BOISE, Idaho - The State Board of Education's approval of the University of Idaho's request to accept an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference should serve as a call to action for UI supporters, interim president Brian Pitcher said.
"We appreciate the board's support and the thorough process in considering UI's move to the Sun Belt Conference," Pitcher said after Thursday's SBOE meeting. "Now, the hard work begins. It clearly is up to UI boosters, alumni, faculty, staff, fans and students to achieve the goal of sustaining a successful Division I-A football program.
"It is imperative for all constituent groups in our Vandal family to become involved to ensure UI attains and maintains the new NCAA requirements for Division I-A football membership."
Pitcher formally accepted the invitation to the Sun Belt Conference after being given permission with a 5-3 vote of the State Board of Education during Thursday's meeting at Boise State University. The motion to give Pitcher the opportunity to accept an invitation was made by Laird Stone and seconded by Paul Agidius and Jim Hammond. Marilyn Howard and Rod Lewis added their support during a role call vote.
Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Wright Waters said the league never waivered in its desire to have UI a part of the conference.
"We're delighted," Waters said. "We feel very strongly about the University of Idaho. Never, ever did our people ever waiver in their support of the University of Idaho."
NCAA Division I-A requirements that go into effect in 2005 include having five Division I-A home football games; awarding a minimum of 200 scholarships to student-athletes; averaging 15,000 fans per home football game; sponsoring 16 intercollegiate sports, and being a full member of a conference that has a minimum of eight football-playing full members.
"Our Vandal Victory campaign is the formula for long-term success," UI Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. "The SBOE has made it clear the involvement of our local community as well as our statewide and national booster groups is imperative for generating the external revenue for success."
The cornerstone is in place, Bohn said. UI's football schedule through the 2010 season includes at least five home Division I-A games annually and plans are in place to add women's swimming, which enables UI to meet the 16-sport and 200-scholarship requirements. The move to the Sun Belt covers the conference membership requirement.
The four-pronged Vandal Victory campaign includes building the season-ticket base, increasing membership in the Vandal Scholarship Fund, expanding sponsorships, and enhancing facilities.
Since the Vandals became Division I-A football members in 1996, donations to the Vandal Scholarship Fund, which pays for scholarships for UI student-athletes, has more than doubled to this year's projected $1.4 million. The addition of women's swimming increases the Vandals' scholarship expenses, which are paid primarily through external funds, but that money is returned directly to UI as the athletics department pays tuition, fees, room, board and books for its scholarship athletes.
Conference realignment provides more than just an opportunity to maintain Division I-A football status. It enables UI to achieve other institutional goals, among which are Title IX mandates and forming a solid coalition of western institutions. And, not insignificantly, is continuing the operation of an enterprise that generates $23 million in economic impact in the Moscow-Pullman, Lewiston-Clarkston region.
