Why doesn't Montana/Eastern Washington move to FBS?

[bucs90]

I've wondered this. Both have FBS caliber stadiums (just compare Duke or Wake or some other FBS ones) that they fill. Both have the talent level. WHY stay in FCS?

Teams down here in the Southeast that have been successful in FCS/1-AA have moved up often: Marshall, App State, GA Southern, South Florida, Central Florida, Troy State, UA-Birmingham, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, and quite a few others.

Why don't teams in the Rockies and Northwest that are so good and have the big stadiums, and are often one of the major schools in their state, move up?

[rationalgriz]

What would be the positive for either school? One of the big things is money, neither school has the financial resources to consider a move to FBS.

[EWURanger]

We do not have an FBS caliber stadium, but we're working on getting one:

http://sites.ewu.edu/foundation/2012/04 ... y-project/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eastern does not have the resources at this time, and is a smaller school (relative to Division I) of only 12-13 thousand students. I think Montana may be a little larger than that.

As for Montana, agreed on the stadium bit. My guess is the biggest challenges are demographics and $$ (See Title IX compliance).

[EWURanger]

What would be the positive for either school? One of the big things is money, neither school has the financial resources to consider a move to FBS.

+1

And then there's also the bit about there not being any FBS conference in the West that would be looking to expand into the FCS ranks. With the WAC dying, everyone out west will be playing FCS football until some sort of major shake-up occurs between the lower end of FBS and the upper echelon of the FCS.

[bucs90]

Ah, ok. I was just curious, because it seems down here teams are always jumping from FCS to FBS. South Florida and Central Florida were FCS, and they would dominate, but they moved. They're huge schools though. Troy, UAB, App, GSU all moving. I think Florida Atlantic would've been an FCS powerhouse had they stayed.

But, Wake Forest is tiny, about 5,000 students, small stadium, etc. And they've won an ACC title.

Just seemed odd to me. Large, public schools, especially ones that are primary schools of a state like Montana or NDSU, just seem they should be in FBS. Almost all the primary state schools down here are FBS.

[bucs90]

Sorry EWU, I saw those gorgeous stadium pics, thought that was you guys' current stadium, not a future one. Wow, its gonna be awesome!

[ewueagle2010]

Not really sure where you heard EWU had the stadium that would be FBS caliber, but unfortunately, we're far from that. Although, as Ranger said, we're working on it. I think it comes down to understanding a nitch and accepting it. In EWU's case, we're not the main show in the state, and there is really no reason to move up to a higher level to win 5-6-7 games a year and play for a nobody cares bowl. Not to mention the cost for a Western team to travel.

Bottom line, EWU has become a FCS power more recent and I think people appreciate the playoff system, competing for National Championships, and loving EWU for what it is, not what $$$ makes it. If people want that, they can drive 75 miles south to Pullman and watch Wazzu. For now, we'll fill our less than desirable stadium (until we expand), and hopefully win more titles!

[EWURanger]

Ah, ok. I was just curious, because it seems down here teams are always jumping from FCS to FBS. South Florida and Central Florida were FCS, and they would dominate, but they moved. They're huge schools though. Troy, UAB, App, GSU all moving. I think Florida Atlantic would've been an FCS powerhouse had they stayed.

But, Wake Forest is tiny, about 5,000 students, small stadium, etc. And they've won an ACC title.

Just seemed odd to me. Large, public schools, especially ones that are primary schools of a state like Montana or NDSU, just seem they should be in FBS. Almost all the primary state schools down here are FBS.

I can see why UCF and USF made their transitions. They're both enormous schools in large metro areas. The more students, the more you can rake in from student fees to support a larger athletic budget. My guess is most of those schools still rely heavily on student fees, FBS or not.

I also think schools like Wake, etc. are a little different. It's a private school, right? If so, they probably have large benefactors who choose to keep them in the FBS. Much like SMU, etc.

[Brock Landers]

Because even if we wanted to move up (very divisive question), we're handcuffed to MSU, and this state would struggle mightily to support and fund two FBS programs.

[Grizzlies1982]

Just seemed odd to me. Large, public schools, especially ones that are primary schools of a state like Montana or NDSU, just seem they should be in FBS. Almost all the primary state schools down here are FBS.

Money and population size are the reason Montana won't move up anytime soon. The state of Montana has just a hair over 1 million in population. There is the Univ. of MT & MT State, plus four other state funded colleges with sports programs, so the limited public $ to support athletics are spread thin.

If Montana moved up it would cost somewhere around $15 to $20 million initially and apx. an additional $5 million per year. At present MT football is a cash cow which generates more revenue than expenses. However, this cow is being milked by the Univ. to subsidize all the other athletics programs. FBS football would require 20 more football scholarships PLUS perhaps 3 entirely new women's sports programs (for Title IX). So in a nutshell we have a large state with a small, not particularly wealthy, population. Any possible move would have to come entirely out of the pockets of supporters so I don't foresee a change.

[bucs90]

Ah, ok. Thanks. I was curious. I'm very unfamiliar with football in that part of the country. Down here, the large state-run schools are almost all FBS. But, that makes since with Montana being tied to Montana State, the title 9 stuff, etc. From afar, it just seems like Montana is similar to teams like Wake Forest, Troy State, UAB, Florida Atlantic, teams that kinda outgrew FBS, and were also the primary state school, so it would make sense they should move up.

But the stuff you guys explained makes sense.

[uofmman1122]

Because even if we wanted to move up (very divisive question), we're handcuffed to MSU, and this state would struggle mightily to support and fund two FBS programs.

This.

We also have (by far, if I'm not mistaken) the highest number per capita of four-year colleges, when in reality we could do away with all but three or so and be just fine.

[grizzaholic]

No.

/thread