Future of FCS

[AppMan]

Everyone keeps talking about UNCC as if they are poised to jump from FCS to FBS as soon as the moratorium ends. I didn't think they were gonna start football until 2013; that means they won't be FBS until 2017 at the earliest. I think they have the potential to be a great addition to an FBS conference, but I don't think they are gonna be much of a player in the up coming realignment. I don't see UTSA in the Sunbelt at all--too far west. They will either go to the WAC with UNT and TxST and Lamar, or to CUSA with UNT. C-USA loves a big metro areas.

I'll be curious to see if CUSA stays together once all these large metro schools add football. Georgia St. and Charlotte will be tempting for the CUSA east teams and UTSA will catch the eyes of a lot of CUSA west schools. Both sides have complaints about travel issues (at least the extreme ends like ECU, UCF). As a former CUSA member with a little basketball crediblity, my 49ers should get a hard look when we move up.

We of course have set no timeline to move up, but it should be before 2020.

I noticed you didn't mention ASU as a possibility for CUSA. How can a program just beginning its second year and one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

[commodore_dude]

I noticed you didn't mention ASU as a possibility for CUSA. How can a program just beginning its second year and one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

I've read very few ASU fans talking about interest in moving up. Personally I think y'all could do it, you've got a great tradition and fan base and moving up would give y'all a lot more TV exposure (though I must say it'll be hard to top the first game I watched on the Big Ten Network... went over quite well at my tailgate ). I don't think CUSA is necessarily the answer though, I feel like after the expansion dominos start to fall most of their new teams will come from the Sun Belt. Since Charlotte has CUSA history I could see them getting an invite depending on when changes start to happen, but unless the conference splits I doubt many more teams moving up will. I think it'll be more realistic to see CUSA split east and west of the Mississippi:

New SWC (you know somebody still owns the brand and it would be a smart move to use it):
-LA Tech
-Tulane
-Tulsa
-Houston
-North Texas
-Rice
-SMU
-TXST
-UTEP
-UTSA
-couple more slots for SLC schools, western Sun Belt schools (UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, AR State) or more easterly WAC schools if that conference dissolves (New Mexico State, Utah State)

New southeastern conference:
-ASU
-Charlotte
-ECU (if no Big East invite)
-UCF (if no Big East invite)
-FAU
-Georgia State
-Georgia Southern
-Marshall
-Memphis (I don't think it makes geographical sense for them to be invited to the Big East but I could be wrong)
-Southern Miss
-Troy
-UAB

And if any of those schools end up in the Big East, sounds like there may be 2 or 3 other regional schools that could move up to either the Sun Belt or this new conference.

[jhanel]

The only way more than two schools go to FBS, any time soon, would be if a whole conference were to move to FBS.

[Pigskin Steve]

There is a huge amount of Appalachian State fans and alums that want to be in FBS.
Most of us are just tired of talking about it and want some action. A C-USA invite would be welcomed. Especially if it was going to become more geographically feasible in the near future.

We are often told that we would not have spent 52 million for a huge football stadium upgrade, new baseball fields, huge renewed emphasis on basketball wins and other things without plans to move to FBS.

When our athletic director came in about five years ago, he told fans that we would be FBS in five years. That was before the four year moratorium that ends next year.

I recall that our Average regular season football attendance was 28,747 last year. That was before the stadium expansion opened this year. Do not know what this years was, but had terrible rain and or sleet almost every game day.

[JALMOND]

It is funny that we are now talking about schools moving up to FBS when just a month ago we were talking about schools that were going to follow Hofstra and Northeastern into oblivion. The truth is that you need money to make the move up, whether increased sports funding, increased reasearch facilities, or even increased travel costs. Most of us have "bigger brothers" who demand a bigger piece of state funding to stay relevant in their own higher visibility conferences (Portland State has Oregon and Oregon State), so to get any additional funding on the state level is a big hurdle. It is always fun to speculate about moving, but the money situation has to be addressed and, with each of our economies in such a flux, that is the biggest hurdle to overcome.

[49RFootballNow]

I'll be curious to see if CUSA stays together once all these large metro schools add football. Georgia St. and Charlotte will be tempting for the CUSA east teams and UTSA will catch the eyes of a lot of CUSA west schools. Both sides have complaints about travel issues (at least the extreme ends like ECU, UCF). As a former CUSA member with a little basketball crediblity, my 49ers should get a hard look when we move up.

We of course have set no timeline to move up, but it should be before 2020.

I noticed you didn't mention ASU as a possibility for CUSA. How can a program just beginning its second year and one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

Whether there are 5 or 5,000,000 App fans wanting to go FBS, there's not anyone I've heard in your administration talk about it, that's why I didn't mention App. I have seen Chancellor Peacock say many nice things about staying in FCS.

one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

You remember that we spent ten years in CUSA, won the basketball tournament a couple times? Not saying App isn't worthy of a CUSA invite but we have history IN CUSA, fit their typical profile of large urban research universities, and would help them get an extra bid to the NCAA tournament.

All this is academic till CUSA loses teams or splits.

[AppMan]

I noticed you didn't mention ASU as a possibility for CUSA. How can a program just beginning its second year and one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

Whether there are 5 or 5,000,000 App fans wanting to go FBS, there's not anyone I've heard in your administration talk about it, that's why I didn't mention App. I have seen Chancellor Peacock say many nice things about staying in FCS.

one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

You remember that we spent ten years in CUSA, won the basketball tournament a couple times? Not saying App isn't worthy of a CUSA invite but we have history IN CUSA, fit their typical profile of large urban research universities, and would help them get an extra bid to the NCAA tournament.

All this is academic till CUSA loses teams or splits.

Large, urban, reasearch universities? ECU - large but not nowhere close to urban, Marshall - neither large (14,000) nor urban, So Miss - same as Marshall, Rice - small but urban, SMU medium size (11,000) but urban. Tulsa - 4,165 students somewhat urban although city is in the middle of nowhere, Memphis urban but not large (15,000), Houston def large & urban, UTEP - med size (17,000) but how urban can El Paso be?, Tulane - urban but not large (6,000), UAB - urban, but about same size as ASU. I don't see that much of a difference.

[49RFootballNow]

Whether there are 5 or 5,000,000 App fans wanting to go FBS, there's not anyone I've heard in your administration talk about it, that's why I didn't mention App. I have seen Chancellor Peacock say many nice things about staying in FCS.



You remember that we spent ten years in CUSA, won the basketball tournament a couple times? Not saying App isn't worthy of a CUSA invite but we have history IN CUSA, fit their typical profile of large urban research universities, and would help them get an extra bid to the NCAA tournament.

All this is academic till CUSA loses teams or splits.

Large, urban, reasearch universities? ECU - large but not nowhere close to urban, Marshall - neither large (14,000) nor urban, So Miss - same as Marshall, Rice - small but urban, SMU medium size (11,000) but urban. Tulsa - 4,165 students somewhat urban although city is in the middle of nowhere, Memphis urban but not large (15,000), Houston def large & urban, UTEP - med size (17,000) but how urban can El Paso be?, Tulane - urban but not large (6,000), UAB - urban, but about same size as ASU. I don't see that much of a difference.

You're right, we are more like a Big East school than a CUSA school!

[Fresno St. Alum]

I think that if the timing was right and the BE went to 12 that Charlotte is the only FCS that has a shot. CUSA even better shot because they were a former member and CUSA for the most part wants big cities or a school with a bowl tie in, or at least is after that now after losing all those members to the BE. N.Texas, S.Alabama, M.Tenn.St., Charlotte, UTSA, Georgia St. Boone just isn't a big market even though App St. could beat all of them. Thus La. Tech isn't in CUSA and a good football school like Troy would get hosed by CUSA too.

[∞∞∞]

Georgia State isn't in a big market for the Big East? I think Georgia St. is almost the perfect candidate for the Big East, granted they find a better basketball arena to play at.

[JBB]

Since NDSU already averages over 15,000 and inside sources told me several years ago the long term goal for NDSU was FBS football they are in the mix. I have recently been told the Fabulous Fargo Dome could be reconfigured to 22,500. Thats much better than 18,000 and a good middle step to a larger stadium giving NDSU the ability to host Big 10 and Big 12 teams.

The best chance seems to be a reorganized WAC possibly Montana, NDSU, UCD and Poly leaving Montana St and UND with the Big Sky. I pick Montana and NDSU because both schools are closer to making the move than MSU or UND when looking at stadiums.

Im not sure the FCS has much of a future. Its starting to look to me creating the division to appease BB was a mistake. Play at the FBS level with all other sports or go to D2.

[Monarch Nation]

Georgia State isn't in a big market for the Big East? I think Georgia St. is almost the perfect candidate for the Big East, granted they find a better basketball arena to play at.

Provided they can actually get some people to show up for games and then (now here is the tough part) win them. Other than that I see no problem with Ga State fitting into the Big East.

[ASUMountaineer]

I noticed you didn't mention ASU as a possibility for CUSA. How can a program just beginning its second year and one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

Whether there are 5 or 5,000,000 App fans wanting to go FBS, there's not anyone I've heard in your administration talk about it, that's why I didn't mention App. I have seen Chancellor Peacock say many nice things about staying in FCS.

While this is true, I don't think ASU's completion of a $50 million stadium enhancement was to stay FCS. There's no reason for Peacock to speak publicly about it right now, what with the moratorium in place. I could be wrong, and I would be ok with that, but reading the writings on the wall...it appears to me, that ASU has plans to move up.

[kuntryboimike]

Liberty is also expanding ALL of the stadiums on campus. football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track & field, etc....its spending $22 million on the football stadium from 12,000 to 30,000 over the next 5 years. phase 1 will add 6,800 seats to the stadium, a banquet room in the new building that seats 800 and 1,000 seat class room. i dont no if the class room will have much of a view for a football game tho. so phase 1 that will be complete this coming september 4th will make our seating capacity almost 20,000. phase 2 and 3 which will be complete sometime within the next 5 years will bring a seating capacity of 30,000. there's no dates as to when this would happen (probably not for a while) but they built the stadium so that 30,000 more seats can be added later on which will bring us to 60,000. There are also plans to expand the vines center seating to 11,000 (for athletic events) along with a new look. The plans look great! im excited to see both stadiums when there complete. i dont no the details of the other fields being expanded. (these are just my thoughts) but i don't believe Liberty is doing all this just to stay in the FCS either...im not saying other schools dont have a chance at all because they certainly do llike app state for example. im saying liberty is a definate possibility "if there ever was an opportunity for some fcs teams to move up" and don't rule them out.

[49RFootballNow]

Georgia State isn't in a big market for the Big East? I think Georgia St. is almost the perfect candidate for the Big East, granted they find a better basketball arena to play at.

Provided they can actually get some people to show up for games and then (now here is the tough part) win them. Other than that I see no problem with Ga State fitting into the Big East.

GSU's biggest problem is the proximity of Georgia and Georgia Tech. If they can overcome that then they'll be fine. Basically GSU has to assume that after the first 150,000 college football fans in Atlanta they'll be several 30,000 left over for them. They'll need to be creative with the schedule to try to be home when GT is away and visa versa, and of course they'll always have to bend to the Falcon's will. It's doable, but will require long term committment from the administration at GSU.

[Fresno St. Alum]

I had Georgia St. as an option after Charlotte in one of these threads, but they need a new basketball arena and not be at the bottom of the CAA in basketball most of the time. If you suck in the CAA you'll suck in the BE. Charlotte is good at basketball and doesn't have Duke & UNC in the same town. The new BE will want members who can play basketball. Temple, Memphis etc.... because they'll be losing powers like Villanova & Georgetown to the split, Syracuse to the Big 10. No split none of this conversation matters.

[TBirdz]

I do not think there is going to be an all-out split in the big east. Your right, the BE loves basketball and they are going to continue to be arguably the best bball conference in the country. Instead of a split, I think you are going to see Depaul and Marquette eventually be moved out of the BE into either the MVC or A10. Then I think you will see either Providence, Seton Hall, or Notre Dame leaving (probably 2 of the 3) to give the Big East 12 members. That would set them up to add 4 all-sports members, including football, to give them 16 bball members (which is where they are now) and 12 football members (which would allow them a conf champ game). The four I see being added are Memphis, UCF (natural rival for USF), ECU, and probably Charlotte (start of an ECU rivalry). Of course this is all just opinion and would be altered greatly if the Big10 adds a BE member, however, I see them adding Missouri instead.

[49RFootballNow]

I had Georgia St. as an option after Charlotte in one of these threads, but they need a new basketball arena and not be at the bottom of the CAA in basketball most of the time. If you suck in the CAA you'll suck in the BE. Charlotte is good at basketball and doesn't have Duke & UNC in the same town. The new BE will want members who can play basketball. Temple, Memphis etc.... because they'll be losing powers like Villanova & Georgetown to the split, Syracuse to the Big 10. No split none of this conversation matters.

I do not think there is going to be an all-out split in the big east. Your right, the BE loves basketball and they are going to continue to be arguably the best bball conference in the country. Instead of a split, I think you are going to see Depaul and Marquette eventually be moved out of the BE into either the MVC or A10. Then I think you will see either Providence, Seton Hall, or Notre Dame leaving (probably 2 of the 3) to give the Big East 12 members. That would set them up to add 4 all-sports members, including football, to give them 16 bball members (which is where they are now) and 12 football members (which would allow them a conf champ game). The four I see being added are Memphis, UCF (natural rival for USF), ECU, and probably Charlotte (start of an ECU rivalry). Of course this is all just opinion and would be altered greatly if the Big10 adds a BE member, however, I see them adding Missouri instead.

We're not putting our cart before our horse at Charlotte. We'd be super pleased to get back into CUSA one day. The Big East is a pipe dream for us right now. In the immediate future we'd be pleased with a CAA affiliate membership.

As for the Big East splitting, It will either be the football schools leaving the basketball schools as a group or not at all. The reason Marquette and DePaul got to go along for the ride in 2003 was so the basketball schools could hold equal serve (8 - 8) on the football schools. This is why Notre Dame is tolerated. If the football schools finally get tired and leave the basketball schools will keep whatever TV contract that's in place at the time and the Big East name. I'd look for the A-10 catholic schools and maybe Temple (if not invited to the football conference) to get an invite to the Big East remnant. Xavier, Dayton, St. Joes, Temple and maybe St. Louis. If Charlotte is playing FBS at the time the Football schools may give us a look.

I think until the Big East gets a knock from another conference (Big 11 maybe) they'll do nothing. It's a marriage of convienence, and despite the occational football complaint, no ones going anywhere till forced and no one else is getting invited till its absolutly needed.

[TBirdz]

I wonder if we are forgetting a team when discussing all of this FCS to FBS stuff, Southern Illinois. I know they have invested mega-millions in renovating the bball arena, building a new athletic facility, and built a brand new football stadium. Have they discussed moving up? I'm guessing potentially Sun Belt or MAC. Also, what about Illinois St.?

[Fresno St. Alum]

no one will just leave the BE for a lesser conf. You can't make them leave unless they did something really wrong like UTPA in the late 90's and Chicago St. a few years ago. The Summit can't tell SUU, umm you need to leave because we want a better school.

[UAalum72]

no one will just leave the BE for a lesser conf. You can't make them leave unless they did something really wrong like UTPA in the late 90's and Chicago St. a few years ago. The Summit can't tell SUU, umm you need to leave because we want a better school.

Isn't that what the Big East said to Temple (tho they were just a football affiliate)?

[49RFootballNow]

I wonder if we are forgetting a team when discussing all of this FCS to FBS stuff, Southern Illinois. I know they have invested mega-millions in renovating the bball arena, building a new athletic facility, and built a brand new football stadium. Have they discussed moving up? I'm guessing potentially Sun Belt or MAC. Also, what about Illinois St.?

Southern Illinois has MAC written all over them, Especially with Temple making it an odd 13 and Northern Illinois already there. Now the question is does SIU have the ablility/interest?

[Fresno St. Alum]

no one will just leave the BE for a lesser conf. You can't make them leave unless they did something really wrong like UTPA in the late 90's and Chicago St. a few years ago. The Summit can't tell SUU, umm you need to leave because we want a better school.

Isn't that what the Big East said to Temple (tho they were just a football affiliate)?

You can kick out an affiliate whenever you want. They are not a true voting member of the Conf. If the CAA wanted to expand for another all sports member the football affiliates don't get to vote on that. Like I said you can't just tell Seton Hall you're out. Seton Hall isn't gonna say lets take less money and go to the A-10 who doesn't have near the tv money and tv exposure of the BE.

[slycat]

I noticed you didn't mention ASU as a possibility for CUSA. How can a program just beginning its second year and one which is not even in existence yet have a better chance at CUSA than one with a proven history and tradition of ASU?

I've read very few ASU fans talking about interest in moving up. Personally I think y'all could do it, you've got a great tradition and fan base and moving up would give y'all a lot more TV exposure (though I must say it'll be hard to top the first game I watched on the Big Ten Network... went over quite well at my tailgate ). I don't think CUSA is necessarily the answer though, I feel like after the expansion dominos start to fall most of their new teams will come from the Sun Belt. Since Charlotte has CUSA history I could see them getting an invite depending on when changes start to happen, but unless the conference splits I doubt many more teams moving up will. I think it'll be more realistic to see CUSA split east and west of the Mississippi:

New SWC (you know somebody still owns the brand and it would be a smart move to use it):
-LA Tech
-Tulane
-Tulsa
-Houston
-North Texas
-Rice
-SMU
-TXST
-UTEP
-UTSA
-couple more slots for SLC schools, western Sun Belt schools (UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, AR State) or more easterly WAC schools if that conference dissolves (New Mexico State, Utah State)

New southeastern conference:
-ASU
-Charlotte
-ECU (if no Big East invite)
-UCF (if no Big East invite)
-FAU
-Georgia State
-Georgia Southern
-Marshall
-Memphis (I don't think it makes geographical sense for them to be invited to the Big East but I could be wrong)
-Southern Miss
-Troy
-UAB

And if any of those schools end up in the Big East, sounds like there may be 2 or 3 other regional schools that could move up to either the Sun Belt or this new conference.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that Texas St owned it but I can't find anything to back this up.

[49RFootballNow]

I've read very few ASU fans talking about interest in moving up. Personally I think y'all could do it, you've got a great tradition and fan base and moving up would give y'all a lot more TV exposure (though I must say it'll be hard to top the first game I watched on the Big Ten Network... went over quite well at my tailgate ). I don't think CUSA is necessarily the answer though, I feel like after the expansion dominos start to fall most of their new teams will come from the Sun Belt. Since Charlotte has CUSA history I could see them getting an invite depending on when changes start to happen, but unless the conference splits I doubt many more teams moving up will. I think it'll be more realistic to see CUSA split east and west of the Mississippi:

New SWC (you know somebody still owns the brand and it would be a smart move to use it):
-LA Tech
-Tulane
-Tulsa
-Houston
-North Texas
-Rice
-SMU
-TXST
-UTEP
-UTSA
-couple more slots for SLC schools, western Sun Belt schools (UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, AR State) or more easterly WAC schools if that conference dissolves (New Mexico State, Utah State)

New southeastern conference:
-ASU
-Charlotte
-ECU (if no Big East invite)
-UCF (if no Big East invite)
-FAU
-Georgia State
-Georgia Southern
-Marshall
-Memphis (I don't think it makes geographical sense for them to be invited to the Big East but I could be wrong)
-Southern Miss
-Troy
-UAB

And if any of those schools end up in the Big East, sounds like there may be 2 or 3 other regional schools that could move up to either the Sun Belt or this new conference.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that Texas St owned it but I can't find anything to back this up.

I know that all the materials from the Southwest Conference HQ (papers, records, memorabilia, physical property) is at Texas Tech.

http://www.swco.ttu.edu/location/Manuscripts/index.php

Who owns the name? Don't know but I bet its these guys^^^^^