Football No Spin Zone

[shocklight]

OK here is the way we fix both problems that concern WSU and Wichita. Its doubtful we ever attract someone like T Boone to kick some money our way even though we have a VERY wealthy individual living here. I know alot of people get tired of being asked to kick in money every time the University or City want to do something. The way we do this is call for a referendum to increase the Sedgwick county sales tax by 1/2 cent, just like we did to pay for the downtown arena. What did that generate in 18 months? Around 200 million? WSU gets half, the city gets the other half for projects to keep people here. I'm not talking about this thing going away in 18 months either. This is a continuing infusion of 75-80 million dollars a year to WSU for not only athletics but for academics also. Say a 50-50 split. What kind of athletic department would 35-40 million additional income finance. I'm not sure, but facilites would improve along with dare I say the addition of football and the others womens sports that would have to be added. Scholarships could be added to form a real live marching band maybe even one that would compete with Drum Line. Other scholarships could be added to expand the program they have in place to keep the top local kids here at WSU. They do this and they are going to need new housing for the kids. Dream about an Athletic Village as well as an Academic Village? With this kind of money they can go out and look at companies to coop new research. "Hey we happen to have 5 million dollars that we would like to coop with you in research on such and such and ultimatly share in any financial benefits that may be realised down the road". With that kind of money infused each year new schools could be brought about. What about a School of Dentistry or a School of Optometry. Something like this might be a hard sell in light of current economic conditions but remember we have 15,000 students and staff at WSU and how many Alumni in Sedgwich county? It took 41,000 people in Wichita to pass the last bond issue recently and the voter turnout would be less than in a general election. If the city is not able for one reason or another (legal issues) then we could pursue it on our own. Any benefit to WSU would have a ripple effect on Wichita and surrounding communities as well. Wichita should look at WSU as an asset and lend its support to such an endeavor. Just think of the endless possiblities that this would provide for not just now but for the future growth of WSU. Go Shox!

I personally don't like taxes, however I agree with Pogo on this issue. The only way (IMHO) WSU will ever get football back or even prosper as a big time school, is if the local community rally's to support it in a big way.

Wichita must stand up and support this fine university in a big way. WSU is a gem to this city (or should be). We know the state board of regents are not going to do it. If, after 42 yrs. of being a state university and we are where we are now is not proof enough, I don't know what is.

Wichita has stood by and let this gem be hidden for far to long. One can only dream what if. That just doesn't cut it. If you care for this school and this community, then we need to stand up and fight a good fight. The kind of money talked about here is the only way things can take off. This is not just a football thing, it's an entire university and Wichita thing.

I have five children, four of whom went away for college. Only because the college atmosphere is so much better at KSU and KU. I love Wichita State and always will. But, things have to change or the KSU's and KU's will only get a stronger foot hold on the local kids of this community.

Wake up Wichita (Sedgwick County)

[shocky]

Shocklight, you have a great point. I know of two other Shox alumni that have kids attending the ku & ksu. We have to create a better atmosphere for our traditional students. This goes beyond football. I lived on campus and there were times that we had nothing to do. I just hope that someone with a lot of money would buy up land to the west and south of campus and expand and then develop it WITH the university. The land would be cheap and we could have an athletic village that pogo has suggested. I also know of jack-offs that went to WSU and root for ksu and ku. We need to look at how we can lose the commuter school label and move to a more traditional campus. That's my rant. I love the Black and gold!!!!! :wsu_posters: :goshocks: :posterwu: :posterwsu:

[pogo]

This is exactly my point. To simply raise "enough funds" for football ignores the needs of the rest of the University. We have to have the funds to develop the ENTIRE University and provide a better atmosphere for traditional students to attract them. You get kids to stay home to go to school but live on campus and provide them with the things that the "other" schools provide and Wichita stands a good chance to keep the young and talented people in the area. This can have a cumulative effect for not only WSU but for Wichita and surrounding areas. Granted there are parents and kids that will always want to go away to school but I liked living on campus and going home on Sundays for a home cooked meal and to do my laundry. We are still the step child in the regent system and we need to take a step that shows the rest of the state that we are willing to do something about it. Just think of the fear that something like this would generate at the other schools. Wichita is the LARGEST city and metro area and it is like a sleeping giant. I am sure there are many people around the state that wonder why we haven't done something like this 30 years ago. Let them be afraid.......very afraid.

[RoyalShock]

If you don't like being the step child of the Regents system and want Wichita to support the school via city taxes, then perhaps it is time to leave the regents system and return to being a municipal university.

I realize that there is currently a local tax subsidy going to WSU. But is it right?

Does Lawrence funnel local taxes to KU? Manhattan to KSU? Emporia to ESU? Hays to FHSU and Pittsburgh to PSU? (I don't know the answer and am curious if anyone else does.)

[pogo]

Yes, as part of our admission to the regents system the city of Wichita does pay a tax levy that goes to the University. How much this is I don't know. I am not an advocate of leaving the system and returning to a municipal university merely saying Wichita needs to up the ante because in the past when WSU is successful Wichita also basks in the national attention. I know when my wife and I were traveling back east people would ask where we were from and we would respond Wichita, and most associated Wichita with WSU and its run in the sweet 16. One hand washes the other we just need a little more "soap" from the other hand.

[ABC]

Folks in SG County pay 1.5 mills to the State for WSU. That isn't much.

To go to a Municipal university would cause property taxes to absolutely sky rocket.

The whole issue about young people not liking Wichita is old, old, old.

The facts are that people go where there is economic opportunity. They might go to, but do not stay, places where there are "things to do."

It's about that pesky thing called a job.

To think otherwise is fool's gold.

Creating "things to do" follows econoimc growth; it does not precede it.

Sedgwick County is losing net residents to EVERY county surrounding it. So people are moving to places that don't have a lot to do. And the folks leaving Wichita are making more money than those moving to Wichita from the surrounding counties.

[shocklight]

Yes, as part of our admission to the regents system the city of Wichita does pay a tax levy that goes to the University. How much this is I don't know. I am not an advocate of leaving the system and returning to a municipal university merely saying Wichita needs to up the ante because in the past when WSU is successful Wichita also basks in the national attention. I know when my wife and I were traveling back east people would ask where we were from and we would respond Wichita, and most associated Wichita with WSU and its run in the sweet 16. One hand washes the other we just need a little more "soap" from the other hand.

In my travels I have heard the same things, I might add "You all have a great baseball team".

We (Wichita and WSU) are missing on some great oppurtunties to make this city and university a very special place.

[shocklight]

Folks in SG County pay 1.5 mills to the State for WSU. That isn't much.

To go to a Municipal university would cause property taxes to absolutely sky rocket.

The whole issue about young people not liking Wichita is old, old, old.

The facts are that people go where there is economic opportunity. They might go to, but do not stay, places where there are "things to do."

It's about that pesky thing called a job.

To think otherwise is fool's gold.

I think that the biggest reason people are moving to the "burbs", is strickly for the schools. This new bond issue should help that, but it won't totally fix the problems.

We should stay part of the state system. We just need to add major bucks to it.

Creating "things to do" follows econoimc growth; it does not precede it.

Sedgwick County is losing net residents to EVERY county surrounding it. So people are moving to places that don't have a lot to do. And the folks leaving Wichita are making more money than those moving to Wichita from the surrounding counties.

[shocky]

ABC, I don't disagree with your comments in regards to the reasons young people leave our fair city. However, the "U" needs to do more for our traditional students as pogo stated. Expand the university and improve the community that surounds it. Give high schoolers a reason to want to stay on campus and that will create a better community on campus. That will foster close ties to the university that will last a lifetime. More donations...better attendance at games...more students spending money on campus. It's a win, win.

[SpanglerFan316]

we're the 51th biggest city in the country (formely 50th last year) and the lack of restaurants (notably chain restaurants disturb me) Topeka has a ruby tuesday before we do. Also, they have a Macy's built into one of the malls there. We're the biggest city in the state and we should get more things. the waterwalk and waterfront is a great idea and i wish it came sooner. I wish we had a dog park around here to be honest. Sure it's great to raise a family but us younguns need some other stuff to do besides clubbing.

http://www.articlealley.com/article_108023_26.html

[SpanglerFan316]

Re: Football No Spin Zone

I was OOP yesterday but did get a chance to catch some of the internet stream of the KGSO bringbackshockerfootball discussion.


I try not to allow my passion for all things WSU cloud my decision making abilities for what is best for all involved.


The one thing that I took away from the discussion that really hit hard was the player from the '86 team (I'm sorry I foget who it was) that when asked if they knew much about the tragedy when he played said that it never came up and frankly he didn't even know about it at the time.


It isn't that I think we can or should build a football program for those that died that awful day. It isn't that I blame the incident for the demise of the program. What I blame is the total lack of leadership. From AD to president to coaches to FANS, to alumni.....the entire program lacked leadership, bigtime.

No focus, no goals, no direction. Lew Perkins (as an example) was a giant failure. How he got work elsewhere is as big a mystery as Barney Frank continuing to be re-elected.


Can we support a football program? I think so. Should we? I think so. Will we? I have no idea, but I doubt it.

BUT, we need leadership to start the support and although I applaud the effort so far and I sincerely hope that their early success continues to grow, we do not have that support yet.

How do we get it? The $64,000 question.

First though, I would like to have a no-spin, honest discussion on exactly what it is going to take to bring it back.

Expenses, revenue........what's it going take?

Unfortunately I think it will take a new university president. I think Beggs is a good man but I think Beggs is in the pocket (perhaps not literally) of ..umm .. you know who.

We've had documented events over the years of donors offering 10 million toward football and being told to go home and take their check with them. I am very excited about bringbackshockerfootball.com and hope that they approach the big money that has come forward before to get that financial interest accounted for in the pledge drive. I'm sure it will happen. If it doesn't happen quickly I will probably approach him with some ideas and possibly some angles.. or just walk right up to a couple fat cats myself and tell them to make a pledge.

In the past, donations have sometimes covered 25% of the cost of an item and WSU had to find the other 75% or use money better spent elsewhere. One example is Grace Memorial Chapel. Some grants (e.g. College of Education) require 100% matching funds from WSU and actually drain funding away from its best uses.

[1972Shocker]

I thought this was an interesting article in today's Eagle:

http://www.kansas.com/news/story/599627.html

Pretty good growth in traditional students:

Nine years ago, 55 percent of WSU's enrollment consisted of full-time students. By this fall, that number had risen to 68 percent.

I wonder how this might impact the level of student interest in helping to bring football back?

[rrshock]

I thought this was an interesting article in today's Eagle:

http://www.kansas.com/news/story/599627.html

Pretty good growth in traditional students:

Nine years ago, 55 percent of WSU's enrollment consisted of full-time students. By this fall, that number had risen to 68 percent.

I wonder how this might impact the level of student interest in helping to bring football back?

It couldn't hurt. And it is nice to see that the number of traditionals is rising. That means that enrollment is rising too, correct?

[shocklight]

If you don't like being the step child of the Regents system and want Wichita to support the school via city taxes, then perhaps it is time to leave the regents system and return to being a municipal university.

I realize that there is currently a local tax subsidy going to WSU. But is it right?

Does Lawrence funnel local taxes to KU? Manhattan to KSU? Emporia to ESU? Hays to FHSU and Pittsburgh to PSU? (I don't know the answer and am curious if anyone else does.)

Or, you could look at it this way. Is it right that all those schools you mentioned, still have football teams? Is it right that the state board of regents does not give money to WSU for bricks and mortor (as it has been reported, I don't have those facts, but I don't believe they have been disputed)?

I personally feel that if the citizens of Wichita want to support their university with tax dollars, the others in the state shouldn't care! I believe that Sedgwick county probably pays the most taxes to the state than any other county in Kansas ( I could be wrong, Johnson County).

Those five communities enjoy their Saturdays in the fall, and don't seem to mind if Wichita does. This Wichitan doesn't mind they have football, in fact, since we don't have it here, I have gone to some of their games. However, I would have much rather spent my money at WSU!

Just my thoughts!

[ABC]

Johnson County pays the most in state taxes and Sedgwick in 2nd.

Between the two counties, comes nearly 50% of all state tax revenue.