College football have been chaos this year with teams leaving one conference to another. My thoughts on this is that the conferences are looking at quantity and not quality of great games on the field. I do not think TCU fits in the Big East, Colorado in the PAC 10 and Nebraska in the Big 10. As it is, the travel costs for fans is too much, and it is showing signs of weak games from the ACC to the SEC.
This year, the SEC is down in football play. Every conferences are not strong, and that is bringing the lowly teams like Utah State on the same playing fields as the big boys. The problems with all these conferences is not how big the schools are, but the lack of teams and fans who can not travel like from Penn. State to play Iowa. Veiwer ship on televsion is okay, but you do need teams where fans can travel to, and the schools do not have to spend too much money for travel costs if they can get teams to play close by. Like Stanford did when they played Cal.-Davis, and they lost to them. Or, the Villanova/Temple game where Villanova had more fans showed up in support than they do in the playoffs or regular seasons. Another thing is to lift the difference between 1-A and 1-AA teams and make a combination of playoffs and bowls at the same time. Allow the winning 1-AA teams be in bowl games, and let some of the 1-A teams play in the playoffs against the 1-AA teams who are 6-6 and 7-5 teams. This would be like the NIT version for football.
First, the NCAA may need to decide the football attendence should be lifted. This would allow 1-AA access to money that they need to build a much better athletic programs. Access to the bowl money can help bring programs like Delware, U.-Mass., Appalachian State and others who have 1-A vision a chance to build their programs up. This would allow Arizona State to play in the post season in football. Second, look at which colleges and universities who should drop to D-2. Then, look at programs in D-2, D-3 and NAIA who should be a D-1 teams. There are several teams in these levels are now should be consider D-1 like Arkansas Tech, Northwest Missouri State, North Alabama, West Florida, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, Western Washing and so forth. These schools showed what they have the takes for level 1-A.
Now how do you get conferences into a better tight-knit pattern? The only way is to break up all the conferences and reformed, or try to make super conference like 20 teams and that the teams in the conferences play 10 in conferences games, and 2 ooc games that are close by. The PAC 10 could be broken up into 2 conferences and then they can add teams to them, or form a super conference to be up to 20. The examples would that the PAC 10 can kick Colorado out and add teams like Boise State, BYU, Nevada-Reno, UNLV, Cal.-Davis, Cal.-Poly, SLO and so forth. Any California schools would fit the pattern of UCLA and the other PAC Cal. Schools.
Now, I am gonna list schools that needs in a BCS conference who are big.
Conference USA Schools:
UAB is in a big market of Birmingham, Alabama, and their football programs can compete against SEC teams like they almost upset Tennessee and Mississippi State. They fit in the pattern to be part of the ACC or the SEC.
UCF is a much bigger market and could be great in the Big East to be with South Florida. But, both teams fit much better in the ACC. The ACC and Big East can make a deal and move schools around. The northern schools can send Louisville, USF and if UCF gets an invite to the Big East to the ACC while the Big East can get Maryland, Boston College, Virginia Tech and Virginia to boast their programs up for a better fit. The Acc can add UAB since they do not have an Alabama market and UAB would help Georgia Tech out.
Memphis is another school that needs into a BCS conference. Being in the Con.-USA is not helping them out, and them being in a big market as well. Memphis can add football and basketball to any conference. Memphis did better when the far eastern teams cause travel hardship and money. They need to be in another conference. SEC, the ACC or the BIg East would be ideal. Memphis/Louisville rivelry back together can boast both programs up again in football, and the basketball would be renew big time.
East Carolina is another school that needs a new home. They only bring football to the table, but nothing much else. Their showing in football games against the BCS schools showed that they can play the game and beat any of them any day.
Southern Mississippi is in a much bigger market than either Ole Miss. and Mississippi State. They are in a bigger town and they fit well within the SEC.
Houston, TCU, Rice, SMU and UTEP bring more to the table since they used to be in the same conference with some of the Big 12 schools and with Arkansas. I am surprise that the Con-USA did not get an aq fot the BCS with these schools. Even though I included MWC TCU in this, I covered them with these schools as one for all Texas schools combined. North Texas is a long ways off to be talked about, but others could be on the way like Texas-San Antonia and Texas State moving up, and others like Lamar, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin are thinking of going FBS in the future, and Texas-Arlington, Texas A&M-Corpus Crispi and Houston Baptist could be adding football.
Marshall is a lone dog out there. West Virginia does not want them, but they do fit in the Big-East. The best bet is the eastern Con.-USA of Marshall, Memphis, East Carolina, UCF and UAB could leave and formed a new eastern based conference. There are teams out east that wants to moved up. They could formed the new conference with Troy, South Alabama and both Florida Sun Belt schools. That would bring them to 9. There are others that fits in as well, and this can benifit more for the eastern schools. The other teams that can be brought in are Buffalo and Temple. Then it can be split into two newer conferences for a new northeastern and a southestern conference.
The Northeastern Conference Schools:
Buffalo
Marashall
Temple
Toledo (yes, Toledo could do better and be in a new conference since they outgrown the MAC)
Move up schools:
Stony Brook (have ideas of moving up)
Fordham (could get an invite to the MAC for all sports and have good basketball, and the New York city market)
Delaware (expanding their stadium to 30,000)
New Hampshire (not much right now, but could get bigger attendence if they moved up)
James Madison (expanded their stadium and one of the few who could make it to FBS)
U. Mass. (a massive student body and the Boston market)
Delware State (an all black college, but may not have the attraction like the Grambling State or Southern U. does.)
Old Dominion (Old Dominion seems to be selling out their home games, and for readding football last year, finished 8-3 for both years, be a target by other conferences to move up)
Richmond (strong basketball and football. could be a candidate for a MAC invite as well.)
Liberty (as ideals on moving up, and a strong football program)
Another candidate that could be consider for the future with a large market, but would not have football until a couple of years now is North Carolina-Charlotte. If they can be a strong football program in a short year? They could be attractive enough for the Big East, MAC, Con.USA or Sun Belt.
The south would look like this.
UAB
UCF
Memphis
Troy State
South Alabama (10-0 in their very first year in football, moving to the Sun Belt by 2013 for football, already in the Sun Belt for other sports.)
Florida International
Florida Atlantic
East Carolina
Move uppers:
Georgia Southern (good football program, but would give the Southern Georgia market.)
Appalachian State (beating Michigan made them an attractive candidate for expansion)
UNC-Charlotte
Western Carolina (another school not happy where they are at.)
North Alabama (dreams for the Sun Belt with Terry Bowden who used to coached at Auburn made the North Alabama a strong D-2 team that could play at D-1 level, and attractive as well for a coach who knows how to beat ACC and SEC opponents.)
Eastern Kentucky (not much to them.)
Tennessee -Chattanooga (big market, plus good football and sometimes basketball.)
Furman ( played Clemson close in the past)
Jacksonville State (beat Ole Miss. this year, and could be attractive for an expansion invite)
Georgia State (coach by Bill Curry who used to coached in the SEC. His knowledge can help bring Georgia State to the top.)
Now, lets look at the MAC. There are several teams that could fit in the midwestern and central US that can filled in the voids.
Ohio U., Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Miami-Ohio, and Northern Illinois can build the gaps in the Big 10. Ohio U. seems to play Ohio State every year, and that Ohio State at times struggle against this MAC team. Ohio State seems to have a tough time with MAC teams and this year was no difference like Miami, Ohio found weak spots in Ohio State's offense. That is one thing about these MAC teams like Ohio U., Miami-Ohio, Ball State, Central Mich., Western Mich., and so forth. Big 10 knows that playing these MAC teams everyyear, or more than one MAC teams can save money on travel costs and helps save money on all schools in a long run.
Adding one of these Ohio schools, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Rutgers or Maryland could benifit Ohio State some, but some of the further eastern schools may not work. Travel expensives could skyrocketed even more like adding Nebraska did. Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Penn. State are the lone teams when Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue and Illinois can travel each other easily. Notre Dame would only add another team in the central of the conference.
Teams for the Big 10 to choose from?
Iowa State from the Big 12 can give Iowa a partner which can give Nebraska another team to play in the conference.
Nebraska-Omaha could also add the Omaha market and a strong D-2 football team.
Wisconsin-La Crosse could be a team from D-3 in a big town that could give Wisconsin some help and relief.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee is another university that could fit in. They do not have a football program, but they can help give some relief to Wisconsin if they add football. I read they have a club football, while teams like South Alabama, New Orleans, Georgia State, Kennesaw State and others that started up their programs? They used their club football players as the building structure to build their teams with. Marquette could start up a football team later while they have a club team. They would fit in the Big 10 mold instead of the Big East.
Central Michigan would add another team in the central.
Western Michigan would add another team in the central, but it would be closer to the western teams.
Northern Illinois would help in bridging the gap with Minnesota, but it is still central.
Northern Iowa would be a third team in Iowa, but not much of a market.
Minnesota-Duluth can give Minnesota some relief. Strong D-2 football team and is in a big market.
Ball State would only add more central team.
Any of the Ohio teams in the MAC could shore up the bridge between Ohio State and Penn State. This could help the fans to travel better.
Pittsburgh would give Penn State a better partner for economics reasons, but a little too far east.
Norte Dame always say no, but they are a big player in the Big East who have a bigger say so, but football independence. The Big East would do better with out the midwest central schools.
U. Conn. is still a small market and not great for the Big 10 travel issues. It would be hard on the fans to travel.
Rutgers, Maryland and Syracuse are big markets but not great for fans to travel. You need fans to go, and they turn out better if the games are more local.
Now the rest of the conference USA teams:
Where could the teams go from there in the central?
Southern Mississippi could fit in the SEC to shore up the two smaller markets in the state.
Tulsa could go to the Big 12. They always play big games against both Oklahoma schools, and they would fit in as a bridge even more with Missouri and the Kansas schools.
SMU, Rice, Houston and UTEP are BCS size schools and markets. Texas University does not have the sole possession of the whole state. Houston would be great for the Big 12 for the southern Texas market. UTEP would be great for the Big 12 for the El Paso market area.
Tulane could be part of a new south central conference with the rest of the Sun Belt or they could be great for the New orleans market with the Big 12 or the SEC.
The Independents is not much news, but here is my take.
BYU will finally get an invite to a BCS conference like Big 12 or the PAC 10. Salt Lake City market would be an attractive member for expansion.
Notre Dame would still be dictating their Independence in football, and the puppet master in the Big East for all other sports.
Army and Navy are attractive for other conferences, but would likely turned them down.They could formed a new conference which would be nothing but Armed Forces schools. This would exclude the west schools.
Army
Navy
VMI
The Citadel
Case Western Reserves
Coast Guard
and the Maritime schools in the northeast. They have their own television network that serves the military personal all over the world.
Now the Mountain West Conference schools.
Air Force could bring to the Big 12 the Armed Forces television network which would bring in more television revenues plus the Colorado Springs and Denver markets.
Boise State could get into the PAC 10 for the Boise market, and the Davids among the giants. They became the American team as the Chinderella in the big bowl picture. They could even wind up in the Big 12 if the PAC 10 keeps overlooking them. They could also bring in a most heated rivelry to the Oregon schools, and the closeness of Washington state. Boise State is needed to help get Washington State back to where they used to be on a winning side of issues. Plus, Boise State have a much larger market than Washington State, and could help shore up the markets in Spokane and other areas.
Colorado State may not be a strong candidate, but they could fit more in the Big 12 footprints with Air Force.
New Mexico could get a nod in the Big 12, but not much in football. Their basketball program is top notched, but I do not see them going anywhere right now.
Fresno State could serve better in the PAC 10 to help with the travel cost of Stanford and California. Both Stanford and California would benifit more if they have Fresno State, Sacramento State, Cal.-Davis and Cal.-Poly along with San Jose State, all 7 schools can benifit with a close relation if they all could play each other every year. The California schools are in deep trouble, and they need each other to help pull themselves out of it. If they can not do this? All of them could dropped football altogether in the future. By having them playing each other could help get them all out of the hole money-wise. San Diego State can also help in this region as well. They would help more towards UCLA and USC with money issues as well.
UNR and UNLV can also help the PAC 10 out as well. Travel wise would be great for the California schools and the Arizona schools. Even the Oregon schools and Utah and benifit from Nevada-Reno.
Wyoming is small, but they would benifit the northern Big 12 teams. They could go independent and play teams much closer to them like the Colorado, Idaho, nebraska, Montana, the Dakotas, Kansas and Utah schools.
The sun Belt conference would break off as well.
Arkansas State could benifit as a Jonesboro market which could be likely an Arkansas partner economics issues. Fans will flock if they play Arkansas and if UALR readd football to play in the Sun Belt. The fans in Little Rock and Jonesboro are hungry for in state rivelries. This is what is missing in Arkansas right now. Arkansas State and UALR (adss football) are large enough markets to help Big 12 or the SEC. Either these two, Central Arkansas, UAPB, Arkansas Tech and southern Arkansas would make in-state rivelries like you see with Florida/Florida State, Alabama/Auburn, Clemson/South Carolina, Michigan/Michigan State, Ole Miss/Miss. State, Georgia/Georgia Tech etc, etc.....
Louisiana-Monroe, La.-Lafayette, Western Kentucky and Middle Tenn. State could form a more south central conference with Southern Miss., Arkansas State, UALR, Tulane and La. Tech from the WAC. They could add schools like Delta State from the D-2 Gulf Coast conference, Arkansas Tech same as Delta State, Central Arkansas, Missouri State, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, East Tennessee State (needs to readd football), New Orleans (adding football, but dropping to D-3), plus other candidates from the Southland and SWAC conferences.
WAC schools would be hard to figure out right now.
Hawaii could go Independent or go to MWC for football, but they could be part of the PAC 10 for the California schools. Hawaii seems to be the place people want to go for vacations and all that. Imagine if the PAC 10 scores with Hawaii and then they would have the bowl games in Hawaii.
La. Tech could go to the Sun Belt conference, or they can be part of the new Southwest Conference when the east west schools break away from each other in Con.-USA. I would see them in the Southwest conference with the Texas sxhools of C-USA, the two New Mexico schools and the North Texas school.
Utah State could be part of the PAC 10 or the MWC for their location. They compete in the same market with BYU and Utah, they would be overlooked. The Big 12 could come calling for either BYU or Utah State., but BYU would be favored than Utah State.
Idaho's football program is getting better each year, but they would fit in the PAC 10, but the market for them are dwarfed compared to Boise State. Their best bet is Independent or MWC.
Texas State and UTSA will lose their new home and could wind up in the new Southwest conference. UTSA if their football program gets good could be targeted for their market of San Antonio area. Big 12 could come calling in the future.
Now the big boys. I do not think Texas will remain in the Big 12 and go Independent. They seem to be getting their own television network. With Texas going Independent? You may see Big 12 go persuing schools like Houston, TCU, Rice, SMU, Air Force, Arkansas, BYU, LSU. Boise State, Memphis, Louisville, Missouri State and several others in the region.
Texas A&M could go to the SEC.
A shake up in the ACC and Big East with teams shifting.
Big East football schools with a Villanova upgrade will split from the basketball schools and will start adding teams like UCF, East Carolina, Memphis, Maryland, U. Mass., Delware Boston college and several others.
SEC might bring in Florida State, Georgia Tech and Clemson to get the the rivelry games into the same conference.
The ACC could target UCF, USF, UAB, UNC-Charlotte and maybe a VCU if they add football and upgrades.
Big 10 will continue expand to 16 teams and will raid schools like Missouri, Iowa State, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, U.Conn, Rutgers, Maryland and Notre Dame as possible targets. Vanderbilt for the Nashville market.
The PAC 10 will try and focus to try and get Big 12 teams, but may wind up with the golden nugget of Boise State if the Big 12 do not react soon enough,
Arizona and Arizona State could wind up bolting for the Big 12.
Now, we have teams that said they would like to upgrade their sports, adding football and so forth. Some of these do have club football, and would not be hard to start up a football program with their club football teams.
UNC-Chatlotte will start up football by 2013, and have aspirations to go FBS. They are attractive enough to be in an aq conference like the Big East with a good basketball program.
Dayton, Ohio have a great fan support, a large market, and is said to start giving schoolerships to the players. They have both a great football team and a basketball team. They could be a likely upgrade candidate in the future. I give Dayton 10 thumbs up if I have 10 thumbs.
Fordham offers a New York City market and could be a great candidate for an upgrade. There is talk that they could be interested in joining the MAC to help stabilized Temple and Buffalo with a less travel cost for those two. Be a great fit for them to be there.
Richmond seems to be looked at for the MAC as an all sport member. They have both great football and great basketball programs. They offer a big market for the Richmond area. If the MAC goes from 13 to 20 teams? Fordham and Richmond would be idea candidates.
U.Mass. is right now in talks with the MAC to join them. The school already have a large stadium that are up to standards for FBS member. Just need a little fix here and there, and then they can expand their stadium later including their sports buildings to become a Big East member in the future.
Xavier, Ohio do have a club football team. If they are likely to add football and it be a non-Schoolership part? They can be likely start it up next year as a school sponser sport, and upgrade their stadium here and there to be ready. I would not be surprise Xavier start up the football program in the future.
Boston U. dropped their football program several years ago, but a club football started up there after it. If they do readd football? They could be considered an upgrade to FBS with an expanded stadium. U.Mass. and Boston U. could be competing for a Big East spot in the future for all sports including football to replace the lost of Boston College.
Maryland-Baltimore County would be another option to add football for FCS level. There needs to be more teams up in the northeast for football. Instead of schools dropping football? They should try and encourage other schools to start up football and play schools that is near them.
Albany New York is another school that I saw mentioned for a possible MAC. I am not sure they are ready right now, but several years down the road, and play more games against northeast FBS schools could help pay upgrading their sports.
Binghamton is another school that I saw where students are trying to get football going for that school. This would be years down the road if they do add football.
Hartford does have a club football team, and could easily add football, plus they do have a decent tv market there.
Stony Brook have also been mentioned as being another MAC school team. Stony Brook could help Buffalo out in the MAC, but not sure when they can do a full upgrade yet.
Vermont is another school that have a club football. This school is a building block that is missing in the Northeast. Add them for football? Than, you can see more schools restart football in the northeast, and then you would have more schools locally to save travel costs.
Kennesaw State in Georgia is adding football by 2014. They would be in FCS.
East Tennessee State could readd football, and play at FCS level. They could upgrade and go FBS in the future to fill in voids.
Mercer will be adding football in 2013 for the FCS. They would be competing in the same market with Geogia Tech and Georgia State.
Lipscomb could start up a football program soon. They are still at the exploring stage.
Stetson is exploring to add football as well. A lot of these teams also have a club level program as well.
Florida Gulf Coast is also exploring on adding football. If all these schools add football in the atlantic Sun? They could have their conference going for non-Schooly football.
Portland State wants to upgrade to FBS status. Big market, but nothing else. They hired Jerry Glanville as head coach to help build the program, but never did worked out. This year, they did wom more games, and seem to be getting better at football.
North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota and South Dakota State are schools that could fill in voids in the north central plains like Montana, Montana State, Montana Tech and Carroll, Mont would fit as well.
As before, Sacramento State can be a help to the other FBS college schools in football and all other sports.
Weber State has become big, and could play with schools in the PAC 10. Like all schools in the northwest? We do need more of them to fill spots and to help cut travel costs for all sports.
Northern Arizona could fill in in a gap of the lack of schools in Nevada, and a bridge for the Arizona schools in the south to the Utah schools in the north.
Eastern Washington the only winning D-1 Washington team in the playoffs could help out in rebuilding the Washington State program as an instate rivelry, and play sports with Washington State, Boise State and Idaho.
Radford has a club football and this year, they have been spotted playing varsity opponents in the NAIA and others. I am trying to find if Radford is going to go varsity football to play at the FCS level since they did played opponents that are sponsered sports.
High Point does have a club football, but do not know if they will be adding football yet.
Liberty does have aspirations for FBS, but who really wants them?
VMI do play all three service academies at the FBS level, and is in the running for the Commander in Cheif throphy. Would be nice if all the service academy all moved up and play each other more.
Winthrop is exploring to add football. If the others in A-Sun added football, they might as well.
Cal.-Davis and Cal.-Poly already mentioned to play the other California schools and be at home at the FBS level.
Fullerton State have support from students to readd football. They can like the other California schools can get together and support each other and cut down the travel costs. Fans are in support of in-state rivelry games. Northridge State and Santa Clara students are also being active for the football teams to be restarted.
Cal.-Irvine and Cal.-Riverside and Bakersfield State added football? They would have other football conferences add them as well. All those California schools could go non-Schooly for a while and join San Diego U. which would give them opponents closer to them to play, or form a new non-schooly conference on the West Coast.
Delaware could also be on the radar for the MAC conference. Very strong FBS level football in FCS, but not much on anything else.
Hofstra could readd football and do an upgrade and join the MAC. It seems that the northeast is a target for the MAC to help eased the travel cost, and it is also an idea that the MAC is doing all this to form a new northeast conference at the FBS level. They know how strong a lot of the northeast teams are against FBS level schools at the FCS level.
Old Dominion would be a likely target for an expansion talks. Strong football and basketball school. Could be too far south on the MAC's radar, but could be a strong candidate for the Sun Belt or a new C-USA east schools if they broke away from the Texas schools. Seems to always sell out home games, and have close to 20,000 seats for their stadium. Add more seats, and they could still sell out for games against FBS schools.
Georgia State as I mentioned above would be great candidate.
Drexel has a club football, but could find a home if they do go sponser football.
George Mason is said to be exploring adding football, or thinking of adding.
James Madison is another team that seems to be on the MACs radar as well. Strong team, and could set up a brand new northeast conference at the FBS level in the future.
Towson and VCU could also make the leap as well. VCU does not have football, but said they are thinking on adding it in the future. Big market for VCU, and could be a target in the future for a football conference at the FBS level.
Cleveland State could be a contender for an FBS spot if they do add football and play at the pro football stadium. There could be support if the pro team loses a lot and they can fall back onto the college team if they are winning. Big tv market as well.
Wis.-Milwaukee are thinking about exploring football. If they do add football? It would be a second Wisconsin team at D-1 level to help fill the void.
Wright State have club football.
Youngstown State could be on the MAC's radar if any of the other Ohio teams get picked off for another conference.
Utah Valley has plans to add football. It is really needed in the northwest for more D-1 programs.
Houston Baptist could be in the plans for adding football. Southland conference would fit them if they do add football.
Many of the MAAC schools do have club football which seems cheaper to run than the full sponser football. If they all go non-Schooly, they could fill the void in the northeast which needs more football playing schools at the FCS level.
Florida A&M and Delaware State are teams that have or had plans to go FBS. Florida A&M could still go FBS, and Delaware State could find a home in the new northeast football conference.
Creighton in Nebraska could add football since they do have club football. It would add another school in Nebraska at the D-1 level.
Southern Illinois caould still get invited to the MAC to help Northern Illinois. If it helps out that they could get more money than they do at the FCS level? They may go.
Both Evansville and Wichita State can add football. Both are at the level big enough to help fill in more spots. A new north central plains conference to take place with Evansville, Wichita State, Illinois State, Tulsa, Missouri State, Minn.-Duluth, Creighton, Nebraska Omaha, the Dakotas and Monatana schools.
If Indiana state wants to upgrade? They could only go to the MAC. If some Ohio MAC schools do leave in forming the new northeast conference? Then, some of these schools get invited.
Some Northeast Conference schools do have club football.
Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State could fit into FBS patterns in helping cutting the cost of travel with the Sun Belt and so forth.
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville does have club football.
Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and Appalachian State could fit in the Sun Belt and could break away to form a new Southeastern football conference or a full eastern conference.
The Citadel could be part of the AFAC. Armed Forces Athletic Conference.
Tenn.-Chattanooga and Furman can also help shaping the Sun Belt and then a new C-USA later. Chattanooga is a big tv market as well.
Lamar, SFA and Sam Houston State could go FBS and could be part of the split of the east/west schools of the C-USA. Central Arkansas can join the Sun Belt and be better there.
Texas-Arlington and Texas A&M-C.C. could add football at the FCS level. UTA could still in the future upgrade.
Grambling State and Southern U. can bring tv money in for another conference because of their NBC contract around Thanksgiving riverly game which is a tradition.
UMKC-Missouri-Kansas City would be a great addition to a FBS conference for football if they add it. If they prove that they are a strong contender? Big 12 fits?
IUPUI-Indiana U.-Purdue U.- Indianapolis president answered questions from students about adding sports. One student asked about football at the school. She said they can not add it for now, but it is still open that it can be added in the future for them to have it depending on how things are. So, it was a Yes and No answer about football since it is opened to explore anytime.
There is a student movement started at Oral Roberts to add football. No response from the University about adding it. Be good idea for them to add it and joined the Southland conference.
Western illinois could move around.
Gonzaga would benifit more if they add football. The northwest needs more football members and Gonzaga fits in.
Some of the WCC schools do have club football. At anytime they could use the club team to start up a varsity team.
Seattle could add football at anytime.
Longwood do have club football. If they do used them to go varsity? They could find a conference for them to join. Right now, seems no interests for non-football playing schools.
College of Charleston seems to be exploring to add football. Be another school in the southeast to add it if they do.
Some upgrades candidates from other levels.
Bellarmine:No football.
Lincoln Memorial:
West Florida:Exploring to add football as well before upgrading.
Tarleton State:Could be going to the Southland for football and other sports.
Francis Marion:
Western Washington:Could readd football and compete in the BIG Sky or the WAC. Bellingham in Washington is a big town, and they support their team, and they tried to saved the team including the residents and the businesses. Upgrading to D-1 and WAC may have helped them.
West Teaxs A&M:Was a D-1 school before, plus they bring the Amerillo market in Texas.
Southern Indiana:
Cal.-San Diego:Exploring to add football as well. They could join San Diego U. for non-schoolies.
Valdosta State:Big enough school program to considered by adding for football and other sports.
UM-St. Louis:
North Alabama:Strong football team and other sports. Florence is one big town in Alabama that can support a D-1 FBS.
Incarnate Word:Just added football and is thinking of joining the Southland conference.
Delta State:Could add more support to the Southland's Louisiana schools.
Central State, Ohio:Ohio Valley or MVFC?
Alabama-Huntsville:Already have a D-1 hockey team. Could easily get in with other sports.
West Georgia:Small town, have football, and may not find a home.
Central Oklahoma:Might rethink and go ahead and make a move for the Southland conference or MVFC.
Indiana, Pa.:Northeast do need more football playing members.
Northern Kentucky:
Oklahoma City U.:Former NCAA D-1 school, dropped to NAIA status and now wants to come back. Big market, could readd football, and could find a home in the Southland conference.
Kentucky State:OVC
Colorado State-Pueblo:Readded football, former named as Southern Colorado, and would fit in D-1 as the third largest city market in Colorado.
Grand Valley State:MVFC
Nebraska-Omaha:MVFC along with OKCU and C. Oklahoma could fit.
Lemoyne:
Grand Canyon U:Has a large student body, mostly online learning, plans to add football and go D-1. Could fit in with the Big Sky conference.
Harding:
Arkansas Tech:Have over 200,000 people in and around Russevllville, Arkansas, have close to 10,000 students and still growing, fan base, businesses would thrive when going to D-1. Has a strong football and basketball programs, and fit right in Southland Conference.
Henderson State:Be a much better fit at D-1 level than Harding.
Southern Arkansas:In a big town, and could bridge the Louisiana schools with Central Arkansas.
Central Washington:Strong football and a big city.
Others that could fit the upgrade for D-1.
North Idaho:NJCAA in a town which could fit Big Sky.
British Columbia U:Located in a big town in Canada, on the west coast and perfect to play Washington and Wash. State.
Western Oregon:Located in a big town.
Oregon Tech: Pretty size town in the Cascades.
Dixie State:Eastern Utah school as another bridge.
Pacific Lutheran or Puget Sound:In Tacoma, Washington. Could join both Central and Western Washington.
Evergreen State:In Olympia, Washington. State capitol.
Southwest schools:
Azusa Pacific from the NAIA, could help more with the other California schools.
Humboldt Dtate, Cal.-Lutheran, Occidental and Menlo are other California schools with Chico State.
North central:
Pittsburg State:SWAC
Briar Cliffe:Iowa school
Fort Lewis: In Gunnerson, colorado. Town mentioned in AVP:Reqium.
Colorado College:Readd football and second college in Colorado springs for a cros town rivelry.
St. Cloud State:Minnesota school also thinking of exploring D-1. MVFC?
Rocky Mountain:Monatana school in a big town.
Minn.-Duluth:Help support Minnesota for in-state reivelry game.
Mankato State:Another large town and could be in-state rivelry. Minnesota is a big state, and people can not really go to Minnesota U. football games. Add more schools from the state can help get more people out to games.
N.W. Missouri State:MVFC footprint.
Caroll, Montana:Large city, and won so many NAIA titles. A dynasty in NAIA.
Adams State:Made famous in Revenge of The Nerds movie.
Missouri Western:Joplin
Missouri S&T in Rolla, Missouri, MVFC footprint.
Wayne State, Nebraska:Read they help created some D-1 FBS conferences.
Mesa State:Another Colorado team.
Dickinson State:Another Dakota school.
St. John's Minnesota:Another dominate dynasty team in football.The coach have more wins than Joe Pa.
Sioux Falls: Dakota school.
NW Iowa:
Methodist:In Missouri. Could help the Religious schools in D-1.
Lindenwood:
Now South Central Schools:
Bacone:SWAC
SE Oklahoma State:Big town for FCS football.
Southern Nazareene:another Oklahoma City area school.
Santa Fe U.:Another school in New Mexico in JC.
New Orleans:If they can regroup after Hurricane Katrina, and adding football starting in 2011. New Orleans can find themselves back at D-1.
Oklahoma Baptist:School in Shawnee Oklahoma could support a D-1 team. Thinking of adding football.
UALR:Local business support for the University to add football at the FBS level, and a possible bowl game at War memorial Stadium. Would share the stadium with Arkansas University which both schools could call the place home when they compete against each other.
New Mexico Highlands:Las Vegas school could go D-1 and support as a bridge for UTEP.
East Central, oklahoma in Ada the home of Country singer Blake Shelton would support a D-1 school there. Big town which can support big time football.
Langston:SWAC
SW Oklahoma State in Weatherford Okolahoma is big enough to support D-1 football.
Angelo State:
UAFS:They could add football and go in the Southland Conference.
Northern Arkansas:In Harrison, Arkansas can be a bridge for both MVFC and Southland which could go in both conference.
Arkansas Baptist:SWAC, located in Little Rock.
UAM:Monticello school, large town, can support D-1 FCS team.
Lyon in Batesville is similar to UAM, but need to add football to be involved.
LSU-Shreveport:Add football and you could get people attracted to attend classes there. It would help Louisiana schools to promote other schools besides LSU for any money to get into them.
Midwest schools.
Mount Saint Joseph's:
Findlay:
Wayne State, Mich.:
Wis.-Oshkosh:Already have football.
Case Western:Another military academy that could form a new military conference.
Mount Union:Dominate college football team. Could fit will in D-1.
Quincey:Already playing a lot of D-1 teams. Ohio Valley or MVFC could do nicely.
Saint Joseph's, indiana:Could fit into D-1 nicely as well.
Michigan Tech:
Wis. Eau Claire and Wis.-La Crosse:Already have football, and can help Wisconsin fiancially by cutting travel costs for the school and for the fans.
Southeast schools:
West Florida:exploring football and FCS status.
Fayetteville State:Market in a big town.
Birmingham-Southern:
Lemoyne-Owen:
Talladega:
Miles:SWAC or MEAC
Tampa U:readd football to help out.
Florida Tech:from NAIA who added football.
Edward Waters:NAIA school already playing several teams a year at the FCS level.
Albany State, Goergia:market in Georgia for that team.
Shorter:MEAC
LANE:SWAC
Georgetown,KY.:Lets see how they do against Georgetown, DC.
Wingate:
Catawba:
UNC-Pembroke:
Lambuth:SWAC
Carson-Newman:Like Catawba, they both seems to always be at the top of footbal everyyear.
Northeast schools:Important because a lack of schools there.
Buffalo State:Used to been a rivelry for Buffalo U. at the lower ranks.
Widener:Could rejoin their old conference mates who moved up.
Lock Haven:
East Stroudsburg
Bowdoin:Maine school that can help Maine out.
Wimington, Delaware:In need of another school from there.
Utica:Who wants to go visit the prison there?
West Conneticutt State:
Virginia State:
Franklin & Marshall:A school that had a history of going to bowl games in the past.
Coast Guard:I am surprised that they are not a D-1 FBS school yet.
Ithaca:Remember the ICky shuffle?
Chatolic U.:DC school that could fit in with Georgetown.
Kutztown:
Plymouth State:
New York U.:Would be a big addition for D-1 as a big university and if they add football.
Any of the Maritime colleges in the northeast to fill out the Armed Forces conference.
Virginia Union:
Bowie State:Upgraded their turf that are D-1 standards.
Southern Conneticutt:
C.W.Post:Another military academy to join Army and Navy.
Remember all these schools are ideal to fill in areas that are a lack of teams, and to also ease the cost of travel for schools and fans.
Now as for the MAC with the latest expansion talks. If they do go to 20, these are the times they may bring up from the northeast from the FCS in case of a potential split of the Big East and Conference USA schools.
New MAC schools possibilities.
U.Mass.
Delaware
James Madison
Fordham
Stony Brook
Richmond
Old Dominion
Other schools? Maybe like VCU, UNC-Charlotte, New Hampshire, Vermont or others. MAC may want schools that have both football and very good basketball teams for a better invites to the March Madness of the tournament.
Now, Sun Belt could also be interested in adding the Southern schools that want to be going for FBS status.
Texas State
Sam Houston State
SFA,
Lamar
UTSA
Appalachian State
Jacksonville State
Georgia Southern
UALR
Western Carolina
Remember, this is all talk and may never happened. The U. Mass is certain. The others could also happened as well. It depends on tv market, schools that have football and basketball, filling in gaps, to help boast schools, and at times greed on the part of some Universities who think about money and not quality. I rather watch a 11-1 Boise State on tv than a 5-7 Texas Longhorns. The quality is much better than quantity. There are several bowl games I am not interested in watching like a bunch of losers at 6-6. I rather watch an 8-4 Temple than a 6-6 Washington, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Clemson and so forth.
As for critics who think the WAC are weak, and the Mountain West as a weak conference? Think again. Boise State blanked Idaho, but Nebraska allowed over 20 points scored on them by the same team.
Or what about Utah State almost pulling off an upset in Norman over Oklahoma own field? Then, they almost lost to air force, and almost lost to Cincinnatti. That tells you that the Big 12 is not dominent anymore. Or an SEC schools that lost to schools in the Sun Belt and to Jacksonville State over the past few years, and almost lost to La. Tech, UAB and others. Face it. The little schools or by Ohio State called them little sisters winding up handing their butts on a platter. Ask Michigan when they lost to appalachian State.
