Is it a matter of "wanting" or "should be", or is it a matter of "can be", based on a realistic appraisal of resources?  Is it possible that our level of potential resources will force us into this fading away of mid and low majors? 

OCF, if you read my post, I'm simply asking a question.  I'm not reacting either way.  Just trying to understand. 

I think this is a much bigger deal in football than basketball if only because the numbers are SO much smaller in basketball than football.  A football team can have 85 scholarship players per team while a basketball team can have only 12 (I think) or thereabouts.  There are only so many available slots for b-ball players in the Big 5 conferences to go around while there are well over 300 teams at the Division 1 level and many more available players to fill those positions.  The Big 5 are already getting the majority of the cream-of-the-crop hoops players, by definition the Big 5 can only fill so many positions.

Football however is a much different story.  With 85 scholarships per team and only 128 teams at the FBS level, the writing's on the wall.  But I think Ohio's fate in football has been a fait accompli for quite awhile anyway, so no big surprise there.  My 2 cents' worth, anyway.

Among my favorite points of optimism is my belief that we have resources far beyond what many give OHIO credit for... All aboard the TV ratings express train.

The horse is not only out of the barn, they're taking it out for test runs. It's OVA. As soon as the conferences started to shift dramatically, the barn door was opened. The talk of stipends, insurance, taxes, etc. is just another step in the process.

Personally I think Ohio and the MAC are in great shape for when the power conferences do decide to break away. They've relatively stood pat amongst all the chaos. I thought it was a bad thing at first, but realizing that Ohio will never be able to compete on that level financially, it's really not.

I would hope that the "Big 5" would be perceived as minor league professionals. Those left behind, therefore, would serve as traditional college athletes, with the potential for the MAC to be at the top of that league. 

I believe changes are coming, but not sure where it will go. Ohio and a few other states have already declared that scholarship athletes are not "employees" and therefore cannot unionize, a la the Northwestern situation. Taxes, liability for injuries, especially in football, worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, etc. etc. It will get complicated.

Said this before and I say it again...the BIG5 guys will have corporate sponsors for their teams and pay kids like semi pro athletes back in the days of the Phillips 66 and John Deere teams.  the lesser schools will go back to being the real amateurs.  There is just too much money floating around in college athletics for this not to happen.  Like I said, it will be the Phillips 66 Texas Longhorns, etc. in a decade or so.  And, I don't see the resources/corporate pockets for an OHIO (or many others) to compete with that.

While a complete split would be very disappointing it wouldn't be the end of the world.  Ohio and teams like it just below the cusp will still compete at some level and it will still rule my calendar.  College basketball isn't nearly as good as it used to be when players stayed through their senior years for the most part but it is just as enjoyable to watch IMO.  Whatever comes next will be enjoyable to watch.

It will be interesting to see how this shakes out though.  If certain schools pay players will it be disallowed at other levels and if so what happens to a player that can't make it at the higher level but has receive money?  Will he/she be ineligible to play elsewhere? 

When the NCAA football "playoff" system started gaining momentum I believed, and still do believe, that the power Team/conferences would not want to invite the rest of the schools to their party.  I think that system will eventually create additional divisional playoff systems.

I never gave much thought to a similar phenomena in other sports. This NCAA thing has made me rethink my previous naiveté.  The power of TV and the spin doctors to render the have-nots meaningless will create an entirely different look.  Money talks louder than any traditions or purist ideals. I think we are fooling ourselves if we think that the future of college sports won't be dramatically changed. As an example just think about how much effort ESPN puts into discussing the NFL draft and making it an issue everyone wants to follow.

Like others have said, I think Ohio will be forced to decide if it wants (read CAN) rise to the level of a haves or if it will have to be the best of the rest.  Obviously those of us on BA consider Ohio sports important and relevant.  We are not typical.  Most of my friends, whom I consider sports enthusiasts, do not know that JC left Ohio let alone know who the new coach is. They know John Groce only as Thad Matta's former assistant at tOSU. Hell, when Ohio played UNC in the sweet 16 there were more people in a sports bar less than 2 hours from Athens rooting for UNC than rooting for Ohio. My point is this: IF things go down the path that looks likely Ohio will have a tough time being able to turn the casual fans into fans who will financially support Ohio athletics and defend the allocation of resources so that Ohio can be one of the haves.

I hope OCF is right and this kind of talk is an over reaction.  If OCF is wrong then I hope The Optimist is right and Ohio has the means to compete at the highest level. Regardless, I will be seen proudly wearing my Ohio gear.

I believe Schaus, for whom I have great respect, during that interview might have been wearing rose-colored lenses.

".....at our subdivision level."

Jeesh.  The non Big 5 sure gave up quickly.

Hopefully we can still be included in the NCAA basketball tournament.  That's where most of the fun is anyway.

As for football, well, time to get ready for being ranked in a subdivision.  Total bummer as with the IPF and our increased fan base the future looked promising.