NORMAL - Marshall did it, Boise State did it and Western Kentucky is in the process of doing it.

Could Illinois State follow?

That is the plan - the long-range plan - according to ISU president Al Bowman.

"To be straightforward, yes, our long-term goal is to go into the Football Bowl Subdivision," Bowman said. "I think it makes sense for an institution like Illinois State, with our size and our history, to have a long-term goal to move into a more visible subdivision."

That would mean leaving the Football Championship Subdivision (the former Division I-AA) behind for the vast expanses and much higher expenses of the FBS.

"A couple of things would have to happen to realize that goal," said Bowman. "First and foremost, we would have to have lots of success where we are right now. I think our fan base, if we have that kind of success, will grow. But it has to grow pretty significantly for us to begin to contemplate that."

ISU's Hancock Stadium holds 15,000 (with about 11,500 actual seats), but two phases of major renovation are being discussed that would bring capacity to approximately 25,000.

Bowman and Redbird athletic director Sheahon Zenger both emphasize that any move to FBS is at least several years away. Before such a leap would be considered, both phases of Hancock renovation would have to be completed with a consistently strong level of fan support.

"Will the community support the next level (FBS)? That's an answer I can't give you," said Zenger. "What I can give you is a vision for the next stage of both the stadium and our football program, then see if the people support that.

"The short-range and mid-range goals are to build a nationally prominent FCS program so we then can have the discussion down the road about the next level. My long-term goal is to have that discussion. But that discussion may never happen if all these other variables don't converge."

ISU coach Denver Johnson called the subject of moving to FBS "an institutional decision."

"I would be quite happy to have a first-class stadium, a first-class FCS program and be successful on a national scale. But if the institution wants to consider making the move (to FBS), I would be excited, happy and hope I would be the one to lead us toward that on the football side."

A jump to FBS would require a substantial boost in the football budget and the funding of 22 additional scholarships to the FBS limit of 85.

"I'm convinced we can see that goal from where we stand today, and I think we're closer to that goal today than we were five years ago," Bowman said. "I'm also realistic in understanding there is a lot of work to do before we can really begin to make firm plans."

Leaving FCS would mean bidding farewell to the Gateway Conference. ISU is a member of the Missouri Valley in all other sports, but the MVC does not offer football.

The dilemma would then become which conference would best suit a fledgling FBS football program while not serving as a hindrance to other Redbird sports.

While the Mid-American, Sun Belt or Conference USA would be among the most logical FBS landing points for Redbird football, abandoning the high level of men's basketball played in the Valley would be difficult.

"In the near term, we are solidly in the Missouri Valley. We are quite happy where we are," Bowman said. "As you speculate about where you might go, if you're going to make that move tomorrow, it becomes very complicated."

Zenger believes football is important to the stature of the school's No. 1 revenue sport, men's basketball.

"I've been asked about the (basketball) label mid-major. I don't like it and nobody else likes it," said Zenger, who came to ISU from Kansas State. "One way to assure you stay mid-major forever is to not play football.

"Another way to do it is to play football and not take it very seriously, i.e. have a stadium that doesn't look the part or not really provide the resources they need to have great success."

The list of dominos that would have to fall is lengthy, but Bowman admits having a future vision of joining the Big 12 Conference.

"I don't think it's an impossible goal," Bowman said of competing with such schools as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas and Missouri. "A number of individuals who are knowledgeable about these matters have indicated that the Big 12 appears to be a good fit for Illinois State, and I think that argument has some credibility."

Bowman points out that the smallest athletic budget in the Big 12 belongs to Iowa State, which spends three times the amount of the Redbirds' athletic budget.

"You grow to that," said Bowman. "Certainly if you have success and begin to generate revenue in basketball and football, you can certainly grow that revenue with the participation of your donors."