(04-16-2014 09:27 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(04-16-2014 04:56 PM)DawggoneEagle Wrote:  FCS isn't going to die, that's a baseless fear, but your program's window of opportunity to may close for a while and your stuck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The reports of the death of FCS are greatly exaggerated.

In 2003, there were 11 FCS schools that reported attendance of 15,000 or more. Ten remain FCS with no stated intention of moving. 34 reported 10k or more attendance and four of those have reclassified or are in the process.

In 2008, once again 11 FCS schools reported attendance of 15,000 or more. Nine remain FCS with no stated intention of moving. 30 reported 10k or more average attendance, four have reclassified or are headed into it.

In 2013, 12 schools reported attendance of 15,000 or more. Two have accepted invites to FBS leagues, two (Liberty and Jax St) have stated a desire to move but have not been invited. A total of 26 drew 10k or more average and 3 have accepted FBS invites.

At first glance the assumption would be that FCS is weakening as we go from 34 drawing 10k or better to 26 but digging in something pops up. In 2003 of that group of 34 schools, 12 were HBCU's. In 2013 of the 26 drawing 10k or more there were only seven HBCU's. WKU and TXST who were in group of 34 FCS schools in 2003 weren't on the FCS list in 2013.

The numbers indicate FCS is no less healthy today than it was 11 seasons ago, unless your school is an HBCU.

FCS on the east coast is dying. The power resides in the Midwest and West now.

If the CAA and SoCon recruiting footprint you now have ODU, App, UNCC, GSU, GA St., and USA. That is 384 NEW scholarships and a total of 510 FBS scholarships that didn't exist 5 years ago. That will have an impact on the caliber of player signed by mid-atlantic and southern FCS programs.

I'd wager the percentage of teams that make the quarterfinals of the FBS playoffs that come from the west will be much greater and shift has already started.