It seems like Richmond going to the Patriot league is a downgrade. I have nothing against the schools in the league but Richmond is used to playing higher-caliber teams. I've only seen them play when they've been on TV for the FCS playoffs. Wouldn't it have made more sense to go to FBS?
It is definitely a downgrade in overall competition, yes. Even with JMU and Delaware leaving the CAA, it was still a better conference for football than the Patriot League.
Richmond was never going to go FCS. While their stadium is nicer now, it is smaller than the stadium they were using provided by the city. They’re a basketball focused school at best and have a decent team. Very unlikely they would have gotten an FBS invite, let alone one they would accept. The Patriot League makes donors and alumni happy because of the schools they’ll be affiliated with now too. I expect football to fall back some especially in recruiting unless the Patriot lands another big football fish in realignment.
Lots of info covering the long and winding trail of the Coastal here, thanks. The realignment we're experiencing now is unlike the norm since the NCAA subdivided Division I football in the late seventies. Lots of soul-searching to come as institutions wrestle with their affiliations, their identities, and their budgets.
Appreciate you reading! And yes I 100 percent agree. COVID forced a lot of schools to rethink a lot, and with bigger schools grasping to stay “relevant”, schools with smaller budgets have to really consider what’s best for the health of their athletic departments and institutions on the whole. One of many reasons I am glad my school, JMU, has ended up where they are.
JMU has done it right. As a UD alumn, I've long admired the Dukes. I visited a good friend on campus there before they added football. Delaware should have moved up 30 years ago, watched schools like JMU, CCU, ODU start football from scratch and pass the Hens, not to mention former rivals Temple, Rutgers, UMass, and UConn ascending. Better late than never, but realignment is never over.
It certainly is not, and with the way things are going and schools will have to start thinking about travel costs, besides Rutgers, those northern schools may want to consider coming together and forming something. What? I have no idea. But what I do know is the money will not always seem infinite, especially for smaller conferences. The SunBelt really did things right by not only focusing on rich football tradition and success, but they made easy travel for fans and teams a priority. Moreover, it applies to other sports too. My opinion is obviously bias, but despite not being paid as much as other conferences, the SunBelt is the healthiest of the smaller FBS conferences moving forward given fan engagement and other factors.
The Sun Belt's ascension over the last two decades is very impressive, indeed. It will be very interesting to see what FBS looks like in five or six years.
If they can get a better money deal (which I think they can) the sky is the limit. Schools are also investing a lot into different sports as well. Georgia State is building a new baseball stadium and Appalachian State is building a new softball complex. As for the rest of FBS, this craziness isn't over. I just hope the dust settles sooner rather than later.
It can’t be a complete money pit if so many schools participate. A lot of FCS schools have great basketball programs that may turn a small profit. Schools in states like Montana and North Dakota, where they win and are THE universities, also get good sponsorships.
But yes, on the whole, FCS programs are more surviving than thriving in terms of money.
It seems like Richmond going to the Patriot league is a downgrade. I have nothing against the schools in the league but Richmond is used to playing higher-caliber teams. I've only seen them play when they've been on TV for the FCS playoffs. Wouldn't it have made more sense to go to FBS?
And, thank you for reading!
It is definitely a downgrade in overall competition, yes. Even with JMU and Delaware leaving the CAA, it was still a better conference for football than the Patriot League.
Richmond was never going to go FCS. While their stadium is nicer now, it is smaller than the stadium they were using provided by the city. They’re a basketball focused school at best and have a decent team. Very unlikely they would have gotten an FBS invite, let alone one they would accept. The Patriot League makes donors and alumni happy because of the schools they’ll be affiliated with now too. I expect football to fall back some especially in recruiting unless the Patriot lands another big football fish in realignment.
Lots of info covering the long and winding trail of the Coastal here, thanks. The realignment we're experiencing now is unlike the norm since the NCAA subdivided Division I football in the late seventies. Lots of soul-searching to come as institutions wrestle with their affiliations, their identities, and their budgets.
Appreciate you reading! And yes I 100 percent agree. COVID forced a lot of schools to rethink a lot, and with bigger schools grasping to stay “relevant”, schools with smaller budgets have to really consider what’s best for the health of their athletic departments and institutions on the whole. One of many reasons I am glad my school, JMU, has ended up where they are.
JMU has done it right. As a UD alumn, I've long admired the Dukes. I visited a good friend on campus there before they added football. Delaware should have moved up 30 years ago, watched schools like JMU, CCU, ODU start football from scratch and pass the Hens, not to mention former rivals Temple, Rutgers, UMass, and UConn ascending. Better late than never, but realignment is never over.
It certainly is not, and with the way things are going and schools will have to start thinking about travel costs, besides Rutgers, those northern schools may want to consider coming together and forming something. What? I have no idea. But what I do know is the money will not always seem infinite, especially for smaller conferences. The SunBelt really did things right by not only focusing on rich football tradition and success, but they made easy travel for fans and teams a priority. Moreover, it applies to other sports too. My opinion is obviously bias, but despite not being paid as much as other conferences, the SunBelt is the healthiest of the smaller FBS conferences moving forward given fan engagement and other factors.
The Sun Belt's ascension over the last two decades is very impressive, indeed. It will be very interesting to see what FBS looks like in five or six years.
If they can get a better money deal (which I think they can) the sky is the limit. Schools are also investing a lot into different sports as well. Georgia State is building a new baseball stadium and Appalachian State is building a new softball complex. As for the rest of FBS, this craziness isn't over. I just hope the dust settles sooner rather than later.
Football at the FCS level is a money pit. Zero pathway to profitability that could not also be achieved through non scholarship means.
It can’t be a complete money pit if so many schools participate. A lot of FCS schools have great basketball programs that may turn a small profit. Schools in states like Montana and North Dakota, where they win and are THE universities, also get good sponsorships.
But yes, on the whole, FCS programs are more surviving than thriving in terms of money.