30 MVC games to be aired on ESPN networks

[DoubleJayAlum]

1) This won't happen right off the bat for UNI. You aren't going to get double overnight just because you joined the MAC; you will have to show you will belong for a couple of years too. I also think you are overestimating the amount of the additional payout. According to the OWH, it costs $1M to get a buy game with Boise St. and they are an established, ranked program. It probably also should be added that you may not be able to find as may people interested in buying you at your new higher prices. Once again according to the OWH, Nebraska has opted to play schools like Idaho St rather than an FBS opponent simply because they are a lot cheaper. If they are forced to pay $1M, maybe Iowa and Iowa St take a pass on UNI (especially if they think you might beat them!)

2) I don't understand how this works. The 4 team playoff is not going to include any MAC schools, so how do they get additional money? Even if they expand the playoffs substantially, there aren't any MAC schools that are going to qualify. (Honest question - I don't understand...)

3) Bowl revenue is a farce. This was well chronicled in the book, Death to the BCS. Almost every single school that goes to a bowl LOSES money on the deal. The travel and lodging, combined with the ridiculous number of tickets that a school has to guarantee to sell makes this an economic fact. Even the biggest football powers (Ohio St, Nebraska, etc have lost money on recent bowl trips). It is essentially impossible for a school to sell its ticket allotment because fans can buy the tickets at less than face value on about every single Internet site, resulting in the school ending up eating a large portion of the ticket requirement at full price. It seems rather unlikely that a school that only gets 4,000 to basketball games and complains on your message board about $20 ticket prices, is going to buy up the required amount of tickets to travel to a low interest bowl like the Motor City Bowl (assuming you even make it anyway). (Honestly, if you haven't read Death to the BCS, should should invest in it.)

Thinking that FBS won't result in additional expenses is unsound. If it was better financially, every school would make the jump yesterday. There are rea$on$ why so many schools have not done so.

(And none of this even takes into account what the Iowa legislature may think when after instructing UNI to become more self-sufficent, UNI has unilaterally decided to INCREASE expenses).

The point of all of this is that most people just take take UNI's public statements all that serious. I'd be willing to wager that most MVC schools are more worried about IlSU jumping than they are about UNI. I have no idea if that is fair, but it is reality.

1) It will happen right off the bat. It doesn't matter if its Iowa or Iowa State, I could care less. UNI will be able to find schools to pay us to play them. Whether its over $1MM or not, its going to be substantially more than we get right now for playing those games. I am not overestimating the numbers, whatsoever.

2) Everybody is getting a piece of the pie with the new playoff. It does not matter if your conference has a team participating or not. Mid major conferences like the MAC will get way, way less than the major conferences, but its still going to be a good chunk of money.

3) I said bowl AND TV revenue. Its a complex issue with the bowls, and many of them are big money losers, but like I said, there are a lot of things changing within the structure of major CFB.


There is money there to be had, that's the point, as opposed to FCS football where there is literally no money to be had. As I said, if it weren't financially beneficial for UNI, they won't be doing it. I don't care if you, or any other random message board poster, takes UNI seriously. The fact of the matter is that it is quite serious, and it is something that UNI is looking into doing. UNI is going to do what's best for UNI, now and long into the future, and FBS football may very well be a part of that.

So if its so grand, why don't you just do it already?

[uniftw]

1) This won't happen right off the bat for UNI. You aren't going to get double overnight just because you joined the MAC; you will have to show you will belong for a couple of years too. I also think you are overestimating the amount of the additional payout. According to the OWH, it costs $1M to get a buy game with Boise St. and they are an established, ranked program. It probably also should be added that you may not be able to find as may people interested in buying you at your new higher prices. Once again according to the OWH, Nebraska has opted to play schools like Idaho St rather than an FBS opponent simply because they are a lot cheaper. If they are forced to pay $1M, maybe Iowa and Iowa St take a pass on UNI (especially if they think you might beat them!)

2) I don't understand how this works. The 4 team playoff is not going to include any MAC schools, so how do they get additional money? Even if they expand the playoffs substantially, there aren't any MAC schools that are going to qualify. (Honest question - I don't understand...)

3) Bowl revenue is a farce. This was well chronicled in the book, Death to the BCS. Almost every single school that goes to a bowl LOSES money on the deal. The travel and lodging, combined with the ridiculous number of tickets that a school has to guarantee to sell makes this an economic fact. Even the biggest football powers (Ohio St, Nebraska, etc have lost money on recent bowl trips). It is essentially impossible for a school to sell its ticket allotment because fans can buy the tickets at less than face value on about every single Internet site, resulting in the school ending up eating a large portion of the ticket requirement at full price. It seems rather unlikely that a school that only gets 4,000 to basketball games and complains on your message board about $20 ticket prices, is going to buy up the required amount of tickets to travel to a low interest bowl like the Motor City Bowl (assuming you even make it anyway). (Honestly, if you haven't read Death to the BCS, should should invest in it.)

Thinking that FBS won't result in additional expenses is unsound. If it was better financially, every school would make the jump yesterday. There are rea$on$ why so many schools have not done so.

(And none of this even takes into account what the Iowa legislature may think when after instructing UNI to become more self-sufficent, UNI has unilaterally decided to INCREASE expenses).

The point of all of this is that most people just take take UNI's public statements all that serious. I'd be willing to wager that most MVC schools are more worried about IlSU jumping than they are about UNI. I have no idea if that is fair, but it is reality.

1) It will happen right off the bat. It doesn't matter if its Iowa or Iowa State, I could care less. UNI will be able to find schools to pay us to play them. Whether its over $1MM or not, its going to be substantially more than we get right now for playing those games. I am not overestimating the numbers, whatsoever.

2) Everybody is getting a piece of the pie with the new playoff. It does not matter if your conference has a team participating or not. Mid major conferences like the MAC will get way, way less than the major conferences, but its still going to be a good chunk of money.

3) I said bowl AND TV revenue. Its a complex issue with the bowls, and many of them are big money losers, but like I said, there are a lot of things changing within the structure of major CFB.


There is money there to be had, that's the point, as opposed to FCS football where there is literally no money to be had. As I said, if it weren't financially beneficial for UNI, they won't be doing it. I don't care if you, or any other random message board poster, takes UNI seriously. The fact of the matter is that it is quite serious, and it is something that UNI is looking into doing. UNI is going to do what's best for UNI, now and long into the future, and FBS football may very well be a part of that.

So if its so grand, why don't you just do it already?

It's coming sooner rather than later. I wouldn't be shocked to see it by the 2015 season.

[MoValley John]

I'm not saying UNI Isn't capable of moving up, but sooner rather than later? My question is, what does UNI bring to the table? You have some good programs, but you don't bring anything else. You're not bringing in any tv's, you have a small fan base And you are the third program in a small state. With that, adding UNI won't add any value to the MAC. The bigger money you are talking about is simply diluting the money they already have. Maybe you guys can do it, but Illinois State is much more attractive and so is Missouri State.

Maybe you guys will get in, I just don't see it.

[valleychamp]

Maybe you guys can do it, but Illinois State is much more attractive and so is Missouri State.

In what possible way are they more attractive? Much, much worse football programs and they too are both 2nd-3rd fiddle in their own states. What's the difference? In that regard, UNI is the far superior option. Sure, Springfield and Bloomington are slightly bigger communities. But we are still talking about mid-major media markets going to another mid-major conference. The media/TV markets argument is way overblown for schools our size. Much more relevant with all of the major college realignment with the B10 and what not these last few years because of the major TV contracts, than it is with MVC, MAC, CUSA level conferences.

[MoValley John]

Springfield is much bigger than CedarFalls, and Missouri is much, much more populous than Iowa. Missouri State would also be the second 1-A school, not third, in a much bigger state.

As for Illinois State, well the MAC would have another presence in Illinois, not a cash grabbing school from Iowa. Two schools could build interest in Chicagoland, not Des Moinesland.

I'm not trying to come off as an ass, but really, I'm not asking what UNI would take, but what do you bring to the table?

[valleychamp]

Springfield is much bigger than CedarFalls, and Missouri is much, much more populous than Iowa. Missouri State would also be the second 1-A school, not third, in a much bigger state.

As for Illinois State, well the MAC would have another presence in Illinois, not a cash grabbing school from Iowa. Two schools could build interest in Chicagoland, not Des Moinesland.

I'm not trying to come off as an ass, but really, I'm not asking what UNI would take, but what do you bring to the table?

I mean really, what are we talking about here, a "presence in Illinois"?? What is the meaning of that? Big deal, they already have Northern Illinois. MSU is the #2 in MIzzou, but they are a distant, distant #2. Its really no different, and its silly to argue otherwise. MSU is not going to move the needle in Missouri, and LOL at the idea of ISU moving the needle in Chicago. Never mind the fact that the majority of all mid-major FBS schools are no different than any of us in that they are all 2nd, 3rd, 4th options in their states anyway. Its no different.

You tell me, precisely, what value do MSU and Ill St "offer". All they have proven is that they can average 7K people at their games, and that they cannot find a way to have successful programs at the 1AA level.

UNI offers a strong football program (I mean, that is what we are talking about here aren't we?), with a very long history of winning, and good fan support. A "cash grabbing school"?? Give me a break, I'm sure all schools that have changed conferences or move up a division were all doing it out of the purity of their heart, and not for money. LOL, what is the point of making a dig like that? Who isn't a cash grabbing school?

[MoValley John]

Springfield is much bigger than CedarFalls, and Missouri is much, much more populous than Iowa. Missouri State would also be the second 1-A school, not third, in a much bigger state.

As for Illinois State, well the MAC would have another presence in Illinois, not a cash grabbing school from Iowa. Two schools could build interest in Chicagoland, not Des Moinesland.

I'm not trying to come off as an ass, but really, I'm not asking what UNI would take, but what do you bring to the table?

I mean really, what are we talking about here, a "presence in Illinois"?? What is the meaning of that? Big deal, they already have Northern Illinois. MSU is the #2 in MIzzou, but they are a distant, distant #2. Its really no different, and its silly to argue otherwise. MSU is not going to move the needle in Missouri, and LOL at the idea of ISU moving the needle in Chicago. Never mind the fact that the majority of all mid-major FBS schools are no different than any of us in that they are all 2nd, 3rd, 4th options in their states anyway. Its no different.

You tell me, precisely, what value do MSU and Ill St "offer". All they have proven is that they can average 7K people at their games, and that they cannot find a way to have successful programs at the 1AA level.

UNI offers a strong football program (I mean, that is what we are talking about here aren't we?), with a very long history of winning, and good fan support. A "cash grabbing school"?? Give me a break, I'm sure all schools that have changed conferences or move up a division were all doing it out of the purity of their heart, and not for money. LOL, what is the point of making a dig like that? Who isn't a cash grabbing school?

My cash grab comment was based on the UNI fans that have spoken to the benefit of being in the MAC, namely, they would make more money because UNI would get a cut of bowl money and UNI would get a cut of the tv money and UNI would get a cut of the championship money.

That drove my question, what does UNI bring to the table. In reality, having a good program is only one piece of the Puzzle. In fact, it's a small piece. The conferences are going to not only want a solid program, but also a program that will enhance revenue, tv's, buts in seats and negotiating ability with networks. I just don't see that from UNI. It's not a slam, most fans overvalue their team. Creighton fans do it Wichita State fans do it, MSU fans do it, most do it.

As far as delivering the Chicago market, you do realize that if you merely gain a sliver of it, you've delivered a bigger benefit than if you deliver all of Cedar Falls and a big chunk of Des Moines?

Also keep in mind that it didn't matter how good either TCU or Boise were, it took melt downs in major conferences before anyone gave them a look. It's much more than a winning program.

[valleychamp]

MVJ, you need to realize that we are still just talking about mid-major football. We aren't talking about joining the B10 or SEC here. There is very little difference between MAC type schools, and MVFC schools other than the 20 extra scholarships. The MAC is the same conference that includes Eastern Michigan, Ball State, and Buffalo and you want to talk about major TV markets and increased exposure and revenue?

[MoValley John]

MVJ, you need to realize that we are still just talking about mid-major football. We aren't talking about joining the B10 or SEC here. There is very little difference between MAC type schools, and MVFC schools other than the 20 extra scholarships. The MAC is the same conference that includes Eastern Michigan, Ball State, and Buffalo and you want to talk about major TV markets and increased exposure and revenue?

I understand that. But at the same time, I also understand that the MAC, just like the Valley, is one of those "stable" conferences. They are going to be very slow and calculated in their actions. They may want to expand, but they don't need to expand. They also have apretty good thing going with the B1G. If a school doesn't bring something to the table, more than just a few good programs, expanding for the sake of expanding simply dilutes the money rach school receives. Plus, if you are that good and still "midmajor" too good of a program without much else to offer will simply pluck an occasional minor bowl game from another MAC school and steal away the lone NCAA bid every now and then. In my opinion, UNI does very little to help the MAC, they will be taking a cut of revenue from each school and giving little back. In the situation the MAC is in, expanding may help, but if they aren't real careful, it could really hurt. You have to think that the powers that be are aware of this. If expanding for the sake of expanding was such a no-brainer, the Valley would probably already have the Dakota schools, UMKC and Chicago State.

[agrinut]

Maybe you guys can do it, but Illinois State is much more attractive and so is Missouri State.

In what possible way are they more attractive? Much, much worse football programs and they too are both 2nd-3rd fiddle in their own states. What's the difference? In that regard, UNI is the far superior option. Sure, Springfield and Bloomington are slightly bigger communities. But we are still talking about mid-major media markets going to another mid-major conference. The media/TV markets argument is way overblown for schools our size. Much more relevant with all of the major college realignment with the B10 and what not these last few years because of the major TV contracts, than it is with MVC, MAC, CUSA level conferences.

You obviously don't realize that it is not about winning games. It is about winning contracts. ISUr and MSU put 2 times the alumni out every year than UNI does. Why would any school that is going to come in and weigh them down from a TV contract perspective? UNI Is one of the least desirable schools in the MVC. they are not going anywhere.