SIU 1A???

[jelly_81]

My brother told me that SIU announced at the game thursday night that they plan to go to to IA within 5 years. Is there any truth in that. And if so is it really plausible.

:salukis: :valley:

[DawgFan]

Not true, not interested. Plausible if the new stadium would be 25K instead of 17K, but what's the point? All the lower end D1A teams just take a beating and spend part of their basketball budget doing so.

[bears1]

I was actually told that there was some debate about the Valley reclaiming football at the D1 level in 5 years or so. If they were going to do it, then that would be the way to go about it. You would have SIU, UNI, MSU,Ill St,Ind St and mabey Western Kentucky at some point. Then mabey WSU would join as a football member as well. I doubt Drake ever would make the jump however. What about Bradley?

[BearsCountry]

In all honsety I could see the Bears doing in some point in the near future, with maybe Illinois State the rest I don't simply bc of markets even though SIU and UNI have stronger teams.

[SiuCubFan8]

I was actually told that there was some debate about the Valley reclaiming football at the D1 level in 5 years or so. If they were going to do it, then that would be the way to go about it. You would have SIU, UNI, MSU,Ill St,Ind St and mabey Western Kentucky at some point. Then mabey WSU would join as a football member as well. I doubt Drake ever would make the jump however. What about Bradley?

What about Bradley? Well they would have to get a football programs first off.

Drake would never do that. They are not even a D1AA scholorship team.

I highly doubt this would happen. SIU is not going D1 in the reasonable future, case closed!

[SubGod22]

I think it would be great. Especially if it gave WSU a kick in the butt to get things moving along.

[DawgFan]

SIU and ISU were somewhat recently contacted by reps from the MAC about making the move to D1A football. Both said no. It would of been a bad move by both schools for a variety of reasons.

[BearsCountry]

SIU and ISU were somewhat recently contacted by reps from the MAC about making the move to D1A football. Both said no. It would of been a bad move by both schools for a variety of reasons.

And Bears were contacted by the Sun Belt for the same thing.

That could be a conference where we all 3 could find a home in the future for football only if we wanted too. Not much different from now if that happens expect trade UNI, Western for Arkansas State & Middle Tennessee.

[NoPlaceLikeDome]

I don't think I will ever see UNI go to I-A. With Cedar Falls basically and hour and a half from both Iowa and Iowa State and in a state with only three million, I just don't think there is room for three I-A schools. Plus, the Gateway and MVC are PERFECT fits for the Panthers.

[skinny_uncle]

My brother told me that SIU announced at the game thursday night that they plan to go to to IA within 5 years. Is there any truth in that. And if so is it really plausible.

:salukis: :valley:
There was no such announcement.
It ain't gonna happen.

[Newsbreaker]

UNI is not moving. The University has spent all it can for the near future on the new roof, the new arena, and the Human Performance Center. It would take building an entirely new football facility to get up to IA standards, plus UNI doesn't have the money, nor financial potential in such a small market, to support a fully funded IA scholorship level...no to mention UNI can't afford to add more women's sports to be Title IX complient at that level.

Gateway teams play in the best IAA conference in America, and the top half of the league can reasonably believe they have a shot at the National Championship yearly. Moving to IA for any of these schools would be a HUGE mistake. If instead of a National Championship, playing in the first bowl game of the year on December 14th is a good trade to you, then good luck!

[da_bears]

If attendance requirments get droped (half the MAC schools don't make them anyways), then a Missouri Valley football conference could happen so UNI doesn't have to build a dome and stuff like that. The MVC is a power confernce in basketball yet doesn't even have football-weak.
And with rumors going around of SIU, ISU, MSU, and of course Western Kentuky going I-A in the next decade, it would make sense to just form a new confernce rather than split up into the MAC, sunbelt, or wherever and lose the history and rivalries.

[Panthera Pardus]

http://www.tatesschool.com/images/philosophy_pic.gif
Kids, repeat after me:

"The idea of going to I-A is absurd when you have teams that don't average more than 13,000 per game in attendance, not to mention that there is no viable conference for any of those teams to join."

GOOD JOB, KIDS!

Seriously, just because you're friends with the hot girl in your lab class doesn't mean that you're going to get to make out with her. Likewise, just because you're a I-A team doesn't mean you're in contention for a BCS bowl, or that ESPN will give a damn about you.

[-Z-]

That would be nuts. The world doesn't need any more Tulsas.

[Phantom]

Ill say the same thing here that Ive said over on our board many times. Theres been alot of rumblings around Normal in the past year about the move to I-A in the forseeable future. These rumors have really taken off now that the renderings for the renovation of our stadium have been released. Both are all well and good, and Im all for moving to I-A if/when the time is right, but I just dont want to jump up at the expense of leaving the MVC in hoops.

Ideally, id like to see the Gateway make the jump as a whole, although there are some teams that wouldnt be ready to do so (Indy St, WIU). Or as was suggested earlier, maybe have the MVC coming back to 1-A. I know from being in Normal that IlSt is nowhere near ready to make the jump---yet, but the wheels are starting to get in motion for it to happen in the future. But again, I just dont want to sacrifice leaving the MVC in hoops for the sake of jumping to I-A. Regardless of the up/down seasons weve had the past several years, IlSt still is a "basketball school" and it really wouldnt be good to leapfrog one sport for another.

If they can move us to a good I-A football conference when the time comes, AND keep us in the MVC for hoops (and VB, Bsbl, etc) then that would be ideal.

[Newsbreaker]

I'm going to ask what might seem to be an obvious question to some of you.

For those who are advocating a move to DIA for Gateway schools, what exactly do you think is the gain the schools will receive?

Personally, I see none. No matter what league the teams are in, MVC or otherwise, you're at best competing to play in an awful bowl game in mid-December. If the attendance requirement and stadium requirement is dropped, you're still trying to fund the increased scholorships at IA with less then 13,000 tickets per game.

The TV money would be no more then a break even, and fans aren't going to show up in large numbers just becasue the classification is different. The MAC schools have proven this.

Almost certainly, none of the current Gateway teams will have a chance to play in a BCS bowl, and the 'respect' of being in what's now considered a great IAA league will be gone. We'll be the Sunbelt, a joke football league with joke programs that can't compete, and the increase financial drain will likely cripple a growing basketball conference.

Look at, for instance, Illinois State. Do people really think more seats will equal more fans? This school has averaged 10,000 fans a game ONE time in the past 12 years! You would need to AVERAGE you're 10th largest crowd of all-time just to meet the current requirement, and more to make football at that level really financially viable.

Similiarly, Western Kentucky hasn't averaged above 10,000 a game with much regularity. They, along with YSU, might have the best shot, in the case of IL State, MSU, and even YSU/WKU, it's not like these schools are modern day Marshall's, dominating IAA and badly in need of a stiffer challenge.

From a competitive standpoint, try winning the Gateway regularly. From a monitary standpoint, sell the high level of play that currently exists. I see no reason to lust after the "haves" in college football, the BCS teams, when at best you're going to beg to be a complete afterthought.

[iSASO]

That's one reason a lot of Wichitans aren't interested in football period. Do you want to be an afterthought as a AA team or an afterthought as a crappy 1-A team?

[SubGod22]

I really don't care what level it is. If we had football I'd be happy. If we ever do bring it back I'd hope they'd keep an open mind about D1A though. Not to force it, but not to completely give up on the possibility

[Carrcar]

I really don't care what level it is. If we had football I'd be happy. If we ever do bring it back I'd hope they'd keep an open mind about D1A though. Not to force it, but not to completely give up on the possibility
SG22,
I agree. For goodness sake, even St. Ambrose and University of Chicago have brought back football...might as well go to the Univ of Phoenix without it.

[SubGod22]

I wouldn't go that far Carrcar.

[skinny_uncle]

SG22,
I agree. For goodness sake, even St. Ambrose and University of Chicago have brought back football...might as well go to the Univ of Phoenix without it.
http://www.ethanwiner.com/Smileys/Jump.gif

[DaShox]

Schools without football
Bradley
Creighton
Cal State Fullerton --Four time CWS National Champion
DePaul -Big East
George Mason --2006 Final Four
George Washington
Georgetown -- 1983(?) Men's Basketball National Champions
Gonzaga -- 'Nuff said.
Marquette -- 2003(?) Final Four
Pepperdine
Providence -- Big East. Rick Pitino did ok.
St. Bonaventure
St. John's -- Big East.
St. Louis
Seton Hall -- Big East
Xavier

Four teams from the mighty Big East do not have football. Go to the Georgetown board and tell them they are U of Phoenix without football. Let us know how that turns out.

[Carrcar]

Schools without football
Bradley
Creighton
Cal State Fullerton --Four time CWS National Champion
DePaul -Big East
George Mason --2006 Final Four
George Washington
Georgetown -- 1983(?) Men's Basketball National Champions
Gonzaga -- 'Nuff said.
Marquette -- 2003(?) Final Four
Pepperdine
Providence -- Big East. Rick Pitino did ok.
St. Bonaventure
St. John's -- Big East.
St. Louis
Seton Hall -- Big East
Xavier

Four teams from the mighty Big East do not have football. Go to the Georgetown board and tell them they are U of Phoenix without football. Let us know how that turns out.
Is WSU a Catholic school?

[skinny_uncle]

Actually Georgetown does have football. The play in IAA in the Patriot league.