Another push back for Idaho
Most of you know how I feel about the Idaho Vandals and their place in the college football stratosphere. Now comes news via the Idaho Statesman in Boise that the Sun Belt Conference — their second Bowl Subdivision conference when the left the ranks of the Big Sky Conference and the FCS in 1996 – doesn’t want them back from the WAC.
I fit a lot in there. But the Vandals were in the Sun Belt for a time (2001-04), and then received that long-awaited call from the Western Athletic Conference. Now that the WAC is down to two football-playing schools, Idaho and New Mexico State, the Vandals are looking for suitors. I can think of only one: The Big Sky.
Irony alert: Karl Benson was the WAC commish who invited Idaho to join. Now as commissioner of the Sun Belt he’s told the Vandals thanks but no thanks. Come on back, guys.
- Fritz Neighbor
Idaho is always willing to move at the drop of a hat .why would we want them
I could never see Idaho in Div 1-A or the FBS because of the 16,000 seat football stadium which was 14,000 under the requirement for membership in the division nor could they meet the 15,000 average home game attendance requirement. Financially the move out of the Big Sky meant no TV locally along with budgets heavy in red trying to keep up with the other schools in the WAC. Moscow is much too small in competition with WSU which is also located in a too small populated part of Wash. The Big Sky is a great conference that Idaho can be fairly competitive in and not burn the money they have been spending. Its all good I hope the Idaho folks regain their senses and see that. If anyone was going to leave the Big Sky for bigger pastures it would be the Montana schools who are more than able to play the FBS on equal terms.
I think this really points out the wisdom exhibited by the University of Montana to stay in the FCS ranks rather than moving up to the WAC. I have no doubt we would have become just another small fish in a sea filled with sharks. I remember going to a Montana vs. Idaho game here in Missoula a few years ago and a few of the Idaho fans I met kept saying that we should move up with them. MY response was that I had no desire to be like them, lost in a small conference and struggling in a market not far from Washington State and the PAC 10 which is now the PAC 14 or whatever it is..haha. Coming back to the Big Sky is what really makes sense for the Vandals and would cure their delusion of becoming like Boise State. Boise State made the right choices and even they are struggling for recognition….winning football games the way they have helps in that regard. Idaho is not in the same league and should return. Who knows? Down the road perhaps there will be an opportunity to create a conference that can make an effective move to the next level. That time is not now. I agree, come back Idaho.
I still don’t get the obsession, by some, for wanting the VANDALS ‘back’ in the Big sky..heck with ‘em