These schools need to go I-AA

[Ronbo]

Nebraska-Omaha - seats 13,000
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/nebraska/omaha_caniglia.jpg

North Dakota - seats 13,500
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/north_dakota/grand_forks_alerus.jpg

South Dakota - seats 10,000
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/south_dakota/vermillion_dakotadome.jpg

UOP - seats 30,000
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/stockton_stagg.jpg


Northeastern State (Oklahoma) 12,500 seat newly renovated stadium.

UC-Santa Barbara - seats 17,000
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/santa_barbara_harder.jpg

Cal State Bakersfield - seats 20,000
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/bakersfield_memorial2.jpg

Can you think of more?

[colgate13]

Educate this Easterner please - those are all D-II schools, right?

FWIW there are a few Wisconsin state D-III schools like UW-Whitewater that should be a higher level. They are monsters in D-III terms.

UW-W seats 11,000 and a school of over 10K.

http://www.uww.edu/athletics/facilities/football/mfootball.jpg


You could even talk about the entire WIAC (http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/schools/index.html) being out of place in D-III.

UW- Eau Claire

http://www.uwec.edu/athletics/fb/images/0405/carson/AerialCarson2004-09-25.jpg

UW-Oshkosh

http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/images/FootballFacility/1.jpg

[TexasTerror]

UT-Arlington?

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/texas/arlington_maverick.jpg

[ucdtim17]

None of the California schools listed offer football anymore (doubt Bakersfield ever did). None will be offering it again anytime soon, but I've been saying for a while Bakersfield should. The school is going D1 and Bakersfield (along with Fresno) is like a little slice of Texas in California. Both awful, hot, smoggy places with nothing to do but watch football. I think they could be successful

[wannabegaucho]

UOP and UCSB cannot afford football, or at least that is what we are told.

CSU Bakersfield is just now jumping to Division I and I don't believe they have ever had football while in Division II.

If anybody needs to go to Division I-AA, I'd like to see Western Washington and Central Washington.

[Ronbo]

UOP and UCSB cannot afford football, or at least that is what we are told.

CSU Bakersfield is just now jumping to Division I and I don't believe they have ever had football while in Division II.

If anybody needs to go to Division I-AA, I'd like to see Western Washington and Central Washington.

They would need major upgrades. 3,600 and 4000 seat stadiums.

http://www.netitor.com/photos/schools/wwu/galleries/facilities/civic_field-lg.jpg

[Franks Tanks]

I always believed IUP (Indiana University of PA) located about 1 1/2 hours from Pittsburgh would be a natural at 1-AA. However they are a member of the PSAC a d-II conference for PA state schoold and may cause some problems.(athough a few member wrestle at the d-1 level Lock haven, edinboro, etc.) They could mine the fertile Western PA football grounds where Duquesne is currently the only 1-AA and I know most western PA high school players would much rather go to IUP than Duquesne. Lou Tepper the former Illionois Head Coach currently is the head man here. They are a 1st class d-II with a few players in the NFL. They would probably need a facility upgrade though

http:///www.d2football.com/stadiums/iup_stadium_1.jpg

[Go Poly]

UOP and UCSB cannot afford football, or at least that is what we are told.

CSU Bakersfield is just now jumping to Division I and I don't believe they have ever had football while in Division II.

If anybody needs to go to Division I-AA, I'd like to see Western Washington and Central Washington.
UCSB had football for many years...Cal Poly used to play them...but then again CP used to play Fresno State. IMO UCSB is a fertile market for developing, at a minimum, a quality 1-aa program. It just takes vision and commitment.

Go Poly! Beat UC Davis!

[Go Poly]

I always believed IUP (Indiana University of PA) located about 1 1/2 hours from Pittsburgh would be a natural at 1-AA. However they are a member of the PSAC a d-II conference for PA state schoold and may cause some problems.(athough a few member wrestle at the d-1 level Lock haven, edinboro, etc.) They could mine the fertile Western PA football grounds where Duquesne is currently the only 1-AA and I know most western PA high school players would much rather go to IUP than Duquesne. Lou Tepper the former Illionois Head Coach currently is the head man here. They are a 1st class d-II with a few players in the NFL. They would probably need a facility upgrade though

http:///www.d2football.com/stadiums/iup_stadium_1.jpg
A couple of years ago the wife and I were visiting her relatives in Western PA and took in a D2 game (Clarion vs. Indiana University). I'll tell you what, those Indians were a pretty impressive team, and their band blew my alma mater's away! Must have been 200 + strong and they played their version of the Florida State fight song....that rocked the small Clarion stadium.

Go Poly! Beat UC Davis!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I always believed IUP (Indiana University of PA) located about 1 1/2 hours from Pittsburgh would be a natural at 1-AA. However they are a member of the PSAC a d-II conference for PA state schoold and may cause some problems.(athough a few member wrestle at the d-1 level Lock haven, edinboro, etc.) They could mine the fertile Western PA football grounds where Duquesne is currently the only 1-AA and I know most western PA high school players would much rather go to IUP than Duquesne. Lou Tepper the former Illionois Head Coach currently is the head man here. They are a 1st class d-II with a few players in the NFL. They would probably need a facility upgrade though

http:///www.d2football.com/stadiums/iup_stadium_1.jpg

Adding to this, IUP has shown very strong interest in jumping to I-AA. This was discussed in an earlier thread somewhere around here. The problem with IUP is basically, where would they play?

What I'd like to know is, how many other PSAC teams might consider jumping with IUP? I don't think all 10 schools would consider it, but might not 3 or 4 consider jumping together?

[Franks Tanks]

Very interesting point, I think Bloomsburg would be the most natural second choice as they have been pretty much dominating the PSAC east the last few years. I would think West Chester, SHIP, Millersville, and Slippery Rock would also be possibilities. They seem to be have the best programs historically with good funding, East Stroudsburg would also be in the discussion. But really Cal, Mansfield and Cheyney are really the only schools woth pretty much no chance of moving up, bad programs with bad stadiums and little funding

[Gil Dobie]

North Dakota's AD said they are going DI. They are still in the review process and have been given an extension on the due date for delcaring this year. Another NCC member, St Cloud St is rumored to be looking into DI.

Buning: UND going D-I Link (http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=128603&section=Sports) (Free Registration)
University of North Dakota athletic director Tom Buning said Wednesday the school plans to move to NCAA Division I athletics in all sports.

“It’s not a matter of if,” Buning said. “It’s a matter of when. This is a good time to make the move. In fact, timing is an important issue. We are ready to move.”

UND President Charles Kupchella said he is still reading a report by the school’s Division I classification task force and no decision has been made. Kupchella, who has the final say on the move, received the report this week.

[Coastal89]

Carson-Newman
http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/carson_newman_stadium_1.jpg

Valdosta State
http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/valdosta_state_stadium_2.jpg

Pittsburg State
http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/pittsburg_state_stadium_1.jpg

[AppGuy04]

Grand Valley State, I mean, come on, how many more NC's do they need to win

[HZWV]

Grand Valley State, I mean, come on, how many more NC's do they need to win

If GVSU could go IAA in football and keep everything else DII, they most likely would. But the truth is they suck at everything else and would get murdered in every sport.

Here's 1 you will see in 10 yrs or less

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/HerdZoned/laidley_field.jpg
University of Charleston Golden Eagles
Charleston, WV
cap: 18,600

http://www.ucwv.edu/shared/content/page_objects/athletics/moharvsmall.jpg

UC just started their football program back up. This will be their 3rd year back in DII. The 1st year they went 1-10 and last in the WVIAC (West Virginia Intercollegate Athletic Conf.). Last year they went 8-3 and 2nd in the WVIAC. Also both mens and womens basketball went deep into the DII brackets.

[Go...gate]

Gettysburg, Washington & Jefferson, Johns Hopkins, Ithaca College

[cosmo here]

If GVSU could go IAA in football and keep everything else DII, they most likely would. But the truth is they suck at everything else and would get murdered in every sport.

Maybe you'd like to check the internet before you type anything next time. :rolleyes: I already did the research for you, :read: it didn't really take that long either. xcoffeex

http://gvsulakers.cstv.com/

Baseball - 47-10
Men's Basketball - 27-4
Men's Cross Country - fourth in NCAA
Men's Golf - third at DII Great Lakes Super Regional
Men's Swimming - third in GLIAC
Men's Tennis - NCAA Regional appearance
Men's Track - 13th in NCAA

Women's Basketball - 33-3
Women's Cross Country - second in NCAA
Women's Golf - fourth in NCAA
Women's Soccer - 19-3
Women's Swimming - first in GLIAC
Women's Tennis - NCAA Regional appearance
Women's Track - fourth in NCAA
Women's Volleyball - 32-6

[Mr. C]

None of the California schools listed offer football anymore (doubt Bakersfield ever did). None will be offering it again anytime soon, but I've been saying for a while Bakersfield should. The school is going D1 and Bakersfield (along with Fresno) is like a little slice of Texas in California. Both awful, hot, smoggy places with nothing to do but watch football. I think they could be successful
Have to laugh about my hometown of Fresno being compared to Texas. Probably more like Oklahoma (where most of our relatives immigrated from). Bakersfield is a lot like Texas, including with its own oil industry. Prep football is big in the San Joaquin Valley (as baseball is, also) and there are a lot of D-I prospects that come out of there. I lived for about 25 years in Fresno and a couple of years in Bakersfield. Both are hot, smoggy places (though with more to do than you might expect). There is a reason some of us move from there to the mountains of North Carolina.

Cal State Bakersfield is a relatively new school and like many of the younger schools in the CS system, it was established without a football program. But the Roadrunners have been very good in basketball (winning a couple of D-II national championships), track and field and other things.

UC Santa Barbara did have a football program for many years before dropping it in the 1970s. The Gauchos brought football back in the late 1980s as a Division III program, while I was covering the program. But it wasn't very successful and the rule change kicking D-I programs out of D-III was the death nail for the program.

Not much chance of any school like that funding football now, with money tight in California.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I always like to add Seton Hall to this list. They've never gotten beyond D-III and last played games in the '80s, but I've always thought sponsoring football in I-AA in a conference like the Patriot would make a lot of sense for them with the right inclination. They have a field in South Orange, NJ that could be used, but of course it would need some renovation.

[RabidRabbit]

First three pics (Neb-Omaha, USD, UND)

Add in the MN schools of St. Cloud St., Minn St (Mankato), Duluth.

If UND pulls the plug and joins UNC, NDSU, SDSU, UNI (all ex-NCC), I think the majority of the conference ends up in I-AA by 2015.

[GoAgs72]

I grew up in Bakersfield and the big college football game there is Bakersfield College - the two year community college. It has a 1-AA sized stadium and at least at one time was nationally ranked. Although both of my parents came from Texas we used to compare Bakersfield to Oklahoma. I'm glad I live someplace now that is cooler, cleaner and greener. Cal State Bakersfield could probably field a football team but UC Santa Barbara would make a better road trip. Plus it's the party school for UC, kind of like Chico State for the CSU system.

[JaxSinfonian]

Add North Alabama to the list.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/alabama/florence_braly.jpg

Braly Municipal Stadium seats 14,215, according to WorldStadiums.com. The Lions piled up three D-II championships in the 1990s (only after JSU won in 1992 and left the Lions' conference for I-AA, mind you). They'd be a natural fit geographically for the OVC, and I'd love to have these old rivals back on the schedule regularly.

I think they could instantly be commpetitive, too. It pains me to note this, but JSU's first year in the OVC, 2003, the year we steamrolled nearly the whole conference, UNA came to town in the season opener and beat us 28-16.

Of course, if they moved up D-II would have to find a new home for its national title game.

[kats89]

UT-Arlington?

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/texas/arlington_maverick.jpg

UTA needs to get off the duff and bring back football. The Prez of that university needs to have is azz kicked.

Also, Lamar University in Beaumont,TX. Big rival of Sam Houston and McNeese back in he day.

[Stang Fever]

CSU Bakersfield could do it if they wanted too.....but i just dont see it happening

[MplsBison]

I'm pretty sure that Grand Valley won DII volleyball and women's basketball national championships...this year.

UND is moving up very soon, no doubt.

Would like to see USD move up too, but that's an entirely different situation, probably not happening.


As far as the Wisconsin schools go, I totally agree.

IMHO, no public schools should be allowed to compete in DIII. All those big Wisc. public schools get huge funding from the state and it's really not fair to the rest of DIII which is almost exclusively small private schools.

I say kick the WISC out of DIII and make them go DII at the least.

It's quite possible that some of them could go DI (Green Bay and Milwaukee are). But I don't know about I-AA football.

[TexasTerror]

I'm just hoping for and crossing my fingers we get a few more schools west of the Mississippi to jump up to Div I.

It'd definitely help with scheduling in I-AA football and across the board. Maybe even save the GWFC...

[AppGuy04]

Maybe you'd like to check the internet before you type anything next time. :rolleyes: I already did the research for you, :read: it didn't really take that long either. xcoffeex

http://gvsulakers.cstv.com/

Baseball - 47-10
Men's Basketball - 27-4
Men's Cross Country - fourth in NCAA
Men's Golf - third at DII Great Lakes Super Regional
Men's Swimming - third in GLIAC
Men's Tennis - NCAA Regional appearance
Men's Track - 13th in NCAA

Women's Basketball - 33-3
Women's Cross Country - second in NCAA
Women's Golf - fourth in NCAA
Women's Soccer - 19-3
Women's Swimming - first in GLIAC
Women's Tennis - NCAA Regional appearance
Women's Volleyball - 32-6

Thanks cosmo, I was about to do some research myself. They are either in the championship or damn close to it in almost all sports. Probably one of the most dominant D2 programs out there.

[Ronbo]

I've chatted with some Grand Valley folks before and they are scared about the jump to Div. I because they are a commuter school. Not many students live there, they come from Grand Rapids. They would be similar to EWU with Spokane.

[AppGuy04]

I've chatted with some Grand Valley folks before and they are scared about the jump to Div. I because they are a commuter school. Not many students live there, they come from Grand Rapids. They would be similar to EWU with Spokane.

It doesn't seem to be affecting them. Sure, there is always a transition period, but they seem to have the goods.

[Pard4Life]

I always like to add Seton Hall to this list. They've never gotten beyond D-III and last played games in the '80s, but I've always thought sponsoring football in I-AA in a conference like the Patriot would make a lot of sense for them with the right inclination. They have a field in South Orange, NJ that could be used, but of course it would need some renovation.

Seton Hall?! They are a stone's throw from me and I would never be able to see them in I-AA or having a large football program. Their passion is basketball and everything is essentially poured into that program. Soccer is also a priority over there. I do not see them in the Patriot League.. their profile is in no way amenable to the PL schools. Some of the kids there are even questionable college material. And, it is in a very dense area, with so many other athletic distractions... i.e. pro sports in New York, Rutgers.. that success or visibility would be highly doubtful. Plus you have schools like Monmouth, St. Peter's, Wagner, Stony Brook competing in regional talent pools. The Hall would be on the bottom for a very long time.

[GeauxColonels]

I've chatted with some Grand Valley folks before and they are scared about the jump to Div. I because they are a commuter school. Not many students live there, they come from Grand Rapids. They would be similar to EWU with Spokane.


What are they concerned about? Why does being a commuter school scare them?

Nicholls State is a commuter school and we've had several competitive years and FINALLY won a conference title. I'm not sure being a commuter school has a big impact. Especially on a program that is well established and already has a following.

[Ronbo]

What are they concerned about? Why does being a commuter school scare them?

Nicholls State is a commuter school and we've had several competitive years and FINALLY won a conference title. I'm not sure being a commuter school has a big impact. Especially on a program that is well established and already has a following.

Money. They don't feel they will ever have a big following attending games. It has nothing to do with wins. They draw about 8000 for football and don't feel I-AA would improve that any and their travel costs would go way up. Now they are in a bus league. In I-AA they aren't very close to other I-AA schools.

[eagle1]

Need to add Central Missouri State University to the list.
http://www.cmsu.edu/athletic/football/0506images/StadiumUpdate_Mockup.jpg

[GeauxColonels]

Also, need to add UL-Monroe to the list as they have been HORRIBLE since moving up.

[eagle1]

I think that Pittsburg State (KS) would also make an awesome I-AA.
http://www.pittstategorillas.com/facilities/pics/carnie-smith-stadium-04.jpg

[GeauxColonels]

I would DEFINITELY agree that Central Missouri State and Pittsburg State would be GREAT additions to I-AA. They both have impressive facilities (I LOVE the CMSU stadium) and Pitt State looks like they have a very loyal following. Plus, how could you NOT want teams named the "Mules" and "Gorrillas"?

That's another thing I LOVE about Playoff level football, so many unique mascots. You just don't see that in the Bowl schools!

[The Fan]

Cal State Bakersfield - seats 20,000




The Bakersfield stadium is Bakersfield Community College rather than CSUB. You can't base a program's Division I worth on a single facility...if you did Duke would be D3 and half of the high schools in Texas would be playing in BCS conferences.

While Pitt State and GVSU could potentially do very well at the I-AA level, their success would come at the expense of current I-AA programs in the mid-west. There is a finite amount of Division I talent (exclusive of areas that are experiencing huge population booms like Texas and CA--which are already high school football hotbeds), adding more scholarships to the mix just dilutes the region as a whole.

[Ronbo]

The Bakersfield stadium is Bakersfield Community College rather than CSUB. You can't base a program's Division I worth on a single facility...if you did Duke would be D3 and half of the high schools in Texas would be playing in BCS conferences.

While Pitt State and GVSU could potentially do very well at the I-AA level, their success would come at the expense of current I-AA programs in the mid-west. There is a finite amount of Division I talent (exclusive of areas that are experiencing huge population booms like Texas and CA--which are already high school football hotbeds), adding more scholarships to the mix just dilutes the region as a whole.

And half of I-AA would be Junior High Schools. :D

[Green Cookie Monster]

And to go I-AA you have to have all of your programs in DI. That means fully funded, support, recruiting, coaches, etc. etc.

I don't know if many of the football hotbeds playing D2 could muster the $$ for the entire program to be elevated.

[Stang Fever]

And to go I-AA you have to have all of your programs in DI. That means fully funded, support, recruiting, coaches, etc. etc.

I don't know if many of the football hotbeds playing D2 could muster the $$ for the entire program to be elevated.

Agreed....:nod:

[MplsBison]

Now they are in a bus league. In I-AA they aren't very close to other I-AA schools.

Gateway would be pretty easy for them, I'd think.

[SoCon48]

The Bakersfield stadium is Bakersfield Community College rather than CSUB. You can't base a program's Division I worth on a single facility...if you did Duke would be D3 and half of the high schools in Texas would be playing in BCS conferences.

While Pitt State and GVSU could potentially do very well at the I-AA level, their success would come at the expense of current I-AA programs in the mid-west. There is a finite amount of Division I talent (exclusive of areas that are experiencing huge population booms like Texas and CA--which are already high school football hotbeds), adding more scholarships to the mix just dilutes the region as a whole.

Hmm. I was at the Rolling Stones concert at Duke's stadium last Fall and I was very impressed. Beyond anything I've seen In I-AA. Their field house and scoreboard alone make most of us look anemic.

[Stang Fever]

The Bakersfield stadium is Bakersfield Community College rather than CSUB. You can't base a program's Division I worth on a single facility...if you did Duke would be D3 and half of the high schools in Texas would be playing in BCS conferences.

While Pitt State and GVSU could potentially do very well at the I-AA level, their success would come at the expense of current I-AA programs in the mid-west. There is a finite amount of Division I talent (exclusive of areas that are experiencing huge population booms like Texas and CA--which are already high school football hotbeds), adding more scholarships to the mix just dilutes the region as a whole.


I wouldnt go as far as say that...it just makes coaching that much more important. If you have a team fool of studs and you suck thats a reflection of coaching, flip that and that shows great coaching. so the more competion the better.

Why does Sac St loose to Davis, they recruit right out of the same places, I would imagine that most guys on both teams know one another. Its simple Davis out coaches Sac St. the players are no better or worse when they get to either school...so its obvious that the coaches at Davis recruit athletes that fit there system and develop those players to be studs in that system.

Bill Balachek said it the best. I am not looking for Pro Bowlers...im looking for Super Bowlers....what does that mean the "best player" in the league at that postion might not be the best player for his system. he could be a 8 time pro bowler, but will never be a Super Bowler

[ucdtim17]

Why does Sac St loose to Davis, they recruit right out of the same places, I would imagine that most guys on both teams know one another. Its simple Davis out coaches Sac St. the players are no better or worse when they get to either school...so its obvious that the coaches at Davis recruit athletes that fit there system and develop those players to be studs in that system.


I was talking to Fred Arp last year and he specifically mentioned that the Causeway rivalry loses some luster BECAUSE the players don't know each other. Davis and CP recruit similar players and students - Sac does not. And for the majority of recent history, Sac has always had more talented players than Davis - the coaching makes the difference. The talent level is getting a lot closer and I don't know if there's much difference now at all - in fact I think it's an easy argument to make that Davis has more talented players.

[Granite]

Hmm. I was at the Rolling Stones concert at Duke's stadium last Fall and I was very impressed. Beyond anything I've seen In I-AA. Their field house and scoreboard alone make most of us look anemic.

I agree - I went to a Duke-UVA game there in the late 1990s and thought the stadium was actually pretty nice (and certainly better than most of I-AA). In terms of other ACC venues, it really isn't that far behind. ACC stadiums aren't the biggest or grandest in the BCS, for the most part.

[AndrewFU21]

Come on now, Wallace Wade stadium isn't top of the line, but it is way better than anything I-AA has. The concessions/facilities around the stadium are sub-par for the ACC, but the stadium itself it renowned for its beauty and its history(hosting the 1942 Rose Bowl).

[kats89]

Damnit, Central Missouri and Pittsburg State both have very impressive facilities.:eek:

[MplsBison]

Emporia and Northwestern Missouri have similarly good facilities.

All four of those teams are in the MIAA which is kind of like the Big XII of DII.


Northwestern:

http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/northwest_missouri_state_stadium_2.jpg


Emporia:

http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/emporia_state_stadium_3.jpg


Emporia is probably not as good as the other three, but not bad.