Postby Cane from the Bend » Sat Aug 17, 2019 9:30 pm
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I respect your opinion for it being what it is, just that. And my sentiments are not shared to influence anyone else's. They are my thought & perspectives on the topic.
That being said, I could not disagree more.
Universities are run like special interest investments for the board that sits on each. The idea that playing Football in different divisions is somehow feeding into the problem is rather disingenuous, to say the least.
True, it may make the elitists more visible when you put it on Television. But let's face it. It is not the problem. It is merely a byproduct of the educational system.
These Universities are competing like capitalist ideologues, and will continue to do so, with or without Sports programs.
Rising tuition costs inflate constantly. Even here, in South Bend where the University I & My wife both attended, IUSB, raises cost, adds new buildings, while tearing down old ones that still function.
No Sports team, other than a Basketball program the doesn't compete nationally. But the Campus is still growing.
These are not aspects of pushing the little guy down, or out of tradition. And all of those FCS Football schools are competing with each other outside of Sports just the same.
The bottom dollar is the benchmark, regardless of what teams are competing on the field of play. And every University would undermine someone else if given the opportunity.
As for those games you mention. Yes, tradition can be salvaged. But these schools have shown they care little about Tradition, both Athletically & Academically.
In the end, Universities create their own traditions. Assuming you know what traditions are best for them, base upon personally sentimental fondness is almost as arrogant as the Big Guys calling themselves the Power5, while separating away from what they call everyone else the Group of 5.
Take this into account.
Idaho vs Washington State ... There was a Traditional rivalry that became so one sided, that it became irrelevant.
Idaho had become so incapable of competing against Washington St that it hurt them more to schedule them regularly.
Now, Idaho has dropped down into the FCS ranks. But, that also allows for Idaho to reestablish their once Traditional Rivalry with Montana.
Which one is better suited for Idaho..?
Miami lambasted Florida A&M a couple years back, where the rules afforded that Florida A&M could ask for a running clock at the mid point of the 3rd quarter. Florida A&M head coach said no, to teach his team to finish the game.
Miami put up 70 points in the first three quarters of regulation, then played keep away for the final 15 minutes.
That is a Stark contrast to 1979, when Florida A&M beat Miami 16-13.
Clearly, as time has past, the gap has become so great that Florida A&M will not be able to close it.
And, when F. A&M goes on to have another embarrassing outing against the gators in Gainesville, the only thing we will have learned, is that it is not a disparaging unevenness between two Florida schools. It's a great divide between the FBS Florida schools, and the FCS Florida schools.
To that, I'll add, Florida A&M is not, nor has been, a Traditional rivalry to either Miami or Florida.
FAMU had successfully petitioned the NCAA for Division I classification (Division I-AA in football), which took effect on September 1, 1978. But then withdrew from advancement by their own choice . So, who is to blame..? The Big Schools..?
It's interesting that you'd put UAB as a qualifier with Alabama as a Tradition.
UAB's main rivals are with conference opponent Southern Miss, and Troy out of conference.
Once upon a time, UAB had a more Traditional rivalry with Memphis, which was called the Battle for the Bones (sometimes known as "The BBQ Bowl") and included both professional and amateur barbecue contests as part of the pregame festivities. The winner of the game received a traveling 100-pound bronze rack of ribs trophy, known as The Bones' trophy --- A game that has is no longer an annual contest, and both of these teams not only play in the FBS, they are both Group of 5 teams.
UAB and Memphis haven't picked up their previous rivalry, yet you cite Alabama, whom has never precluded UAB, since they were never considered Traditional common opponents.
Coincidentally enough, though; UAB & Florida A&M are in the same conference for Bowling [that is the sport Bowling with a 15 Lb ball & pins, not Bowl Game].
Yet, UAB doesn't schedule Florida A&M's football team ... I guess that doesn't qualify enough Tradition [admittedly UAB has only been in their conference since 2018, and just in Bowling].
Illinois State is not a Traditional opponent to Northern Illinois.
Southern Illinois used to be. But Southern Illinois chose to remain in Div-1AA when No Illinois jumped to 1A.
However, Northern Illinois hasn't played So Illinois in quite some time.
Last year they didn't play a single FCS program.
In 2017 they played Eastern Illinois
in 2016 they played Western Illinois
In 2015 they played Murray State
In 2014 they played Presbyterian
Notice one thing. Northern Illinois did not play the same FCS school twice. So what Tradition are we referring to?
I cannot speak for who "Traditionally" is considered a regional event out west, however, I'll leave to you to determine which of these games are Traditional, that are scheduled for this season:
Colgate @ Air Force
Portland State @ Boise State
UC Davis @ Cal
Western Illinois @ Colorado State
Central Arkansas @ Hawai'i
Cal Poly @ Oregon State
Weber State @ San Diego State
Idaho State @ Utah
Stony Brook @ Utah State
Northern Colorado @ Washington State
I get the UC Davis v Cal Berkley; but tell me, what rich Tradition are we going to get from these match ups, other than magnifying just how vast the differences in competition actually exist ..? Except in maybe the case of Oregon State, who quite possibly could lose.
Now, try this one ...
What is the Tradition from the past that would see people engaging in conversations about college football, outside of their own city & state?
The Internet provided us with the reach and communication to where we each found this same place. Without it, we never would have even had one exchange, in the Traditional sense.
The world advances forward. We are here because of those advances. If we always stayed within our comfort space, we would have not reached out across the country to chat with one another. We changed our vantage, by doing something, Unconventional/Nontraditional.
Today, this form of communication is considered archaic by social media standards.
Traditions move forward. If they hadn't, we'd still be talking off the ear of people next door who likely couldn't give two whips about what some college outside of county road 6 has to offer the sport.
That is why we are here.
You want your Water Cooler conversation. You have it. Right there at your fingertips. Your Keyboard is your Cooler. And your conversation has expanded nationally.
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Cane... [__]
"It is only impossible until it has been accomplished." ... then it becomes standardized ...
Success is measured by results; whereas Character is measured through the means by which one achieves those results . . .
It seems the Rapture did come for two worthy souls:
In Memory of Grandpa Howdy
In Memory of Donovan Davisson