(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.

Yep, Idaho is not going anywhere. No reason to drop to FCS and give up a $1.5 million payout from the new system. Makes no sense.

The only way they leave is if JMU joins and Missouri St also wants to join. There is a decent chance at that point the Presidents would then vote to remove Idaho. That would only happen if they were confident the SBC would to be raided and if so, there are better options than Idaho available. With that said, Idaho will be here for the foreseeable future.

(10-31-2013 04:57 AM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  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.

There were strong rumors that WKU was not the only school that was leaving before the official announcement that they were. Maybe this was at least part of the reason for the adds.

(10-31-2013 08:11 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(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.

Yep, Idaho is not going anywhere. No reason to drop to FCS and give up a $1.5 million payout from the new system. Makes no sense.

The only way they leave is if JMU joins and Missouri St also wants to join. There is a decent chance at that point the Presidents would then vote to remove Idaho. That would only happen if they were confident the SBC would to be raided and if so, there are better options than Idaho available. With that said, Idaho will be here for the foreseeable future.

So basically they max out about 22K (maybe 25K). That is ok, but not really the point. They just don't fit with the SBC. Maybe if they were a BCS buster type team, but even then it wouldn't be a good fit (and they would most likely get poached by a bigger conference so they are out anyway).

I could see JMU and MoSt looking to move up next year. Then what? We keep Idaho just because UL is destined to leave? I do like having a buffer for possible losses, but Idaho? I'm not saying they should go FCS, but you can't stay here.

Then they need a new stadium quick. No way they can recruit California and Texas with what they have.

(10-31-2013 08:24 AM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  

(10-31-2013 08:11 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(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.

Yep, Idaho is not going anywhere. No reason to drop to FCS and give up a $1.5 million payout from the new system. Makes no sense.

The only way they leave is if JMU joins and Missouri St also wants to join. There is a decent chance at that point the Presidents would then vote to remove Idaho. That would only happen if they were confident the SBC would to be raided and if so, there are better options than Idaho available. With that said, Idaho will be here for the foreseeable future.

So basically they max out about 22K (maybe 25K). That is ok, but not really the point. They just don't fit with the SBC. Maybe if they were a BCS buster type team, but even then it wouldn't be a good fit (and they would most likely get poached by a bigger conference so they are out anyway).

I could see JMU and MoSt looking to move up next year. Then what? We keep Idaho just because UL is destined to leave? I do like having a buffer for possible losses, but Idaho? I'm not saying they should go FCS, but you can't stay here.

JMU wants no part of the SBC. take Missouri State and we are done

IF, MoSt joins as a full member and NMSU comes in as a full member... How many oly sports members would there be? 13?

I would like both jmu and msu to join, but if jmu is dead set on waiting on the CUSA then we should wish them luck in the future and move on. I really think Benson wants JMU and is trying any form of persuasion (talking about liberty) he can to force them to commit. I won't rule anything out until April.

Alabama State has shown interest how do the Alabama schools feel about them .
Could the problems at Grambling intensify that interest seems possible .
They have a nice stadium and are in the Footprint .

(10-30-2013 11:51 AM)Vobserver 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.

Closer than Idaho, yes.... But if you are driving, neither is as close as NMSU for Cajun fans.

I doubt many Cajun fans drive to ANY of the choices.
Lafayette to Harrisonburg 1067 miles
Lafayette to Lynchburg 1026 miles
Lafayette to Las Cruces 1005 miles

(10-31-2013 08:11 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(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.

Yep, Idaho is not going anywhere. No reason to drop to FCS and give up a $1.5 million payout from the new system. Makes no sense.

The only way they leave is if JMU joins and Missouri St also wants to join. There is a decent chance at that point the Presidents would then vote to remove Idaho. That would only happen if they were confident the SBC would to be raided and if so, there are better options than Idaho available. With that said, Idaho will be here for the foreseeable future.

How much of the $1.5 million is eaten up by travel cost and I'm sure subsidized travel costs for the SBC football teams? Its not like they have stellar attendance and will not continue to do so in the SBC. When their new president sees actual people over filling the K-dome with actual butts in seats and not ticket count, a decision on the dome will be made. However, I think some things will work itself out with the lower FBS teams (including E. Michigan) with the up coming revamped FBS division.

(10-31-2013 10:31 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 11:51 AM)Vobserver 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.

Closer than Idaho, yes.... But if you are driving, neither is as close as NMSU for Cajun fans.

I doubt many Cajun fans drive to ANY of the choices.
Lafayette to Harrisonburg 1067 miles
Lafayette to Lynchburg 1026 miles
Lafayette to Las Cruces 1005 miles

Easier to fly as well.

(10-31-2013 12:04 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(10-31-2013 08:11 AM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(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.

Yep, Idaho is not going anywhere. No reason to drop to FCS and give up a $1.5 million payout from the new system. Makes no sense.

The only way they leave is if JMU joins and Missouri St also wants to join. There is a decent chance at that point the Presidents would then vote to remove Idaho. That would only happen if they were confident the SBC would to be raided and if so, there are better options than Idaho available. With that said, Idaho will be here for the foreseeable future.

How much of the $1.5 million is eaten up by travel cost and I'm sure subsidized travel costs for the SBC football teams? Its not like they have stellar attendance and will not continue to do so in the SBC. When their new president sees actual people over filling the K-dome with actual butts in seats and not ticket count, a decision on the dome will be made. However, I think some things will work itself out with the lower FBS teams (including E. Michigan) with the up coming revamped FBS division.

I can't imagine travel costs for football will not be that much more. We're talking about 4 away games in the SBC each year and flying an extra two hours or so isn't going to significantly increase anything. The Big Sky isn't exactly compact either.

Idaho pretty much has to travel everywhere it goes I imagine. Outside of Pullman, there are very few places within safe driving distance of Moscow.