Director of Athletics Kevin Saal

[Kung Wu]

I, for one at least, am very much interested in your perspective, unique or different as it is. You have insight the rest of us do not, and that is valuable. But I understand and respect if you would rather not share.

shockerfan's perspective is valued here.

[shockerfan]

I apologize, I thought most of group was on some kind of academic scholarship. My mistake.

There are a few, maybe 6 or 7 (unless this has changed the last 2 years) scholarships. But it can't add up to much because the biggest scholarship awarded is about $500 per semester. Basically a book scholarship. My daughter was one of the lucky to have a scholarship of $300 per semester. Some may be on some other regular scholarships awarded to students for academics. That is basically the same as any student though.

[shockerfan]

How does this square up with the AD's statement that says his department has a five year average of contributing $220,020 to spirit squad financial support?

You've been quite boisterous about this matter, what is your counter point?

I am flabbergasted and would love to see where it went. Cause with the money I threw at the program so that they could even go to Daytona a couple of years ago was crazy. But I wanted them to have their experience at Nationals. And this is coming from someone who paid 40,000-50,000 over 6 or 7 years for competitive cheer. It's a very expensive sport to compete at the highest levels.

Now the university does pay for hotel in FT Worth for the conference tourney so I am sure that is not cheap for both men's and women's tourneys. So I guess there is that.

[shockerfan]

So do you think the cheer team and the money it brings into the athletic department supersedes the basketball program and the money it brings in?

I understand you take care of the money maker. I just hope they considered everything before settling on this "solution"

I can go on and on about me and my daughters experience. It wasnt a "bad" one. And she still got to fulfill a couple dreams of hers. So no regrets. But they definitely get treated as 2nd class when it comes to the athletic department.

But I will leave it at that. I am sorry I was vocal about this. Just hard to explain to people who don't have the same perspective.

And like I said. It is OK that many don't care. And its ok for those that do.

Still love my Shockers and they will still get my support.

[shockerfan]

I do want to add. One of my daughters favorite moments were interactions with the athletes. She said most of the time they were very appreciative. Especially the women's basketball team.

[RoyalShock]

There are a few, maybe 6 or 7 (unless this has changed the last 2 years) scholarships. But it can't add up to much because the biggest scholarship awarded is about $500 per semester. Basically a book scholarship. My daughter was one of the lucky to have a scholarship of $300 per semester. Some may be on some other regular scholarships awarded to students for academics. That is basically the same as any student though.

Tangent, but this is one of the issues I had with competitive cheer. The coaches and gym owners go on and on about staying in comp cheer because of all the college scholarships available. Then you find out a large majority of schools either don't offer cheer scholarships, or like you said, they max out at $500 (at public schools) for few kids. That's after pouring thousands upon thousands of dollars (I would conservatively say about $3000 per year, unless you get a bid to Orlando, then jump that to $4-5000) into a sport that not only is the most dangerous sport for girls, who are encouraged, and in some cases guilted or threatened, to compete while injured (yes, I've seen this), but has no chance to bring even a sliver of return on the investment.

Sorry for the rant.

I just saw your post about how much you paid in. It's crazy.

[shockerfan]

Tangent, but this is one of the issues I had with competitive cheer. The coaches and gym owners go on and on about staying in comp cheer because of all the college scholarships available. Then you find out a large majority of schools either don't offer cheer scholarships, or like you said, they max out at $500 (at public schools) for few kids. That's after pouring thousands upon thousands of dollars (I would conservatively say about $3000 per year, unless you get a bid to Orlando, then jump that to $4-5000) into a sport that not only is the most dangerous sport for girls, who are encouraged, and in some cases guilted or threatened, to compete while injured (yes, I've seen this), but has no chance to bring even a sliver of return on the investment.

Sorry for the rant.

I just saw your post about how much you paid in. It's crazy.

100% We went to Orlando every year. And last couple of years she was on a worlds team which is even more $$$. It was $400 per month for 12 months just to be able to COMPETE at cheer Athletics down here. And then 6-7 competitions and all the $$$ families pay to just get INTO the event as a spectator.

I was shocked when I figured out what I had paid in over the time she was competitive.

[BostonWu]

But they definitely get treated as 2nd class when it comes to the athletic department.

But I will leave it at that.

LIsten, I appreciate what they do is quite skilled and athletic but technically they are not NCAA student athletes. I'd be curious in comparison how they are treated (both financially and respectfully) with the male bowlers or the rowing team.

[shockerfan]

LIsten, I appreciate what they do is quite skilled and athletic but technically they are not NCAA student athletes. I'd be curious in comparison how they are treated (both financially and respectfully) with the male bowlers or the rowing team.

Similar to bowlers financially I would imagine (my daughter is dating a bowler). They do a lot of fundraising at the beginning of the year

And that is fine. I respect your opinion

[Onegreatracer]

I understand you take care of the money maker. I just hope they considered everything before settling on this "solution"

I can go on and on about me and my daughters experience. It wasnt a "bad" one. And she still got to fulfill a couple dreams of hers. So no regrets. But they definitely get treated as 2nd class when it comes to the athletic department.

But I will leave it at that. I am sorry I was vocal about this. Just hard to explain to people who don't have the same perspective.

And like I said. It is OK that many don't care. And its ok for those that do.

Still love my Shockers and they will still get my support.

I hate to hear you apologize for sharing your opinion. We disagree and come into it with very different perspectives but I still value reading yours, and hope you didn't take mine as crapping on yours personally.

[shockerfan]

I hate to hear you apologize for sharing your opinion. We disagree and come into it with very different perspectives but I still value reading yours, and hope you didn't take mine as crapping on yours personally.

No I didn't. I just know how exhausting it can be when people get on a soap box that others may not care about. I don't want to be seen as hijacking the thread. At the end of the day, it is what it is and I truly hope WSU is getting a ton of money from those seats and it makes a difference. We all want the same thing anyway. A proud and successful program. GO SHOX!

[shock]

No I didn't. I just know how exhausting it can be when people get on a soap box that others may not care about. I don't want to be seen as hijacking the thread. At the end of the day, it is what it is and I truly hope WSU is getting a ton of money from those seats and it makes a difference. We all want the same thing anyway. A proud and successful program. GO SHOX!

I’m late to this I know… and as many others have said you have a unique perspective that piques my interest.

Saal has said it won’t impact their ability to get on the court and perform, and the appearance of uniformed squad and dance team of having to serve the floor seats has been denied by WSU, so it appears to be an issue of where they are standing during play, and losing their area on the court and having to stand in the stands. Is that correct, or has WSU changed its stance since the news broke? Is it a feeling of degradation and continued treatment as a 2nd class athletes, or something more that we are missing?

Has anyone seen how much they plan on charging for these seats? During the FVV years they probably could have gotten 1k per. Now I’m guessing it’s between $250 and $500, which puts them at an additional revenue of $285k over the 19 home games assuming 30 seats at $500. That’s a decent chunk of change.

[Stickboy46]

I’m late to this I know… and as many others have said you have a unique perspective that piques my interest.

Saal has said it won’t impact their ability to get on the court and perform, and the appearance of uniformed squad and dance team of having to serve the floor seats has been denied by WSU, so it appears to be an issue of where they are standing during play, and losing their area on the court and having to stand in the stands. Is that correct, or has WSU changed its stance since the news broke? Is it a feeling of degradation and continued treatment as a 2nd class athletes, or something more that we are missing?

Has anyone seen how much they plan on charging for these seats? During the FVV years they probably could have gotten 1k per. Now I’m guessing it’s between $250 and $500, which puts them at an additional revenue of $285k over the 19 home games assuming 30 seats at $500. That’s a decent chunk of change.

I don't remember the seat pricing itself but I believe they told me it was a minimum charter guardian SASO donation (~4k) PER seat.

Anywhere else that donation gets you 4 seats

Regular seats are 500-600 per seat for the year. So looking at like 4500 a seat minimum

[shockerfan]

I’m late to this I know… and as many others have said you have a unique perspective that piques my interest.

Saal has said it won’t impact their ability to get on the court and perform, and the appearance of uniformed squad and dance team of having to serve the floor seats has been denied by WSU, so it appears to be an issue of where they are standing during play, and losing their area on the court and having to stand in the stands. Is that correct, or has WSU changed its stance since the news broke? Is it a feeling of degradation and continued treatment as a 2nd class athletes, or something more that we are missing?

Has anyone seen how much they plan on charging for these seats? During the FVV years they probably could have gotten 1k per. Now I’m guessing it’s between $250 and $500, which puts them at an additional revenue of $285k over the 19 home games assuming 30 seats at $500. That’s a decent chunk of change.

I think it was mostly just unexpected and not communicated very well with the spirit squad. Making them feel like they were being forced out for more seating. Just caught some (including myself) off guard. Could have maybe at least been handled a little better I suppose.

At the end of the day I am sure it all will work out and everyone will adjust. In some cases families of the spirit squad come to the games to watch their kids cheer on the sidelines. I always went to watch my daughter AND the game though lol.

[shock]

I don't remember the seat pricing itself but I believe they told me it was a minimum charter guardian SASO donation (~4k) PER seat.

Anywhere else that donation gets you 4 seats

Regular seats are 500-600 per seat for the year. So looking at like 4500 a seat minimum

That would be MUCH less than my $500/game. The athletic department must be struggling bad to risk this PR crapfest over 120k