FCS vs. FBS

[CAA Flagship]

If say 6 CAA teams moved up together and hook up with Charlotte, App St., Marshall, ECU or Temple to form a new FBS conference, then it might be worth it. Most of the games are played within the conference. If you can keep the rivalries already developed, then a move up would be OK. In fact, it would be stupid not to (taking the cost of schollies out of the equation). There are not many schools that can be excited about joining the Sun Belt in a solo move.

[clenz]

If say 6 CAA teams moved up together and hook up with Charlotte, App St., Marshall, ECU or Temple to form a new FBS conference, then it might be worth it. Most of the games are played within the conference. If you can keep the rivalries already developed, then a move up would be OK. In fact, it would be stupid not to (taking the cost of schollies out of the equation). There are not many schools that can be excited about joining the Sun Belt in a solo move.

The problem is you cna't take the cost of the 22 extra scholarships out of the equation....or the cost of adding womens sports to counter that 22 extra scholarships.

[CAA Flagship]

If say 6 CAA teams moved up together and hook up with Charlotte, App St., Marshall, ECU or Temple to form a new FBS conference, then it might be worth it. Most of the games are played within the conference. If you can keep the rivalries already developed, then a move up would be OK. In fact, it would be stupid not to (taking the cost of schollies out of the equation). There are not many schools that can be excited about joining the Sun Belt in a solo move.

The problem is you cna't take the cost of the 22 extra scholarships out of the equation....or the cost of adding womens sports to counter that 22 extra scholarships.

Of course, but I'm assuming that the basis of this thread assumes that it is feasible to begin with. My point is that I would be OK moving up if we had "friends" going with us. I'd rather play FCS football in the CAA than join the Sun Belt. I'm sure you feel the same way with the MVC.

[LastMinuteman]

If say 6 CAA teams moved up together and hook up with Charlotte, App St., Marshall, ECU or Temple to form a new FBS conference, then it might be worth it. Most of the games are played within the conference. If you can keep the rivalries already developed, then a move up would be OK. In fact, it would be stupid not to (taking the cost of schollies out of the equation). There are not many schools that can be excited about joining the Sun Belt in a solo move.

The problem is you cna't take the cost of the 22 extra scholarships out of the equation....or the cost of adding womens sports to counter that 22 extra scholarships.

If it was just the 22 schollies that were the barrier, the much larger guarantee games would take care of that. Even the Title IX equivalents aren't that expensive so long as you have room to grant them in existing women's sports rather than have to fund new sports. One thing about the CAA athletic departments is that, unlike Montana, most if not all of them already satisfy the 16 sport minimum for FBS (14 is the minimum for FCS), making it less of a jump from an operating cost perspective and providing more opportunities to spread out women's scholarships.

[clenz]

The problem is you cna't take the cost of the 22 extra scholarships out of the equation....or the cost of adding womens sports to counter that 22 extra scholarships.

Of course, but I'm assuming that the basis of this thread assumes that it is feasible to begin with. My point is that I would be OK moving up if we had "friends" going with us. I'd rather play FCS football in the CAA than join the Sun Belt. I'm sure you feel the same way with the MVC.

The "main" issue I'd have with UNI jumping to a non-BCS conference is that it would mean UNI would have to leave the MVC all sport conference. Basketball, football, and volleyball are the driving forces at UNI, and most schools. However, the MVC in terms of basketball is better than almost every non-BCS league, and was the best RPI mid-major conference until the last year or two. There is also no conference, other than the B10 or B12 we fit the footprint of. UNI moving won't happen unless there is a cataclysmic shift.