The University of Idaho has yet to announce a decision regarding the status and conference affiliation of its football program, as an impending May 4 deadline looms.
With the Sun Belt Conference’s initiative to deny the Vandals a contract extension as a football-only member, the team has yet to determine its future beyond the 2017 season.
During a press conference March 1, University of Idaho President Chuck Staben said the institution would pursue all options, including Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Independence or joining the Football Championship Subdivision as a Big Sky program.
Staben said remaining in the FBS without a conference would prove difficult for the program.
“Independent is a very difficult status,” he said. “We will evaluate options, but we’ve been independent before, and it is not an easy way to schedule games and maintain a program and ensure stability.”
At the March 1 press conference, Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear said he had not ruled out an opportunity for the Idaho football program to find a regional FBS conference.
“We will explore all options, and I really believe that there is an opportunity out west for another type of league,” he said. “That is another challenge for our department certainly, but it’s not a challenge that we haven’t faced before and we will work through it and select the best option moving forward for the University of Idaho.
Spear also discussed the possibility of reaching out to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to assess the feasibility of renewing football with the league in an interview with GoVandals.net last month.
Former football members of the WAC disbanded in 2012, after a number of universities accepted invitations to the Mountain West Conference (MWC), Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference.
In a phone call Tuesday afternoon, WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd would not confirm if a communication had taken place between the conference and the University of Idaho. Hurd declined to comment on the situation, citing confidentiality concerns.
Considering Big Sky
The University of Idaho has also considered accepting a football membership with the Big Sky Conference as an FCS program.
Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said he has not received any updates from Idaho on the institution’s decision.
“No one has said a word to me,” Fullerton said. “I’m glad to be able to tell you that truthfully, because that would really put me on the spot with people if they gave it to me in confidence. But quite frankly, I have had no comment with them.”
The Big Sky commissioner said the university initially requested a six-month renewal clause on the invitation during the fall, with a decision to be made at the end of that six-month period.
“They said they were on the cusp of the decision within the next six months, and that happened in October,” Fullerton said. “We are kind of hitting that deadline pretty quickly here, so I assumed it would be in this semester. But I don’t know. It’s gone silent.”
Fullerton said he initially communicated with the university during the conference’s postseason basketball tournament, but he has not heard anything since.
“During the Big Sky (basketball) tournament, they were still asking questions and mulling it over as to what they should and shouldn’t do,” he said. “But I have not heard a word. Not a word.”
Fullerton said the conference would likely provide the University of Idaho with some flexibility if the institution requested an extension on the offer.
“I really think that there are so many of us in the league that believe Idaho would be such a terrific member for us, I couldn’t see it not being extended if they needed a little more time to touch all the bases,” Fullerton said.
He said he understands the gravity and difficulty of the decision.
“Politically, these decisions are so darn tough,” Fullerton said. “People get their own personal wants and ego wrapped around their position.”
Fullerton said the appeal of adding the Vandal football team to the conference is based on three key factors.
“The first is history, and history does not always dictate the future, and I understand that,” Fullerton said. “We have great history.”
He said the geographical location of Moscow in relation to other Big Sky members would also help boost ticket sales within the conference.
“You’ll sell out your arena when you play the University of Montana,” Fullerton said. “And the University of Montana people in the Spokane area and in the state of Washington – if they need to buy your season tickets to get your one ticket, they will do that.”
Fullerton said the regional fan base of the Big Sky Conference could provide the Vandals with more exposure in the Northwest.
“Those are the followings that we have and the followings that can be developed at the University of Idaho,” he said. “It will all of a sudden make it relevant again.”
Fullerton said the third appealing aspect of the program was its status as a leading institution in the state of Idaho.
“I know that you won’t settle forever to be middle of the road,” he said. “In other words, I know that you will come into the league and immediately strive to be in the top. It’s in your DNA. So (Idaho) will make us better. You make us sharper and more competitive.”
He said the addition of the Vandal football program to the Big Sky could potentially allow for two separate leagues within the conference. The Big Sky currently possesses 13 football members.
“I’ve tried to let them look at maybe making it a two-league experience in the FCS,” Fullerton said. “Because I think playing for one automatic berth is not enough reward for 14 institutions. If you can form two seven-team football leagues, you can play for two.”
Fullerton said he cannot comment on the possibility of an FBS Big Sky league, stating that the only assurance for conference members is FCS status.
“I think there are a bunch of research institutions in the Big Sky,” he said. “And over the years – now that the economy is taking over and all those Power Five conferences are spending so much money – I think there is a very good possibility that another level of play will someday develop that maybe includes the Mountain West and Big Sky.”
Fullerton said he thinks the University of Idaho would be a great addition to the Big Sky Conference if the institution accepts the conference invitation as a football member.
“It’s easier for some of our schools to solve problems with the University of Idaho than someone who is not like them,” Fullerton said. “So I think the match is something that is extremely perfect.”
Josh Grissom can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@GoshJrissom
Ron Reynolds
Fullerton said the third appealing aspect of the program was its status as a leading institution in the state of Idaho. “I know that you won’t settle forever to be middle of the road,” he said. “In other words, I know that you will come into the league and immediately strive to be in the top. It’s in your DNA. So (Idaho) will make us better. You make us sharper and more competitive.” What BS. If our DNA was to "strive for the top" why didn't we even strive to the mediocre in FBS, the only football that's nationally relevant. "Fullerton said the third appealing aspect of the program was its status as a leading institution in the state of Idaho." One only wonders how long that will last given we're dropping to the minor leagues. I would venture even now, in the eyes of the average Idahoan, UI is NOT the leading institution.