Body bag games

[mgfan]

Why don't we schedule any? It seems like every other school in the nation has at least one. Would it hurt to schedule one FCS or Div II team? It would help us iron out some of the wrinkles and gives us a win under our belt. I just don't get why we don't have at least one on our schedule.

[MDH]

Look in the mirror.

[Censored by Laurie]

This should be fun.

[mgfan]

Look in the mirror.

Are you trying to say we can't beat a low ranked FCS or Div II team?

[MeanGreenTexan]

Are you trying to say we can't beat a low ranked FCS or Div II team?

No. He's saying WE are the bodybag game.

Only just now, like THIS SEASON, are we able to pay a school to come here. Lo, and behold... next year, we have Texas Southern coming to town. You get your wish!

[mgfan]

I get that we are often a body bag game for others. Just don't get why we don't have one every year. Didn't have one in 09, 10, or this year. RV needs to get one every year. Doesn't make sense why he doesn't.

[NTXCoog]

There is no doubt that UNT can beat and probably beat badly a lower level FCS team.

The question becomes is it profitable to play them. Besides an easy guaranteed win, one reason teams play FCS schools is they are generally cheaper to play than an FBS school and don't usually require a return visit to their stadium. It becomes profitable for both schools, the FBS school makes more money because they don't have to pay as much and can schedule more home games every season, and the FCS school gets more money than if they'd played another FCS school even at home.

The sticking point is getting enough fans in the seats to make money after the payout. If not, you might as well go on the road and play for pay unless you're in the position where you can accept losing money, or you sign series deals with FBS schools and hope to make money at least every other or third year with those games.

[MDH]

A body bag game for us would have to be a very low FCS opponent. Where we are right now, we couldn't pummel Texas State 55-7. So then you risk a close game (heaven forbid a L) to an FCS opponent.

And of course it makes $en$e, but maybe now with our Apogee naming rights and increased season tickets,donations, student fee etc we can think about it.

[greenjoe]

A couple of years ago, RV stated that we could net as much playing at home with "X" number of paid attendance as playing a big money game on the road. I don't remember what that number was (15K ?)but I recall it not being too too high. Hopefully, with the increase of season ticket sales and a renewed support of our students, we can play at Apogee instead of traveling. Do I understand as of right now we only have 5 games scheduled for next year ?

And speaking of money games, I'd like to see NT raise the fee for money games. $1 million guaranteed. Too high ? Find somebody else.

[ColoradoEagle]

The number was that if we could average 25,000 in attendance, he could afford to drop the money games. That was for Fouts; I'm sure that number has changed for Apogee.

For the guarantee, I know our game with Georgia (either next year or year after) is for $975,000.

[mgfan]

I honestly just want a body bag game so we can have one OOC win and wrinkle out the horrible play we saw against FIU. This years OOC schedule is ridiculous. Thank God we have one next year

[GrayEagle]

One reason that we haven't recently is that we have been trying to reestablish ourselves as a legitimate member of the FBS. Failure against a FCS team would be devastating.

Another reason has been that it wasn't rewarding to have 12,000 fans at Fouts to see us play a patsy. We simply do not have the fan base to pay a "body bag" to come here.

Those games have been the most boring in my memory. Who can never forget Samford, Indiana State or Nicholls State?

Next year you may have your wish. Texas Southern is scheduled to come here in what should be considered a body bag game. If we are successful (winning and drawing a decent crowd) then you may see that occur more in the future. But, I hope not.

Edited September 7, 2011 by GrayEagle

[eppy4life]

One reason that we haven't recently is that we have been trying to reestablish ourselves as a legitimate member of the FBS. Failure against a FCS team would be devastating.

This. The risk/reward isn't equal. We lose that game and we're screwed. We win and... so what?

[mgfan]

This. The risk/reward isn't equal. We lose that game and we're screwed. We win and... so what?

And we gain confidence, mesh together as a team more, get some of the kinks out, maybe even try some new plays, and get some guys who normally wouldn't play some time and experience under their belt. I see the downside of having a body bag game, put there are also positives. Maybe instead of having a Tulsa we could have had an easy win game.

[foutsrouts]

I generally like the idea, but for now we need to be very careful in choosing which bodies to stuff in the bag. Sul Ross plays 60 year olds, so maybe we should call them?

[MeanGreenDan]

Are you trying to say we can't beat a low ranked FCS or Div II team?

[Green Mean]

Are you trying to say we can't beat a low ranked FCS or Div II team?

Not sure if that is what he is saying but I will definitely say that it is questionable if we can beat an FCS team at this point. In 2 years it will probably be different but we're not good enough yet to take that risk.