Division I-A Status Update
By Bert Sahlberg, Lewiston Tribune

Oct. 20, 1997

When the University of Idaho decided in 1994 to make the jump to the big time by joining the Big West Conference, it knew there would be some headaches.

They just didn't realize it was going to be a migraine with football.

The Vandals still are no closer to receiving Division I-A status in football than they were three years ago, but UI athletic director Oval Jaynes says there is reason to be cautiously optimistic about Idaho's future.

The NCAA says for a football team to be classified as Division I-A, it must meet certain criteria, including having a 25,000-seat stadium and an average 17,000 fans at home once every four years. If the stadium is smaller than 25,000, then a school must average at least 17,000 fans at home for four consecutive years.

Idaho's problem is that the Kibbie Dome, where it plays its home games, holds only 16,000 and the Vandals rarely draw more than 15,000 for an opponent other than rival Boise State.

Since it doesn't meet the attendance requirement, Idaho has requested an attendance waiver with the NCAA, which would allow it to receive I-A status despite not meeting the attendance requirements.

Those requests, which began in the fall of 1994, have been turned down by overwhelming margins. The school decided to go ahead with the plan of joining the Big West at the start of the 1996 season. The conference allows the Vandals to compete in football and be eligible for the championship and play in a bowl game, despite not being at the I-A level.

The NCAA, however, restructured itself this past year and set up a board of directors that deals with all waivers. With this change, Idaho has re-submitted its waiver request for the board to hear at its first meeting in October.

"But it could possibly be January before we have a word from them regarding our waiver," said Jaynes, who took over as UI's athletic director last October. "We are cautiously optimistic that we will be treated favorably."

Jaynes said he feels that way because of the problems the past administration had to deal with. That administration included former UI president Elisabeth Zinser and athletic director Pete Liske. Since then, Robert Hoover has become president and Jaynes is now the athletic director.

"We think that some of the information that was provided to the institution back in 1994 and '95 was false and I'm not sure the information given to the institution was in a fashion that allowed us to make the right decision," Jaynes said. "We decided to move to the Big West based on that information, and I think that was the right thing to do. I think we can be a very competitive member of the Big West and we can certainly compete for championships."

Jaynes said his perception about the information provided to Idaho said nothing about its games not counting against other I-A schools. To qualify for a bowl game, a Division I-A team must win six games against other I-A teams. Since Idaho didn't receive I-A status, a win over Idaho does not count as one of the six wins.

"There was never a time the NCAA provided to the institution until December of '96, six months after we joined the Big West, that our games would not count as I-A games," Jaynes said.

That continues to be a problem as over the past couple of years teams like California and Eastern Michigan have dropped UI from their schedules because of this. Idaho has Louisiana State on its schedule for next season. Because Jaynes is good friends with LSU AD Joe Dean, the Tigers won't drop Idaho the way California did this season.

Jaynes also said UI had no idea that once it decided to pursue I-A status, the football team could no longer compete for the I-AA championship or be ranked in the I-AA poll.

Jaynes said the waiver request, which is fairly straightforward, has already been filed with the NCAA.

"I really can't speculate on what they might do," Jaynes said. "They will review the case on merit basis and hopefully take into consideration where we are and what we've been through. We want to be a member of Division I-A. We are already there in a I-A conference."

Jaynes said, however, the waiver is only part of the solution as even if the NCAA grants it, the waiver will only cover a 3-5 year period. Jaynes would like to see a permanent solution to the problem found.

That's why Idaho's administration is talking with Washington State University about the possibility of Idaho holding its home football games in the 37,600-seat Martin Stadium on the Pullman school's campus, 8 miles from Moscow. The larger stadium would help UI meet the stadium requirement immediately and give UI I-A status.

Also among the other solutions include expanding the Kibbie Dome and also possibly building a new stadium with WSU. These options, however, have only been mentioned in discussions with the two schools and nothing has been acted upon.

Jaynes believes a larger stadium would attract more fans to UI games. Idaho has only averaged better than 13,000 fans for home games per season three times. He said he believes more fans would come because of the competition Idaho could attract.

"I think the old saying If you build it, they will come' is true," Jaynes said. "The Kibbie Dome is a great place to watch a football game. It's a great facility. The only problem is that it only seats 16,000."

Currently, Idaho doesn't have much to offer financially for Division I-A teams to come to the Kibbie Dome to play. Also since Idaho doesn't have I-A status, it's even less attractive for I-A schools to come.

Thus, Idaho has games this season against Portland State, Idaho State and Eastern Washington, all I-AA schools, and Division II UC-Davis. Next year, Idaho will again play Portland State (road) and Idaho State and Eastern Washington (both home). Idaho still has two games to schedule as its potential opponents await word on the waiver.

Also, Idaho is keeping at least one date open until it hears next month from the Big West Conference, which is considering expanding, at least in football. The NCAA requires there must be six teams to constitute a league and the Big West has just six with Idaho a I-AA team. Among the teams that are being looked at are some of the old football members of the Big West from two years ago -- Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Northeast Louisiana and Southwest Louisiana.

Another thing that could help UI in scheduling, according to Jaynes, is the fact the NCAA may pass a rule that allows I-A schools to have one game against I-AA teams that count toward the six wins to qualify for a bowl. Thus, Idaho could play non-league games against I-A schools. The problem is that all of them would probably be on the road.

"I'm not interested in playing 5-7 games like that," Jaynes said. "I don't think that would be good for our program or good for the coaches and players."

Idaho could remedy that, say, by playing its home games at Martin Stadium, which would require working around WSU's home schedule as well as other things.

"I think by playing there we would have games against Washington State, which we would like to be able to do," Jaynes said. "For us to play LSU, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington State, we don't mind two of those a year and I think we need to. But we need to try and schedule home-and-home games with other Division I teams that may be in a situation where we can play them like that."

The negative side of playing at WSU is moving the game off campus and working the schedule around WSU.

"We have to pursue every option we can and try to make the best decision for the institution," Jaynes said. "Just because you are discussing things doesn't necessarily mean what you are going to do but you should look at all of your options and keep an open mind and not make a decision until all the facts are in."

Jaynes said the talks with WSU are still preliminary and no financial terms have been discussed.

"I can't wish us a stadium here," he said. "I can't but we have to go forward. We are aware of what we need to do. We have to wait and see what the NCAA does but at the same time continue to move forward. That's what we're doing."

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