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Idaho Football to BSC?

V

VikThunder

Active member
From the Idaho State board:

Sounds like Idaho AD pretty much said in a halftime interview today that they are headed back to the Big Sky. Most of the people there say he thinks the Vandals will be aligned with those schools they consider upper tier research schools (UC Davis, Montana, MSU, Poly and so on).

http://www.scout.com/college/idaho/foru" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... -interview

http://www.scout.com/college/idaho/foru" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... e-comments
 
Partly for humor's sake...

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=336&f=2250&t=14288459" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IOW, the Idaho AD is trying to sell this in terms of "the Big Sky is going to reorganize into an FBS half and an FCS half." I think that's kind of a bunch of bunk, but I can imagine the conference playing along until some inevitable point where the issue is dropped or "called out" by the NCAA.
 
Rumblings were that the agreement was to be finalized and announced by Thanksgiving...or thereabouts.
 
The arrogance of the University of Idaho knows no bounds. By " Research Division" they mean neither directional nor city-state universities are to be allowed, because they are inferior institutions and not fit to be on a football field with the themselves. They want Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, UC Davis and Cal Poly out of the Sky and they want to suck in NDSU, South Dakota, and South Dakota State as well. They have a very poor FBS football program. Talent-wise the are a middling FCS team. A pretty good offense coupled with a D2 defense. Check with Boise State for their view of the University of Idaho.
 
Idaho's main problem is that they never should have jumped to FBS in the first place. They've joined two dead conferences and have constantly scrambled to maintain the bare minimum to survive. I realize that's looking back and in retrospect, but they've never been in a position to improve or evolve. I realize how I'm sure their fans would rather see them stay in FBS and go to a bowl every now and then, but I just don't see how that happens.
 
Alan said:
The arrogance of the University of Idaho knows no bounds. By " Research Division" they mean neither directional nor city-state universities are to be allowed, because they are inferior institutions and not fit to be on a football field with the themselves. They want Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, UC Davis and Cal Poly out of the Sky and they want to suck in NDSU, South Dakota, and South Dakota State as well. They have a very poor FBS football program. Talent-wise the are a middling FCS team. A pretty good offense coupled with a D2 defense. Check with Boise State for their view of the University of Idaho.
Click to expand...

The real question is whether the administration and the athletic department are SO burdened with understanding reality, but so dead set on soft-pedaling with the fan base, that they've basically lost the ability to manage the fan base.
 
For any program looking to move up to FBS, one only has to look at the state of Idaho for both sides. How to do it, look at Boise State. How not to do it, look at Idaho.

When they both left the Big Sky, Idaho convinced Boise that they would go and be a travel partner wherever the Broncos would go. Boise got Idaho into the Sun Belt, Boise got Idaho into the WAC, mainly by insisting that if those conferences wanted Boise, they had to take Idaho. Well, Boise started winning, and Idaho just stayed the same. By the time the Mountain West came calling, they wanted Boise in the worst way and made a play for the Broncos. Boise insisted that they also take Idaho, but the Mountain West called Boise's bluff, telling Boise that they really wanted Boise, but that they didn't want Idaho and if Boise kept insisting on the conferences needing to take Idaho, Boise was going to be kept down. Basically, cast off Idaho and soar, or go down with the sinking ship. Boise chose to soar.

Idaho would like to return to the Big Sky in all sports, but they don't know how to save face in football, both towards their own boosters and the Big Sky as well. They did burn a few bridges when they left and some of us still have memories. Idaho made the right step bringing the rest of their sports back in to the Big Sky, but for the football teams it is nothing but politics, both at the FBS side and the FCS/Big Sky side. Idaho football to the Big Sky makes sense, but there are many hurdles to overcome. Will it happen? It would be great, but it is going to be awhile, if at all.
 
Sounds most likely a March timeframe on a decision.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/university-of-idaho/article53627180.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
How likely is the Sun Belt to turn them out? Is the poor football team enough? Distance from the other schools? The fact that only a Canadian would see Idaho as a southern "Sun"?
Only the pursuit of the Holy Grail of football, a bowl game, has kept Idaho out of the Big Sky.
 
bigskyconf said:
For any program looking to move up to FBS, one only has to look at the state of Idaho for both sides. How to do it, look at Boise State. How not to do it, look at Idaho.

When they both left the Big Sky, Idaho convinced Boise that they would go and be a travel partner wherever the Broncos would go. Boise got Idaho into the Sun Belt, Boise got Idaho into the WAC, mainly by insisting that if those conferences wanted Boise, they had to take Idaho. Well, Boise started winning, and Idaho just stayed the same. By the time the Mountain West came calling, they wanted Boise in the worst way and made a play for the Broncos. Boise insisted that they also take Idaho, but the Mountain West called Boise's bluff, telling Boise that they really wanted Boise, but that they didn't want Idaho and if Boise kept insisting on the conferences needing to take Idaho, Boise was going to be kept down. Basically, cast off Idaho and soar, or go down with the sinking ship. Boise chose to soar.

Idaho would like to return to the Big Sky in all sports, but they don't know how to save face in football, both towards their own boosters and the Big Sky as well. They did burn a few bridges when they left and some of us still have memories. Idaho made the right step bringing the rest of their sports back in to the Big Sky, but for the football teams it is nothing but politics, both at the FBS side and the FCS/Big Sky side. Idaho football to the Big Sky makes sense, but there are many hurdles to overcome. Will it happen? It would be great, but it is going to be awhile, if at all.
Click to expand...

The part where Boise held out for Idaho to the MWC... dead wrong.

Even with the WAC... Idaho was necessary filler a few years after Boise arrived. If there was any sort of insistence on Boise's part, joining 4 years after Boise arrived doesn't indicate that the WAC really cared if Boise and Idaho were a package. The WAC adding Idaho was ONLY the result of Rice, SMU, UTEP, and Tulsa leaving at the same time and the WAC having to maintain numbers. For that matter, by the time the MWC accepted Boise State, if you recall, the Big East started courting Boise... up until that conference's split.

Idaho has simply been a train wreck in FBS.
 
There were some rumors that the fate of Idaho and New Mexico State in the Sun Belt would be announced today instead of during the conference basketball tournament (supposedly an announcement was set for March 10). The indications are that Idaho will be voted out, NMSU probably so.

Idaho could opt to remain independent in football, though how they schedule that... SMH.

They play in the Sun Belt through 2017 under the current contract. That's not going to be shortened... at least not by my guess.
 
They're out.

"UI will now evaluate whether to play an independent schedule or accept an invitation from the Big Sky Conference for the fall 2018 season."

I honestly think that going back to the Big Sky is their best option.
 
http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/university-of-idaho/article63354392.html

Press conference from UI at 2:15 MT / 1:15 PT.
 
Happened to listen to part of the press conference. Big Sky invitation (I presume for beginning in 2018) lasts until May 4, and I'm guessing that's for scheduling reasons.

Listening further... Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson interviewed by Boise radio...

...there's no "method" in place by which the Big Sky could simply advance the conference, or member schools, to FBS. Schools would have to be admitted by a current FBS conference.

...Idaho and NMSU were informed of the decision last Wednesday. Just thought that was cute.
 
Reading the Idaho Message and the fans there are none to happy about being basically booted out of the Sunbelt. Neither are they all that enamored at the possibility of coming back to the Big Sky.

The posts make to allusions to the fact that most are dead set against moving back to the Big Sky and the FCS. They see it as an insult to even consider it and they don't want to be the first school to have moved up to the FBS then willingly move back down.

The favored suggestion I saw thee was to use the next two years in the SBC to save up as much money as possible, go independent for a year and hope that during that time the rumored conference realignments will occur and there will be another chance for them to join a conference looking to increase membership.

Another post I saw suggested that the Big Sky was going to split into two divisions, one an FCS division for those schools who didn't want to move up and an FBS division for those schools who want to move up but don't want to be independent or have to go looking for a conference to join.
 
CaseyOrourke said:
Reading the Idaho Message and the fans there are none to happy about being basically booted out of the Sunbelt.
Click to expand...

Getting booted out of the Sunbelt conference is like getting kicked out of a dive bar at 11:45pm. Sure you wouldn't mind having a couple more beers, but it's probably best that you head back home...
 
Another thing I read is that they don't want to give up the payouts and revenue sharing they get as an FBS member. Evidently when the G-5 gets a body bag game with a P-5 school, they payout is significantly higher than what an FCS school gets.

If any of the schools in their conference goes to a bowl game, they get a share of that payout along with revenue sharing from the CFB championship games. So in their minds, moving to the FCS will put a significant dent in their revenue.
 
Casey, all well and good, but those payouts are better IN a conference than not in one. Furthermore, try building an independent schedule... specifically one with any relevant October games. It's doable for Notre Dame because they're Notre Dame (even then, there's reasons they ended up in a scheduling agreement with the ACC). BYU struggles at it, frankly. Idaho? Hell no.

However, Idaho doesn't have much of a fanbase to lose. Hence some comment from the Idaho AD about choosing now to control their destiny where none exists. It's sad. I can't think of any real "assets" Idaho has for FBS. However, it's hard to take a couple bites of the apple like the Idaho fan base has and then go back. Shrug.

The closest I came to witnessing anything remotely similar... I think I'm at a season-ending U. of the Pacific game in the early 90s. There was much discussion about the program failing and falling, and some thought they might choose to drop down instead of shutter the program. I end up talking to someone who rather confidently told me about their "Quarterback Club" (well-heeled boosters) leaving hints that they'd rather shutter than drop down. That's exactly what happened. Of note: private school, which itself makes for different conditions compared to Idaho.

It's really hard for me to believe that a state flagship institution would give up football. But, um, er, shrug.
 
I know, I was just quoting what I read from the various news articles without and commentary from yours truly. I figure Idaho has to do what they believe is best for Idaho.
I can't help but to thing of the idioms "shooting oneself in the foot," "cutting off their nose to spite their face" and "being hoisted on one's own petard" when I look at this entire mess.

But my allegiance is to Portland State and I trust president Weivel and AD Roundtree to make the best decisions for the future of Portland and hope they consider that "the grass isn't necessarily greener on the FBS side of the fence."
 
CaseyOrourke said:
I know, I was just quoting what I read from the various news articles without and commentary from yours truly. I figure Idaho has to do what they believe is best for Idaho.
I can't help but to thing of the idioms "shooting oneself in the foot," "cutting off their nose to spite their face" and "being hoisted on one's own petard" when I look at this entire mess.
Click to expand...

I look at that Idaho message board... eh, never mind. Know someone who used to monitor the board saying that the sane posters abandoned that ship a while ago.

A well-connected Idaho booster in Boise is saying that most of the big money donors are behind going Big Sky, and on the aforementioned message board, the Pres and AD are defending the Big Sky to letter-writers.

Many things can happen. New Mexico State apparently announced that they were committing to two years of independence. I sense they can get away with that better than Idaho can. At least NMSU has decent basketball. I don't know what assets Idaho can offer to an FBS conference that would be amenable to an FBS conference.
 
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