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Originally posted by Finchwidget
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NW extending a 'significant' offer to a DII, DIII or NAIA (groan) team to play the Bearcats at Bearcat Stadium on September 5. Why not "consider" extending that offer to an FCS team? Maybe not the upper of the upper tier of FCS (D1AA), but the lower 75% of the FCS (D1AA) would be far more competitive and interesting than any DIII or NAIA game. -
Come on, man, do you not understand how this all works with the economics and dynamics of D2 football?Originally posted by ZubCat81 View Post
A FCS team is not coming to Maryville to play. NW has four home games, but they need five to satisfy the fan base. They don't need another away game; they need a home game. From the looks of this, they're desperate to find one.
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I had stated pretty clearly that NW was seeking a game to be played at Bearcat Stadium on September 5, 2026. I think everyone who has followed this thread pretty much understand the concern directed toward our admin at NW (i.e. AD) who had seemed to demonstrate no attempt to fill that home date at Bearcat Stadium on September 5 until this D2 thread addressed the issue. I don't think I'm the only one who believes the effort they are now showing to fill that home game would never have materialized if their attention hadn't been drawn to this D2 thread. Back to what you brought up, Liberty. I do understand what your concerns are with attempts to draw an FCS team to Bearcat Stadium. I get that there are challenges with regards to financial terms and expectations/accomodations that clearly would seem to set up roadblocks with an attempt of any DII team, i.e. Northwest, to pull an FCS team for a home game at Bearcat Stadium. But, I would also "assume" that those challenges diminish when taking into consideration the varied expectations within the ranks of the 128 teams who play under the FCS (D1AA) flag. When I look at the Massey listing of those 128 FCS teams shown below, do you really think none of those teams listed would accomodate an acceptable package put together by NW? Any lower tier FCS team brought to Bearcat Stadium is going to draw far more interest among the Bearcat fan base than any negotiation bringing a D3 or NAIA team to Maryville.Originally posted by libertybearcat View Post
Speaking of DII vs FCS, Liberty, and since you have that strong connection to Chadron State ... how well do you remember that trip Chadron, via Danny Woodhead, took up to play FCS nationally ranked Montana State? Think Montana State was ranked in the top 5. Quite the outcome. What proved to be even more interesting (if I recall correctly) was the game the following weekend that Montana State took to play on the home field of the Colorado Buffalos ... and the results of how that game played out. Sure made Chadron look pretty damn good. That is, until Chadron State came to Bearcat Stadium for a playoff game later that same season and what Scott Bostwick's defense did to Danny Woodhead. Quite the difference between Woodhead's output up there on FCS nationally ranked Montana State's homefield vs what Bostwick's D did to snuff Woodhead. Memory seems to recall over 250 yards rushing at Montana State and then only able to muster 16-yds on 19 rushes????
Anyway, here's Massey's listing of the 128 FCS teams. Whether any might be available or not, I would still have to believe that any other year, NW could acoomodate an FCS team that would be a far bigger draw for the Bearcat fan base than any of the available D3 or NAIA teams.
Link to the 2025 Massey FCS Football Rankings (always love to click onto 'Matchups' toward the top and plug in your favorite D2 team vs any of the FCS teams to see how Massey predicts winner and final score).
https://masseyratings.com/cf/fcs/ratings
List of the 128 FCS teams. (lots of fish)Last edited by ZubCat81; 06-01-2026, 03:02 AM.Comment
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I understand the concept of playing FCS schools, but Northwestern is seeking a home game. No FCS team is going to come and play them at home, and they will probably not do an away game either, they'll just leave it as an extra bye week. They want a home game. That's what they're seeking, to keep the fan base happy.Originally posted by ZubCat81 View Post
I was involved in a suite when we had four games, and nobody on that whole floor was happy about only four home games that year because you still pay the same price. That's my point. I don't know why you keep bringing up FCS, because no FCS schools come into play at Northwestern if,
If Northwest was looking for an away game, sure, they could try. I still don't know if FCS is ready to play Northwest. They might be, but it won't be this year.Comment
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The neutral field game Pitt and NW insist on having muddies this whole thing. I mean, you are already giving local businesses and suite holders the giant middle finger on one game every other year. Scheduling anything but a home game would make it way worse.
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This is not even remotely accurate. Many have expressed legitimate concerns with the Athletic Director and I understand why that leads to frustration.Originally posted by ZubCat81 View Post
What I don't understand is making up a narrative to justify your frustrations. I know for a fact that they have been looking at ways to add an additional home game since this past fall.
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Let's give everyone the benefit of good intentions. I am sure the AD would love to find us another home game. And I'm sure he understands the importance of securing another game when it comes to season tickets, Day of Green giving, and community support as NW builds back into the power house that it used to be.Comment
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Not sure how stupid a question this is, but would an FCS team be willing to play a road game at a D2 school for $300,000-400,000 if the D2 school had some donors that wanted to see it happen? That's basically what they're getting from a G5 school most of the time anyway.
Is UCO getting a few bucks for playing at Central Arkansas this year? If Richison wanted to fork over a few hundred thousand to make it a home and home, would UCA take it?
I don't know if any of that is realistic or if NW has any donor that is going to make that happen, but I don't think Zub is crazy for wanting the school to try.
SEMO took 325,000 to play Arkansas State last year, UNI took 400,000 to play Wyo, for whatever that's worth. I think those are the two geographically kind of close FCS teams that played G5 FBS schools last year. South Dakota v Iowa State is in a different category, but they got 575,000.
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Not sure I can remember an FCS (not in a transition year, not already scheduled previously as a D2 school) playing at a D2. And if any D2 had a booster willing to play SIX FIGURES for a game guarantee, the whole program should already be swimming in cash. Not even Ark Pine Bluff of Mississippi Valley would sink to that levelOriginally posted by D2Rover View PostComment
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It's rare, but it happens:Originally posted by Try II View Post
2025 St. Thomas played at Northern Michigan
2024 Presbyterian played at Erskine
2023 Mississippi Valley played at Delta State
It's always been as part of a home-and-home though, and 2 of those 3 games were between schools that were under an hour away from each other.Comment
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i mean at this point i would take any port in the storm.
also the idea that this thread is the impetus is beyond absurd. 4 home games is unacceptable. as incompetent as this ad has been, even he knows that.Go Bearcats!
M-I-Z-Z-O-U!Comment
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STU and Pres are non-scholarship with Erskine a D2 newbie, in its fourth year in 2024. Easy pickings for the mighty Blue House and same for Delta vs. Jerry Rice U. One of the worst D1 schools out there. None of those 3 would've volunteered to go to Valdosta, Greenville or Mankato.Originally posted by Finchwidget View PostComment
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UCO just said **** it, we’ll go on the road. NAIA (soon to be D2) Texas Wesleyan and then hopefully make up for it with Central Arkansas.Originally posted by ZubCat81 View PostRoll Chos!Comment
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