A Second Shoe Drops

[DoubleJayAlum]

This also begs the question, would MSU, UNI, IlSU be willing to sacrifice their bball programs at the altar of FBS football? I don't know but I am sure it would be an item of consideration for each institution to consider because MAC and Sunbelt basketball is atrocious.

I've wondered that myself. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that since men's basketball is most likely the premier money generator in the athletic departments of these schools, ADs are a bit afraid to move it to a conference where interest, ticket sales and revenues distributed by the conference will be less. I think that is why you see things like UNI's AD specifically saying that they do not want to do anything with football that may harm their relationship with the MVC.

It is easy for fans to say, "Let's move up" when they don't have to pay the bills. With the move-up in FB comes additional expenses for scholarships, equipment, title IX considerations, etc. It is hard to find a way to pay those expenses if you are also moving your only profitable, revenue generating program to a lesser league. The most likely result is lower ticket sales, increased travel costs and less NCAA tourney unit dollars, all while getting bigger and bigger bills for your FB program.

I'd been an advocate for some time now of having schools drop their money losing FB programs. I just don't understand the financial model for FCS football. When a financial model does not work, the business ultimately shuts down. I think its time for some FCS programs to do just that.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Could the MVFC move up? It is concept I'm struggling with right now. I think only five schools could make it work(NDSU, UNI, MSU, ISUR and YSU). Maybe a few schools could be plucked from other conferences but you would need to give them an all-sports invite to lure them in. I guess NMSU and Idaho are out there as well, homeless and desperate.

Then what do you do with SIU and INS?

I can't see the MVFC taking any action which destabilized the MVC. The MVC makes the money that the MVFC consumes.

[saluki762]

Could the MVFC move up? It is concept I'm struggling with right now. I think only five schools could make it work(NDSU, UNI, MSU, ISUR and YSU). Maybe a few schools could be plucked from other conferences but you would need to give them an all-sports invite to lure them in. I guess NMSU and Idaho are out there as well, homeless and desperate.

Question for everyone posting in this thread. This is not to flame, it is a serious question because I do not follow FBS football at all.

Why is everyone so certain that ISUr and MSU are so much more ready or could more easily step up than SIU? SIU has newer better and better football facilities and history on par with both of these programs. I could see why it would easier for UNI, NDSU or YSU because of history and attendance but what do ISUr and MSU offer? Is it just a larger metro area?

[valleychamp]

Could the MVFC move up? It is concept I'm struggling with right now. I think only five schools could make it work(NDSU, UNI, MSU, ISUR and YSU). Maybe a few schools could be plucked from other conferences but you would need to give them an all-sports invite to lure them in. I guess NMSU and Idaho are out there as well, homeless and desperate.

Question for everyone posting in this thread. This is not to flame, it is a serious question because I do not follow FBS football at all.

Why is everyone so certain that ISUr and MSU are so much more ready or could more easily step up than SIU? SIU has newer better and better football facilities and history on par with both of these programs. I could see why it would easier for UNI, NDSU or YSU because of history and attendance but what do ISUr and MSU offer? Is it just a larger metro area?

They aren't, and you are absolutely correct. It's just an internet meme that takes off and lasts forever, despite there not being any real legitimacy to it.

[BCPanther]

To be honest, UNI and NDSU are probably the only two that could step up and legitimately compete right away.

[Fargobison]

Could the MVFC move up? It is concept I'm struggling with right now. I think only five schools could make it work(NDSU, UNI, MSU, ISUR and YSU). Maybe a few schools could be plucked from other conferences but you would need to give them an all-sports invite to lure them in. I guess NMSU and Idaho are out there as well, homeless and desperate.

Then what do you do with SIU and INS?

I can't see the MVFC taking any action which destabilized the MVC. The MVC makes the money that the MVFC consumes.

Well I'm not sure an FBS MVFC could make money but maybe some of these schools would lose less. You could get an actual TV deal, the money from guarantee games basically doubles(some schools get upwards of $1 million) and maybe being at a higher level would create more fan interest at places like ISUR and MSU.

I don't know if SIU could do it or not. I don't think Indiana State can. Maybe they drop scholarships completely and go to the Pioneer or affiliate with the OVC for football.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I don't think the Dakota fans have any idea how much money MVC basketball generates for its member schools. In all fairness, though, why would they as I highly doubt Summit league basketball is that much of a cash generator. This is why adding the Dakota schools to the MVC is such a nonstarter ---- basketball is such a second level priority to them. They are always going to chose to spend money on FB first, their basketball programs will always suffer as a result and hurt the rest of the conference. Worse than that, every time they win a football game, they are going to go all post crazy in the basketball forums about their FB accomplishments! To paraphrase Barry Alvarez, "FCS football is not very appealing."

As I said in an earlier post, the reason the MVC FB schools don't sacrifice their basketball programs to just jump up a level is that they need the money the basketball programs produce.

[jwa123]

Could the MVFC move up? It is concept I'm struggling with right now. I think only five schools could make it work(NDSU, UNI, MSU, ISUR and YSU). Maybe a few schools could be plucked from other conferences but you would need to give them an all-sports invite to lure them in. I guess NMSU and Idaho are out there as well, homeless and desperate.

Question for everyone posting in this thread. This is not to flame, it is a serious question because I do not follow FBS football at all.

Why is everyone so certain that ISUr and MSU are so much more ready or could more easily step up than SIU? SIU has newer better and better football facilities and history on par with both of these programs. I could see why it would easier for UNI, NDSU or YSU because of history and attendance but what do ISUr and MSU offer? Is it just a larger metro area?

I agree with you 100% on SIU! SIU is very capable and should be in the discussion as well.

[jwa123]

As the FCS and FBS alternatives get kicked around amongst us, I heed what I once read. I don't know if it is true but it is somewhat sobering if true. To expand from FCS to FBS costs an additional 3 to 5 million a year.

Would conferences like the MAC and Sunbelt bring the potential of enough revenue to offset that cost? I have this question. Which of the current MVFC schools can afford the 3 to 5 million expense because I think it would be highly suspect that the MAC or Sun Belt can offset those costs.

As I understand it, IlSU has an athletic budget of about 18 million. Mo State spends about 13 million. UNI spends about 11 million. Most MAC schools spend about 25 million on their athletic budgets. As The Asian Sensation aptly noted, you just don't merely join but you need an invite. If the MAC came calling, could any of our schools afford to make the jump?

A for a football only invite to the MAC, don't hold your breath on that one.

[agrinut]

Could the MVFC move up? It is concept I'm struggling with right now. I think only five schools could make it work(NDSU, UNI, MSU, ISUR and YSU). Maybe a few schools could be plucked from other conferences but you would need to give them an all-sports invite to lure them in. I guess NMSU and Idaho are out there as well, homeless and desperate.

Question for everyone posting in this thread. This is not to flame, it is a serious question because I do not follow FBS football at all.

Why is everyone so certain that ISUr and MSU are so much more ready or could more easily step up than SIU? SIU has newer better and better football facilities and history on par with both of these programs. I could see why it would easier for UNI, NDSU or YSU because of history and attendance but what do ISUr and MSU offer? Is it just a larger metro area?

I think the biggest reason you hear about ISUr and MSU is they are the 2 big State Universities, with SIU right behind them. I think SIU should be a contender, I have just never heard much out of Carbondale that implies they are interested. One thing i will mention is the fact that SIU just opened thier new football stadium and its capacity is 15,000 if they are interested in a move to FBS one would think they would have planned better.