People are always speaking on HBCU's participating in 1-AA playoffs. HBCU's are ALWAYS put in situations where they have to play on the road, lower seeds, etc - regardless of records. The only recent game I can remember a HBCU hosting a game is the year Tn. St. U hosted a first round game - but then they were matched up with NC A&T, making sure one HBCU was going to be eliminated. (FAMU was also in that year - and on the road - that was the year they beat Troy State in Troy). And please dont overlook the Div II playoffs either - again, SIAC and CIAA teams are on the road - ALWAYS. It is a set-up to these teams to lose, and there is absolutely ZERO money potential in this situation, any few dollars that might be realized has to be turned around to pay for playoff expenses, which tend to leave schools - not only HBCU's but most teams in D-1AA playoffs - in the red.
HBCU's get no respect from the NCAA - and this is not to say we need to leave or anything of the sort - but look at our other sports that are D-1A. How are we seeded in the NCAA Tourney? Regardless of records. We can't get major D1 teams to play us home and home - now the selection committee is saying mid majors need to play mid majors and that will help strength of schedules - I mean it is a constant "change of the rules and playing field", as soon as we do one thing and get it correct, they switch directions. I dont follow baseball that much - but I do know that we also never host regionals when it comes to the post season.
So why not do what is in the best interest of "our" schools - as long as it is within the "rules" set up by the NCAA? Turkey Day Classic and Bayou Classic provide great revenue for the schools participating. Why should "we" move our games when we know this is a steady stream of revenue EVERY YEAR for a possible chance that we might a playoff team - with absolutely no chance at making anywhere near the kind of revenue that is associated with those 2 classic games?
If the Div-1AA playoffs suddenly get a MAJOR TV contract that will televise all rounds of the playoffs, get MAJOR outside sponsorships that will make the playoff - if not profitable at least a break-even venture, then it might change the opinions of a lot of people. But until that point, things are going to remain the same. Oh yea for those that have used the fact that the SWAC has lead D-1AA in attendance over the last 20+ years - that still has not given us opportunities to host games.
As for the SCG, folks act as if this has been around 30 years or something. This year will be only the 4 SCG. Give it a few more years to grow - even if not here in Bham, but this game does give players and schools to win a championship on the playing field and I think that is important. How many people really remember who FAMU has played and lost to in the playoffs, versus how many people remember who played in and won in the SCG?