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Tubby Raymond · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:09 am Post subject: novas hopes dashed

nova decided to postpone the vote on moving to the BE knowing they would be rejected due to not having a big enough yard to play in. This kind of nonsense on novas part makes the Hens fans so sad for them Laughing

They have always been a such a class act Rolling Eyes

. Nice they have been brought down a few notches from thier (self proclaimed) lofty perch.

ShadesOf96and98 · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:12 am Post subject:

You're a good poster here Tubby, and you can say what you want about Nova, but at least they decided to try and take on the challenge of moving up to FBS. You guys like to talk about your enormous fan base and commitment to football yet remain afraid of the challenges of no longer being a big fish in a small pond.

Tubby Raymond · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:51 pm Post subject:

^
Well, while that's an interesting perspective, the "we are scardy cats" theroem, I'm not sure it is entirely accurrate. The only enourmous thing I like to talk about is in my ...... oh well, that's not for the football message board.

Take on the challenge? Let's ponder that a moment. nova's situation was a type of fools gold. They don't have the facility, fan base, money in the bank or adminstrative support to bolster that kind of move. They would be the welfare recipients for the rest of the league. Clearly not a burden Pitt etal were interested in. Funny thing is, everybody should have known that, especially the nova folks.

We on the other hand, make money playing football. How much more $ would we make if we made the jump? Not sure but, when you do the risk analysis, the risk far outweights the benefits. We are who we are. A mid-Atlantic school of 15,000+ with a fan base made up of non-alumni locals who are comfortable right where we are in terms of our competition. Now if someone would "show us the $" then we might be interested but until that point why would we move? National exposure?

And for the "big fish small pond" analogy, that really doesn't work anymore. Either the pond has gotten bigger or the other fish are growing. Look at the programs @ JMU, UR, William and Mary etc, who used to be 2nd rate citizens in the conferance, no more. New facilities, growing attendance etc I'm sure you've noticed that the southern part of the conferance is moving in a different direction than the northern part (URI, UMaine). With the addition of ODU & GSU the gravitational pull is moving even further south.

UD will always have a home wherever it want to lay it's head. It's too appealing in too many ways to be left out in the cold in any big conferance realignment situation. We won't have to worry about not getting asked to the prom, I promise. We put out, and everybody knows it Wink

UMass87 · Hall of Fame Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 7335

I've got to agree with Tubby. Because they make money on football and have such a good fan base they are in relatively special position in terms of FCS football. Nova and UMass need FBS to stop the financial bleeding of FCS. That's just not the case for UD.

ShadesOf96and98 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject:

Just MHO, but Tubby's post just reinforces my point. You admit your fan base is made up of non-alums, so they dont care how much money you make playing football or might make upgrading football because they support the football team first and the university second, if at all. Sports are about competition, and UD's "we're just fine where we are" attitude is really just "we're worried we might not be able to be as good every year if we move up and we couldn't handle that" in disguise.

The big fish in a small pond analogy is in reference to FCS, not the CAA. You are still in the distinct minority in terms of FCS schools with a passionate, dedicated fan base and a tradition of winning, and that is what you hang your hat on and what your fans live for. You wouldn't know how to handle being just another school in an FBS conference, even if you were a winner, because being a big fish in the FCS is your claim to fame and the source of your fans' pride.

The reality, however, is that your football program is too well-run and well-supported and your fans too passionate and commited to justify staying in the FCS forever. If you do, you're just selling yourself short because you're afraid of failure and the hit your collective egos would take if you didn't get to be the big boys any longer.

DPBOS · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:16 am Post subject: Re: novas hopes dashed

jpatsfan · Sophomore Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 161

Bye bye UD, HELLO MAC!

Tubby Raymond · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:53 pm Post subject:

ShadesOf96and98 · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject:

What percentage of your fan base do you think cares about your financial bottom line? 5 percent? 10 percent? I'd be surprised if it's even that high. NCAA football is about money for the universities, the executives, the sponsors, the television folks and the bowl games. For the fans, it's about competition and nothing more. You know that.

If there is this inherent belief that you guys will be successful at any level of football you decide to play in, why wouldnt you want that to be the FBS? The answer is simple: There isn't that belief. You make it sound like you've barnstormed all over the world beating teams of all shapes and sizes, when in reality you've played in two lower-tier divisions and won only one national championship in 30 years in the higher of the two - the same number we have. I mean come on, how many of your fans today are riding high because of those Division II national titles in the 70s and whenever your other stone age titles took place? Were you guys even in organized leagues then?

As I said, the reality here is that you're not confident you would maintain your winning tradition if you were competing against schools with similar resources and support, so you'd rather stay where you know you're a step ahead than take a bold leap to a place where you're on par with everyone else.

Tubby Raymond · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:59 am Post subject:

Chris20 · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:11 am Post subject:

Shades, the decision to move up or not is based on MANY more factors than simply having the balls to do so.

I am not the "move-up" expert that many are on this board.....but certainly it might not be in every programs interest, for 100 reasons. I think it's a little short sighted to flat out accuse the Hens of being wimpy, when there is much more that goes into a decision like that.

chapter 11 · Junior Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 304 Location: NYC

I've been to the University of Delaware numerous times and have an alum in the family. It's an excellent school, well run and the area is quite proud of their Hens. Their model works for them and I'm sure they will be able to adapt. Their tradition is quite strong. I'm not connected to their inner workings yet their resources seem well apportioned.

UMass02 · Hall of Fame Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 2144

If the school and their fanbase are happy with the status quo, then who are we to say otherwise? If everyone is happy, then why ruin it?

ShadesOf96and98 · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject:

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject:

Doesn't matter anymore! Sorry Nova, and UD, I hope we see you make the move sometime soon! LETS GO UMASS!!!
_________________
Stop waiting for UMass to do something big and help UMass do something big. - Shades