Hens to play Hornets in Dover as part of new deal

[JALMOND]

And I disagree with "Telling a school who they should/shouldn't play is ridiculous." If a state provides money to a school they have a vested interest in representing the entire state. For example, what if Iowa or Iowa State no longer wanted to play UNI but were willing to pay Missouri State several hundred thousand dollars to play? Isn't it in the best interest of the state that that money be directed toward a game with an in-state rival at the same level as Missouri State? It keeps the money in state and is beneficial for another state school. UNI should have right of first refusal over games against FCS teams.

You might not like it as a fan, but isn't it in the best interest of the taxpayers for Delaware to play Delaware State over Penn, Cornell, Lafayette, etc.?

That is what Arizona does - the Board of Regents doesn't mandate that UA or ASU play NAU, but if they play an FCS team, NAU has right of first refusal in alternating years to take the game. They don't every year, but most years they do.

And the NAU game is always higher attended (by thousands) than non-NAU FCS games, and many years the highest attended OOC game (and a couple years the highest attended game for ASU).

Portland State has a similar setup with the Ducks and Beavers.

[93henfan]

As 89 alluded Delaware is a privately run University that receives state funding of about $120M a year, a fraction of its operating budget. In addition, we don't need to throw some bone to a peer FCS institution. All the scenarios you all describe are FBS schools being asked to help a little brother who they won't even have to meet in a playoff (as Delaware has with DSU in 2007).

[89Hen]

That is what Arizona does - the Board of Regents doesn't mandate that UA or ASU play NAU, but if they play an FCS team, NAU has right of first refusal in alternating years to take the game. They don't every year, but most years they do.

And the NAU game is always higher attended (by thousands) than non-NAU FCS games, and many years the highest attended OOC game (and a couple years the highest attended game for ASU).

Portland State has a similar setup with the Ducks and Beavers.

Viks have played the Ducks twice in the last twelve years. Other years were SUU, UCD, EWU, USD, Nicholls, TennTech, MoSt... who is the watchdog responsible for this?

[GannonFan]

All these things about this being for the benefit of the state just doesn't ring true. If we did want to benefit the state then DSU would just drop football altogether rather than being the constant money loser it is. In addition, unlike other states, the vast majority of both students and players on these teams aren't even Delaware residents. More than 2/3 of each student body comes from outside the state. Furthermore, this game isn't even a big draw - UD vs. West Chester games drew more fans than any of these UD/DSU matchups. This game is the equivalent of the NFL's 4th week of the preseason - it's a game that's tough on the eyes and one that people wish didn't happen. On the bright side, with two of these games now being in Dover, I as a UD season ticket holder don't have to feel like I'm being ripped off by having one of my home games be the UD/DSU game. That alone is a win in my book!

[JALMOND]

Portland State has a similar setup with the Ducks and Beavers.

Viks have played the Ducks twice in the last twelve years. Other years were SUU, UCD, EWU, USD, Nicholls, TennTech, MoSt... who is the watchdog responsible for this?

Viks have not been competitive against the Ducks either. Plus, everyone wants to play the Ducks so it does make it difficult to squeeze in a game. The Beavers usually have someone who is backing out and the Viks end up playing them. We don't back down from playing the Ducks but the thing is neither does anyone else. We have to stand in line just like everyone else.

[89Hen]

We have to stand in line just like everyone else.

So not like Arizona.

[JALMOND]

We have to stand in line just like everyone else.

So not like Arizona.

I must have misread the comment somewhere. If they have not scheduled FCS already and they get someone to backout, we have first "dibs" on the spot, if they can make it work. In 2007, we had scheduled New Mexico, Cal and a DII team. Oregon ended up losing Wisconsin (I think it was) on their schedule and had an open spot. They bought out our DII game, moved the game to late October and put us on the schedule (and gave us a fat payday).

We currently are on a round robin schedule with Washington, Wazzu, the Beavers and the Ducks. The idea is to play one of them every four years. However Oregon, (and to a certain extent Washington) is getting tougher to schedule using this format. We're not playing any of them this year, but we get back on it next year with the Beavers, followed by Wazzu in 2021, UDub in 2022 and the Ducks in 2023, subject to change of course.

[dal4018]

And I disagree with "Telling a school who they should/shouldn't play is ridiculous." If a state provides money to a school they have a vested interest in representing the entire state. For example, what if Iowa or Iowa State no longer wanted to play UNI but were willing to pay Missouri State several hundred thousand dollars to play? Isn't it in the best interest of the state that that money be directed toward a game with an in-state rival at the same level as Missouri State? It keeps the money in state and is beneficial for another state school. UNI should have right of first refusal over games against FCS teams.

You might not like it as a fan, but isn't it in the best interest of the taxpayers for Delaware to play Delaware State over Penn, Cornell, Lafayette, etc.?

UD receives very little money from the state.

And Del St gets even less.