Georgia Southern’s second — and final — appeal to appear in a bowl game this season has been denied, USA Today reported Tuesday.
This season is Georgia Southern’s first at the FBS level, and the basis for the latest appeal was that the Eagles’ 8-0 Sun Belt record and conference championship should be grounds for admission into a postseason contest. That appeal — and also, apparently, that of fellow first-year Sun Belt/FBS club Appalachian State, who was also bowl-eligible — fell on deaf ears.
Wright Waters, Executive Director of the Football Bowl Association, explained the reason for the rule keeping out first-year teams to USA Today:
“The FCS members insisted upon it because they didn’t want people moving from FCS to FBS too easily, so they felt like this year of transition helped them keep their members in FCS,” Waters said. “We can debate whether it does or not. Then the FBS membership kind of said, ‘OK, sure we understand that, we’ll go along with that but our reason for going along is because (players) can transfer from FBS to FCS and become eligible immediately. They said, ‘We don’t want a bunch of people to transfer in May from all of our programs and in September we see them again playing for bowl spots.'”
“It was imperative for our student-athletes’ benefit that President Keel and I took this appeal to the highest level and explored the possibility of being able to go to a bowl game, and unfortunately with today’s decision, they have been denied for the second year to compete in postseason,” said Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein in a release. “Even though Georgia Southern may not be considered a ‘deserving team’ by the committee’s definition, what this team accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary, and we felt our efforts warranted a chance to continue to play.”
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Wow. This may be one of the biggest jokes I have heard recently. Georgia Southern obviously knew this was the rule going into this season but I doubt they imagined they would have this successful of a first yr. I think that it is a joke that this is being controlled by the FCS. What a ridiculous thought to have, thinking that if they make a bowl the first year that this will encourage teams to leave. Georgia Southern was a dominant force in the FCS and the Southern Conf. for many years. This is and should continue to be the only reason a team should be allowed to move up a division. If they earn it with their record then they deserve it. I personally had the privilege of watching them play many times and boy was it worth it. Did anyone see them play GT? They practically had them beaten. It's just unfortunate people don't think of the players more than their personal financial agendas. The senior class that is finishing up is being restrained from playing in the FCS playoff and being denied a bowl berth. What a crummy way to end a well accomplished season. They deserve another game but will walk out with their heads held high. But don't think for one minute they will ever forget not being rewarded for what they rightfully earned. Lame as it gets!
That's the rules and they knew it going in - this isn't a surprise. I'm sure they'll be in plenty of bowls in the future.
True, they will be in more but sucks for the seniors this year. But thanks for the great comment and insight.
Because the seniors had no idea that their program would be held to the same standard as every single other school making the transition? You sir are the one that lacks insight, fanboy.
Many people say the whole "you knew the rules going in" thing, but while that is true....It doesn't really address the real point here, imo. It is also within the rules to appeal, and within the rules to be denied, so I don't see anyone trying to break, or having broken, any rules throughout this. I am happy as an Eagle fan for the accomplishments this year...I don't think anyone could have reasonably expected much better of a season and transition than what was accomplished this year, but talking about knowing the rules doesn't give any justificiation for whether the rule is a "just" rule. Georgia Southern had success this year with less than other teams in the conference had, due to still not having had time to fill the total slot of scholarshiped players associated with the move etc. Where is the justification for excluding a team that does more with less? The whole argument about the rule keeping teams in FCS is bogus anyway because teams just don't "move up"....generally speaking (because I'm sure there is an exception in existence somewhere), a team has to be invited. Without that invitation, a school can want to move up all it wants... I guess a 9-3, undefeated in conferece champ can watch a 6-6 South Alabama team (a team that Southern beat along the way) play in a bowl...
Everyone knew this could likely happen given the rules, but given the waivers that have been granted in the past (such as conference champ Ga Tech being admitted to play in a bowl with a losing record a few years ago), it would have been nice to get equal recognition. A bit disappointing, but winning the conference outright, with the final game being at home etc., in the first year is a hell of an accomplishment Eagles! A season to be proud of!
GO EAGLES! GATA!
Then the discussion should be to change the rule, not to bend the rule for this instance. I don't agree with the GaTech ruling either - same with UCLA. But sadly look at the brands behind those waivers compared to GaSo, that's why it happened. And I'm not surprised at all with your team's success, I an alum of Sam Houston State and saw first hand what Coach Fritz can do.
Awesome post JD. Totally agree with everything you said.
Fwiw, our AD has stated he plans to continue to work to get the rule changed. It's a nonsensical rule that takes care of itself the vast majority of the time. It isn't often(if ever, as far as the undefeated conference play goes) that a team does what Georgia Southern did this season as a first year team, but in those rare occasions where a team pulls it off, it certainly doesn't make sense to not reward the achievement.
As for Fritz, I at least am overly impressed, and I'm hoping he hangs around for a while! I like the style of play we've had this year. A nice blend of what's familiar with something new.
Technically a team is "invited" to the FBS after they apply. The FBS doesn't go around and arbitrarily invite a team to the FBS. I think Georgia Southern absolutely deserves to go to a bowl game they had an amazing year and yes maybe the rule should be changed,but for now it is what it is. I'm sure the seniors will live through this disappointment. But to whine about something you knew was a HUGE possibility is simply silly. If you want to change the rule than advocate for it somewhere that it can make a change instead of on a message board. Also, Georgia southern has other options than watching a 6-6 team who was beaten by GS play in a bowl game, they can change the channel.
Just supposed all the bowl games are plum out of 6-6 teams......just askin'. If one more team is needed, to they take a 5-6 U. of Buffalo team?
That quote from Mr. Waters is misleading once you declare your move to FBS all transfers must set out one year just like if they are trasfering from one FBS school to another. Georgia Southern has 4 FBS transfers playing on the 2-deap and 3 of those transferred before they even got the Sun Belt invite so I call BS on Mr. Waters reasoning.
Georgia Southern lost to NC state after fumbling at the Wolfpack 1 yard line inside three minutes to go up by 13. The Eagles were about to take a 10 point lead on Georgia Tech inside a couple of minutes until the ACC officials in the booth overturned a forward pitch and called it a fumble. GS lost by 4 when Tech scored in the waning seconds.
All GS did in the Sunbelt was go undefeated. Last year was a transitional season and the Eagles were not eligible for the FCS playoffs and now this. The NCAA needs to re-think the entire process,
Good point, "Rou"........two seasons with no postseason possibilities, regardless of classification, is a flaw.
Well, maybe the staff will work hard to get a lot of the players on the various Senior and All Star games. Seems like the Senior Bowl should get the whole Georgia Southern staff and seniors for one of the sides.
David and Rou. Agreed. Great point. Good old Shep is prolly on the spectrum and can't understand what it means to be left out when you have earned something. He reads the rules and agrees instead of thinking for himself. But hey, this day in age he fits right in.
But those are the rules. GSU knew that going into the process, and still chose to do so. It should be no surprise to anyone that they are being held to the same standards that were set. They've been the rules for many years, and all the teams before them were subject to the same process and standards for transitioning. GSU is one of the very rare cases when an FCS team comes in and can actually compete on the field. Typically FCS programs take many years to set up an even mediocre FBS program.
I am an alum of 3 very different schools in the world of college athletics:
- Central Michigan University, which went 6-6 and did not get a bowl invite last season. By the rules, if they had this record this year and the MAC allotments were filled, they would/should absolutely get an invite before GaSo because that's the rules
- Sam Houston State University, which has firmly been a Top 25 FCS school that has explored the possibility of moving up similar to system school Texas State
- Michigan State University, which will have the doors beaten down to bring them to town if they are 6-6
You're just a butthurt homer that doesn't want to play by the rules.
Not at all butthurt. Not one bit, just don't like lame rules that have no legitimate reasoning. Continue to walk btw the lines and live in a box and so as your told. U.S. In a nut shell.
So let's say Charlotte comes in and has a great first season at the FBS level and Georgia Southern has a decent 6-6 year with all of the SBC bowl tie-ins being taken by other teams, you think that Charlotte should go instead of your school, correct?
I don't think a 6-6 team has any business playing in a bowl anyway...I think a winning record should be required, 7-5 or 6-5(if that is possible). But yeah, if Charlotte or anyone has a jam up first season they absolutely should go bowling over a 6-6 Georgia Southern. As a Southern grad and fan, it would feel crappy, but teams that get it done on the field shouldn't be sitting at home because some other team that has been around for a few years, and has a mediocre record, doesn't want their feelings hurt.
If Southern goes 6-6 in a given year (which is bound to happen at some point perhaps), there won't be any celebration going on in Statesboro.
They should schedule a Sun Belt championship game with ULL
They should let GSU and UAB play a game at Legion Field. It would be cathartic, and GSU would get a postseason game.
One of the best ideas I have heard in a long time. Tweet tweet.