(02-14-2017 12:35 AM)LatahCounty Wrote: FBS is difficult, but the finances of scholarship FCS are ridiculous and the marketing value is nonexistent.
It works for NDSU and Montana, well enough. Here's the thing: you have to win, a lot. Do that, and people will pay (some) attention. Of course, it's tough when you have Boise in the same state. That is understandable. Montana has nothing (Wyoming is the closest thing to FBS competition), and NDSU realistically has nothing (Minnesota is 4hr away, but the Big Ten is in another stratosphere ... so I say that doesn't count).
Goes right back to: should Idaho have ever left Big Sky football? Not sure what it would've taken at the time to stay, especially assuming Boise would've left and done the things they have done the last decade+.
But with Idaho staying a winner in Big Sky football, the rivalry with Montana, etc., and as a perennial FCS playoff participant ... I think you could have at least the support you have today, with no threats of dropping support like you're facing.
Of course, this is all well out of the bag by now. That cat is long gone, and probably run over.
Feel free to correct me and/or add you opinion.
(02-14-2017 03:46 AM)goofus Wrote: The state of Idaho should start thinking about tweaking the flagship status of its schools.
I really doubt there's a big plaque hanging in the U of ID president's office that says "Official Flagship University of the state of Idaho". And even if there was one, what does it matter?? Idaho gets less money from the state than Boise does, already.
Boise is a junior college, when it comes to research and academics, compared to Idaho and Washington State.