Craig Haley is back with more news and notes from around the FCS world today, featuring a look at Southern Illinois’ new stadium and some tidbits from the world of FCS scheduling. No look at Big Sky non-conference football scheduling excludes UC Davis, as Craig points out.
Alright, here's you CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT WARNING! If you're sick of reading this stuff, scroll past the next paragraph NOW!
Let's start with some interesting things by way of the Idaho Statesman in Boise, where BSU's President is making noise about "revenue discrimination" in the BCS. The points are interesting and, to my way of thinking, valid, particularly when he challenges BCS Commissioner Bill Hancock's assertion that "every game counts" by wondering how he can claim Boise State's games count while the Broncos are going undefeated while being frozen out of the championship picture. Yet, as the bowl system was never constructed for a purpose other than to attract tourists and attention to a small cabal of warm weather communities, the BCS was built primarily to generate revenue. In an extension of this argument, Andy Staples of SI.com presents the case that non-BCS teams actually enhance the system's television ratings and fan interest.
Bill Speltz of the Missoulian gets inside the head of UM Athletic Director Jim O'Day, who has been out front of the process. That process might include Boise State moving to the Mountain West, which could affect the Big Sky Conference, but WAC Commissioner Karl Benson's possible targets might surprise you. I would not have landed on Cal Poly, UC Davis, and Portland State as possibilities. The Las Vegas Sun gives us more regional insight from a Mountain West perspective. If you're thinking big picture, John Rohde of the Daily Oklahoman envisions a new conference landscape. The Omaha World Herald's Tom Shatel brings a different look at college football's potential conference shuffle nearly every day. He points out that Big 10-watching is addictive, but involves a lot of down time. He points out several awkward possibilities for the Big 10, which may have to choose between Michigan and Ohio State playing annually to advance to the Big 10 title game each year, or playing their annual rivalry game and one week later meeting for in the conference championship game. He also takes a look at how the expansion possibilities are playing out at Ground Zero, otherwise known as downtown Omaha. Teddy Greeinstein of the Chicago Tribune looks at the nuts and bolts of Big 10 expansion.
Idaho State color man Brad Bugger has a couple of interesting notes up on ISU's Bengal Blog, including a look at the Bengals' season opener against UM-Western and the idea that the school's men's basketball squad is likely to take its act on the road this summer.
Dave Reardon's look at the University of Hawaii's quest to replace receivers coach Ron Lee includes a couple of names familiar to Bobcat fans - Mouse Davis, recently the OC at Portland State, and Nick Rolovich, brother of former Bobcat signal caller Jack Rolovich.
Newly-minted Colorado head basketball coach Tad Boyle, formerly the head man at Northern Colorado, returned to his old stomping grounds in Greeley last week to a warm welcome. Interest in Buffs Basketball? Go figure.
Eastern Washington will play on red artificial turf this fall, and it will also play in a newly-renamed stadium. Welcome to Roos Field, nothing at all like Woodward Stadium.
As was pointed out last week by Bob Robinson, the supreme ruler of all basketball bloggers in and around the Northwest, Craig Kilborn is returning to TV. The former Bobcat shooting guard, who never really led the Big Sky in turnovers but who has gotten a lot of mileage out of saying he did, gets his own show on Fox next month. Kilborn was brilliant on SportsCenter and even better on the Daily Show, and we're looking forward to his debut!
-Bill Lamberty
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