A new and better FBS thread

[heffray]

I certainly don't have a crystal ball, but I have to ask if you're looking at what you think will happen or what you want to happen. I'm basing my view on these things:
UND to Big Sky. Unmitigated disaster without a partner. Travel costs killed them. Dropped multiple sports, ongoing lawsuits. The BSC was actually so desperate to get rid of them they waived the exit fee.
UMass. Former FCS champ that believed they had outgrown it. Never found a real home. Never had more than 3 FBS wins in a season. Revolving door of coaches.
Idaho. WAC collapsed, they dropped back to FCS with no other options. Better leadership than...
NMSU. 1 winning season since 2002. Independent after the WAC collapse until the CUSA needed warm bodies.
FAMU. Former FCS champ. Attempt at FBS move in 2004 was such a disaster the NCAA changed their rules to prevent programs from causing this amount of self-harm again.

I wouldn't even consider trading spots with any of these. Without the groundwork I believe we wouldn't be successful.

As BigLake pointed out, I don’t think the comparisons are as apt as you make them out to be. But that’s just, like, my opinion, man.

[daddy daycare]

I would argue that we are dying now. The ceiling in FCS isn't going to be raised.

Don’t think anyone is arguing that. A case can be made, however, that using the cusa to bridge the gap to a better conference could also be a dagger. Pessistic or realistic….not sure but that outcome will be determined by the admins I guess.

[heffray]

Don’t think anyone is arguing that. A case can be made, however, that using the cusa to bridge the gap to a better conference could also be a dagger. Pessistic or realistic….not sure but that outcome will be determined by the admins I guess.

Yeah it’s almost like - Would you rather die a slow and painful death in the FCS or go out in a blaze of glory trying to make it in the FBS..?

[BigLakeBison]

No vision? I've been repeatedly on record saying we need to increase enrollment and improve MBB. I have vastly more vision than the FBS or Bust crowd.
Pessimist? No, I'm a realist. I can see the reasons we haven't received an invite.
I was a student during the D1 transition. I will say I didn't have a strong opinion either way at first, but after we beat Montana I was all in.
In other words, you're completely wrong about me. Don't attack the messenger.

Enrollment definitely could help make our case stronger but it isn't the noose around our neck that you make it out to be. It isn't preventing an FBS invite. It may be a factor in preventing an AAC or MWC invite but those aren't the only FBS conferences available and there's nothing stopping us from growing enrollment while we are in another FBS conference that positions us for another conference move down the road. MBB isn't getting increased investment anytime soon. That's less realistic than a football only AAC invite. So what other ideas you got?

[BigLakeBison]

Yeah it’s almost like - Would you rather die a slow and painful death in the FCS or go out in a blaze of glory trying to make it in the FBS..?

Yep. I guess, in my opinion, I would rather try and fail than fail to try. Just seems like a loser mentality to me.

[BigLakeBison]

Don’t think anyone is arguing that. A case can be made, however, that using the cusa to bridge the gap to a better conference could also be a dagger. Pessistic or realistic….not sure but that outcome will be determined by the admins I guess.

A dagger? In what way? Would NDSU fail to exist? Would the football program shut down? I just don't see it. If there is a dagger, as you put it, it would be a .500/middling FBS program with really no national presence. That would definitely be disappointing but I think that is likely to occur in FCS as well. We are recruiting almost no new/young football fans and almost all of our big supporters are aging. Once that generation is gone, what is there going to be to replace them? Factor in that it is highly unlikely that we will win at the same level that we have the past decade and it is just as likely that we end up somewhere between Youngstown and UNI. That, in my opinion, would be just as big of dagger to our football program as being a .500 team in the FBS.

[daddy daycare]

A dagger? In what way? Would NDSU fail to exist? Would the football program shut down? I just don't see it. If there is a dagger, as you put it, it would be a .500/middling FBS program with really no national presence. That would definitely be disappointing but I think that is likely to occur in FCS as well. We are recruiting almost no new/young football fans and almost all of our big supporters are aging. Once that generation is gone, what is there going to be to replace them? Factor in that it is highly unlikely that we will win at the same level that we have the past decade and it is just as likely that we end up somewhere between Youngstown and UNI. That, in my opinion, would be just as big of dagger to our football program as being a .500 team in the FBS.

You describe the NDSU football conundrum very well.

[BigLakeBison]

You describe the NDSU football conundrum very well.

So than why not take the chance on FBS if the risks are fairly similar but the rewards are much higher in FBS?

[daddy daycare]

So than why not take the chance on FBS if the risks are fairly similar but the rewards are much higher in FBS?

Sure. Go for it. But I also don’t see a single team in the CUSA who’s gonna get me to increase team maker donations, throw money towards an NIL or even drive to fargo for a game. Just my opinion, total respect if those teams get your gander up.

Oddly enough, the entire CUSA has a 4 week stretch where games are Tuesday Tuesday Thursday Thursday in the middle of the season. Ain’t gonna work well around these parts.

[IzzyFlexion]

Yeah it’s almost like - Would you rather die a slow and painful death in the FCS or go out in a blaze of glory trying to make it in the FBS..?

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