(05-08-2017 11:45 PM)LatahCounty Wrote: (05-08-2017 09:56 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: One aspect of this I'm trying to understand is the FBS slant. I'm not sure this necessarily best positions the schools involved for an FBS move. Idaho, the Montana's, E Washington, ND St, and SD St are either FBS ready or close to it but UND and USD aren't. On the other hand, you've also got other schools in the Big Sky and MVFC that could also be in the transition discussion. Missouri St, Illinois St, Youngstown St? Sacramento St? Wouldn't you also want to try to get NMSU involved in an FBS gambit at least as an affiliate?
Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see some of the super-FCS programs move up and get decent payouts for their body games either as a loose association of indies or forming an all sports league I'm not positive UND and USD are ready.
EWU isn't actually all that ready either. They'd been able to keep an excellent coach around for nearly a decade which helped a lot, but when you get past that the school, alumni and facilities aren't really there. It'd be a pretty big undertaking for them.
There was an article last year, if I remember correctly, that a farmer would offer up his land for EWU for a brand new football stadium that could be bigger than what they are playing in now. I heard rumors that they wanted to join the FBS. With wins over P5 schools, they could get the money raised with excitement to go FBS.
West Texas A&M also building an on campus stadium that could be expanded to 22,500. There seems to be smore that they want to rejoin D1. Why have a 22,500 seat stadium for a D2?
UTRGV also want FBS and so does Lamar. UTRGV just need the green light to add football.
Texas A&M-San Antonio and Texas A&M-Central Texas are adding sports, and want to add football with their main goal is FBS.
There seems more schools are building to go upgrade themselves.
Several Big West schools are flirting to add football. Plus, UC-San Diego did a feasibility study for football.
Azusa Pacific and Dixie State both could join the D1 rank. Dixie State got a gift to expand their stadium.
I would not be surprise if some GNAC schools make the jump. There are talks that Western Washington is saving money to go D1 and then restart football down the road.
Colorado Mesa does fit in with Idaho, Idaho State, Weber State, Southern Utah and Eastern Washington as close by opponents with Northern Colorado as well.