SWAC Heading Back to Mandate?

[TexasTerror]

Pete Richardson of Southern said they are looking at going back to the SWAC mandate. Why the heck would you do that?

Apparently, the SWAC is not interested in bringing in $$$ through pay games nor interested at playing other FCS opponents. If they go back to two games, not all programs would suffer, as a few are having severe scheduling issues it seems. It would definitely hurt a few namely your Gramblings, Southerns and Jackson States...


“It’s disappointing, but scheduling has a lot to do with this,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We’re looking at going back to everybody playing everybody in our conference. How that’s going to arrange the non-conference schedule is yet to be seen. That’s holding us up right now as far as getting traditional rivalry games.”

http://www.2theadvocate.com/columnists/schiefelbein/31088274.html?showAll=y&c=y

[813Jag]

I hope that doesn't happen. xnonono2x

[3rd Coast Tiger]

Apparently, the SWAC is not interested in bringing in $$$ through pay games nor interested at playing other FCS opponents.

If that's the case, we wouldn't pass up sending our conference champion to the playoffs for a conference championship game.

If that's the case, the conference would force Southern, Grambling, Alabama State, Texas Southern and Arkansas Pine Bluff to move their Thanksgiving weekend games up.

[TexasTerror]

If that's the case, we wouldn't pass up sending our conference champion to the playoffs for a conference championship game.

If that's the case, the conference would force Southern, Grambling, Alabama State, Texas Southern and Arkansas Pine Bluff to move their Thanksgiving weekend games up.

More money made by schools (outside of the Bayou Classic) by playing major FBS schools than there are from playing in games during Thanksgiving.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

In HBCU football, it looks like there is a schism - less so in the SWAC than the MEAC, but it appears to be there nonetheless - between the schools that want to embrace the playoffs and be a part of that, and another who seem perfectly content with SWAC and HBCU championships.

Could the return of the 9-game mandate - itself voted out originally since it was very unpopular with coaches - force people's hands?

After all, a business model like the SLC's, with two FBS games a year, a SLC championship to play for every year, and a possible playoff run works pretty well. You can understand why Grambling and Southern are not keen on changing their situation - but what about the rest of the SWAC?

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

In HBCU football, it looks like there is a schism - less so in the SWAC than the MEAC, but it appears to be there nonetheless - between the schools that want to embrace the playoffs and be a part of that, and another who seem perfectly content with SWAC and HBCU championships.

Could the return of the 9-game mandate - itself voted out originally since it was very unpopular with coaches - force people's hands?

After all, a business model like the SLC's, with two FBS games a year, a SLC championship to play for every year, and a possible playoff run works pretty well. You can understand why Grambling and Southern are not keen on changing their situation - but what about the rest of the SWAC?
1.The MEAC is going to a 9 game mandate next season. 2. The SWAC brings in waaaayyyy more money than the SLC in football. Why would we follow their model. The SWAC has lead FCS/1-aa in attendence in all but 1 year since its existance. 3. Alabama St, and now Texas Southern and UAPB all have games on Thanksgiving Weekend.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

2. The SWAC brings in waaaayyyy more money than the SLC in football.

GSU & SU do. Not so PV A&M, TxSo...


Why would we follow their model. The SWAC has lead FCS/1-aa in attendence in all but 1 year since its existance.

That's the "classic model". Are you trying to convince me that the "classic model" has been successful in funding all sports for SWAC schools?

I'm not for abandoning the Classics, far from it. They are cool, unique and are great for the schools - if the travel costs are under control. But anything that keeps schools from scheduling 1 or 2 FBS schools a year with paydays has got to hurt the bottom lines.


3. Alabama St, and now Texas Southern and UAPB all have games on Thanksgiving Weekend.

True, but it remains to be seen if they are mini-Bayou Classics or not.

[TexasTerror]

That's the "classic model". Are you trying to convince me that the "classic model" has been successful in funding all sports for SWAC schools?

No SWAC member can prove that the "classic model" has been successful in funding all SWAC sports. These schools are amongst the lowest funded in the country when it comes to athletes and football is not bailing them out.

[WileECoyote06]

No SWAC member can prove that the "classic model" has been successful in funding all SWAC sports. These schools are amongst the lowest funded in the country when it comes to athletes and football is not bailing them out.

Ouch. . .

[bonarae]

What's the 9 game mandate anyway? Remember the Ivies play 10 games, 3 of those are non-conference games, primarily the opponents we play are in the Patriot League.

[TexasTerror]

What's the 9 game mandate anyway? Remember the Ivies play 10 games, 3 of those are non-conference games, primarily the opponents we play are in the Patriot League.

Nine game mandate is they play EVERY school in the conference. Then, they play a SWAC championship game (which is the "Replay Bowl").

Some of the schools need the games against Grambling, Southern and Jackson State because those games bring in the most $$$ for a regular season home game for those schools.

[Mr. Tiger]

I seriously doubt that the SWAC is headed back to the 9-game mandate. Most ADs are busy scheduling non-conference matchups for 2009. Jackson State just added Mississippi State. As for TT's statement, the Classic model has been an unquestionable success. Most classics draw 40,000 to 50,000 fans with the Bayou and Magic City Classic often drawing more. Many of these games are televised and they add a lot of money to our athletic budgets. What TT fails to mention is that not all SWAC schools are invited to these classics. Valley, Texas Southern, UAPB, etc. rarely make classic visits and thus are missing out on that money. And SWAC presidents are more concerned about spending money on
academics, building projects, campus improvement, etc., than on athletics. Therefore, football is what's funding non-profitable sports. That means our budgets are traditionally smaller. Note Southern, Jackson State are two schools that are invited to profitable classics each year and are two schools that have budgets equal to some of the schools in the Southland Conference.

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

are two schools that have budgets equal to some of the schools in the Southland Conference.
You need to do research on their budgets. SU budget is much larger than the Louisiana southland schools.

[Syntax Error]

I stood there talking to the commissioners of both the MEAC and SWAC and got the distinct feeling they couldn't care less about the FCS. Their job was to deliver money for their conferences. It's a business structure. Conferences need to be proximity-minded and money-aware. Schools are being stretched to the very limit with budgets and I fear we will see some fallout soon enough. Maybe the end of the HBCU ties if the money is not there.

[TexasTerror]

You need to do research on their budgets. SU budget is much larger than the Louisiana southland schools.

How much is Southern's budget? And can you fairly say the budget allows them to be competitive outside of conference? With the exception of baseball (even if the SLC is winning a high percentage against the SWAC), football and hoops -- the SWAC is not competitive by any stretch. And even in those sports, the SWAC is at the bottom of the RPI barrel.

Sure, Southern and perhaps Grambling and JSU are doing well budget-wise, but I do not believe the same can be said for the other schools, who do not benefit from the 'Classic Model'. If I recall, the Texas Southern budget was in proximity to the non-football schools in Texas and they may have trouble keeping pace with the new athletic fees coming about at those schools...