Football in the state of Idaho

[AlphaOAlum]

I will preface this post by saying I have no secret information. All opinions posted below are from my observations as a fan on the Big Sky Conference

My husband and I have discussed football in the state of Idaho at length this fall, with obvious interest in the ISU program and a sort of "how can you not look at the car wreck" fascination with U of I. It's shocking to me that 2 of the 3 programs in the state can be in such disarray. How did it get this bad? Or rather, how did all the other schools advance so much, while these two programs stagnated?

We've also discussed the privatization of higher education that BAC pointed out to me this fall. As federal and state funding for higher ed has fallen schools have had to pick up the slack through fundraising and higher tuition. The stage of Idaho is not know for it's legislative focus on funding education.

I'm going to put forward a theory: Idaho and ISU are faltering as football programs because of lack of reinvestment in the programs from the state. Boise State is thriving (except for this year) primarily as a result of private donations/ reinvestment in the program.

After seeing what's happened to WSU, U of I and ISU I firmly believe that if you're not visibly reinvesting in the program every 2-3 years, you are falling behind. I mean new turf, stadium expansion, academic center, indoor practice facility, etc. yes, you have to do the "foundation" things like address APR issues, but the vast majority of the fan base doesn't understand APR. they do understand new uniforms.

But how do you pay for it, especially in light of falling funding from the state? Private fundraising, of course. Or having a university president ballsy enough to agree to bond for a stadium expansion in conjunction with private fund raising (yes I just called Cruzado, who I admire "ballsy"). There can be no "quiet phase."

All of this is a very, very long way to say that I'd be interested to see a report comparing expenditures on football at ISU, Idaho, Boise State, WSU, MSU and U of M since, lets say 1992. Who spent what to invest in the program, and was the money public or private donations? Or other sources like bowl revenue?

[bobcat92]

Great post. I think you are correct. The example I like to look at is the program at UM. In 1985 the program was not very successful. They decided to build a new stadium and was partially financed by a donation. I won't go into details since everyone knows it but it started a successful 25 year stint at UM. You are right if you don't invest in the programs then they become non competitive. Sad to see UofI and ISU in the shape they are. They used to be the top teams on the BSC. I think ISU has a chance of bouncing back and they have the right head coach to do it. Idaho is a mess. They should have replaced the dome or built an outside stadium to play football at. Cats have shown what happens when you invest in a program. Will be interesting to follow what happens at UofI.

[BelgradeBobcat]

Both schools were ahead of the times with their domes. But the times caught up to them and passed them and now they're both stuck in their domes. I've never been in the Kibbie Dome, but it does look to be nicer than Holt Arena. The Kibbie would make Idaho competitive...in FCS.

Holt Arena is in desparate need of a renovation. It's like walking into a time warp (at least they got new turf). It's gotta be tough to recruit to that place. It's too bad they have it. I think Pocatello would be a beautiful setting for an outdoor stadium.

[Cat Grad]

As far as I can tell, Boise State is that sole institution ruining the state of Idaho. Look at the schools they'll be playing soon: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... t-football" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Long Time Cat]

Maybe its the Sun Belt Conference for Idaho

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2012 ... -sun-belt/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think we should quit naming conferences and just number them since names no longer mean anything. There is no one who would consider northern Idaho part of the Sunbelt, and I can say that because I live there.

[Cat Grad]

Maybe its the Sun Belt Conference for Idaho

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2012 ... -sun-belt/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think we should quit naming conferences and just number them since names no longer mean anything. There is no one who would consider northern Idaho part of the Sunbelt, and I can say that because I live there.

A lot of the realigned conferences are starting to make a great deal of sense such as Rutgers and Maryland moving to the Big 10; I still have a hard time with a border state (Missouri) being in the SEC as do many in-laws. I wish the Big 10 would call their northern division the Yankee division. The Sun Belt actually had a pretty good year this year; appears Wright and the running backs coach who left MSU last year kind of fell into it and good luck to them.

I thought Idaho made a mistake when they left the Sun Belt previously and to me the biggest screw up is boise going to the big east. Hope the powers that be get it right this time and folks like Swafford in the ACC can keep up. Perfect scenario to me would be four major conferences with eight or nine team divisions and all the rest give up their little brother syndrome and form one division for football to include the 1-AA teams. Level the playing field scholarship wise and develop a few regional rivalry games in that second tier. How many Mountain West (or for that matter bottom feeder Pac 10) teams are better than the Big Sky other than 20 some extra scholarships?

[allcat]

Will the Idaho AD trip over himself trying to accept this offer, when it comes.

[Cat Grad]

You do remember who the WAC commissioner was who sat on his hind end and watched it crumble? http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sp ... source=rss" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I just love proactive leaders.