(02-15-2017 05:37 PM)Bronco85 Wrote:  They are connected only in they show a concerted effort by UI to "move up" prior to 1996. There has always been some desire at UI by some of its fans, alums, and even administrators to play at the highest level where the bulk of their history resides. The 1973 effort really was an attempt by many in the UI AD to remain viable as a D1 football program as the BSC was then D2 (and the loss of the opportunity to join the PCAA in 1973 led directly to UI's first drop to D1AA in 1978). In a similar fashion to the decision in 2016 to drop to 1AA in 2018, boosters who supported playing at the highest level felt disenfranchised and many dropped support. The 1973 decision was really about internal divisiveness at the UI and fracturing the Vandals into a BSC camp(a promise of reduced spending, the myth of more money for academics, travel savings, regional rivals) vs. the PCAA camp (more exposure for UI playing at the D1 level, being with peer schools, maintaining the in-state lead over UI and BSU, possibility of more income via broader media exposure). The odd thing to this observer is just how the leadership at UI has refused to learn from their past (likely because they are completely ignorant of it).

It's amazed me how many things Chuck Staben didn't know when he made this decision. I'm sure this was one of them.