I see that Miami has the highest budget at 26 million which may be enough to afford a 2-4 thousand dollar stipends. NIU, Kent, Akron and Ohio U appear to be in the mid 20s and could probably afford it. Not so sure about the rest.

If a large number of institutions cannot or will not pay the stipend, will the entire conference be held back or would the schools that will willingly pay the stipend defect from the MAC?

Discuss.

Every MAC school can afford it.

The MAC was all for it this time last year, when the talks of a stipend fell through because the P5 conferences couldn't agree on a way to implement it.

From what I have read, there seems to be an expectation that the new post season format will increase revenue enough to cover the added expense.

Does the stipend cover all scholarship athletes or just a select few?

(01-18-2014 08:32 PM)Siborg Wrote:  From what I have read, there seems to be an expectation that the new post season format will increase revenue enough to cover the added expense.

Does the stipend cover all scholarship athletes or just a select few?

That is what I have been trying to figure out. I think for the partial scholarships would use a sliding scale. Alsop how would it work if, like in Akrons case, have Rifle as a sport(which a lot of schools do not have). Full, or sliding?

Or even worst, take the Temple approach and start cutting sports.

(01-18-2014 08:02 PM)Cougar King Wrote:  I see that Miami has the highest budget at 26 million which may be enough to afford a 2-4 thousand dollar stipends. NIU, Kent, Akron and Ohio U appear to be in the mid 20s and could probably afford it. Not so sure about the rest.

If a large number of institutions cannot or will not pay the stipend, will the entire conference be held back or would the schools that will willingly pay the stipend defect from the MAC?

Discuss.

You're numbers are a bit off.... But putting that aside every MAC school voted for the stipend last time around. Go ask Marshall since they voted against it.

While it has been mentioned that every program in the MAC voted for a stipend, I have a hard time believing that every team would actually be comfortable with it if it actually became reality. The thought that the extra money generated by playoff will be used to offset the cost seems like a losing proposition as you aren't really gaining anything relative to other leagues / programs that will be banking that extra cash or reinvesting it in the growth of their programs. Essentially you are falling further off the pace in that scenario. I also question whether those programs that have historically had minimal fan support in the revenue sports and support large numbers of non-revenue sports can handle the increased costs across so many sports as it seems that if stipends become a reality it will be for all sports and not just select sports. Again funneling the extra money generated from the playoff just to basically break even on the added cost from the stipends seems like something that should be strongly looked at by each school before committing to such a structure.

Not necessarily MAC specific but it would not surprise me to see further shuffling within the G5 ranks if these changes become reality as it will impact every program differently and the economics just may not work for some programs. Perhaps there is further consolidation as a result which may be the intent here as the P5 are trying to draw a line at defining what truly defines a D1 program.

It only make sense for revenue sports and off-setting title IX sports. Don't think we'll have a vote since we are FB only and surely will include BB.

Its been written many times that our "share" of the playoff money would cover the stipend costs....

I don't agree agree with stipends and I'm proud of my university for agreeing. Players don't need stipends no matter what they say. I read an article where a player from UAB said he couldn't afford shoes because his parents only made $50,000 a year. That statement Is absurd. I come from a family where neither of my parents went to college and make far less than $50,000. My sister graduated from MU four years ago and now I'm enrolled. If us regular students can make it through, so can student-athletes. I don't have full scholarships to help me through. Why should they get money for everyday things when I don't even have enough scholarships to pay my full tuition. Forget scholarships that will pay room and board and for books.

(01-19-2014 04:03 PM)Surbadger Wrote:   I don't agree agree with stipends and I'm proud of my university for agreeing. Players don't need stipends no matter what they say. I read an article where a player from UAB said he couldn't afford shoes because his parents only made $50,000 a year. That statement Is absurd. I come from a family where neither of my parents went to college and make far less than $50,000.

+1

Next time I turn on the tv and don't see $$$$$ of tattoos on the kids I may think differently. Somehow these poor and under-privileged are finding ways to get their ink work done, keep up with the latest fashions whether it be clothes and/or jewelry, maintain vehicles (+ insurance and gas) and afford cellphone plans.

(01-19-2014 05:20 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(01-19-2014 04:03 PM)Surbadger Wrote:   I don't agree agree with stipends and I'm proud of my university for agreeing. Players don't need stipends no matter what they say. I read an article where a player from UAB said he couldn't afford shoes because his parents only made $50,000 a year. That statement Is absurd. I come from a family where neither of my parents went to college and make far less than $50,000.

+1

Next time I turn on the tv and don't see $$$$$ of tattoos on the kids I may think differently. Somehow these poor and under-privileged are finding ways to get their ink work done, keep up with the latest fashions whether it be clothes ad/or jewelry, maintain vehicles (+ insurance and gas) and afford cellphone plans,

Yep. They say they have no money, can barely afford food. Yet, it seems like a majority have tattoos, and I bet a lost have a big collection of Jordans & flat bill hats.

And why do they need the extra money anyway? From everything I read, they're too busy with having to spend all of their time either practicing, working out, reviewing film, or studying. So much so that they don't have any free time for a part-time job. So if they have no free time, they don't need to worry about not having any additional money.

Just going to chime in on what I know and my opinion.

First, I have always wondered about the tattoos, because as most people know those are expensive. Some of my friends have speculated that they are done in garages and other places and are significantly cheaper. I honestly have no clue, but I am curious.

As for the stipend, I believe it is supposed to cover the cost of living for your area, so all places could be different. Although, many college towns are relatively similar outside of the colleges located in major cities.

For example, I was friends with numerous NIU football players and had classes with others and this is what I've gathered for NIU specifically.

NIU Scholarship:
-Paid for tuition at approximately 12k a year
-Books, don't know the cost, but all the athletes do is go to the bookstore and pick up their books and return them at the end of the semester (Probably 2k/year knowing how they are overpriced)
-$500 Huskie bucks a semester. These are dollars on your student ID, good for any dining hall and many eateries in DeKalb and Sycamore accept them. (If you live in the dorms, you receive the most expensive meal plan as well. If you live in an apartment, you get the $500)
-Dorm paid for. The athletes have the best dorms on campus. These cost just over 6k a semester. For those that don't live in the dorms, they receive around $1,000/month. That is to go to rent, utilities, groceries, etc. I believe many are able to pocket quite a few dollars monthly.

That's what I know, I could be missing other items. Now three of my buddies on the team, came from pretty well to do families and others might not have known that, so it looked like they were making bank off NIU, which wasn't the case. Another friend had quite a rough upbringing and basically tried to save every dollar he could for life after football. (Although he is going to work for a Big 4 accounting firm, he should be okay)

HuskieJWN -
I've heard the same thing from UT student athletes when talking about money for dorms. If you live off campus, you get about $1k/month for living expenses. And off campus housing around UT can be anywhere from $250-700/month. So they can definitely end up pocketing some of that money. Plus they get the meal plans, so they don't have to worry about meals (they can go to dining halls, and they get Rocket Dollars, which sounds similar to Huskie bucks).

Two reasons this will never happen: 1) If you try to exclude all non revenue sports, the lawsuits would start flying all over the place. Try leaving out women's soccer and see what happens. 2) look a little closer look at your $26,000,000 budget and extract out how much university general fund money accounts for in this budget....Most of it !!!

This a money game only the big boys play in. OSU and UofM have budgets over $110,000,000. They can afford a stipend for Women's field hockey. We cannot.

Assuming that all sports are fully funded, Akron offers 224.3 full-time scholarships. If the stipend is at $4k per scholarship, the additional cost would only be $897,200.

That shouldn't be a deal-breaker for any university with an athletics budget above $20 million, especially when the alternative is being left out of the new division and possibly losing TV rights, playoff/bowl payouts, and maybe even the basketball tournament money if it's a complete split.

(01-21-2014 12:27 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Assuming that all sports are fully funded, Akron offers 224.3 full-time scholarships. If the stipend is at $4k per scholarship, the additional cost would only be $897,200.

That shouldn't be a deal-breaker for any university with an athletics budget above $20 million, especially when the alternative is being left out of the new division and possibly losing TV rights, playoff/bowl payouts, and maybe even the basketball tournament money if it's a complete split.

This....

I'm not a fan of stipends but a 3% bump in budget will not make any FBS schools back out. You will see some non revenue sports get cut to cover those costs.

The crowd has spoken. Actually, shouted. Football is the engine, the driver, the body and the design of university athletics.

So while I have just donated money to MIGS in recent support of saving Temple Men's Gymnastics I am resigned to the reality that stipends are another nail in the coffin for non-revenue Olympic sports.

From the link: In 1969, there were 230 men's collegiate gymnastics teams in the United States. Today, there are 20 NCAA teams and approximately 15 college club teams.

(01-21-2014 12:40 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  This....

I'm not a fan of stipends but a 3% bump in budget will not make any FBS schools back out. You will see some non revenue sports get cut to cover those costs.

I doubt that any sports get cut, unless it's from a G5 university that is currently funding 25+ sports.

Stipends based on need is acceptable. A poster mentioned some of his friends came from well to do families they do NOT need the money.

Its the ole BB recruiting philosophy, the guys that need get. Recruiting young men across the country to play and they do not work and come from nothing and you can't give them something? Thats crazy. Teams travel Hawaii, NYC, etc..etc.. and you can't give him a sport coat and shoes or money for the weekend? Crazy. NOw I am NOT a believer in paying 50K,100K or whatever the number is today to get a kid on campus, (See Cam Newton/Auburn/Miss St) but reasonable $$$ and or items are fine.