Changing Date of FCS NC Game

[GrizMadman2]

Far as I know, the FCS will change the date of the FCS NC game to January. I don't recall what specific date is considered, but I believe it's some time in the week before the BCS NC game. I think the FCS NC game will gain more interest if it's scheduled after the BCS NC game, say during the week (not weekends) between the BCS game & NFL playoff games. That way, I think those missing college football will have one more crack at it.

For example, this year the BCS NC game was on Jan. 7, a Thursday. Well, why not have the FCS NC game on the following week, say on a Tues., Wed., or Thurs.?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Far as I know, the FCS will change the date of the FCS NC game to January. I don't recall what specific date is considered, but I believe it's some time in the week before the BCS NC game. I think the FCS NC game will gain more interest if it's scheduled after the BCS NC game, say during the week (not weekends) between the BCS game & NFL playoff games. That way, I think those missing college football will have one more crack at it.

For example, this year the BCS NC game was on Jan. 7, a Thursday. Well, why not have the FCS NC game on the following week, say on a Tues., Wed., or Thurs.?

The BCS would never go for that probably, they want their game to be the end of the college football season. The gmae (FCS NC) is scheduled for the night before the BCS game this next year I think. It's a Sunday night (Jan. 9th?) I think.

[GannonFan]

So now we want to move it back even further? There's already going to be a 3 week gap between the semifinal games and the championship game as it is now. This would make it a month in between. Heck, I might have to study the roster in that time so I don't forget who's who on each team with that kind of layoff.

[SpeedkingATL]

I guess I'm just old and resistant to change but the system we've had in place appeared to work fine. I'm not crazy about the added teams for next year, but having a 3 week break will result in some rusty teams playing for the NC and a loss of momentum. It does give more time for travel planning and possibly cheaper airfares.
As others have expressed, playing the night before the FBS Championship maybe we'll get some additional viewers, but let's see how much airtime goes to previewing the FBS game, the Heisman, and all things FBS.

Not broken = don't fix.

[putter]

I guess I'm just old and resistant to change but the system we've had in place appeared to work fine. I'm not crazy about the added teams for next year, but having a 3 week break will result in some rusty teams playing for the NC and a loss of momentum. It does give more time for travel planning and possibly cheaper airfares.
As others have expressed, playing the night before the FBS Championship maybe we'll get some additional viewers, but let's see how much airtime goes to previewing the FBS game, the Heisman, and all things FBS.

Not broken = don't fix.

Well most bowel teams get about a month off or longer so I don't think it will affect the teams. May actually help with injuries. I just hope the NCAA makes ESPN promote this game a little more so it does not get lost in the hype of the BCS

[JayJ79]

I wonder if there will be an increase in academic problems with the change.
With the old schedule (NC played in December), the games were done before the fall semester ended (or at least not too long after), where as moving to January, fall semester grades have already come out, and in some instances, spring semester (or interim term) has already started.

Aren't there usually a number of FBS players who aren't able to play in bowl games because they've become academically ineligible after fall semester grades come out? I don't recall hearing about that with the FCS playoffs as they were.

Also, would this change possibly require players, who might otherwise graduate after fall semester, to enroll in and extra semester of classes in order to participate in the NC?

[danefan]

I wonder if there will be an increase in academic problems with the change.
With the old schedule (NC played in December), the games were done before the fall semester ended (or at least not too long after), where as moving to January, fall semester grades have already come out, and in some instances, spring semester (or interim term) has already started.

Aren't there usually a number of FBS players who aren't able to play in bowl games because they've become academically ineligible after fall semester grades come out? I don't recall hearing about that with the FCS playoffs as they were.

Also, would this change possibly require players, who might otherwise graduate after fall semester, to enroll in and extra semester of classes in order to participate in the NC?

I don't know about the eligibility issue but it will not effect the bolded portion. Its the same as with the NCAA baseball tourney. The game is still considered a fall semester contest.

[JMU DJ]

The BCS would never go for that probably, they want their game to be the end of the college football season. The gmae (FCS NC) is scheduled for the night before the BCS game this next year I think. It's a Sunday night (Jan. 9th?) I think.

Agreed about the BCS, I think viewership of an FCS NC game after the FBS Championship would be similar to that of the NFL Pro Bowl. That said, I don't think moving the FCS NC the night before, or even the week before will increase the amount of viewers/interest. It's already been noted on this board that the viewership of the FCS NC trumps that of some of the lower tier bowl games... even the irrelevant "Goodyear Tire Bowel" or whatever it's called that is played between Troy and Ball State a few days before the FBS Championship. The FCS NC may draw more viewers because it's a "Championship" game, but I think some will be more interested in listening to Mark May blather on about some minutia the day before the FBS NC rather than tune into "Double A" Football (as noted by the reference on "House" last night ).

[BDKJMU]

Far as I know, the FCS will change the date of the FCS NC game to January. I don't recall what specific date is considered, but I believe it's some time in the week before the BCS NC game. I think the FCS NC game will gain more interest if it's scheduled after the BCS NC game, say during the week (not weekends) between the BCS game & NFL playoff games. That way, I think those missing college football will have one more crack at it.

For example, this year the BCS NC game was on Jan. 7, a Thursday. Well, why not have the FCS NC game on the following week, say on a Tues., Wed., or Thurs.?

This has already been discussed ad nauseum here
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12487&start=25

Whether you or anyone else likes it or not, the game is being moved to the evening before the BCS title game. BCS title game will be on Mon, Jan 10.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_BCS_N ... nship_Game
FCS title game will be on Sun, Jan 9th.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_NCAA_ ... all_season

We can spend 10 pages discussing the merits of this, but it won't change a damn thing. The game is going to be held on the weekend before the BCS title game. Period. End of story.

[SuperHornet]

Last I heard was that the game was to be moved to 1 Jan. This is new....

[jd of de]

The night before the BCS Championship game and since the whole BCS/FCS series will be ESPN property soon nothing will likely change. While change rarely comes without pain, there will be a few issues I am sure. But, added lead time for traveling fans and not playing the NC game just days before Christmas may both have a positive impact on the NC game. Being sandwiched between BCS games can't hurt FCS exposure either. It's a done deal, so give it time. I am more concerned with the place rather than the date.