Montana or Delaware. Would they move up?

[Mike Johnson]

Given warning letters to 13 IA insititutions about their attendance and failure to average 15,000 fans per home game, I thought about IAA teams that have recently consistently exceeded 15,000 fans per game. These include Montana, Delaware, Yale, and others. Montana and Delaware seem to do well in IAA and perhaps are sitting pretty where they are.

But, is there any itching going on about maybe going IA, where there are 64 bowl slots vs. 16 playoff slots and one bowl slot is worth a lot more money? Maybe, Temple and Delaware can just change places or Montana and Utah State. It looks like the NCAA is getting serious about reclassifying IA teams that can't meet the minimum attendance standards. Would this lead to good IAA teams who can consistently achieve the IA attendance standards looking at being ready to move up should somebody be forced to move down?

[Gort]

The UD admin apparently has no interest in seeing the Hens move to I-A and unless the ACC or Big East comes calling neither do I. Membership in a BCS conference would be great... but I'd much rather that the Hens stay in the A10 (CAA) then move to a non BCS league like the MAC.

[ncbears]

Given warning letters to 13 IA insititutions about their attendance and failure to average 15,000 fans per home game, I thought about IAA teams that have recently consistently exceeded 15,000 fans per game. These include Montana, Delaware, Yale, and others. Montana and Delaware seem to do well in IAA and perhaps are sitting pretty where they are.

But, is there any itching going on about maybe going IA, where there are 64 bowl slots vs. 16 playoff slots and one bowl slot is worth a lot more money? Maybe, Temple and Delaware can just change places or Montana and Utah State. It looks like the NCAA is getting serious about reclassifying IA teams that can't meet the minimum attendance standards. Would this lead to good IAA teams who can consistently achieve the IA attendance standards looking at being ready to move up should somebody be forced to move down?


Please, please, please. Not again!

:deadhorse:

[Grizzaholic]

Pleeeeeeeeease close this thread. I have seen about all I can handle over on EGRIZ. IA this and IA that, there has to be enough and I have had enough. 200 threads about moving to IA and another 50 that were about something else that were turned into IA threads.

I will settle this. NOPE NEVER NADA!!!! I wouldn't know what to do without the playoffs. Hell all you have to do is go 5-7 this year and be considered for one of the 125 bowl games.

[blukeys]

It looks like the NCAA is getting serious about reclassifying IA teams that can't meet the minimum attendance standards.


Let me know what you're drinking. I definitely want to buy a bottle!!!;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[sceagle]

These include Montana, Delaware, Yale, and others. ?

Yale? Yeah, I heard they're joining the SEC.

[GAD]

It's not worth it unless you join a BCS league

[89Hen]

But, is there any itching going on about maybe going IA
No.

[bluehenbillk]

It's not worth it unless you join a BCS league

Bingo! Unless one of those leagues comes calling UD isn't moving up.

[jmuroller]

It's not worth it unless you join a BCS league


Tell that to Marshall and Boise St.

[DFW HOYA]

What I-A league is looking to expand, really? Unless JMU wants to move its teams to the Sun Belt and look forward to those big games with North Texas and Middle Tennessee, the opportunities to move up are restricted.

Maybe a better question is what I-AA league Buffalo would join if they got pushed down.

[grizband]

Tell that to Marshall and Boise St.
Then, listen to the rebuttal from these teams (record since moving to I-A in parentheses):

Idaho (43-71)
Buffalo (10-69)
Central Florida (54-60)
Louisana Monroe (42-93)
Middle Tennessee (34-45)

[McTailGator]

Tell that to Marshall and Boise St.


What MEANINGFULL bowl games have they won?

What are they the Champions of?

[jmuroller]

Then, listen to the rebuttal from these teams (record since moving to I-A in parentheses):

Idaho (43-71)
Buffalo (10-69)
Central Florida (54-60)
Louisana Monroe (42-93)
Middle Tennessee (34-45)


I didn't say anything about it working out for everyone. But I find Marshall and Boise St. to be pretty successful at it.

[jmuroller]

What MEANINGFULL bowl games have they won?

What are they the Champions of?


Get over the meaningful bowl games stance. You ever think that 1AA and the playoffs aren't the end all for some schools. They wanted to play the best teams in the biggest games possible. 1AA couldn't do that for them. You may hate some of the bowls, but almost all of them have better attendance and TV figures that the 1AA championship game and you get a nice check along with it.

Marshall had K-State come to there place and Tennessee is one the way in a few years...don't think that would have happened if they were still in the SoCon.

Look, I could care less what division these teams are in. I'm just trying to give a different viewpoint. The poster said it was "pointless unless you are in a BCS league" and I find that wrong. The SunBelt is a waste if you ask me, but not all non BCS leagues are lightweights.

[StillJonesing]

Attendance for D1aa championship game

2005 20,236
2004 14,281
2002 12,360
2001 12,698
2000 17,156
1999 20,052
1998 17,501
1997 14,771

Attendance for the GMAC bowl which features 2 non BCS teams every year.

GMAC Attendance
2000 40,300....+100 % capacity
2001 40,139 ....100% capacity
2002 40,139.... 100% capacity
2003 40,620..... 99% capacity
2004 N/A (nothing official from the NCAA)
2005 35,422... 87.2% capacity

Like the JMU fans said there is more interest in bowls even lower level ones like the GMAC featuring the CUSA #2 and the MAC or WAC #2

As far as the BCS it is easier to bust now than ever. Under the system in place this year (with 5 BCS bowls and only having to get to #12, Tulane , Marshall, Boise State, Louisville, would have went in the since the BCS started. Utah went under the old system. TCU, BYU, and Miami oh would have been close. Now I would agrue some of these teams probably didn't deserve it but they would have went any way.

Do you think.....

1998 Tulane 11-0 (wins)

*Cincinnati (2-9)
Southern Methodist (5-7)
Navy (3-8)
Southern Mississippi (7-5)
Louisville (7-5)
Rutgers (5-6)
Louisiana-Lafayette (2-9)
*Memphis (2-9)
*Army (3-8)
*Houston (3-8)
Louisiana Tech (6-6)

That schedule is tougher or beating all the ACC?? They finished top 10

1999 Marshall 12-0 (wins)

Clemson (6-6)
Liberty (non-IA)
*Bowling Green State (5-6)
Temple (2-9)
*Miami (Ohio) (7-4)
*Toledo (6-5)
*Buffalo (0-11)
*Northern Illinois (5-6)
*Kent (2-9)
*Western Michigan (7-5)
*Ohio (5-6)
*Western Michigan (7-5)

They finished top 10 and would have went to the BCS under the new system

2004 Boise State 11-0 (wins)

Idaho (3-9)
Oregon State (7-5)
*Texas-El Paso (8-4)
Brigham Young (5-6)
*Southern Methodist (3-8)
1*Tulsa (4-8)
*Fresno State (9-3)
*Hawaii (8-5)
*San Jose State (2-9)
*Louisiana Tech (6-6)
*Nevada (5-7)

Again would have went. Is this tougher than winning out in the Big 10 or SEC??? I think it's easier.

Yet all these teams would have went under the new rules. Regardless they all got tons of exposure and national interest because everyone likes an underdog. Going to the Liberty Bowl like 2 of these teams did isn't a bad consolation either. It's about a 50 year old bowl with a $2 million dollar payout, that draws 50-60K and has seen teams like Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Penn State in it's past.

[StillJonesing]

It's not worth it unless you join a BCS league

BS

[Tod]

Montana playoff attendance, 2004:

Home game - 16,289
Home game - 20,919
Home game - 23,607
NC game - 14,281

That's 75,000 paying fans right there.

True, it doesn't happen every year, But Montana has been to the NC game five times in the last 11 years, and our first round games are almost always at home. Even two home games, a win and a loss, is big money for the team/school.

How could we make more money in I-A? Maybe if we increased seating and could draw thousands of more fans, we would make more money, but I don't see it necessarily happening because of a bowl game.

Correct me if I'm wrong. I know I-AA teams have to bid on home games, I assume the host of a bowl game takes care of these costs, and just guarantees each team a certain amount. I don't know. :confused:

[blukeys]

Attendance for D1aa championship game

2005 20,236
2004 14,281
2002 12,360
2001 12,698
2000 17,156
1999 20,052
1998 17,501
1997 14,771

Attendance for the GMAC bowl which features 2 non BCS teams every year.

GMAC Attendance
2000 40,300....+100 % capacity
2001 40,139 ....100% capacity
2002 40,139.... 100% capacity
2003 40,620..... 99% capacity
2004 N/A (nothing official from the NCAA)
2005 35,422... 87.2% capacity

FACT:
The BCS is easier to bust now than ever. Under the system in place this year, Tulane , Marshall, Boise State, Louisville, would have went Utah went under the old system. TCU, BYU, and Miami oh would have been close. Now I would agrue some of these teams probably didn't deserve it but they would have went any way.

Do you think.....

1998 Tulane 11-0

*Cincinnati (2-9)
Southern Methodist (5-7)
Navy (3-8)
Southern Mississippi (7-5)
Louisville (7-5)
Rutgers (5-6)
Louisiana-Lafayette (2-9)
*Memphis (2-9)
*Army (3-8)
*Houston (3-8)
Louisiana Tech (6-6)

That schedule is tougher or beating all the ACC?? They finished top 10

1999 Marshall 12-0

Clemson (6-6)
Liberty (non-IA)
*Bowling Green State (5-6)
Temple (2-9)
*Miami (Ohio) (7-4)
*Toledo (6-5)
*Buffalo (0-11)
*Northern Illinois (5-6)
*Kent (2-9)
*Western Michigan (7-5)
*Ohio (5-6)
*Western Michigan (7-5)

They finished top 10 and would have went to the BCS under the new system

2004 Boise State 11-0

Idaho (3-9)
Oregon State (7-5)
*Texas-El Paso (8-4)
Brigham Young (5-6)
*Southern Methodist (3-8)
1*Tulsa (4-8)
*Fresno State (9-3)
*Hawaii (8-5)
*San Jose State (2-9)
*Louisiana Tech (6-6)
*Nevada (5-7)

Again would have went. Is this tougher than winning out in the Big 10 or SEC??? I think not.

Yet all these teams would have went under the new rules.

The thread is about Delaware and Montana moving up. I'm with Tod, Show us how Delaware and/or Montana would make more money and would have a chance of winning an NC.

If the ACC or even the Big East came calling I would favor a move but without a big conference payout I-A is a money losing operation for most schools such as Temple.

Delaware is making from 1.5 to 2 million a year under GAAP.

As was heard on Jerry McGuire, "Show me the Money!!!!"

[jmuroller]

Tod,
To answer your question the bowl gives each team a payout, the minimum being 715k I believe. The BCS games are around 12k+. After Montana pays the NCAA for its bid then they don't make as much as you think...but on the other hand a 1A school splits the bowl payout with other schools in their conference. Montana is the exception, not the norm though.

Why does this always get taken back to money? I understand that money is a big thing, but it doesn't have to be the reason why a school does or does not go 1AA. Should a school go 1A just because they can make more money? How about should a school not go 1A because they won't make as much money? A school should go 1A if it is what is best for their program, school, and fans. If 1A is the goal then why not go? Obviously if a school just can't hack it financially then going 1A is stupid.

I like it where JMU is right now. In the past 5 years each year we doing something to make our program bigger and better. Scoreboard one year, 10mil APC next, turf next, and other stadium improvements. Who knows where we will be in 5, 10 15 years. Only time will tell. If there comes an opportunity for a jump to 1A and it is the right thing to do..then I am all for it.

[jmuroller]

From another point of view..

Most Marshall fans are more proud of their MAC Championships and Bowl Wins than their 1AA Nat'l Championships. They feel as though they were bigger accomplishments.


Again I'm not saying that UD and Montana should go 1A...I'm just being showing a different point of view.

[GAD]

Tell that to Marshall and Boise St.
Yeah, but how many top 25 teams come play them at there place?

[Tod]

Tod,
To answer your question the bowl gives each team a payout, the minimum being 715k I believe. The BCS games are around 12k+. After Montana pays the NCAA for its bid then they don't make as much as you think...but on the other hand a 1A school splits the bowl payout with other schools in their conference. Montana is the exception, not the norm though.

Why does this always get taken back to money? I understand that money is a big thing, but it doesn't have to be the reason why a school does or does not go 1AA. Should a school go 1A just because they can make more money? How about should a school not go 1A because they won't make as much money? A school should go 1A if it is what is best for their program, school, and fans. If 1A is the goal then why not go? Obviously if a school just can't hack it financially then going 1A is stupid.

I like it where JMU is right now. In the past 5 years each year we doing something to make our program bigger and better. Scoreboard one year, 10mil APC next, turf next, and other stadium improvements. Who knows where we will be in 5, 10 15 years. Only time will tell. If there comes an opportunity for a jump to 1A and it is the right thing to do..then I am all for it.

Fair enough. And I agree with you, it's not all about the money, but money is always a factor. I like I-AA because of the playoffs. The only thing I-A has going for it is the 12th game, IMO. But hopefully I-AA, or CS, will be given that 12th game as well. But if not, it's not that big of a deal. I understand the arguments against it.

I'm not sure if it affects Delaware like it does Montana, but Montana isn't going anywhere without MSU (God, I hope). While UM is a great candidate to move to I-A, I'm not so sure MSU is, and I'm not so sure the state can afford it.

BTW, nothing against MSU here. I think MSU could make the move to I-A, I just don't think they're quite where the Griz are right now. Hopefully, things continue to improve for both programs.

[W. DeMontague]

Delaware would be a good fit in the Big East.

[I Bleed Purple]

I don't see it happening for Montana. I don't think any I-A league West of the Mississippi desires to expand with the possible exception of the Pac-10. If the Pac-10 expands to twelve, the likely candidates are Utah and BYU, leaving the MWC to possibly Boise St. and either Nevada or Fresno. That leaves the WAC open. It's possible, but unlikely.

[Mr. C]

From another point of view..

Most Marshall fans are more proud of their MAC Championships and Bowl Wins than their 1AA Nat'l Championships. They feel as though they were bigger accomplishments.


Again I'm not saying that UD and Montana should go 1A...I'm just being showing a different point of view.
One of my friends in the business is the sports editor of the Huntington newspaper. He was in Boone last winter for a Marshall-Appalachian State basketball game and told me that many of the fans have had second thoughts about Marshall going I-A. It has been a disatrous move for the rest of the Thundering Herd athletic program. Expenses are tremendously more and I've heard the Herd is losing money now. And Marshall's once dominant program is starting to show signs of erosion. Probably half of the folks following Marshall now think it was a mistake to make the move.

[Mr. C]

I don't see it happening for Montana. I don't think any I-A league West of the Mississippi desires to expand with the possible exception of the Pac-10. If the Pac-10 expands to twelve, the likely candidates are Utah and BYU, leaving the MWC to possibly Boise St. and either Nevada or Fresno. That leaves the WAC open. It's possible, but unlikely.
The Pacific 10 isn't going to be expanding any time soon. The Mountain West has talked to Fresno State and Hawaii, but nothing is eminent there. Montana simply isn't going anywhere.

[StillJonesing]

Delaware would be a good fit in the Big East.

Sure.

[Mike Johnson]

Let me know what you're drinking. I definitely want to buy a bottle!!!;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

I am not drinking anything. The warning letters went out, for what I think is the first time. 13 institutions received them. One more failure in 10 years and they get sanctions. Two more in the 10 years and reclassification is automatic.

I am glad to see there is so much optimistism on this board about Montana's and Delaware's chances at the next level.

[ngineer]

Yale? Yeah, I heard they're joining the SEC.

Yeah, that's a 'lock'....:D

[Mike Johnson]

The Pacific 10 isn't going to be expanding any time soon. The Mountain West has talked to Fresno State and Hawaii, but nothing is eminent there. Montana simply isn't going anywhere.

Montana would jump at the WAC in a second, don't kid yourself. And three WAC teams received warning letters--the original premise for this thread concerning what would happen if IA teams were reclassified by the NCAA. This really isn't about IA conference expansion, but rather about the possibility of non-BCS IA conferences having to protect against a forced contraction.

Of the 13 that received the warning letters, I suspect that at least half will fail to average 15,000 fans at least twice in the next ten years. Some of the 13 have not averaged 15,000 fans in any year in the last eight.

[MrTitleist]

Let's go 1-A so we can play in the Walmart Tire Center Bowl presented by Frito-Lay!

I kinda like this playing for the 1-AA championship thing.. the bowl games are a cluttered mess of crap right now where any average joe team can get in. Pretty soon 60% of 1-A teams will be playing in the post-season further rewarding mediocrity. I have no interest in watching a 6-6 Southern Miss team play a 6-6 Kent State squad. It's just not good football, man. It's weird enough that they play a bowl game in Boise, ID, but now in New Mexico as well? 1-A is a money making deal and that's all that matters. 1-AA is still wholesome football and not completely money driven.

On that note, move the chipper further west, it'd be some big time draw further west.. like Vegas!

[Mr. Tiger]

Delaware would be a good fit in the Big East.

I could see this possibly happening. Connecticut made the investment to move up and join the Big East in football. Why not Delaware, one day?

[HZWV]

From another point of view..

Most Marshall fans are more proud of their MAC Championships and Bowl Wins than their 1AA Nat'l Championships. They feel as though they were bigger accomplishments.


Again I'm not saying that UD and Montana should go 1A...I'm just being showing a different point of view.

Not the ones that have been there from the begining. I like many of my other Marshall fan base that I gather with are just as proud and if not prouder of our IAA national titles then the 6 MAC championship and 1 runner-up. And our 5 bowl wins in a row. Most Marshall fans still know where their gloy started.


One of my friends in the business is the sports editor of the Huntington newspaper. He was in Boone last winter for a Marshall-Appalachian State basketball game and told me that many of the fans have had second thoughts about Marshall going I-A.

You must have been dreaming that there have been no 1st, 3rd or 2nd thoughts of moving to IA. What else did we have to prove in IAA, that we could win 7 National titles. We had proven all we could at that level.


It has been a disatrous move for the rest of the Thundering Herd athletic program. Expenses are tremendously more and I've heard the Herd is losing money now.

The only year we have ever been in the red with Olympic sports is this year and thats because this years expence report went on or last years MAC expence report. In the MAC after TV revanue and everything for us to sign a contract with them.

We had to take only 1/2 of what they got and the other half was distributed equally among the old MAC members. Our last check we got from them was 33K. Come next expence report that will not be a problem our cut from CUSA was 1.98 million.


And Marshall's once dominant program is starting to show signs of erosion.

2 Bad years, does not cause an a erosion. We have on the field the #9 LB in the country. We have what sprots Ill. calls the best center in the game today. We just picked up the verbal of South Point OH QB 4 star Scout/Rival #21 in the Nation Chris Smith. We have maybe the 2 best RB in the nation this year. And our coach is now signed through 2013.


Probably half of the folks following Marshall now think it was a mistake to make the move.

If that were the case we wouldn't have broke season Ticket sales 3 days ago now would we. And have our 3rd pick your seat day for new season ticket holders that want to buy season tickets. And have 2 more pick your seat days planned after this.

Sorry to debunk all of your thoughts and fantasies going through your head.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/HerdZoned/MarshallAndCUSA/herdfield.jpg
Joan C Edwards Stadium
107-9

[*****]

Sorry to debunk all...Sir, you affirmed the thoughts and debunked none but one... that fans are more proud of their MAC Championships. Read them again and your answers. The Herd is losing money now, showing signs of erosion, and the opinions on fans thoughts can be debated.

[blukeys]

I am not drinking anything. The warning letters went out, for what I think is the first time. 13 institutions received them. One more failure in 10 years and they get sanctions. Two more in the 10 years and reclassification is automatic.
I am glad to see there is so much optimistism on this board about Montana's and Delaware's chances at the next level.

Well if you aren't drinking anything then you haven't paid attention to history. 15 years ago the requirements were much tougher. Enforcement has been non existent and there is no auditing of actual attendance by the NCAA. Schools can virtually give away tickets and no one checks to see if the fannies are actually in the seat.

The fact that there is no hue and cry from the MAC and Sunbelt demonstrates that those schools have already figured out how to get around the "enforcement" action. There will be no mass reclassification to the Playoff Championship Subdivision (PCS)

I still would like to see your figures of how Delaware or Montana can make up the app. $2 million dollars in profit both schools will lose with the quadrupling of costs that comes with a move to the Bowl Championship Subdivision (BCS)

[HZWV]

Sir, you affirmed the thoughts and debunked none but one... that fans are more proud of their MAC Championships. Read them again and your answers. The Herd is losing money now, showing signs of erosion, and the opinions on fans thoughts can be debated.

If winning:

50-7 at home
44-19 on the road
6 Championships
1 Runner UP
5 Bowl Wins
1 Undefeated season
1 Top 10 finish
4 ESPN Top 25 Finishes
3 AP Top 25 Finishes
Have 3 Hiesman Trophy Finalist
Have the longest winning streak 2 times at 23 and 18

And have 1 losing season in 23 years. Then I guess we are eroding. My guess is we aren't LA Monroe. My guess is we will be fighting for the top of the heap before 3/4 of IAA or what ever the *&^ they wanna call it now is even close to making the play offs.

Im done with this thread.............

[GannonFan]

While Marshall was a clear example of a team moving to IA correctly when they first moved, they've come back to the pack since then and aren't much different from some of the other cautionary tales of moving up. While I'm sure they are boasting about season ticket sales, notice that attendance at Marshall isn't significantly different now than it was back in the I-AA heydays - if the games are that much more attractive, how come Marshall hasn't seen any appreciable increase in attendance since the days of I-AA? And Marshall was very good at supporting their teams in bowls when they moved up, but again this has waned as well. That 6-5 team that went to a bowl in 2004 also saw Marshall eat a lot of money as their ticket allotment went vastly unsold - that was unheard of when Marshall first made the move. And the move from the MAC to CUSA hurt too - it wasn't as easy to dominant in the better conference, and Marshall had little to no history with those teams (they were with the MAC teams for years back in the 60's and before).

Boise St is beginning to stand alone as a team that was able to move up to IA and succeed (note, UConn not included since their automatic entry into a BCS league by virtue of being a charter Big East member can't be replicated by any current IAA team) - but even mighty Marshall is starting to show the cracks around what was a vastly successful and supported IAA power that moved up. If you want to succeed in moving up, you gotta be in a BCS conference - otherwise you're just treading water and hope you don't tire out before you get to one.

[89Hen]

I could see this possibly happening. Connecticut made the investment to move up and join the Big East in football. Why not Delaware, one day?
They were a charter member of the BE. Had they not been, the BE would not have asked them to join. The BE would not ask UD to join.

[putter]

I think you have to at least 30,000+ in the seats to consider a move up as football is the flagship sport to pay for a move up. Both UD and UM are just under 10k less than that so upgrades would need to be made. Another thing to look at is the money from TV that a conference gets to help offset costs. The Griz win during March Madness means something like $600k to the Big Sky over the next few years but that $600k is split between all the schools. There are a lot of things to consider but with the larger paychecks I-AA is starting to get from I-A schools in football the revenue could considerably increase and the costs stay stable for I-AA schools.

[blukeys]

They were a charter member of the BE. Had they not been, the BE would not have asked them to join. The BE would not ask UD to join.


Not to mention the 50 million dollar stadium the state built to get the Patriots to move to Conn.. Delaware is not going to get a Pro football stadium courtesy of the taxpayers. Does anyone think that the Eagles are going to move to Newark??????

[Hansel]

(note, UConn not included since their automatic entry into a BCS league by virtue of being a charter Big East member can't be replicated by any current IAA team).

Was Villanova a Charter Big East member?

[bluehenbillk]

Yes they were & they chose to stand pat. Remember, Villanova is closer to dropping FB than moving to 1-A. They dropped football completely in the early 80's for a years.

[GannonFan]

Was Villanova a Charter Big East member?

Nope, nova was not a charter member - here's an excerpt from their (Big East) website:

"The BIG EAST became a reality on May 31, 1979, following a meeting of athletic directors from Providence College, St. John's, Georgetown and Syracuse Universities. Seton Hall, Connecticut and Boston College completed the original seven school alliance. "

So technically G-town could be the only I-AA team that could follow UConn's way in IA and a BCS conference, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one - the District of Columbia is a bit more tight with their money than the state of Connecticut was and probably wouldn't build them a state of the art football stadium. Just a hunch.

[GannonFan]

Yes they were & they chose to stand pat. Remember, Villanova is closer to dropping FB than moving to 1-A. They dropped football completely in the early 80's for a years.

Not a charter member, but if they had a will to go IA I'm sure the Big East would take them.

[LacesOut]

Not to mention the 50 million dollar stadium the state built to get the Patriots to move to Conn.. Delaware is not going to get a Pro football stadium courtesy of the taxpayers. Does anyone think that the Eagles are going to move to Newark??????

I would support that!!!!!!!!! LOL

We already have a pro team in DE, the Newark High Yellow Jackets!

[bluehenbillk]

Not a charter member, but if they had a will to go IA I'm sure the Big East would take them.

Huh, I thought 'Nova was since they've been in the league for so long... I stand corrected.