Barring a miracle against Houston today, UConn, UMass and New Mexico State have set a bar that can't be topped. Those three will finish the season with a combined record of 0-26 against FBS teams (except each other) and 2-3 against the FCS. That is futility on an epic scale. By comparison, FCS teams finished the year with a 12-105 record against FBS opponents.

They say hope springs eternal, and for NMSU the chance to play against FCS-like competition in the new C-USA in the future gives them reason for optimism. But for UConn and UMass it would seem that their solace might be that they can't get any worse.

I guess staying in FBS gives them more exposure than dropping down in class or dropping the sport altogether. But is that really the kind of exposure you want?

if dana shows up drunk UCONN will have a chance

I mean, Army and Liberty are both sitting on 7 wins with more to play and BYU/Notre Dame are each ranked in the top 15. Independence is, as always, a mixed bag.

(11-27-2021 11:28 AM)ken d Wrote:  Barring a miracle against Houston today, UConn, UMass and New Mexico State have set a bar that can't be topped. Those three will finish the season with a combined record of 0-26 against FBS teams (except each other) and 2-3 against the FCS. That is futility on an epic scale. By comparison, FCS teams finished the year with a 12-105 record against FBS opponents.

They say hope springs eternal, and for NMSU the chance to play against FCS-like competition in the new C-USA in the future gives them reason for optimism. But for UConn and UMass it would seem that their solace might be that they can't get any worse.

I guess staying in FBS gives them more exposure than dropping down in class or dropping the sport altogether. But is that really the kind of exposure you want?

Ask Idaho fans if they prefer the exposure now or the exposure they had 5 years ago. Being a horrible FBS team still means more exposure than being an average FCS team. Between those two options, the FBS one is more desirable.

(11-27-2021 12:53 PM)Bogg Wrote:  I mean, Army and Liberty are both sitting on 7 wins with more to play and BYU/Notre Dame are each ranked in the top 15. Independence is, as always, a mixed bag.

After the performances against FSU and Ohio, ND should be nowhere near the Top 15.

(11-27-2021 01:46 PM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 12:53 PM)Bogg Wrote:  I mean, Army and Liberty are both sitting on 7 wins with more to play and BYU/Notre Dame are each ranked in the top 15. Independence is, as always, a mixed bag.

After the performances against FSU and Ohio, ND should be nowhere near the Top 15.

It was Toledo, not Ohio. If you are going to rant, at least get the teams straight.

You must not think that a team that lost 14 players to the NFL, including its starting QB and four starting offensive linemen, in a transition year breaking in a grad transfer QB and a true freshman QB, can improve over its first two games of the season.

Do you impose the same standard upon all teams, or just ND?

Do only the first two games of a season count? Where is that in the rule book?

ND has won six games in a row, five of them very comfortably and is now 10-1, hopefully 11-1 after tonight.

(It has lost only one game all season, that to a team ranked #4 by the Playoff Committee)

That you would think a 10-1 ND "should be nowhere near the Top 15" says a whole lot more about you than it does about ND.

If New Mexico State defeats UMass, that would arguably make UConn the worst FBS team this year. New Mexico State (2-10) > UMass (1-11) > UConn (1-11),

Maybe Florida International (1-10) would be worse than UConn if they don't win today; their only win was against Long Island.

(11-27-2021 01:17 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  Ask Idaho fans if they prefer the exposure now or the exposure they had 5 years ago. Being a horrible FBS team still means more exposure than being an average FCS team. Between those two options, the FBS one is more desirable.

If a Vandal beats Portland State somewhere near a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

(11-27-2021 03:07 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 01:17 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  Ask Idaho fans if they prefer the exposure now or the exposure they had 5 years ago. Being a horrible FBS team still means more exposure than being an average FCS team. Between those two options, the FBS one is more desirable.

If a Vandal beats Portland State somewhere near a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

I still follow the Big Sky Conference, so yes.

UConn falls to Houston. 45-17 the final.

The Jim Mora Era in Storrs begins tomorrow.

(11-27-2021 11:28 AM)ken d Wrote:  Barring a miracle against Houston today, UConn, UMass and New Mexico State have set a bar that can't be topped. Those three will finish the season with a combined record of 0-26 against FBS teams (except each other) and 2-3 against the FCS. That is futility on an epic scale. By comparison, FCS teams finished the year with a 12-105 record against FBS opponents.

They say hope springs eternal, and for NMSU the chance to play against FCS-like competition in the new C-USA in the future gives them reason for optimism. But for UConn and UMass it would seem that their solace might be that they can't get any worse.

I guess staying in FBS gives them more exposure than dropping down in class or dropping the sport altogether. But is that really the kind of exposure you want?

For whatever reason, this board has a ton of guys that are infatuated with football independence. Maybe it’s because they went to college in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. It only works for Notre Dame because they are a national program and has some unique characteristics. It does not work for others— recruits want to play for conference championships, all-conference awards, etc. They want that bowl tie-in to play for (even if it is a lower bowl). They want conference foes they look forward to.

Only three kinds of schools can make football independence work:

1) Notre Dame: for obvious reasons
2) Military Academies: for their history and tradition
3) Religious Universities: For their resources and backing

If you are not one of these three kinds of schools, then you should do your best to find a league to join.

(11-27-2021 05:18 PM)rtist Wrote:  Only three kinds of schools can make football independence work:

1) Notre Dame: for obvious reasons
2) Military Academies: for their history and tradition
3) Religious Universities: For their resources and backing

If you are not one of these three kinds of schools, then you should do your best to find a league to join.

I am not even sure about #3. BYU and Liberty are joining conferences because they knew they had a glass ceiling as an Indy.

(11-27-2021 03:01 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 01:46 PM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 12:53 PM)Bogg Wrote:  I mean, Army and Liberty are both sitting on 7 wins with more to play and BYU/Notre Dame are each ranked in the top 15. Independence is, as always, a mixed bag.

After the performances against FSU and Ohio, ND should be nowhere near the Top 15.

It was Toledo, not Ohio. If you are going to rant, at least get the teams straight.

You must not think that a team that lost 14 players to the NFL, including its starting QB and four starting offensive linemen, in a transition year breaking in a grad transfer QB and a true freshman QB, can improve over its first two games of the season.

Do you impose the same standard upon all teams, or just ND?

Do only the first two games of a season count? Where is that in the rule book?

ND has won six games in a row, five of them very comfortably and is now 10-1, hopefully 11-1 after tonight.

(It has lost only one game all season, that to a team ranked #4 by the Playoff Committee)

That you would think a 10-1 ND "should be nowhere near the Top 15" says a whole lot more about you than it does about ND.

TerryD well said, I would have to agree with you. And I detest Notre Dame, I would like them to never win another game and descend into such irrelevance that no conference would even have them. But when you're right, you're right!

(11-27-2021 03:28 PM)rtist Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 03:07 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 01:17 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  Ask Idaho fans if they prefer the exposure now or the exposure they had 5 years ago. Being a horrible FBS team still means more exposure than being an average FCS team. Between those two options, the FBS one is more desirable.

If a Vandal beats Portland State somewhere near a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

I still follow the Big Sky Conference, so yes.

With all the upheaval of conference realignment this year, is Idaho looking at a return to FBS?

(11-27-2021 05:18 PM)rtist Wrote:  Only three kinds of schools can make football independence work:

1) Notre Dame: for obvious reasons
2) Military Academies: for their history and tradition
3) Religious Universities: For their resources and backing

If you are not one of these three kinds of schools, then you should do your best to find a league to join.

#3 Worked so well for BYU and Liberty.

(11-27-2021 07:29 PM)Gamenole Wrote:  With all the upheaval of conference realignment this year, is Idaho looking at a return to FBS?

Wish I could say yes, but I really doubt it. We're a mess at the moment. The school hired an excellent president to replace Staben and the university as a whole is in much better shape, but that hasn't yet trickled down to the athletic department.

Don Brown starts next week at UMass.
The salary pool was increased by 25% from 1.5M to 2M.
There have been two previous fund raisers this year, plus a new one with Don Brown's hire.
The combine goal is 1 Million and currently at $854,710 with a Dec 15th end date.

It's risky to hope this, but hope CUSA presidents rejects UMass bid as football only. Don't like football only as it is not permanent. Then hope UMass will seek an all sports bid for the MAC with WKU.

(11-27-2021 08:39 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 07:29 PM)Gamenole Wrote:  With all the upheaval of conference realignment this year, is Idaho looking at a return to FBS?

Wish I could say yes, but I really doubt it. We're a mess at the moment. The school hired an excellent president to replace Staben and the university as a whole is in much better shape, but that hasn't yet trickled down to the athletic department.

Basically, this.

I follow Idaho closely because it is my brother's alma mater; we used to poke and prod one another over the New Mexico State/Idaho games our schools used to play.

Barring drastic improvement, investment, and more conference realignment at the FBS level, I think Idaho is stuck in the Big Sky for the time being.

Would BSU block them jumping?

(11-27-2021 01:17 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(11-27-2021 11:28 AM)ken d Wrote:  Barring a miracle against Houston today, UConn, UMass and New Mexico State have set a bar that can't be topped. Those three will finish the season with a combined record of 0-26 against FBS teams (except each other) and 2-3 against the FCS. That is futility on an epic scale. By comparison, FCS teams finished the year with a 12-105 record against FBS opponents.

They say hope springs eternal, and for NMSU the chance to play against FCS-like competition in the new C-USA in the future gives them reason for optimism. But for UConn and UMass it would seem that their solace might be that they can't get any worse.

I guess staying in FBS gives them more exposure than dropping down in class or dropping the sport altogether. But is that really the kind of exposure you want?

Ask Idaho fans if they prefer the exposure now or the exposure they had 5 years ago. Being a horrible FBS team still means more exposure than being an average FCS team. Between those two options, the FBS one is more desirable.

If the exposure you are getting just reminds people how much you suck, is that a good thing?