will conference realignment ruin FCS?

[clenz]

The B1G hasn't made that a rule, and while it does worry me some, other than Alverez saying that a while back nothing else has come of it.

[mtgrizfan4life]

Clenz, or other UNI fans, is this a move UNI is considering? Is it something your fans will support, and what would it take, to do it?

Who would be for current FCS teams and few current BCS teams to join forces in creating a new BCS conference? Some of the schools I had in mind are Montana, Montana State,Idaho, New Mexico State,UND, NDSU, SD, SDSU, UNI as sure fire members, and additional considerations for Missouri State, Weber State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Cal Davis, San Diego, Portland State, Sac State, Denver (basketball only) Seattle (basketball only).

What other mid west and western schools be good fits? What do the fan bases of each school think? Who feels it would be best to do this together with common goals? What would it take for your school to commit to moving up? What are your main concerns?

[FargoBison]

There is no way USD or UND could support FBS football. I'd have my doubts about SDSU as well but at least they have a plan to build the proper kind of stadium. Only NDSU is really FBS ready and our stadium isn't exactly ideal due to it seating just under 19k.

[SuperHornet]

There is no way USD or UND could support FBS football. I'd have my doubts about SDSU as well but at least they have a plan to build the proper kind of stadium. Only NDSU is really FBS ready and our stadium isn't exactly ideal.

[FargoBison]

There is no way USD or UND could support FBS football. I'd have my doubts about SDSU as well but at least they have a plan to build the proper kind of stadium. Only NDSU is really FBS ready and our stadium isn't exactly ideal.

What exactly is so funny about what I said?

[SuperHornet]

In comparison to the UXDs and SDSU, you're exactly right: NDSU is MUCH closer to being ready.

The problem is that despite THAT, NDSU is NOWHERE near being ready for FBS. ESPECIALLY in terms of finding a conference willing to go to Fargo.

[Beardown]

Fargo is too isolated.

[FargoBison]

In comparison to the UXDs and SDSU, you're exactly right: NDSU is MUCH closer to being ready.

The problem is that despite THAT, NDSU is NOWHERE near being ready for FBS. ESPECIALLY in terms of finding a conference willing to go to Fargo.

Short of building a new stadium NDSU has done all it can do. The school is 6-3 vs the FBS, has won 2 FCS titles, pays its coaches at the top of the FCS. Geography is an issue but there is nothing the school can do about that.

The school could move to the FBS tomorrow if it had a conference willing to add them. That is the definition of being FBS ready.

That said, the Montana poster was talking about building a new conference, which is something Idaho's president has said could happen.

[SuperHornet]

Fourteen sports ain't going to cut it at FBS. Most conferences require swimming/diving, along with regional niche sports.

You ain't ready....

[FargoBison]

Fourteen sports ain't going to cut it at FBS. Most conferences require swimming/diving, along with regional niche sports.

You ain't ready....

NDSU offers 16 sports.

I guess NDSU could offer swimming and diving or whatever else if need be but the school isn't adding sports unless it has to.

[clenz]

Fourteen sports ain't going to cut it at FBS. Most conferences require swimming/diving, along with regional niche sports.

You ain't ready....

Shut.....the....fuck...up and leave this discussion to people who know what the fuck they are talking about.

[clenz]

Clenz, or other UNI fans, is this a move UNI is considering? Is it something your fans will support, and what would it take, to do it?

Who would be for current FCS teams and few current BCS teams to join forces in creating a new BCS conference? Some of the schools I had in mind are Montana, Montana State,Idaho, New Mexico State,UND, NDSU, SD, SDSU, UNI as sure fire members, and additional considerations for Missouri State, Weber State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Cal Davis, San Diego, Portland State, Sac State, Denver (basketball only) Seattle (basketball only).

What other mid west and western schools be good fits? What do the fan bases of each school think? Who feels it would be best to do this together with common goals? What would it take for your school to commit to moving up? What are your main concerns?

It is something UNI is considering, and if the MAC called UNI in 2 weeks and said "Let's do it" I'm willing to bet 2 years salary on UNI's AD pulling the trigger, the WAC/Sun Belt are very very doubtful, and the new CUSA and new/old Big East are likely out due to travel.

There have been many things for UNI fans to read into with it the last year or so.

UNI AD Troy Dannen is very calculated in what he says, and during the first couple years of his tenure didn't say much of anything about anything without taking at least a couple days to think about it.


However, last summer he came out and said that UNI is exploring the option, again as there was a study done in 2009 about what to do with football. He has never once said the MAC by name, however, he has said many things that would lead many UNI fans to read into it. The MAC is the one you hear the most due to proximity.

The UNIDome isn't an FBS facility, but it is bigger than the Kibbie Dome, and is actually a very nice facility with recent updates. Dannen has also said there are completed blue prints hanging in his office for big updates to the UNIDome (and McLeod Center...UNI's basketball arena), but finding the funding/timing of it is going the issue right now. He wouldn't say those things without trying to gauge reaction from people.



As for whether fans would support it? I think, if you polled the true UNI fans today it would be a 60 or 70 % yes...maybe more. We realize we will never be more than third in our state when it comes to support, and this administration is acknowledging that BUT doing things to increase funding from the state (which has been very underfunded across the board from athletics to academics to general funding), increase donations, increase fan support, etc... In this state (as I'd bet with most that have FBS...especially BCS football) FCS is nothing more than D2 or glorified HS. With how well UNI has played Iowa/Iowa State lately the opinion of UNI is starting to change, and a move to the MAC would add a lot of legitimacy to UNI football in the state of Iowa, at least IMO.

Yes, there will be funding concerns but UNI won't do it if the AD doesn't think we can do it.


Honestly, a big hold back right now may be the all sports conference. Dannen has said he will do nothing with football that will compromise the standing of UNI in the MVC. The MVC has been a very good conference for UNI. However, with Creighton leaving and it looks like a stinker is going to be added. WSU has been looking to bolt, and this Final Four run is giving them ammo to leave. If WSU were to leave, or give legit feelers out, I think UNI makes a move....also UNI moved wrestling to the MAC, and rumors have been out there as it is a feeling out process for current MAC schools to get acquainted with UNI a little bit better and see what they think...along with it being much better than our old conference with Wyoming, NDSU, SDSU, Army and Utah Valley.

[kalm]

Clenz, or other UNI fans, is this a move UNI is considering? Is it something your fans will support, and what would it take, to do it?

Who would be for current FCS teams and few current BCS teams to join forces in creating a new BCS conference? Some of the schools I had in mind are Montana, Montana State,Idaho, New Mexico State,UND, NDSU, SD, SDSU, UNI as sure fire members, and additional considerations for Missouri State, Weber State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Cal Davis, San Diego, Portland State, Sac State, Denver (basketball only) Seattle (basketball only).

What other mid west and western schools be good fits? What do the fan bases of each school think? Who feels it would be best to do this together with common goals? What would it take for your school to commit to moving up? What are your main concerns?

My hope is for a merger between current and former FCS programs into their own division, keeping the playoff format intact. Something along the lines of the four FCS power conferences meet the WAC, SBC, MAC, and C-USA. I don't think that's likely as nobody wants to regress, even Idaho where it makes total sense. Unless of course, the BCS conferences really want to lock out the rest of the division.

FCS is a great fit for EWU but I could see us jumping at an invite if the conference included the Montana's, Idaho, and PSU.

[SuperHornet]

Why don't you go take a flying leap, clenz? Whatever my disagreement with FargoBison, he added more to the conversation than YOU have.

[clenz]

Why don't you go take a flying leap, clenz? Whatever my disagreement with FargoBison, he added more to the conversation than YOU have.

Which is more than you've ever added to ANY conversation you've been involved in your entire life.

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk 2

[ASUMountaineer]

Why don't you go take a flying leap, clenz? Whatever my disagreement with FargoBison, he added more to the conversation than YOU have.

CLENZ! CLENZ! CLENZ!

[CID1990]

No


Sent from the center of the universe.

[JayJ79]

If the BCS/money conferences really did pull away, as some have suggested,
instead of the top half of the FCS trying to "move up", I think it would make more sense for the second-tier FBS programs (mac, cusa, sunbelt, etc. pretty much the conferences that don't have the ridiculously lucrative TV contracts) to move down.

my understanding is that programs at that level struggle to break even just as much as most FCS schools do, just to try to "keep up with the big boys".

of course, I'm sure hubris would prevent programs from "stepping down", which is dumb. But if the BCS schism did occur, perhaps the NCAA could re-formulate the system. Instead of all the schools struggling to maintain 85 fb scholarships, the NCAA could reduce the number closer to the 63 level (and allow partial schollies). Which would also help with Title IX compliance.

[AZGrizFan]

In comparison to the UXDs and SDSU, you're exactly right: NDSU is MUCH closer to being ready.

The problem is that despite THAT, NDSU is NOWHERE near being ready for FBS. ESPECIALLY in terms of finding a conference willing to go to Fargo.

A conference went to Honalulu...

[FargoBison]

Clenz, or other UNI fans, is this a move UNI is considering? Is it something your fans will support, and what would it take, to do it?

Who would be for current FCS teams and few current BCS teams to join forces in creating a new BCS conference? Some of the schools I had in mind are Montana, Montana State,Idaho, New Mexico State,UND, NDSU, SD, SDSU, UNI as sure fire members, and additional considerations for Missouri State, Weber State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Cal Davis, San Diego, Portland State, Sac State, Denver (basketball only) Seattle (basketball only).

What other mid west and western schools be good fits? What do the fan bases of each school think? Who feels it would be best to do this together with common goals? What would it take for your school to commit to moving up? What are your main concerns?

I will play along with this...14 team football conference combo of MVFC and Big Sky...

Missouri Valley Division
NDSU-SDSU
UNI-Ill State
Mo State-SIU
NMSU

Big Sky Division
Montana-Montana State
Idaho-EWU
CP-UCD or Sac State(whoever wants it more gets the spot)
PSU

Olympic Sports
NDSU-SDSU
Montana-Montana State
Idaho-EWU
NMSU-Denver
PSU-Seattle
Sac State?

[Mvemjsunpx]

In comparison to the UXDs and SDSU, you're exactly right: NDSU is MUCH closer to being ready.

The problem is that despite THAT, NDSU is NOWHERE near being ready for FBS. ESPECIALLY in terms of finding a conference willing to go to Fargo.

A conference went to Honalulu...

Yeah, because a trip to Hawai'i and a trip to North Dakota are exactly the same on the desirability scale.

[andy7171]

A conference went to Honalulu...

Yeah, because a trip to Hawai'i and a trip to North Dakota are exactly the same on the desirability scale.

Exactly.

[LeadBolt]

Yeah, because a trip to Hawai'i and a trip to North Dakota are exactly the same on the desirability scale.

Exactly.

I'm not in a position to judge this as I've been to Hawaii, but not to North Dakota, oh wait, that's the point...