(01-08-2021 01:36 AM)Attackcoog Wrote: Its FCS---but I think this might just have some FBS ripples. This expanded WAC, which is being praised in the article as a pretty decent basketball league, might be deemed a stable and acceptable home for Boise olympic sports----thus, potentially opening the door for a Bronco "football only" move the AAC.
Yes, they are starting with an FCS league next in the near future but Thamel says the league is looking at FBS later this decade.
Despite Sam Houston's trip to back-to-back FCS championship games and SFA's basketball success, these schools were never mentioned as expansion candidates for the Sun Belt or CUSA. Rightfully so, as their resources were lacking, lower budgets, and marginal fan support. They were already located in places where these leagues had a presence AND as Bobcat2013 said, the existing members moved up to create separation from these schools.
If they ever considered moving to FBS, the WAC was going to be their only option. Luckily NMSU wants an FBS home and has the ability to invite friends. In theory each of these schools can now put out a public FBS move up plan and start engaging donors and alumni with a solid path to FBS. Every stadium needs improvements and they need to build up war chests.
To those talking about their current stadium capacities-
Lamar is at 16,000 and SFA, SAM, Tarleton all hold 10-15k but would need time to get more seats. Rightfully so, Everyone associates FBS with the p5 schools and places like the Michigan Stadium, The Horseshoe, The Swamp, DKR, Kyle Field, the Rose Bowl. However the G5 is a different beast, CUSA's Charlotte has a 15k stadium, UMass is at 17k, Sun Belt's Coastal has 20k and most of the MAC is between 20-25k. It should be no surprise that the WAC would start on the lower end of the G5 with stadiums between 16-25k. However, FBS money games are better than FCS payouts, ****** FBS conferences make more money than FCS deals, FBS conferences get more media run than FCS conferences (ESPECIALLY in TEXAS).