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[TIMMY]

I had a good friend who was the HC at Carthage College. He had a lifetime job if he went .500 and kept 100 kids on the roster. He died there a happy man. And he made the school money.

Dayton draws between 2000-3000 per game. They've got about 120 kids paying to go there and play football. Why would they throw that away to join the MVFC and pay out 63 scholarships?

We've got some guys on this board who like to talk about "revenue" sports and rightly so. Maybe ISU should be looking at the PFL model. To me football's football and a D3 game is just as enjoyable as an FCS game. Often times better. Just a thought.

 

[Total Red]

I had a good friend who was the HC at Carthage College. He had a lifetime job if he went .500 and kept 100 kids on the roster. He died there a happy man. And he made the school money.

Dayton draws between 2000-3000 per game. They've got about 120 kids paying to go there and play football. Why would they throw that away to join the MVFC and pay out 63 scholarships?

We've got some guys on this board who like to talk about "revenue" sports and rightly so. Maybe ISU should be looking at the PFL model. To me football's football and a D3 game is just as enjoyable as an FCS game. Often times better. Just a thought.

On and on it goes. We have fans that post about moving up to FBS like it's so obvious that FBS football is what we should want and they optimistically assume that the necessary support is there if only our fanbase was approached in an enticing manner. Then a few fans talk about dropping down. Many more could care less either way. Football is just something they might go see for 3 quarters on a fair weather day while they wait for basketball season to start. Some people don't care about college athletics at all. No one is wrong but if you consolidate all the various attitudes you begin to realize why we are where we are (FCS/MVFC) and why we are likely to stay.

back to Dayton. They draw 2000-3000 currently. They're not really invested in football. They play in a non-scholly conference in an unimpressive stadium. If they stepped up to the MVFC and played a non-con game every year against a high major the locals would view the program differently and they could draw more. Choices/Options/Find the level that's right for you
That means realistically answering the question - "What is our fanbase ready and willing to support?"

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Dayton must be since they were a founding member of the PFL and have been in the PFL for nearly 30 years. You said "don't just list schools that we would like to have. List school that might want to join." Seems like Dayton is a like to have vs might want to join.

So if you're a founding member you have no other aspirations? Funny because we're a founding member of the MVFC (over 30 years ago) and I could have sworn that we had at least a few fans that want us to move beyond the MVFC to a FBS conference.

Does Dayton want to upgrade their football program? I'll be honest I don't know and I don't think you do either. I do know that it's located in a good sized city in a state that produces a lot of college football players and fans. The location would be a good fit for an East division of the MVFC. My guess is that they have some fans that would want it. Do they have enough to make it happen? That's the key question and it is worth asking.

I just don’t believe Dayton is looking to move out of the PFL unless they somehow end up FBS with some other catholic schools or maybe in the AAC, which either probably isn’t going to happen. Not a lot to gain for Dayton to join the MVFC, IMO, as their other sports do not benefit. Dayton likely only loses money be joining the MVFC.

Alternatively, a Murray State would like to join the MVFC so that their basketball program can have leverage to be in the MVC. Otherwise in the absence of getting into the MVC why would Murray want to join the MVFC?

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

I had a good friend who was the HC at Carthage College. He had a lifetime job if he went .500 and kept 100 kids on the roster. He died there a happy man. And he made the school money.

Dayton draws between 2000-3000 per game. They've got about 120 kids paying to go there and play football. Why would they throw that away to join the MVFC and pay out 63 scholarships?

We've got some guys on this board who like to talk about "revenue" sports and rightly so. Maybe ISU should be looking at the PFL model. To me football's football and a D3 game is just as enjoyable as an FCS game. Often times better. Just a thought.

Timmy, you bring up a good perspective regarding D1 football. Unless a program is in the money it seems like the PFL model is a pretty wise model and would be a great model if many or all FCS teams utilize the same approach. Other than NDSU is there another program that might be close to breaking even or making money on FCS football?
Btw speaking of Carthage College...what a great campus as respects to location and facilities. I visited there 7 years ago and was very impressed esp of the Lake Michigan view.

 

[Total Red]

I'd rather be able to schedule Northwestern - and WIN. I'd rather be able to schedule Colorado St. - and WIN. I like having a realistic chance to win the FCS National Championship. I'll keep my MVFC thank you.

 

[fourthandshort]

I'd rather be able to schedule Northwestern - and WIN. I'd rather be able to schedule Colorado St. - and WIN. I like having a realistic chance to win the FCS National Championship. I'll keep my MVFC thank you.

Until FBS makes complete sense for ISUr, I'm with TR .. we've got a good thing going in playing FCS in MVFC .. and there is nothing wrong with that.

I highly doubt the conference could ever successfully make a move together .. too many would probably not be willing/able to make jump .. or would make jump and fall flat on their face. And
jumping into some random G5 FBS conference for sake of saying we're FBS would probably be something we regret. So until we're ready and the right opprotunity presents itself, I am happy playing in the top FCS conference.

So let's keep being the best FCS program we can, nd keep moving forward ... next steps, another Natty run and Indoor Practice Facililty .... and keep our FBS options open but on back burner. ISU has always demonstrated financial prudence .. sometimes to a fault, but look where we stand financially compared to our peers. I'm ok with "slow but sure" approach.

But let's hurry up with the IPF .. like AD Lyons publicly committed.

 

[chuckie1980]

I will grab onto the tailfeathers of TR and 4thandshort....and say....I am with ya. I do not see any greener fields than MVCF. (Good thing Hancock is not RED grass!). Just give us continual improvements in Normal and in the MVCF and especially the NCAA.

 

[chuckie1980]

Just viewing ncaa.com it just seems like there are more "fcs stories" this summer...stats stories.