Sun Belt Teleconference set for tomorrow

[statler & waldorf]

Now, THAT makes sense. Thought UI was gone a long time ago.

 

[EverettGriz]

No way. No benefit to it. They'll wait for the MWC offer.

Is MWC that much better than Sunbelt? The way things are going, it'll only make sense to go FBS if you're in one of the major conferences.

MW has a much more lucrative TV contract and better bowl tie-ins.

Not to mention way better teams & programs. Sun-Belt is pretty much the bottom of the barrel.

Not to mention geography and the MWC already had natural rivals.

And no, nothing has been in the 'headlines', so there's nothing to show. That isn't in anyway to imply or suggest that conversations are not taking place, however.

 

[grizindabox]

Idaho and NMSU are both out.....

 

[get'em_griz]

Welcome back to the Big Sky, Idaho! :lol:

 

[grizfilmer]

Coastal Carolina to the sun Belt according to USATODAY. Welcome back to the Big Sky Idaho. Brush off that Little Brown Stein. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sunbelt/2016/03/01/sun-belt-football-idaho-new-mexico-state-leaving/81159780/

 

[bgbigdog]

What happens to NMSU? Do they go FBS independent?

 

[grizd]

Talk about a new low for the the Vandulls. Getting the boot from the Sun Belt? I know the Big Sky won't do it but don't give them the option of rejoining football. Definitely don't beg them. They were a pretty girl in their 20's (80's-90's) that hasn't aged well at all. Now they look like the lady that has spent her life sitting at the bar drinking Old Crow and smoking Virginia Slims. Come on Big Sky, don't be that guy that is still picturing the 20 year old Idaho.

 

[grizaremoregooder]

Big Sky should add Idaho and split the conference in two North and South.

 

[Allezchat]

Big Sky should add Idaho and split the conference in two North and South.

Agree. That would be sweet with MSU, um, PSU, UND, EWU, UI and ISU rounding out the Upper division. The lower division would be Sac. St, UC-Davis, Poly, Weber, SUU, NAU, and N. Colorado. All rivalries would stay intact every year. Unless there is a rivalry that I'm missing between a northern team and a southern team. Travel should be pretty easy too.

 

[statler & waldorf]

Brush off that Little Brown Stein.

Leave it where its at. A new, more fitting trophy would be more appropriate. How about the "Little Brown Bedpan", or something along that line.

Newsflash!!! Idaho State is a football only member of the BSC, per Mazollini. Read it in the Missoulian. :lol:

Sun Belt to drop Idaho, New Mexico State after 2017
Vandals mulling return to FCS, Big Sky
AJ MAZZOLINI [email protected] Updated 14 min ago

The 2017 football season will be the last for Idaho and New Mexico State as members of the Sun Belt Conference.
What's next is still unclear.
The Sun Belt announced Tuesday during a teleconference with league commissioner Karl Benson that the schools, football-only members of the Sun Belt since 2013, will not have their conference affiliation renewed for 2018. The Sun Belt, which competes at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, is primarily southeastern-based with the exception of the two westerly programs.
The Big Sky Conference has coveted a reunion with Idaho for years, the Vandals having left the Football Championship Subdivision league for a shot at the FBS in 1996. Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton reiterated last July that Idaho, which returned to the Big Sky for all other sports in 2014, had an invitation to bring its football program back as well.
That offer still stands, Big Sky communications director Jon Oglesby said Tuesday.
"As has been publicly stated on many occasions by commissioner Fullerton, Idaho has a standing invitation to join the Big Sky Conference in football, and the invitation will continue," Oglesby wrote to the Missoulian via email. "The decision of conference affiliation for Idaho football remains with the University of Idaho's administration."
Oglesby would not comment on New Mexico's situation, though Fullerton said at last summer's Big Sky Kickoff media gathering that the Aggies were also on the conference's wish list. The Big Sky was not pursuing them quite as strongly, though, rather wanting to "let them know we are here" as an option for the future.
Idaho and UI president Chuck Staben released their own statement Tuesday afternoon saying the school was disappointing by the Sun Belt's decision, but the Vandals were "optimistic about the options before us."
"We are continuing to diligently consider our future affiliation as an opportunity to find the stability and full participation we have not experience in the Sun Belt," Staben wrote. "We will make the decision in the coming months."
The release went on to say that Idaho will choose between accepting the Big Sky's invite for 2018, completing its full participation with the league, or attempt to play as an FBS independent with no conference affiliation."
The Big Sky currently features 13 football-playing institutions, including football-only members Cal Poly and Idaho State.

 

[RayWill]

http://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...co-state-sun-belt-2017-football-season-030116

Still in it through 2017

 

[griz71]

http://dnews.com/blogs/idaho-voted-out-of-sun-belt-conference-will-explore-independent/article_25727022-dfe6-11e5-a49d-bbadf46ae54c.html

Some further word on the Sun Belt's actions.

 

[get'em_griz]

The Vandals are 6-29 the past three years and 5-18 in their two seasons in the SBC. The Aggies are 7-29 the past three seasons and 5-19 in their two seasons in the Sun Belt.

If only the Big Sky would kick out those in the conference who have these kinds of numbers.

Northern Colorado since 2006

Overall Record: 24-88
Big Sky Record: 14-66

The Bears are 10-24 in the past three years and 5-19 in the Big Sky.
Northern Colorado is the Big Sky's version of FBS Idaho.

 

[Bertram]

Northern Colorado chances on improving that Conference record looks pretty bleak with their 2016 schedule

 

[Bertram]

So a pissed off Vandals team with a chip on their shoulder looking to have a season that proves they should stay in the FBS will start out their 2016 season with the Bobcats at home sweet dome.

 

[SWeberCat02]

What happens to NMSU? Do they go FBS independent?

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/2016/03/01/sun-belt-votes-proceed-without-nmsu-idaho/81153448/

On Monday, Carruthers said that playing as an FCS program as soon as 2018 would be under serious consideration.

“I think it has to be one of the options,” he said.

Currently, NMSU plays in the Football Bowl Subdivision, primarily for large schools.

NCAA member institutions are divided into Division I, II and III. For football, Division I is divided into FBS and FCS. In 2015, there were 128 FBS teams and 125 FCS teams.

Today's announcement does not affect other Aggies' sports teams, which remain Division I as members of the Western Athletic Conference.

NMSU's best hope for staying an FBS team is to become an independent football program and hope for another round of conference shuffling and league expansion.

NMSU played an independent football schedule in 2013.

“My sense is not strong (to play independent football),” Carruthers said. “We have already tried that once. There are rules you have to adhere to, like playing five FBS teams here and you have to maintain the attendance requirements. Most teams who have gone independent not named Notre Dame or BYU have found it difficult."

Carruthers said dropping football at the university was not currently on the table.

He said the university would likely determine the next step for the football program within the next year.

“Our strategy was that the Sun Belt would let us play on,” Carruthers said. “That strategy disappeared last Wednesday.”

Look for Foolerton to make a run at NMSU.

http://www.standard.net/Sports/2016/3/1/idaho-vandals-football-sun-belt-big-sky-conference

“We are still looking at different football programs out here in the west, and what could we do to enhance the Big Sky Conference and really solidify us even more,” Fullerton said in an interview last week.

 

[get'em_griz]

It sounds like Idaho has until May 4 to accept an invitation to the Big Sky.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MikeDugar/status/704779308124893184[/tweet]

 

[BigSkyBears]

Northern Colorado chances on improving that Conference record looks pretty bleak with their 2016 schedule

We had a pretty light schedule last season, our signature win was against Portland State who at the time was ranked #10. We are improving, as last season was our first winning season since moving to D1.

 

[signedbewildered]

Curious to know if (when) Idaho returns their fans (all 114 of them) cockiness level goes down a few notches. Possibly it's just the ones I cross paths with but they think of FCS and The Griz as pee ons. Even with their recent record. Bring it on.....bring it on.

 

[kemajic]

All rivalries would stay intact every year.

No; Idaho should replace EWU as a Montana rival. 84 games going back to 1903 with the Little Brown Stein. It was a far bigger rivalry than UM/MSU. I would suspect Idaho would stipulate that in the deal since there would be a financial advantage. Then EWU would have Idaho and PSU.