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Idaho Football to BSC?
- Thread starter VikThunder
- Start date
Disruptive? A bit small for that, no? 
What I do find funny after living in Boise (well, Mountain Home first) for 15 years... both Idaho and Boise State fans get hyperbolic in believing the State Board of Education favors the other school. Idaho (the citizens of the state) can be a little dramatic for the value... so they thank their lucky stars for the existence of Utah.
(Try ever refereeing a game in any sport with fans imported from Utah. Just try. That act is probably the Platonic ideal of "persecution complex.")
All that aside, back to Las Cruces... http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/college/nmsu/2016/04/13/local-briefs-nmsu-forms-athletic-review-committee-conference-realignment/82999802/
I guess there's further rumors of the death of the WAC. More rumors that the non-football conference mentioned is the Summit. Those rumors and other things... http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=451&f=2368&t=14688780
What I do find funny after living in Boise (well, Mountain Home first) for 15 years... both Idaho and Boise State fans get hyperbolic in believing the State Board of Education favors the other school. Idaho (the citizens of the state) can be a little dramatic for the value... so they thank their lucky stars for the existence of Utah.
(Try ever refereeing a game in any sport with fans imported from Utah. Just try. That act is probably the Platonic ideal of "persecution complex.")
All that aside, back to Las Cruces... http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/college/nmsu/2016/04/13/local-briefs-nmsu-forms-athletic-review-committee-conference-realignment/82999802/
I guess there's further rumors of the death of the WAC. More rumors that the non-football conference mentioned is the Summit. Those rumors and other things... http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=451&f=2368&t=14688780
Pounder, remember, a virus is very small, but it can be hugely disruptive (right now I can attest to that). Their AD is already said the basketball schedule needs to be changed to keep Idaho happy. And, the football alignment needs to reflect the "Research Status" of several schools to make a separation between commuter schools and directional schools as opposed to major research institutions like Idaho (Oh, my Gawd). Also the AD wants to have Sky divided into FBS and FCS divisions. Please dear Gawd, save us from them. I pray that Idaho ignores the May 4,5 (?) deadline to join up in football and the Sky tells them to take a walk.
I wonder how many kids will transfer out to other FBS programs.
Two year ramp down period from 85 to 63 scholarships. That's a tough one.
Two year ramp down period from 85 to 63 scholarships. That's a tough one.
PSUVikings2
Active member
Well, if they ended up at Idaho in the first place...I'm guessing their FBS options were limited.martymoose said:
Talk about splitting the Big Sky into two divisions, FCS and FBS, suggests that Idaho thinks that there are two kinds of universities, very strong and not so strong academically. I did a little research. Looking at the Washington Monthly annual survey of national universities for 2015, Idaho does rank higher than all the other Big Sky schools, followed by Montana, followed in third place by PSU, followed by all the others in no particular order. Note that following PSU are such "outstanding" schools as U. of Oklahoma, Boston U., Hawaii, Nevada, and Colorado. Academic measures have nothing to do with the divisions. It may have something to do with "national reputation", which has everything to do with media and marketing.
So, I assume that the conference splits into two divisions in 2018. I sincerely doubt that it will split on research/land grant status. So how? North/South? East/West? Here's my first stab at it:
WEST
PSU
EWU
Idaho
Sac State
UCDavis
Cal Poly
NAU
EAST
UM
MSU
NoDak
NoCol
Weber
Idaho St
SUU
or
NORTH
EWU
Idaho
Idaho St
UM
MSU
NoDak
NoCol
SOUTH
PSU
Sac State
UCDavis
CalPoly
NAU
SUU
Weber
I vote for an EAST/WEST split. Yes, we lose the Montana schools, but Geez Louise, who wants to travel regularly to Greeley or Grand Forks?
WEST
PSU
EWU
Idaho
Sac State
UCDavis
Cal Poly
NAU
EAST
UM
MSU
NoDak
NoCol
Weber
Idaho St
SUU
or
NORTH
EWU
Idaho
Idaho St
UM
MSU
NoDak
NoCol
SOUTH
PSU
Sac State
UCDavis
CalPoly
NAU
SUU
Weber
I vote for an EAST/WEST split. Yes, we lose the Montana schools, but Geez Louise, who wants to travel regularly to Greeley or Grand Forks?
I really like the east/west split.
EWU - Great football program to have a rivalry against.
Idaho - I welcome Idaho to the BSC and I think that they add to the strength of the conference.
Sac State - Our move up buddies.
UCDavis - Viticulture Program. Enough said.
Cal Poly - Strong football program with Walsh.
NAU - Great drive north from Phoenix.
We'll meet a Montana school in a conference championship game.
EWU - Great football program to have a rivalry against.
Idaho - I welcome Idaho to the BSC and I think that they add to the strength of the conference.
Sac State - Our move up buddies.
UCDavis - Viticulture Program. Enough said.
Cal Poly - Strong football program with Walsh.
NAU - Great drive north from Phoenix.
We'll meet a Montana school in a conference championship game.
IDAHO MOVING FOOTBALL TO BIG SKY CONFERENCE
http://bigskyconf.com/news/2016/4/27/FB_0427165139.aspx?path
The University of Idaho announced today it will accept an invitation to play football in the Big Sky Conference beginning in fall 2018, pending approval by the State Board of Education.
“I understand the magnitude of this decision and the strong opinions that surround it, both for and against, but joining the Big Sky Conference is the best possible course for our athletics program and for our university,” said Chuck Staben, UI president. “We have carefully weighed our options and concluded that competing as an independent with an extremely uncertain future conference affiliation would be irresponsible when we have the alternative of joining one of the most stable FCS conferences. The Big Sky allows us to renew traditional rivalries and offers our athletes the opportunity to excel, just as they do in our other Big Sky sports programs.”
Idaho was notified by the Sun Belt in March that the conference would move forward with a 10-team league after the 2017 football season, not renewing the membership of UI and New Mexico State University. UI will play in the Sun Belt two more seasons, moving to the Big Sky for the fall 2018 season.
“I know many passionate Vandals view football’s place in the FBS as a mark of our institution’s ‘prestige’ and ‘relevance.’ But we consider prestige and relevance in an institution-wide context,” Staben said. “UI is our state’s land-grant institution, the unquestioned statewide leader in higher education. Success on the football field will complement UI’s prestige and relevance, but we will be defined by our individual and societal impact, measured by the entire student body experience, including our student-athletes; our academic excellence; our research, scholarly and creative success; and our deep engagement with communities across the state. Providing the best student experience for all students, across all aspects of university life is our responsibility and privilege.”
Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton said the conference is excited about adding Idaho's football program to the Big Sky Conference.
"The Big Sky Conference is excited about the University of Idaho joining the league in football,” Fullerton said. “We think that, given Idaho’s DNA of excellence, they will make our football programs better, and our football product better.”
Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said the Vandals' goals of remaining competitive on the field will remain the same, regardless of conference alignment.
”We are extremely motivated to compete in the Sun Belt for the next two years and then align with like institutions that make geographic sense in the Big Sky Conference that will provide our student-athletes with a quality experience,” he said.
“We have two years to position our athletics department to best serve our students and provide the quality co-curricular benefits we expect from Vandal athletics,” Staben said. “We will be successful in the Big Sky Conference and will build a vibrant football culture that is an excellent front porch for our university.”
The University of Idaho played football in the Big Sky Conference from 1965-1995, winning nine conference championships.
All UI sports left the Big Sky in 1996, with most other sports other than football returning in 2014. The Vandal football team has played in the Sun Belt since 2014, its second run in the conference since leaving the Big Sky.
For more information, visit www.uidaho.edu/bigsky. A video recording of today's press conference will be available for viewing at this site later today.
About the Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference enters its 53rd year and 28th year of women's competition during the 2015-16 academic year. The venerable and stable Division I Big Sky Conference observed its 50th birthday on July 1, 2013. The league has become one of the strongest Division I conferences in the West and is a national leader in the Football Championship Subdivision. Six times, Big Sky teams have won the Division I National Championship, including Eastern Washington in 2010. The Big Sky is one of three conferences in the western United States playing Division I football. The Big Sky's full members represent nine states spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Red River Valley of North Dakota. The league is represented along the entire west coast with institutions in Washington, Oregon and California. League schools also range up and down the Rocky Mountains with institutions in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. It is “The Heart of the American West.”
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is one of only 72 land-grant research universities across the country. Home to nearly 12,000 students, the UI is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. UI is home to the Vandals and competes in the Big Sky Conference and Sun Belt Conference.
http://bigskyconf.com/news/2016/4/27/FB_0427165139.aspx?path
The University of Idaho announced today it will accept an invitation to play football in the Big Sky Conference beginning in fall 2018, pending approval by the State Board of Education.
“I understand the magnitude of this decision and the strong opinions that surround it, both for and against, but joining the Big Sky Conference is the best possible course for our athletics program and for our university,” said Chuck Staben, UI president. “We have carefully weighed our options and concluded that competing as an independent with an extremely uncertain future conference affiliation would be irresponsible when we have the alternative of joining one of the most stable FCS conferences. The Big Sky allows us to renew traditional rivalries and offers our athletes the opportunity to excel, just as they do in our other Big Sky sports programs.”
Idaho was notified by the Sun Belt in March that the conference would move forward with a 10-team league after the 2017 football season, not renewing the membership of UI and New Mexico State University. UI will play in the Sun Belt two more seasons, moving to the Big Sky for the fall 2018 season.
“I know many passionate Vandals view football’s place in the FBS as a mark of our institution’s ‘prestige’ and ‘relevance.’ But we consider prestige and relevance in an institution-wide context,” Staben said. “UI is our state’s land-grant institution, the unquestioned statewide leader in higher education. Success on the football field will complement UI’s prestige and relevance, but we will be defined by our individual and societal impact, measured by the entire student body experience, including our student-athletes; our academic excellence; our research, scholarly and creative success; and our deep engagement with communities across the state. Providing the best student experience for all students, across all aspects of university life is our responsibility and privilege.”
Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton said the conference is excited about adding Idaho's football program to the Big Sky Conference.
"The Big Sky Conference is excited about the University of Idaho joining the league in football,” Fullerton said. “We think that, given Idaho’s DNA of excellence, they will make our football programs better, and our football product better.”
Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said the Vandals' goals of remaining competitive on the field will remain the same, regardless of conference alignment.
”We are extremely motivated to compete in the Sun Belt for the next two years and then align with like institutions that make geographic sense in the Big Sky Conference that will provide our student-athletes with a quality experience,” he said.
“We have two years to position our athletics department to best serve our students and provide the quality co-curricular benefits we expect from Vandal athletics,” Staben said. “We will be successful in the Big Sky Conference and will build a vibrant football culture that is an excellent front porch for our university.”
The University of Idaho played football in the Big Sky Conference from 1965-1995, winning nine conference championships.
All UI sports left the Big Sky in 1996, with most other sports other than football returning in 2014. The Vandal football team has played in the Sun Belt since 2014, its second run in the conference since leaving the Big Sky.
For more information, visit www.uidaho.edu/bigsky. A video recording of today's press conference will be available for viewing at this site later today.
About the Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference enters its 53rd year and 28th year of women's competition during the 2015-16 academic year. The venerable and stable Division I Big Sky Conference observed its 50th birthday on July 1, 2013. The league has become one of the strongest Division I conferences in the West and is a national leader in the Football Championship Subdivision. Six times, Big Sky teams have won the Division I National Championship, including Eastern Washington in 2010. The Big Sky is one of three conferences in the western United States playing Division I football. The Big Sky's full members represent nine states spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Red River Valley of North Dakota. The league is represented along the entire west coast with institutions in Washington, Oregon and California. League schools also range up and down the Rocky Mountains with institutions in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. It is “The Heart of the American West.”
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is one of only 72 land-grant research universities across the country. Home to nearly 12,000 students, the UI is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. UI is home to the Vandals and competes in the Big Sky Conference and Sun Belt Conference.
bigskyconf
Active member
Idaho coming back to the Big Sky does makes sense, however it opens up some new problems that will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years.
1. There is no precedence for FCS conference to have "conference championship games". If it could be played before the first round of the FCS playoffs then it could probably be done, otherwise the conference would be like the SWAC and MEAC and their conference championship games. Starting the conference one week earlier needs to have approval from the NCAA.
2. In order to qualify for an autobid in the playoffs the conference needs to have currently (or in some cases, a solid plan) at least eight football playing members. Separating the conference into 7 FBS schools and 7 FCS schools would mean the conference would lose the AQ.
3. Idaho is a founding school of the Big Sky along with Montana, Montana State, Idaho State and Weber (and Gonzaga back in the day). How much pull will the Vandals have in conference matters? Will they be treated as a founding school or as a school that has just joined the conference.
Rumors are that NM State will now look at joining the Southland Conference. I don't think the Big Sky is done yet, however.
1. There is no precedence for FCS conference to have "conference championship games". If it could be played before the first round of the FCS playoffs then it could probably be done, otherwise the conference would be like the SWAC and MEAC and their conference championship games. Starting the conference one week earlier needs to have approval from the NCAA.
2. In order to qualify for an autobid in the playoffs the conference needs to have currently (or in some cases, a solid plan) at least eight football playing members. Separating the conference into 7 FBS schools and 7 FCS schools would mean the conference would lose the AQ.
3. Idaho is a founding school of the Big Sky along with Montana, Montana State, Idaho State and Weber (and Gonzaga back in the day). How much pull will the Vandals have in conference matters? Will they be treated as a founding school or as a school that has just joined the conference.
Rumors are that NM State will now look at joining the Southland Conference. I don't think the Big Sky is done yet, however.
CaseyOrourke
Active member
I just ran across an article that said now that Idaho was officially in the Big Sky fold, now they are going after New Mexico State.
http://footballscoop.com/news/idaho...-reportedly-going-after-new-mexico-state-too/
http://footballscoop.com/news/idaho...-reportedly-going-after-new-mexico-state-too/
bigskyconf said:
Wondering where you see those rumors.
I had thought this would have been a fit, but my reading indicates the Southland regards itself a bit like the Big West... preferably remaining a bus league. It's, uh, eh... NMSU isn't going to get the basketball conference it wants anyway, I guess.
bigskyconf said:
I am seeing a rumor talking about a split... not an FBS/FCS split. The Big Sky is lobbying for a second football autobid with whatever division of North-South or East-West they devise.
I can imagine that being laughed out of an NCAA boardroom, but just saying.
EDIT- Some of the WAC board people (doubt it's spurred by Idaho more than it is NMSU fans) talking about some sharing arrangement between the WAC and Big Sky, an attempt to revive WAC football in FBS, and trying to draw some Big Sky schools to it. Leave no doubt that the "drawing Big Sky schools to it" is the tough part, given that one school really has the cred and money and stadium size to move up. North Dakota has the money, but Aleris Center in Grand Forks, eh, limited expansion opportunities? So I don't think much of the rumor. Stranger things have happened relatively recently.
Speaking of stranger things: New Mexico State to the Horizon League is a curious rumor and seemingly unsustainable in practice.
bigskyconf
Active member
Pounder said:
Actually heard it from a few Southland team boosters and fans. Nothing solid and concrete, however, and nothing from NMSU. Also, hearing that NMSU may try FBS independent and keep its geographical rivals UNM and UTEP.
Here's a twist.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/24/ucsd-athletics-vote-division-student-fees/
The word on Big West Conference politics is that the UC schools shall never be outvoted. If UC San Diego does move up, the theory is that there would then be room to add another Cal State school... which was never going to happen until UCSD was approved.
That means Sacramento or Bakersfield.
Now I'm seeing some chatter that Sacramento leaving the Big Sky would be the premise for the Montana schools leaving. Sounds more like speculation than even rumor to me. However, I sort of get the logic... everyone wants to recruit a little bit in California while being able to play there more than sporadically. Thing is... does the Big Sky threaten to kick out Sac's football program if everything else is moved? Meanwhile, Sac's put a lot of resources into football.
Bakersfield may be more desperate anyway. The WAC is imploding. Where would they go without the WAC?
This could be nothing, or it could substantially impact the Big Sky... probably something will get nudged a bit.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/24/ucsd-athletics-vote-division-student-fees/
The word on Big West Conference politics is that the UC schools shall never be outvoted. If UC San Diego does move up, the theory is that there would then be room to add another Cal State school... which was never going to happen until UCSD was approved.
That means Sacramento or Bakersfield.
Now I'm seeing some chatter that Sacramento leaving the Big Sky would be the premise for the Montana schools leaving. Sounds more like speculation than even rumor to me. However, I sort of get the logic... everyone wants to recruit a little bit in California while being able to play there more than sporadically. Thing is... does the Big Sky threaten to kick out Sac's football program if everything else is moved? Meanwhile, Sac's put a lot of resources into football.
Bakersfield may be more desperate anyway. The WAC is imploding. Where would they go without the WAC?
This could be nothing, or it could substantially impact the Big Sky... probably something will get nudged a bit.
