Post by CrimsonPhantom on Aug 16, 2012 12:27:25 GMT -7
join Big Sky in other sports
By Brian Murphy
bmurphy@idahostatesman.com
Idaho plans to play as a Football Bowl Subdivision independent and join the Big Sky Conference in other sports, pending Idaho State Board of Education approval Friday. The state board will hold a special meeting Friday to vote on Idaho's athletic future.
Idaho is the only agenda item and it is a "request for authorization for independent scheduling of football games and for the President to explore and accept an invitation to the Big Sky Athletic conference."
The Vandals are currently members of the Western Athletic Conference. The league has experienced a number of defections in recent years, leaving it with just four members and two football-playing members — including Idaho.
Idaho told the state board about its plans during an executive session Wednesday. The Vandals said the Big Sky is a stronger conference and allows them to compete with regional rivals and minimize travel costs and missed class time.
Idaho was a charter member of the Big Sky in 1963 and played in the league until 1996.
Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton told the Statesman on Wednesday that he would accept the Vandals under that arrangement.
"I would support that. It's not what we asked when we invited them," Fullerton said. "But I understand the concept."
Idaho's addition will give the league 12 all-sport members: Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Weber State.
To make it work as a football independent, Idaho must schedule five home games, including four against FBS schools. The Vandals have just one home game currently scheduled for 2013 — against Northern Illinois.
"The BCS landscape is changing rapidly and I know a number of conferences are on hold right now to see how the selection committee revenue distribution is going to unfold in the next six-to-nine months," Idaho President Duane Nellis told the Idaho Statesman. "I really believe we’re not at the end of this domino effect of conference changes."
Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear said he believes independence will have to be a short-term solution for the Vandals.
"If we did it, it’d be definitely short-term. I don’t see us going beyond two years," Spear said.
From- voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/08/16/bmurphy/idaho_go_independent_football_join_big_sky_other_sports#storylink=cpy
By Brian Murphy
bmurphy@idahostatesman.com
Idaho plans to play as a Football Bowl Subdivision independent and join the Big Sky Conference in other sports, pending Idaho State Board of Education approval Friday. The state board will hold a special meeting Friday to vote on Idaho's athletic future.
Idaho is the only agenda item and it is a "request for authorization for independent scheduling of football games and for the President to explore and accept an invitation to the Big Sky Athletic conference."
The Vandals are currently members of the Western Athletic Conference. The league has experienced a number of defections in recent years, leaving it with just four members and two football-playing members — including Idaho.
Idaho told the state board about its plans during an executive session Wednesday. The Vandals said the Big Sky is a stronger conference and allows them to compete with regional rivals and minimize travel costs and missed class time.
Idaho was a charter member of the Big Sky in 1963 and played in the league until 1996.
Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton told the Statesman on Wednesday that he would accept the Vandals under that arrangement.
"I would support that. It's not what we asked when we invited them," Fullerton said. "But I understand the concept."
Idaho's addition will give the league 12 all-sport members: Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Weber State.
To make it work as a football independent, Idaho must schedule five home games, including four against FBS schools. The Vandals have just one home game currently scheduled for 2013 — against Northern Illinois.
"The BCS landscape is changing rapidly and I know a number of conferences are on hold right now to see how the selection committee revenue distribution is going to unfold in the next six-to-nine months," Idaho President Duane Nellis told the Idaho Statesman. "I really believe we’re not at the end of this domino effect of conference changes."
Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear said he believes independence will have to be a short-term solution for the Vandals.
"If we did it, it’d be definitely short-term. I don’t see us going beyond two years," Spear said.
From- voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/08/16/bmurphy/idaho_go_independent_football_join_big_sky_other_sports#storylink=cpy