(10-30-2013 11:09 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  http://www.thevandalnation.com/?p=8584

My question is what happens when attendance is still suffering even being in the Sunbelt? Will things eventually work themselves out to where Idaho football finally goes back to the Big Sky?

Interesting what Benson did there. When asked about James Madison as the 12th member, he brought up Liberty first. I bet that is a move to put a little pressure on JMU that if you don't take the 12th spot soon, Your in state school Liberty may get it and you are stuck on the outside looking in. Always good to have an incentive to make a move.

(10-30-2013 12:34 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 12:30 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 12:23 PM)slycat Wrote:  Benson said the ideal footprint in Texas to Florida. He didn't mention how far north. When he was asked about JMU he answered first with Liberty. It shows how much he wants that school over the others IMO.

I doubt you can read too much into anything Benson says. He knows Liberty is dying to get into the conference, and JMU only mildly interested. He knows the eastern schools would not accept NMSU before so nothing has changed except UL, and ASU pretty much wash their hands on expansion plans once the eastern schools led by TROY killed the NMSU bid last year.

Let us not forget that WKU, knowing that they were leaving, helped lead the opposition to NMSU as well.

Exactly. He can't act like we had our 12 set then the rug was pulled from us when WKU left. Everyone knew WKU was going to CUSA at that time. The smart move would have been to get to nine with GaSouthern and App and see how things play out. Now we are stuck on 11 with no guarantee of a 12th.

I just don't see how GaSou and App could've influenced anything. Maybe they said we wouldn't join if NMSU was a full member, but I doubt it. Both schools were desparate to leave the FCS. So Having to travel to NMSU occasionally (especially since the goal is to eventually get to 12) wouldn't be a big deal.

Liberty is

I think JMU will be given the choice 1st, but then MoSt if they are able.

I don't think you'll get a lot of push back from App or GSU if NMSU is offered a full membership. Send ULM East and Troy,App, GaSou will fight it out to see who faces ASU and UL in the championship game.

(10-30-2013 01:53 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  I just don't see how GaSou and App could've influenced anything. Maybe they said we wouldn't join if NMSU was a full member, but I doubt it. Both schools were desparate to leave the FCS. So Having to travel to NMSU occasionally (especially since the goal is to eventually get to 12) wouldn't be a big deal.

Liberty is

I think JMU will be given the choice 1st, but then MoSt if they are able.

I don't think you'll get a lot of push back from App or GSU if NMSU is offered a full membership. Send ULM East and Troy,App, GaSou will fight it out to see who faces ASU and UL in the championship game.

App and GSU don't have much influence, but you have a vote, and you were always likely to go along with what Troy wanted.

(10-30-2013 12:59 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 12:52 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 12:42 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  ASU and UL have always had our own ideas on expansion. Troy always seems to get the important powers thanks to Hawkins being the head of the Presidents and Chancellors.

If it was up to the West schools, NMSU would already be in all sports, but Troy objected and App/Ga State/ and Ga Southern backed them up.

My wild guess is that ASU and UL have blocked Liberty with the backing of Texas State UTA and ULM. Neither will object if JMU shows interest in the SBC, but would most likely was their hands of the situation with CUSA expansion so unknown at the moment. If JMU does not show interest fast enough, you will see a huge push from the West schools to take Missouri State...which I think might actually appease a few East schools (Notably App and GSU) who would want a league title game in 2015.

I don't disagree with this; but I think that UL, TxSt and ASU should insist on getting NMSU for all sports as well, as a concession for not blocking another move-up.

No need, both ASU and UL have shrewd ideas that the current arrangement of G5 schools will not last in its present alignment, and by simply washing their hands of NMSU, neither makes any enemies. If things start to blow up, we could easily grab Texas State and NMSU and have a lot of support structure should we need to have like minded schools willing to work with us. In the meantime, we remain well liked amongst SBC East schools should things stay together.

Truthfully, I think we could convince USA to go along with the West schools in terms of realignment.

I like the way you think.

(10-30-2013 02:03 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 01:53 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  I just don't see how GaSou and App could've influenced anything. Maybe they said we wouldn't join if NMSU was a full member, but I doubt it. Both schools were desparate to leave the FCS. So Having to travel to NMSU occasionally (especially since the goal is to eventually get to 12) wouldn't be a big deal.

Liberty is

I think JMU will be given the choice 1st, but then MoSt if they are able.

I don't think you'll get a lot of push back from App or GSU if NMSU is offered a full membership. Send ULM East and Troy,App, GaSou will fight it out to see who faces ASU and UL in the championship game.

App and GSU don't have much influence, but you have a vote, and you were always likely to go along with what Troy wanted.

How did we get a vote before we became members? Maybe we could have said something about a preference before joining, but we were begging to join.

Are you saying we are currently aligned with Troy to prevent them from being added as full members? I was thinking when NMSU got an initial invite. Either way I doubt we are doing that.

Also, I think Benson should simply tell NMSU that we would love them as a full member. BUT we just have to wait until we have a confirmed 12th football team and agree on a east/west split. I would think JMU would want NMSU all in to raise the oly sports ratings.

(10-30-2013 02:08 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 02:03 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 01:53 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  I just don't see how GaSou and App could've influenced anything. Maybe they said we wouldn't join if NMSU was a full member, but I doubt it. Both schools were desparate to leave the FCS. So Having to travel to NMSU occasionally (especially since the goal is to eventually get to 12) wouldn't be a big deal.

Liberty is

I think JMU will be given the choice 1st, but then MoSt if they are able.

I don't think you'll get a lot of push back from App or GSU if NMSU is offered a full membership. Send ULM East and Troy,App, GaSou will fight it out to see who faces ASU and UL in the championship game.

App and GSU don't have much influence, but you have a vote, and you were always likely to go along with what Troy wanted.

How did we get a vote before we became members? Maybe we could have said something about a preference before joining, but we were begging to join.

My understanding is that you can vote on expansion matters only since it pertains to you. You can listen in with voice, but no vote on the rest of matters.

(10-30-2013 12:21 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 12:00 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 11:56 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 11:47 AM)Usajags Wrote:  Read most of it. Honestly, seems like Benson is a little out of touch with reality. He says Liberty and JMU are in the SBC footprint, who is his map maker and he needs a new one. Yes, they are closer then Idaho and NMSU, but still moves the conference into an ever expanding footprint that I don't believe will be beneficial.

They are the only East options even close to the foot print that don't play in Alabama.

Sure, Missouri State is in the footprint, but to do that would require shifting UL east...a move I don't know if the Cajuns will want to make.

I want to play ASU, South Alabama, TxSt every year, send ULM East to the small market schools, and USA our annual foe from the east.

I dont understand the hesitancy to add all the nmsu sports. they want it and we need it. how can he not want a big time major basketball program when they would like to join..do we want to improve the image and standing of the conference or not.

I'm totally with you on this. The SBC is starting to get some basketball buzz this year -- the word 'mid-major' finally being applied to us again after years as a nondescript 'low major' -- and NMSU would add big-time credibility to our league.

We do need to decide on a footprint, however. NMSU is just outside Texas (close enough). I'd also pick up Missouri State instead of either JMU (barely interested) or LU (too controversial). Of course, App State especially would probably prefer more eastern schools.

One that that causes JMU to hesitate is the CAA decision to basically say any team leaving cannot participate in CAA championships and is ineligible for any conference championship.

The Southern Conference at least is allowing App and us to compete for championships in all sports this year except of course for football.

I suspect JMU will make a decision this Spring.

(10-30-2013 08:04 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  One that that causes JMU to hesitate is the CAA decision to basically say any team leaving cannot participate in CAA championships and is ineligible for any conference championship.

The Southern Conference at least is allowing App and us to compete for championships in all sports this year except of course for football.

I suspect JMU will make a decision this Spring.

That makes sense but the SBC has the opportunity to select the best of the teams available. If JMU says no then Missouri State is in the front position for SBC membership.

There just isn't much coming out of JMU that tells me what they are planning to do. At times I don't think they have any interest in the SBC, then other times I think they are just waiting until April/May to make their move. We will see.

I do believe the SBC is determined if at all possible to have a 12th all-sports member announced by June 1 of next year.

(10-30-2013 01:18 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 11:09 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  http://www.thevandalnation.com/?p=8584

My question is what happens when attendance is still suffering even being in the Sunbelt? Will things eventually work themselves out to where Idaho football finally goes back to the Big Sky?

Interesting what Benson did there. When asked about James Madison as the 12th member, he brought up Liberty first. I bet that is a move to put a little pressure on JMU that if you don't take the 12th spot soon, Your in state school Liberty may get it and you are stuck on the outside looking in. Always good to have an incentive to make a move.

I had the same thought when I read the article.

If JMU gets left in FCS and Liberty moves up, JMU fans will revolt.

(10-30-2013 09:11 PM)Niner National Wrote:  If JMU gets left in FCS and Liberty moves up, JMU fans will revolt.

There is zero chance at that happening, but the SBC will threaten it...that's for sure. Especially if it looks like CUSA and the MAC won't take the bait.

(10-30-2013 11:28 AM)panama Wrote:  They have a decision to make. Number one has to be to take the roof off that place and expand their stadium The attraction should be them offering what the other schools in the region offer like Boise State and Wyoming. But if not then they need to move to FCS.

According to our AD, we can expand from 16,000 to ~22,000 by digging the field down and adding a few extra rows of seats and knocking out the western wall (which it is designed to be) and adding endzone seats. We can also add a second deck on one side to get to ~25,000. Roof removal isn't an option. Right now the dome is a fantastic practice facility for every sport we offer, plus a convention center, concert and graduation venue. Taking the roof off kills those options and would require a new indoor practice venue. Personnally I would rather have a new outdoor stadium and keep the dome for a practice facility and permanent basketball venue but thats me.

Dropping down to the Big Sky will not happen. I don't know a single serious fan who supports it, it will lose the same amount of money for less exposure and there's no guarantee of success. It's a terrible plan that will not happen.

(10-31-2013 12:58 AM)nsavandal09 Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 11:28 AM)panama Wrote:  They have a decision to make. Number one has to be to take the roof off that place and expand their stadium The attraction should be them offering what the other schools in the region offer like Boise State and Wyoming. But if not then they need to move to FCS.

According to our AD, we can expand from 16,000 to ~22,000 by digging the field down and adding a few extra rows of seats and knocking out the western wall (which it is designed to be) and adding endzone seats. We can also add a second deck on one side to get to ~25,000. Roof removal isn't an option. Right now the dome is a fantastic practice facility for every sport we offer, plus a convention center, concert and graduation venue. Taking the roof off kills those options and would require a new indoor practice venue. Personnally I would rather have a new outdoor stadium and keep the dome for a practice facility and permanent basketball venue but thats me.

Dropping down to the Big Sky will not happen. I don't know a single serious fan who supports it, it will lose the same amount of money for less exposure and there's no guarantee of success. It's a terrible plan that will not happen.

The Vandals have no business dropping down to FCS. The Big Sky is a good FCS conference but FBS football is worth the ticket.

They have no business being in the SBC. Benson rushed to add teams. If both JMU and msu are ready to join next year then adding Idaho looks like a dumb move. Also it doesn't matter if the fans want something if they can't support it. Yes being fbs is worth it, but why does the SBC have to be the crutch.

Many plans for KB Dome expansion have come and gone over the years .
One fairly new development is the ability to add small second decks for three thousand seats .
These decks are possible with new technology discovered when new luxury seating was added. The cost is relatively cheap according to our A.D. . End zone seating is part of a twenty million dollar first phase to get to 22 thousand seats.

the hold up right now is we are in the process of hiring a new president .
the long term plans could include roof removal for a third deck with covered end zone sections . The dome our biggest liability could become our biggest strength and a great recruiting tool. WSU fans and their A.D. have made statements that they will play in an expanded Kibbie .

What an expanded dome would do for Idaho .

1. Give us the ability to host WSU

2. Get boise back on the home schedule.

3. Raise game day revenue so we can host Montana being in BSC for other sports helps.

4. Reduces need for money games allowing us to take advantage of having an in state bowl game.

5. Helps recruiting also levels of seating along with end zone seating gets rid of the high school look. The dome would cost in excess of 100 million if built today . Regardless any stadium with only sideline seating and one level looks small time .

I dont understand the hesitancy to add all the nmsu sports. they want it and we need it. how can he not want a big time major basketball program when they would like to join..do we want to improve the image and standing of the conference or not.
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here! here!