re: Big Ten wants to eliminate FCS opponents

Division 2 and Division 3 schools do just fine without rent-a-wins.

It's not P5 school's job to prop up FCS teams. I agree MAC/Directional schools would hurt from this since they have relied on this for years, but this doesn't eliminate those games completely. There will still be 2 of those a year for each B1G team (most likely).

While I see the merits to both and I do not think either side of the argument is wrong or right, there are unintended consequences that would happen that I would not like.

I think anyone that has seen the development of college football in the past 5-10 years, can clearly see where this is headed. I am not confident enough to say within the next 5 years, but willing to say in the next 10, the Power 5 conferences completely and totally break off from the NCAA, atleast in terms of football. My point to saying this, is that the Big 10's position is just simply inching closer and closer to this. Other conferences will follow suit because it is all about keeping up with appearances when there is a selection committee that has no mathematical component associated with it.

I agree with others obviously, in that for the teams that will have winning records in the P5, playing a bottom feeder FBS school and any FCS opponent, not only does not matter but to most fans, not even just the casual college football fans. For instance in terms of football if your favorite school that is in the P5 played Idaho as a opposed to Idaho State, would anyone care to think about the difference? Would most even know? Probably not. It certainly would not change any title contenders perception.

But as others have pointed out what sways me, is the affinity I have for certain "FCS" programs. Simply being FCS does not mean a university is any less of an academic institution than an FBS one. (It could be argued, and it has been, that it could be the other way around.) It certainly depends on which state you hail from and how the systems of higher learning are set up, and it depends on quite frankly your schools tradition and how good they are.

I have an affinity for the FCS programs in LA and truly wished LSU played them in every game instead of some random lower FBS team, why? Because you grow up usually having family that maybe went there, or know somebody that did, so it makes the games fun in that regard. It is also pretty cool to see guys you may have either played with, or that came from the same HS or area as you did. For many, and I can say this because I personally know, it is a dream of many McNeese players to play in Tiger Stadium, now it may be not exactly how their dreams went exactly , but the fact still remains.

It keeps there programs alive, and quite frankly if all of the P5 teams do this, you could see a good number of FCS programs fold altogether, erasing too much history. That to me would be the biggest shame. It helps every local and state economy, and as I argue makes local football on the high school level better. Not only by doing this would FCS become basically Division 2 football, but maybe make it nonexistent in its current form.

Major college football, the Power 5, and really only the top programs, are on their way to becoming actual minor leagues for the NFL, which is sad. Yes, gone are the days of most of these guys coming for an education first. But so what if your favorite school beats some directional school by 35 or an FCS team by the same score. The outcome does not change, and the perception of that team really does not change, the only thing that has changed is the Big Ten, basically crying like little kids in the sandbox......nvm.

quote:

---

I have an affinity for the FCS programs in LA and truly wished LSU played them in every game instead of some random lower FBS team, why? Because you grow up usually having family that maybe went there, or know somebody that did, so it makes the games fun in that regard. It is also pretty cool to see guys you may have either played with, or that came from the same HS or area as you did. For many, and I can say this because I personally know, it is a dream of many McNeese players to play in Tiger Stadium, now it may be not exactly how their dreams went exactly , but the fact still remains.

---

Excellent post! And I agree wholeheartedly about LSU playing more Louisiana schools. In particular...as you already mentioned...McNeese State.

The Cowboy fans were hands down the best fan base to ever come to Tiger Stadium. Everyone I know thoroughly enjoyed their company. I wouldn't mind LSU playing them every year.

I now root for McNeese in every sport.



Edit: Just wanted to say that wasn't a knock on the other schools from Da Boot. The Cowboy fans were just the most fun IMHO. And I know a lot of LSU fans who said the same thing.

quote:

---

I'm ok with that.

---

You're an Alabama fan, aren't you? UAB says "Hi!"

quote:

---

Not sure how to fix everything. But I would like to see more big games. Not trying to be a dick but Ohio State plays shite for out of conference. I feel like LSU makes an effort to get one big or bigger out of conference game a year. Would be good for the fans and sport in my opinion if more teams fought it out

---

Lol this quote couldn't be farther from the truth. Lsu' schedule is full of fcs or sun belt patsies. Even when lsu schedules a big time ooc opponent it's at the jerry dome. Ohio state has played games at Texas and usc.

quote:

---

Lsu' schedule is full of fcs or sun belt patsies.

---

LSU has always played a tougher OOC schedule than most. If the Tigers do give up a home game to play a quality opponent at a neutral site, I don't see that counting against them in any way. It actually makes it a more even game for the opponent, and both teams receive a big paycheck.

As far as OOC wins go, no team has won more than LSU has. Longest regular season OOC win streak in college football history. LSU hasn't lost to an OOC team since 2002 to Virginia Tech on the road.

And before you go shooting your mouth off against LSU, the Tigers absolutely own the schools in the current Pac 12.

LSU is 22-5 overall against Pac 12 schools all-time. The streak is now at 13 in a row. Including a 23-3 win over USC.

quote:

---

If the Tigers do give up a home game to play a quality opponent at a neutral site, I don't see that counting against them in any way.

---

quote:

---

LSU hasn't lost to an OOC team since 2002 to Virginia Tech on the road.

---

LOL

All wins. Anyone, anytime, anyplace. Like the last time LSU played tOSU...

Living in the past I see. That's ok I guess.

quote:

---

You played one better than average team a year at best.

---

And won 'em all.