fourthandshort
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yeah, because our football programs are just so on same level as far as winning and fan support.So, unlike Redbird fans, you have an intelligent fan base.
yeah, because our football programs are just so on same level as far as winning and fan support.So, unlike Redbird fans, you have an intelligent fan base.
I have zero documentation to support this but my own thought is there are NDSU fans that would prefer to remain in FCS and just keep beating the brains out of the rest of FCS football forever instead of seeking a higher level of competition and not winning National Championships every year. I don't think any fan base is 100% thinking the same. I give programs like App State a lot of respect for making the move. At that time my son went to a near by college and I was in the Boone area frequently. It was not a consensus of the fan base to move up to FBS. App State is never going to win a FBS National Championship (at least not in the current system) but they have done well and some big name teams have travelled to Boone. That increases the exposure of the University and status of the program I think. You have to admire what NDSU has done in FCS but it really is time for them to step up, competition wise in my humble opinion. There are other factors involved I fully understand but just from an on the field competition perspective, what is the point of continuing the status quo? Maybe I am wrong and 100% of the Bison fan base are chomping at the bit to move to FBS. I doubt it though.yeah, because our football programs are just so on same level as far as winning and fan support.
It may not be 100% of NDSU fans that want to go FBS but I'll bet it is close. One thing I've noticed about sports fans is that always seem to want what they don't have, and I can certainly understand the Bison Fatigue as they seek a new challenge. I would just give them a word of caution. Be careful what you wish for. They should consider the fate of their last two head coaches. Craig Bohl and Chris Klieman both wanted to move up to FBS and they did. Bohl went to Wyoming and Klieman is the HC at Kansas St. Sure they get to coach in bigger stadiums, and they make more money, but look at their records. Bohl is 45-50 at Wyoming. Klieman is 20-16 at Kansas St. They're not special anymore. Bohl won 3 National Championships at NDSU and Klieman won 4. I wonder if they are really happier in the FBS than they were at NDSU? I doubt it. I could see the same thing happening to the entire Bison football program. They could go FBS and they might do better than Bohl and Klieman but they're never going to win the College Football Playoff. They may never even get an invite unless it keeps expanding. They'll have moments of excitement knocking off some big name FBS schools but frankly they're capable of doing that now. If they go FBS they won't be special anymore and I don't think it would be very many years at all before they start missing what they used to have and what they used to be.I have zero documentation to support this but my own thought is there are NDSU fans that would prefer to remain in FCS and just keep beating the brains out of the rest of FCS football forever instead of seeking a higher level of competition and not winning National Championships every year. I don't think any fan base is 100% thinking the same. I give programs like App State a lot of respect for making the move. At that time my son went to a near by college and I was in the Boone area frequently. It was not a consensus of the fan base to move up to FBS. App State is never going to win a FBS National Championship (at least not in the current system) but they have done well and some big name teams have travelled to Boone. That increases the exposure of the University and status of the program I think. You have to admire what NDSU has done in FCS but it really is time for them to step up, competition wise in my humble opinion. There are other factors involved I fully understand but just from an on the field competition perspective, what is the point of continuing the status quo? Maybe I am wrong and 100% of the Bison fan base are chomping at the bit to move to FBS. I doubt it though.
For the Redbirds, the program has been overall pretty good under Coach Spack. Some ups and downs as most programs have. A big factor is turnout at Hancock Stadium. I was able to attend a game about 4-5 years ago on a beautiful fall day and the Birds won a big game but the stands were not close to being filled. The opposing team was South Dakota State. If the opposing team was the University of Miami Hurricanes, like App State had early in their FBS journey, would Hancock be filled? What about instead of going to Wisconsin or Iowa to play they came to Hancock? Virginia Tech had a home and home with Old Dominion and the stands in Norfolk were overflowing for the Hokies appearance. Since moving to FBS, Old Dominion has signed home and home agreements with Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. Granted that is not Ohio State and Alabama but it beats UNI, SDSU, Western and Eastern. BTW, Ballard Stadium capacity was about 19,818 and recently bumped to around 22,000. Not a huge stadium by any means. I pulled up Hancock Stadium capacity and it was listed at 13,391. That is only roughly 6,000 less than ODU's Ballard Stadium when they moved up and if ISU completed the horseshoe the capacity could be increased. If you had the right people, vision and talent could ISU move to FBS and be successful? I think probably so but I am not sure they have any of those three criteria. Lots of people thought ODU was nuts to move to FBS but they are doing fine and moving to the Sun Belt Conference along with James Madison, Marshall, and Southern Miss. Some fans think the Redbirds should remain FCS and not take the financial risk. I don't think either position is unintelligent. I think they just have different objectives and risk tolerance. Okay, too much rambling on for a Friday morning.
Have a great weekend fellow Redbirds!
It is arguable that NDSU has built a better national profile in college football than App State has. I do admit that NDSU's success has been unique, and it likely wouldn't be replicated. I think if you asked a large number of "more than casual" college football fans about App State, many would first mention their upset of Michigan, and be able to say little else. That game came before their transition.I have zero documentation to support this but my own thought is there are NDSU fans that would prefer to remain in FCS and just keep beating the brains out of the rest of FCS football forever instead of seeking a higher level of competition and not winning National Championships every year. I don't think any fan base is 100% thinking the same. I give programs like App State a lot of respect for making the move. At that time my son went to a near by college and I was in the Boone area frequently. It was not a consensus of the fan base to move up to FBS. App State is never going to win a FBS National Championship (at least not in the current system) but they have done well and some big name teams have travelled to Boone. That increases the exposure of the University and status of the program I think. You have to admire what NDSU has done in FCS but it really is time for them to step up, competition wise in my humble opinion. There are other factors involved I fully understand but just from an on the field competition perspective, what is the point of continuing the status quo? Maybe I am wrong and 100% of the Bison fan base are chomping at the bit to move to FBS. I doubt it though.
For the Redbirds, the program has been overall pretty good under Coach Spack. Some ups and downs as most programs have. A big factor is turnout at Hancock Stadium. I was able to attend a game about 4-5 years ago on a beautiful fall day and the Birds won a big game but the stands were not close to being filled. The opposing team was South Dakota State. If the opposing team was the University of Miami Hurricanes, like App State had early in their FBS journey, would Hancock be filled? What about instead of going to Wisconsin or Iowa to play they came to Hancock? Virginia Tech had a home and home with Old Dominion and the stands in Norfolk were overflowing for the Hokies appearance. Since moving to FBS, Old Dominion has signed home and home agreements with Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. Granted that is not Ohio State and Alabama but it beats UNI, SDSU, Western and Eastern. BTW, Ballard Stadium capacity was about 19,818 and recently bumped to around 22,000. Not a huge stadium by any means. I pulled up Hancock Stadium capacity and it was listed at 13,391. That is only roughly 6,000 less than ODU's Ballard Stadium when they moved up and if ISU completed the horseshoe the capacity could be increased. If you had the right people, vision and talent could ISU move to FBS and be successful? I think probably so but I am not sure they have any of those three criteria. Lots of people thought ODU was nuts to move to FBS but they are doing fine and moving to the Sun Belt Conference along with James Madison, Marshall, and Southern Miss. Some fans think the Redbirds should remain FCS and not take the financial risk. I don't think either position is unintelligent. I think they just have different objectives and risk tolerance. Okay, too much rambling on for a Friday morning.
Have a great weekend fellow Redbirds!
You know what I remember about App State?? Their last FCS play-off game!!It is arguable that NDSU has built a better national profile in college football than App State has. I do admit that NDSU's success has been unique, and it likely wouldn't be replicated. I think if you asked a large number of "more than casual" college football fans about App State, many would first mention their upset of Michigan, and be able to say little else. That game came before their transition.
I took a quick glance at MAC schedules for just this season, assuming it would be reasonably typical. There are 12 teams in the MAC, each with 4 nonconference games. Out of those 48 nonconference games, I saw 3 that I think would fit your argument: Pitt at WMU, Vandy at NIU, and Cincinnati at Miami. It would seem that a single school could book 1 big brand game at home every 4 years or so. Even then, it would more likely be Wake Forest than Wisconsin, and Memphis instead of Michigan. I don't think that really moves the needle much.
We need to find our place in this new era of college football. FCS is such a broad grouping of institutions - the Ivies, the HBCUs, publics, privates, big schools and small - we can certainly identify peer institutions at this level. But we clearly have peers in FBS too. I agree with you, Virginia, that good arguments exist on both sides.
I am confident we can work on things that help us either way. We have to find a way to rebuild our attendance. Entertaining football, tailgating, bands, cheerleaders, they're all a part of it. There really aren't bad seats at Hancock. We need to fill more of them more often.
That was a great game. I was fortunate it was broadcast here in SE Virginia!You know what I remember about App State?? Their last FCS play-off game!!
Yep, depending on what happens down the road I can see some teams moving back down a level. With the state of college football nothing is really off the table.Here’s a crazy thought…
Is it possible, that as FBS evolves into what looks like two major conferences of around 48 teams (or so), that teams from the FBS move down to the FCS?
You sound even more dumber than me.So, unlike Redbird fans, you have an intelligent fan base.
I would not be surprised if that happens.Here’s a crazy thought…
Is it possible, that as FBS evolves into what looks like two major conferences of around 48 teams (or so), that teams from the FBS move down to the FCS?
Now add in unlimited transfer rule. Coaching staff finds a diamond in the rough, polishes until it shines. $$$ school pays him to transfer.You now have to add booster $$$ to the list.
This is a backbreaker for about half of the FBS schools out there who simply don't have the boosters to buy players on the open market. In this regard, a team like NIU, a good, but not spectacular program is much more likely to consider a move to the FCS than ever be able to play big pocket against the likes of Texas, Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame and Bama. And there are, what, 50 schools in the same boat?
Here’s a crazy thought…
Is it possible, that as FBS evolves into what looks like two major conferences of around 48 teams (or so), that teams from the FBS move down to the FCS?
Ncaarealignment.com