Topic: NCAA warns schools: Fill seats or drop from I-A ranks...

[GreenSteve]

A bed race, parade, tailgate party and Bo Diddley concert will be featured in Ball State University's homecoming celebration.

University leaders have one plea to students and alumni, though: Don't forget to go to the football game.

Ball State, which meets Western Michigan on Saturday, is among the schools keeping a close watch on the turnstile count as well as on the scoreboard.

To remain in Division I-A — college football's top level — the NCAA has mandated that a school must average 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for home games once in a rolling two-year period.

According to NCAA figures, Ball State was one of 12 schools that fell below that threshold in 2005. Six of the schools are in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State's average home attendance was 12,953.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-10-21-attendance_x.htm

[Herd Fan 4-Life]

6 plus Temple.   :shock:

[2xBison]

only rice from cusa?

how is UAB not on the list.

[herdgadfly]

You missed the most enlightening part of the article as it appeared in the Indy Star:

Ironically, MAC schools' I-A status is imperiled at a time the league has risen to unprecedented prominence.

To achieve more TV exposure, there will be at least one MAC game on every day of the week except Monday this season. The league, which once was guaranteed a single bowl game, now has three bowl tie-ins. On a recent Sunday, five NFL starting quarterbacks were from the MAC, more than from any other conference.

Hoke said the 13-0 season in 1999 by Marshall, then a MAC member, elevated the conference's profile. Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak credited spending to improve facilities as one factor in strengthening the league.

Ball State coach Brady Hoke got that right!!