Div I-AA, the early years

[DMoo531]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow. I am interested in learning about the beginning of Div I-AA. I was first married in 1978, so until the Cats won the NC in '84 I was distracted. (How Coach Arnold's 1-10 '83 Cats became the '84 NC is a movie waiting to be made) I didn't pay attention during those first few years. But I have some unanswered questions. Does anyone know a good source of information on those early years?

Wiki mentions that Div I-AA was a split of Div I schools. I know this is wrong. I believe there were as many D II schools that were moved up to Div I-AA as there were Div I schools that moved down. The Big Sky was primarily Div II schools in '77. Same with the Yankee Conference (grandfather of the CAA). Same with the Missouri Valley and Mid-Continental Conference schools that eventually became the MVFC. Now the SoCon, SLC and Ivy were different. Those conferences and schools were considered Div I until they were all demoted in '81. I suspect the Ivy schools still refuse to acknowledge that demotion.

But back then conferences made little difference. If memory serves, for a while in the '80's Independents had 2 AQ's. I can't remember how they were selected. But the power was in the Independent schools. GSU was Independent until '91. It had 4 NC's before it joined SoCon. Nevada-Reno, one of the original 4 in '78, was an Independent. It didn't join the BSC until '79. FAMU, our first NC, wasn't an Independent. In '78 it was a member of Div II's SIAC. It didn't join MEAC until '79.

I know the Div I-AA playoffs began in '78 exactly like FBS is beginning now. I would have thought NCAA had learned their lesson. Div I-AA stumbled for 3 years with 4 selected teams. Took another 5 years with 8 or 12 teams until a sensible 16 team playoff was established. FBS has a widely-known selection committee. How did I-AA's first 4 get selected? Does anyone know where to find the answer?

Nevada-Reno, Indep, out of the West. UMass, Yankee, out of the East. Then 2 HBCU's out of the South-FAMU and Jackson St. I believe JSU was the only one considered Div I in '77. The other 3 were classed as Div II. It seems an unlikely mix to be the Original 4. Why were those 4 selected?

Now that FBS is starting on the same path as Div I-AA, I am curious about FCS's beginning. I've fumbled through the internet with little success finding a good source. If anyone knows a good source of information on the history of Div I-AA I'd like to know.

[Grizalltheway]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow. I am interested in learning about the beginning of Div I-AA. I was first married in 1978, so until the Cats won the NC in '84 I was distracted. (How Coach Arnold's 1-10 '83 Cats became the '84 NC is a movie waiting to be made) I didn't pay attention during those first few years. But I have some unanswered questions. Does anyone know a good source of information on those early years?

Wiki mentions that Div I-AA was a split of Div I schools. I know this is wrong. I believe there were as many D II schools that were moved up to Div I-AA as there were Div I schools that moved down. The Big Sky was primarily Div II schools in '77. Same with the Yankee Conference (grandfather of the CAA). Same with the Missouri Valley and Mid-Continental Conference schools that eventually became the MVFC. Now the SoCon, SLC and Ivy were different. Those conferences and schools were considered Div I until they were all demoted in '81. I suspect the Ivy schools still refuse to acknowledge that demotion.

But back then conferences made little difference. If memory serves, for a while in the '80's Independents had 2 AQ's. I can't remember how they were selected. But the power was in the Independent schools. GSU was Independent until '91. It had 4 NC's before it joined SoCon. Nevada-Reno, one of the original 4 in '78, was an Independent. It didn't join the BSC until '79. FAMU, our first NC, wasn't an Independent. In '78 it was a member of Div II's SIAC. It didn't join MEAC until '79.

I know the Div I-AA playoffs began in '78 exactly like FBS is beginning now. I would have thought NCAA had learned their lesson. Div I-AA stumbled for 3 years with 4 selected teams. Took another 5 years with 8 or 12 teams until a sensible 16 team playoff was established. FBS has a widely-known selection committee. How did I-AA's first 4 get selected? Does anyone know where to find the answer?

Nevada-Reno, Indep, out of the West. UMass, Yankee, out of the East. Then 2 HBCU's out of the South-FAMU and Jackson St. I believe JSU was the only one considered Div I in '77. The other 3 were classed as Div II. It seems an unlikely mix to be the Original 4. Why were those 4 selected?

Now that FBS is starting on the same path as Div I-AA, I am curious about FCS's beginning. I've fumbled through the internet with little success finding a good source. If anyone knows a good source of information on the history of Div I-AA I'd like to know.

How are they going to make a movie if there's no video around to prove that it happened?

[DMoo531]

Hey, Marshalls story got made into a movie with no clips

[bluehenbillk]

When 1-AA first started there were very few teams in it, thus why there were only 4 teams. Most of what would become 1-AA was still Division II at the time. For example, in 1979 Delaware beat Youngstown St for the D-II NC.

[uofmman1122]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow. I am interested in learning about the beginning of Div I-AA. I was first married in 1978, so until the Cats won the NC in '84 I was distracted. (How Coach Arnold's 1-10 '83 Cats became the '84 NC is a movie waiting to be made) I didn't pay attention during those first few years. But I have some unanswered questions. Does anyone know a good source of information on those early years?

Wiki mentions that Div I-AA was a split of Div I schools. I know this is wrong. I believe there were as many D II schools that were moved up to Div I-AA as there were Div I schools that moved down. The Big Sky was primarily Div II schools in '77. Same with the Yankee Conference (grandfather of the CAA). Same with the Missouri Valley and Mid-Continental Conference schools that eventually became the MVFC. Now the SoCon, SLC and Ivy were different. Those conferences and schools were considered Div I until they were all demoted in '81. I suspect the Ivy schools still refuse to acknowledge that demotion.

But back then conferences made little difference. If memory serves, for a while in the '80's Independents had 2 AQ's. I can't remember how they were selected. But the power was in the Independent schools. GSU was Independent until '91. It had 4 NC's before it joined SoCon. Nevada-Reno, one of the original 4 in '78, was an Independent. It didn't join the BSC until '79. FAMU, our first NC, wasn't an Independent. In '78 it was a member of Div II's SIAC. It didn't join MEAC until '79.

I know the Div I-AA playoffs began in '78 exactly like FBS is beginning now. I would have thought NCAA had learned their lesson. Div I-AA stumbled for 3 years with 4 selected teams. Took another 5 years with 8 or 12 teams until a sensible 16 team playoff was established. FBS has a widely-known selection committee. How did I-AA's first 4 get selected? Does anyone know where to find the answer?

Nevada-Reno, Indep, out of the West. UMass, Yankee, out of the East. Then 2 HBCU's out of the South-FAMU and Jackson St. I believe JSU was the only one considered Div I in '77. The other 3 were classed as Div II. It seems an unlikely mix to be the Original 4. Why were those 4 selected?

Now that FBS is starting on the same path as Div I-AA, I am curious about FCS's beginning. I've fumbled through the internet with little success finding a good source. If anyone knows a good source of information on the history of Div I-AA I'd like to know.

How are they going to make a movie if there's no video around to prove that it happened?

[OL FU]

When 1-AA first started there were very few teams in it, thus why there were only 4 teams. Most of what would become 1-AA was still Division II at the time. For example, in 1979 Delaware beat Youngstown St for the D-II NC.

yep, I think the playoffs expanded when a lot of the DII schools moved into D-iA and a lot of the D1 schools moved to AA.

Not sure when the playoffs expanded but when Furman entered in 1982, it was 12 team playoff.

[GannonFan]

When 1-AA first started there were very few teams in it, thus why there were only 4 teams. Most of what would become 1-AA was still Division II at the time. For example, in 1979 Delaware beat Youngstown St for the D-II NC.

yep, I think the playoffs expanded when a lot of the DII schools moved into D-iA and a lot of the D1 schools moved to AA.

Not sure when the playoffs expanded but when Furman entered in 1982, it was 12 team playoff.

Think it went to 16 teams with the 1986 season (coincidentally, Gannon's last year at UD).

[CAA Flagship]

I thought FCS began in 2009 when Old Dominion fielded it's first team.

[93henfan]

I thought FCS began in 2009 when Old Dominion fielded it's first team.

No, but they were noteworthy as the first team to elect to field eleven men on offense and none on defense.

They also hold the record for QB with the tiniest hands.

[BDKJMU]

I thought FCS began in 2009 when Old Dominion fielded it's first team.

No, but they were noteworthy as the first team to elect to field eleven men on offense and none on defense.

They also hold the record for QB with the tiniest hands.

Also invented the 55 minute game..

[Mvemjsunpx]

Dave Arnold's tenure at Montana State has to be one of the strangest ever. He won 12 games & a title in 1984, but won only 6 games combined in his other 3 seasons.

[GannonFan]

No, but they were noteworthy as the first team to elect to field eleven men on offense and none on defense.

They also hold the record for QB with the tiniest hands.

Also invented the 55 minute game..

[CAA Flagship]

No, but they were noteworthy as the first team to elect to field eleven men on offense and none on defense.

They also hold the record for QB with the tiniest hands.

Also invented the 55 minute game..

[89Hen]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow.

Funny you post this. Was listening to sports talk on Monday and they were discussing whether this would be a true championship, or just made the debate about the 4-5 team instead of the 2-3 team. I had half a mind to call in and talk about the start of the I-AA playoffs. IMO it's stupid that they are starting with 4. It will be 8 before you can blink an eye, and 16 in the not too distant future. I don't know if it's that they are ignoring history (I-AA and Final Four expansion) or they just figure it will be better to just ease their way in.

[GannonFan]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow.

Funny you post this. Was listening to sports talk on Monday and they were discussing whether this would be a true championship, or just made the debate about the 4-5 team instead of the 2-3 team. I had half a mind to call in and talk about the start of the I-AA playoffs. IMO it's stupid that they are starting with 4. It will be 8 before you can blink an eye, and 16 in the not too distant future. I don't know if it's that they are ignoring history (I-AA and Final Four expansion) or they just figure it will be better to just ease their way in.

They probably want to wait until they hold all the power completely and then make it a playoff for just the Power 5 teams and Notre Dame. They don't want to have the same thing happen like what happened with March Madness and have to share the revenue with every other conference. Too much money is at stake and they don't want to share any of it. If you expand past 4 you could get a non-P5 team in it, definitely if you expand to 16.

[CAA Flagship]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow.

Funny you post this. Was listening to sports talk on Monday and they were discussing whether this would be a true championship, or just made the debate about the 4-5 team instead of the 2-3 team. I had half a mind to call in and talk about the start of the I-AA playoffs. IMO it's stupid that they are starting with 4. It will be 8 before you can blink an eye, and 16 in the not too distant future. I don't know if it's that they are ignoring history (I-AA and Final Four expansion) or they just figure it will be better to just ease their way in.

I think they are easing into it. The bowl situation has complicated things, at least for the near term. The bowls have contracts in place for years into the future on dates and such. They need to allow them to work their way to a single date (4 bowls in the case of 8 teams) for that first round. And the bidding war for them will have to take place also. Then there are the conference guarantees. If you go to 8 teams, there are no guarantees for conferences in those games. They will have to figure out how to guarantee slots for those early bowls. And the early bowls would want guarantees that instead of an ACC/Big 10 matchup, they don't end up with a CUSA/Sun Belt matchup. There is a lot to this and the only way to do it is to ease into it. But they are heading in the right direction.

What's the magic number? I think it is important to get all the 1 loss P5 teams in and the undefeated G5 teams in. That may end up being 12.

[SACCAT]

So the FBS is going to a 4 team playoff. Of course you realize that is exactly how Div I-AA began. 4 teams selected by someone somehow. I am interested in learning about the beginning of Div I-AA. I was first married in 1978, so until the Cats won the NC in '84 I was distracted. (How Coach Arnold's 1-10 '83 Cats became the '84 NC is a movie waiting to be made) I didn't pay attention during those first few years. But I have some unanswered questions. Does anyone know a good source of information on those early years?

Wiki mentions that Div I-AA was a split of Div I schools. I know this is wrong. I believe there were as many D II schools that were moved up to Div I-AA as there were Div I schools that moved down. The Big Sky was primarily Div II schools in '77. Same with the Yankee Conference (grandfather of the CAA). Same with the Missouri Valley and Mid-Continental Conference schools that eventually became the MVFC. Now the SoCon, SLC and Ivy were different. Those conferences and schools were considered Div I until they were all demoted in '81. I suspect the Ivy schools still refuse to acknowledge that demotion.

But back then conferences made little difference. If memory serves, for a while in the '80's Independents had 2 AQ's. I can't remember how they were selected. But the power was in the Independent schools. GSU was Independent until '91. It had 4 NC's before it joined SoCon. Nevada-Reno, one of the original 4 in '78, was an Independent. It didn't join the BSC until '79. FAMU, our first NC, wasn't an Independent. In '78 it was a member of Div II's SIAC. It didn't join MEAC until '79.

I know the Div I-AA playoffs began in '78 exactly like FBS is beginning now. I would have thought NCAA had learned their lesson. Div I-AA stumbled for 3 years with 4 selected teams. Took another 5 years with 8 or 12 teams until a sensible 16 team playoff was established. FBS has a widely-known selection committee. How did I-AA's first 4 get selected? Does anyone know where to find the answer?

Nevada-Reno, Indep, out of the West. UMass, Yankee, out of the East. Then 2 HBCU's out of the South-FAMU and Jackson St. I believe JSU was the only one considered Div I in '77. The other 3 were classed as Div II. It seems an unlikely mix to be the Original 4. Why were those 4 selected?

Now that FBS is starting on the same path as Div I-AA, I am curious about FCS's beginning. I've fumbled through the internet with little success finding a good source. If anyone knows a good source of information on the history of Div I-AA I'd like to know.

How are they going to make a movie if there's no video around to prove that it happened?

Am I missing something here?

[Catattack]

Am I missing something here?

Not really. Just some lame ass egriz notion that the MSU 1984 championship didn't happen because there was no video .

[EWURanger]

I thought FCS began in 2009 when Old Dominion fielded it's first team.

No, but they were noteworthy as the first team to elect to field eleven men on offense and none on defense.

They also hold the record for QB with the tiniest hands.

Legit post.

[93henfan]

No, but they were noteworthy as the first team to elect to field eleven men on offense and none on defense.

They also hold the record for QB with the tiniest hands.

Legit post.

They make the 2014 EWU defense look like the 85 Bears.

[SACCAT]

Am I missing something here?

Not really. Just some lame ass egriz notion that the MSU 1984 championship didn't happen because there was no video .

I don't know how to post the video (it's not youtube) but here is the two TD's the cats scored in a 19-7 win. That announcer sounds really familiar...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=757769367614483" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Grizalltheway]

Way too grainy, it must be that DII one from the 50s.

[SACCAT]

Way too grainy, it must be that DII one from the 50s.

It says I-AA in the end zone....Oh, I see what you are doing.

[Aho Old Guy]

No way the FBS playoff goes beyond 6 teams ...

A team that loses in a conference championship game should not be playing less than a month later in a NC playoff.

Hey, Marshalls story got made into a movie with no clips

Charter an airplane and crash it into the side of a mountain, killing everyone on board ....

Maybe they'll make a movie about you, too.

[cats2506]

Am I missing something here?

Not really. Just some lame ass egriz notion that the MSU 1984 championship didn't happen because there was no video .

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=76 ... =2&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EDIT
sorry didnt see that SACCAT had posted the link