On Tuesday, the Sun Belt Conference determined that the University of Idaho football program would no longer be a conference member once the 2017 ends.
The decision speaks volumes, as the Vandals have struggled in the conference since rejoining in 2014.
A huge question haunts the Idaho football program: Where should the Vandals go?
The answer is clear. Idaho should follow the rest of the athletic department and move the program down to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level and join the Big Sky Conference.
To be fair, moving down a division would have its consequences. For instance, many financial contributors want to see Idaho remain in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Some fans fear that if the program moves down, it would result not only in the loss of boosters, but also the ability to schedule “big name” opponents that generate revenue for the university.
However, these fears do not outweigh the intangible benefits of moving to the Big Sky.
When the Vandals first entered the Sun Belt in 2014, they posted a 1-7 conference record and finished the year at 1-10. The next season, the team saw some improvement and posted a 3-5 Sun Belt record and a 4-8 record on the year.
Despite some positives last year, these records speak for themselves. The Vandals had more wins in 2015 than the past four seasons combined.
The limited performance in the FBS has resulted in a general loss of interest in the football program that stretches beyond the university campus. Home game attendance consistently dwindles, especially late in the year when bowl game hopes have all but disappeared.
The Big Sky Conference stands as the last hope for the Vandals to bring competitiveness and former glory to for the team. By facing opponents with smaller programs, Idaho may begin to find its edge on the field.
Travel is also an additional and expensive cost of staying in the FBS. Nearly all Sun Belt teams reside in the Southeast in states such as Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. The cost of transporting an entire team and coaching staff would be much lighter on the pockets of the university if the football team transfers to a league with more regional opponents.
Close contact with Northwest opponents would also provide a rebirth of old rivalries. Since the collapse of the Western Athletic Conference in 2012, Idaho has lost its identity as a team.
The longstanding rivalry with Boise State and Washington State used to generate excitement across the Palouse. Since that era has ended, the general excitement surrounding game day has failed to recover.
The ability to face programs such as Montana, Montana State and Idaho State in the Big Sky would offer the chance to rekindle some of that excitement, although on a smaller scale.
Rivalries are what give college football its identity. It’s what makes Saturday afternoon a thrilling experience. It can be difficult for Idaho to create that interest when the team is playing a program that is unfamiliar to most students.
Vandal fans should remember that football is just a game. From a university’s standpoint, it is also a business. Nevertheless, it is still a game to be enjoyed by the student-athletes and fans that call themselves Vandals.
The University of Idaho should make the right decision and move to the Big Sky. The decision should not be based on money or prestige. It should be about the student-athletes and the fans.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected]
86VAN
Brandon, I don't know your age or background but I beg you to do some research and spend some time speaking with alumni from the 80s. I was there and did not miss a game. I am a VSF member now, season ticket holder, and do not miss a game. I have two children at Idaho and we have over 12 graduates from my family. These "rivalries" are being over stated. With the exception of Montana, BSU, and UNR were our rivals. They are gone. In fact over 20 schools that were FCS or 1-AA are now FBS. It is that way for a reason, FCS does not produce the revenue FBS does. I am stunned you do not care more about your fellow students who will lose their scholarships. Idaho has always played at the next tier behind the highest level. In the 80s when we were 1-AA, it was the second level. There was no FBS or FCS. Now we have two levels in FBS, P5 and G5. FCS is actually the third level. President Staben is attempting to move the Vandals to Division 3, and the alumni who have years of experience dealing with ineffective leadership are pushing back. There is a reason students who are at Idaho for 4-5 years do not make all the decisions. You do not have enough experience with past administrations and state politics. If you want the future of UI to be a satellite campus of our friends in Boise, keep on a path of retraction. I would rather and hope to see from our student body demands of growth and progress out of UI leadership. You clearly have a voice, please consider supporting growth.
Al
There is a survey trying to help make the decision. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPT9B6K
Craig
Isn't idaho in the big sky? Their football team for some reason is in the sunbelt conference. I think there afraid to play sac state.
DandyVandy
U of I Football dropping down to FCS will directly limit the long term credibility and viability of the University of Idaho in many ways and indirectly impede the future advancement of The City of Moscow in many more. Ultimately, U of I moving down to FCS would secure a long term “Death Sentence” to the U of I as an institution and the growth of the greater Moscow community. I know you Argonaut/Vandal Nation writers have so little time on your hands because of all the diligent and in depth research you're doing regarding this matter, so with respect to you and your time I will try to be succinct, clear and most of all SIMPLE with my support points regarding the FACTS. The University’s enrollment growth plan will be crippled by moving down to FCS. Athletics are integral in advertising to the masses (i.e. the 80% who are not academics), primarily through football, and without being on the “mainstage” or FBS Idaho loses that target audience, thus losing 80% of its potential market segment. U of I student enrollment will be in a constant stagnation mode without proper advertising through athletics. Further, with enrollment flat or decreasing, capital deployment by investors into Moscow real estate (commercial and residential) will dry up due to the lack of opportunity on future ROI predicated by increasing student enrollment. Additionally, as I’m sure you well know due to your in depth research, U of I directly represents approximately 50% of the primary economic base to the City of Moscow. Dropping football down will directly inhibit the profitability of all the businesses in Moscow due to decreased revenues from people like myself who will no longer travel to Moscow to see games. Look at football attendance during our Big Sky tenure and you’ll see it pales in comparison to attendance, despite winning while FCS, since going back into FBS in the 90’s. Further, people from outside the area WILL NOT travel to Moscow for a weekend to see the likes of the teams/schools that remain in the Big Sky today, except for MAYBE Montana. The “rivalry” institutions that were there in the 80’s have moved on. Alumni relations are critical for the success of any University. The very thought of this move down is already having a negative affect within the alumni circles in Boise and Seattle (two of our primary markets) and moving down to FCS will permanently alienate many within those alumni bases, thus causing irreparable and permanent damage to long term alumni relations. Outside of personal platitudes by a few delusional (and apparently very influential) individuals who are proponents for returning to FCS, there is not one positive objective metric supporting the greater good and continued advancement of The University of Idaho or the City of Moscow from moving backwards in football status. Ultimately, by moving football back down to the FCS level the U of I cannot succeed on the public perception platform in its current market against peer institutions. Being that perception is reality I’ll finish my comment by proposing a question, a question that many alumni are asking themselves, “Why should we continue to fight for the long term tenable future and success of our alma mater and/or Moscow when its leaders will not?”
Irwin Fletcher
You're arguement is hollow, are you working for our fearless, err GUTLESS leader? The regional rivalry arguement makes absolutely no sense. EWU and Idaho share a very short history together in the bsc . It's a basic Wikipedia search. I was at school in the 80's, Idaho's rivals are not in the bsc anymore. Our rivals have moved up and so have we. Why would we intentionally give ourselves the death penalty ? We would have to hire a new staff and get almost a whole new roster. Not too mention the women's programs that would be inevitably cut (soccer among them, our most successful program as of now) So where's the guarantee of success? The UI would also be the laughing stock of the entire country. We would be doing exactly what Boise State and Bob Kustra want us to do. You may not realize it but Boise State's objective is to marginalize the UI and control the entire state. And anyone who doesn't realize that is not paying attention. And for our 'Gutless' leader not to believe this and have people like you write articles to back him up should cost him his job. You should write an article about Staben's failure as a leader and his shortsightedness and lack of vision. I'm almost certain this post will be taken down like others have. How spineless is that ? Let's start acting like a real institution.
Track Vandal
I'm sorry you think the Big Sky is the only way to go. It makes no economic sense and isn't fun for me to watch. I can't even tell you who half of the schools in the Big Sky are because most of those schools were Division II when I competed in the old Big Sky with Boise State in the league. To say that Idaho would be successful in football in the Big Sky is ludicrous. Our Olympic sports teams haven't been dominant after dropping down to play in the Big Sky. How could anyone think the football team would be a power with 20 less scholarships and likely a new coaching staff? Follow NMSU's lead and hold on until we find an FBS western league that we can call home for all of our sports.
doug
Fighting to stay in fbs doesn't make financial sense either.
86VAN
Reach out to Rob Spear and ask the question. I have seen it presented many times. It does make financial sense and 40 student athletes get to keep their scholarships.
D Lyman
I agree with Ron that moving down is no guarantee for success since there are more negatives moving down to FCS and staying FBS.
Al Middleton
There is a survey about the decision -- please weigh in! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5MNZMRM
Bob Saget
Nice job deleting my first comment. No one wants the truth I guess. This article is a joke.
John
FCS is a shrinking wasteland. Multiple schools are lining up to vacate...only one is even considering dropping down: us. Since 1985, 27 schools have left FCS for a spot in FBS, and no FBS school has dropped down. Currently, no less than 7 schools are seriously pursuing moving from FCS to FBS. And, again, no one outside of the UofI is publicly speaking about dropping from FBS to FCS. Why is this trend happening? Because FCS is less attractive financially, and it is becoming increasingly irrelevant. P5 conferences have, or are considering, rules that will deny its members the ability to schedule them. In ten years, in my opinion, FCS will be no more relevant in college football as the NAIA brand is today. FCS is a definite step backwards for our university. Going FCS does not guarantee wins or competiveness. You are much more optimistic in your view of the benefits the drop will provide. I see none (except reduced travel costs). If we drop down, we lose. We lose players. We lose programs (Title VIIII). We lose revenue that supports our other athletic programs. We lose athletic scholarships, coaches, and a lot of donor support. Attendance will, more than likely, suffer. Plus, enthusiasm around the football program will probably slide to new, lower depth (especially with boosters and current players). The echo in the Kibbie Dome will be deafening. Ask our current players if they'd rather play in FCS football. Ask them who they'd rather play against Arkansas State and Georgia Southern, or SUU and NCU. Or, if they'd rather play for a spot in a Bowl game or for a place in FCS playoffs. Ask the current student athletes if they are excited about the loss of athletic scholarships and the dropping of programs (probably women's teams) that the prospect of FCS football presents. I think you'd find the answer would greatly overshadow the opportunity to play Montana or Idaho State. Just my thoughts. Thanks for your time.