Division I-A vs. Division I
The Division of Athletics argues that leaving Division I-A would mean leaving Division I, but this is not necessarily true. Division I-A is a designation that applies only to football. If SJSU left Division I-A, it could continue to play Division I opponents in the Big West Conference and elsewhere.
San Jos� State fields 16 Division 1 teams and spends $6.75 million from state funds on athletics. Long Beach State also fields 16 Division 1 teams, but spends only $3.3 million from state funds on athletics. In other words, Long Beach is able to devote an additional $3.5 million to academics while maintaining the same number of teams competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. The crucial difference: Long Beach State does not have a football team, and a football team is required for Division I-A status.