how are the Vandals still in 1-A?

[BlackFalkin]

I dont understand how the u of i vandals football team can remain 1-a when ;

1 they dont meet stadium requirements of a 30,000 seat stadium and average 15,000 fans.
2 Stadium Capacity: Kibbie Dome 16,500, 2003 Football Average Game Attendance: 12,064.
their stadium is the smallest in div 1a
3 they get absolutley puonded every year by 1a opponents.
4 they play in a small, fixed dome so theres no chance for any real expansion.


can some1 please tell me whats the deal?

go eags!

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

They used to play some games at WSU to up their average and the average is taken over a several year period but I don't know how they will be able to maintain it if their attendance stays at such a low level. The fact that they get pounded does not figure into it I don't think, and there may be something to do with the freeze in the divisions for the next several years but I am not sure on that one. The water is definitely too deep for them at this point.

[SuperHornet]

There will probably be a major lawsuit over the NCAA's authority to classify schools if they attempt to downgrade Idaho. They moved up as a result of internal state politics at the same time Boise moved up, yet no effort was really made to improve the great triumvirate of collegiate athletics: facilities, recruiting, and coaching. My guess is that alumni were involved in the pressuring of the state legislature in this regard. Idaho probably deserves to be D-III, but they're FBS strictly because the legislature won't allow them to be otherwise.

At least, that's what I've heard over the years.

[travelinman67]

I don't think they're a DIII program, but they definitely are having problems maintaining a marginal FBS program. I've been in their training facility, offices and Kibbie Dome many times; attended team workouts and practices, and had met the coaching staff under Erickson's last stopover (...and just stopped in Moscow at the Palous Mall to get a coffee before the WSU-PSU game last Sat., in fact). To boot, several of my clients are BIG State of Idaho university alum who have been responsible for much of the fundraising, construction and expansion of BSU. They're all in agreement that the Vandals are at a crossroads. The university has to make a committment towards improving their program and expanding the facilities. The days of "kitsch" IA programs with quirky old stadiums, hard-headed AD's and coaches whose, "...three yards and a cloud of dust wearing a leather helmet always worked in the past..." (or worse, the "we've always been proud of our "last true amateur" status...), are gone.
Yes, there are heavy hitter alums with connections who can pull strings w/in the conference and NCAA, but money is king. Whether it's a mid-major feeding off the moneyed programs, or FCS-FBS matchups, every team has to bring SOMETHING to the table...

...whether a competitive team that can matchup to the big dogs,
...or a comfortable, easily accessible, tune up stop for their opponents,
...or money.

If they can't bring any of the above three...then it's back to DII.

What's remarkable is that there's plenty of talent available out west...it isn't all located in SoCal, either. In the same breath, I cannot overemphasize the severity of mistake when alum stick their noses into recruiting, and push local kids at all cost. While gang, tribe, and clan-like social connection may give the alum a comforting, warm and fuzzy feeling, knowing the RB is the nephew of your HS teacher's grandson, those "ties" do nothing but bind the program's hands preventing them from becoming a serious player within their conference.

In re: Recruiting, the days of "our boys" are better than "your boys" (Alabama-Tennessee) type rivalries, make great entertainment for the locals, but in modern times rarely result in national championships. That's not to say that "established" programs like AL or TN cannot make money and survive in FBS, but that formula will simply not work for developing, emerging programs. Moreso, if you look at recent trends, even the "old school" programs are reaching outside their "normal" recruiting scope to snag talent (i.e., TN's raid on Stone Mountain a couple of years ago, stealing 3 of the nation's best LB's right in UGA's backyard). The same applies to Idaho. I've read recruiting notes in the past that showed a clear attempt to "stay local" (Idaho, E. Washington) when it came time to hand out scholarships. Whether the locals and alum like it or not, they are at the crossroad where they have to make a choice: Get serious about recruiting and upgrading their program, and facilities, or accept that the Vandals will probably be dropped from the FBS conference.

(btw...here's a start...expand the Pullman-Moscow airport so it can handle commercial charters that can carry a travel squad, coaches and equipment on one flight)

[Col Hogan]

Apprently even the cheer leaders uniforms are a controversy for the Vandals...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/f ... ml?cnn=yes

[UAalum72]

I dont understand how the u of i vandals football team can remain 1-a when ;

1 they dont meet stadium requirements of a 30,000 seat stadium and average 15,000 fans.
2 Stadium Capacity: Kibbie Dome 16,500, 2003 Football Average Game Attendance: 12,064.
their stadium is the smallest in div 1a
3 they get absolutley puonded every year by 1a opponents.
4 they play in a small, fixed dome so theres no chance for any real expansion.

can some1 please tell me whats the deal?

1, 2, and 4 are all the same reason. Stadium size is no longer a requirement for FBS, only actual attendance. Of course if the max is 16,500 they'd have to virtually sell out every game with no chance of a bigger crowd to raise the average. So far the NCAA has never threatened a team, but they're supposed to go on probation if they're under 15K for two years in a row.

As for 3, on-field competence is not a requirement for any division or subdivision membership. This isn't English soccer where you can get relegated to a lower league. Doesn't mean they SHOULD be FBS, but they can be unless they're not willing to take the defeats.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Apprently even the cheer leaders uniforms are a controversy for the Vandals...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/f ... ml?cnn=yes

Dang it Col., I didn't see any pix?

[SuperHornet]

I was exaggerating a bit there, trav. But certainly D-II or NAIA, which is generally taken as equivalent to D-II.

[Beef]

Apprently even the cheer leaders uniforms are a controversy for the Vandals...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/f ... ml?cnn=yes

Dang it Col., I didn't see any pix?

Try this link: http://www.krem.com/topstories/stories/ ... 50da1.html

[Col Hogan]

Apprently even the cheer leaders uniforms are a controversy for the Vandals...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/f ... ml?cnn=yes

Dang it Col., I didn't see any pix?

I know...I hunted for some, but had to go to a meeting...I was hoping someone else would have posted them by now...

[Col Hogan]

Dang it Col., I didn't see any pix?

I know...I hunted for some, but had to go to a meeting...I was hoping someone else would have posted them by now...

Crap, didn't read further down...Thanks, Beef...

[DoubleNicks]

Wow, that's podunk Idaho for you, wasting their budget on something like this instead of addressing real athletic and academic needs.

Before:




Temp. fix before new unis arrived:

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

From what I heard on the radio this morning it had more to do with the ultra skimpy panties that were allowing a little too much roast beef slice to show. I nnnnnneeeeeeed those pix.

[DoubleNicks]

From what I heard on the radio this morning it had more to do with the ultra skimpy panties that were allowing a little too much roast beef slice to show. I nnnnnneeeeeeed those pix.

:lol:Ditto

Here's a couple more that I found but nothing like mentioned above:
http://www.collegeotr.com/university_of ... r_up_12054


http://sports.rightpundits.com/?p=1069

[SuperHornet]

Can't believe that this was an issue for Martha MacCallum this morning. Now, THERE's a chick I'd like to see in an outfit like this, alongside Megyn Kelly!

[AZGrizFan]

But the future VP of the United States graduated from Idaho. As did yours truly!!! Outstanding!!!

[BlackFalkin]

JOE BIDEN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.

[AZGrizFan]

JOE BIDEN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.

Who gives a sh*t. He's not the future VP.

[dbackjon]

JOE BIDEN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.

Who gives a sh*t. He's not the future VP.

Oh yes he is

[AZGrizFan]

Who gives a sh*t. He's not the future VP.

Oh yes he is

He won't live long enough to be Clinton's VP candidat in 2012.

[dbackjon]

Oh yes he is

He won't live long enough to be Clinton's VP candidat in 2012.

Obama will get over 300 EV's

[AZGrizFan]

He won't live long enough to be Clinton's VP candidat in 2012.

Obama will get over 300 EV's

I'll take the under. I could use an NAU hat. But I want one that's still in it's plastic wrapper....

[dbackjon]

Obama will get over 300 EV's

I'll take the under. I could use an NAU hat. But I want one that's still in it's plastic wrapper....

Deal.

And don't worry - no Apping on it.

[AZGrizFan]

I'll take the under. I could use an NAU hat. But I want one that's still in it's plastic wrapper....

Deal.

And don't worry - no Apping on it.

OK. I've got a screen shot of this for posterity. I'm size 7 5/8 (on the hat).

[dbackjon]

I'm size 7 5/8 (on the hat).

Is that internet size, or real size, because usually you have to mark it down 25%