American Athletic Conference

[SHOCKvalue]

Yeah, I once had a conversation with someone that went something along these lines, this person's interest being music. "I think it's ridiculous that coaches make the money that they do. Why don't music professors make that kind of money? The comment came from nowhere, and I was too surprised to be able to respond coherently.

Look, it is all relative. In the grand scheme of things, yes, it is dumb to think how much money society spends towards athletics. However, the best answer that I can use is that "it is what it is." Athletics is what I (and many others) find interesting and enjoyable, so that is where a good chunk of disposable income will go. The market will bear it, so coaches will get paid. If you want music directors to get paid so much, you better figure out a way to get people to pay the kind of money that athletics gets.

Also, the things that nobody thinks about is with the high expenses come home responsibility. You don't hear people gripe about the solo trumpeter who flubs a note in a symphony concert. That applies to small-exposure sports too. If a pole vaulter no-heights at the KT Woodman track meet, you probably won't see people calling for the scholarship to be revoked. However, how many here have insinuated that certain men's basketball players should find a new school? If you want to attention and adulation, you have to be willing to accept the negative that can come with it too.

Same person would probably also be pissed to see the disparity between what those same music professors make compared to the salaries of what the engineering and certain business and natural science professors make. An Economics 101 class could be taken over in Clinton Hall in order to reduce the angst.

[OregonShocker]

A program to watch that just brought back football is East Tennessee State.

Looks like they were out of football for approx. 12 years; left the conference (?) and rejoined the same conference once football was reestablished. Is that accurate?

[Stickboy46]

It is embarrassing that seemingly intelligent people don't understand the structural, funding, and revenue differences between athletics and academics within a given university.

Correct, not only would removing ALL athletics not help the rest of the school, it very well could do a lot of harm. I know, i wouldn't have chosen a school to go to that didn't have any athletics. Its part of the quality of life and school spirit.

[OregonShocker]

I'm guessing the deal is (almost) done; new conference, new football team, etc. Money comes from donors, new conference, etc. Is the Big 12 looking for truly 12? (I LOVE to "X-files" these things!)

[wusphlash]

Dr. Bardo is a very smart man. There is a calculated reason behind his tweet. As has been said earlier in this thread, this man moves fast. Hold on for the ride!

I will never have a chance for basketball season tickets, but I am hoping to have them for Shocker Football!

I'm guessing that may not be a problem, judging from fan interest in 1984...

I have a lot of questions in my mind about whether this is the right thing to do or not. Worrying about the way things were 30 years ago is not one of them. The landscape has totally changed what with TV money and conference realignment. One thing I do not want is to be left behind because we get stuck on the way it used to be.

[SHOCKvalue]

I'm guessing the deal is (almost) done; new conference, new football team, etc. Money comes from donors, new conference, etc. Is the Big 12 looking for truly 12? (I LOVE to "X-files" these things!)

Whoa, now. Back the cart up and put the horse in front of it again.

The B12 thing ain't happening for WSU; now or ever.

[DUShock]

Yeah, I once had a conversation with someone that went something along these lines, this person's interest being music. "I think it's ridiculous that coaches make the money that they do. Why don't music professors make that kind of money? The comment came from nowhere, and I was too surprised to be able to respond coherently.

Look, it is all relative. In the grand scheme of things, yes, it is dumb to think how much money society spends towards athletics. However, the best answer that I can use is that "it is what it is." Athletics is what I (and many others) find interesting and enjoyable, so that is where a good chunk of disposable income will go. The market will bear it, so coaches will get paid. If you want music directors to get paid so much, you better figure out a way to get people to pay the kind of money that athletics gets.

Also, the things that nobody thinks about is with the high expenses come home responsibility. You don't hear people gripe about the solo trumpeter who flubs a note in a symphony concert. That applies to small-exposure sports too. If a pole vaulter no-heights at the KT Woodman track meet, you probably won't see people calling for the scholarship to be revoked. However, how many here have insinuated that certain men's basketball players should find a new school? If you want to attention and adulation, you have to be willing to accept the negative that can come with it too.

https://youtu.be/dkHqPFbxmOU

[Signman]

A program to watch that just brought back football is East Tennessee State.

Might also look at Old Dominion as they are now playing FBS football and changed conferences. However, I believe Dr. Bardo's vision is focused well beyond these programs.

[IdahoShocker]

Paul Suellentrop just posted a brief piece on the football tweets.

"Wichita State president John Bardo loved the response his picture of a football helmet received when he posted it on Twitter on Wednesday.More than 33,000 views. More than 1,000 retweets.
"You think there’s interest," he said, grinning as he sat at his computer in his office on the second floor of Morrison Hall."

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article58202793.html

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article58202793.html#storylink=cpy"

[OregonShocker]

Whoa, now. Back the cart up and put the horse in front of it again.

The B12 thing ain't happening for WSU; now or ever.

So you're one of the conspirators? What are you hiding? ;-)

[SHOCKvalue]

So you're one of the conspirators? What are you hiding? ;-)

In a sarcasm proof room, apparently. My bad.

[WstateU]

WstateU’s quick thoughts on the return of football…

I’m not saying yes to football at this point, however there has never been a better time to explore the opportunity. I’ve mentioned before that we have a president with leadership and vision. If there was ever a time and person to make it happen, this might be the window of opportunity. The thought of a ‘new’ football stadium near the Innovation Campus is really exciting to me. I could live with an upgrade of Cessna; a ‘new’ stadium really gets my attention.

http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/home/?u=wsuinnovationcampus

Potential football benefits:
New conference – a higher profile conference could elevate university pride, growth and increase giving; without football, we may be stuck in the MVC forever
Increased enrollment – I’m estimating a potential 20% enrollment increase once football is established; only a gut feeling; I believe WSU’s enrollment was around 18,000 when football was dropped in 1986; we’re current around 15,000
School pride – fall football could energize the university to new levels and give it more of a traditional campus feel – Dr. Bardo has mentioned that we need something else in the fall to energize the campus; I’m not sure anything else could do this like football – I really miss homecoming Saturday’s; builds alumni pride
Marching band – I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come across that send their children north, south, east and west because they want to participate in marching band and a more traditional university. We have a quality music department, however a marching band seems logical and would have another positive affect on enrollment

Potential football drawbacks/challenges:
Negative financial impact; could be mitigated/offset with a major increase in enrollment, conference television revenue and major donations
No doubt football would have unique challenges; it’s much easier to control 15 basketball players, volleyball players, etc. – unfortunately football tends to bring a few hooligans and bad apples to campuses across the country; it’s a challenge, but can be overcome
Are there community leaders that would be interested in funding the start-up costs with a football endowment? Would football positively impact the quality of life in Wichita? We all know one individual and corporation that could fund the program with pocket change - I’m confident Dr. Bardo will have a sit-down conversation with that individual very soon; his opinion would be valuable and maybe he would consider a ‘new’ football stadium bearing his corporations name
Losing - Can we finance and operate a winning football program? Can we recruit quality players and individuals? We know we’re not getting in 4 and 5 star players
Attendance – if you build it, will they come? At some point you have to win some games
Would it impact the success of other sports?

Artist rendering - Texas State University - 30,000 seat stadium

Bardo's tweets call for a self bump!

[Shoxthemonkey]

So you're one of the conspirators? What are you hiding? ;-)

Dammit! I thanked SV for his post. We need a sarcasm font.

[wsushox1]

WSU-leased Private Jet just filed a flight plan to New Orleans.

Hmmm, reading between the lines.....

The Sun Belt Conference
1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: 504-299-9066
Administrative Fax: 504-299-9067
Championships/Media Fax: 504-299-9068

[Kel Varnsen]

WSU-leased Private Jet just filed a flight plan to New Orleans.

Hmmm, reading between the lines.....

The Sun Belt Conference
1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: 504-299-9066
Administrative Fax: 504-299-9067
Championships/Media Fax: 504-299-9068

That's some good detective work, my friend.