FBS football is ruined for the foreseeable future for programs like ours.
And it isn't a Virginia Tech issue. It's not possible to keep up with the new P2 over the long haul. We're competing with both hands tied behind our backs - a situation that will become exponentially worse over time.
You can't blame coaches and players for leaving when other schools offer them life changing amounts of money.
We are now playing in what is essentially a wild, wild west version of professional football, but we're stuck in the crappiest division and our "owner" is a garden variety millionaire while the competitive teams are owned by billionaires.
Fixes or solutions?
1) We become a part of the problem and somehow land a bid to one of the P2 (this outcome seems increasingly less likely as we descend further into sustained mediocrity).
2) The ACC and Big 12 merge to form a third power conference and secure a competitive media rights deal to those enjoyed by the SEC/BIG. (the merger part might happen, but the revenue equity seems like a long shot).
3) The powers that be (conferences, NCAA, state/federal legislatures) step in to regulate college football in some meaningful way to restore some degree of parity. I'm not sure what can be done (maybe nothing) when it comes to media revenue, but they should certainly be able to put some limits on the insanity that is NIL and the transfer portal (not sure how likely this scenario, or some version of it, might be - maybe 50/50).
4) Non-P2 conferences tell the "big boys" to go play with themselves, break with them entirely (no non-conference games - a total divorce with binding restraining orders in place) and form some reconstituted version of college athletics that actually involves educating student athletes (this feels almost impossible).
I've held season tickets since I graduated and have been a consistent Hokie Club member at at least the Silver level since the early 2000s. I live in Charlotte and reluctantly decided to drop $95+ parking to watch a team down 12 starters lose a bowl game in front of what might have been 30K people. I had fun with my cousin, my Hokie football buddy since we both graduated in 1984, but we agreed last night that the wheels are completely off the bus. I'll continue to buy season tickets but my Hokie Club donation will drop to a participation level. I refuse to help fuel the absolute BS that college football has become with money I could be giving to other "charitable" organizations that actually help people. Helping buy luxury cars for 19 year-old kids just isn't on my list of philanthropic priorities.
** Edited by VTHokieCub at 1/4/2025, 5:52:26 PM
27 Replies
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
follow the same direction, eventually with time !
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
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Squatro
1y
I think there are two paths to parity.
The first is that the power two conferences compromise, and all of the major schools agree to a collective bargaining agreement with the athletes. This would be the best for the fans and the sport as a whole. But they really have no incentive to do this, they are at a strong competitive advantage now and will only continue to dominate revenue and results. So I don’t really see this happening.
It’s possible that the major media companies will exert pressure on them, in the interest of keeping the broadest possible appeal throughout college football. I don’t really see that happening either.
The other path is congressional legislation. It may be conceivable that lawmakers could force all of the major college football programs to accept a universal structure. But Congress has consistently refused to get involved on this issue. And such legislation might not be constitutional anyway.
Thus I believe that this bifurcated structure will continue. It was great rooting for a national power. Lots of happy memories.
** Edited by Squatro at 1/4/2025, 9:36:16 PM
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
give them what they want and get the big time revenue sports away from academics- this is a few steps away from exposing the charade- it's a shame because the vast majority of D1/D2 athletes are students... the top half of the power 4 or 5 may not have been.... but it's gonna wreck it all-
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
5) Switch to DI-FCS and compete for the NCAA DI National Championship.
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
schools play in stadiums that meet FBS capacity standards. Remember Bylaw 20.9.7.3 states that a school just needs to average 15,000 paid attendance over a rolling two-year period in order to meet the FBS attendance requirement.
Link:
DI-FCS Stadiums
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
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run_VT
1y
This gets brought up on here more and more and there are still people who let their ego (which I find hilarious as simply fans) say this is a bad idea. But frankly it would be something I would instantly start watching more of.
I think the likes of JMU, ODU, etc… will come to regret their move to FBS.
Which by the way, FBS is ridiculous now too since bowls are a joke and there is a 12 team playoff.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
that the FBS and FCS subdivisions could recombine to how things were pre-1978. One reason the schools may decide to go that route is it could be a way to save money assuming the schools have to pay their athletes a "salary/wage" of some sort. Another reason is it could make it easier for schools to be Title IX compliant.
(In response to this post by run_VT)
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
Yup. We are a currently a program to showcase the strong players in their
last year or 2 of eligibility after they transfer in, or for the younger crop to springboard their way out to the SEC. We aren't doing the job of creating a winner by developing guys and bringing them along. Whether that's culture, NIL, or direct coaching I don't know. Who is the last guy we developed and went strait from here to the next level? Chris Darrisaw maybe? This program needs a general manager, a legit PR campaign, and better (and more respected) coaches.
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
(In response to this post by Maroon Effect)
1y
Link:
4 Year Old Answer
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
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hok1eboy
1y
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
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MikeVT85
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
The Big Two are so big that I can't imagine they have the same feel as a 9 team regional conference does where every team plays each other every year. Even if you are in one of the big 2, you could be a team like Washington who achieved a ton of success last year only to see your coach poached at the end by Alabama. That same coach is probably on the hot seat right now simply by not immediately achieving Saban like dominance. You also have a playoff where none of the final four teams are a conference champ (Big 2 or otherwise). You have a team like Maryland in the Big 10 instead of the ACC and Stanford in the ACC. How messed up is that?
The best we can hope for is a combo/split where 72+ teams are split up into 8 regional conferences whose champions automatically go to an 8 team playoff. And then the TV money is for all 72+ teams are negotiated together and split evenly among all the teams.
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
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hok1eboy
1y
Commissioner that "acts in the best interests of the College Football".
Whether the best interests of the P2 is the same as College Football writ large remains to be seen.
Where is Kenesaw Mountain Landis when you need him?
** Edited by hok1eboy at 1/4/2025, 7:01:35 PM
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
1y
They get all the games and don't have to pay more money out. Nothing will happen until all these contracts expire in 2031-2033. By then VT will be a shell of what it used to be. ESPN actually owns the SEC network.
B10 - 71M per year per school
SEC - 55M per year
B12 - 22 million per year
ACC - 17 M per year (2036)
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
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Hotus
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
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solareye
1y
dream, I understand that. I'm just sick of this BS mercenary player crap we have to endure now. You can't root for any player anymore because they could decide to leave your program at their whim.
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
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run_VT
1y
And I am with you as well, I’d love to see this whole scheme collapse on everyone who thinks what they’re doing is so great.
Lots of examples out there of major sports making bad decisions that lead to serious drops in viewership. We’re currently seeing it happen to the NBA.
NASCAR is another example I like to trot out. I’m a big motorsports guy. I’ll watch almost any racing with 4 wheels. NASCAR for a long time was part of my regular Sunday viewing. But they messed around with the sport and rules so much, you couldn’t pay me to watch a NASCAR race now. And it’s not like I gave up on Motorsport either; I still regularly watch F1, IndyCar, and Sportscars.
I still really enjoy football, but I’ve decided to get my fix with the NFL. If I’m going to watch players get paid to play, might as well watch the guys that are the best and have rules that regulate their system. I find it hilarious too that the NFL is now more of a team game than college.
(In response to this post by solareye)
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fordham
1y
And all college sports except for a few schools goes away completely. No money no way to have college sports
(In response to this post by solareye)
1y
In MLB the clubs have full control of the athlete for a few years at a relatively low salary. The players the become free agents where they get the huge payday.
I would love to see college athletes be locked into their chosen school for 2 years. Their 3rd year they get to test the free agents where waters.
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)
If a non P-2 or ND don't have a billionaire that's willing to finance the
program then they are playing for an occasional conference title at best and more likely a chance to finish with a winning record. The new paradigm bites hard against the bottom 70%.
(In response to this post by VTHokieCub)