We are one of the leading basketball programs historically. we have ever rising enrollment. a very high endowment and an exceptionally high athletic budget (VERY high considering the $100 we get every six years from the sbc).

We are extremely committed to athletics. we are in a growing city but also bring the untapped Nashville, Evansville, and Kentucky markets to the table...

History has seemed to try to leave wku in the dust but we seem to keep coming back around. we have some really nice facilities (football is small but the plan is to expand out to 40k in 5-10 years).

also highly successful in non revenue sports.

just curious what fans think...

I think you guys need to be moved up to C-USA. But i don't think you are quite ready for C-USA 3.0, aka the BEast. Your sports have improved greatly (my wife is an alum, we attend alot of sporting events at WKU), and i love the fun atmosphere that is around.

And I agree, money is being put into the football program. You just completed the second side of the stadium, hired a proven winner as a coach, etc... Heck you guys beat an SEC football team this year, and even though it was UK, still something to be proud of. But i don't see the value you'd bring to the Big East. You'd be another mouth to feed on an uncertain TV Contract, but worse a mouth to feed that is not going to increase value.

TV Market- Nashville, however, Nashville is an SEC market mainly. Supports Vandy and UT. There is good MTSU support as well. During basketball season, Belmont gets quite a bit of attention.
Football- Definitely has potential. Since going up to Div 1A a efw years ago, have made great strides, especially under taggart (USF is thanking you I am sure. He's looking good at USF). Pitrino will probably continue to help the program. However, your football program (as much as it pains me to say) brings about as much value as Memphis or Tulane. Which is bottom teir FOR NOW. But Memphis has a stellar basketball brand and a large TV market, and Tulane has a large TV market and great academics. Thus value.
Basketball- You guys do have history of being a good team. You made a good run a few years ago in the tourny, but since your guy bolted for South Carolina baskeball has struggled. Crowds at games are small. Fans don't travel. a short 1.5 hour drive, hardly any WKU fans attended the MTSU-WKU game in Murfreesboro, a game which was a big game in the Sun Belt as MTSU is having another great season.
Baseball- Good program. But baseball and olympic sports outside of bball do not matter when it comes to expansion.

All that to say... sorry, but no.

great school, good programs

not a good fit for the Big East....

(02-01-2013 09:15 AM)adluther Wrote:  I think you guys need to be moved up to C-USA. But i don't think you are quite ready for C-USA 3.0, aka the BEast. Your sports have improved greatly (my wife is an alum, we attend alot of sporting events at WKU), and i love the fun atmosphere that is around.

And I agree, money is being put into the football program. You just completed the second side of the stadium, hired a proven winner as a coach, etc... But i don't see the value you'd bring to the Big East. You'd be another mouth to feed on an uncertain TV Contract, but worse a mouth to feed that is not going to increase value.

TV Market- Nashville, however, Nashville is an SEC market mainly. Supports Vandy and UT. There is good MTSU support as well. During basketball season, Belmont gets quite a bit of attention.
Football- Definitely has potential. Since going up to Div 1A a efw years ago, have made great strides, especially under taggart (USF is thanking you I am sure. He's looking good at USF). Pitrino will probably continue to help the program. However, your football program (as much as it pains me to say) brings about as much value as Memphis or Tulane. Which is bottom teir FOR NOW. But Memphis has a stellar basketball brand and a large TV market, and Tulane has a large TV market and great academics. Thus value.
Basketball- You guys do have history of being a good team. You made a good run a few years ago in the tourny, but since your guy bolted for South Carolina baskeball has struggled. Crowds at games are small. Fans don't travel. a short 1.5 hour drive, hardly any WKU fans attended the MTSU-WKU game in Murfreesboro, a game which was a big game in the Sun Belt as MTSU is having another great season.
Baseball- Good program. But baseball and olympic sports outside of bball do not matter when it comes to expansion.

All that to say... sorry, but no.

bball will be corrected in short order. we made a terrible hire. now we have a great coach, a good recruiter and a proven winner. oh yea and like diddle he likes it here....

the fan base is there. when we played middle last year we brought in an above capacity crowd after averaging in the high 3ks. with one game as low as I think 2300 reported. just hard to go watch a beat down knowing that three of your best players are hurt, and who is playing is just coming off injury...

as far as markets it is not so much about the actual support but more about putting a relatable viable product out there. wku can do that in all of the markets I mentoned. every bball game is broadcast in the ville. not to mention the deal we had with fox to nationally broadcast all of our games. that deal is now with espn3 and espn fullcourt.

Not there yet

(02-01-2013 09:04 AM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  what do you think of wku

I don't


Next question

Not ready for the Big East yet.

Needs serious growth from the football perspective.

Already had this discussion

I think WKU has great history and needs to get out of the Belt before it kills them.

Personally, I like WKU but their next step should be CUSA along with MTSU. They remind me of Memphis from years past, and I believe they are heading in the right direction. A lot of kids from Nashville do go to WKU, and they probably have a larger fan base in Nashville then Memphis.

Good grief

(02-01-2013 10:58 AM)shere khan Wrote:  Good grief

Agreed. First UMass, now this? Grab Tulsa or S Miss and hold at 12.

As A WKU grad, it would be smart to do whatever it takes to get out of the Sun Belt. C-USA would be a good spot, but personally I'd like them to get into the MAC.