tourist said:
I don't recall the reasons UNC decided to move up to FCS, but their reasoning seems to have done a 180 degree turn. Costs are higher, so if they find themselves unable to keep up, it would be only wise to move back down. Times change, and the scenarios envisioned did not pan out. Idaho moved back down, after the Sun Belt made them walk the plank and they found themselves with no more plank to walk. This may be the answer to the Fullertonization of the BSC. Financially induced attrition may ultimately shed some of the deadwood from the BSC. I hope the lesson will not be wasted on those Griz fans who still beat the drum for 'moving up.' That ship left the dock about ten years ago. :twocents:
When UNC made the jump to FCS (1AA back then), the football program was in much, much, better shape. The Bears played in the NCC with D2 powers such as SDSU, SDU, NDSU. All of the powers had intentions to move up at some point, and if UNC stayed, they probably would have had to play in the RMAC, and at that time UNC was way ahead of Mines, Colorado Mesa, etc.
The Bears were neck-and-neck with NDSU as far as getting talent. UNC had beaten the Bison 3 out of 4 years during the late 90's and early 2000s.
When we made the move however, there was not enough support from some of the "True Bluers" as some of the boosters were named. I think there was some major $$ withheld. Also, Joe Glenn had left for Montana just before the transition and that hurt.
The larger picture though is state-funding for all public universities is severely hampered by what is called the Tax Payers Bill of Rights, or TABOR
.https://leg.colorado.gov/agencies/legislative-council-staff/tabor
Besides football the move has been a success.
The school has had 11 NCAA tournament appearances, 18 conference championships, 9 All-Americans, 17 Academic All-Americans, 47 major conference awards, all in the past decade alone. 
