Wac Schools Face Loss Of 1a/ Fbs Status

[MeanGreen61]

If attendance falters, NMSU's 1A status will be put on hold, WAC status called into question (7:30 p.m.)

By Teddy Feinberg/Sun-News Sports Editor

Article Launched: 06/07/2008 07:36:17 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES — Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said that if New Mexico State University fails to live up to the football attendance standards set by the NCAA, they will be dropped from Division 1A competition and possibly the WAC.

If things get to that point, Benson said that NMSU would be re-instituted back into 1A play when the school proved it could live up to NCAA standards and maintain its attendance average above 15,000 per season.

"They would be out of 1A, that is correct," Benson said. "It would not affect any of the other sports at New Mexico State. They would remain at the 1A level."

The program's status in WAC would be up in the air.

"Their standing in the conference would be subject to review," Benson said.

Other WAC schools who face similar scenarios as New Mexico State are Utah State and Idaho. All three programs entered the conference three years ago.

ARTICLE

http://www.lcsun-news.com/sports/ci_9516345

Edited June 9, 2008 by MeanGreen61

[UNTflyer]

Maybe we'll stop hearing the cries of UNT fans that we should lobby the WAC for acceptance. Without the rivalry with New Mexico St, what's the point?

[GoMeanGreen1999]

We should just stay in the Belt. No to the WAC.

[Green Mean]

I still say the WAC is a better option than the belt. These teams have bad attendance but that probably wouldnt affect NT.

[MeanGreen61]

Off the WAC board. Appears that Utah State & Idaho are farther down the slippery slope than New Mexico State.

Avg attendance 2006, 2007

NMSU - 17,596 and 14,412

USU - 11,360 and 13,131

UI - 14,543 and 11,479

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

I've never been accused of being a Karl Benson fan, but at least he is publicly warning them. He shouldn't have to worry that much about New Mexico State. Utah State used to draw around 20,000 but they need good teams to get those numbers and they ahven't been getting them. Idaho should be a real concern. If Benson was smart, he be constantly selling the WAC to Montana and Montana State. Montana is often #1 in 1AA (FCS) attendance and Montana State has the next highest average in the Rockies/Pacific area. I believe that the state of Montana has legislated that both must be in the same confernce so it's both or none.

We (SBC) have our own attendance problems as well. FAU averaged less than 8,000 last year and by finagling (read falsifying) their attendance report, came in at 110 over the magic 15,000 mark in 2006. That same year, FAU drew an average of a whopping 9,236. At least the WAC hasn't had any averages in the four figures yet. We sere also having a problem with ULM but they seem to have righted the ship. After the Arkansas contract, they seem to be holding their head above water. Now if the NCAA really wants to enforce attendance, they need to look at Kent State, Eastern Michigan, and several other MAC members.

[greenminer]

Does NMSU miss playing UNT?

They'll vehemently defend their move to the WAC, but I wish we could still work something out on the field regardless of conference affiliation.

[UNTLifer]

I still say the WAC is a better option than the belt. These teams have bad attendance but that probably wouldnt affect NT.

Yep, let's head to a conference that is facing the distinct possibility of losing three football playing members, with bowl games that are too far to travel to and that is made up of primarily West Coast teams.

[Green Mean]

Yep, let's head to a conference that is facing the distinct possibility of losing three football playing members, with bowl games that are too far to travel to and that is made up of primarily West Coast teams.

You still have La Tech, Hawaii, and Boise State. Nevada and Fresno State. If they did lose three members I am sure they would make changes as well. People know these schools that I mentioned especially Hawaii, BSU and Fresno State.

[NuMexAg]

NMSU will be fine with attendance. I think the article sensationalizes the situation a little (or maybe a lot). If we miss the mark in 2008, we will be placed in a probation status - not be removed from 1A. We will have to miss it two more years to be bumped. I also get the impression this question was initiated by the newspaper - not by Karl Benson. Benson was just responding to the question. Lots of schools are in worse shape than NMSU, and I think the NCAA is setting themselves up for a legal battle down the road if they don't figure out a way out of this requirement. But regardless, I don't think NMSU will have to be concerned.

NMSU missed the mark in 2007 by only 500 or so per game - and that was with a very disappointing team, playing a 7 game home schedule, 2 of which were Friday night ESPN affairs, which are historically poorly attended because they conflict with HS football. Not surprisingly we have no TV games this year, and no Friday night home games. We also play host to Boise State, Hawaii and heated rival New Mexico, so I think attendance will be much better.

As for missing playing UNT - those of us Aggies in the DFW area certainly do! - but I doubt we will get anything scheduled in the near future. Just not enough open slots for us, with two OOC games locked in each year against UTEP and UNM and one money game somewhere (Nebraska this year, Ohio State next). We do play you in Denton in basketball this coming year, so I expect a good crowd for that one!! I would love for that to become a regularly scheduled series. Our AD said they are exploring the idea (BB not FB).

[NT80]

"They would be out of 1A, that is correct," Benson said. "It would not affect any of the other sports at New Mexico State. They would remain at the 1A level."

False. Only football is classified as 1-A or not. Other sports are Division I, II, etc.

Edited June 10, 2008 by NT80

[stebo]

False. Only football is classified as 1-A or not. Other sports are Division I, II, etc.

False again, there is no such thing as IA anymore. There is Division I FBS (Bowl Teams - formerly IA) and Division I FCS (Championship Teams - formerly IAA).

[stebo]

Click on me to learn about FCS and FBS - its old news, but not to everyone I guess

[NT80]

False again, there is no such thing as IA anymore. There is Division I FBS (Bowl Teams - formerly IA) and Division I FCS (Championship Teams - formerly IAA).

In the context Benson used as an illustration he was referring to 1-A for all sports not just football, and that is, and always has been, incorrect for sports other than football. FBS and FCS still only applies to football.

Edited June 10, 2008 by NT80

[stebo]

Well, you should change your sentence to say WAS, not IS - you are talking in the present tense and of course; as we all know, IAA and IA are WAY in the past.

[UNTflyer]

I do not like the new terms for I-A and I-AA. I try to use them, but it just sounds awkward and half the time people just stare blankly at you, so I stick with the original vernacular.

[stebo]

LOL, honestly - I don't either... but NT80 is one of those guys that knows everything about everything, hates the Belt, thinks that the WAC was a missed chance for us, and generally just annoys most people on GMG by "correcting" them... so I thought that I would correct him for once (and it sure was fun, haha). But, yeah - IA and IAA are easiest for me, too. I have to stumble those words out, FCS/FBS... and half the time I get them backwards! What Benson was trying to say is that Division I is Division I for all sports except for football. At NMSU's current level, they are atthe highest level of play, the FBS division. If they were to miss their attendance another year then they get put on probation for two years. If they don't hit it during the two year probation then they are moved down to FCS (formerly IAA).

I do need clairification on Idaho and Utah State... since they were both warned after 2006 (I remember that article) - and both of them failed to meet criteria last year. Will they be put on probation THIS year or after one more year?

Also, somebody commented on FAU in this thread. The rule simply states that the attendance is counted by tickets sold. The rule says that the lowest priced ticket cannot be more than 50% off the highest priced ticket (to prevent having a booster buy 15,000 one dollar tickets).. What FAU did was smart... they knew that they were building a program so instead of taking in general donations - they tied ALL donations to large chunks of tickets. In other words, if you were a donor at the $500 level, you got $500 worth of tickets. They also had some nicely attended games for USF and Minnesota. FIU did the same thing. That is why both of them have low box office attedance but just above 15K for their audited NCAA attendance. It is not against the rules, no need to scream about it. And for those bitching about ULM... they had more people at home against a SWAC team than we did against Navy. The Belt is getting better all around, just be patient.

Edited June 10, 2008 by stebo

[greenminer]

I think the new vernacular is easier.

[untjim1995]

LOL, honestly - I don't either... but NT80 is one of those guys that knows everything about everything, hates the Belt, thinks that the WAC was a missed chance for us, and generally just annoys most people on GMG by "correcting" them... so I thought that I would correct him for once (and it sure was fun, haha). But, yeah - IA and IAA are easiest for me, too. I have to stumble those words out, FCS/FBS... and half the time I get them backwards! What Benson was trying to say is that Division I is Division I for all sports except for football. At NMSU's current level, they are atthe highest level of play, the FBS division. If they were to miss their attendance another year then they get put on probation for two years. If they don't hit it during the two year probation then they are moved down to FCS (formerly IAA).

I do need clairification on Idaho and Utah State... since they were both warned after 2006 (I remember that article) - and both of them failed to meet criteria last year. Will they be put on probation THIS year or after one more year?

Also, somebody commented on FAU in this thread. The rule simply states that the attendance is counted by tickets sold. The rule says that the lowest priced ticket cannot be more than 50% off the highest priced ticket (to prevent having a booster buy 15,000 one dollar tickets).. What FAU did was smart... they knew that they were building a program so instead of taking in general donations - they tied ALL donations to large chunks of tickets. In other words, if you were a donor at the $500 level, you got $500 worth of tickets. They also had some nicely attended games for USF and Minnesota. FIU did the same thing. That is why both of them have low box office attedance but just above 15K for their audited NCAA attendance. It is not against the rules, no need to scream about it. And for those bitching about ULM... they had more people at home against a SWAC team than we did against Navy. The Belt is getting better all around, just be patient.

Personal Attack??

[Green Mean]

hates the Belt, thinks that the WAC was a missed chance for us

While I dont hate the belt, I do think it is a pretty spare conference and I would have to agree with NT80 that as long as we dont take up on that offer that not joining the WAC is a missed chance for us.

[stebo]

No, that is not a personal attack - it was sarcasm and a joke. I hope that nobody is offended.

[UNTflyer]

No, that is not a personal attack - it was sarcasm and a joke. I hope that nobody is offended.

I was offended. You owe me an apology.

[UNT_playmaker]

The Ncaa is never going to enforce those in default. I mean they have cut so much slack for alot of team already, especially the SBC teams.

I wouldnt mind FAU, FIU, La-Monroe, Lousiana Lafayette being taken off so we dont have to play them anymore.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

I do not like the new terms for I-A and I-AA. I try to use them, but it just sounds awkward and half the time people just stare blankly at you, so I stick with the original vernacular.

To this day, I don't even acknowledge that they changed them - I for sure don't recognize them in stories because I am so used to seeing I-A or I-AA. I love how they manage to change something they had done for years, only to make it so confusing that few use it, but they just can't seem to figure out that playoff deal.

[UNTLifer]

especially Hawaii, BSU and Fresno State.

And they are so close and easy to travel to, plus, the media coverage would be wonderful from these locations.