Should I-AA as a name be dumped?

[*****]

As everyone knows, the NCAA is considering dropping the I-A/I-AA nomenclature for football. Do you think this should be done?

For discussion, do you prefer I-AA to be clearly delineated with its own NCAA name? Does it matter? Will it help to be called D-I and not I-AA?

[GannonFan]

I'm going with the no to dropping, or more precisely, the no to no delination between the current IA and current IAA. Being thrown into the mix with the rest of DIA but still trying to have a championship amongst the DIAA's would be akin to the current mid-majors playing in that bowl game they play in at the end of the year - it's really forgotten (even to a IAA fan). While the national attention to the DIAA championship game isn't overwhelming, at least it's on the radar. I'm not sure it would survive in an all DI classification.

[bison95]

I-AA Should be the new NCAA Division I . The other should be the NCAA BCS $$$.

NCAA Sports should have national champions in the true spirit of competition. The NCAA Doesn't currently recognize a I-A champ because there is no play off. Thus, leave the schools that wish to play "bowls" to themselves and those that have a play off :confused: !!!!!!! WOW, this sounds :eyebrow: ......the same as :doh: ........... it is right NOW. Who Cares what they call it. Cheer for your school/team. GO BISON.

[rokamortis]

Can we change it to 1aa ?

[*****]

Can we change it to 1aa ?smartypants :D

[colgate13]

I think it really doesn't matter. Call it I-A/I-AA or BCS/PCS or Bowl Division and Playoff Division - whatever. You've still got the 85 (right?) scholarship teams and the 63 (or less) scholarship teams. One group faces off against members of its own group with minor crossover. At the end of the day, what's changed? Are we just trying to pull one over on the public?

[*****]

... Are we just trying to pull one over on the public?I think that's the idea.

[henfan]

Voted yes with a lot of trepidation. (I'd vote no just as well.) Obviously, I'm very conflicted about the issue.

My biggest concern is what happens to the designation NCAA Division I Football Championship if the Bowl Championship Series schools someday decide to hold their own championship playoff. How much can be derived from changing the name from I-AA to FCS and I-A to BCS? Will current non-equity conferences receive BCS classification?

Frankly, I prefer more, clearer definition and segmentation of D-I football, not less. That ain't gonna happen though.

[colgate13]

I think that's the idea.
I thought so. I think that's wishful thinking. If all of a sudden every team in the A-10 was a "D-I" team but played in the "PCS" division or the "63 scholarship, not really BCS quality" divison, would Joe Public even notice? There would still be a group for the "big schools" and a group for the "not so big" schools. Joe Public will still consider BCS schools to be what they are and will still not truly understand the PCS schools. If anything, we just confuse the consumer more.

The real issue is marketing and interest. That's the only way to get it out to the public. I-AA needs some sort of hook for the lay sportsfan. We need something like the "I-AA Wednesday Night Game of the Week" on ESPN or at worst, ESPN2 (any station short of that won't do it). It needs to be high profile OOC match ups or big time conference rivalries.

When I-AA gets something like that, we'll see some movement. My question is, America loves football on TV. Why can't we make something like that happen?

[chattanoogamocs]

I do think that name makes a difference, maybe not to the hardcore fans that underestand the difference, but the other 90% that think that a IAA school is D2 (...and that affects all sports...I know I saw at least one comment from a UTk fan when the Vols lost to the Mocs in basketball that they couldn't believe that they had lost to a D2 school).

It is all about perception...that is the reason why schools like Memphis State switched to University of Memphis...and why a school like SMS has fought to change their name to Missouri State...and why schools like Chattanooga and Charlotte do not want to be called UT-Chattanooga and UNC-Charlotte (and there are plenty more...U of North Texas...Middle Tennessee has been trying to get the State dropped, and on and on).

I don't know if this idea would get blasted by the board or not (honestly, I have not thought it out that much, just off the top of my head...and it would probably never happen anyway), but I would like the idea of the BcS league (don't let the door hit ya on the way out) and then remaining IA/AA lumped together and have a 32 team championship (just one extra round). Most of the lower tier bowls are money losers for the schools anyway, scrap 'em...might as well have a chance to host a home game in the playoffs and at least make a little money...plus have the chance for more of your fans get to see your team play...plus the chance to win a NC trophy (as opposed to say the Poulan Weedeater Trophy)

[TexasTerror]

I think even if we have Division I and BCS, it would really not help at all. It might start confusion actually when you have the Sun Belt, MWC and such not part of the BCS scene unless the factors occur that would get them there. What we need is just merge everyone into Division I, have the BCS and the National Championship Series. That is what I think should happen and more than likely, will happen.

[ccujacket]

It's better than the other options. Our schools are D-I for all the other sports so it can't be changed to D-II and D-II to D-III and so on.

I guess were stuck being a sub-division.

[ngineer]

Well, I just voted "no"--but as others have expressed, I feel like Billy Martin. You remember his line in the beer ad, "I feel strongly both ways".
I agree with '13' that if I-AA could get a little exposure in 'prime time' during the regular season, with big rivalry games that have full stadiums and excitement, that translates over the tube, then we may get a bigger following from Joe Q. Public. But as long as WE have a true national champion decided on the field I believe we should show the delineation in our name.

[TexasTerror]

But as long as WE have a true national champion decided on the field I believe we should show the delineation in our name.

That's all that matters. A true national champion determined on the field! You can call it anything you want, though I have my preferences, but a true national champ!

[*****]

Geez, over 200 views and only 28 votes? C'mon folks, vote!

[dungeonjoe]

Geez, over 200 views and only 28 votes? C'mon folks, vote!

I voted, does the "view" count go up every time I take a look?

[*****]

I voted, does the "view" count go up every time I take a look?I'm actually not sure about that.

[polsongrizz]

I think it might.

[*****]

Voted yes with a lot of trepidation. (I'd vote no just as well.) ... Frankly, I prefer more, clearer definition and segmentation of D-I football, not less. ...So why did you vote to change the name?

[Wmbgskip]

Increased exposure would help, yes. Increased wins over I-A programs would help, yes. But the marketing cannot be discounted, and that's why I voted yes to changing the I-AA label.

We, the people on this board, already know and love I-AA football, and are knowledgeable about the differences (or lack thereof) between our teams and the I-A teams. But, to grow the sport, and make the national championship that is won on the field just as meaningful to the public as the Sears trophy (ADT Trophy now...whatever they call the glass football), you need to hook them in. The NCAA changing the name to something like Play-off Championship Series, and then promoting the match-ups between top I-AA and I-A teams, and big rivalries like Yale-Harvard, GSU/Furman, or UDel/JMU/Villanova/W&M, will help immensely. Televise those games, with packed stadia, and (perhaps most importantly) announcing teams with people who are actually familiar with I-AA football. I think a great example would be a team with one guy who is a nationally-recognized name (Corso, Herbstreit, Jerry Punch), and the color/play-by-play folks being former I-AA players or coaches. People that have a vested interest in the game on the field, not the current scheme of just assigning the extra crews to play-off games at random.

--Skip

[*****]

I think it might.Initially, the first click, but after that ... nevermind. This is a question for another AGS board and quite off-topic here.

[*****]

... that's why I voted yes to changing the I-AA label. ...Thanks for the explanation Skip! :beerchug:

Even though I may feel differently I appreciate you taking the time to explain. Opinion leaders are made through explanations.

[buckp]

Even though I may feel differently ......

Ralph might be worried about a complete wardrobe change.......;)

[FURMANFAN]

I think a name change to PCS would be beneficial. A lot of people refer to D1A simply as Div 1 and it would stop that hopefully. Also the change would be a national story and that would garner attention. Sort of like changing the package or name of a familiar product to boost awareness. It's a good first step but not all that's needed.

[GannonFan]

Actually, views count everytime you open the thread - I could open it 3 times myself and the number would go up by 3.

[henfan]

So why did you vote to change the name?

Because it think the change may do more good than harm in the end.

After following I-AA for the last 20+ years, it's also become pretty clear to me that the NCAA has little interest in defining and branding the I-AA classification. Without that, the title itself really doesn't have much value, though the level of play and cost-containment philosophy obviously always will.

[Purple Knight]

I do think that name makes a difference, maybe not to the hardcore fans that underestand the difference, but the other 90% that think that a IAA school is D2 (...and that affects all sports...I know I saw at least one comment from a UTk fan when the Vols lost to the Mocs in basketball that they couldn't believe that they had lost to a D2 school).

It is all about perception...that is the reason why schools like Memphis State switched to University of Memphis...and why a school like SMS has fought to change their name to Missouri State...and why schools like Chattanooga and Charlotte do not want to be called UT-Chattanooga and UNC-Charlotte (and there are plenty more...U of North Texas...Middle Tennessee has been trying to get the State dropped, and on and on).



What's in a name is true. Why would anyone like to be called UT at xxx, or whatever?

Are you saying that all nonBCS schools become 1-AA (Div 1)? How many would this add to our ranks? It would add whole conferences, right?

[*****]

... Are you saying that all nonBCS schools become 1-AA (Div 1)? How many would this add to our ranks? It would add whole conferences, right?I think all I-A Conferences are BCS now... I may be wrong.

[GannonFan]

I think all I-A Conferences are BCS now... I may be wrong.

You may be right in name but in practice it will still be very difficult for a true-non BCS conference (Mountain West, WAC, CUSA, etc) to even get into the BCS bowls, and probably impossible to get into the BCS championship bowl game.

[ccujacket]

But, to grow the sport, and make the national championship that is won on the field just as meaningful to the public as the Sears trophy (ADT Trophy now...whatever they call the glass football), you need to hook them in.

The I-AA championship, despite the fact that we have playoffs, will never be as meaningful to the public as the I-A title and we'll never have the audience they do. We will always have a niche (sp?) audience.

[bunny]

I voted no for two reasons. First, it makes sense to keep the name as it is. Second, there is no compelling reason to change it.

Remember the rule changes made by the NCAA back in the late 1970s? Schools (with a few exceptions) must compete in the same division in all sports. Division I-AA is a subclassification of Division I for football. It's not Div. II. Sports broadcasters already get it wrong when talking about Division I football; why do we think that it will be better to call our brand of ball "the Division I Championship Division"? I can hear folks now.... "but there's a Big XII Championship Game - is that the same thing?" High school sports have A, AA, AAA, etc. so there is already a precedent of using the letter A to denote divisions of play.

The most compelling reason to change it seems to be that it will help promote the sport. I'm not sold on this. The I-AA die hards like us don't need the name change to get excited about the game. Perhaps a name change will make hosting the Championship game a little more prestigious. Will it fill the stadium with any more football fans who don't have an allegiance to I-AA? Those folks will still ask "who's playing?" and will stare blankly when you say James Madison & Montana. So I say no.

It'll take more than a name change to promote the sport. So if that's the goal.... try something else.

[Retro]

I would go for a change if it is something clearly definable like Div I - PCS or another name, but the key is whether or not the NCAA is going to spend some money and promote the name and the level itself! I think I-AA is fine, but the NCAA doesn't promote it, doesn't make an effort to educate the media or public about the difference between I-A and I-AA, therefore we have a lot of people out there who simply think I-AA is div II or not Div I at all!

There needs to be a campaign showing the real differences between Div I-a and I-aa, like: 20 less scholarships, smaller financial budgets, equal quality football talent with that of most if I-A teams, Successful NFL players from I-AA, etc....
A name change may garner some well-needed attention and discussion among the media about the different levels and may cause them and the public to take a closer look at the current I-AA level..

[colgate13]

I've got it! I-A becomes the "Money, Scandals and Leave for the Draft Early Division" and I-AA becomes the "Less Money, Playoffs and an Education Division"!

Do you think the NCAA will go for it? I hear truth in marketing works these days... :D

[Cap'n Cat]

I've got it! I-AA becomes the "Less Money, Playoffs and an Education Division"!

:D


Yeah, but neither applies to the SWAC.


:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[colgate13]

Yeah, but neither applies to the SWAC.


:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Cap'n Cat: the straw that stirs I-AA's drink. :dizzy:

[blackfordpu]

Yeah, but neither applies to the SWAC.


:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Watch it Cap'n, your getting close to the smack edge with that comment. :)

I-AA should keep its distenction and stay seperated from I-A. I dont see a reason for changing anything. It seems that I-A is looking for a way around addressing the playoff issue. If I-A and I-AA are not seperated then the issue disappears.

[*****]

Yeah, but neither applies to the SWAC ...
Ah yes, pigeonhole AGS as a SWAC hating board... as much as I tell their members that AGS isn't anti-SWAC we have some here who are relentlessly anti-SWAC. I wonder what the reasons are? Maybe one of the AGS anti-SWAC members will start a thread on the smack board and detail their reasons? Maybe they won't... :rolleyes:

[Griz Grunt]

Since this is all about change for the sake of change, lets:
Step 1) drop one of the A's in I-AA, your choice which one,
Step 2) to the remaining I-A lets add, National Championship Division.

Were losing (1) A but, were gaining 30 odd characters and some space

I-A National Championship Division

Well...

[arkstfan]

I voted doesn't matter.

There may be a minor positive but I don't see any great upside or downside.

Names will still be out there with I-A being Division I Bowl, or BCS, or Bowl Alliance and I-AA being Division I Playoff or Championship, or PCS, or FCS.

The Division I is going to disappear from most articles and references and its going to be Bowl schools and Playoff schools.

The new BCS agreement has all I-A schools as "members" of the BCS an intentional decision to try negate the meaning of the term BCS.

The only gain is that hopefully people will no longer confuse I-AA with II.

[HensRock]

I also voted "doesn't matter".
I think Rabbitlivinginverm's signature line sums it up best as for my reasoning:


"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling the tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."--Abraham Lincoln

Or if you prefer:


That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.

Bottom line, it doesn't matter what we call it. If the NCAA continues to treat it like 2nd class citizens, that's the way we will "smell". A simple name change is not going to change that.

[JBB]

I like the proposed change. I know its true that a rose by any other name smells the same, but it might not sell as well. I think the change better describes the division and its alliances.

[ngineer]

Can you explain what your avatar is???

[chattanoogamocs]

Apparently Rivals does not realize the difference between IAA and DII...I was looking at Eldra Buckley on their site (a 4-star recruit and the #23 JuCo on their list that signed with the Mocs)...and they have him as signed an LOI with a Division II school. :mad: I guess I should just be happpy that they don't have Chattanooga on their (along with the word Division II)...and you wonder why I voted in favor of dropping the A's...even Rivals can't get it right. :splat:

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=32031

[AppMan]

You guys need a reality wake-up call. It doesn't matter what name the division takes, as long as there are TWO divisions within D-I, the lower one will always be looked down on at as a second class citizen. You are known by the company you keep. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

[*****]

You guys need a reality wake-up call. ...Yeah, some do need a WAKE-UP... :rolleyes:

[igo4uni]

I voted to keep the name the same. I love the fact that we have a playoff system and a true national champion. Our schools get to use fewer scholarships than the I-A schools, so it makes sense to put us into separate divisions.

As much as I hate to admit it, there is no way to compete with the media coverage that I-A schools get. I like colgate 13's idea of a Wednesday night I-AA game, but that won't put fans in the seats. There is simply more public interest in I-A football than in I-AA football.

You know what, though......it's all good. We have a competitive, exciting brand of football, we have AGS to give us a forum to discuss our teams, and we have Cap'n Cat.

Life is good.

peace

igo4uni

[eaglesrthe1]

I don't think that anyone on this site needs a wake up. We all know that a GSU/UM or a UD/WKU final is just as exciting as an UM/OSU final is.

I don't care if I-AA is considered 2nd class, ...I don't consider it so. Just keep spreading the word about how I-AA does it right...on the field. The internet is a wonderful tool, and Ralph is taking advantage of it. It will pay off in the end.

Competitive competition is what drives the market.The internet is a wonderful vehicle. It doesn't matter if it is IA or IAA. Just look at the attention that the Little League WS is getting the last few years. It just takes some forward thinking individuals to take advantage of it. I think that Ralph is one of these people. Only time will tell.


Keep pressing forward Ralph.

[igo4uni]

Keep pressing forward Ralph.

Amen.

peace

igo4uni

[walliver]

I-A (BCS) is a Hollywood product aimed for TV markets and large stadia full of people who pay way too much for a ticket to sit in a seat miles from the playing field to watch a game through binoculars so they can say they were at "the game".

I-AA football is for people who love football and go to games, and sit close enough to the field so they can actually hear the game and see the game. I-AA will never get high TV ratings, but a a hard-core group of fans who sit in the heat of summer and the cold of winter (we hope) to watch their teams.

If you aren't in the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big-12, or PAC-10, the average TV fans doesn't know who you are, or care who you are. Changing the names won't help. I-AA fans just need to enjoy the game we have.

It would be nice, however, if the NCAA would move the I-AA Championship Game later in the year during Bowl Season. We could call it the Avis We Try Harder I-AA Championship Bowl. Millions of fans nationwide would watch it on ESPN 8 "the ocho" and never realize they weren't watching a I-A bowl game.