Warning to Fans of Those Teams Who Plan to Move Up...

[bonarae]

From the Lewiston (ID) Tribune:

http://m.lmtribune.com/mobile/sports/article_e5bed914-8c98-5734-b335-e2bc311296e7.html


Idaho-Eastern Washington wasn't a David and Goliath matchup circa Michigan-Appalachian State. This was about one team - and in many ways, one conference - dishing a big ol' slice of humble pie to a program that's consistently belittled its former home since leaving nearly two decades ago.
A program that's been told by both Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson and Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson to go away.
A program that has spent a significant amount of time and manpower trying to convince its base that success at the FBS level is not only attainable, it's expected.
A program that by the looks of it, would have trouble competing with Weber State, let alone Montana State.
No, Idaho isn't too good to join the Big Sky, it's that the Big Sky - and EWU in particular - is too good for Idaho.

Idaho should've gone the northeast ex-FCS teams' route (drop the sport to focus on other things). Staying alive in the FBS doesn't do them any good at all. xsighx

[danefan]

From the Lewiston (ID) Tribune:

http://m.lmtribune.com/mobile/sports/article_e5bed914-8c98-5734-b335-e2bc311296e7.html



Idaho should've gone the northeast ex-FCS teams' route (drop the sport to focus on other things). Staying alive in the FBS doesn't do them any good at all. xsighx

I would never want anyone to drop football.

Idaho should just accept its fate and move back to the Big Sky.

[bonarae]

I would never want anyone to drop football.

Idaho should just accept its fate and move back to the Big Sky.

But unfortunately, the insistent administration of UIdaho doesn't accept it after all these years... xsmhx But I agree that wherever you are, high school or college football should be an attraction in the weekends of fall.

[DFW HOYA]

Idaho should've gone the northeast ex-FCS teams' route (drop the sport to focus on other things).

Except these schools didn't "focus" on anything. Anyone heard from Fairfield basketball or BU lacrosse lately?

[Kite]

Except these schools didn't "focus" on anything. Anyone heard from Fairfield basketball or BU lacrosse lately?

I would argue that BU (Boston University) has found a nice home and focus on hockey. Of course that has a lot of tradition behind it.

[ccd494]

Except these schools didn't "focus" on anything. Anyone heard from Fairfield basketball or BU lacrosse lately?

You mean the BU lacrosse team starting next year?

BU is an Olympic sports powerhouse. It dominated the AE in pretty much everything it competed in, and that got it a Patriot League invite (plus starting men's lax).

You may disagree with BU's institutional focus on non-football, but you can't deny its success in the sports it does sponsor.

[bonarae]

You mean the BU lacrosse team starting next year?

BU is an Olympic sports powerhouse. It dominated the AE in pretty much everything it competed in, and that got it a Patriot League invite (plus starting men's lax).

You may disagree with BU's institutional focus on non-football, but you can't deny its success in the sports it does sponsor.

And oh yeah, Cal State Fullerton, who discontinued football too back in the early 90's, is still successful in baseball. But they also cut wrestling 3 years ago due to California budget cuts (boosters tried to step up and save the program but failed to raise enough) and softball, successful from the 80's up to the mid 2000's, has seen hard times lately...

Long Beach State (discontinued football in the early 90's also) is still competing with Fullerton in baseball, and men's basketball has seen good reputation lately.

St. Mary's? Successful now in men's basketball, attracting Australians to that team. (Since they discontinued football in 2004, they have been at the top of the WCC standings in MBB.)

[Skjellyfetti]

What about the example of Texas State?

30-13 stomping of Houston in their inaugural game and receiving the school's first vote in the AP vote after a week of FBS.

Not bad. xcoffeex

Idaho doesn't fund their program and doesn't have the facilities or the support. If your move is well funded and supported an FBS move isn't necessarily disastrous.

[bonarae]

What about the example of Texas State?

30-13 stomping of Houston in their inaugural game and receiving the school's first vote in the AP vote after a week of FBS.

Not bad. xcoffeex

Idaho doesn't fund their program and doesn't have the facilities or the support. If your move is well funded and supported an FBS move isn't necessarily disastrous.

That's the point. It all goes down to funding and administrative support, which is why the FCS programs (including us) are present in the first place.