Does this mean what I think it means?

[TomCat88]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... onomy-ncaa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sounds like the Big 5 conferences are trying to break away from the FBS. Yes? No?

[John K]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... onomy-ncaa

Sounds like the Big 5 conferences are trying to break away from the FBS. Yes? No?

This is the first time that I've heard any discussion of some of the ancillary ramifications, if the Big 5 were to split from the NCAA, i.e. potentially being excluded from the NCAA basketball tourney. That's a big chip that the NCAA holds, as this situation plays out going forward.

[TomCat88]

I hope the Big 5 breakaway. Then I hope MSU joins the group that isn't in the big five. I think we fit better with the lower level FBS than most of the FCS.

When MSU was division 2 back in the 70s it was kinda like that. That was probably the highest level of football MSU was ever in. I bet half of the lower level FBS teams were in D2. Only around 70-75 in D1.

We should be doing much better today considering the competition. We have big advantages across the board.

[John K]

I hope the Big 5 breakaway. Then I hope MSU joins the group that isn't in the big five. I think we fit better with the lower level FBS than most of the FCS.

When MSU was division 2 back in the 70s it was kinda like that. That was probably the highest level of football MSU was ever in. I bet half of the lower level FBS teams were in D2. Only around 70-75 in D1.

We should be doing much better today considering the competition. We have big advantages across the board.

It's sort of ironic, because essentially that was the rationale behind the creation of Division I-AA in the first place, back in 1978. To create a home for programs that wanted to compete at a higher level than most of the other schools in D-II (and whose Olympic sports teams competed in D-I), but who couldn't really compete with the truly "big time" football programs in D-I. Now, 35 years later, we're having essentially the same discussion all over again. It's too bad that so many former I-AA teams have moved up over the years, even though they don't really belong in I-A

[CatBlitz]

I tried to get this discussion going awhile ago. Only got trolled with 1 reply.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=31790" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[onceacat]

I think the gap between top FBS schools & bottom FCS schools is much larger than you give it credit for. MSU has some really nice advantages relative to other FBS programs (attendance, facilities, academics, and the fact that we're all living the dream in Bozeman). On the other hand, you are 6 hours from the closest legitimate airport. For kids that we recruit from out of state, they might never get to play in front of their family or friends. The guys from Euless (thanks for all the awesome time guys!) had a $500 plane ride or 2 day drive at the start and end of every semester

On top of that, a lower tier FBS program (UNLV, New Mexico, Toledo, Miami (OH)) have more HS athletes within an hour of their campus than we have in a day's drive.

How many Montana kids can you name that have had any level of success at even lower tier FBS schools? The list is pretty short.

Finally, how many quality FCS schools have had any success is lower FBS conferences. The list pretty much starts and ends with Boise State. UConn is the only other team that has made the transition to ever play in a major bowl: UCF had a great season this year. And for every BSU, there's an Idaho, UMass, Marshall, Troy, Western Kenkucky, South Fla, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Buffalo. You get the picture.

FBS is awesome. Don't muck it up.

[[cat_bracket]]

I think the gap between top FBS schools & bottom FCS schools is much larger than you give it credit for. MSU has some really nice advantages relative to other FBS programs (attendance, facilities, academics, and the fact that we're all living the dream in Bozeman). On the other hand, you are 6 hours from the closest legitimate airport. For kids that we recruit from out of state, they might never get to play in front of their family or friends. The guys from Euless (thanks for all the awesome time guys!) had a $500 plane ride or 2 day drive at the start and end of every semester

On top of that, a lower tier FBS program (UNLV, New Mexico, Toledo, Miami (OH)) have more HS athletes within an hour of their campus than we have in a day's drive.

How many Montana kids can you name that have had any level of success at even lower tier FBS schools? The list is pretty short.

Finally, how many quality FCS schools have had any success is lower FBS conferences. The list pretty much starts and ends with Boise State. UConn is the only other team that has made the transition to ever play in a major bowl: UCF had a great season this year. And for every BSU, there's an Idaho, UMass, Marshall, Troy, Western Kenkucky, South Fla, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Buffalo. You get the picture.

FBS is awesome. Don't muck it up.

I disagree that the gap between lower level FBS teams and MSU is that big. If MSU was a 83 scholarship school it would be clean fit with the MAC, Sun Belt, etc. Most of those schools were D2 when we were and we were highly competitive during that time. I think if MSU were FBS we would attract a lot more talent and players from urban areas would be much more inclined to come here. Players aren't necessarily dying to stay close to home. A lot of them are trying find new experiences or simply are trying to escape.

[allcat]

I think the gap between top FBS schools & bottom FCS schools is much larger than you give it credit for. MSU has some really nice advantages relative to other FBS programs (attendance, facilities, academics, and the fact that we're all living the dream in Bozeman). On the other hand, you are 6 hours from the closest legitimate airport. For kids that we recruit from out of state, they might never get to play in front of their family or friends. The guys from Euless (thanks for all the awesome time guys!) had a $500 plane ride or 2 day drive at the start and end of every semester

On top of that, a lower tier FBS program (UNLV, New Mexico, Toledo, Miami (OH)) have more HS athletes within an hour of their campus than we have in a day's drive.

How many Montana kids can you name that have had any level of success at even lower tier FBS schools? The list is pretty short.

Finally, how many quality FCS schools have had any success is lower FBS conferences. The list pretty much starts and ends with Boise State. UConn is the only other team that has made the transition to ever play in a major bowl: UCF had a great season this year. And for every BSU, there's an Idaho, UMass, Marshall, Troy, Western Kenkucky, South Fla, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Buffalo. You get the picture.

FBS is awesome. Don't muck it up.

The closeest legit airport? I just heard that Bozeman is the busiest airport in Montana. they had 879,000 people go through there this year.

[Jobu]

I think the gap between top FBS schools & bottom FCS schools is much larger than you give it credit for. MSU has some really nice advantages relative to other FBS programs (attendance, facilities, academics, and the fact that we're all living the dream in Bozeman). On the other hand, you are 6 hours from the closest legitimate airport. For kids that we recruit from out of state, they might never get to play in front of their family or friends. The guys from Euless (thanks for all the awesome time guys!) had a $500 plane ride or 2 day drive at the start and end of every semester

On top of that, a lower tier FBS program (UNLV, New Mexico, Toledo, Miami (OH)) have more HS athletes within an hour of their campus than we have in a day's drive.

How many Montana kids can you name that have had any level of success at even lower tier FBS schools? The list is pretty short.

Finally, how many quality FCS schools have had any success is lower FBS conferences. The list pretty much starts and ends with Boise State. UConn is the only other team that has made the transition to ever play in a major bowl: UCF had a great season this year. And for every BSU, there's an Idaho, UMass, Marshall, Troy, Western Kenkucky, South Fla, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Buffalo. You get the picture.

FBS is awesome. Don't muck it up.

I think you missed the point. First, no one is saying that the bottom of the FCS can compete with the lower end of the FBS. Although perhaps you just typed that backward.

But if you don't believe the top of the FCS can compete with the majority of the non-BCS programs, you're out of your mind. There are a lot of other examples of FCS programs (Nevada) who have moved up and had great success at the FBS level. Now, are they going to play in a "major bowl" every year? Likely not. But if the power programs have their way (and they eventually will), NO ONE outside those conferences will play in those bowl games anyhow.

No one expects MSU, EWU, Montana, NDSU, SHSU, UNH, etc to play with Alabama or Michigan. But give them 2 or 3 years with equal scholarships and half of their games against those teams at home, and I GUARANTEE you they can play with Hawaii, Wyoming, Rutgers, UConn, Nevada, etc. Which is precisely where those programs belong.

The best thing that could happen to college football would be for the professional leagues....errr... the power conferences... break away and let those of us still committed to college athletics to compete.