Dinosaurs fell victim to extinction approximately 65 million years ago. Are division I-A football independents next?

Tradition is the only tangible that allows a football school to remain independent longer than a transition period. Tradition helps pay the bills by breeding a fan following, scheduling prominent opposition nationwide and attracting young prospects.

"There are four teams in the country that can survive as independents: Notre Dame, Army, Air Force, and Navy," Chet Gladchuk, Navy director of athletics, said.

Currently Notre Dame and Navy are independent with Army slated to rejoin the ranks in 2005. Air Force, however, is a member of the Mountain West Conference. While those four institutions can survive, on the whole, independents are a dying breed. The obstacles the independents face are growing greater all the time.

	Navy is one of the few schools that can survive as an independent.

For example, NCAA legislation mandates that football conferences vote on referendums, meaning I-A independents get no say. They are hurt as well by a new rule taking effect next season forcing I-A schools to have five home games against I-A competition. All in all, that makes long-term independent life unappealing to most.

Then there's the little matter of making a bowl. Making the postseason is important for a school financially as well as recruiting-wise. It's the kind of thing that builds a reputation, but it's also becoming more and more difficult for independents with conference tie-ins in place for almost every bowl game in the country.

Just ask South Florida. The Bulls averaged roughly 26,000 spectators per home game in 2002, have alumni playing in the NFL, but still received no postseason bid after going 9-2 last year.

"It was the fact that we were independent," said John Gerdis, sports information director at South Florida. "If we were in a conference, with a 9-2 record, we'd have been in."

Unless you're Army and Navy, that's devastating for a program. In Army and Navy's case, even without a major bowl, the two schools have a fall back plan other independents could not pull off.

"There is no bowl game in our eyes that's bigger than the Army-Navy game," Gladchuk said. "It is a game of significance. We would enjoy going to a bowl, but Army-Navy brings thousands of people."

The two schools signed a contract lasting through 2009 to play the historic contest in Philadelphia and Baltimore, on CBS. Gladchuk estimates the contract pays the two schools a total of $6.5 million annually.

While Notre Dame has never been at a loss for bowl bids when successful, the Irish have never had a more lucrative setup. Notre Dame is part of the Big East non-BCS bowl rotation, but if it receives a bid to a BCS bowl, the school receives the full payout of approximately $13 to $14 million and don't have to share of a cent. On the flipside, a sub par season nets the Irish no bowl money.

Aside for bowl security, another reason independents opt to join conferences is scheduling. A conference allows you the luxury of a certain number of guaranteed games. Independents must schedule for themselves, often around opponents' conference schedules. Unless you have a big-name tradition, like Notre Dame, games can be hard to come by.

Army survives because opponents enjoy visiting its campus 50 miles outside of New York City to play in historic Michie Stadium, which has housed Army football for 80 years. Similarly, Navy boasts a rich history with a scenic campus in historic Annapolis, Maryland.

	“	You don't see anybody leaving a conference to become independent. You might have a couple good years, but in the long run you are better off in a league. ”
		— Johnny Williams, Troy State director of athletics

Troy State and UConn did not have those advantages and scheduling was much tougher. Connecticut scheduled contests against Mid-American Conference members, while Troy State had to establish a combination of lopsided two-and-one series -- two away games for every one home game -- with opponents. Combined with the minimum home games rule, Troy State would struggle as an independent after this season.

"(Minimum of five home games rule) has really changed the dynamics of scheduling," said Scott Farmer associate director of athletics for Troy State. "Before it was hard. The new rule makes it almost impossible for a school like Troy State."

Which, ultimately, affects the bottom line. Notre Dame, Army, and Navy generate millions in revenue due to a loyal fan following and high-priced television contracts.

For example, in addition to selling out all of their home games, the Irish receive between $8 and $9 million annually from NBC to televise their home games until 2005.

If Notre Dame were a member of the Big East, the Irish's football revenue would be dependent on its finishing position in the conference. Russ Sharp, West Virginia's associate athletic director for finance and administration, reported the Mountaineers received just over $4.9 million from the Big East for their second place finish in the league last year.

Excluding ticket and merchandise revenue, Notre Dame football received more income from its television contract than West Virginia football did from the entire Big East payout.

Enright said UConn expected a revenue loss in the early years of its jump from I-AA to independent status. Two seasons ago, the program incurred a loss of over $4 million.

In contrast, Troy State's Farmer reported the Trojans received $3.5 million through football related income last season. Wright Waters, the Sun Belt Conference commissioner, said its current 11 members would split almost a million dollars for all sports.

While the Trojans actually received more income from being independent than they would have being a member of the Sun Belt this season, Farmer believes conference membership is needed for the long run.

"We need the Sun Belt to stay D-I," Farmer said. "Monetarily it may not be a huge advantage, but it helps us stay Division I. It also gives us a chance to make a bowl."

With exposure, comes recruits. Enright believes UConn has improved in recruiting as its schedule improved, but also thinks recruiting will continue to grow after the Huskies join the Big East. Farmer believes being an independent helps the non-tradition rich football schools recruit.

"Being I-A during the last two years has helped us tremendously in recruiting," Farmer said. "The young athletes out there want to play the best. They're excited to see a schedule with Nebraska on it."

Still, it's not easy to be an independent and it's getting tougher all the time.

"You don't see anybody leaving a conference to become independent," said Johnny Williams, Troy State's director of athletics. "You might have a couple good years, but in the long run you are better off in a league."