FBS adapts in times of major change

[bonarae]

With FBS at a crossroads, this is an interesting read.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11340463/with-college-football-crossroads-familiar-reassuring

But what I have a question here is this particular paragraph -


If a program has a fan base, tradition and a history of success, its stewards will adapt to the rules of the day and to the economic demands. Some schools choose to fall out of the race. The Ivy League did so after World War II. The service academies scaled back in the 1960s. Other programs, mostly in NFL cities, wanted to keep up but couldn't.

How did the Ivy League choose to start becoming irrelevant after World War II? Any sources please for me to read on? Is it because they didn't want to meddle in the economics and politics of what is now the FBS?

[MplsBison]

Not really that interesting of a read.

ESPN is always trying to shape the narrative towards whatever they think keeps people most interested in what they have to say in regards to how things are changing and what the end game will be.

It started with major conference realignment. They figured out that subject generates a lot of hits, and have forced the conversation into that realm ever since.

So now the next major arc in the storyline is going to be the mythical "separation" of the FBS between those within the autonomy voting party and those outside it.

[AshevilleApp2]

I don't think the Ivy League chose irrelevance as much as they chose to be relevant at a different level. But to ESPN, and most of the country, any school outside of the major conferences is irrelevant. This includes Conference USA and the Sun Belt schools.

To me relevance lies within the fan base. I doubt that it's more gratifying for an Alabama fan to win an FBS National Championship than it is an NDSU fan to win an FCS National Championship. The same is true for D-II, D-III and NAIA.

[tribe_pride]

I don't think the Ivy League chose irrelevance as much as they chose to be relevant at a different level. But to ESPN, and most of the country, any school outside of the major conferences is irrelevant. This includes Conference USA and the Sun Belt schools.

To me relevance lies within the fan base. I doubt that it's more gratifying for an Alabama fan to win an FBS National Championship than it is an NDSU fan to win an FCS National Championship. The same is true for D-II, D-III and NAIA.

To be fair, the Ivies chose to be irrelevant at the FCS level in football by not competing in the playoffs.

[AshevilleApp2]

To be fair, the Ivies chose to be irrelevant at the FCS level in football by not competing in the playoffs.

I would prefer that the Ivies compete in the playoffs, just as they do in basketball. But if their fan bases are satisfied, then I have no problem with the decision.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I would prefer that the Ivies compete in the playoffs, just as they do in basketball. But if their fan bases are satisfied, then I have no problem with the decision.

Their fan bases are dying, and it's a very open question whether there are new fans replacing them.