Should USU Join the Big Sky?

[SLCBengal]

Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune writes an interesting column about Utah State's football woes.

If they really wanted to give themselves a chance to compete, the Aggies may have to do what nobody has done in the 25-plus years since the Ivy League schools recognized their proper place: decide to play at a lower level.

Moving down to the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) is not something USU officials are considering, because they believe they can eventually succeed where they are. Yet if there's no significant improvement soon, that has to become part of their conversation about the athletic department's future.

It would be revolutionary. It would mean leaving the Western Athletic Conference and joining the Big Sky Conference. It would mean rarely, if ever, playing Brigham Young or Utah in football. It would mean devaluing a popular, powerful basketball program for the sake of football.

It may have to be done, if the school wants to field a football team that anybody cares about in Cache Valley.

Kragthorpe: Winning May Mean Step Down

 

[ajwildcat]

USU has belonged in the Big Sky for at least 20 years. It would be great for USU to finally admit it, and come on down to the BSC. They would still lose half of the time in FB, but they would have a better chance of a winning season.

 

[bengalifer]

but the Aggies are back-to-back Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Champions. Plus, Utah State's no worse than Idaho, right?

 

[ajwildcat]

The Vandals had no business ever leaving the big Sky, they have never done anything in the WAC, and never will, but do we really want them back in the Big Sky?

 

[biobengal]

IMO, neither Idaho nor Utah State will ever be in the BSC. They should, but they never will. Instead, both will languish for years in their current state.

 

[lagneb]

It is all about pride; neither will allow themselves to step down even though both should.

 

[isusuperfan]

A false kind of pride, that is. This is just me, but...
There is no pride or honor in allowing yourselves to be bought off by bigger teams to be used as practice if you are "Division 1". No, those two will never win anything. Come on back, guys! We forgive you if you do! If not, well...just schedule us for football and we'll show you why you should come back!

 

[SLCBengal]

Idaho and ISU are scheduled for next season...