How will BCS impact WSU Basketball

[ICTShockerFan]

We killed our shot at football when we ended the program. Not that from what I hear it had too much support when it was a Division I program. IMHO if we would have kept a division one team we might be in the American with Tulsa right now, but basketball might not have had the means to elevate to its current state. Now to start back from scratch at a FBS level (the only level we would care to support) is next to impossible.

[1972Shocker]

IMHO if we would have kept a division one team we might be in the American with Tulsa right now.

Maybe. No assurance of that nor any way to really know for sure. Some folks think that if we hadn't dropped football we would now be in the Heartland Conference.

What we do know is that when football was dropped the athletic department was hemorrhaging cash and support for Wichita State football had declined to a very low point. I was one of the diehards attending games right through the end. It was both sad and at times pretty embarrassing.

Because of the financial hole we found ourselves in we fell way behind in terms of quality of facilities. Once we dug out of the hole we were able to do some things. Thank goodness for the Roundhouse Rennaissance (announced in the fall of 2000). IMO the most important factor in the turnaround and current success of Shocker athletics. We actually had facilities we could bring recruits in to see with pride. We have a lot we could still do in regards to facilities and on-campus amenities but this President and this Athletic Director seem to understand what is needed for our coaches to succeed.

Hopefully, we can and will continue to be a maja playa.

[The Mad Hatter]

We killed our shot at football when we ended the program. Not that from what I hear it had too much support when it was a Division I program. IMHO if we would have kept a division one team we might be in the American with Tulsa right now, but basketball might not have had the means to elevate to its current state. Now to start back from scratch at a FBS level (the only level we would care to support) is next to impossible.

I've used the Tulsa example before, but in a bit of a different light. Both WSU and Tulsa faced budgetary pressures in light of Title IX enforcement in the 1980s. WSU's response was to cut football. Tulsa's response was to cut baseball (a baseball program that had been to 2 CWS by the way).

If we had followed Tulsa's lead, not only might our basketball not be as strong as it is today, but we can almost assuredly say that we would not have a national championship in baseball because that program would likely have been the alternative on the chopping block to football.

[WSUwatcher]

In 1969, just before WSU gave up on baseball for a while, Tulsa played for the national championship in the CWS. They got pounded by Arizona State, but they'll never come that close in football. And as long as they're playing football in a conference outside the big five, they'll be hard pressed to find the resources to maximize their basketball potential, too.

If they aren't in one of those leagues, for the great majority of schools it would be better financially not even to play football.

[Shocker-maniac]

If they aren't in one of those leagues, for the great majority of schools it would be better financially not even to play football.

This +1. After going to see the game at Tulsa last season it was sad to see how their bball program has digressed. Low attendance and apathy. I'm sure since they finished the season strong that the interest picked up. Manning bolted at the first chance, and they now have Haith. Tulsa has had sporadic success on the gridiron but they have not been able to sustain it.

Although I very much miss going to Shocker football games, I much prefer the current path we are on with a bball program that competes at the national level and really for the most part an athletic program that experiences a lot of success in many sports. I doubt we would have these things if football was sucking most of the athletic resources.

Man, I do miss watching the likes of Prince McJunkins, Jumpy Gaithers, Willie "Jeff" Jeffries, Ron Chismar, etc.

[DUShock]

Our alma mater is trending toward becoming a de facto D-3 school. D-1 is the BCS BS, D-2 is non-BCS football schools, and D-3 are schools like Wichita State, Xavier, etc. The silver lining is there isn't too terribly much difference between 2 & 3 and winning in the other high profile sports can help offset not having football. Additionally not having a successful football program means there is much less resource drain from the athletic department. The downfall is conference alignment and will we be left out of any large scale realignments.

I really want a football program but recognize that it has to be successful for it to make sense and the odds of success are quite slim. Just keep winning in basketball and digging the baseball program out as well as a solid volleyball program and I am happy to write my annual SASO check.

Go Shocks!

[1972Shocker]

Our alma mater is trending toward becoming a de facto D-3 school. D-1 is the BCS BS, D-2 is non-BCS football schools, and D-3 are schools like Wichita State, Xavier, etc. The silver lining is there isn't too terribly much difference between 2 & 3 and winning in the other high profile sports can help offset not having football.

I don't know if you saw the coaching salary information posted by @The Mad Hatter on one of the Women's BB threads but based on that information you may very well have D-2 and D-3, as you have defined them, flip-flopped.

Not sure I can rank SIU, MSU, ILS, INS and UNI above Wichita State and a good chunk of the Big East and A-10 conferences just because they have 2nd class, resource sucking football programs.

[pogo]

'1972" thats a nice turn of a phrase "2nd class, resource sucking football programs". Nice.

[DUShock]

I don't know if you saw the coaching salary information posted by @The Mad Hatter on one of the Women's BB threads but based on that information you may very well have D-2 and D-3, as you have defined them, flip-flopped.

Not sure I can rank SIU, MSU, ILS, INS and UNI above Wichita State and a good chunk of the Big East and A-10 conferences just because they have 2nd class, resource sucking football programs.

I pretty much agree, my point which could have been better made was that the only way to have a shot the D-1 level is to have a successful football program. Even if WSU brought it back the odds of it being considered successful anytime in the next 20 or so years is pretty slim and not worth the risk.

[MoValley John]

When (IF) they bring back football, it will be as a Div II program for several years first and work their way up to Div I. At least that is what I've heard. Will Wichita, as a community, support a losing Div II football program for several years as they work their way back up to Div I?

I think most people on the board understand, but just to clarify the rule for those that don't, Wichita State can not play D-2 football. Period. A school classified as D-2 can play one D-1 sport other than football or basketball. Any school that plays either D-1 football or D-1 basketball must compete at the D-1 level in all sports. Pioneer League is an option, D-2 football is not.

[ripemupshocks]

Maybe ShoxALot is one of those white wine-and-cheese PBS guys, KW.

You mean like David Koch?

[Kung Wu]

We killed our shot at football when we ended the program. Not that from what I hear it had too much support when it was a Division I program. IMHO if we would have kept a division one team we might be in the American with Tulsa right now, but basketball might not have had the means to elevate to its current state. Now to start back from scratch at a FBS level (the only level we would care to support) is next to impossible.

Except that we had Jim Schaus and that K-State didn't rehire Snyder in 2005 when he wanted to return. Schaus would have snatched him up in a heartbeat while Prince effed K-State's program up royally and our football program would be a top-10 football program in the country.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[boyshocker]

As much as I hate to say it I don't see football ever again at Cessna. I've heard that the east seating could be gone by the end of next year. The whole stadium gone shortly after. The golf course will be raised to make room for a track stadium. This all sounded unreal but golf courses are struggling these days and is taking up a lot of real estate.

[wu_shizzle]

Maybe they could work something out with the city and make McDonald the home of Shocker golf.

[Steeleshocker]

Maybe they could work something out with the city and make McDonald the home of Shocker golf.

Honestly, outside of the heated bays on the practice range that have video cameras for swing analysis, I doubt the team practices very much there anyway. The course is just about the easiest and shortest in the city. I'm sure they practice regularly at various local country clubs and public courses.