BG Football: FCS or FBS, discuss...

[It's the Journey...]

I am starting this thread since it has come up in both the football and men's basketball forums. I'm kicking it off with some of my posts from those two forums. This has been a good discussion and I think it is a valid topic.

Let me ask a couple of questions. Would BGSU football be better off in another conference BCS or not? Or, is the MAC just a conference of FBS football wanna be's and that will not change no mater what is done?

If the latter is true then we may be better off in FCS and spend what it takes to play for a true National Championship year in and year out. We have great facilities and I believe people will come out to see a consistent winning program. If the first question is true then BGSU needs to get out of the MAC and into another conference. While I love our loyalty to the MAC in this era of conference shake ups at some point we need to do what is in our best interests.

Thoughts??


That would work and be an excellent option. (I am referring to the post suggesting we move to FCS and join the same conference Youngstown State is in.) BGSU would REMAIN NCAA division I. The league YSU plays in is very tough for basketball and I believe put 2 teams into the NCAA tournament last season.

I also like the idea of picking off a marketing person from a successful small market minor league baseball team to run our department. Give them a budget, clear expectations, measurable goals, and let them go without questioning their every move. Let's see where we are in 5 years.

[Globetrotter]

I really love the topic and I think it comes down to marketing to get fans there and being able to pay a coach a competitive salary. Doing whatever you can to get local areas to think that heading to BG on a Saturday for a football game and tailgate experience will be worth the trip should be the number one goal. Probably won't tap into Toledo too hard but NWO loves football. Despite the attempted welcoming environment tailgating tends to be something that groups of fans that know eachother well do. Creating an environment where a group can go from the idea to tailgate to tailgating easily, might lead to the game being more of an event then just a football game. I am sure that for many of you who tailgate that experience is more then just a sidebar to the football game.

I would try to stay in Division 1 no matter what although I understand other concerns. Once you go down you probably are not going back up and I feel like winning the lower division would not mean much to me. I think that the goal should be an undefeated season a high ranking and a trip to a BCS bowl. Houston was 1 game away from that this year so saying it's unlikely just is not realistic.

The major conferences would be unlikely to buy in however a playoff system involving all 11 conferences or a relegation/promotion system would certainly make a lot of meaningless games meaningful and award the other 50 teams in Div 1 that don't really get a chance to win the championship.

[MarkL]

FBS and it's not even a discussion that I think is worth having.

[Falcon Commander]

what's size of the new video board?

[It's the Journey...]

what's size of the new video board?

Jerk..........

[It's the Journey...]

FBS and it's not even a discussion that I think is worth having.

Why????

[It's the Journey...]

Here are some of my thoughts for each option.

FCS:
Same division as "Big Boys"
Remain in the MAC
Chance to play in a BC$ Bowl
Continue to chase a mythical "National Championship"

FBS:
Save money on scholarships
Ability to get into a FCS power conference
Ability to play for an actual National Championship
Retain ability to play against the "Big Boys" each season

I really don't know which option is better for BGSU but we need to be sure we look at ALL options.

[mc3022]

FBS and it's not even a discussion that I think is worth having.

+1...

I really don't understand the argument here...it's D1 or bust.

[transfer2BGSU]

I really don't understand the argument here...it's D1 or bust.

FCS is Division I also.

[Flipper]

I'm skeptical that we can compete at a high level in football and hockey. Top end in hockey is possibly competing for a national title..at least being in the top ten (although...I have serious doubts we can get back to that level). I think football maxes out with a MAC title, a Bowl win and being ranked in the teens. We aren't going to be Boise State...there's just too damn many FBS schools in this state and region to pull that off.

So...I don't know...football is back on an upward trend (if we aren't MAC contenders next year I will truly be stunned). Hockey hasn't been a winner since the Clinton administration. In theory hockey might be a better bet. In practice...I seriously question the idea that we can be players again. In other words, football has hit it's ceiling more recently than hockey has and appears to be much closer to doing so again. So, I'd pick staying FBS over hockey if it had to be that way.
My biggest fear with hockey is that the travel cost associated with the WCHA will kill the program before the rebuild can be finished.

I think basketball will be fine...if we have the right guy in charge. I don't know if we have that guy right now.

And I would be remiss if I didn't point out that we were 1AA in the 80's for a time. Like 82-84 or thereabouts. IIRC, Andre Young was a 1AA All American as a DT. During that period we drew over 33,000 to play UT.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Here are some of my thoughts for each option.

FCS:
Same division as "Big Boys"
Remain in the MAC
Chance to play in a BC$ Bowl
Continue to chase a mythical "National Championship"

FBS:
Save money on scholarships
Ability to get into a FCS power conference
Ability to play for an actual National Championship
Retain ability to play against the "Big Boys" each season

I really don't know which option is better for BGSU but we need to be sure we look at ALL options.

I think one thing that should be considered pro FCS when looking at this is that there are only two other FCS schools in the state, Dayton and Youngstown State, and if we kept scholarships for football we would only really be competing with Youngstown for recruits. That could be huge for those wanting FCS, only having one school in state our your level to compete with for recruits compared to the seven FBS schools you have to compete with in recruiting right now.

Not saying its what should be done, but it is something to consider

[SB-50]

I've commented several times that we may not have a choice soon. Georgia Southern conducted a reclassification to FBS study in 2009. Here's their report:

http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/athletic ... ary728.pdf

The highlights include a 40% rise in expenses due to the increase costs of FBS. Furthermore, the study concluded that those costs are not off-set by perceived increase of prestige or enrollment spike.

As usual. it always comes down to the bottom line. GS, of course, stayed put in FCS.

Fellow Falcons, it would be OK, and the world would not end if we joined them. When I talk with folks around the country, I'm asked now if we're Division 1. The MAC, and its members, don't have a "big time football" profile, yet the athletic depts are paying as though it does. A move to FCS would not damage our football reputation.

[Falconfreak90]

And I would be remiss if I didn't point out that we were 1AA in the 80's for a time. Like 82-84 or thereabouts. IIRC, Andre Young was a 1AA All American as a DT. During that period we drew over 33,000 to play UT.

The MAC was 1-AA for one year only...1982.

[AyZiggy97]

I've commented several times that we may not have a choice soon. Georgia Southern conducted a reclassification to FBS study in 2009. Here's their report:

http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/athletic ... ary728.pdf

The highlights include a 40% rise in expenses due to the increase costs of FBS. Furthermore, the study concluded that those costs are not off-set by perceived increase of prestige or enrollment spike.

As usual. it always comes down to the bottom line. GS, of course, stayed put in FCS.

Fellow Falcons, it would be OK, and the world would not end if we joined them. When I talk with folks around the country, I'm asked now if we're Division 1. The MAC, and its members, don't have a "big time football" profile, yet the athletic depts are paying as though it does. A move to FCS would not damage our football reputation.

And Appalachian State came to the opposite conclusion.

http://www.goasu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?D ... 00&ATCLID=

"A move to FBS mirrors Appalachian’s strategic vision as a nationally prominent institution and would enhance the University’s academic mission."


FBS or drop football altogether.

[SB-50]

I've commented several times that we may not have a choice soon. Georgia Southern conducted a reclassification to FBS study in 2009. Here's their report:

http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/athletic ... ary728.pdf

The highlights include a 40% rise in expenses due to the increase costs of FBS. Furthermore, the study concluded that those costs are not off-set by perceived increase of prestige or enrollment spike.

As usual. it always comes down to the bottom line. GS, of course, stayed put in FCS.

Fellow Falcons, it would be OK, and the world would not end if we joined them. When I talk with folks around the country, I'm asked now if we're Division 1. The MAC, and its members, don't have a "big time football" profile, yet the athletic depts are paying as though it does. A move to FCS would not damage our football reputation.

And Appalachian State came to the opposite conclusion.

http://www.goasu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?D ... 00&ATCLID=

"A move to FBS mirrors Appalachian’s strategic vision as a nationally prominent institution and would enhance the University’s academic mission."


FBS or drop football altogether.

ASU gained prominence by beating Michigan while being one of the top FCS schools in the country with a dynamic QB. That overshadows any move to a second-tier irrelevant non-qualifying conference.


Anyone that would only support FBS football at BG is a conditional fan. If a move to FCS results in someone no longer attending games, or enrolling in another school, your absence will not be noticed.