their late season surge, they'll get it out of Paladin Stadium faster than the students.

Random Football Thoughts: Steelers Decline, SoCon Stinking, Gamecock Grumbling

The Pittsburgh Steelers have moved from the Solid Rock of NFL consistency to possible candidates for the Teddy Bridgewater/Jadeveon Clowney Sweepstakes. Yes, their performance on Sunday and a scourge of injuries could make the Steelers one of the worst teams in the league. 

No, that's not an exaggeration. An overreaction to one game? Maybe, but there are a lot more questions than answers about the Steelers right now. 

Throughout his career, Ben Roethlisberger has compensated for deficiencies in the Steeler offense, particularly along the offensive line. Now, there are questions about whether or not Roethlisberger still has the ability to do the same job after nine years of getting pounded by defenses (or other substances). The front office really has done little to protect Ben or empower him with weapons to continue his success.

Aside from puzzling, failed draft choices, the biggest question might be why the Steelers hired Todd Haley as offensive coordinator. Roethlisberger and Haley had a strained relationship from day 1, and their sideline interactions during the Titans game didn't demonstrate much improvement. As columnist Jason Whitlock tweeted during the preseason, "Todd Haley is going to get Mike Tomlin fired". 

The bigger question is this:  Why would a team hire a coordinator without considering the thoughts of its franchise quarterback? Coordinators are a dime a dozen. Good QBs are not. Can you imagine ignoring Peyton, Eli, or Tom Brady in such a decision?

You can't do anything about injuries. But if the Steelers stay the course they started on Sunday, they could be looking at a very high draft pick in 2014. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of confidence that they can do anything wise with it.

Some random thoughts from our first full football weekend:

-The Chip Kelly Hurry-up Works, for Now:  During the first half of Monday Night Football, twitter blew up with the news that Chip Kelly is a raging NFL success. Even I was guilty:

Yeah I think this Chip Kelly offense MIGHT be ok. #Eagles #NFL
— Tom LeGrand (@TheRev78) September 10, 2013

But then someone reminded me not to be "Overreaction Jackson", as most NFL commentators are:

@TheRev78 let's reevaluate in 10 weeks or so. Plus I think Shanahan is a terrible coach. He looks as confused as Lou Holtz.
— Brendan Buttimer (@brenb67) September 10, 2013

Kelly's offense slowed down--significantly--in the second half. And they had a very hard time getting cranked back up after they tried to slow it down and let some air out of the ball with a big lead. It was fun and entertaining, but it remains to be seen how this is going to play out long term.

An even bigger question:  Can it be sustained if Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, or DeSean Jackson get hurt at any point?

-RGIII had a nice preseason performance:  Also from Monday Night Football, where we still have to listen to John Gruden...
     For all the talk and all the emotion, Mike Shanahan was (gulp, snarl, *eyeroll*) was right. Robert Griffin III was not ready to play. And we were foolish if we thought he was going to roll out and play just like he did last season in the first game.
     I'm not nearly as disturbed as some seemed to be by Griffin's performance. As bad as he looked during a fiasco of a first half, he began to look very comfortable by the end of the game. Hopefully, he'll get two or three more quarters of preseason work and begin to look like RGIII again.

-Wait for it...Wait for it... :  Since Furman is now 0-2 against the Big South, we can expect that there will be a chorus of grumbles that the Paladins should get rid of Coach Bruce Fowler. There are some questions about the recruiting, play-calling, and general approach of the team.

     But are we really at the point where Furman fires coaches after less than three years? Fowler is starting freshmen on defense and a sophomore at quarterback. Can we at least give him a couple more years to develop his players and recruits, while looking for the positive impact of stadium improvements?

     While we're on the subject, I heard a Citadel alum the other calling for Kevin Higgins' head on a platter. As disappointing--and shocking--as the Bulldogs' start has been, let's slow the roll a little. We forget that Furman and The Citadel are not exactly recruiting carnivals. Higgins has had more time than Fowler, but a change seems premature for either school at this point.

     Maybe one of them could lure Mike Ayers away from Wofford, as I'm convinced that the man could coach another 30 years (seriously, he's got to retire sometime, doesn't he?).

Cock-Fighting:  It's illegal in this state, unless it's on the sidelines of a Carolina game. 

     Coaches were fighting during the game, and Jadeveon Clowney was complaining after it. Everyone in Gamecock Nation needs to calm down, take a step back, and realize that last Saturday was somewhat inevitable. First off, Carolina lost a ton of players off that defense from last season, and they're still trying to replace those guys.

     Second, you didn't think you were going to beat Georgia forever, did you? The Dawgs defense isn't much, but there is no question about the power of their offense. They have over 1000 yards in two games against top-10 opponents.

     Third, we've blown up Clowney into a cartoon character. he was never going to be what we have made him out to be, so let's come back to reality and let the kid just be a football player. And the coaching staff needs to get him into position to do some things this season.

     Finally, you've got Vanderbilt coming to town on Saturday, and they ain't coming for the barbecue. There are no cakewalks in the SEC, and you don't have time to fight or let frustrations spill over from the last game. You better make the adjustments and figure out what you need to do to win the next one.

SoCon Desperate for Furman, Citadel to Step Up

Nothing in the state of South Carolina will ever touch the intensity of the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry, particularly in the current era where both schools are nationally prominent. In the late 80s and early 90s, Furman-Citadel was about as close as you could get to a small school equivalent.

During those years, both games often occurred on the same Saturday in November. The Greenville News had a section on the sports page entitled "Braggin' Rights", where they would drown the front page in orange and garnet. From 1988-1992, they had a section called "Braggin' Rights Too", where they offered more coverage than ever to Furman and The Citadel.

In those five meetings, the Southern Conference title was on the line three times, with playoff births at stake four times. Both teams were ranked number one in the nation during these years. If the conference hopes to continue as a football power, they desperately need both teams to step back up to that level.

The ongoing carnage of the departures to FBS, the SoCon is counting on East Tennessee State, Mercer, and VMI to fill the void. That's two schools that didn't have football until 2013, one school that lost its football program, and three schools that have exactly zero conference titles and one playoff appearance in the last 30 years.

The Citadel has invested in significant facilities upgrades, and Coach Kevin Higgins has returned them to the triple option offense that led to their success in the early 90s. After last year's 7-4 campaign that included wins over scholarship-heavy Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, the Bulldogs have a chance to make a lot more noise in 2013.

It is a mystery to me why the Bulldogs were picked 4th in the preseason coach's poll and 5th in the media poll, unless it involves the heightened expectations at Samford and Chattanooga. I would not be at all stunned if the Bulldogs ended up with the second slot at the end of the season. Hopefully, that record will be enough to get them into the FCS playoffs.

Chalking up another round of wins at ASU, Georgia Southern or both would certainly help.

Furman is engaged in its own significant facilities upgrade. After a promising start to Bruce Fowler's tenure in 2011, Furman slid to 3-8 last season. Part of this can be attributed to the NCAA's peculiar--but not surprising--decision to deny Chris Forcier an extra year of eligibility. It can also be attributed to starting a freshman quarterback, and having a defense that regularly collapsed in the second half.

Will completing this project help Furman get back to the top?

Furman led in practically every game last season but couldn't close the deal. It remains to be seen if true sophomore Reese Hannon can learn to finish as well as he started. Much will also depend on how quickly the 13 defensive signees from last year's recruiting class can contribute.

While they found a gem in Hannon, the Paladins lost over 3000 yards of total offense and 16 touchdowns (including kick returns) with the departure of WR Will King, TE Colin Anderson, and all-world/all-everything Jerodis Williams. (Side note:  Both Anderson and Williams are currently fighting for roster spots with the Minnesota Vikings).

There is cautious optimism that the Paladins can start climbing back up the ladder this year, although they are not expected to challenge for a conference title or playoff berth. But one thing is certain:  Coach Bruce Fowler knows Furman, knows the SoCon, and knows how to win. In the chaotic atmosphere of the changing of the SoCon guard, anything can happen. At the very least, Paladin fans are hoping that a renewed commitment to the football program will pay off sooner rather than later.

The Southern Conference is hoping for the same thing, kind of a "Back to the Future" deal with both of these schools. With the "big boys" (in their minds at least) leaving, someone needs to step up to keep the conference in the two and three-bid range in football. Chattanooga and Samford have yet to prove that they can be consistent. If Furman and The Citadel cannot step it up, then Wofford may be the only hope.

And Mike Ayers can't coach forever.  Can he?

Where Does the Southern Conference Go Now?

Well, some might say "good riddance" to the latest defectors from the Southern Conference. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are now leaving for the joys of Tuesday night football, sparing all of us the "joy" of taking our life into our own hands as we drive through Statesboro.

It's a huge blow for the SoCon, along with the loss of the College of Charleston to the Colonial Athletic Association. ASU and GSU have nine national championships between them, and College of Charleston has represented the league exceptionally in basketball and baseball. It really hurts the profile of the conference on a national level.

Now, the question is this:  What can the SoCon do to get that profile back on top, both as a I-AA (sorry...FCS) football power and as a "mid-major" in other sports?

The obvious response is to add teams. But who should they add?

Everyone knows the standard criteria that every conference should consider when adding member schools:  Academic compatibility, athletic commitment, facilities, and geography (media markets, recruiting regions, and--at least in FCS--proximity).

But two other criteria need to be considered:  Endowment and graduate programs.

Endowment doesn't indicate the amount of $$$ that schools will have to spend on athletics. But it is an indicator of the alumni commitment and the ability of the school to raise money. This means potential for paying to hire/retain coaches, build better facilities, and add or improve sports.

Grad programs may seem to be the oddball in the discussion (Furman has few, Wofford still has none). Make no mistake, these programs are the new cash cow in higher education. Again, they don't mean that athletic departments will directly benefit. But it does mean that the institution has revenue streams that will allow them to designate money towards athletics.

With all these in mind, who are the candidates and who should the Southern Conference wine and dine?

1.  Mercer University

-Est. Endowment:   213 million

-Est. Enrollment:  4500 undergraduate, 3800 graduate

This is An Affair to Remember for a revamped Southern Conference. The Bears should be the #1 candidate for the Southern Conference, as they open their first season of football in 2013.

It's a geographic fit, picking a Georgia school to replace a Georgia school. They have multiple campuses, including graduate programs and a medical school in Atlanta. They have an established basketball program and begin football under Bobby Lamb. As a former SoCon Player of the Year and head coach at Furman, Lamb is familiar with all the expectations of the conference.

There is no question about Mercer's academic history or reputation, and there doesn't appear to be any sign of downgrading. With a growing alumni base, a share of the Greater Atlanta market and tremendous potential, Mercer is easily the cream of this crop...and Lamb's trips back to Greenville should be, well, intriguing.


2.  Gardner-Webb University

-Est. Endowment:  48 million

-Est. Enrollment:  2700 undergraduate, 1600 graduate

The Bulldogs' growth in the last 20 years is nothing less than impressive. A look around the campus reveals brand new facilities all around, including relatively new, extremely attractive football and basketball facilities. The alumni base is growing, particularly as the University continues to add graduate programs. It is absolutely a natural geographic fit, 40 miles west of Charlotte and less than two hours' drive for Furman, Wofford, Western Carolina, and Davidson.

The problem is that Gardner-Webb's athletic history, fundraising possibilities, and media market offer absolutely nothing. Directions to the school are, "Go to the cow pasture, and take a left!" There is very little nearby to entice fans, and the school does not have a great athletic tradition on which to build.

Gardner-Webb may end up in the SoCon some day, but it should be as a result of expansion after more viable candidates are pursued.


3.  Presbyterian College

No.

I'll just let you read the numbers from this link. (Okay, so it's Wikipedia...even there, they don't look like a good candidate).


4.  Coastal Carolina

-Est. Endowment:  23.5 million

-Est. Enrollment:  8360

Here's the good:  Coastal Carolina has a demonstrated commitment to athletics. Even as a new football program, they've been to the FCS playoffs several times and boast several NFL players. They've also been to the NCAA tournament in basketball and baseball (probably their strongest sport). It would give the SoCon a strong presence along the coast to replace College of Charleston. Their facilities are terrific, and they show a solid commitment to getting better. Their baseball program would be a welcome addition to an already strong conference. (College baseball may not be big business everywhere, but it is in South Carolina).

Here's the bad:  Coastal's academic reputation is not the best, and several school presidents seem opposed to their inclusion. Their endowment isn't great, nor is their pool upon which to draw donors, since the school is relatively new. However, with additional graduate programs and a growing alumni base, that may be destined to change.

Coastal may not be making any of the top 10 lists in US News, other than the one for party schools. But it's certainly no worse academically than Georgia Southern or other potential candidate East Tennessee State, and their profile is steadily improving. SoCon school presidents might have to swallow their pride (snobbery?) in order to get this up-and-coming program into the fold.


5. William and Mary

-Est. Endowment: 644 million

-Est. Enrollment: 6171 undergraduates, 2087 graduates

This makes sense on so many levels that they are almost as good a fit as Mercer. The only negative is that travel to Eastern Virginia is a headache, but the return may be worth the investment.

W and M is a former member of the Southern Conference. They offer access to recruiting in the Central/Tidewater/Northern Virginia area, not to mention those media markets. Their endowment and alumni base is solid, and they have a strong commitment to athletics (especially football). Not to mention they boast Mike Tomlin as an alum.

Yes, it's a long ride to Williamsburg. But if schools could make the trip in the 60s, then it shouldn't be a problem now. And you can take a side trip to Busch Gardens while you're at it.


6. East Tennessee State

-Est. Endowment:  97 million

-Est. Enrollment: 10,259 undergraduate, 2589 graduate

Well, Johnson City Community College may want to come back to the SoCon!

That's not an inaccurate assessment of ETSU from its previous stint in the league, but that may all be changing. The addition of numerous graduate programs, including a medical school, has elevated the school's academic profile. It's not Harvard, but it's no longer Harvard on the Hill, either.

The Bucs have a long-standing basketball tradition, and they are returning to the football field as well. Fortunately for all involved, they won't be playing in the Mini-Dome, a facility that resembles a design from an exercise yard at a state penitentiary. (In fact, I'm pretty sure the playing surface wasn't even that good). A new stadium and a new program give the Bucs some appeal.

I'm still not sold on ETSU. The Tri-cities area is beautiful and growing, but the Vols still rule the roost. It's not fertile ground for recruiting or media, and their loyalty is not stellar (they already left the conference once). Its academic reputation will be a question mark for some SoCon schools. But once again, it's not any worse than Georgia Southern.

So what are the top picks for the SoCon, from one independent blogger's perspective?

Top-Shelf:  Mercer, William and Mary

Good Buy on Special:  Coastal Carolina, ETSU

Happy Hour Only:  Gardner-Webb

Cheap Stuff You Bought in College:  PC

Another Big 10 (plus 2) Farce Cuts Out the FCS

Well, praise the Lord for Barry Alvarez!

The Citadel and Furman and Wofford can all fall prostrate before him and shout in adoration, "We're not worthy! We're not worthy!" Because that's exactly what Alvarez thinks of FCS opponents for his Conference of the 1%, otherwise known as the Big 10. He and his fellows athletic directors have declared that they will no longer play FCS opponents.

We'll ignore the fact that the ADs were playing video of the AppSt/Michigan game while they made this decision. Barry has saved us from the embarrassment of watching our little guys from around South Carolina from having to play the "mighty" Big 10 teams.

Thank you, Big 10, for solving a problem that wasn't a problem. Unfortunately, it could become a big problem FCS schools just trying to make budget, particularly FCS schools that are near and dear to the Palmetto State.

Small schools have been playing "money ball" against big schools for decades. The objective is a nice, fat paycheck. Mix in the occasional upset and it's not a terrible system.

Yet, writers and pundits are suddenly concerned that someone is going to get "hurt" in one of these games. I don't know of a single instance of an FCS player losing a limb or severing an artery just because their opponent had Buckeyes on the back of the helmet.

I've argued on the air on ESPN Spartanburg about these FCS schools "prostituting" themselves in this way, and I still don't get it. It gives these smaller schools a chance to play in a setting and on a level of which they normally just dream. It offers them an opportunity to play David in the Goliath passion play and see if their best may just be good enough against a big-time program.

Here's the thing:  Some fans and bloggers believe this will mean better regular-season match-ups for Big 10 schools. I dare you to check in two years for the replacement schools for these FCS games. You won't be seeing Texas or 'Bama or Southern Cal. But I'm betting you'll see a lot of Marshall and Toledo and Middle Tennessee State.

They may be FBS (artist formerly known as Division I), but does anyone think MAC Conference USA teams are that much better than Wofford or The Citadel or Furman?

There is legitimate concern around the Southern Conference that other conferences may follow suit, although this is not set in stone. Southeastern Conference schools have plenty of tough games in their own league, and certainly don't need to ramp up the schedule. Unlike the Big 10, they play real football. The ACC might be more likely, especially since they've been embarrassed more than once against the FCS. But that could create some scheduling nightmares and end some long-standing connections.

Besides, the SEC seems content with their "SoCon Challenge" each year. Here at home, both Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier support the idea of continuing to play "home grown" FCS opponents. Death Valley was full last season for Clemson-Furman, so this seems like a positive arrangement (although Spurrier might prefer to leave off the option teams in the future).

Still, it could all change very quickly. There is even some rumblings that the NCAA may try to ban games between FCS and FBS. (And we all know that things can only get better when the NCAA gets involved).

No matter what some people are saying, this really isn't about these schools "prostituting" themselves or safety or fair competition or better games for season ticket holders. This is, as always, about one thing:  Money.

The Big 10 believes that it would be more profitable for them to leave FCS opponents off the schedule, and they may well be right (particularly if they have another Mountaineer Fiasco on their hands). But this is also about an ongoing desire of the BCS-level conferences to keep their money and not share it with anyone, least of all FCS.

And that's okay. FCS will be fine and continue to play a more pure brand of football that is designed for the last remaining bastion of true student-athletes in the nation. It would just be nice if people like Alvarez and his Big 10 brethren would drop the charade and just speak the truth. They may not know how many teams they have in their conference, but they know that they want every one of their schools to keep every dollar available.

That's fine. At least our FCS teams know how to count. We'd rather play real football teams in the SEC anyway.

Appalachian, GaSo Better Look Before They Leap

And so we have entered the latest round of "Pop Goes the Weasel" in college football.

The Big 12 is chasing the ACC.  Florida State is chasing the Big 12.  Clemson is hiding in the bushes waiting to see what Florida State does.  The Big East is chasing anyone with a football team.  The SEC and Big 12 are racing for football dominance, and perhaps forming a not-so-secret secret alliance to get it.

It's getting to be a Pepe Le Pew cartoon, only we're pretty sure that there are multiple skunks and very few innocent cats who had unfortunate encounters with white paint.  Maybe the cat is Notre Dame, being chased by everyone while trying to maintain its chastity as an independent and feigning the illusion that they are above all this money-grubbing and back-stabbing.

They're also pretending to be relevant enough to be above this feeding frenzy, but that's a different column.

The real losers in all of this are going to be the likes of Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Troy, BYU, and others in the "mid-major" category that unofficially exists in college football.  And if they're not careful, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern will be losers as well.

The Mountaineers and Eagles are in the "No Man's Land" of college football.  They're too big to be in FCS (the artist formerly known as 1-AA).  They have dominated that division, and they really can't continue to "grow" their athletic programs if they stay put.  Appalachian fans have already begun to develop a bit of apathy towards the division.  How can you help that after you beat Michigan in the big house?

At the same time, they have to make a huge financial investment to risk moving up with the "big boys" in FBS (1-A).  While they may reap huge financial benefits, they will be relegated to Tuesday night games on ESPNU and no realistic hope of winning a national title.

All indications are that AppSt and GaSo are movin' on up.  But it is a difficult decision to make.

Now, the decision is becoming even more difficult.  At some time in the future, we are going to see a "Big 64" in college football.  Or perhaps 65, if the imaginary pole cat that is Notre Dame keeps getting away.

When that happens, the Gravy Train to the MAC, Conference USA, etc. will come to an end.  The true title contenders will swallow up the pie that is now cut for those schools.  There will still be money, but it won't be nearly the "cash cow" of the past.

Will the money be big enough to make the move worth it?  Is it reasonable to expect fans to come out for that big trip to Detroit or Shrevport in late December?  Or will the NCAA actually create a three-tier championship that will give teams like the Mountaineers and Eagles a chance to win a title?

Either way, these are huge and uncertain risks for any school considering a jump up to FBS.  I do not envy at all the administrations at Appalachian or Georgia Southern as they consider all this.  What was once a "no brainer" from a financial standpoint now seems as uncertain as ever.

If these two teams leave the Southern Conference, it will create a brief sigh of relief for Furman, Wofford, etc.  Their departure would give permanent FCS members in the SoCon a more realistic shot at a conference title.  But it would also weaken the conference overall and may actually hurt the Conference's chances to win a National Championship.

A lot hinges on what Appalachian and Georgia Southern decide to do.  Most of all, the future of their athletic departments and all things tied to them are at stake.  Before they join the race around the Mulberry Bush, they better thing long and hard about whether or not it's worth the chase for the big bags of cash.  Because those bags may not actually be there.

No, I wouldn't want to be at the top of any athletic department faced with making this decision in the current college football climate.  It will be a shame if Appalachian State and Georgia Southern join the chase, only to realize that what they caught really was a skunk.