(04-17-2014 02:55 PM)AlwaysSunny Wrote:  

(04-17-2014 10:21 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  

(04-17-2014 09:47 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(04-17-2014 09:32 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  

(04-17-2014 09:09 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I don't think that they are not interested in FBS football but that the landscape is still uncertain. Until the P5 get their automony or a new division created with new rules, why put the effort to move up only see yourselves end back where you were. There are some big changes coming.
Athletes as employees to full cost of attendance and stipends....that'll still needs to be settled but it will affect a whole lot of G5 schools and perhasp some G5 schools don't participate in that because it will be to costly stay remotely competitve.
I change my mind think that the Sunbelt is the last spot for FBS. There is going to be some movement when all the changes coming down the road here by August to see what a school decides where they want to play.

Well, I seriously doubt you ever see a split of FBS. There just isn't anything to gain and a lot of P5 programs would lose. However, even if there was a split the next level of programs are still a step up from FCS.

The FCS landscape is shifting west as the best FCS programs in FCS are moving up. With ODU, App St, UNCC, Ga So and possibly Liberty making the jump it will only make life on the recruiting trail harder for JMU which will make it harder to compete with the western FCS teams.

Yep.

All those overlooked players in VA that used to go to JMU now have another FBS option in the state and they can play in front of a packed home stadium against some recognizable names.

Teams like NCSU, Marshall, Virginia Tech, and App State aren't coming to play JMU at home, but they are coming to Norfolk.

Exactly. Kids are going to pick FBS over FCS almost every time. I just don't see any downside whatsoever to moving to FBS when the opportunity arises. The added exposure and revenue opportunites, the increased interest from boosters, the chance to upgrade facilities.... It all strengthens your program and whether there is ever a "split" or not you are better positioned than if you stay in FCS.

If there was a split and we are to assume that the G5 conferences are either in their own league or thrown in with FCS, does anyone doubt that those conferences would still be stronger than the FCS conferences?

I think the key word here is almost. Let's be honest, on the football field the difference in competition between the top of FCS and the bottom of FBS is at best marginal. Neither are going to get 5 star players so it really doesn't matter on that front anyways unless it's a transfer. There's a reason you don't see any G5 teams inviting NDSU to town lol.

I said almost because someone would find one example and say they proved me wrong. I would say that 95+% of the time a kid will pick FBS over FCS. Now, that doesn't mean that there aren't more talented players that end up in FCS because FBS schools made a mistake. Happens all the time. You also have the FCS advantage of taking transfers.

I wouldn't want to play NDSU because they are capable of beating us (of course we played UCA and play Montana State this year) but we would beat them 7 or 8 of 10 times.