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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 7, 2018 15:08:24 GMT -5
If you are reading this, consider yourself blessed. You have been alive during the greatest period of excellence in the 92-year history of our football program. Two HBCU national titles, 3 MEAC championships, 3 victories over FBS programs, the first 12-0 season in school history, an undefeated record on Homecoming, the first at-large playoff birth in school history, a miraculous improvement of the program's APR score, zero scandals or public relations snafus, and a number of former players who have gone on to represent the school in the NFL - including 2017 rookie Pro Bowler Tarik Cohen. After Small, Fobbs and Lee, it's like we somehow won the football lottery when Broadway arrived in 2011. Our overall winning percentage during that time span has been a stunning 72.8 percent. Our record at Aggie Stadium has been 33 and 5. However, it's also been documented that over 70 percent of lottery winners go broke within seven years. Why? Because they often don't a have a plan to sustain their newfound wealth. www.nydailynews.com/life-style/tragic-stories-lottery-winners-article-1.2492941And that leads me to my original question. As a fanbase, what is our vision moving forward? Do we try to aggressively build on this success and elevate the program to even greater heights ... or do we maintain the status quo and just ride it out and see what happens?
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Post by bseballaggie on Jan 7, 2018 15:29:34 GMT -5
My vote is to push the p button, Elevate while we have the Staff and recruits to do so
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 7, 2018 15:57:48 GMT -5
I think you make Broadway the first $400K man in HBCU football and sign him to a 4 year deal. That will allow him to develop another senior class and give you time to name a coaching-in-waiting or set up a succession plan. Then you name the stadium after him. Next year Aggie Stadium is officially renamed Rod Broadway Stadium. If you want to sell future naming rights you can still broker the playing field or parking lot or Strickland Fieldhouse our something. But the stadium name goes to Broadway. Trust me: we will receive a tremendous amount of media coverage and free publicity by this move. After that, I would consider improving our athletic branding by redesigning our bulldog logo. Renick got duped when he unveiled it in 2002. The company that designed our logo just stole the template from Western Carolina. Since then Western Carolina has upgraded their logo with a more modern look. We should consider doing the same.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 16:02:49 GMT -5
We do have an ability to pay Broadway for this next contract, without messing up the applecart of athletics.
But we do need to continue the trend of increasing Aggies donating to athletics.
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Post by Aggie9195 on Jan 7, 2018 16:07:40 GMT -5
UGH!!!!!! oh well! It had to happen at some time!
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 7, 2018 17:35:09 GMT -5
Also, I do not think the MEAC remains a FCS conference in 5 more years.
I see SCSU dropping down to D2 in all sports once Pough retires, followed by NCCU and Norfolk. Once that happens the Florida schools will have no reason to remain and it will become a virtual footrace to see who can secure a lifeboat before the Titanic is underwater.
Hampton saw the writing on the wall and got a spot in the Big South. Morgan is probably waiting to see how the Pirates adjust to their new home and then try to follow suit.
We need to be preparing our exit strategy right now.
No MEAC means no Celebration Bowl. No Celebration Bowl and no playoffs means the SWAC will probably all drop down to D2. They have no incentive not to.
It is conceivable that A&T could be one of the few, if not the only, HBCU playing at the FCS level by 2023.
Good news for us is that we are currently the largest and one of the most visible HBCUs in the nation.
It is absolutely imperative that we maximize our current position to secure our future.
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Jan 7, 2018 17:57:29 GMT -5
Where do we go?
Step 1. First, lock Broadway in for another run. Step 2. Make NATIONAL prominence the goal as a university, with football being the front porch. Right now we are still a regional school. Step 3. In 2019, take D2 teams off the schedule unless it is WSSU. Commit to a FCS/FBS out of conference schedule. Reason: Upgrade the play on the field by upgrading the competition during the season. Step 4. Win at least two of the next three Celebration Bowls. Establish dominance in that game. Hope Southern gets in so that the SWAC elite all get beat by us. Step 5. Beat Elon the next two times we play them. 2019 and 2020. Step 6. By 2021, unseat Grambling as the BCF icon to new recruits who would have seen us multiple times in the Celebration Bowl by then. Step 7. By 2021, remove all excuses for inability to recruit competitively ie. facilities, championships, TV games, NFL looks, quality of education, etc. when competing against upper level FCS schools and lower level FBS schools for recruits. Step 8. Expect and prepare to develop at least one NFL draft pick every other year and at least one NFL roster spot every year.
That list of goals should keep us busy for the next 4-5 years.
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Post by Maxell on Jan 7, 2018 18:22:30 GMT -5
It is conceivable that A&T could be one of the few, if not the only, HBCU playing at the FCS level by 2023. Someone please tell me why Tennessee State has just been a middle-of-the-road football school in the OVC for over 30 years? That just perplexes me. And why have they not done something about it in all that time? As far as the MEAC goes, the presidents have to have a larger vision and the financial resources to support it. If they don't have either one, then D2 it is. How about this question. Has NCCU coming to FCS football measurably benefited the school in the last five years? They've done all the things we have as far as championships, but has the school reaped the benefits enough to fight to stay? Why or Why not? I know A&T has seen the whole athletic program improve but that was part of our strategic plan developed when Martin got here.
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Post by numberonebrave on Jan 7, 2018 18:50:15 GMT -5
Time to start talking revenue... what does elevate mean FBS or bigger FCS Conference? NCAT does not currently raise enough money to accomplish what is being discussed
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 19:09:56 GMT -5
Where do we go? Step 1. First, lock Broadway in for another run. Step 2. Make NATIONAL prominence the goal as a university, with football being the front porch. Right now we are still a regional school. Step 3. In 2019, take D2 teams off the schedule unless it is WSSU. Commit to a FCS/FBS out of conference schedule. Reason: Upgrade the play on the field by upgrading the competition during the season. Step 4. Win at least two of the next three Celebration Bowls. Establish dominance in that game. Hope Southern gets in so that the SWAC elite all get beat by us. Step 5. Beat Elon the next two times we play them. 2019 and 2020. Step 6. By 2021, unseat Grambling as the BCF icon to new recruits who would have seen us multiple times in the Celebration Bowl by then. Step 7. By 2021, remove all excuses for inability to recruit competitively ie. facilities, championships, TV games, NFL looks, quality of education, etc. when competing against upper level FCS schools and lower level FBS schools for recruits. Step 8. Expect and prepare to develop at least one NFL draft pick every other year and at least one NFL roster spot every year. That list of goals should keep us busy for the next 4-5 years. I like this list.
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DECKS
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Post by DECKS on Jan 7, 2018 20:07:59 GMT -5
1. Grow the AAF to the point where it funds all athletic scholarships. 2. Stop scheduling D2 games. 3. Build a turf practice field
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Post by aggieepower1990 on Jan 7, 2018 20:30:57 GMT -5
2030 HBCU FCS programs remaining: TSU, Hampton, NCA&T, FAMU, and maybe Grambling & Southern. The problem with D2 is that your school must likely will not grow it’s enrollment and educational mission. I wonder what the market cap is for an HBCU in terms of enrollment size, research dollars, alumni giving, athletics and winning? A&T has to be close to the cap or at least in the top three absent basketball.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 8, 2018 11:51:02 GMT -5
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 8, 2018 11:57:59 GMT -5
BTW: it's not ironic that since that article was published, SCSU has gone 5-6 and 3-7.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 8, 2018 12:24:23 GMT -5
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