Conference realignment talks hit the Mountain West

[kemajic]

So instead let's watch Coastal Carolina this year. They're rolling and rank in the top 20. Let's say they finish the season undefeated. Are they headed anywhere near the FBS playoffs? Are they even headed to one of the prestige bowl games? I believe we all know the answers to these questions.

So would they rather be in an FCS playoff? Don't think so; I believe we all know the answer to that question.

 

[Copper Griz]

So winning a national championship would mean nothing to you then? I realize that the FCS doesn’t get a lot of coverage but come on Everett. Sports are about competing for a championship. As much as these major conferences sometime struggle to understand this, sports is not about money. I’d love to see the players take a vote on whether they’d like to compete for a championship or play in a second rate bowl game, cause I think I know what the answer would be. There will come a time where a move up maybe worth it but that time is not now and not until the G5 has a reasonable playoff system. Until that’s the case, I have no desire to go anywhere.

Winning championships means everything to me. But it's not a true "national" championship, now is it? Tell me without looking it up: who won the 2019 DII "national" championship? We play basketball at the highest level with no real chance of a national championship. Would you promote moving the BB program to DII so we could do that?

I truly believe there soon WILL be a playoffs at the G5 level. But we need to make the move (not up, just move) to the FBS when the opportunity exists. For if we do not, we'll be left holding the bag with Central Washington and Dixie state as our rivals. Road trip to Ellensburg anyone....

EG your point on basketball is the real issue for me. You can get to the tourney and play, which also crowns one true national champion. You don’t have that with football right now. The basketball games and NCAA tourney are nationally followed and of interest. Moving up only means the Griz would play in an irrelevant conference for a chance at an irrelevant bowl game. At least there are true playoffs and an irrelevant national championship game with the current structure. No additional expense for the program as it currently stands. Not sure moving up is going to generate the revenue everyone expects once all the conferences realign. TV contracts may not be as lucrative.

 

[dupuyer griz]

So instead let's watch Coastal Carolina this year. They're rolling and rank in the top 20. Let's say they finish the season undefeated. Are they headed anywhere near the FBS playoffs? Are they even headed to one of the prestige bowl games? I believe we all know the answers to these questions.

So would they rather be in an FCS playoff? Don't think so; I believe we all know the answer to that question.

Yes, I absolutely would.

 

[Grizzlies1982]

So instead let's watch Coastal Carolina this year. They're rolling and rank in the top 20. Let's say they finish the season undefeated. Are they headed anywhere near the FBS playoffs? Are they even headed to one of the prestige bowl games? I believe we all know the answers to these questions.

So would they rather be in an FCS playoff? Don't think so; I believe we all know the answer to that question.

You're absolutely right. Right now Coastal Carolina loves where they're at. They have dreams of being in the FBS playoff and beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Let us see if an undefeated season is going to punch their ticket into those playoffs? Sadly I believe we all know the answer.

 

[BigSkyBears]

There are 4 teams wanting to leave the MWC for the AAC - from my understanding it's CSU, BSU, Utah State (?), and Air Force. I saw somewhere that it's because of their commissioner's lack of leadership, and trust.

What would be left?

 

[Copper Griz]

There are 4 teams wanting to leave the MWC for the AAC - from my understanding it's CSU, BSU, Utah State (?), and Air Force. I saw somewhere that it's because of their commissioner's lack of leadership, and trust.

What would be left?

A steaming pile of mediocrity

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I think you both make great points here. I love being in the FCS Playoff hunt, and I love bowl games. I guess I just love CFB. The point about the time-honored "Toilet Bowl" being nothing doesn't really fly when you look at the FCS Playoffs. I don't think there are many fans of FBS teams that want to move to FCS so they can play in a "real playoff". Believe it or not, I actually follow a couple FBS programs pretty closely. The bowls are not meaningless to the players, coaches, or fans. When a team gets a postseason bowl win, they don't view it as "big whoop, means nothing". They view it as a success, and they should. Just my opinion.

The bowl games are not meaningless to players or coaches because that’s all they’ve ever known. There’s never been a playoff system so that’s all they have to be excited about. If the G5 had a playoff system, I guarantee you that every coach and player would say that compared to a playoff system, bowl games are completely meaningless.

Hell, look no further than Southeastern Louisiana coach Frank Scelfo. In his weekly press conference before the Griz playoff game, he spoke about how much more awesome a true playoff system is over bowl games. I believe his quote was along the lines of “I guarantee you our guys would rather have another opportunity to play, as opposed to hats and T-shirts”. So ya, they’re not meaningless to them because it’s all they’ve ever had, but I guarantee you if they had a playoff system, they’d never wanna go back to bowl games.

Then, I suppose it should be a major selling point to players and FCS schools should win every recruiting battle against G5 teams. Do they? Honest question. Do a lot of recruits with no interest from P5 teams, but offers from, say, USF or SMU pick SELA instead because they might get to play in the FCS Playoffs? I believe we sometimes overvalue the importance of the FCS Playoffs when it comes to the minds of the players at the G5 level. Definitely could be wrong. Maybe your point about bowl games being all they've ever known can cut both ways in terms of knowing only the FCS Playoffs.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

So instead let's watch Coastal Carolina this year. They're rolling and rank in the top 20. Let's say they finish the season undefeated. Are they headed anywhere near the FBS playoffs? Are they even headed to one of the prestige bowl games? I believe we all know the answers to these questions.

So would they rather be in an FCS playoff? Don't think so; I believe we all know the answer to that question.

"Guys, I know we did great this year and we're playing Florida in a nationally televised bowl game, but don't you wish we were playing Monmouth on ESPN3+++ at 10:00am the day after Thanksgiving instead?"

 

[Grizbeer]

MWC payout is $4mm PER school?

Apparently

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college-gridiron-365/os-sp-mwc-aac-media-rights-deal-0111-20200110-2odbg5t4xbgpzcavjuebw2uqzm-story.html

 

[Yukon]

So would they rather be in an FCS playoff? Don't think so; I believe we all know the answer to that question.

You're absolutely right. Right now Coastal Carolina loves where they're at. They have dreams of being in the FBS playoff and beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Let us see if an undefeated season is going to punch their ticket into those playoffs? Sadly I believe we all know the answer.

Right now. Haven't they been talking about expanding the FBS playoff? I've always liked the 8 team playoff. Each P5 conference champion and the other 3 are for G5 and independents.

 

[putter]

MWC payout is $4mm PER school?

Apparently

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college-gridiron-365/os-sp-mwc-aac-media-rights-deal-0111-20200110-2odbg5t4xbgpzcavjuebw2uqzm-story.html

$4mm would help offset the costs of adding Title IX sports.

 

[dupuyer griz]

You're absolutely right. Right now Coastal Carolina loves where they're at. They have dreams of being in the FBS playoff and beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Let us see if an undefeated season is going to punch their ticket into those playoffs? Sadly I believe we all know the answer.

Right now. Haven't they been talking about expanding the FBS playoff? I've always liked the 8 team playoff. Each P5 conference champion and the other 3 are for G5 and independents.

If that were the way it went that would be great. However, you know they will find a way to make the school from the mountain west sun belt etc who is 12-0 be the last school out. Those other three spots will be reserved for Georgia who went 9-3 but had a really tough schedule, LSU who was also 9-3 with a really tough schedule and Ohio state who went 8-4 but was the preseason number 1 school and we refuse to admit we made a mistake in the rankings.

 

[Griz til I die]

The bowl games are not meaningless to players or coaches because that’s all they’ve ever known. There’s never been a playoff system so that’s all they have to be excited about. If the G5 had a playoff system, I guarantee you that every coach and player would say that compared to a playoff system, bowl games are completely meaningless.

Hell, look no further than Southeastern Louisiana coach Frank Scelfo. In his weekly press conference before the Griz playoff game, he spoke about how much more awesome a true playoff system is over bowl games. I believe his quote was along the lines of “I guarantee you our guys would rather have another opportunity to play, as opposed to hats and T-shirts”. So ya, they’re not meaningless to them because it’s all they’ve ever had, but I guarantee you if they had a playoff system, they’d never wanna go back to bowl games.

Then, I suppose it should be a major selling point to players and FCS schools should win every recruiting battle against G5 teams. Do they? Honest question. Do a lot of recruits with no interest from P5 teams, but offers from, say, USF or SMU pick SELA instead because they might get to play in the FCS Playoffs? I believe we sometimes overvalue the importance of the FCS Playoffs when it comes to the minds of the players at the G5 level. Definitely could be wrong. Maybe your point about bowl games being all they've ever known can cut both ways in terms of knowing only the FCS Playoffs.

That’s a poor example CDA. Of course a kids gonna pick an offer from SMU over SELA. Besides a true playoff system, what else is attractive about SELA? It’s in the middle of nowhere with shit facilities.

Now would a kid choose an offer to SMU over UM? I’m not entirely sure they would. We have facilities that are likely on par with SMU and we can also sell the opportunity to play for a national championship. That’s a different story. And I do think there have been occasions where kids have chosen the Griz over some mountain west offers because of this exact reason. Being able to play for something this meaningful means more.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Then, I suppose it should be a major selling point to players and FCS schools should win every recruiting battle against G5 teams. Do they? Honest question. Do a lot of recruits with no interest from P5 teams, but offers from, say, USF or SMU pick SELA instead because they might get to play in the FCS Playoffs? I believe we sometimes overvalue the importance of the FCS Playoffs when it comes to the minds of the players at the G5 level. Definitely could be wrong. Maybe your point about bowl games being all they've ever known can cut both ways in terms of knowing only the FCS Playoffs.

That’s a poor example CDA. Of course a kids gonna pick an offer from SMU over SELA. Besides a true playoff system, what else is attractive about SELA? It’s in the middle of nowhere with shit facilities.

Now would a kid choose an offer to SMU over UM? I’m not entirely sure they would. We have facilities that are likely on par with SMU and we can also sell the opportunity to play for a national championship. That’s a different story. And I do think there have been occasions where kids have chosen the Griz over some mountain west offers because of this exact reason. Being able to play for something this meaningful means more.

Then, that’s an answer to my question, which can be difficult to come by sometimes around these parts. Thanks! Honestly.

Now, I’m not sure I totally agree with you on this issue, but I’m always open to all viewpoints because that’s how I learn things. (I’m sure most can tell I’m not very smart on my own).

 

[Spanky2]

Then, I suppose it should be a major selling point to players and FCS schools should win every recruiting battle against G5 teams. Do they? Honest question. Do a lot of recruits with no interest from P5 teams, but offers from, say, USF or SMU pick SELA instead because they might get to play in the FCS Playoffs? I believe we sometimes overvalue the importance of the FCS Playoffs when it comes to the minds of the players at the G5 level. Definitely could be wrong. Maybe your point about bowl games being all they've ever known can cut both ways in terms of knowing only the FCS Playoffs.

That’s a poor example CDA. Of course a kids gonna pick an offer from SMU over SELA. Besides a true playoff system, what else is attractive about SELA? It’s in the middle of nowhere with shit facilities.

Now would a kid choose an offer to SMU over UM? I’m not entirely sure they would. We have facilities that are likely on par with SMU and we can also sell the opportunity to play for a national championship. That’s a different story. And I do think there have been occasions where kids have chosen the Griz over some mountain west offers because of this exact reason. Being able to play for something this meaningful means more.

Generally speaking, I hope you don’t believe a student-athlete would pick a FCS school over a FBS school because of playoffs rather than bowl games. Let’s assume he had full ride offers from both schools.

 

[Spanky2]

We had a family member that went to an ACC school. The school played in bowl games the past several years. They think that’s quite an accomplishment as do I. The majority of the athletes and student body likely don’t even know what the FCS is other than Division2.

 

[dupuyer griz]

We had a family member that went to an ACC school. The school played in bowl games the past several years. They think that’s quite an accomplishment as do I. The majority of the athletes and student body likely don’t even know what the FCS is other than Division2.

So we should move up because people are ignorant?

 

[Gaeilge1]

I am no longer looking at this as a move up, rather, a move laterally. The thought process is changing nationally and if we want to maintain and potentially improve the playoff system that many here relish then we are going to have to change our thought process locally as well!

It is clear that the P5 conferences are recognizing that the "P" in that designation stands for Power, and they are starting to wield that power to exert control over the entire landscape of College Football. At some point those conferences are going to dictate not only how NCAA revenue is allocated, but to whom! When that happens those conferences in the FBS that are not P5 are going to be left trying to divvy up a much smaller pot of cash, and fewer opportunities to increase that pot. Many of those programs will be scrambling to take the big payout "body bag" games that are presently considered the province of FCS teams. This will lead to a significant decrease in revenues at the FCS level. In addition future television revenue at the FCS personal may be diminished in favor of covering FBS games that are not P5.

The only way this plays out to the benefit of all is to recognize that the P5 is an entity unto itself and they are going to do what they damn well please. The rest of the FBS and the FCS conferences who decide to will have to consolidate and establish a new playoff program that could incorporate some of the existing bowl games leading to an expanded national championship!

Whether we like it or not, some scenario of the above is going to be forced upon us. How long this may take is anyone's guess. My guess is within this decade!

 

[3-7-77]

There are 4 teams wanting to leave the MWC for the AAC - from my understanding it's CSU, BSU, Utah State (?), and Air Force. I saw somewhere that it's because of their commissioner's lack of leadership, and trust.

What would be left?

A steaming pile of mediocrity

Just like THAT you change the subject to the Big Sky Conference? :lol:

 

[Spanky2]

So would they rather be in an FCS playoff? Don't think so; I believe we all know the answer to that question.

You're absolutely right. Right now Coastal Carolina loves where they're at. They have dreams of being in the FBS playoff and beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Let us see if an undefeated season is going to punch their ticket into those playoffs? Sadly I believe we all know the answer.

Maybe Coastal Carolina can beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. I think a much better dream than winning the FCS NC.