<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>Suddenly . . . returning to the Big Sky Conference . . . doesn't seem like a bad idea.</div><div><br></div><div>Sidebar: Has anybody else noticed that . . .</div><div><br></div><div>The Big Ten Conference consists of twelve colleges</div><div><a href="http://www.bigten.org">http://www.bigten.org</a></div><div><br></div><div>While the Big Twelve Conference consists of ten colleges</div><div><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">http://www.big12sports.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div></div></div><div><br>On Jan 8, 2016, at 4:13 AM, Kenneth Marcy <<a href="mailto:kmmos1@frontier.com">kmmos1@frontier.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
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University of Idaho Facing Difficult Situation Soon<br>
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By Damien Alambra @iwasrun on Jan 7, 2016, 3:58p<br>
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.obnug.com/2016/1/7/10733478/university-of-idaho-facing-difficult-situation-soon">http://www.obnug.com/2016/1/7/10733478/university-of-idaho-facing-difficult-situation-soon</a>
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<p>Things looking dire for the University of Idaho.</p>
<p>Our friend Dave Southorn, of the Idaho Statesman, met with UI
President Chuck Staben today. In the talk, the subject of Idaho's
current football-only membership in the Sun Belt Conference was
addressed and Staben's feelings regarding the football program's
future. While conference realignment has been somewhat of a
frustrating topic for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise
State Broncos</a> fans, it is massive concern for the likes of
Idaho (and New Mexico State University).</p>
<p>Per Southorn's Twitter feed:</p>
<p>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Met with Idaho president Chuck Staben
today...said no decision on Vandal FB future. Hopes for Sun Belt
renewal, considering other options.</p>
— Dave Southorn (@IDS_Southorn) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDS_Southorn/status/685218923722113024">January
7, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>You may, or may not, remember that Idaho's football-only
invitation was actually on a trial basis. From the Idaho student
newspaper, <a href="http://www.uiargonaut.com/2015/09/24/sun-belt-days-numbered/" target="_blank">The Argonaut</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>After a year of independence, both schools joined the Sun
Belt as football-only members on a four-year contract. After
two years, the other Sun Belt schools will vote to either
extend the Vandals’ and Aggies’ membership, or to kick them
out while letting them play one final year during the 2016-17
season.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>To which, that crucial vote is coming up.</p>
<p>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Idaho would be first school to go from FBS
to FCS if Sun Belt decides not to extend- league will vote
during conference BB tourney (Mar. 10)</p>
— Dave Southorn (@IDS_Southorn) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDS_Southorn/status/685219600934375425">January
7, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Back in August, the Sun Belt invited <a target="_blank" href="http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2015/9/1/GENERAL_0901151041.aspx">Coastal
Carolina</a> to the conference to balance out the other sports
that were unbalanced due to Idaho (and New Mexico State's)
inclusion. Coastal Carolina will also be moving their football
program up to the FBS level. The goal of the eventual Coastal
Carolina inclusion in football would also bump them to twelve.
That move would be to qualify for the current NCAA rule of having
a minimum of twelve teams to get a conference championship game.
However that requirement has been up in the air since the Big XII
does not necessarily <i>want</i> to expand to match their
namesake.</p>
<p>Per Benson, regarding the potential <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/ul/2015/08/28/sbc-schools-vote-extending-membership-invitation/71349570/">deregulation</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"As we now go forward, and expecting that the NCAA will
roll back the policy that requires 12 teams to do a conference
football championship game," Benson said, "we are no longer
driven by a football championship game when it comes to our
future membership. We now need to focus on what is in the best
interest of our other sports."</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>In theory, this would be bad news for the Idaho football program.
A conference that is not beholden to a minimum number of teams for
football could allow the Sun Belt to drop either Idaho, NMSU, or
both. But, as with everything NCAA-related things, nothing
necessarily goes <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/big-ten-issues-amendment-to-block-deregulation-of-conference-championships-220524302.html" target="_blank">easy</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>The Big Ten Conference filed a last-minute amendment in
November that could prevent the Big 12 from having a
conference championship game.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Though it looks as if the status quo for divisions--and
champions--will remain as they are currently, Idaho's outlook
still is murky. Idaho will be looking toward March 10th with bated
breath as their football fate will be in the hands of (mostly)
southern schools looking to do what is "best."</p>
<br>
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