Author Topic: 2012-2020: Future of SBU Football - Conference Affiliation, FBS Football, etc  (Read 25767 times)


Hammertime

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Thanks for the info RecoveringHillBilly.. It does appear SB is a step ahead of Hofstra in the attendance dept at this stage. This year is a transition year for SB Football and not a minute too soon..

Hammertime

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This is Miguels time to shine. He has to give them everything he's got this weekend, #3 pre season game, if he wants to make the roster ~~

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/media-center/photo-gallery/Practice-Photo-Gallery---821/7af380d1-9a26-4bb6-84ba-d51072105472#5df7030e-7f06-40bc-9311-2b39d3fbece3

sbugold

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13 season tickets! :) amazing

But we need at least 15k sell out few seasons before moving to FBS. Even if the minimum is 10k, that wont give us profit with additional cost at FBS level to sustain the program.

This is a true cautionary tale for anyone supporting the idea of SBU D-1 football for anytime in the near future.  I truly believe that the CAA (assuming it doesn't implode, which I rteally don't think will happen) is a great place for SBU to be.  They are likely to bring their fans much competitive and winning football for the foreseeable future.  I's hate to see them get greedy and go the way of UMASS!! 

BigFatFan

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Heck, we might see UMASS applying to drop back down to FCS level if they cant get any more traction going at the FBS level.  CAA is a good place to be.  look at two teams right now in the Quarter finals for the FCS championship.  that will be us next year.  I'm very optimistic.

Seawolf97

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UMass shot themselves in the foot playing home games at Foxboro. Students and fans will not travel all that distance for a   UMass vs Toledo or Buffalo game.  When they were in the CAA  they sold out their home stadium just about every game. imagine us traveling to Met life   Stadium for a couple of home games,  I still think FBS is in our future but not the immediate future. Then again with a new AD  coming who knows what his or her thoughts are on football.

EMU Steve

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UMass shot themselves in the foot playing home games at Foxboro. Students and fans will not travel all that distance for a   UMass vs Toledo or Buffalo game.  When they were in the CAA  they sold out their home stadium just about every game. imagine us traveling to Met life   Stadium for a couple of home games,  I still think FBS is in our future but not the immediate future. Then again with a new AD  coming who knows what his or her thoughts are on football.

First time poster and MAC fan and a fan who is receptive to SB joining the MAC in due time.

UMass had an interesting situation, as I understand it.  Their stadium, especially the press box, was deemed inadequate by the MAC and a requirement was that the stadium (mostly press box) be upgraded as a condition of admittance.  The press box is more than simply a press box.  It is part of a remodel.  I'll try to get photographs.  This has been discussed at length on a MAC forum.

Starting this Fall, UMass will split home games between their campus and the Patriots' stadium.

While there was faculity discontent about UMass FB (faculty doesn't like to see $ spend on athletics, esp. if the team(s) aren't winning) that is apparently water over the damn.  The money has been spent on the stadium improvements and UMass isn't reconsidering their move to FBS football.

As far as SB is concerned, I do strongly hope that you build your football program.  SB has the academics, demographics and locations to be say another UConn (some might think that your location is far superior than UConn's).  I would like two SUNY teams in the MAC.  Instant rivals.  SB should have no trouble scheduling other schools like Army, UConn, BC, Rutgers, etc. as well as some FCS opponents from the CAA.

The biggest problem I see, over the next 10 years, is enlarging a stadium which really wasn't built to be expandable to 20 - 25K, which works nicely for the MAC.  I see your stadium as a stadium which could be reasonably expanded to say 15K. 

BTW, I have seen the Seawolves play a number of times on television or webcast (e.g., Army, Syracuse and Buffalo).  With Maysonet, the Seawolves were a very dangerous team for FCS and many FBS opponents.
« Last Edit: March 08, 2014, 07:04:01 am by EMU Steve »

Hammertime

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UMass shot themselves in the foot playing home games at Foxboro. Students and fans will not travel all that distance for a   UMass vs Toledo or Buffalo game.  When they were in the CAA  they sold out their home stadium just about every game. imagine us traveling to Met life   Stadium for a couple of home games,  I still think FBS is in our future but not the immediate future. Then again with a new AD  coming who knows what his or her thoughts are on football.

First time poster and MAC fan and a fan who is receptive to SB joining the MAC in due time.

UMass had an interesting situation, as I understand it.  Their stadium, especially the press box, was deemed inadequate by the MAC and a requirement was that the stadium (mostly press box) be upgraded as a condition of admittance.  The press box is more than simply a press box.  It is part of a remodel.  I'll try to get photographs.  This has been discussed at length on a MAC forum.

Starting this Fall, UMass will split home games between their campus and the Patriots' stadium.

While there was faculity discontent about UMass FB (faculty doesn't like to see $ spend on athletics, esp. if the team(s) aren't winning) that is apparently water over the damn.  The money has been spent on the stadium improvements and UMass isn't reconsidering their move to FBS football.

As far as SB is concerned, I do strongly hope that you build your football program.  SB has the academics, demographics and locations to be say another UConn (some might think that your location is far superior than UConn's).  I would like two SUNY teams in the MAC.  Instant rivals.  SB should have no trouble scheduling other schools like Army, UConn, BC, Rutgers, etc. as well as some FCS opponents from the CAA.

The biggest problem I see, over the next 10 years, is enlarging a stadium which really wasn't built to be expandable to 20 - 25K, which works nicely for the MAC.  I see your stadium as a stadium which could be reasonably expanded to say 15K. 

BTW, I have seen the Seawolves play a number of times on television or webcast (e.g., Army, Syracuse and Buffalo).  With Maysonet, the Seawolves were a very dangerous team for FCS and many FBS opponents.
Welcome aboard EMU Steve... We love new blood on this forum and we also love when an outsider ( not an Alumni of SB, like my self ) chimes in on topics. Feel free to say whatever is on your mind, I do!!

You are correct about SB being at least a decade away from joining the FBS. And you're correct about our stadium not compatable for a 30K seats but ,15K is very doable. It's my understanding, SB is eyeing an expansion to 15K as we speak so, lets keep our fingers crossed this happens while I'm still alive..

SBF is getting bigger and stronger every year and now that they are a  member of the CAA, we will continue to grow not to mention, Hofstra University, once a CAA member in Football, no longer participates in the Football program making room for local Athletes who wanna stay close to home considers SB for their choice of Schools.. We came close to making the Playoffs last season but injures really set us back . It's huge for a first year member of the CAA to even win a few games never mind making the Playoffs but we almost did!!. Stay tooned, SBF is going to rock this year.. Look out UCON!!!!!!!!!!!!



ibosbu

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I will just requote Redwyn... we have the money, but attendance is the issue. And I agree with him.. lets get some CAA titles first.

As for the football stadium - my sources tell me that the money is locked, it's an attendance issue. Fact is, we can't regularly fill an 8500K stadium besides maybe our opener and homecoming. We still bring in D2 schools because we're stuck in that no-man's land between mid-level performance and poor attendance/low guarantees. No one wants to see us in the hollow confines of a 15000K facility if we can only put 5K into it. Remember, 15K is an FBS minimum - and that's 15K turnout, not capacity. We're gonna need to get that thing to its maximum at roughly 25K or so to be a reasonable candidate. The MAC will welcome us as the first TRUE NYC media-market FBS team with open arms when we're ready and U Mass advances to the AAC. But I'm in no rush to see that happen - gimme a few CAA titles and playoff wins first.

EMU Steve

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I will just requote Redwyn... we have the money, but attendance is the issue. And I agree with him.. lets get some CAA titles first.

As for the football stadium - my sources tell me that the money is locked, it's an attendance issue. Fact is, we can't regularly fill an 8500K stadium besides maybe our opener and homecoming. We still bring in D2 schools because we're stuck in that no-man's land between mid-level performance and poor attendance/low guarantees. No one wants to see us in the hollow confines of a 15000K facility if we can only put 5K into it. Remember, 15K is an FBS minimum - and that's 15K turnout, not capacity. We're gonna need to get that thing to its maximum at roughly 25K or so to be a reasonable candidate. The MAC will welcome us as the first TRUE NYC media-market FBS team with open arms when we're ready and U Mass advances to the AAC. But I'm in no rush to see that happen - gimme a few CAA titles and playoff wins first.

Couple of things which work in SB's favor:

The MAC is taking a very deliberate view of expansion even though we are at 13 teams (UMass is #13).  So we (MAC) are looking for #14 which strengthens the conference is a significant way.

Unlike the ole "go West young man" the MAC has actually moved East.  We added Buffalo (in the 90s) and then UMass (FB only).  Once we added NIU (Northern Illinois) there was nothing west of them but cornfields. 

I have long favored a Eastward expansion, esp. after adding UMass.  Once the conference expanded eastward with UMass, it makes less sense to move in a different direction (e.g., Southward for James Madison or Westward for Northern Iowa, etc.). 

Both UMass and SBU are excellent universities and SBU has the big advantage of being in the NYC area and not far from Amherst, Mass.

I could see the following divisions for FB:

(East:  UMass, SBU, UB, Akron, Kent State, Ohio and Miami(O).

(West:  Bowling Green, Toledo, Eastern MI, Central MI, Western MI, Ball State and Northern IL.)

There are tons of rivalries in this setup:  Akron/KSU.  Ohio/Miami.  UB and SBU.  (maybe) UMass and SBU.  and on the West side:  BG/Toledo.  The Michigan schools are all rivals.)   

Seawolf97

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The key is fan support and filling seats.  It will be interesting to see how our new arena sells . Now we filled Pritchard with 1600 plus for just abot every home game.  Now we need to almost triple that to 4000 plus for our arena.  If football starts selling out other than homecoming  we will be in good shape.  Plus I always liked the MAC  as out next home.

BigFatFan

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Hate to be a buzz kill, but we have a long way Togo before we can consider MAC membership.  Mainly fan base has to be stepped up.  Towson, JMU and Nova have a big lead on us in this area, and I'd consider them stronger candidates to move up to FBS before SB.  Someone stated it right on this board:  let's win a few CAA football titles before we start looking at FBS options.

EMU Steve

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The MAC and UMass will part company after the 2015 football season.

Now the MAC reverts to a 12 team conference and expansion, if any, would be for two teams, not one.

UMass was added after Temple to bring the MAC up to 14 teams, but before it happened Temple left for greener grass.

I have always thought SB would make a good #14 with UMass.

Now... ????

After getting burned a few times on expansion I believe the MAC will stay at 12 UNLESS it finds two good all-sports schools which meets its strategic vision of expanding the footprint.

Hammertime

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I just found two, EMU Steve.. SB and UA...
« Last Edit: March 27, 2014, 03:30:35 pm by Hammertime »

EMU Steve

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I'm really sad  :(  that UMass left the MAC.

UMass is a top notch school and has potential in football and obviously very good in hoops.

UMass + SB would have been an excellent pair of schools along the eastern frontier of the MAC.

The MAC would have had teams in Western N.Y. (i.e., Buffalo) plus NYC and Western Mass. 

Does SB and Delaware work?