Our AD isn't going to be here forever . He has plans of his own Im sure.
Funny, I've thought the same thing. Heilbron is a west coast guy coming from UCLA then Oregon State. The fact that we were able to get him to come all the way over here in the first place speaks volumes about our university and athletic program. That said, he's doing quite well here and if a fairly high profile job opens up out west, we may not be able to keep him. That's the reality at this level. Really the only guys you can count on to stay long term are those with deep ties to the school and/or region. That said, I'm very happy with what Shawn is doing now. It seems like everything has been winning lately. You need an AD with a vision at Heilbron has that. You wouldn't believe some of the things I've heard said about JMU's AD. Their program is simply better than ours right now, yet there seems to be a lack of vision there if you listened to their fans (many think they should have taken the Sun Belt invite five years ago). We don't have that problem here.
I suspect FBS and a new conference is in the works sooner rather than later . We can improve all we want at the FCS level we already play in the toughest FCS conference now so we are at the top . Win more games and grab a championship is a good goal but loaded with what ifs . The indoor practice facility is a key sign of bigger and better things on the horizon . I would not be surprised if we are in an FBS conference in 3 years barring a total collapse of the program . The upside is playing some good G5 teams and getting some tough FBS teams to come to the Brook for non conference. This is the overall goal of the Athletic department and the University . Buffalo this year which is doing really well got just 29000 for Homecoming this year. They keeping talking about next steps other than win an FCS Title there are non. All we can do is win more games now which lately has been struggle .
Something probably is in the works, and has been since the last wave of conference realignment started in 2010. There were even rumors that we talked with the MAC about joining as a travel partner for UMASS if they brought all their sports on board. I completely believe those rumors. Only Heilbron and Stanley would know for sure though.
In the past I've been in the "FBS at all costs" crowd and wanted to get there ASAP, but even I think three years is unrealistic lol. I'd peg it at 5-6 at least simply because there's no need for conferences to be proactive with all the shuffling that may wind up happening with the Big 12 and TV contracts by 2025. SBU in many ways sticks out above the rest as a prime expansion candidate, so I wouldn't be surprised if we moved, but as I mentioned above, think about the FCS playoffs vs the low end bowls.
Unless we do what Western Michigan did a couple years ago, or what UCF has done these last two years, those are the kind of bowls we'd get. In the current landscape the only conference that makes sense and would realistically invite us is the MAC, and then you're right back to the FCS playoffs vs the Who Cares Bowl and weeknight games dilemma once again. The MAC is still a one-bid basketball conference with further travel, and might be a downgrade in everything else. We could still go there, but it's not the no-brainer I once thought it was. The MAC is a great bus league and is good for everyone currently in it, but as a far eastern outlier who would have to fly to every game, I'm not 100% on it. Get a couple regional schools in the fold though and it becomes an easier decision.
Conventional thinking says if you get an FBS invite take it as you don't know when the next one will come. JMU rebuked this when they turned the Sun Belt five years ago, and Idaho basically did the same thing when they downgraded to FCS. Although if an actual invite is there for us and waiting, it's much harder to say no.