Big Sky Expansion

[TBirdz]

Not last year, but 2007, first game of the year for both of us. Final score was 37-17 but that didn't tell the tale of how close the game was. It was a ten point game with five minutes to play. Late turnovers trying to get back in the game are what doomed us.

[ilovebaker]

Last I heard most of St. George was in foreclosure and a lot of Cedar was bankrupt... Those aren't things that usually spur on population growth. However, there are some really nice cemetaries in St. George for the one statistic that is growing, retirement couples. No matter... I still think SUU would be a great fit in the Sky. They are right in the middle of the Big Sky conference.

[JALMOND]

If I am not mistaken, when SUU played Youngstown it was in a downpour of rain. Granted the people of Cedar, St. George, and the rest of southern Utah need to do a better job of getting out and supporting football, but it's about to change. SUU is the only D1 program between UNLV and BYU on I-15. St. George, Cedar City, and the surrounding areas have been estimated to be at nearly 1 million people in the future. The area is growing immensely even w/ the economy the way it is. When the economy picks up, the area will boom. SUU, with the potential of growth, the excellent coaching that is in place, and the administration that has taken over, is about to be one of the premier FCS programs in the country. May sound funny to some, but I truly do think there is a real possibility of comparing it to a program like Texas St., who they seem to play every year now. SUU would be a great asset to any conference. I myself, would love to see it stay where it is for the time being, and when it finally does grow into a force, ignore the BSC, and potentially jump to a newly formed, restored FBS Southwestern Conference, which a lot of people on the net have dicsussed.

How would you draw against the Big Sky in a downpour of rain? I know a lot about rain and Portland State seems to do fine.

Most of this, I have to say, I think you are having delusions of grandeur. Why would (or do) people move there from other parts of the country? What would make the area grow in a bad economy (or a good economy for that matter)? How can you say Southern Utah is on the edge of being a "premier" FCS program? Texas State has had recent success, Southern Utah has had...what? An asset? How? Flying into Las Vegas or Salt Lake and bussing to Cedar City (we already do that with Northern Arizona and they are a highly competitive bunch)? If joining a "restored" Southwestern Conference is your cup of tea, who's to say that conference would not be the western complement to the Sun Belt? You would have competition from the established west coast conferences (Pac-10, WAC and Mountain West). Is this truly the direction where you want Southern Utah to go in the future?

Be glad where you are and work on making some noise in your own conference. You've got some nice dreams, but until you show some success on the field, that's all they are.

[TBirdz]

I will be the first to agree that much of what I have brought up on these few posts I have contributed are a lot of speculation on the future of SUU football. The progam and the school both have lots of improvements/growth to be made in order to be "premier," as i have suggested. I have been very interested in the responses I have gotten though. To be completely honest, I would love to see SUU in the Big Sky. The problem there is, the Big Sky has shown it just isn't interested in SUU. The Great West is not going to be around forever. Either UC-Davis or Poly will end up making the jump to FBS. The Dakota schools are going to want into the Big Sky or MVFC sooner or later. I am just simply throwing out ideas for where SUU would/could land. To say that if SUU were to join a Southwest Conference, the western equivalent of the Sun Belt, you imply that is a bad thing? Although it is the bottom feeder conference of FBS, the Sun Belt is still FBS. I would bet there is no FCS conference in the country that is going to beat that conference top to bottom. The best players want to play FBS 9 out of 10 times.

[AZGrizFan]

I will be the first to agree that much of what I have brought up on these few posts I have contributed are a lot of speculation on the future of SUU football. The progam and the school both have lots of improvements/growth to be made in order to be "premier," as i have suggested. I have been very interested in the responses I have gotten though. To be completely honest, I would love to see SUU in the Big Sky. The problem there is, the Big Sky has shown it just isn't interested in SUU. The Great West is not going to be around forever. Either UC-Davis or Poly will end up making the jump to FBS. The Dakota schools are going to want into the Big Sky or MVFC sooner or later. I am just simply throwing out ideas for where SUU would/could land. To say that if SUU were to join a Southwest Conference, the western equivalent of the Sun Belt, you imply that is a bad thing? Although it is the bottom feeder conference of FBS, the Sun Belt is still FBS. I would bet there is no FCS conference in the country that is going to beat that conference top to bottom. The best players want to play FBS 9 out of 10 times.

I'd take SUU over UNC in a HEARTBEAT.

[SUUTbird]

One thing i have learned on here Tbirdz is that it is always an uphill battle when trying to explain how SUU is getting better. Most people ignore it thinking it as just talk and decide to ignore the results. Last year we won four games, (including one huge dominating win at Texas State) and played a tough and close game against Northern Iowa (even though they will all deny it ). And the year before we had the toughest schedule in the whole of the FCS and we have another tough one this year. SUU is slowly building itself up to be a great program and i honestly think this year we will turn some heads as we have a team coming back that is easily one of if not the best we have ever had in the FCS. I also kinda enjoy being considered nothing, just means when we win the victory will be much sweeter. I am not afraid to say SUU will be in the top if not the winner of the Great West this year and for several years to come. And in reference to our future, do i believe SUU should be in the Big Sky? Yes. Do i think they will be? Yes. Its only a matter of time or until the Great West falls apart. Now if only Weber would schedule us to restart that rivalry!!!

[TBirdz]

It is so nice to have someone, SUUTbird, with the underdog chip on his shoulder too, haha. A lot of people will consider us crazy, but I too agree that SUU is on its way to the top. Granted right now we don't have the nicest stadium, best fans, most revenue, etc. That stuff is about to start showing up in Cedar. I have heard all kinds of different plans/ideas for where the program/school want to go.

[kemajic]

One thing i have learned on here Tbirdz is that it is always an uphill battle when trying to explain how SUU is getting better. Most people ignore it thinking it as just talk and decide to ignore the results. Last year we won four games, (including one huge dominating win at Texas State) and played a tough and close game against Northern Iowa (even though they will all deny it ). And the year before we had the toughest schedule in the whole of the FCS and we have another tough one this year. SUU is slowly building itself up to be a great program and i honestly think this year we will turn some heads as we have a team coming back that is easily one of if not the best we have ever had in the FCS. I also kinda enjoy being considered nothing, just means when we win the victory will be much sweeter. I am not afraid to say SUU will be in the top if not the winner of the Great West this year and for several years to come. And in reference to our future, do i believe SUU should be in the Big Sky? Yes. Do i think they will be? Yes. Its only a matter of time or until the Great West falls apart. Now if only Weber would schedule us to restart that rivalry!!!

Do you have any concept of what results are? You live in a world of dreams, not facts. In fact, you have averaged one FCS win per year over the last four years. Your glorious '08 campaign (4-7), involved exactly two FCS wins, double your normal. Interestingly, your 2008 34-20 win over Texas St. was "dominating", but your 2007 37-17 loss to UM was "tight." You are are the dreaming spin doctor. You could not stay on the field with Montana in 2008; this is the improvement vector you are talking about? Dreams.

[SUUTbird]

In 07 you guys were only up by six at the end of the third quarter, pretty close if you ask me since you guys were supposed to have blown us out by then, and we were winning 34-7 at the start of the fourth quarter against Texas State and they scored two tds on our second string, no your facts . And true we havent had the succses to back it up, i am looking toward the future and i see us getting alot better. We made huge strides in 08 and we will continue to do so in 09, and what Tbirdz says is correct, Southern Utah has one of the fastest growing populations in the nation and talking to the SUU ad there are plans to improve our stadium (turf field in the near future). I also think some of our biggest games will be against Eastern Washington and NAU, maybe if we win that will finally stuff you high and mighty Griz critics.

[TBirdz]

if texas st. is so much better than us we should be able to evaluate the state of our program here in a few months when we face off in cedar...SUUTbird, what are some of the facicilites enhancements the AD has spoken to you about, I knew about the field turf idea and ive also heard that there is talks of a new locker room and video scoreboard...i just wish down the line there was something that could be done to make the stands closer to the field, i guess as long as the track is there that wont be an option...maybe one day eccles coliseum could become the soccer and track complex and football could get another stadium, though I don't know where they would put it as there is no more room on campus

[SUUTbird]

if texas st. is so much better than us we should be able to evaluate the state of our program here in a few months when we face off in cedar...SUUTbird, what are some of the facicilites enhancements the AD has spoken to you about, I knew about the field turf idea and ive also heard that there is talks of a new locker room and video scoreboard...i just wish down the line there was something that could be done to make the stands closer to the field, i guess as long as the track is there that wont be an option...maybe one day eccles coliseum could become the soccer and track complex and football could get another stadium, though I don't know where they would put it as there is no more room on campus

As of right now the Turf Field, Locker room and scoreboard are planned and probably could begin construction in a year or two. Other then then im not sure. I do agree that the field does need to be closer to the stands but i doubt anything like that will happen as one there is no room and also money. The track does live up to its coliseum namesake though.

[GOKATS]

if texas st. is so much better than us we should be able to evaluate the state of our program here in a few months when we face off in cedar...SUUTbird, what are some of the facicilites enhancements the AD has spoken to you about, I knew about the field turf idea and ive also heard that there is talks of a new locker room and video scoreboard...i just wish down the line there was something that could be done to make the stands closer to the field, i guess as long as the track is there that wont be an option...maybe one day eccles coliseum could become the soccer and track complex and football could get another stadium, though I don't know where they would put it as there is no more room on campus

As of right now the Turf Field, Locker room and scoreboard are planned and probably could begin construction in a year or two. Other then then im not sure. I do agree that the field does need to be closer to the stands but i doubt anything like that will happen as one there is no room and also money. The track does live up to its coliseum namesake though.

I hate any football facility that has a track around the 'football field', and yes that includes some pretty powerful FCS schools nationwide. Sorry, just the way it is.................

[TBirdz]

i am the exact same way, do not like tracks around the field at all....i personally would love to see SUU get the scoreboard, locker room, field turf, and maybe even replicate the visitor side to look like the home side currently does, would definitely make it a respectable FCS stadium...later down the line if the money started rolling in, then maybe the track could be removed

[JALMOND]

I will be the first to agree that much of what I have brought up on these few posts I have contributed are a lot of speculation on the future of SUU football. The progam and the school both have lots of improvements/growth to be made in order to be "premier," as i have suggested. I have been very interested in the responses I have gotten though. To be completely honest, I would love to see SUU in the Big Sky. The problem there is, the Big Sky has shown it just isn't interested in SUU. The Great West is not going to be around forever. Either UC-Davis or Poly will end up making the jump to FBS. The Dakota schools are going to want into the Big Sky or MVFC sooner or later. I am just simply throwing out ideas for where SUU would/could land. To say that if SUU were to join a Southwest Conference, the western equivalent of the Sun Belt, you imply that is a bad thing? Although it is the bottom feeder conference of FBS, the Sun Belt is still FBS. I would bet there is no FCS conference in the country that is going to beat that conference top to bottom. The best players want to play FBS 9 out of 10 times.

I doubt Davis and Cal Poly will move to FBS any time soon. The only way this would work is if the WAC became more regional and dropped Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Idaho and Utah State. Better chances that Cal Poly and Davis would move to the Big Sky, if at all. Also, with the economy as it is, it is extremely tough for any school to start up any new athletic program within their school budget which is why I don't see any other California school starting a football program soon. A "Southwest Conference", from what I am hearing from you, hinges on other schools starting football.

If southwestern Utah is going to experience phenominal growth (I'm not saying it will), you will benefit from it, but there is also a school just down the road from you that also will benefit from it and, if everything falls into place, would be looking for DI status. That school is Dixie State, currently playing DII.

Truthfully, Cal Poly and Davis both bring more to the Big Sky than Southern Utah. Easy access, strong teams, and great markets. Still, I think Cal Poly and Davis are at least 10 years away from joining the Big Sky, even with what they bring to the table. For Southern Utah to join, concrete things need to happen. I'd estimate Southern Utah is probably 15-20 years out from joining the Big Sky.

[TBirdz]

let's say for instance the bsc would be interested in expanding in the next few years...what is the likelihood they would expand to 12? seems like it would make sense to add suu, poly, and davis and make 2 divisions like the caa, or is that something the bsc wants to avoid? i know the admin. doesn't like to expand with non football playing schools so what is the likelihood? would poly and davis leave the big west for all other sports too?

[GOKATS]

I will be the first to agree that much of what I have brought up on these few posts I have contributed are a lot of speculation on the future of SUU football. The progam and the school both have lots of improvements/growth to be made in order to be "premier," as i have suggested. I have been very interested in the responses I have gotten though. To be completely honest, I would love to see SUU in the Big Sky. The problem there is, the Big Sky has shown it just isn't interested in SUU. The Great West is not going to be around forever. Either UC-Davis or Poly will end up making the jump to FBS. The Dakota schools are going to want into the Big Sky or MVFC sooner or later. I am just simply throwing out ideas for where SUU would/could land. To say that if SUU were to join a Southwest Conference, the western equivalent of the Sun Belt, you imply that is a bad thing? Although it is the bottom feeder conference of FBS, the Sun Belt is still FBS. I would bet there is no FCS conference in the country that is going to beat that conference top to bottom. The best players want to play FBS 9 out of 10 times.

I doubt Davis and Cal Poly will move to FBS any time soon. The only way this would work is if the WAC became more regional and dropped Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Idaho and Utah State. Better chances that Cal Poly and Davis would move to the Big Sky, if at all. Also, with the economy as it is, it is extremely tough for any school to start up any new athletic program within their school budget which is why I don't see any other California school starting a football program soon. A "Southwest Conference", from what I am hearing from you, hinges on other schools starting football.

If southwestern Utah is going to experience phenominal growth (I'm not saying it will), you will benefit from it, but there is also a school just down the road from you that also will benefit from it and, if everything falls into place, would be looking for DI status. That school is Dixie State, currently playing DII.

Truthfully, Cal Poly and Davis both bring more to the Big Sky than Southern Utah. Easy access, strong teams, and great markets. Still, I think Cal Poly and Davis are at least 10 years away from joining the Big Sky, even with what they bring to the table. For Southern Utah to join, concrete things need to happen. I'd estimate Southern Utah is probably 15-20 years out from joining the Big Sky.

The rumor for the past 20 years or so is that the NCAA will restructure with the top 30 or so teams nationwide being in the top division. All the rest of the current FBS teams and the upper etchelon of the FCS would become the next division. The rest of the FCS teams and upper DII teams would be the next division, etc. Until something like that happens I don't see Cal Poly or UCD in the Big Sky (or whatever conference might shake out with some but maybe not all BSC teams) and I don't see SUU in the Big Sky in the foreseeable future. I can see CalPoly and/or UCD maybe moving up in the meantime, but with the current financial situation/budget problems in CA I don't see any changes for quite awhile.

Nothing against UNC, and they're getting better every year, but personally I preferred the eight team makeup of the BSC. With nine teams, given that MSU will guarantee the fans 6 home FB games in the typical season and one away FBS game requires that the other two OOC games be at home which generally requires bringing in a DII school. The eight team format gave the option of scheduling a quality FCS team in a home/away situation every other year.

[TBirdz]

thought you guys may want to see this....

http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/ ... ut-of-wac/

Kinda interesting idea

[AZGrizFan]

thought you guys may want to see this....

http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/ ... ut-of-wac/

Kinda interesting idea

Pie in the sky.

[dbackjon]

thought you guys may want to see this....

http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/ ... ut-of-wac/

Kinda interesting idea

Interesting idea that has some logictoo it so no cHance

[AZGrizFan]

thought you guys may want to see this....

http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/ ... ut-of-wac/

Kinda interesting idea

Interesting idea that has some logictoo it so no cHance

There ain't no WAY Idaho is going back to FCS. No way.

[SDHornet]

thought you guys may want to see this....

http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/ ... ut-of-wac/

Kinda interesting idea

This was probably one of the worst ideas I have ever heard about what should be done for college football out west. First off, the Mountain West is a solid conference. When they make a move to get to 12 teams to have a conference championship game, they will do that by raiding the top teams from the WAC. They should take Boise State, Nevada, and Fresno State. All of these schools would fit well geographically in the Mountain West. Currently, the only school that doesn’t geographically fit is TCU. IF TCU were to leave the conference for one reason or another, the Mountain West could swallow yet another WAC team to fill the void.

However way you look at it, whatever conference gets stuck with Hawaii is screwed. They had a solid football program but other than that, I can’t think of why a conference would want to spend the additional travel costs to send its athletic teams over there.

And why anyone would even think of elevating the pathetic Great West Conference to FBS is completely absurd. This article lost all credibility when it made that statement.

[SUUTbird]

Hawaii should join the Pac 10 and then the Pac 10 could do what the Big Ten does, have 11 teams with ten in the name. Then have Boise State, Nevada and Fresno join the Mountain West, Louisiana Tech Join the Sun Belt and then have Montana, Montana State, UC-Davis and Cal Poly could join the WAC. This would fit pretty well with all conferences i think with them looking like this:

Mountain West
NORTH
-Air Force
-Colorado State
-Wyoming
-Utah
-BYU
-Boise State
SOUTH
-New Mexico
-TCU
-UNLV
-Nevada
-Fresno State
-San Diego State

WAC
-Montana
-Montana State
-Cal Poly
-UC-Davis
-Utah State
-Idaho
-San Jose State
-New Mexico State

Doesnt look to bad at all in my opinion, two pretty competitive conferences and teams that can/will move up to fill the void i think it would work out pretty well for everyone, especially Hawaii joining the PAC 10 and Louisiana Tech going to the Sun Belt were they belong.

[MrTitleist]

LaTech is more of a CUSA team, not a Sun Belt team.

[TBirdz]

like someone mentioned earlier...the pac 10, or any other conference for that matter, would never want hawaii...they bring a slightly above average football team to the table now that jones went to smu and none of the other sports are even ever heard of...they belong in the wac...leave the pac 10 alone, let the mountain west add boise and fresno, maybe even nevada, hope that la tech will realize it is out of place in the WAC and join CUSA when it reshuffles which is inevitable, and then maybe montana and montana st will join the WAC, like someone said before both CP and UC-D are a long ways off from moving up with the situation Cali is in now economically...when all of this dust settles maybe, just maybe then SUU will get their Big Sky invite with maybe even UND and USD, or poly and davis