The end of small college Div. 1 football?
 

It looks like Tulane will drop football soon because they can't compete and can't pay the bills. What a strange ending for a program that played by the rules and did everything right, while programs like Alabama keep chugging along.

Do you think the formation of the new Super-Conferences in college football spell the end for a lot of small programs (Southern Miss, Central Florida, Northern Illinois, etc.)? The only way they can stay afloat now is by being cannon-fodder for the big schools and collecting that "fodder paycheck" every year. If they know they can't compete for any championships, will they eventually fold?

Fold? No, I don't think so.

I think small schools have always been cannon fodder, because they cannot get home games and often give up a very large portion of revenue. But this is getting better. For instance, the MAC's Ohio University will host Big Ten's Minnesota this year.

As far as "superconferences" go, near as I can figure the strength is to get together for better tv contracts and a championship game. The MAC, for instance, already has a championship game on ESPN and a TV contract with FOXSports. Sure, the others get more money with their contracts, but they spend more too.

Some other problems for small schools to say in existence may include rules that have been proposed regarding attendence. You may need 16,000+ average. This might spell doom for some smaller programs.

But, overall, I think financially schools will always support football. It is vital to keep lifelines attached to alumni who give support.

Can you believe a couple of years ago Tulane went 12-0. WOW!! Now they might not even have a team. I heard that the three schools to the ACC is a done deal as of today. It should be announced next week.

Div. 3 schools play football. Most schools have so much money that they have to find ways to spend it. For some reason, they have to charge tuition. I guess to make the students study.

As an LSU alum, I couldn't be happier. Tulane= overrated in every way.

Central Florida and Northern Ill are in the MAC, and the MAC is very competitive... U Toledo has beaten some of the greatest schools, BGSU, Miami, Marshal have all done their damage. The MAC isn't going away, but maybe some of the smaller schools should change to DII or something else if they can't "compete"?

I don't think that a lot of schools will give up football. It is one of the only sports that brings money into campuses. Alumni love to come see the "big boys" play on their campus. And, every years there is an upset or two that keeps everyone interested.

So does this mean that the smaller Div. I schools will accept being non-competitive cannon fodder as their lot in life?

I just think the BCS will squeeze them back down to Div. II or III.

For anyone who cares, the Tulane board of directors decid has come up with a plan to reduce their deficit and maintain the football program and stay in Div. I. for all sports.

I just think that the smaller Div. I schools must accept the fact that in order to attract skilled "Student" athletes, they must have all the perks - indoor practice field - weight room - "other "accomodations" that these top kids expect - all of which take money. The big programs just keep getting richer because the bowl appearances give them more $ to spend on theit athletes. It is a self fulfilling prophecy. So small schools must just make the bes tof it, otherwise they sink to the level of the football factories.