Future of FCS

[Fresno St. Alum]

yes but will you go without a home? Texas St. sounds like they are staying until they get a call from the Belt or the WAC. JSU's only hope is the Belt. Georgia So. did a study too. It doesn't mean they'll go. I can't see JSU waiting around as an Indy for all sports waiting for a FBS/all sports home. Most conf. will kick you out if you take your football elsewhere. JSU should probably will wait so they don't burn their bridge with the OVC.

[Keeper]

Only Divisions II, III, and the NAIA seem to have transparent futures at this point.

The haves and have-nots in the FBS (thanks to BCS) will undoubtedly be re-defined by the NCAA
in the coming years. All of Division I in all sports may be re-evaluated, unless football is somehow
totally exempted by legal action, instead of partially exempted as it is now.

If BCS schools (and other mega-budget athletic schools) refuse to rein in their expenses (counting
obscene coaching salaries), a sizeable chunk of FBS schools will surely be reclassified.

Division I is a highly bloated, widely disparate entity, and may be drastically reduced, much to the
chagrin of many FCS football schools. It's been over 30 years since the last re-classification and
long overdue. The FCS is more likely to increase in number despite some "move-ups".

It all depends on which schools can raise the most money to play big-time sports.

[JSU02]

yes but will you go without a home? Texas St. sounds like they are staying until they get a call from the Belt or the WAC. JSU's only hope is the Belt. Georgia So. did a study too. It doesn't mean they'll go. I can't see JSU waiting around as an Indy for all sports waiting for a FBS/all sports home. Most conf. will kick you out if you take your football elsewhere. JSU should probably will wait so they don't burn their bridge with the OVC.

If the NCAA will let us go without a home, we will -- our Trustees are dead set on it. The only thing I foresee slowing it down would be a requirement to already have a conference. Our trustees have already gone on the record saying they want to be in the Sunbelt, and geographically, we are a perfect fit. After the conference realignment dominoes fall, the Sunbelt is gonna need more teams.

[TexasTerror]

So why couldn't Texas St. or UTSA be allowed to do the same?

Times are different. I do not think the membership was thrilled by ULM sticking around. That school benefited from the FBS profile in recruiting and financial aspects. The same could be said for other schools. North Texas was a different time.

Why doesn't this surprise me in the least? You don't even work for the SLC, nor attend games but I see you were all over this one.

I do not attend games? That's funny. The most recent game I attended was as Strawberry Stadium this past year as the Bearkats and Lions hooked up in Hammond, La. RabbidRabbit and GeauxLion94 can attest for this appearance.

And as far as the SLC, I did outreach to the SHSU President, who at the time was one of the members of the executive board of the league, if not the President of the board. He and I have worked before.

I wasn't around in 2000 to care. As for the calling out of UTSA, it's my opinion, give it a rest. You seem to miss the point that I don't want TXST to move up and if they do, they will get what they deserve too. But, the 2 schools are going about it in a different way.

I don't spend my life trying to dismantle other schools, nor do I have the time to read every damn thing that happens in committees, etc. I actually have a life.

I know you do not want TXST to move up. I've read enough of what you have written.

This is not 2000 we're talking about, we are talking about the 'Drive', which you have been around for. I am sure you remember some of the awful remarks about the SLC academically and athletically made by individuals at your school and/or affiliated with the school.

If you think UTSA is running the SLC through the mud by saying they are not good enough, your own school is just as guilty.

[kuntryboimike]

LibertyCAN and WILL fill the seats. not RIGHT away tho. the only thing holding LU's numbers back are the number of dorms on LU. there maxed out every year andevery year liberty builds more dorms. as we get more dorms up i promise libertys numbers will grow on campus and in the stadium.

[89Hen]

all of the speculation that Texas St., Lamar, Sam Houston St., Jacksonville St., App St., Georgia Southern, JMU, ODU, Georgia St., Montana, Sac St., Cal Poly, UC-Davis, Liberty, and Charlotte could potentially make the jump

[danefan]

I'd suggest that if a situation ever arose where the BCS collapsed or was forcibly opened up, I'd believe that FCS and FBS would become one, very similar to college basketball. Of course there will be a talent disparity, but no one seems to mind in basketball.

The BCS schools would cease to sponsor NCAA football if that ever happened. They would start a "minor league" for football and give the NCAA the 1 fingered salute all the way to the bank.

Too much money $$$$$$$$$$$$.

I agree on the non-BCS schools. I could see a reduction in scholarship limits somewhere between 63 and 85 followed by the upward movement of FCS and the downward movement of non-BCS FBS.

[chrisattsu]

This is not 2000 we're talking about, we are talking about the 'Drive', which you have been around for. I am sure you remember some of the awful remarks about the SLC academically and athletically made by individuals at your school and/or affiliated with the school.

If you think UTSA is running the SLC through the mud by saying they are not good enough, your own school is just as guilty.

CatMom, in this case Terror is right. Our fans used this propaganda to pass the Athletic Fee increase. They did not necessarily go after the Texas members of the SLC (with the exception of Lamar), but I remember hearing supporter calling the Louisiana schools- 'trade schools', 'culinary academies', and other things that were far worse.


I guess the biggest difference that I see between our situation and UTSA is swagger. Texas State was careful to tiptoe around the issue- We explored it, decided that the university could support it , used this information to sell the students on a fee increase and got our donors pumped to give money, but said we need to spend the next few years getting pieces in place so that we could make the move if the call came.
From the Drive's Website

Over the next four to five years, Texas State will make itself as attractive as possible to university presidents and conference commissioners in hopes that we get accepted into a FBS conference. While several conferences are attractive, the key is to find a conference that is a good fit for Texas State.

Truthfully, I am still leery about our athletic department. I am still waiting for the "well we tried, but nobody was interested maybe we should throw more money at the problem and try again later".

As for UTSA. We all knew that FBS football was their final goal from the beginning. Did I think that they were going to start in the SLC? Yes, but they probably gauged support and found that (much like the Texas State situation) alumni and donors claimed that they would only support FBS. Every other move that they have made so far as been about flash. Raise the Athletic Fee to start football, Hire Coker, have him travel around the country pimping the program as much as a possible, and now call this independent and ready for FBS card. Hickey has been (and is still part of ) several NCAA committees, I can't believe that she would be reckless enough with their resources that she would make this call without already having something lined up.

[TexasTerror]

CatMom, in this case Terror is right. Our fans used this propaganda to pass the Athletic Fee increase. They did not necessarily go after the Texas members of the SLC (with the exception of Lamar), but I remember hearing supporter calling the Louisiana schools- 'trade schools', 'culinary academies', and other things that were far worse.

I guess the biggest difference that I see between our situation and UTSA is swagger. Texas State was careful to tiptoe around the issue- We explored it, decided that the university could support it , used this information to sell the students on a fee increase and got our donors pumped to give money, but said we need to spend the next few years getting pieces in place so that we could make the move if the call came.

Chris - thanks for agreeing with me! I know you are probably one of the more well-versed TXST fans on everything expansion, realignment and so forth, so it does help to have your agreement.

As for UTSA. We all knew that FBS football was their final goal from the beginning. Did I think that they were going to start in the SLC? Yes, but they probably gauged support and found that (much like the Texas State situation) alumni and donors claimed that they would only support FBS. Every other move that they have made so far as been about flash. Raise the Athletic Fee to start football, Hire Coker, have him travel around the country pimping the program as much as a possible, and now call this independent and ready for FBS card. Hickey has been (and is still part of ) several NCAA committees, I can't believe that she would be reckless enough with their resources that she would make this call without already having something lined up.

You know, it was not until recently that I believed that UTSA would start in the SLC.

If you recall, I kept asking the SLC office and UTSA for information pertaining to UTSA's status of joining the conference. The most recent bit of correspondence indicated that UTSA was moving into the SLC in '13 per their media relations office, after consulting with the AD.

And Hickey is one of the most 'active' as far as the SLC goes on the national scene. Would lump her and Tom Burnett on equal footing, since Burnett is very active in the FCS scene.

[jcmanson]

Building a stadium and filling it don't go hand in hand. If you're going to move up you better be prepared to put 15,000 asses in the seats a game or you're quickly going to be sent down. I have no doubt that JMU, App, and Texas State could meet that requirement, but Liberty and Jacksonville St are probably dreaming.

Don't talk about what you don't know. Liberty already averages right at 15,000 in attendance for the past 2 seasons and that's with a 12,000 capacity. In September our stadium will hold 19,000

[kuntryboimike]

more peoplewoulda came if they knew theyda had a seat instead of sittn n the grass

[henfan]

So whats real and what is not?

When a school makes a formal announcement that they will be reclassifying their FB program on thus-and-such a date and the NCAA approves the move, that's when it's real. Until that happens, it's not real. Simple as that.

Stadium expansions, speculation, rumors, idle wishing, boastful proclaimations, etc. should be taken at face value. If it's your thing, have at it, just don't mistake it for the actual reality created by the boards of institutions of higher learning and permitted by the NCAA.

[Fresno St. Alum]

There is no rule saying you must have a conference to join FBS. The rule is if you are invited to be D-I by a conference from D-II you can move. You can't move from D-II w/o a conf. invite. JSU is D-I, if they wanna be a FBS Indy go ahead. If the OVC kicks them out for all other sports then hope the Sun Belt will add you soon.

Sun Belt would look at these schools first, UTSA, Charlotte, Georgia St., Texas St., then Jacksonville St.

[JSU02]

You are right, there currently is no rule requiring a conference home to make the FBS jump, but I suspect there will be one before the moratorium is up. Thats what the NCAA just added for the jump up from D-II.

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.

[49RFootballNow]

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.

[Fresno St. Alum]

You are right, there currently is no rule requiring a conference home to make the FBS jump, but I suspect there will be one before the moratorium is up. Thats what the NCAA just added for the jump up from D-II.

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.

Technically UNCC could move to FBS in 2015. They only have to be FCS for 2 years. I think you're right about 2017 being more likely.

[dbackjon]

You are right, there currently is no rule requiring a conference home to make the FBS jump, but I suspect there will be one before the moratorium is up. Thats what the NCAA just added for the jump up from D-II.

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.

Technically UNCC could move to FBS in 2015. They only have to be FCS for 2 years. I think you're right about 2017 being more likely.

They would have to spend two years, minimum in FCS, then the two year transition to FBS, at a minimum.

Of course, when the new rules come out, who knows what it will be.

[Fresno St. Alum]

I don't think D-I cares if you are D-I already. I don't see a extra rule being thrown in late to stop FCS moves. They don't want D-II schools coming in trying to get a piece of the D-I bball tourney pie unless a conference wants them. No more Savannah St and NJIT. I don't think they care that WKU went and USA started and UTSA wants to go. Any of them moving doesn't hurt D-I at all.

[49RFootballNow]

Technically UNCC could move to FBS in 2015. They only have to be FCS for 2 years. I think you're right about 2017 being more likely.

They would have to spend two years, minimum in FCS, then the two year transition to FBS, at a minimum.

Of course, when the new rules come out, who knows what it will be.

This has been my understanding of the rules and was what USF did. Two years of full FCS play and two years of transistion play. I have not heard of a waiver for schools already in a conference for other sports that sponsors FBS football (USA). As USF was a full CUSA member when they started football, I doubt this waiver is possible. Charlotte would most likely not go the 4 year route, but probably would move up before 2020.

[dbackjon]

They would have to spend two years, minimum in FCS, then the two year transition to FBS, at a minimum.

Of course, when the new rules come out, who knows what it will be.

This has been my understanding of the rules and was what USF did. Two years of full FCS play and two years of transistion play. I have not heard of a waiver for schools already in a conference for other sports that sponsors FBS football (USA). As USF was a full CUSA member when they started football, I doubt this waiver is possible. Charlotte would most likely not go the 4 year route, but probably would move up before 2020.

No waivers. WKU easily fulfilled the two years in FCS, but still had to do the two year FBS transition, even though they were already in the Sunbelt for all other sports.

[collegesportsinfo]

Enough with the attendance requirement talk. Many FBS schools fall below it, have forever, but the NCAA hasn't done anything about it. It was a rule put in place that the weak-ass NCAA has never done a thing about.

[DKHardee]

I heard on AGS that Charlotte will join the Big South Conference when they first start the Football program. Anyone else heard this? I hope they do.

[49RFootballNow]

I heard on AGS that Charlotte will join the Big South Conference when they first start the Football program. Anyone else heard this? I hope they do.

Your commissioner has already released a comment in the Charlotte Disturber saying that the Big South was not interested in affiliate memberships for schools with FBS intentions, so the answer is highly unlikely we'll join the Big South. Our AD is supposed to speak with the CAA commissioner sometime after the UNC Board of Governors vote the 12th of this month.

[JDCGSU]

According to the feasibility study GSU just completed the vast majority of every group polled, outside of the faculty who was still slightly in favor, wants to move up. We just don't have compotent enough leadership to take on that task at this time.

[T-Dog]

The thing with App St is even though they are probably in the best position out of all the current FCS teams to do so, no one outside the athletic department knows what the future plans are. It's like it's a federal secret.