ORU discussing membership with MVC

[TheAsianSensation]

Personally I love the idea of ISUr going to a FBS conference (for all sports)...but only if it's the MAC or better (i.e. not the SWAC). The upside of being in the FBS, but taking a slight step back in basketball (MAC vs. MVC), is a long term positive. There is way more revenue to be had with an FBS program and that money ultimately translates into upgrade infrastructure, which translates into more notoriety and, hopefully, academic integrity. Of course, in 20 years everyone will be getting their degree on line, so maybe none of this even matters....

Well the MAC is the worst FBS conference, so...

A move to the MAC would not be a small hit to basketball. It's a big hit. It's a move that says your school is football first. That's my one worry about Illinois St, because they seem like the type of school that want to retain the basketball identity. Maybe they become the Western division's answer to Kent St and Akron, but otherwise, the move says football is king. Wonder if ISU fans can handle that transition.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Personally I love the idea of ISUr going to a FBS conference (for all sports)...but only if it's the MAC or better (i.e. not the SWAC). The upside of being in the FBS, but taking a slight step back in basketball (MAC vs. MVC), is a long term positive. There is way more revenue to be had with an FBS program and that money ultimately translates into upgrade infrastructure, which translates into more notoriety and, hopefully, academic integrity. Of course, in 20 years everyone will be getting their degree on line, so maybe none of this even matters....

Well the MAC is the worst FBS conference, so...

A move to the MAC would not be a small hit to basketball. It's a big hit. It's a move that says your school is football first. That's my one worry about Illinois St, because they seem like the type of school that want to retain the basketball identity. Maybe they become the Western division's answer to Kent St and Akron, but otherwise, the move says football is king. Wonder if ISU fans can handle that transition.

I've always kind of been under the impression that at ISU, football is already king. Likewise at UNI. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they were willing to "San Diego State" their bball programs if it meant a better situation for FB. Am I completely offbase in that? (I realize that UNI's decision making will have to take finances into account too).

I do not get that impression about SIU or MSU. I have no idea about InSU. Does anybody else play scholarship FB?

[jwa123]

Double Jay, no football is not king at ISU as that is still bball. I know that others in conference would say it hasn't shown of the court for a lot of years since 1998 except perhaps for Janks NIT appearances 4 of 5 years. I would hasten to say that during that time ISUr suffered with a couple really bad hiring decisions for head coaches that caused great harm. One would hope the hiring of Muller will build on what Jank started and I am one who believes he will.

As for football, I go back to what I originally said. ISUr is not at the level of Montana, Delaware, James Madison and Appy State and I don't think there is any interest in doing anything until they are there depending upon how one interprets the words of President Bowman. In fact, if ISUr football should ever acheive the success of the 4 FCS programs I mentioned, they may not want to leave. Afterall, those 4 sell more tickets than many FBS programs and the cost of a FCS program is generally less than that at the FBS level.

So while ISUr may go FBS someday, it is so off in the future, in my estimation, that if you and I live another ten years I am of the opinion that we will still be discussing this.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Just for the record jwa123, I didn't mean to imply that being a FB school was due to a lack of bball success. I just honestly thought that most ISU fans were bigger FB fans than bball fans.

[CaliRdBrd]

I'd agree that ISUr is basketball first.

I may be in the minority, but I would rather see us compete in FBS than stay in the Valley just for basketball. MAC is pretty good football and football is largely what drives revenue. Even though FBS may cost more money upfront, a school like ISU woudl likely benefit from BCS buy out's - right?.

[UNIFanSince1983]

I'd agree that ISUr is basketball first.

I may be in the minority, but I would rather see us compete in FBS than stay in the Valley just for basketball. MAC is pretty good football and football is largely what drives revenue. Even though FBS may cost more money upfront, a school like ISU woudl likely benefit from BCS buy out's - right?.

FBS teams get more to get sent to the slaughter house from BCS schools than do FCS. WKU got 1mil from Alabama while I am not quite sure UNI even got 1mil total from Iowa and Wisconsin.

[uniftw]

I'd agree that ISUr is basketball first.

I may be in the minority, but I would rather see us compete in FBS than stay in the Valley just for basketball. MAC is pretty good football and football is largely what drives revenue. Even though FBS may cost more money upfront, a school like ISU woudl likely benefit from BCS buy out's - right?.

FBS teams get more to get sent to the slaughter house from BCS schools than do FCS. WKU got 1mil from Alabama while I am not quite sure UNI even got 1mil total from Iowa and Wisconsin.

UNI got 950k from those two schools combined - plus Wisconsin paid the buy out for the Southern Utah game that they replaced on our schedule - saved a ton of travel costs as well.


However, it is well documented that FBS teams will pay other FBS teams more than FCS teams. In 2009 Iowa paid UNI about 350K, and a week or 2 later paid Arkansas State 1 million dollars (or maybe just shy of). I know travel costs go into that, but not 700K worth of travel costs. In 2008 BYU paid UNI something like 450K, but it's been documented they've paid a million dollars for SBC/MWC/WAC/etc...

Appalachian State is headed back to Michigan in 2014. It is written in the contract to get 750K if they are still FCS but OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS (1.2 I think was what I read) if they are in the FBS at that point.


The MAC/SBC/WAC/CUSA/etc... don't get a full double of what FCS teams get but it is consistantly 40ish % more. It varies team by team/situation by situation obviously

[jwa123]

I'd agree that ISUr is basketball first.

I may be in the minority, but I would rather see us compete in FBS than stay in the Valley just for basketball. MAC is pretty good football and football is largely what drives revenue. Even though FBS may cost more money upfront, a school like ISU woudl likely benefit from BCS buy out's - right?.

This is a bball league that this forum follows so this will be my last post relative to football. However, it does followup on Double Jay's point on football vs bball popularity at ISUr. The one thing that could give football more of an equal footing going forward with bball is the new stadium that is coming on-line next season. Not only the capability of seating a lot more fans but I would bet that it will help with recruiting.