Still early in the season,only two schools below the magic 15,000 number.Both MAC schools,EMU,11,424 and Ohio,10,173.We will draw better as the season progresses.Go bobcats.

what happens when the big schools weed out who they want with the 15000 attendance requirement? lets say they only lose three schools. i bet then they go back to the ncaa and say hey its time to up it again to 20000. there are schools they want out of 1a and they probably will keep raising it until they get rid of them.

I suspect you're right on the money on this view, arpmany.

:D

I don't think there's a magic number that the big schools/BCS conferences have in mind for 1-A. I simply think they recognize that few schools can truly compete at the 1-A level, as we've emphasized the need for financial committment and supporting attendance. The larger schools are afraid of too many small schools that a) truly can't compete by virtue of size and $ alone, and b) will only serve to dilute the talent pool and (key here) simply add to the number of non-BCS schools.

Perhaps if after all this conference realignmnet shakes out and there's a nice tidy number of conferences with a resolution to the non-BCS entry issue, then the big schools might seek to simply secure that form. It's one thing to turn a blind eye to Buffalo joining the established MAC, it's another to see yet another conference (Sun Belt) plus more independents (FAMU, FIU) come on board and then cry about entitlement.

Perhaps another way for this to be appraoched is by actually capping/controlling the number of bowls. With less opportunities for generating extra revenue, there's be less incentive for schools to move up, and especially for conferences to add more schools. Just a thought.

One could argue that there is already a cap in place, with reference to revenue. Many non-BCS schools don't make money in bowl games. Some schools don't even break even. Their payoff is national exposure for their team and conference.

Well spoken. I know Ga. Tech lost money going to the Silicon Valley Classic last year. (To say nothing of the pride lost via their performance!)

I've said before I'll trust the administrators to know the limits of their budgets, and the schools overall to make sure the program doesn't overshadow the school's primary purpose. But the AD's should also know the true costs and benefits of being in 1-A ball, and I suspect too many of the AD's are operating on delusions of grandeur.

According to NCAA,only four D-1a schools now below magic 15,000 number.OhioU not one of those at 15,200.
Central Michigan-14,936,
Bowling Green-14,383,
Idaho-13,938,
Eastern Michigan-11,424.
Still early in the season.Go Bobcats.

And ironically enough, Bowling Green has wins over three BCS schools (and Temple) in the past two seasons (Kansas, Missouri, Purdue).

I think they will all make it. I think soon you will see a resurgence from 1-AA to 1-A. Don't ask me why. I think its because of this realignment going on and the BCS vs Non-BCS schools. We could see the surgence as we saw in the 80's and early 90's. Any Comments on that.

_________________
The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

Publius, I believe Bowling Green has wins over even a larger number of BCS schools going back a bit further. They are on a run...

Also, have you noticed who they are playing this coming Saturday? Ohio State. If they continue their run there, wouldn't that be a story. Seems like OSU comes close to being upset each and every week, its just a matter of which school will do it, but BG would make a more embarassing story than a Big10 team...

Trouble with the typical MAC upset is that only the upsets are noticed. The routine "gime games" they lose from the BCS schools are of course ignored. But Bowling Green has acquitted itself well...

8-)

Some thoughts on this, please: Would it be a good thing or a bad thing for fans of the "1-A/1-AA bubble" teams to show up and try to keep the average just over 15k? I mean, is there more pride to being a bottom feeder in the biggest league as opposed to being a decent contender in the next tier down? Would it be surprising to find a school like Central Michigan go into its final game with a 15k+ average, but then everyone just stays away so that the school fails that standard?!! And if it happened, would the school take that for a message from the students?

Conference affiliation not withstanding, it seems to me that if the prospects for my school to ever succeed in 1-A are slim to none, why bother? And from the financial aspects, I wonder would would be the best option for the program.

According to NCAA,no changes from last week in either names or numbers of the four sub 15,000 schools.
Go bobcats.

so Texas State is a good choice for 1-A.

_________________
The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

Here is most of the teams on the Div. 1-A/1-AA bubble. Which ones won't meet the new requirements? ???
LA. Monroe
Eastern Michigan
Buffalo
Kent State
Akron
Idaho
Ball St.
Arkansas St.
UL Lafeyette
Bowling Green
Central Michigan
MTSU
North Texas
Troy St.
San Jose St.
Houston
UAB
Temple
Wyoming

Wyoming, UAB, MTSU, Houston, Troy St, Temple, Arkansas St., UL-Lafayette and North Texas will make it. North Texas is on the WAC's list if they lose the teams to the MWC.

_________________
The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide