A new and better FBS thread

[BigLakeBison]

I don't believe we were ever in serious consideration. Both CUSA and NDSU denied there were any discussions.

At one point CUSA cast a wide net to see who was available, but their footprint today is the same as it was before. Its a SouthEastern conference that covers Texas to Virginia. It's almost exactly the same territory as the Sun Belt, which is also considered regional.

https://conferenceusa.com/sports/202...embership.aspx

https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2022/...w-members.aspx

If you look at a map, and see where the current gaps are, its obvious where they would add.

- Two more texas schools (they had 4 previously).
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Mississippi

Kennesaw fit this strategy, and helped fill one gap on the map (Georgia)
In time, they will add 2-4 more in the same region, and then split into East and West divisions like they had previously.

Despite the name, it's a very regional conference, and will remain so.

We would have had a better shot at the American, who has previously entertained westward expansion, but recently decided to refocus on staying in their footprint as well.

Aresco (AAC):


"sensible" and "sustainable" are code words for reducing costs by staying regional.

New Mexico to Virginia is not regional. In the Sun Belt there are groupings of schools within driving distance. In CUSA there are pairs. SHSU and Kennesaw are not FBS ready but they were all they could get in their desperation. NDSU and CUSA aren’t going to acknowledge talks publicly because there’s no benefit. NDSU felt there were better offers out there and let CUSA know they weren’t interested. CUSA moved on and found other alternatives. My .02

[BigHorns]

New Mexico to Virginia is not regional. In the Sun Belt there are groupings of schools within driving distance. In CUSA there are pairs.

Add two more texas schools, split the conference into a western half of 6 schools (Texas, NM, Louisiana) and an eastern half of 6 schools, and suddenly it starts to look very regional like the SBC. This is the plan, and why they are talking to the schools they are.

I'm convinced Tarleton would have already been announced, if the NCAA had granted the waiver they requested to transition to FBS sooner.

[BigLakeBison]

Add two more texas schools, split the conference into a western half of 6 schools (Texas, NM, Louisiana) and an eastern half of 6 schools, and suddenly it starts to look very regional like the SBC. This is the plan, and why they are talking to the schools they are.

I'm convinced Tarleton would have already been announced, if the NCAA had granted the waiver they requested to transition to FBS sooner.

The two Texas schools (SFA, Tarleton) are both on the east side of the state. That gives them a grouping of 4 with SHSU and LaTech. Still far from being a regional conference. 70% of road trips will still be flights and more for the outliers. It’s not the MAC or the SunBelt even with those additions. MTSU and WKU have explored leaving and Tarleton/SFA aren’t going to make them more likely to stay. Also, they still have schools that bring almost nothing from brand recognition/media to the table. NDSU would likely be near the top of that conference in terms of brand recognition and media. I’ll give you the recruiting angle of being in Texas, Louisiana and Florida but that’s a bit overrated in my opinion considering how far down on the pecking order these schools are. NDSU has an attractive package to market to CUSA and they would listen. Our package isn’t near as attractive to MWC, AAC, or MAC for various reasons. But if we’re patient I’m sure that perfect offer will come.

[BigHorns]

The two Texas schools (SFA, Tarleton) are both on the east side of the state. That gives them a grouping of 4 with SHSU and LaTech. Still far from being a regional conference. 70% of road trips will still be flights and more for the outliers. It’s not the MAC or the SunBelt even with those additions. MTSU and WKU have explored leaving and Tarleton/SFA aren’t going to make them more likely to stay. Also, they still have schools that bring almost nothing from brand recognition/media to the table. NDSU would likely be near the top of that conference in terms of brand recognition and media. I’ll give you the recruiting angle of being in Texas, Louisiana and Florida but that’s a bit overrated in my opinion considering how far down on the pecking order these schools are. NDSU has an attractive package to market to CUSA and they would listen. Our package isn’t near as attractive to MWC, AAC, or MAC for various reasons. But if we’re patient I’m sure that perfect offer will come.

I agree with about 90% of what you're saying, outside that one sentence.

At the end of the day, all the rumors, smoke, and chatter at places like Tarleton and SFA say this is what is going down. I don't believe Judy would even return our phone call for a serious discussion. Tarleton wouldn't have applied for a waiver without a place to go. Its well known there have been CUSA campus visits at a number of these schools.

Also - while there might be flights involved, shorter regional flights are still considered desirable. A high percentage of the SBC games involve flights as well. SBC is not really a bus league, but it is regional. The same thing is true with the American to an extent.

[BigLakeBison]

I agree with about 90% of what you're saying, outside that one sentence.

At the end of the day, all the rumors, smoke, and chatter at places like Tarleton and SFA say this is what is going down. I don't believe Judy would even return our phone call for a serious discussion. Tarleton wouldn't have applied for a waiver without a place to go. Its well known there have been CUSA campus visits at a number of these schools.

Also - while there might be flights involved, shorter regional flights are still considered desirable. A high percentage of the SBC games involve flights as well. SBC is not really a bus league, but it is regional. The same thing is true with the American to an extent.

Ok. So tell us the pitch for NDSU to MWC, AAC or MAC? We have less to offer them. That’s why this whole “we have to be patient” mentality makes absolutely no logical sense. It’s essentially saying let’s just stay FCS.

[El_Chapo]

Is there an option that gets the MVFC as a whole to become FBS? I know some here desperately want to leave behind most of those schools but that might end up being the only path. I too fear that we're going to be stuck.

nope

we should all want NDSU to go alone.

[The_Sicatoka]

A FB only doesn't help an FBS conference short of members (only full members count).

A "north division" doesn't help an existing FBS because it just adds mouths to feed.

Build it (a western version of the MAC) and appeal en masse to the NCAA like Liberty did.

[TAILG8R]

I had a thought last night about whether any amount of the message from these lower G5 schools wanting to stay regional is because they know they'll never attract a school thta moves the needle for their fans. They aren't going to go out and get even a mid-level name recognition school. So with the strategy of staying regional(even in non bus leagues) they aren't setting expectations that won't be fulfilled.

I admit that if this is in any way a consideration it's very minimal at best OR it's simply the small mindset driven by being a small fish.

My thought process for this was remembering something a mentor told me many years ago about "fleas in a jar"

When fleas are placed in a jar, they try to jump out – but after the lid is placed on, the fleas stop attempting the escape – as they learn the boundaries of the new environment they’re in. Even when the lid is removed, the fleas never jump out. Their thinking has created the ‘lid’ as the boundary, so has conditioned them to limit their jumping.

Anyway, that was a lot of words for what amounts to a simple thought experiment that will indeed result in multiple replies/post that miss my overall point. You're welcome Bisonville!!

[El_Chapo]

Larson/Phelps are fleas. got it. they will coast for 5-6 more years then retire out east while NDSU DOES NOTHING TO MOVE UP YET AGAIN

[TAILG8R]

Larson/Phelps are fleas. got it. they will coast for 5-6 more years then retire out east while NDSU DOES NOTHING TO MOVE UP YET AGAIN

And here is our first post thinking it’s in reference to what I said yet totally missing the mark. Lol

I said nothing about NDSU.


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