FCS Expansion teams

[MaximumBobcat]

With all the recent talk of UTSA over on Bobcatfans, it got me thinking. What schools have recently expanded (past 10 years) straight into FCS without first fielding a lower division team? Old Dominion did recently, right?

I know UTSA and I think Wichita State are both planning to do it, but just wondering if anyone has a comprehensive list.

[Fresno St. Alum]

UTSA, Charlotte, Lamar, Gerogia St. S.Alabama will move to FBS in 2 years(must be FCS the first 2)

Nothing on Wichita St.

They are D-I already they wouldn't be allowed to field a D-II football team as a D-I school.

[Redwyn]

UTSA, Charlotte, Lamar, Gerogia St. S.Alabama will move to FBS in 2 years(must be FCS the first 2)

Nothing on Wichita St.

They are D-I already they wouldn't be allowed to field a D-II football team as a D-I school.

I sincerely doubt any of these programs will move up immediately after two years, if at all. Aspirations be damned, the logistics are just too expensive. Remember, the new FCS to FBS rules say you don't get a media slice for quite some time after joining. That being said, most of who you mentioned have potential.

UTSA is Southland. It would likely need an all sports move to move up. While Conference USA might pick it up, I'd expect the conference to split into an All-Texas conference first. This will take far longer than 2 years, though it is possible (I'd assume they'd need to rework all their media contracts to account for the geographic change, which will take some time). Btw, it only has 15 varsity sports including football. It would need to add ANOTHER sport to go FBS. Lamar is in a similar position to go to an All-Texas Conference USA, though it only has 14 sports including football (and again assuming track and field count twice).

Charlotte has potential, but will need significant sustained growth to compete with UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, and the other "traditional" powerhouses in the region. This would also likely require an all sports move, which means you'd need to fight the far more potent basketball fanbases of these programs. They should move up, but they are similar in a lot of ways to Stony Brook right now in that both have vast untapped fanbases. Neither can nor should consider this right now, though only a fool would believe it will never happen. Btw, Charlotte also needs to add another sport assuming track and field is counted twice.

Georgia St. is in the exact same hole as Charlotte and UTSA for the same reasons, though it has the necessary 16 sport minimum.

The ONLY program with any direct line into an FBS conference is S. Alabama, a Sun Belt member. However, S. Alabama doesn't meet the varsity sport sponsorship minimums (they have 15 with football, and that's if track is considered two sports, which is one short of the 16 FBS min), so would not require not just an FBS football investment, but a significant amount into other sports and facilities as well (scholarships, facilities, travel, coaching, etc...It adds up). Don't count on a fast track.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Only S.Alabama has said they will move up after 2 years to join the other Sun Belt members. I put a period after Georgia St. haha

Oh and you're wrong about the FCS to FBS it's from D-II to D-I where you get boned. You don't have to wait 5 + 3 to be FBS. You can go if FBS whenever you want unless you're a start up. For the record UTSA, Charlotte, Texas St. will all eventually move to FBS if they find a conference (Sun Belt)

[Keeper]

I think you can count Campbell Camels as FCS startup in 2008.

Also South Florida, I believe in 1997
Florida Atlantic in 2001 and
Florida International in 2002

[henfan]

Nothing on George Mason elevating its club team to the D-I level... yet.

[tampajag]

Does anybody know where South Alabama will be playing? My guess is Ladd Stadium. Any info on this team? I'd like to learn a little more about them.

[nwFL Griz]

Does anybody know where South Alabama will be playing? My guess is Ladd Stadium. Any info on this team? I'd like to learn a little more about them.

They will be playing at Ladd-Peebles stadium for awhile, but the rumbling round here is that they will be constructing an on-campus facility soon. I have flirted with the idea of purchasing season tickets there, but haven't got into it yet. There seems to be a great amount of support for the team in this area.

Anyhow, check out http://www.usajaguars.com for info.

[coachacola]

Lamar currently sponsors 16 sports counting the addition of football. They are also planning to start a women's softball program, and they have the approval to start a women's swim team and bowling team if they desire.

I think Lamar's long term goal is to go FBS but they haven't said much about it publicly. They are currently in the middle of a $100 million capital improvements campaign ($54 million raised so far) for both academics and athletics. I think in 5 or 6 years they may be ready to go FBS but I don't think they have a definite deadline.

[danefan]

Lamar currently sponsors 16 sports counting the addition of football. They are also planning to start a women's softball program, and they have the approval to start a women's swim team and bowling team if they desire.

I think Lamar's long term goal is to go FBS but they haven't said much about it publicly. They are currently in the middle of a $100 million capital improvements campaign ($54 million raised so far) for both academics and athletics. I think in 5 or 6 years they may be ready to go FBS but I don't think they have a definite deadline.

Welcome coachacola! Good to have a Lamar fan on here. I'm looking forward to the rebirth of Lamar football .

[coachacola]

Welcome coachacola! Good to have a Lamar fan on here. I'm looking forward to the rebirth of Lamar football .

Thanks for the welcome. Season tickets go on sale for the first time Saturday so it should be interesting to see how well they sell. Here's the latest photos of the stadium renovations:

http://www.lamarcardinals.com/view.gal?id=61762

[Redwyn]

Lamar currently sponsors 16 sports counting the addition of football. They are also planning to start a women's softball program, and they have the approval to start a women's swim team and bowling team if they desire.

I think Lamar's long term goal is to go FBS but they haven't said much about it publicly. They are currently in the middle of a $100 million capital improvements campaign ($54 million raised so far) for both academics and athletics. I think in 5 or 6 years they may be ready to go FBS but I don't think they have a definite deadline.

My apologies coachacola, Lamar's website only has 14 listed (including football). Softball's a great sport down south. Best of luck to the program as it continues to expand

[coachacola]

My apologies coachacola, Lamar's website only has 14 listed (including football). Softball's a great sport down south. Best of luck to the program as it continues to expand

Thanks and there's no need to apologize. I'm excited about the return of football to Lamar after 21 years!

[Redwyn]

My apologies coachacola, Lamar's website only has 14 listed (including football). Softball's a great sport down south. Best of luck to the program as it continues to expand

Thanks and there's no need to apologize. I'm excited about the return of football to Lamar after 21 years!

As you should be. There's nothing better for a university's pride than a great football program

[slycat]

Welcome coachacola! Good to have a Lamar fan on here. I'm looking forward to the rebirth of Lamar football .

Thanks for the welcome. Season tickets go on sale for the first time Saturday so it should be interesting to see how well they sell. Here's the latest photos of the stadium renovations:

http://www.lamarcardinals.com/view.gal?id=61762

Do you know what Lamars uniforms and helmets will look like?

I have searched but haven't found anything.

Welcome SLC brethren.

[coachacola]

Here's what Lamar's helmet will look:



I haven't seen or heard what their uniforms will look like though.

I do visit the bobcatfans.com forums occasionally so I may drop in more to talk some SLC sports.

[∞∞∞]

Do you know what Lamars uniforms and helmets will look like?

I have searched but haven't found anything.

Welcome SLC brethren.

[clenz]

Where can I find Georgia States new fight song. I know they got a new one I just can't find it...or the old one for that matter.

[TexasTerror]

Let me throw in a cheap plug for this blog that brings up some particulars on UTSA and Lamar, who are both adding football. Lamar is slated for an '11 entry into the Southland while UTSA is tentatively (have to use it) for '13.

Speaking of the Southland