The Bobcat Nation

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA will allow football teams to play 12 games per year, but it won't enter the postseason playoff fray.

The board of directors approved proposals on Thursday that would add a 12th game to Division I-A schedules -- starting in 2006 -- allow schools to count one victory over Division I-AA schools each year toward bowl eligibility, and loosen the requirements to qualify for Division I-A status.

Does this mean only 1-A can schedule a 12th game or does this include 1-AA???

Yes sir. I started another thread and it means the D1 schools can now count 1-AA victories toward bowl eligibility every year; however, for whatever reason the 1-AA schools voted to stay at eleven games per year effectively giving the mid-major schools the advantage they already had of the extra 500k per year. Just can't understand...

Well, If you look at the 1-AA two of the major leagues in it are the Ivy League and Patriot League (both non-scholarship).

The Ivy league has only 10 games in their schedule (by league rule). They strongly believe that Education is first and football second. So why would they go 12 if they are already only at 10 and will stay 10. All the Ivy league school have more money than they can spend. They charge 50,000 a year for school and they actually don't need it (they do it so the student values their education).

The Patriot League plays 11, but they don't want to stray very far from the Ivy league. They play most of their non-league games against Ivy league teams.

So you have 15 teams voting no immediately.

It said that it was now easier to qualify for 1A entry, what is easier (number of home attendence?)

BobcatLionFan wrote: They strongly believe that Education is first and football second.

That's what they pay lip service to. The truth is Harvard will send it's Girls soccer team to the playoff during fall exams. They just don't want to send the football team to Montana or god forbid McNeese in LA. It's just a smoke screen so the Ivies don't lose any face. (Just like everybody gets A's if they go to Harvard and Yale) who wants to pay 50K to have the kid flunk out. I'm a firm believer that a Ivy education gets you good social skills, Great contacts and a so so IQ..My best example being: Look at the two ya hooos that ran for president last time.

jagur1 wrote:

BobcatLionFan wrote: They strongly believe that Education is first and football second.

That's what they pay lip service to. The truth is Harvard will send it's Girls soccer team to the playoff during fall exams. They just don't want to send the football team to Montana or god forbid McNeese in LA. It's just a smoke screen so the Ivies don't lose any face. (Just like everybody gets A's if they go to Harvard and Yale) who wants to pay 50K to have the kid flunk out. I'm a firm believer that a Ivy education gets you good social skills, Great contacts and a so so IQ..My best example being: Look at the two ya hooos that ran for president last time.

Good one about the soccer, but the IVY League rules are specific and laid out beforehand, not decided on the fly as with soccer. That was more a matter of commitment to the NCAA. So it's apple to oranges. You should look at the restrictions that they have. An example is the Basketball schedule, the League games are Friday night and Saturday. No games during the week because of travel. It's just a little different there.

On the Ivy education, agree somewhat, but I think the IQ has to be there before they arrive, not after as a result. Those guys don't get admitted without a 1400 SAT (old system) or a top athelite can have only a 1200+ with a 3.8.

Back to the subject, which is why I-AA 12 game schedule was voted down. Do you think either the Ivy or Patriot voted for it?

BobcatLionFan wrote: Back to the subject, which is why I-AA 12 game schedule was voted down. Do you think either the Ivy or Patriot voted for it?

There were only three representatives from I-AA conferences at the meetings, all of which voted against the 12th game for I-AA. Not sure which conferences where there, but don't just blame this on the Ivy or Patriot.

While I would have liked to have 12 games every year, for playoff football it is just tough. Consider the two teams in the championship are already playing 15 games per year, putting it to 12 regular season games all years means 16 straight Saturdays of playing.

kmax wrote:

BobcatLionFan wrote: Back to the subject, which is why I-AA 12 game schedule was voted down. Do you think either the Ivy or Patriot voted for it?

There were only three representatives from I-AA conferences at the meetings, all of which voted against the 12th game for I-AA. Not sure which conferences where there, but don't just blame this on the Ivy or Patriot.

While I would have liked to have 12 games every year, for playoff football it is just tough. Consider the two teams in the championship are already playing 15 games per year, putting it to 12 regular season games all years means 16 straight Saturdays of playing.

That is a great point that I had not considered. That is a lot of games for the top teams. Also, the Ivy probably won't of voted since it would not affect them (they are not forced to increase their 10 game schedule and they do not go to the playoffs - league decided against it so the season ends sooner).

Great point!!

In 2001, when the Griz won the NC, we went 15-1 and were the first college footbal team to play 16 games in a season. I can't imagine they would want to do that every season.

grizband wrote:In 2001, when the Griz won the NC, we went 15-1 and were the first college footbal team to play 16 games in a season. I can't imagine they would want to do that every season.

Exactly, and that was in a year where there were 13 Saturdays for the regular season so the Griz at least had a bye in there(I believe they did anyway, unless they just started a week late). Now imagine having to do that this year where there are only 12 Sundays, I can't imagine many coaches or players would choose to do that.

I forgot about that. It was the same year as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, so they didn't play all of their games consecutively. Their game against Hawaii was moved out of reverance along with the rest of the NCAA, so they even had one Saturday off.

What Div 1A should have done is voted for playoffs there, instead of what they have now with the BCS and the top 2 play (or what should be considered the top two.)

One reason the Div 1A schools vote against the playoffs is extra games. Then they go and vote extra games.

BobcatLionFan wrote:What Div 1A should have done is voted for playoffs there, instead of what they have now with the BCS and the top 2 play (or what should be considered the top two.)

One reason the Div 1A schools vote against the playoffs is extra games. Then they go and vote extra games.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... /8438014/1

Great article about the idiots running the NCAA. When they arent being hypocrites, they are simply lying. 12th game is a mistake to everyone except the people collecting the checks. I am glad I-AA DID NOT go this route. Kids already play enough games when the playoffs are included.

You guys are putting too much stress on playoff teams. Shoot, there are over 100 1-AA football teams but only 16 teams make it to the playoffs! I think worrying about those 16 teams and not considering the other 100 teams is stupid. I sure would like attending one more Bobcat game…

mquast53000 wrote:You guys are putting too much stress on playoff teams. Shoot, there are over 100 1-AA football teams but only 16 teams make it to the playoffs! I think worrying about those 16 teams and not considering the other 100 teams is stupid. I sure would like attending one more Bobcat game…

If the Cats won more during the regular season then you would get to see up to 3 extra home games per year. Not a slam, I just agree that while a 12th game would be great, it would be very hard on the teams who earn a playoff bid.

The I-A schedule allows for more weeks to schedule games. There are something like 14 or 15 potential Saturdays when a I-A team can play (into early December), whereas I-AA playoff teams have to be done the weekend before Thanksgiving. Thus, the I-A teams can simply schedule later into the year, while the I-AA schools would give up the bye week, unless the NCAA changed the rules to allow I-AA to schedule games earlier (which would be a good thing).
What would be better is to set the number of games at 11 (or 12 and move the starting date) for I-AA football and fix that every year. The calendar advantage would be two bye weeks, rather than another game.

theblackgecko wrote:The I-A schedule allows for more weeks to schedule games. There are something like 14 or 15 potential Saturdays when a I-A team can play (into early December), whereas I-AA playoff teams have to be done the weekend before Thanksgiving. Thus, the I-A teams can simply schedule later into the year, while the I-AA schools would give up the bye week, unless the NCAA changed the rules to allow I-AA to schedule games earlier (which would be a good thing).
What would be better is to set the number of games at 11 (or 12 and move the starting date) for I-AA football and fix that every year. The calendar advantage would be two bye weeks, rather than another game.

That is not correct, I-A teams are limited by the same scheduling as I-AA teams for available Sundays and is the exact reason why there were 12 games allowed in 2001 & 2002 and not in 2003. I don't have the reference from the NCAA manual, I will look it up tomorrow and post it, but essentially other than conference championships and bowl games, no games can be played after the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Okay, so I went and looked up the NCAA rules, and must admit that I was wrong (hey there is a first time for everything right ) and gecko was right. All of Div I has until the second Saturday in December to complete regular season games, however since I-AA has the playoffs which begin on Thanksgiving weekend, their regular season must complete before that to be able to participate.

All the more reason then that this makes sense for I-A and not for I-AA.

Just giving people enough facts that they can make an informed decision.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/512/5377928.html

Here's an article from a Minneapolis paper about the desire for Minnesota to play the regional I-AA schools (including Montana State) on a rotating basis.