Originally Posted by
CajunNation
2 things.
First, if all this year accomplished is to get people to think of the SBC as "bottom tier" and not the "worst conference in FBS", then that is still great improvement and I'll take it. We are part of that SBC/MAC/CUSA tier. Now, let's keep up the momentum and try to get some daylight between us and the other 2.
It doesn't get people to believe that at all and that is the point I was making in concerns with Boomer's comments. You don't have the body of work to claim the SBC is in the MAC/CUSA tier yet. One year or two years of a larger FBS Bowl Playoff share doesn't overcome the fact that both MAC and CUSA have had programs ranked in the Top 25 and that played in the Access Bowl. The SBC has yet to reach that goal and thus there is no momentum in gaining National Attention outside the SBC and it's fan base.
Second, I have absolutely no problem with FCS additions if they add value to the league. Where would we be if we had said no more FCS schools a few years ago? In a much worse position. That's where.
If you are defining adding value outside of football, then you are not getting it! Basketball is a distant second when it comes to marque sports and revenue possibilities. Football drives the bus and that is why App. State and Georgia Southern have worked out well; Both brought winning football traditions. Coastal Carolina is not an equal trade off for Idaho, their football program and facilities are not on par with either of the programs mentioned above.
The Cajun's will travel to a football facility next year that sits less than 17,000 fans. Until they win in the SBC and improve their facilities, they do nothing to alleviate the stain of the SBC being an FBS halfway house for FCS programs making the jump. Sorry, that is a fact outside the fan base of SBC programs. While Coastal Carolina will improve the SBC status in NCAA Baseball, it does nothing to advance Boomer or your arguments that we are somehow on par with CUSA and the MAC.
The increase in revenue share is great considering our current economic situation, but it does not immediately elevate the SBC to MAC or CUSA status after one season.
Suppose a couple of MVC schools with bad-arse basketball programs want to join and go FBS? Suppose an east coast FCS with historically great basketball, good football and a boat load of old money wants to join? The point is Never Say Never.
The MVC has had a number of bad-arse basketball programs over the year, aren't most of them still playing football in the FCS? Again, NCAA Football drives the bus for conference realignment. Waiting on programs like Coastal Carolina to elevate their football programs only sets the SBC back in improving it's brand. The time is now, we can't afford to continue to wait for the SBC to improve it's brand. The future is now, that is why 6 current SBC programs have continued to discuss future expansion and conference realignment with CUSA. The future is not the SBC.
Re: Bowl Victories
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