The Future of the Big Sky (and Weber State) Football

[MrLevski]

Great column in the SL Tribune about where the Big Sky commissioner would like to see the conference in the future.

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/2886549-155/kragthorpe-big-sky-enjoys-college-football

Some quotes:

magine 64 schools in four conferences playing at the highest level of college football — and a second tier of the current FBS programs and FCS schools. That's both a long-term vision and a prediction of Fullerton, who speaks from a national perspective as a former member of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee.

In an interview this week, Fullerton repeated his belief that the way college football is evolving is potentially very good for the Big Sky. The financial gulf between the Power 5 conferences and other FBS schools is widening to a degree that actually brings the Big Sky and other FCS leagues closer to those mid-level programs, in his mind. He's a Big Sky advocate, obviously, but what he's saying makes a lot of sense.

"We pushed for autonomy, from our level," Fullerton said. "We did it because we wanted the brightest line drawn underneath five conferences, not underneath 10."

Interesting, how that works. The more money the Power 5 schools spend with Cost of Attendance provisions and other expenses, the more difficult it will become for the next tier of FBS programs to compete with them. In turn, that may make them more like the Big Sky, in terms of realistic budgeting and ambitions.

Personally I would love it IF the big schools go to 4 divisions that the lower FBS schools and the FCS schools get together and realign. It would be good for Weber State and other non-FBS power houses.

Thoughts?

 

[SWeberCat02]

Hard to imagine schools like USU competing at the same level as Weber. Weber better be getting it's butt in gear to improve the football program so that they're not left behind if things start shifting around. Have to be in the best position possible if that starts happening.