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Post by Admin on Apr 11, 2010 10:25:58 GMT -5
www.springfieldnewssun.com/springfield-oh-sports/commentary-open-your-mind-to-a-new-college-sports-league-646318.htmlCommentary: Open your mind to a new college sports league By Brian Kollars, Sports editor 9:26 PM Saturday, April 10, 2010 Wake me up: I’m joining Rick Majerus’ movement to pull away from the Atlantic 10. The East Coast-based conference just doesn’t move the basketball needle in the Midwest. When was the last time you hopped in the car to catch a game at St. Bonaventure or La Salle? Here’s my dream basketball alliance (and I know it’s just a dream). It’s called the Horizon League, with some tweaks. First, Loyola, Youngstown State, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Valparaiso are gone. Hey, Bryce Drew’s NCAA tournament heroics are 12 years old. Six Horizon members get to stay in my drivable conference: Butler, Cleveland State, Detroit, Illinois-Chicago, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and ... Wright State! Now, the fun begins. To turn the Horizon into a 12-team bully we need to add some muscle. Start with A-10 schools Xavier, Saint Louis and ... Dayton! From the Big East, where they don’t belong, let’s welcome Marquette, Notre Dame and DePaul. The overrated Big Ten is shaking in its shoes.
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Post by keithfromxenia on Apr 11, 2010 18:38:36 GMT -5
ok, raider fans, you tell me which is most likely to happen. three big east teams join the new brian k league, or ud join the league in conjunction with the raiders.
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Post by wolf41 on Apr 12, 2010 17:12:55 GMT -5
I would stand by a suggestion I made recently to form a league in the Midwest sweeping up the major private schools, including those in the HL, or at least most of them. Then having the HL seek new members from among the midwestern public schools that have had some success in basketball. Financially, the public schools have more similar financial footing, whereas many of the private schools are putting millions into their basketball programs.
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Apr 12, 2010 19:25:54 GMT -5
I would stand by a suggestion I made recently to form a league in the Midwest sweeping up the major private schools, including those in the HL, or at least most of them. Then having the HL seek new members from among the midwestern public schools that have had some success in basketball. Financially, the public schools have more similar financial footing, whereas many of the private schools are putting millions into their basketball programs. On average, public schools spend much more on athletics than private schools.
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Post by wolf41 on Apr 13, 2010 12:11:28 GMT -5
I'm not talking about the "average" private school. I'm talking about the private schools that have recognized that basketball is a relatively lower cost option to put money into that can yield some quick returns in the form of publicity, enrollment growth, and revenue. Teams like X, UD, Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Butler, Valpo, and now, perhaps, UDM for example.
UD had success years ago under Blackburn. Some teams had early success years ago, but never made the continued commitment to keep at it, like a LaSalle, Seton Hall, and Duq. Temple is a school that has had a long tradition, like UD and Duq. seems to be making a renewed effort, as are St. Bonnie and Fordham.
What I'm saying is that a private school can achieve success and earn a good return on the investment. Public schools, especially outside of the BCS schools, have a tougher time if they don't have big money sponsors and donors. They are watched over by legislatures and Gov.s who are often suspicious of university elitists. They often control fee increases, an important source of funds. And within the university every additional dollar appropriated for athletics is often attacked by the faculty, a very important faction that the administration listens to. Even faculty who are sports fans will often speak out against increases in athletics if their pay raise is small in their eyes.
Private schools have far more leeway in this regard, though they too have a faculty to be concerned about. But if basketball success brings in publicity, growth in enrollment/revenue, and donor dollars, they can be silenced.
In women's basketball it doesn't work as well because there aren't enough really good players and there is less interest among the public. As a consequence the top teams tend to be in the BCS conferences where TN, UConn, etc. have dominated and draw the crowds. Again, UD is making a major effort in this regard, but attendance has caught up with the investment.
Success in men's basketball at UD helps support their increased spending in women's basketball, soccer, and baseball, all of which have been upgraded. Getting those teams into the NCAA tournaments then helps to further promote the university in the public's mind, which again can contribute to enrollment growth and revenue growth. Success breeds success.
So if we want success at WSU we need to be working to find the sponsors and the donors, because we aren't going to get any windfalls from the legislature or via I&G fee increases. Our one ray of hope for new money is the $35 Nutter fee which will be freed up in the near future.If you are a Raider fan we need to get at least a significant piece of that revenue to enhance the sport's budgets at WSU. That may be as important to our future success as the hiring of a new coach.
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Post by mrose on Apr 13, 2010 13:03:57 GMT -5
Temple is a Public Universtiy...
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