This is a thread about basketball, but it seems to have morphed into a discussion about football(which is ok). And, I guess I'm partly to blame
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1AA, you can believe what you want. YSU left the OVC when Akron announced they would be leaving the OVC to move to 1A/FBS in football. And, as for not being able to make the football playoffs in the OVC, that is garbage, because YSU won the OVC auto bid in 1987, their last year in the OVC.
As far as the fearing EKU, well, YSU beat EKU at EKU in the 89 playoffs then at EKU in the 93 regular season, and TWICE in 1994. First in the regular season, and then again in the playoffs. If Tressel feared EKU, why the heck would he schedule a home and home with EKU at a time when EKU was still very much relevant in the world of FCS/1AA football?
I will agree with you that the hope of both Akron and YSU at that point was likely future membership in the MAC. It worked out for Akron, but not for YSU.
As for the 99 Champ game, GSU was incredible that year. By far, the best team in 1AA/FCS in 99, and maybe one of the best ever at that level. YSU started Ryan at QB, and getting to the NC game was not expecting that year. Playoffs, yes, but not the NC game. The years for a return to the NC game were expected to be in 2000 and 2001. YSU made the playoffs in 00 and lost at Richmond in Tress's last game. And, in 01, no playoffs.
In 1998, GSU lost in the NC game to UMASS, their first and ONL loss of the season
In 99, GSU went 14-1, with the lone loss 48-41 at 1A/FBS Oregon State. They won all 4 playoff games by 11 or more points. Closest game was the semi-final win over Illinois State, 28-17, and ISU won the MVC/Gateway auto bid.. So, that was the middle of a 3 year run to the title game for GSU. In 2000, GSU finished 13-2 and beat Montana for 2nd straight NC, and 3rd straight trip to NC game. Adrian Peterson was an amazing RB for the FCS level, and ended up playing in the NFL. GSU was lethal with their triple-option offense and speed. It was the first of back-to-back NC's for GSU. And, their HC, Paul Johnson, went on to have a high level of success at Navy, and is now the HC at Georgia Tech. The fact YSU even got to the NC game that year is a testament to Tressel, his staff and the players.
As for YSU to the MAC, not likely. YSU does not have the $$$$$$$ resources. And, yes, I do think YSU built the soccer field for women's soccer and men's/women's track. YSU needed a track after WATTS was built, and it makes more sense for soccer to play on a regulation field at a facility built for soccer and track than in a 20,000+ seat football stadium. YSU does not even have the money to buy-out the final year of Wolford's contract, so how they heck is the school going to get the money to at least DOUBLE the athletic budget, just to get to the minimum MAC levels for athletic budgets?