Based on the budget comparisons we've seen for NSU and/or McNeese vs. LaMon, I'd say it would be a better deal for them to drop football all together.
I don't believe LaMon will ever consider going to FCS. Even though there is significant savings to go to FCS, when you look at the Current FCS budgets of McNeese and NSU you see that they still spend as much as LaMon is currently spending, so knowing LaMon the way we do, they'd be much worse off.
It depends on the school. Some schools have dropped football to save money, and other schools would lose money by dropping football.
Like Maddawg said, not school has ever voluntarily dropped from FBS to FCS. That would be a net negative. The only way this would happen is if the school is left without a conference home.
See, now this confuses me again. I should clarify what I am asking. :icon_wink: Gonzaga is 1a in basketball, right? They have no football team, so they may be 1AAA in other sports - I don't know - but basketball is 1a and they compete in the NCAA tournament and do very well. I am saying NMSU should consider their model. With hardly a fan base for football and no hope for one with UNM around, why not just concentrate on bball units and revenue?
NOOOOOOO. There is no 1a in basketball, nor 1aa. There is no FBS or FCS in basketball.
There is only Division 1 basketball. Schools that play Division 1 basketball, but do not sponsor any football, are often referred to as D1AAA.
Gonzaga, UALR, and UT-Arlington are all considered 1AAA. This is because they sponsor Division 1 basketball, but do not play football. Centenary and UNO were, until recently, also 1AAA.
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NMSU is considering dropping their football to the FCS level. Or even dropping it entirely, which would make them a 1AAA like Gonzaga or UALR.
As maddawg explained, FCS is almost certainly a losing proposition. Whether 1AAA could prove a viable alternative for NMSU is the question.
There is no 1-A in basketball.
Football is the only Division I sport with subdivisions (FBS and FCS). Non-football schools are considered to be I-AAA.
But for basketball and every other sport besides football, Gonzaga, Northwestern State, Louisiana Tech, and LSU are all Division I with no subdivisions.
WBB fans are easily and often confused.