The Big Sky and San Diego

[Cat Grad]

So what I'm hearing is that because they don't offer scholarships to their players, they don't belong. Why?

The playoff field was increased from 16 to 20 to 24 in order to allow the "weaker" conferences (i.e. the Pioneer) an auto-berth so that they can participate in the playoffs. They basically never got to be in the playoffs as they weren't (aren't) competitive with the full scholarship conferences. If I remember correctly San Diego went undefeated one year when Harbaugh was their coach, before the playoff field expanded and they still didn't get an invite because their strength of schedule was considered bad.

Look at their conference champ - Dayton - in the playoffs last weekend: not ranked in the polls, beaten 24-7 by unranked, 6-5 Western Illinois (3rd place in a 3 way tie in the MVFC) at home with an official attendance of 997. Fairly typical for the top non-scholarship teams. I'm not sure, but wouldn't be surprised to find that the Pioneer has never won a playoff game.

To generalize, non-scholarship teams want a football team but don't want to put much priority/resources into it. Since they have to play football at D1 if they want their other sports at D1 level (typically basketball), they go to FCS rather than FBS. Then they cut their costs further by not offering scholarships.

Virtually this entire post is how the Power 5 schools and their fanbase view the Plus 5 and all the small college teams. Most of the small college teams have stadiums similar to a Texas High School with the exception of a few in the Ivy League. The HBCU schools have their post season bowl game that some years have had more in attendance in that one game than all the small college playoff games combined (actual seats filled.)

Not exactly. The power 5 and all the other FBS conferences have 85 scholarship players, so it's a fair playing field from that perspective.

Really? You seriously believe that? Check the strength and conditioning data from a Power 5 school second and third on the depth chart players. Say the running backs in those schools and bounce it off our defensive linemen for example. The only variable is once in a while you'll have a certain religion dominating the rosters of some schools whereby grown men are playing against 17-23 year old kids. Danny Kannell was 28 freaken years old his senior year of college, but that was not the point of my statement. Hell, the Ivy League doesn't offer scholarships and they do okay against the Patriot and that other northeast conference. I simply wished to show the disparity and show the irony in the statement to the effect they only want a team. Most of my former colleagues would argue if you're not interested in competing at the highest level you are simply participating.

So, did you get the ribbon or a trophy?

And some of the egotistical posters on this site still can't comprehend why even the zebras can't stand the attitudes of the Cat fanbase anymore.

[catbooster]

So what I'm hearing is that because they don't offer scholarships to their players, they don't belong. Why?

The playoff field was increased from 16 to 20 to 24 in order to allow the "weaker" conferences (i.e. the Pioneer) an auto-berth so that they can participate in the playoffs. They basically never got to be in the playoffs as they weren't (aren't) competitive with the full scholarship conferences. If I remember correctly San Diego went undefeated one year when Harbaugh was their coach, before the playoff field expanded and they still didn't get an invite because their strength of schedule was considered bad.

Look at their conference champ - Dayton - in the playoffs last weekend: not ranked in the polls, beaten 24-7 by unranked, 6-5 Western Illinois (3rd place in a 3 way tie in the MVFC) at home with an official attendance of 997. Fairly typical for the top non-scholarship teams. I'm not sure, but wouldn't be surprised to find that the Pioneer has never won a playoff game.

To generalize, non-scholarship teams want a football team but don't want to put much priority/resources into it. Since they have to play football at D1 if they want their other sports at D1 level (typically basketball), they go to FCS rather than FBS. Then they cut their costs further by not offering scholarships.

Virtually this entire post is how the Power 5 schools and their fanbase view the Plus 5 and all the small college teams. Most of the small college teams have stadiums similar to a Texas High School with the exception of a few in the Ivy League. The HBCU schools have their post season bowl game that some years have had more in attendance in that one game than all the small college playoff games combined (actual seats filled.)

Not quite sure I get your point - do you disagree and think the average non-scholarship is competitive with the scholarship conference teams?

I was attempting to answer GoldenBobcat's question of why most people don't think San Diego fits in the Big Sky and why the number of scholarships affects that. You're right, it's analogous to us as compared to the P5 - we don't want to devote (or maybe can't, depending on your viewpoint) that level of resources to our football team.

Personally, although I sometimes think 24 is too many teams in the playoffs (too many at-larges), I'm glad they expanded so that more conferences can have the opportunity to send their champions to the playoffs even though history has shown that the Pioneer league will seldom win their game. IMO they should get the opportunity to prove it on the field, just like I think the BCS should allow more conferences to participate in their championship. Perhaps a better solution would be for the NCAA to change their rules and allow football to be played at a different level than the rest of the sports.

[allcat]

So what I'm hearing is that because they don't offer scholarships to their players, they don't belong. Why?

The playoff field was increased from 16 to 20 to 24 in order to allow the "weaker" conferences (i.e. the Pioneer) an auto-berth so that they can participate in the playoffs. They basically never got to be in the playoffs as they weren't (aren't) competitive with the full scholarship conferences. If I remember correctly San Diego went undefeated one year when Harbaugh was their coach, before the playoff field expanded and they still didn't get an invite because their strength of schedule was considered bad.

Look at their conference champ - Dayton - in the playoffs last weekend: not ranked in the polls, beaten 24-7 by unranked, 6-5 Western Illinois (3rd place in a 3 way tie in the MVFC) at home with an official attendance of 997. Fairly typical for the top non-scholarship teams. I'm not sure, but wouldn't be surprised to find that the Pioneer has never won a playoff game.

To generalize, non-scholarship teams want a football team but don't want to put much priority/resources into it. Since they have to play football at D1 if they want their other sports at D1 level (typically basketball), they go to FCS rather than FBS. Then they cut their costs further by not offering scholarships.

Virtually this entire post is how the Power 5 schools and their fanbase view the Plus 5 and all the small college teams. Most of the small college teams have stadiums similar to a Texas High School with the exception of a few in the Ivy League. The HBCU schools have their post season bowl game that some years have had more in attendance in that one game than all the small college playoff games combined (actual seats filled.)

Not exactly. The power 5 and all the other FBS conferences have 85 scholarship players, so it's a fair playing field from that perspective.

Really? You seriously believe that? Check the strength and conditioning data from a Power 5 school second and third on the depth chart players. Say the running backs in those schools and bounce it off our defensive linemen for example. The only variable is once in a while you'll have a certain religion dominating the rosters of some schools whereby grown men are playing against 17-23 year old kids. Danny Kannell was 28 freaken years old his senior year of college, but that was not the point of my statement. Hell, the Ivy League doesn't offer scholarships and they do okay against the Patriot and that other northeast conference. I simply wished to show the disparity and show the irony in the statement to the effect they only want a team. Most of my former colleagues would argue if you're not interested in competing at the highest level you are simply participating.

So, did you get the ribbon or a trophy?

And some of the egotistical posters on this site still can't comprehend why even the zebras can't stand the attitudes of the Cat fanbase anymore.

Not really, you were the only one that wanted to bring in FBS into the conversation, while saying that it was all about the Power 5. Did the zebras give you the ribbon?

[grizzh8r]

Another reason USD will never join the BSC is because their basketball teams compete in the West Coast Conference with BYU, Gonzaga and St. Mary's, a true mid major conference, that obviously embraces private religious schools. Their basketball teams would be taking a step backwards from a national exposure standpoint. Not gonna happen.

[allcat]

Another reason USD will never join the BSC is because their basketball teams compete in the West Coast Conference with BYU, Gonzaga and St. Mary's, a true mid major conference, that obviously embraces private religious schools. Their basketball teams would be taking a step backwards from a national exposure standpoint. Not gonna happen.

The other 2 California schools, don't play basketball in the Big Sky, so that would not really be an issue.

[Cataholic]

Another reason USD will never join the BSC is because their basketball teams compete in the West Coast Conference with BYU, Gonzaga and St. Mary's, a true mid major conference, that obviously embraces private religious schools. Their basketball teams would be taking a step backwards from a national exposure standpoint. Not gonna happen.

Just curious, but does USD offer scholarships for basketball?

[Montanabob]

Another reason USD will never join the BSC is because their basketball teams compete in the West Coast Conference with BYU, Gonzaga and St. Mary's, a true mid major conference, that obviously embraces private religious schools. Their basketball teams would be taking a step backwards from a national exposure standpoint. Not gonna happen.

Just curious, but does USD offer scholarships for basketball?

They offer some form of scholarship for all sports except football and crew based on their website.