Delaware to Conference USA?

[shizzle787]

Assumes remaining in FCS. Or start America East football where UNH and Maine are already all other sports members. I would want to move all sports however. Might also add Albany, Stony Brook and Towson - all except for Richmond are state schools.

Is staying in FCS the worst thing for Delaware if they are playing in a top 2-3 league will rivals? I get moving to FBS for institutional reasons, but I would argue there are too many schools in FBS and too many in the northeast in FBS (looking at you UMass and Buffalo).

With all due respect, UD is positioned to be a successful FBS program if we do things right. We can create new rivals in FBS. Great school, FBS facilities, FBS budget. No reason why UD can’t make the jump and be a JMU or Liberty, IF we do things right.

If the Sun Belt were an option, I would agree with you, but I don't think CUSA will work as well (even though that may be an option).

[tomdawg00022]

Assumes remaining in FCS. Or start America East football where UNH and Maine are already all other sports members. I would want to move all sports however. Might also add Albany, Stony Brook and Towson - all except for Richmond are state schools.

If we ultimately decide to stay in FCS and Towson were on board with leaving the CAA fully, we both could end up back in America East and pull Nova and Rhode Island in for an eight team league booting up in '25. We could probably maintain a semi-frequent scheduling arrangement with Richmond and W & M and we'd likely lose them as regulars on the schedule but moving to the AE would probably get an eight team league. Nova likely follows us. Rhode Island would see the America East travel as much better for them and put football in that league.

Personally, I think if we move up someone's head should roll for paying $5 mil more to do now vs. a year ago when the university had an opportunity and didn't pursue it.

With all due respect, UD is positioned to be a successful FBS program if we do things right. We can create new rivals in FBS. Great school, FBS facilities, FBS budget. No reason why UD can’t make the jump and be a JMU or Liberty, IF we do things right.

Rivalries don't get created overnight. They grow over time. They are geographically close by. They are competitive equals. Those are where your rivals come by. That's why Nova's been a long-time rival of ours, along with William & Mary. We've played them a lot and they're reasonably near us. We used to be rivals with Lehigh and Bucknell because of the same reasons until we went into separate leagues in the 80's.

I don't know who in Conference USA is going to be a rival unless we're in that league for 20, 25 years and they add schools closer to us. Liberty may be one that we'll hate for a ton of reasons. The Sun Belt rivalries will work because the eastern division is almost a bus league - it's not far to drive from Norfolk to Harrisonburg or from Statesboro to Myrtle Beach. Geography matters a lot...and unless we can land in the Sun Belt or some convoluted G5 league in the future where a lot of us are close-ish, I'm not sure we're going to have rivals out of the gate except the occasional games against Temple and Navy that we'll be able to get in FBS. Those won't be annual but we'll get them (more frequently in Navy's case) again.

[Hengrad07]

If UD is ready to win CUSA Titles, I'm ok with that, BUT to finish in the middle of the pack, and finish with 6 wins to become “bowl eligible@, not so much based on the current membership!

[hensfan40yrs]

If UD is ready to win CUSA Titles, I'm ok with that, BUT to finish in the middle of the pack, and finish with 6 wins to become “bowl eligible@, not so much based on the current membership!

well said, i think some of us old folks will hang around until we die but Im not sure the seats will be filled with 6 win seasons. Recruiting FBS level in our geographic area will be a challenge also.

[tomdawg00022]

If UD is ready to win CUSA Titles, I'm ok with that, BUT to finish in the middle of the pack, and finish with 6 wins to become “bowl eligible@, not so much based on the current membership!

Looking at Sagarin and Massey rankings for this season, we would probably be a middle of the pack Conference USA team this year.

[tenn hen]

As the lone believer in FBS independent, I was pleased to read the scheduling should not be an issue if handled correctly. The UCONN guy shizzle 787 pointed that out a few posts earlier with examples. I can't imagine that our blue hen students wouldn't start flocking to decent FBS names as well as a few topnotch FCS teams. The same goes to the hens faithful not to mention new interested locals.

[bluehenbillk]

As the lone believer in FBS independent, I was pleased to read the scheduling should not be an issue if handled correctly. The UCONN guy shizzle 787 pointed that out a few posts earlier with examples. I can't imagine that our blue hen students wouldn't start flocking to decent FBS names as well as a few topnotch FCS teams. The same goes to the hens faithful not to mention new interested locals.

I couldn’t imagine playing more than 1 FCS team per year. Keep in mind UD would be shelling out $ for those teams to play

[Udforever1]

Assumes remaining in FCS. Or start America East football where UNH and Maine are already all other sports members. I would want to move all sports however. Might also add Albany, Stony Brook and Towson - all except for Richmond are state schools.

If we ultimately decide to stay in FCS and Towson were on board with leaving the CAA fully, we both could end up back in America East and pull Nova and Rhode Island in for an eight team league booting up in '25. We could probably maintain a semi-frequent scheduling arrangement with Richmond and W & M and we'd likely lose them as regulars on the schedule but moving to the AE would probably get an eight team league. Nova likely follows us. Rhode Island would see the America East travel as much better for them and put football in that league.

Personally, I think if we move up someone's head should roll for paying $5 mil more to do now vs. a year ago when the university had an opportunity and didn't pursue it.

With all due respect, UD is positioned to be a successful FBS program if we do things right. We can create new rivals in FBS. Great school, FBS facilities, FBS budget. No reason why UD can’t make the jump and be a JMU or Liberty, IF we do things right.

Rivalries don't get created overnight. They grow over time. They are geographically close by. They are competitive equals. Those are where your rivals come by. That's why Nova's been a long-time rival of ours, along with William & Mary. We've played them a lot and they're reasonably near us. We used to be rivals with Lehigh and Bucknell because of the same reasons until we went into separate leagues in the 80's.

I don't know who in Conference USA is going to be a rival unless we're in that league for 20, 25 years and they add schools closer to us. Liberty may be one that we'll hate for a ton of reasons. The Sun Belt rivalries will work because the eastern division is almost a bus league - it's not far to drive from Norfolk to Harrisonburg or from Statesboro to Myrtle Beach. Geography matters a lot...and unless we can land in the Sun Belt or some convoluted G5 league in the future where a lot of us are close-ish, I'm not sure we're going to have rivals out of the gate except the occasional games against Temple and Navy that we'll be able to get in FBS. Those won't be annual but we'll get them (more frequently in Navy's case) again.

Never said those rivalries would be created right away. It would for sure take some time. My response was to the new UConn fan who seemed to question if UD should go FBS and instead stay FCS. Call it arrogant or cocky, but UD should have no trouble passing Umass, Buffalo and UConn in football a few years into FBS. Heck we could probably beat all 3 now with an FCS roster. We have all the resources, and future resources, to be successful pretty early.

[topstraight]

Everybody has their own opinions--but look at it this way...

How is what you are doing now working for you?

Is the CAA getting better or worse?

Media visibility--better or worse?

Is attendance increasing in your current situation?

Will there be enough NIL money to get good players in fcs?

Are there examples of other schools in the region who have been successful move-ups? (JMU, Liberty, ODU)

Are their FCS teams in the region who might move up and Join You in the near future--who are currently rivals?

Does UD have the budget to move to FBS?

Does Realignment show any future possibilities?

Is CUSA your only invite?

Is doing the same thing making things better? Or is everyone satisfied with the status quo?

IMO UD needs to decide what they want--and ACT.

[Attila the Hen]

I think UD would like to position themselves for a future invite to the AAC or, if that conference was to fall apart, an alignment with Temple and Navy, which might include UMass, Army, Liberty, E Carolina, Charlotte and UConn. If something like that were to develop, a rivalry with Temple would almost certainly materialize fairly soon, with lesser rivalries developing with some of the others. Villanova and W&M could also be part of such a conference. Probably not all members would be interested in all sports, but that would be a nice football conference and would eventually rival the Sun Belt East.

It seem likely that there will continue to be more conference realignments and that getting invited to a conference will be a lot easier for a transitioned FBS school than a FCS school. I don't see using CUSA as a means to an end as a slap in the face to current CUSA members. CUSA has always been a halfway house. In the short term UD probably adds value to CUSA.

[Bluewyn Gold]

It seem likely that there will continue to be more conference realignments and that getting invited to a conference will be a lot easier for a transitioned FBS school than a FCS school. I don't see using CUSA as a means to an end as a slap in the face to current CUSA members.

The underlined portion is the most significant reason to reclassify right now. Easier and quicker movement to a more regionally desirable destination.

We can't anticipate how or when future FBS expansion will impact, say, CUSA. Not too long ago, the Sun Belt was the least desirable FBS conference, and then expansion broke in their favor. It's suddenly the hot G5 conference. Let's just get to where we need to be and work towards the future in getting other schools in the region with us. It's not likely to happen overnight, but it won't happen at all if we stay buried in the FCS.

The FCS offers little to no chance to grow the football brand and almost assures continued attendance attrition and divestment. And, without FBS football, UD can scrap plans for the new $100M facility. That project becomes complete overkill for an FCS program.

[Hensfansince03]

I think UD would like to position themselves for a future invite to the AAC or, if that conference was to fall apart, an alignment with Temple and Navy, which might include UMass, Army, Liberty, E Carolina, Charlotte and UConn. If something like that were to develop, a rivalry with Temple would almost certainly materialize fairly soon, with lesser rivalries developing with some of the others. Villanova and W&M could also be part of such a conference. Probably not all members would be interested in all sports, but that would be a nice football conference and would eventually rival the Sun Belt East.

It seem likely that there will continue to be more conference realignments and that getting invited to a conference will be a lot easier for a transitioned FBS school than a FCS school. I don't see using CUSA as a means to an end as a slap in the face to current CUSA members. CUSA has always been a halfway house. In the short term UD probably adds value to CUSA.

This would be the best situation for the HENs and all the schools mentioned. This AAC conference would ensure a lot more excitement in UD football. Not Power 5 but good competition against similar regional schools that would develop into good rivalries. Years when the team is really good and wins the conference a bowl opportunity against a mid-upper-level power 5 team and a chance to be nationally ranked would be exciting. Way more exciting than hosting Hampton, Bryant, and a home playoff game against Holy Cross, Citadel or St.Francis.

Does anyone think the AAC would consider splitting in 2 with an Eastern Brance and Southwestern Branch?

[topstraight]

It seem likely that there will continue to be more conference realignments and that getting invited to a conference will be a lot easier for a transitioned FBS school than a FCS school. I don't see using CUSA as a means to an end as a slap in the face to current CUSA members.

The underlined portion is the most significant reason to reclassify right now. Easier and quicker movement to a more regionally desirable destination.

We can't anticipate how or when future FBS expansion will impact, say, CUSA. Not too long ago, the Sun Belt was the least desirable FBS conference, and then expansion broke in their favor. It's suddenly the hot G5 conference. Let's just get to where we need to be and work towards the future in getting other schools in the region with us. It's not likely to happen overnight, but it won't happen at all if we stay buried in the FCS.

The FCS offers little to no chance to grow the football brand and almost assures continued attendance attrition and divestment. And, without FBS football, UD can scrap plans for the new $100M facility. That project becomes complete overkill for an FCS program.

AGREED^^^ Best quotes>>> "it won't happen at all if we stay buried in fcs." *** "...no chance to grow the football brand..."

[Bluewyn Gold]

Is staying in FCS the worst thing for Delaware if they are playing in a top 2-3 league will rivals? I get moving to FBS for institutional reasons, but I would argue there are too many schools in FBS and too many in the northeast in FBS (looking at you UMass and Buffalo).

Is staying in the FCS the worst thing for Delaware?

Competitively, there's been a noticeable drop off in the talent level in the subdivision. The NCAA loosening transfer rules for FBS players has absolutely killed the FCS. The portal has had a huge impact on the FCS to the point of the subdivision almost becoming a developmental league for the FBS.

Schools in the East who've recently reclassified are getting first looks from recruits who might have otherwise selected UD. Not sure how many future recruiting wars FCS UD is going to win when they go up against JMU, ODU, Liberty, Coastal, and Charlotte, let alone Temple, UConn, and UMass. It's not an impossible battle, but it surely has become more uphill than, say, a decade ago.

The ticket-buying public aren't dummies. They've noticed the difference in the quality of play and the names of the opponents. UD's lost nearly 30% of our fans in the last 15 years. We had more than 9K season ticket holders around 2010 and are now rumored to be down to less than half that.

4,600 souls attended our lone playoff game last season, which should tell you how excited locals are about the FCS post-season. The Hens are off to their best start on the field in years and average attendance is down over last year. In any case, fans aren't rushing the box office to watch the team any more.

So, yes. FCS football presents an enormous challenge for UD the longer we stick around. There's so little upside.

[Caribbean Hen]

Northern Illinois (Ball State). 6,282
Miami OH (Akron): 7,233
Kent State (Bowling Green): 6,065
Buffalo (Ohio U): 11,444 probably 3000 in seats

Not CUSA but the MAC has been in the discussion