jdub27

Jordan Stevens named head coach of UND softball

What general rules are in place? And what FBS governing board? You keep talking about all these things in place to prevent it but haven't actually provided any of that. The only rules for being FBS are the ones a laid out a page or two ago. There is no limit to the amount of FCS teams an FBS conference can invite. 6 teams would be completely allowable at this point. Once those teams have transitioned fully to FBS schools and meet continuity rules, again, nothing is stopping them from breaking off and forming a new conference. Until you can provide actual documentation that there are rules currently on the books that would prevent this, you are wrong.

You keep talking about situations that would cause competition in geographical areas. The proposed situation doesn't come close to doing that. On top of that, the SunBelt helps Idaho and NMSU move on. These things make it more plausible.

Exactly the point. This is your interpretation, not what the rules say as written today. I'm not saying that the rules can't or won't change the rules to exactly what you're describing, but until they do what is being discussed could plausibly happen. I'm not so certain on your line of thinking about the NCAA being the ones who have the power to establish conferences either? They can determine the qualifications for teams being FCS or FBS, which is spelled out in the NCAA manual, but not sure they are the final say on the formation of conferences or can refuse to recognize them for reasons that are arbitrary. Again the rules could be changed, but this is centered on how they are written today. Once schools that transition from FCS to FBS have completed that transition, they would have the same rights as any other school to move or create a conference.

From your article:

Here's the only requirements and oversight that are laid out in the NCAA manual that I've seen (along with having a conference invite). FCS teams are already DI institutions, there isn't the stringent oversight you're discussing. Your scenario with the NSIC is completely different because it involves a move from from DII to DI.

I get what you're saying but point at which of the following aren't currently allowed under current rules: -Existing FBS conferences ability to invite 1 or more teams to move up to FBS -FCS teams having to follow proper protocol to transition from FCS to FBS -Existing FBS teams having the ability to create a new conference No one (almost) is saying that this is a likely scenario. All that is being said is that the current rules do not prevent it. Can they be changed? Of course. Is the scenario likely to play out? Pretty much zero chance. Do the rules, as currently written, prevent it? Not that anyone has pointed out yet.

Again, I don't think its likely to happen for many reasons. But is there actually something in the NCAA manual that could stop this scenario from playing out? If timed right, it would could be completed when the football TV contracts are being redone, I can't see them being excluded at that point for fear of anti-trust lawsuits. Maybe it does throw up red flags and some rules are changed, but at this point, I don't think anything in place legally could stop it from happening. I very well could be wrong, but no one has provided anything to the contrary on it. Or the Big East turning into the American Athletic Conference and "new" Big East. This one is probably more relevant when discussing splitting up portions of large money to an extra, newly formed conference.

I'm still talking about the possibility it would happen not whether is actually likely to happen. -Adding 6 teams would not be against any rules I've seen. I don't know of any measure in place that would allow the other conferences to stop the Sunbelt from doing it. Correct, inviting any teams up isn't a zero sum game, this isn't much different other than it being a few more teams. I don't know of anything that legal prevents this regardless of intentions or how it looks. (I was referring to it in terms of a new conference, at that point it is a zero sum game as the teams would already be FBS) -"Entrance" fees along with some sort of structure that offsets their loss in the $12 million could easily be put in place for the existing teams. I believe that GSU and App St had something in their invite that they didn't receive revenue immediately. -Again, only a 2-3 year issue, parts of which can be offset with non-conference guarantees that are well more than double of what the exact same team would be receiving as an FBS team once they are in year 2 and count as "FBS" wins (see Sicatoka's post) -It would be a 2-3 year agreement and if there were east-west divisions, you'd be looking at 1, maybe 2 away games cross-division for 2 or maybe 3 years. The SunBelt may actually be willing to do something along these lines as it would help them help Idaho and NMSU move on. The MWC and to a lesser degree the MAC wouldn't do it because it would be creating competition in their geographical region. No such concern with the SunBelt. -Fullerton wouldn't be killing football in the BSC, he's still have a full (though less competitive) conference while knowing that the other schools would come back as they would still have all other sports under the Big Sky umbrella. The Big Sky would then "manage" the operations of the FBS conference. You have some very valid arguments on the money side of it, but they are not insurmountable if teams really want to go FBS. On the legal side of it, I am not sure there is anything that can prevent it (that I have seen). In terms of practicality, very doubtful but doable. I'm not sold on it for many reasons but mainly because I don't think there is a rush to go FBS in the current landscape.

Again, my thoughts on it are being unlikely but I'm just looking at if it is actual plausible that it could happen: -The Sunbelt invites 6 Big Sky schools for football only and creates a western division (with Idaho and NMSU). The whole conference would never go. -Those 6 schools pay large "entrance" fees of $1-2 million, giving the other SunBelt schools a nice little bump to offset any sharing of other revenues they receive or even write the contract so that the new schools don't receive any league money until they are a full member. -After a few years when they have fully transitioned and are FBS teams, the western division breaks off and forms a new conference for football "Big Sky FBS" or something. No new FBS teams are created as the ones breaking off are full FBS members. Your zero sum game you keep bringing up. Yes a new conference is created, but the Big East split did exactly that in basketball. UND and Denver created a brand new hockey conference. I don't recall seeing any commentary on anyone outside of school presidents related to it voting on either of the matters. And in both cases, it required a new autobid to be issued to the national tournament and some sort of revenue sharing. I haven't read the NCAA bylaws to see who's approval is necessary, but I'm not certain that it needs to be voted on by NCAA membership. Now there would be some issues with the language of the current TV and playoff contract, but at that point it would be close to time to renegotiate anyway, would the other conferences really leave them out for fear of anti-trust issues? Just want to reiterate that I don't see it happening because there are way too many moving parts and uncertainty in the overall landscape but again, I don't think its impossible like you are claiming. And with the possible shifting of the P5, it likely doesn't matter.

While I don't think it is likely to happen anytime in the near future, I'm not so certain your thoughts on it being impossible are correct either. Theoretically, couldn't Big Sky schools be invited into the Sun Belt and then split off into a new Big Sky after a couple of years, very similar to what the Big East did splitting into the new Big East and the American Athletic Conference? The Sun Belt would collect "entrance" fees for any school looking to move up and in the end a conference that far west is not a competitive problem for them. Again, I don't see it happening in the near future, but am I missing something that would actually prevent the possibility of a similar situation happening?

No. They do have men's golf though which will now be a Big Sky sponsored sport.

Now you are fine with using reported numbers instead of butts in the seat?

UND's attendance was poor at the end of a very disappointing season, but you're either terrible at math or facts. Take your pick.

I believe both are going to be seniors and would not come in until the 2015-2016 season.

I think there is actually a little bit of truth in both. Kelley was announced as president in March, 2008 but did not officially assume his role until July 1. Faison was hired in May, 2008, but I believe that Kelley did have some input, though the hire was made definitely made under Kupchella. Guessing Kupchella had the final say once the search committee made its recommendation as he was still the acting president.

Careful, you may get a threatening e-mail. Granted you aren't a ND Representative, but still...

That was over 4 years ago. A lot changed in that time frame, including what the REA was and wasn't willing to do.

Leaving to be Deputy Director of Athletics. The current Iowa AD is an NDSU grad but younger than GT. Somewhat surprising that is the job the lured him away, anyone have a clue how big of a step up it actually is? Guessing its a pay raise of some sort but thought it would be an AD job at a mid-level FBS school.

If true, the fact that it is something that requires negotiation says everything you need to know about GT and the situation.

While some may not agree with Fullerton's views and visions, at least he is open and honest about them, making it well known that he has a forward looking plan. He continues to strive to move the conference forward and make sure they are positioned properly and along the way is open about what his plan is. Not sure the same can not be said for the Douple/Viverito combination. The fact that they both have separate interests isn't necessarily a good thing either.

You must not be aware that UND has already scheduled UW for 4 series in the next 5 years and UM has signed a home/home deal with UND, meaning there will be at minimum 12 games with those two teams over the next 5 years.

Then try again on your original comment, it still doesn't make sense.

How does that go? Something, something, glass houses?

It's actually over 3 times bigger. The old Target building is huge.