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Random thoughts from maniac:
1. I have not been a proponent for returning football, and I have connected the success of our basketball program to absence of football draining our resources. However, I have to admit hearing Bardo talking about the possibility of football returning to WSU caused my heart to go pitter-patter. Just the thought of going to campus on autumn days (or evenings) for football games is very appealing to me.
2. I don't know if this is entirely accurate but I recently heard someone say that WSU is one of about 25 or so D1 athletic programs that operates in the black. I don't see how we can successfully sustain the level of success our athletic program is achieving unless there is a deep war chest that underwrites whatever deficits that result from football. In addition, there will be substantial start up costs for football. So, we are most likely talking about lots and lots of dollars. WSU has received a lot of generous support from benefactors and corporate sponsors, but I'm not sure the necessary money could be raised from these sources. It seems like we would have to view this as a quality of life issue for the community and look at some tax support to help underwrite the football program. Could that happen? I really don't know.
3. This really is about a lot more than athletics. Really it is directly tied to the Bardo's academic goals for WSU. It's really related to the marketing and image of WSU:
a. Can WSU achieve the enrollment goal of 22K without football? Maybe or maybe not, but I have some doubts that it can. Students are concerned about quality of life and for many having football is an important component of their student experience. I can tell you that in the fall I saw many tweets from students wishing that they had football games to go to. I don't think that we have to look any farther than Manhattan to see what the impact football can have on enrollment.
b. Does an emerging research university belong in the Missouri Valley Conference? Whether we like it or not, a good part of our recognition and credibility comes from our conference affiliation. I think that both in athletics and academics, WSU is outgrowing the MVC. We need to move on if possible. Can WSU upgrade athletic conferences without a football program? I know others may think differently, but I don't think as a public institution in the central region of the country that we have any opportunities of upgrading without football. I think the days of hybrid conferences (Olympic sports schools in football conferences) are gone. I have a feeling that Bardo has had the discussions with conferences like the MWC and AAC and has come to the same conclusion. Thus, he is now looking at the feasibility of adding football. Otherwise, we already would have a new and better conference affiliation.
c. WSU is targeting Texas and Oklahoma for enrollment growth. Membership in the AAC would help with our exposure and marketing to prospective students in these areas. The MVC's footprint does not provide us exposure to our geographical target market.
4. It seems that attendance for volleyball would be adversely impacted by football. I suspect a good portion of our perennial top 10 attendance is due to the absence of football on the campus.
5. Bardo is to WSU academics what Marshall is to WSU basketball. He is a university president on steroids. He is exactly what our university needs. He is taking WSU academically to a much higher level. He is a visionary and a leader. He is not afraid to address the obstacles that prevent him from achieving his goals for this University. I have no idea if he can bring football back, he should be commended for looking at it to see if it can be done.
6. Even if we had a competitive football program there are other obstacles to a conference upgrade. Namely, our relatively smaller TV market.
1. I have not been a proponent for returning football, and I have connected the success of our basketball program to absence of football draining our resources. However, I have to admit hearing Bardo talking about the possibility of football returning to WSU caused my heart to go pitter-patter. Just the thought of going to campus on autumn days (or evenings) for football games is very appealing to me.
2. I don't know if this is entirely accurate but I recently heard someone say that WSU is one of about 25 or so D1 athletic programs that operates in the black. I don't see how we can successfully sustain the level of success our athletic program is achieving unless there is a deep war chest that underwrites whatever deficits that result from football. In addition, there will be substantial start up costs for football. So, we are most likely talking about lots and lots of dollars. WSU has received a lot of generous support from benefactors and corporate sponsors, but I'm not sure the necessary money could be raised from these sources. It seems like we would have to view this as a quality of life issue for the community and look at some tax support to help underwrite the football program. Could that happen? I really don't know.
3. This really is about a lot more than athletics. Really it is directly tied to the Bardo's academic goals for WSU. It's really related to the marketing and image of WSU:
a. Can WSU achieve the enrollment goal of 22K without football? Maybe or maybe not, but I have some doubts that it can. Students are concerned about quality of life and for many having football is an important component of their student experience. I can tell you that in the fall I saw many tweets from students wishing that they had football games to go to. I don't think that we have to look any farther than Manhattan to see what the impact football can have on enrollment.
b. Does an emerging research university belong in the Missouri Valley Conference? Whether we like it or not, a good part of our recognition and credibility comes from our conference affiliation. I think that both in athletics and academics, WSU is outgrowing the MVC. We need to move on if possible. Can WSU upgrade athletic conferences without a football program? I know others may think differently, but I don't think as a public institution in the central region of the country that we have any opportunities of upgrading without football. I think the days of hybrid conferences (Olympic sports schools in football conferences) are gone. I have a feeling that Bardo has had the discussions with conferences like the MWC and AAC and has come to the same conclusion. Thus, he is now looking at the feasibility of adding football. Otherwise, we already would have a new and better conference affiliation.
c. WSU is targeting Texas and Oklahoma for enrollment growth. Membership in the AAC would help with our exposure and marketing to prospective students in these areas. The MVC's footprint does not provide us exposure to our geographical target market.
4. It seems that attendance for volleyball would be adversely impacted by football. I suspect a good portion of our perennial top 10 attendance is due to the absence of football on the campus.
5. Bardo is to WSU academics what Marshall is to WSU basketball. He is a university president on steroids. He is exactly what our university needs. He is taking WSU academically to a much higher level. He is a visionary and a leader. He is not afraid to address the obstacles that prevent him from achieving his goals for this University. I have no idea if he can bring football back, he should be commended for looking at it to see if it can be done.
6. Even if we had a competitive football program there are other obstacles to a conference upgrade. Namely, our relatively smaller TV market.
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