For what it's worth, I used to work for an FCS athletics department and our schedules are 6 - 8 years out in some cases for game guarantees, so it doesn't surprise me that FAU is scheduling that far in advance. It's not as if schools can schedule 11 games… they  can only schedule 2 or 3 since the conference gives you 8 or 9 games. So it's better to start reserving those teams now than later.

I assume schools schedule in advance for multiple reasons:

• Lock in a "lower price" now than a "higher price" later to play a team
• FCS and FBS schools may ask to have a buyout clause that says "pay us $500k to play us or $750k to buy us out" (which an FBS school would buy out an FCS school potentially if they get a bigger FBS program to pay them $1M, example, FAU schedules Fordham and pays them to play … but Alabama comes along and offers to pay FAU the buyout money they would owe Fordham plus an additional XYZ amount),
• Maybe it's not money and it's simply locking in schools to play years in advance so that they aren't stuck with 10 games and/or playing a Division II School to fill out an 11-game schedule

For FAU to play an FCS school … I have no problem with this. Here's why: Unless we run the table in C-USA and win the conference title, our secondary goal should be bowl eligibility (6 wins, but really 7 wins to be a solid bowl team pick and not a "bubble" at 6 wins). By putting an FCS team on the schedule, and hopefully beating them, that gives us 1 win to start the year. Although playing a more well-known school at home may bring more fans for that one game, which is VERY important, meeting bowl eligibility and going to a bowl game may generate more buzz - especially if we get selected for the Boca Bowl or Miami Beach Bowl.

Add in that teams from non-power 5 conferences should essentially schedule to play power 5 conference teams to have a chance of qualifying for the 4-team playoff, that leaves fewer FBS teams to schedule. Last year Houston "played up" in conference and beat Louisville and Vandy. Did that help their strength of schedule? Probably.

Scheduling teams in advance is very important and probably isn't easy; I'm sure there are a lot of competing factors at play, such as:

• help "balance the budget" by playing a game guarantee (i.e. play Alabama and get paid $1M) and start the year with one loss, or
• play two game guarantees and start year 0-2 (although, of course, upsets do happen …the almost FAU vs. Florida upset last year), then starting with two losses, the FBS team would have to run the table in C-USA to win 6 or 7 games and be bowl eligible, or
• Pay to play two FCS schools and "buy" two wins, but then it would be hard to have a good strength of schedule.

There are many ways to skin the cat (Scheduling) …. but here are fewer ways to become bowl eligible (win 6 games, maybe even 7 wins to get a bowl invitation). In my mind, FBS teams have to balance going to a bowl game versus taking and/or pay game guarantees.

I wish I was in the room during these discussions. I love the business of sport!

fauowl said

voss749 said

fbs hosting fcs teans not that unusual

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:14 PM #355185

I agree, but we need people to get excited to come out for a football game.  

Are you counting the days down for 5 years to go see Fordham?

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:20 PM #355187

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

voss749 said

fauowl said

voss749 said

fbs hosting fcs teans not that unusual

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:14 PM #355185

I agree, but we need people to get excited to come out for a football game.  

Are you counting the days down for 5 years to go see Fordham?

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:20 PM #355187

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

FAMU is a shell of itself and that band should still be disbanded for the culture it had.

OC Irritant said

voss749 said

fauowl said

voss749 said

fbs hosting fcs teans not that unusual

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:14 PM #355185

I agree, but we need people to get excited to come out for a football game.  

Are you counting the days down for 5 years to go see Fordham?

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:20 PM #355187

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

FAMU is a shell of itself and that band should still be disbanded for the culture it had.

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 6:16 PM #355898

I love the band and I am very excited to see them in our house…you are angry.

voss749 said

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

I don't see Florida A&M in our schedule. Am I missing something? or is this wishful thinking?

It would be nice to see them down here. Thanks to the band, they have pretty strong following all over Florida.

Island_Owl88 said

voss749 said

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

I don't see Florida A&M in our schedule.

Posted On: Apr 27th 2016, 9:57 AM #355911

Probably meant Bethune-Cookman…

dusky256fc said

OC Irritant said

voss749 said

fauowl said

voss749 said

fbs hosting fcs teans not that unusual

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:14 PM #355185

I agree, but we need people to get excited to come out for a football game.  

Are you counting the days down for 5 years to go see Fordham?

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:20 PM #355187

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

FAMU is a shell of itself and that band should still be disbanded for the culture it had.

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 6:16 PM #355898

I love the band and I am very excited to see them in our house…you are angry.

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 7:45 PM #355900

Dusky no one likes you.  I took a poll.

OC Irritant said

voss749 said

fauowl said

voss749 said

fbs hosting fcs teans not that unusual

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:14 PM #355185

I agree, but we need people to get excited to come out for a football game.  

Are you counting the days down for 5 years to go see Fordham?

Posted On: Mar 12th 2016, 8:20 PM #355187

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

FAMU is a shell of itself and that band should still be disbanded for the culture it had.

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 6:16 PM #355898

Should you be punished for the worst mistake of your life your entire life?
Bands across the country haze.
Punish those responsible and end it there.

OC Irritant said

Dusky no one likes you.  I took a poll.

Posted On: Apr 27th 2016, 10:57 PM #355917

My goal has finally been met, thank you all for your support!

At least I actually log in, who are you scared of?

Go FAMU Band!

Rick said

Island_Owl88 said

voss749 said

Fordham no, Florida A&M heck yeah

Posted On: Apr 26th 2016, 3:06 PM #355895

I don't see Florida A&M in our schedule.

Posted On: Apr 27th 2016, 9:57 AM #355911

Probably meant Bethune-Cookman…

Posted On: Apr 27th 2016, 10:40 AM #355914

Rick, please don't confuse the board with facts.