Future and Potential FCS Programs

[ChooChoo]

With the onslaught of DI schools attempting to revive, rumored to be starting, or announcing new football programs, I thought we could use a thread listing them all. Mods, if you don’t mind, could you save this so we can keep up with the progress of these schools and others. Thanks.

Phase 3 – Approved to Launch
2008 - Campbell (Buies Creek, NC), NCAA FCS nonscholarship, Pioneer Football League.
2009 - Old Dominion (Norfolk, VA), NCAA FCS independent, member of Colonial Athletic Association in 2011.

Phase 2 – Awaiting Regent Approvals / Capital Campaigns
Georgia State (Atlanta, GA), CAA member http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12700&KEY=&ATCLID=860313
Kennesaw State (Kennesaw, GA), Atlantic Sun member http://www.kennesaw.edu/newfaces/pdf/KSU_MAG_Ccampaign07[1].pdf , pgs 9-11.
Lamar (Beaumont, TX), SLC member http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29271&page=3&highlight=lamar
University of Texas at San Antonio, SLC member http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13100&ATCLID=1239766
Winthrop – (Rock Hill, SC), Big South member www.winthropeagles.com/upload/upload2291_Football_Story_Revised.pdf)

Phase 1 – Exploratory Studies
CS Fullerton (Fullerton, CA), http://www.tailgatingideas.com/2007/11/09/bring-back-titan-football/
Mercer (Macon, GA), http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/
South Alabama (Mobile, AL), http://media.www.usavanguard.com/media/storage/paper973/news/2007/09/24/News/Ncaa-Football.Question.reopened-2988316.shtml
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, http://www.nacdaconsulting.com/news/details.asp?ArticleSource=70
UNC Charlotte (Charlotte, NC), http://www.ninernation.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=64

Rumor Mill
ETSU(Johnson City, TN)
Evansville (Evansville, IN)
George Mason (Fairfax, VA)
New Jersey Tech (Newark, NJ)
Texas-Arlington (Arlington, TX)
University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA)
UNC Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)
Wichita State (Wichita, KS)

Add and Subtract as you see fit and provide links when possible.

[DSUHornet]

George Mason and Old Dominion will serve as good competition. dont know too much about the rest though

[appfan2008]

ETSU should at least be considered in the rumor mill category

[HIU 93]

UTSA will get it. Trust me. GMU has no desire to start football.

[Franks Tanks]

Is University of the Pacific really considering football again?

[UAalum72]

Bryant College (Smithfield, RI) is moving up from D-II with its football program and will become a core member of the Northeast Conference in 2012 after its 5-year reclassification.
http://www.northeastconference.org/news/general/2007/10/18/NEC-BryantAcceptance07.asp?path=general

[appstate38]

I don't understand a few of the possible conference affiliations. Campbell would seem to be a better fit in the Big South along with Wintrop. Better chances to create some good regional rivals. Georgia State to the CAA doesn't make any sense at all. Once again it seems at least to me that the Big South would be a better fit, at least in terms of location.

IMO!

[TheValleyRaider]

I don't understand a few of the possible conference affiliations. Campbell would seem to be a better fit in the Big South along with Wintrop. Better chances to create some good regional rivals. Georgia State to the CAA doesn't make any sense at all. Once again it seems at least to me that the Big South would be a better fit, at least in terms of location.

IMO!

Well, geographically speaking, the Pioneer League isn't good for anyone. Campbell, however, also wants to be non-scholly, and the only way they're going to do that and compete effectively is going to be in the PFL.

Georgia State is an all-sports member of the CAA, and like ODU would have an open invite to join the conference when and if they started a program.

[BearsCountry]

Add Lipscomb & Detroit to the rumor mill ones.

But with Campbell joining Jacksonville in the PFL and with rumors at Mercer, Keenshaw State, Lipcomb, and ETSU maybe we see Atlantic Sun football. Add Davidson as an affilate and the South has their version of the PFL.

[Gil Dobie]

Not sure if these belong, but they are just finishing their exploratory year.

North Dakota - 2008 (Grand Forks, ND), NCAA, FCS Great West
South Dakota - 2008 (Vermillion, SD), NCAA, FCS Great West

[ETSU-06]

ETSU should at least be considered in the rumor mill category

xnonono2x xsmhx sigh.....unfortunately it's not even a rumor anymore. Our recently failed restoration effort will probably keep football away for another 15+ years or so.

Would love to see local schools Carson-Newman, Tusculum, and Emory & Henry move up sometime. All three have respectable facilities, good support, and most importanly quite a bit of $$. Be nice to have FCS football back in the region.

[catamount man]

xnonono2x xsmhx sigh.....unfortunately it's not even a rumor anymore. Our recently failed restoration effort will probably keep football away for another 15+ years or so.

Would love to see local schools Carson-Newman, Tusculum, and Emory & Henry move up sometime. All three have respectable facilities, good support, and most importanly quite a bit of $$. Be nice to have FCS football back in the region.

All you guys need is for Stanton and Mullins to leave and you'll get it back up and going. I have a feeling you'll be up with a team before 2015, but that's my own opinion. Good luck.

GO CATS!!!

[ucdtim17]

Is University of the Pacific really considering football again?

No

[terrierbob]

Not sure if these belong, but they are just finishing their exploratory year.

North Dakota - 2008 (Grand Forks, ND), NCAA, FCS Great West
South Dakota - 2008 (Vermillion, SD), NCAA, FCS Great West

Neither school has a FB program?

[ChooChoo]

Phase 3 – Approved to Launch or Move-Up
2008 - Campbell (Buies Creek, NC), NCAA FCS nonscholarship, Pioneer Football League.
2008 - North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND), NCAA, FCS Great West
2008 - South Dakota (Vermillion, SD), NCAA, FCS Great West
2009 - Old Dominion (Norfolk, VA), NCAA FCS independent, member of Colonial Athletic Association in 2011.
2012 - Bryant College (Smithfield, RI), NCAA, FCS NEC

Phase 2 – Awaiting Regent Approvals / Capital Campaigns
Georgia State (Atlanta, GA), CAA member http://www.georgiastatesports.com/Vi...TCLID=86031 3
Kennesaw State (Kennesaw, GA), Atlantic Sun member http://www.kennesaw.edu/newfaces/pdf...AG_Ccampaign07[1].pdf , pgs 9-11.
Lamar (Beaumont, TX), SLC member http://www.anygivensaturday.com/foru...ighlight=lamar
University of Texas at San Antonio, SLC member http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.db...ATCLID=1239766
Winthrop – (Rock Hill, SC), Big South member http://www.winthropeagles.com/upload...ry_Revised.pdf)

Phase 1 – Exploratory Studies
CS Fullerton (Fullerton, CA), http://www.tailgatingideas.com/2007/...itan-football/
Mercer (Macon, GA), http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/
South Alabama (Mobile, AL), http://media.www.usavanguard.com/med...-2988316.shtml
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, http://www.nacdaconsulting.com/news/...ticleSource=70
UNC Charlotte (Charlotte, NC), http://www.ninernation.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=64

Rumor Mill
Detroit (Detroit, MI) http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070906/SPORTS08/709060432/1054/SPORTS06
Evansville (Evansville, IN) http://valleytalk.net/showthread.php?p=106650
George Mason (Fairfax, VA) http://www.gmu.edu/alumni/spirit/fall02/football.html
Lipscomb (Nashville, TN)
New Jersey Tech (Newark, NJ)
Texas-Arlington (Arlington, TX)
UNC Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)
Wichita State (Wichita, KS) http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=foundation&p=/SpiritoftheGiftBiographyProject/Biographies/WichitaStateUniversityFootballEndowedScholars/

[PMB4Life]

Neither school has a FB program?

I'm fairly sure he's referring to an exploratory year of Division I. They're moving up to the Division ranks next year, I believe. Am I wrong on this?

[igo4uni]

I'm fairly sure he's referring to an exploratory year of Division I. They're moving up to the Division ranks next year, I believe. Am I wrong on this?

You're right!

[UAalum72]

Aren't UND and USDakota just starting their transition next year? In that case their D-I year should be the same as Bryant - or Bryant should be listed as 2008 with full membership by 2012.