C-USA, is it worth it?

[BCPanther]

BC, the Valley didn’t meet the definition of a D1-A conference from 1982-1985. It was a hybrid of D1-A and D1-AA teams.

I-A: Wichita, Tulsa, NMSU
I-AA: Drake, ISUr, ISUb, SIU, WTSU

The league participated in the I-AA playoffs.

There were 3 (2 when NMSU left for the PCAA) I-A programs, but the league itself didn’t meet the I-A definition, which is distinctly different (ie. requirements for things like sport sponsorships) from today’s FBS definition.

Totally agree with all that. It was a cluster that birthed the Gateway and cost us Tulsa and is radically different than where we're at today.

All I know is that our ex-AD mentioned it several times in Panther Scholarship Club board meetings over the years. That was his impossible dream scenario for UNI and the league.

[unipanther99]

I see the point about the clause, but if the conference decided to do this, you don't think they would allow it to happen (with a multi-year transition period)? What are they going to do, keep us out of the College Football Playoff? LOL

As FBS members, we would command more money from our buy games at Power 5 schools. That alone might be enough to offset the additional scholarship costs. Staying in the same conference would mean travel expenses roughly stay the same. And the TV contract would actually pay each school a little something. Not big bucks, but a couple million would be far more than we get now.

[unipanther99]

The benefit to the non-football (or Pioneer) members would be a more robustly funded league office with additional resources for marketing, championship events, etc.

[letsgoAces]

The average loss of revenue by FBS power 5 schools is $2.3 million
Average loss for remaining FBS schools is $17.6. million

How robust does does that sound?

[BEARZ77]

Here's a solid league that would meet everybody's needs pretty well:

Full Members Playing Football:
Missouri State
Illinois St
Indiana St
SIU
NDST
SDST
Murray St
UNI

Full Members w/o Football [or Pioneer]
Belmont
Bradley
Drake
Valpo
Loyola
Evansville

That's 14 members , 8 playing FBS football, and a strong BB 14 team conference. You could go to 16 perhaps making strong push for Tulsa and WSU , or if any member couldn't make the transition to FBS, make a pitch at WK or Tulsa to make it to 8. If ya didn't want the Dakotas then Tulsa and WK would be football priorities.
Quit dinking around with programs that don't really excite or match our current profile, but don't punish any current member unless they want to opt out.

[BCPanther]

Here's a solid league that would meet everybody's needs pretty well:

Full Members Playing Football:
Missouri State
Illinois St
Indiana St
SIU
NDST
SDST
Murray St
UNI

Full Members w/o Football [or Pioneer]
Belmont
Bradley
Drake
Valpo
Loyola
Evansville

That's 14 members , 8 playing FBS football, and a strong BB 14 team conference. You could go to 16 perhaps making strong push for Tulsa and WSU , or if any member couldn't make the transition to FBS, make a pitch at WK or Tulsa to make it to 8. If ya didn't want the Dakotas then Tulsa and WK would be football priorities.
Quit dinking around with programs that don't really excite or match our current profile, but don't punish any current member unless they want to opt out.

Sign me up. Take (even more) of my money.

[unipanther99]

Yep. The average losses for non-power 5 FBS schools doesn't really apply in this case. We aren't switching conferences and incurring huge new travel expenses. Would need to come up with some additional FB scholarships, but that could be offset with additional money from the buy games our FB teams are already playing.

Where would the massive new deficits come from? If a school is out of alignment on a Title IX front, that could be a problem. But add women's wrestling. Or bowling. Or something else with local appeal that doesn't cost a lot to operate.

[letsgoAces]

Nothing is going to be offset. FBS will require 18 more scholarships, and then another 18 for title nine, and the creation of other sports. Now add that in with additional travel cost. Have we spoken about the increased salaries of the coaches and the added assistants yet? IF a school is okay with taking on all the million of dollar losses at the chance of playing a nobody bowl game in Toronto, have had it.

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

I am curious about the conference FBS route, although I have absolutely no confidence that this would happen. But here is what I would assume the cost increases are:

1. Additional sports: I'd be curious as to how many more schools would have to do. Some sports can be done relatively cheaply I assume.
2. Additional scholarships: 18 scholarships to be paid for.
3. Additional coaching salaries: Could some enlighten me how much they would need in increase? How much does a low end G5 coach make compared to FCS.
4. Travel: I don't understand this one since we would be going to the exact same places with the whole conference staying together. I suppose there is a few more hotel rooms.

Extra Income:
1. Triple the pay for buy games.
2. TV Revenue. I wonder how much more the conference would pull. I do believe that the MVC would not be the worst G5 school at this level.

Maybe it is more feasible than I originally thought. I'd be interested in seeing exact numbers.

[unipanther99]

I get that the non-football schools are upset something like this could upset the apple cart, and it's extremely unlikely to happen anyway.

But you have to understand football is very important to the identity of some of our schools. The level doesn't matter that much. Yes, NDSU has won 8 of the last 10 FCS championships. I think that has led to some resentment from the rest of the FCS, and they tend to take it out on the other schools in the conference by denying at-large bids and under-seeding MVFC schools.

No, we won't get any more respect at the FBS level, but at least we will get paid a little for our trouble. And yes --- I'd definitely go to to the Myrtle Beach Bowl or Quick Lane bowl to watch UNI take on a middling Power 5 school.