Siu 1-a?

[NT91]

I think SIU should look at moving From 1-AA to 1-A in foootball.

What do you think?

[buff64]

I think SIU should look at moving From 1-AA to 1-A in foootball.

What do you think?

They were at one time , they were a member of the MVC , which was a DI conf. in all sports in the early 70's , and maybe longer.

[NT91]

They were at one time , they were a member of the MVC , which was a DI conf. in all sports in the early 70's , and maybe longer.

So NTSU must have played SIU.

[Eagle1855]

So NTSU must have played SIU.

we have played them 4 times, winning all 4.

1962 NT 55, SIU 30

1964 NT 14, SIU 13

1966 NT 53, SIU 6

1967 NT 37, SIU 0

[MeanGreen61]

I think SIU should look at moving From 1-AA to 1-A in foootball.

Why ?

[NT91]

Why ?

They are good at most of the big sports. I would rather have them in the SBC than WKU.

[Eagle1855]

They are good at most of the big sports. I would rather have them in the SBC than WKU.

Well, like it or not WKU is a done deal.

I hope Texas State moves up and then I hope it stops. Too many 1A teams as-is.

[CMJ]

Even if SIU moved up they wouldn't join the Belt. The MAC fits them better geographically. But they won't move up, because that would be a move down from the MVC in basketball. And that is what SIU is all about.

[MeanGreen61]

They are good at most of the big sports. I would rather have them in the SBC than WKU.

Well WKU is here and they've been a member of the Sun belt much longer than we have.

[Eagle1855]

they've been a member of the Sun belt much longer than we have.

LUCKY!!!!

[NT80]

We need to be promoting some current members of CUSA to move up or out (for our own benefit of course). How about Memphis into the Big East?

[MeanGreen61]

We need to be promoting some current members of CUSA to move up or out.

SMU to the MAC or ...........?

[whatshisname]

I think SIU should look at moving From 1-AA to 1-A in foootball.

What do you think?

I don't think too many here care about SIU. Some may want to see TSU make the jump, but I'm not sure they're inclinded to do that now. SIU or TSU will make that move when they think they're ready.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

We need to be promoting some current members of CUSA to move up or out (for our own benefit of course). How about Memphis into the Big East?

--The Big East has 16 basketball members... I doubt that they want more and Memphis would be smart to avoid so much competition anyway... Better to be a Big Fish in a small pond that be a smaller fish in a big pond. Ask Cincinnatti how they did this year after moving over..... dead last.... and Louisville W-L record was not that great either. I repeat my prediction... I think in 5 years or less the Big-East will restructure due to excessive size and a difference of interest... half do not play football and half do.

---So Ill. is a good basketball school and the MVC is a good basketball conference although many of the announcers downplay how good it is . (typical BCS BS) . Doubt they want to change their status at all. If the Belt enlarges or changes up I expect Texas State and maybe even Sam Houston to want to improve their status. Sam Houston usually has a rather good basketball program and has done better in football lately.

Edited March 26, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[NT80]

--The Big East has 16 basketball members... I doubt that they want more and Memphis would be smart to avoid so much competition anyway... Better to be a Big Fish in a small pond that be a smaller fish in a big pond. Ask Cincinnatti how they did this year after moving over..... dead last.... and Louisville W-L record was not that great either. I repeat my prediction... I think in 5 years or less the Big-East will restructure due to excessive size and a difference of interest... half do not play football and half do.

That is when Memphis will be asked; after the split between basketball-only schools vs. all-sports schools. SBC should do the same thing, go to an all-sports league.

[NT80]

Here is a thread about SIU to 1-A talk; mostly from 2006 and most say no:

http://valleytalk.net/archive/index.php/t-1937.html

[Green Mean]

I cant say I know a whole lot about SIU however I do know that they seem to be in a similar situation as NT....they are one of those under the radar schools that dont get a whole lot of pub as a university. They have like 35K students with a nice campus and they have a good basketball team. Them going to Div 1A may not be a bad thing as they would be a school that may be a sleeping giant up in that part of the country.

[NT80]

I cant say I know a whole lot about SIU however I do know that they seem to be in a similar situation as NT....they are one of those under the radar schools that dont get a whole lot of pub as a university. They have like 35K students with a nice campus and they have a good basketball team. Them going to Div 1A may not be a bad thing as they would be a school that may be a sleeping giant up in that part of the country.

Here is a link for all the schools in the Gateway Conference, their bios and stadium pics:

http://www.thegatewayconnection.com/gfcpros/gfcfacility.html

Southern Illinois University

McAndrew Stadium

Location: Carbondale, IL

City Population: 26,676

School Enrollment: 23,000

Field: OmniTurf

Built: 1938

Capacity: 17,324

Edited March 26, 2007 by NT80

[foutsrouts]

I cant say I know a whole lot about SIU however I do know that they seem to be in a similar situation as NT....they are one of those under the radar schools that dont get a whole lot of pub as a university. They have like 35K students with a nice campus and they have a good basketball team. Them going to Div 1A may not be a bad thing as they would be a school that may be a sleeping giant up in that part of the country.

I drove through and toured the campus and Carbondale couple of years ago and wasn't overly impressed. Not even in the same league as the North Texas campus.

[Arkstfan]

When contemplating a shift, you have to ask "what is to be gained?"

Southern Illinois is a hoops school first.

So they would certainly entertain a change that would improve their standing in basketball. For that to happen what are the leagues consistently better than the MoValley that make as much or more money?

SEC? No chance at joining.

ACC? No chance at joining.

PAC-10? No chance at joining.

Big 12? No chance at joining.

Big East? No chance at joining.

Those six are the only leagues with clearly better exposure that are as good or better than the Valley.

After that you have the A-10, which is currently below the Valley and generally fights for the same spots.

CUSA, currently below the Valley but has typically made better money, but can it be sustained with only Memphis making noise in hoops?

MWC, currently below the Valley and lousy geography.

When you look at the options, where is the incentive for SIU to go from FCS to FBS?

The MAC and Sun Belt would take them for all sports but they move from a league where the championship is telecast on CBS to ESPN or ESPN2. They move from a solid 2 bid league to leagues that have not been 2 bid of late and tend to go home the first day of the tournament. CUSA? They were one bid this year.

What benefit does FBS provide them?

1. A lesser basketball league.

2. Greater access to money games, but they tend to not play money games playing one I-A a year opting to play a single MAC game each year except for last season when the only I-A opponent was Big 10 member Indiana.

3. Greater expense by adding 22 football scholies and likely needing to add one women's sport, which would then require having to play a money game each year in addition to current practice.

There just is no benefit to SIU to move up, instead it would be a detriment to their program. Scratch them from your list.

[NT80]

When contemplating a shift, you have to ask "what is to be gained?"

Southern Illinois is a hoops school first.

So they would certainly entertain a change that would improve their standing in basketball. For that to happen what are the leagues consistently better than the MoValley that make as much or more money?

SEC? No chance at joining.

ACC? No chance at joining.

PAC-10? No chance at joining.

Big 12? No chance at joining.

Big East? No chance at joining.

Those six are the only leagues with clearly better exposure that are as good or better than the Valley.

After that you have the A-10, which is currently below the Valley and generally fights for the same spots.

CUSA, currently below the Valley but has typically made better money, but can it be sustained with only Memphis making noise in hoops?

MWC, currently below the Valley and lousy geography.

When you look at the options, where is the incentive for SIU to go from FCS to FBS?

The MAC and Sun Belt would take them for all sports but they move from a league where the championship is telecast on CBS to ESPN or ESPN2. They move from a solid 2 bid league to leagues that have not been 2 bid of late and tend to go home the first day of the tournament. CUSA? They were one bid this year.

What benefit does FBS provide them?

1. A lesser basketball league.

2. Greater access to money games, but they tend to not play money games playing one I-A a year opting to play a single MAC game each year except for last season when the only I-A opponent was Big 10 member Indiana.

3. Greater expense by adding 22 football scholies and likely needing to add one women's sport, which would then require having to play a money game each year in addition to current practice.

There just is no benefit to SIU to move up, instead it would be a detriment to their program. Scratch them from your list.

Good points. Plus the fact they would need major stadium improvements and are in a limited population area. The town is only 26K and St Louis is the major close city but 110 miles away and in another state.