McNeese has less enrollment than SE LA and NW State. That's another strike against them. If they wanted FBS, they should have done what USL did in the 80's and left the Southland for Independence.

(11-16-2018 07:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Out of the FCS Southland schools that could beat a blue blood football program would be McNeese State. They almost upset Nebraska. But they should have stayed in FBS which would have meant they would be in SBC before La.-Monroe.

Nebraska was ranked IIRC and pulled a long play out of their ass in the final minute to survive McNeese St.

(11-16-2018 07:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Out of the FCS Southland schools that could beat a blue blood football program would be McNeese State. They almost upset Nebraska. But they should have stayed in FBS which would have meant they would be in SBC before La.-Monroe.

Hanging with or beating a blue blood once, does not mean a school is FBS worthy. Nobody cares that they almost beat Nebraska.

(11-16-2018 01:20 PM)stever20 Wrote:  um, this isn't McNeese looking at going FBS, this is a McNeese columnist opining they should go FBS. Pretty big difference.

McNeese had plenty of opportunities. They choose to thrive in FCS instead of floundering in FBS like their SLC brethren-ULM, ULL, La Tech, UNT, Arkansas St. Some of them have floundered more than others.

Lamar and UTA were the other SLC members at the time the SLC was forced down to I-AA and both dropped football.

(11-16-2018 07:43 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(11-16-2018 07:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Out of the FCS Southland schools that could beat a blue blood football program would be McNeese State. They almost upset Nebraska. But they should have stayed in FBS which would have meant they would be in SBC before La.-Monroe.

Hanging with or beating a blue blood once, does not mean a school is FBS worthy. Nobody cares that they almost beat Nebraska.

In 2013, McNeese beat USF, on the road. It was a humbling loss for us.

The thing about this discussion is it has gone from initially wrongly claiming that someone at McNeese was floating the FBS idea, to posters now lamenting how McNeese has "blown" their chances to become FBS over the years - when there is zero evidence that McNeese regrets any such alleged failures and is anything but happy being an FCS program.

It's rather strange.

(11-17-2018 08:01 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  The thing about this discussion is it has gone from initially wrongly claiming that someone at McNeese was floating the FBS idea, to posters now lamenting how McNeese has "blown" their chances to become FBS over the years -

I don't think this is a fair assessment. I'd say there are people pointing out that FBS makes no sense for McNeese, and giving reasons, and some *gloating* that McNeese "missed the boat" and now it's really too late--a sixth Louisiana FBS school is probably 3 too many.

Receipts to follow. Or I get to be wrong.

(11-16-2018 06:34 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  (Reasons McNeese is not a good FBS candidate)

(11-16-2018 07:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Out of the FCS Southland schools that could beat a blue blood football program would be McNeese State. They almost upset Nebraska. But they should have stayed in FBS which would have meant they would be in SBC before La.-Monroe.

"Missed the boat", not much gloating though. EDIT: Okay I can count this as "lamenting"

(11-16-2018 07:07 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  McNeese has less enrollment than SE LA and NW State. That's another strike against them. If they wanted FBS, they should have done what USL did in the 80's and left the Southland for Independence.

So, "Reasons" plus "Missed the boat"

(11-16-2018 11:23 PM)bullet Wrote:  McNeese had plenty of opportunities. They choose to thrive in FCS instead of floundering in FBS like their SLC brethren-ULM, ULL, La Tech, UNT, Arkansas St.

Missed the boat, but were wise to do so

Not a bad scorecard

(11-17-2018 08:53 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(11-16-2018 06:34 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  (Reasons McNeese is not a good FBS candidate)

(11-16-2018 07:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Out of the FCS Southland schools that could beat a blue blood football program would be McNeese State. They almost upset Nebraska. But they should have stayed in FBS which would have meant they would be in SBC before La.-Monroe.

"Missed the boat", not much gloating though. EDIT: Okay I can count this as "lamenting"

(11-16-2018 07:07 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  McNeese has less enrollment than SE LA and NW State. That's another strike against them. If they wanted FBS, they should have done what USL did in the 80's and left the Southland for Independence.

So, "Reasons" plus "Missed the boat"

(11-16-2018 11:23 PM)bullet Wrote:  McNeese had plenty of opportunities. They choose to thrive in FCS instead of floundering in FBS like their SLC brethren-ULM, ULL, La Tech, UNT, Arkansas St.

Missed the boat, but were wise to do so

Not a bad scorecard

McNeese State was the stronger FBS Louisiana school outside of LSU back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Out of the Louisiana schools back in that time period? McNeese State was number 2 out of the Louisana schools. They made bowl games while ULM, ULL, La. Tech, UNT and Arkansas State losing. All the teams from Southland? Only them and UCA have been competing or showing up to the games against FBS material. If they are in the SBC right now? They might be leading SBC west right now. That is how strong they are. I think this article by the writer is pointing out as a strong case. McNeese State would be better in FBS. I would not mind seeing Monroe downgrading to FCS and McNeese State in their place. Not sure if La-Lafayette wants them.

(11-17-2018 01:43 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  McNeese State was the stronger FBS Louisiana school outside of LSU back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Out of the Louisiana schools back in that time period? McNeese State was number 2 out of the Louisana schools. They made bowl games while ULM, ULL, La. Tech, UNT and Arkansas State losing. All the teams from Southland? Only them and UCA have been competing or showing up to the games against FBS material. If they are in the SBC right now? They might be leading SBC west right now. That is how strong they are. I think this article by the writer is pointing out as a strong case. McNeese State would be better in FBS. I would not mind seeing Monroe downgrading to FCS and McNeese State in their place. Not sure if La-Lafayette wants them.

(11-17-2018 01:43 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-17-2018 08:53 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(11-16-2018 06:34 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  (Reasons McNeese is not a good FBS candidate)

(11-16-2018 07:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Out of the FCS Southland schools that could beat a blue blood football program would be McNeese State. They almost upset Nebraska. But they should have stayed in FBS which would have meant they would be in SBC before La.-Monroe.

"Missed the boat", not much gloating though. EDIT: Okay I can count this as "lamenting"

(11-16-2018 07:07 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  McNeese has less enrollment than SE LA and NW State. That's another strike against them. If they wanted FBS, they should have done what USL did in the 80's and left the Southland for Independence.

So, "Reasons" plus "Missed the boat"

(11-16-2018 11:23 PM)bullet Wrote:  McNeese had plenty of opportunities. They choose to thrive in FCS instead of floundering in FBS like their SLC brethren-ULM, ULL, La Tech, UNT, Arkansas St.

Missed the boat, but were wise to do so

Not a bad scorecard

McNeese State was the stronger FBS Louisiana school outside of LSU back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Out of the Louisiana schools back in that time period? McNeese State was number 2 out of the Louisana schools. They made bowl games while ULM, ULL, La. Tech, UNT and Arkansas State losing. All the teams from Southland? Only them and UCA have been competing or showing up to the games against FBS material. If they are in the SBC right now? They might be leading SBC west right now. That is how strong they are. I think this article by the writer is pointing out as a strong case. McNeese State would be better in FBS. I would not mind seeing Monroe downgrading to FCS and McNeese State in their place. Not sure if La-Lafayette wants them.

MCNeese went to 3 Independence Bowls in this era (winning 1). Played Syracuse in one. McNeese 33-10 against La-Monroe and 20-16 against Louisiana. If you redrew who the 5 FBS programs in LA would be, McNeese makes the cut.

(11-17-2018 02:11 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(11-17-2018 01:43 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  McNeese State was the stronger FBS Louisiana school outside of LSU back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Out of the Louisiana schools back in that time period? McNeese State was number 2 out of the Louisana schools. They made bowl games while ULM, ULL, La. Tech, UNT and Arkansas State losing. All the teams from Southland? Only them and UCA have been competing or showing up to the games against FBS material. If they are in the SBC right now? They might be leading SBC west right now. That is how strong they are. I think this article by the writer is pointing out as a strong case. McNeese State would be better in FBS. I would not mind seeing Monroe downgrading to FCS and McNeese State in their place. Not sure if La-Lafayette wants them.

No chance UCA or McNeese would be close to competing with Ark St, ULL. ULM isn't going anywhere either.

The first sentence of the article stated that "the time has come."
Then he adds "It’s time for McNeese State University to make the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision."

Why? He never answers that.

These are some of the issues he did not address:
1. A Sun Belt Invite - The Sun Belt is not looking to expand. But if they were considering expansion, why would the Sun Belt invite McNeese State, when they have other more appealing candidates?

2. Increasing their athletic budget - McNeese State has an $11 million dollar athletic budget. The Sun Belt does not need another ULM. They need bigger schools with bigger budgets. McNeese would need to increase their budget at a minimum of at least $9 million a year to start.

3. Meeting Title IX Requirements - FBS means an additional 22 football scholarships. McNeese is 60% female, 40% male. So how many scholarships are you really adding? How many female sports will need to be added?

4. They have to sell their location - There is nothing about Lake Charles that says, "we got to have them." There are not a lot of people living in the area. Lake Charles is in the #213 metro area at 209,000. The TV market is #174 in the country. The state of Louisiana has a population of 4.6 million, with five FBS schools, two of which are already in the Sun Belt.

5. Stadium Renovation & Expansion - McNeese State stadium capacity of 17,610 is too small for FBS. It would be the third smallest in FBS football behind Charlotte & UMass. This will cost millions of dollars. Texas State University, my school, added 13,500 new seats on the north side of the stadium for the start of the 2012 season, increasing capacity to 29,500. That cost $33 million.

6. School size - With an enrollment of about 8,000, they would have the smallest public school FBS enrollment. An increase in the student athletic fee would be necessary and it would need to be voted on and approved by the students. There is no state money available.

He never explains the why and never talked about where the football revenue really comes from. He mentioned bowl games, but it is the college football playoff revenue and the money games that attract schools to FBS football financially, not the bowl games.

Also, what other sports do they bring? If they had a really good basketball program, that would help. But they bring a mediocre basketball program. The article was poorly written, lacked structure and lacked factual information. He did not bother to talk to anyone in the McNeese State athletic department.

(11-17-2018 08:25 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  The first sentence of the article stated that "the time has come."
Then he adds "It’s time for McNeese State University to make the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision."

Why? He never answers that.

These are some of the issues he did not address:
1. A Sun Belt Invite - The Sun Belt is not looking to expand. But if they were considering expansion, why would the Sun Belt invite McNeese State, when they have other more appealing candidates?

2. Increasing their athletic budget - McNeese State has an $11 million dollar athletic budget. The Sun Belt does not need another ULM. They need bigger schools with bigger budgets. McNeese would need to increase their budget at a minimum of at least $9 million a year to start.

3. Meeting Title IX Requirements - FBS means an additional 22 football scholarships. McNeese is 60% female, 40% male. So how many scholarships are you really adding? How many female sports will need to be added?

4. They have to sell their location - There is nothing about Lake Charles that says, "we got to have them." There are not a lot of people living in the area. Lake Charles is in the #213 metro area at 209,000. The TV market is #174 in the country. The state of Louisiana has a population of 4.6 million, with five FBS schools, two of which are already in the Sun Belt.

5. Stadium Renovation & Expansion - McNeese State stadium capacity of 17,610 is too small for FBS. It would be the third smallest in FBS football behind Charlotte & UMass. This will cost millions of dollars. Texas State University, my school, added 13,500 new seats on the north side of the stadium for the start of the 2012 season, increasing capacity to 29,500. That cost $33 million.

6. School size - With an enrollment of about 8,000, they would have the smallest public school FBS enrollment. An increase in the student athletic fee would be necessary and it would need to be voted on and approved by the students. There is no state money available.

He never explains the why and never talked about where the football revenue really comes from. He mentioned bowl games, but it is the college football playoff revenue and the money games that attract schools to FBS football financially, not the bowl games.

Also, what other sports do they bring? If they had a really good basketball program, that would help. But they bring a mediocre basketball program. The article was poorly written, lacked structure and lacked factual information. He did not bother to talk to anyone in the McNeese State athletic department.

Correction. Their stadium is FBS size. You need to average 15,000 attendance a year. They could expand by 3000 seats to be over 20,000. They were an independent at the FBS level until 1982 because they passed the requirements. Some SBC schools at the time did not meet the requirements.

(11-17-2018 08:43 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-17-2018 08:25 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  The first sentence of the article stated that "the time has come."
Then he adds "It’s time for McNeese State University to make the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision."

Why? He never answers that.

These are some of the issues he did not address:
1. A Sun Belt Invite - The Sun Belt is not looking to expand. But if they were considering expansion, why would the Sun Belt invite McNeese State, when they have other more appealing candidates?

2. Increasing their athletic budget - McNeese State has an $11 million dollar athletic budget. The Sun Belt does not need another ULM. They need bigger schools with bigger budgets. McNeese would need to increase their budget at a minimum of at least $9 million a year to start.

3. Meeting Title IX Requirements - FBS means an additional 22 football scholarships. McNeese is 60% female, 40% male. So how many scholarships are you really adding? How many female sports will need to be added?

4. They have to sell their location - There is nothing about Lake Charles that says, "we got to have them." There are not a lot of people living in the area. Lake Charles is in the #213 metro area at 209,000. The TV market is #174 in the country. The state of Louisiana has a population of 4.6 million, with five FBS schools, two of which are already in the Sun Belt.

5. Stadium Renovation & Expansion - McNeese State stadium capacity of 17,610 is too small for FBS. It would be the third smallest in FBS football behind Charlotte & UMass. This will cost millions of dollars. Texas State University, my school, added 13,500 new seats on the north side of the stadium for the start of the 2012 season, increasing capacity to 29,500. That cost $33 million.

6. School size - With an enrollment of about 8,000, they would have the smallest public school FBS enrollment. An increase in the student athletic fee would be necessary and it would need to be voted on and approved by the students. There is no state money available.

He never explains the why and never talked about where the football revenue really comes from. He mentioned bowl games, but it is the college football playoff revenue and the money games that attract schools to FBS football financially, not the bowl games.

Also, what other sports do they bring? If they had a really good basketball program, that would help. But they bring a mediocre basketball program. The article was poorly written, lacked structure and lacked factual information. He did not bother to talk to anyone in the McNeese State athletic department.

Correction. Their stadium is FBS size. You need to average 15,000 attendance a year. They could expand by 3000 seats to be over 20,000. They were an independent at the FBS level until 1982 because they passed the requirements. Some SBC schools at the time did not meet the requirements.

It is technically FBS size. It is smaller than any Sun Belt school. Small stadium, small enrollment, small budget, small market. What is the attraction? By the way, they lost 21-17 to Lamar today at home in the “Battle of the Border.” The attendance was 11,532 for this rivalry game. McNeese finished 6-5 for the season.

(11-16-2018 01:52 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Too much time spent looking at guns & bikinis instead of reading the article.

Too much time with trash cans hitting people

McNeese State met I-A qualifications when the criteria changed and opted to drop to I-AA.

They at one time were a "blue blood" of FCS football but that simply isn't the case today, they've not won a playoff game since 2002 when WKU beat them by 20 in the title game.

It is a small school with less than 7700 enrollment. Lake Charles population is a bit smaller than it was in 1970.
75 miles from Louisiana Lafayette, 145 from Rice and Houston, and 125 miles from LSU.

That's a lot of competition in a snug area. For comparison Arkansas State in a fairly similar sized community has only one FBS within 145 miles (Memphis) and McNeese has four.

They just aren't the program thy once were. Despite similar budget to ULM, they have twice lost coaches to ULM.

My understanding is there is some very bad blood between McNeese State and the FBS schools in the University of Louisiana System if that is they case they aren't likely to find support from ULM, Louisiana Lafayette or Louisiana Tech.