Good analysis, Spaz, the history of "move-ups" has definitely been all over the map. I think one of the issues with Idaho is the view that, "you can never get them to come home once they've left the farm." Who wants to be the program that is the first to reverse course and move back down? Another element of the Idaho situation is that the Big Sky they left bears very little resemblance to the Big Sky today -- with BSU and Nevada having been replaced by the likes of Sacramento State and Northern Colorado. Idaho fans have said repeatedly on their message boards they'd rather give up football altogether than go back to playing Big Sky schools on a regular basis. I think a lot of Idaho fans wished they'd never moved up in the first place, BUT they are not interested in moving back down -- especially since FCS football is not in the greatest shape right now.
Of course, here in Pocatello we have our own issues to worry about. We have to get our two marque programs -- football and men's basketball -- healthy and generating revenue again. Right now the ISU athletic department is living on guarantee games, state money and student fees. The "big two" have to start winning games and selling tickets again. Long-term, we as a community are going to have to come to terms with the fact that Holt Arena is 43 years old and is in need of major remodelling/restructuring, and identify funding strategies that are realistic. Holt is a student-owned facility that has evolved into a major community asset -- and also happens to be the "center" of the athletic department. All three entities -- students, community and athletic department -- are going to have to be involved in addressing the long-term viability of the facility. So while there is an element of "misery loves company" as we all take some perverse pleasure in the University of Idaho's struggles in moving up, there is a lot of work to do to get our own house in order.
