"Division 4"

[Sundown]

Look for Division 4 to revolutionize college athletics.

Get ready, then, for Division 4, where those BCS schools (Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC, SEC) are going to set their own rules.

• Theoretically they not only will be able to pay players, but pay them as much as they want -- $5,000, $10,000 per year? Why not? In the new governance structure, there'd be no MAC schools to vote it down.

• Forget a four-team playoff. How soon could Division 4 officials institute an eight-teamer? As soon as they damn well please.

• Might as well forget "Division 4" as a formal label too. Couldn't the schools sell naming rights since the NCAA that now will only nominally oversee big-time football won't have much of a say?

Think of the new subdivision as the NFL -- Nike Football League – if the shoe giant wins the contract.

• There would be fewer chances for legal liability. Instead of the NCAA fighting the O'Bannon lawsuit, Division 4 could openly negotiate with video game manufacturers, use players likenesses, numbers, names and faces -- and distribute the revenue back to the players.

Once again, what could the NCAA do? Bowlsby's statements suggest the association has lost leverage.

• Division 4 could set its own scholarship limitations, make its own enforcement rules. Bowlsby specifically expressed frustration at NCAA enforcement which has not distinguished itself lately -- or at all. Think of Division 4 setting its own recruiting rules.

Part-time students playing football? Why not? Remember, its Division 4's game, money and future.

“It [college football] is professional in many ways,” said Ohio University professor Dave Ridpath, an academic reformer and NCAA critic. “They could go to school on their own time.”

The player stipend debate has been disaster and perhaps the last straw for the BCS schools. Northern Iowa has almost nothing in common with Texas but has the ability to vote down a stipend because it can't afford it. What the BCS commissioners are saying: Why is Northern Iowa voting on the issue in the first place?

 

[dupuyer griz]

so many yes's and so many no's

 

[kemajic]

Division 4 would not have tax-exempt status. Unless they contribute heavily to the Democratic Party.

 

[THE BETCH]

Or the Republican party.

 

[mtgrizrule]

I hesitated to open this thread. Thought it would be some lame ass thread about how much further the GRIZ may slide. Thankfully, my thought was wrong.

I believe this will be reality and sooner than many would think.

As for politics and this. There are billions of $$$ to play with. Like anything or anyone with that kind of money, politicians will be the their back pocket as well, and be puppets.

 

[Spanky]

MTgrizrule....when you think about it, the Griz can't slide much further than the Big Sky Conference..

 

[MrTitleist]

Here's a fun link: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/jeremy-fowler/22875447/the-american-likely-to-push-for-ncaa-subdivision-inclusion" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[zirge]

Division 4 would not have tax-exempt status. Unless they contribute heavily to the Democratic Party.

or contribute to the Republicans for voting to provide them with no regulations.........

here we go............

it is demeaning to go down this trail.......war games.........there is no winner!

 

[mtgrizrule]

MTgrizrule....when you think about it, the Griz can't slide much further than the Big Sky Conference..

LMAO, and you owe me a beer now. Spit out on my computer when I read that. :thumb: Cracking open a new beer, and cheers to that one. Sad thing is, rest of the FCS is even lower.

 

[putter]

What colleges have to do with this is getting more blurred. These are institutions of higher education and are turning their football teams into semi-pro teams......

 

[TxGriz]

The Cotton Bowl has barely been able to hang on to the storied "Red River Shootout" because the stadiums at the respective institutions have improved and surpassed many NFL venues, as they have at many of the top five conference schools. The television networks are throwing money at the power conferences like confetti as they develop their own television networks. It is only natural that such goings on at tax exempt institutions has attracted the attention of the tax collector.

It always has been a for profit business, just that it was called something else, doesn't make it any different. Looks like the NCAA is just riding the tail of the big dogs and is just trying to hang on.

 

[kemajic]

The Cotton Bowl has barely been able to hang on to the storied "Red River Shootout" because the stadiums at the respective institutions have improved and surpassed many NFL venues, as they have at many of the top five conference schools. The television networks are throwing money at the power conferences like confetti as they develop their own television networks. It is only natural that such goings on at tax exempt institutions has attracted the attention of the tax collector.

It always has been a for profit business, just that it was called something else, doesn't make it any different. Looks like the NCAA is just riding the tail of the big dogs and is just trying to hang on.

Emmert is another Fullerton; job survival foremost. Oh, that's right, they were both at MSU.

There are many Congressmen and Senators from the "have not" institutions; there will be a much stronger push to go after the tax status as this develops. IRS attention could also impact any smaller institutions that minimize FB revenue by moving it to other areas. I think we know one of those.

 

[billings_poke]

From SI on Changes coming to NCAA

What will happen?
At this point, it's easier to predict what won't happen. There is zero momentum to break from the NCAA and start a whole new organization. Whatever changes will be made will likely be under the NCAA's umbrella.
There's also little chance for significant change to the NCAA tournament. The one thing the NCAA does well is run championships, and unwinding the $10.8 billion CBS-Turner deal would be thorny.
The most likely change will be in the NCAA governance structure, and while that isn't particularly sexy, it's still significant.

How will things look?
This is impossible to answer right now. The Big 5 are likely to form a new tier -- perhaps Division 4 or a "super division" -- that creates an elite division of athletics still under the auspices of the NCAA. Think of a scenario where a total of 12 to 15 conferences -- about 150 schools -- end up in this new subset of Division I.
The key difference will be in governance structure and greater rule flexibility. The Big 5 want change so their ability to pass legislation, especially to provide more for their student athletes, isn't impeded by schools on radically different financial planes.
Think of a governance structure filled more with athletic directors and faculty instead of the current presidential-led Executive Committee. And the schools may end up with a structure similar fashion to the United Nations, where the "security counsel," namely the Big 5, have final veto power after hearing from all parties.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130725/college-sports-braces-for-more-change/#ixzz2a5QLsZiZ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Who is in and who is out?
This will be the big question, much like in realignment. But think of this potential change as similar to realignment in that for all the drastic scenarios floated, in the end it wasn't nearly as earth shaking as many had predicted.
Along with the Big 5, a majority of the other major football-playing leagues would likely go with them -- Mountain West, American Athletic, Conference USA, Sun Belt and MAC. The top basketball leagues like the Big East, Atlantic-10 and perhaps the WCC would go as well. The Ivy League and Patriot League will be talked about, too.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130725/college-sports-braces-for-more-change/#ixzz2a5SLTVbo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[OrgonGriz]

Also interesting article on ESPN College Football news with PAC 12 Commish Larry Scott. Scott made mention of NOT playing FCS vs FBS games in this possible change. He made mention of 9 game Conf schedule and playing the highest caliber teams possible. Scott did mention still having some access to the other 5 FBS conferences such as MW, MAC, SBC etc.

Maybe the powers to be at App State and GSU made the right move. Are these the unsettling changes Fullerton was talking about? What's the plan know Doug? Guess it does not matter as Engstrom feels we are in the best place with MSU!

This change looks very real and for those that don't think this will have a negative effect on the FCS as a whole better take the blinders off. It's time too see what's coming.

Oh it will just lead to FCS reducing scholar ships. So that would not have a negative effect of the quality or level of football in the BSC?

Fullerton better work out a deal with the WAC. Get UM MSU UI NMSU NDSU SDSU SAC PSU to hold 8 teams to keep an FBS status and transition other in BSC that work up to FBS status over the next few years.