By David Butler
SouthernPigskin.com

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Appalachian State’s move to the FBS will afford the program with many beneficial opportunities.

nIn May 2013, Appalachian State announced it would be leaving the Southern Conference to join the Sun Belt at the beginning of the 2014 season. Statistically speaking, App Statexe2x80x99s football team has been the most competitive in the Southern Conference through the duration of the past decade.

nSince 2004, App State has a 79-19 record, three national championships, six conference championships, a win on the road at Michigan, and produced a streak of seven consecutive playoff appearances. App Statexe2x80x99s landmark victory over Michigan long stood as the lone recent signature win of the Southern Conference until Georgia Southern’s win against the Florida Gators to conclude the 2013 season. Incidentally, Georgia Southern will also move up to the FBS starting in 2014 as well.

nThe Mountaineers are averaging 25,000 fans per game, which is a higher attendance than any other Sun Belt team.xc2xa0 There is no doubt that the Mountaineersxe2x80x99 dedicated fan base will help the Sun Belt increase its revenue flow.xc2xa0 An average of 25,000 fans is 6,000 more than the second-highest attendance average in the conference in 2011. App State and its rich football tradition will enter the Sun Belt with a bigger following than FAU, FIU, Western Kentucky, Troy, and South Alabama had when they became new additions to the conference. Boone, North Carolina, the stomping grounds of the App State faithful, has great scenery, which will be pleasant to visiting fans looking to attend an away game. Kidd Brewer Stadium has an electric atmosphere that is rarely matched by similarly-sized institutions throughout the nation.

nHere is the underlying question with the Mountaineers’ conference move: What can the Sun Belt offer a school like Appalachian State? One of the most important things the Sun Belt brings to the table is the chance to be on TV more often.xc2xa0 Outside of the FCS playoffs, App State is rarely on national TV. But with the Sun Beltxe2x80x99s TV package, the program will have the potential to captivate a national audience.xc2xa0 This could help tremendously with athletics, but it could also increase the amount of applications students send to the university.

nAs an added bonus of joining the FBS, App State will also have the opportunity to earn its way into playing in the new bowl playoff system. The chance to attend a bowl game in New Orleans to support the progra, would be more attractive than going to Montana to watch a playoff game.

nObviously, there will be growing pains for the team, but App State has accomplished many feats on the FCS level. The Mountaineers will have a chance to play amongst the big boys in the FBS with an equal number of scholarships. App State is certainly not going to be the next xe2x80x9cUniversity of Alabamaxe2x80x9d overnight, but it is reasonable to envisage the level of success accomplished by schools such as Southern Miss, Tulsa, Houston, or Boise State.

nThis will be an opportunity for App State to attract bigger-name opponents to its home stadium. Schools like Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State have visited Sun Belt teams in the last decade. How much would App State fans love to see teams like Wake Forest or the University of North Carolina play a game in Boone, North Carolina? The possibilities are endless.

nExpect more revenue, larger crowds, and more fan interest with a move up to the FBS level. It is going to be a wild ride for sure.