(05-19-2014 09:54 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(05-18-2014 07:49 PM)john01992 Wrote:  In terms of academics, athletics, fanbase, markets, historical ties, geography......

The CAA basically: JMU, Villanova, William and Mary, Delaware and Richmond are probably 5 of the top 10 in FCS all playing in the same conference. All 5 are very good academic schools and JMU and Delaware both average over 20k fans per game.

Montana probably has the biggest fan base, but they've been eclipsed in recent years in the Big Sky by Montana State and Eastern Washington in terms of on the field performance.

Obviously North Dakota State is the best team right now and will be chasing a 4peat this season.

Outside of the Big Sky, CAA and MVC though, the FCS is pretty weak. A lot of HBCUs that never really do much, a handful of partial schollie conferences (40 or less) and general fan apathy really makes FCS look ugly. You won't find many FCS over FBS upsets that don't feature schools from one of those three conferences.

In terms of the metrics you described though, the CAA blows all other FCSs out of the water and the teams have more in common in terms of quality of play with the low end FBS conferences than they do with even the middle of the pack FCS conferences. In the last half decade or so though, the Missouri Valley has probably produced the best teams in terms of on the field performance.

Yeah, the northeast schools bring the markets, academics, and some athletics to boot. Lehigh's a scrappy program, too. Stabler, despite its meh size, used to host some decent events, and Goodman used to be the Eagles' summer camp venue. The location is prime. Bethlehem's come a long way, and it's a decent place with three or four schools within it. The Lehigh Valley is its own little region, but is also fed by Philly and NYC.

After Montana and JMU, which both said no for financial reasons, there really isn't much else in the FCS that make strong FBS candidates. Maybe Delaware, Liberty, North Dakota State, and that's it - and they all have big negatives. Most of the others, outside the Ivies and HBCUs, don't draw flies. And the Ivies and HBCUs numbers are distorted from a few huge rivalry games. There are a lot of small private colleges in the FCS east.

The answer to the original post's question begins and ends with Montana, now that App and Georgia Southern have moved.

Youngstown State when the sweater vest was there a'cheatin; oh snap, now he's back as PRESIDENT.

(05-18-2014 07:58 PM)MJG Wrote:  Princeton has twenty national titles I believe .

Montana
NDSU
Montana ST
Delaware
SDSU
Citadel
UC - DAVIS
Furman

First four yes, second four NO

(05-19-2014 07:02 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  This list begins and ends with Montana. There's other good programs, but Montana is undoubtedly the strongest.

They're not necessarily always the best team, although they do have 2 FCS championships and 7 appearances in the championship game since 1995. But I've read that FCS would not be financially viable for anyone else if Montana jumped up to FBS because they singlehandedly sell out every road game. At home they average almost a sellout every year despite having being in a metro of 111,000 and having fewer than 300,000 within a 4 hour drive.

They're also the only FCS program that I regularly see "t-shirt fans" wearing their apparel outside their region.

They were in the PAC from 1924-1949. They did ok, but voluntarily left to join a more geographic-based conference (the Mountain States Conference).

Montana is a strong program - but as far as rest of FCS not viable without them is laughable.

They will bring a couple thousand fans tops to NAU. Nice boost to attendance, but a drop in the bucket as far as total athletic budget

(05-19-2014 09:54 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(05-18-2014 07:49 PM)john01992 Wrote:  In terms of academics, athletics, fanbase, markets, historical ties, geography......

The CAA basically: JMU, Villanova, William and Mary, Delaware and Richmond are probably 5 of the top 10 in FCS all playing in the same conference. All 5 are very good academic schools and JMU and Delaware both average over 20k fans per game.

Montana probably has the biggest fan base, but they've been eclipsed in recent years in the Big Sky by Montana State and Eastern Washington in terms of on the field performance.

Obviously North Dakota State is the best team right now and will be chasing a 4peat this season.

Outside of the Big Sky, CAA and MVC though, the FCS is pretty weak. A lot of HBCUs that never really do much, a handful of partial schollie conferences (40 or less) and general fan apathy really makes FCS look ugly. You won't find many FCS over FBS upsets that don't feature schools from one of those three conferences.

In terms of the metrics you described though, the CAA blows all other FCSs out of the water and the teams have more in common in terms of quality of play with the low end FBS conferences than they do with even the middle of the pack FCS conferences. In the last half decade or so though, the Missouri Valley has probably produced the best teams in terms of on the field performance.

Been drinking the CAA Kool-Aid I see.

CAA is a strong conference yes, on SAME level or below Big Sky, MVFC, and Southland. Southern is def taking a step back next year with the loss of ASU and GSU

(05-19-2014 10:48 AM)AppfanInCAAland Wrote:  After Montana and JMU, which both said no for financial reasons, there really isn't much else in the FCS that make strong FBS candidates. Maybe Delaware, Liberty, North Dakota State, and that's it - and they all have big negatives. Most of the others, outside the Ivies and HBCUs, don't draw flies. And the Ivies and HBCUs numbers are distorted from a few huge rivalry games. There are a lot of small private colleges in the FCS east.

The answer to the original post's question begins and ends with Montana, now that App and Georgia Southern have moved.

HBCU rivalry games or Classic are neutral site games that don’t count towards the team's yearly numbers.