(04-06-2015 10:21 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 09:02 AM)APPrising Wrote:  As an App State fan, can't knock on anyone for playoff attendance on Thanksgiving Weekend. The two I've been to were barely over 50% capacity. Also, weather in eastern Kentucky during playoff time should be taken into consideration. It has ties to Daniel Boone and began as a Teacher's college, like App State. They have a former football coaching legend in Roy Kidd, we had Kidd Brewer. They are military friendly. They have an area on campus called "horny corner", which sounds like a wonderful place. Dan Patrick of ESPN played basketball there, so having an ESPN connection could be a plus.

I'm in.

Dan Patrick is no longer affiliated with ESPN. After 2 years at EKU, he transferred to the University of Dayton.

Ok, I change my mind then. No to EKU.

President Benson: hired for his expertise in fund raising and his vision
New AD: hired for his fund raising ability, specifically athletics
New Vice President of Development: hired for fund raising and increasing endowment (along with people he has brought on board)
New Alumni Director: to increase alumni support and gifts
Chair of the Board of Regents: very successful businessman who played basketball at EKU (as opposed to the old buddy system, those who were just happy to be there and did not want to make waves, also had people on the BOR in the past who were graduates of other universities in KY/appointed by the Governor for political favors, no ties to EKU, just how vested were they in seeing EKU move forward?)
(That's just the things that are public, would guess there are other things behind the scences related to fund raising, increasing the endowment and finding people who are on board with Dr. Benson's plan)
Search right now for a new mens basketball Coach. That will be a interesting hire.

(04-06-2015 11:35 AM)APPrising Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:21 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 09:02 AM)APPrising Wrote:  As an App State fan, can't knock on anyone for playoff attendance on Thanksgiving Weekend. The two I've been to were barely over 50% capacity. Also, weather in eastern Kentucky during playoff time should be taken into consideration. It has ties to Daniel Boone and began as a Teacher's college, like App State. They have a former football coaching legend in Roy Kidd, we had Kidd Brewer. They are military friendly. They have an area on campus called "horny corner", which sounds like a wonderful place. Dan Patrick of ESPN played basketball there, so having an ESPN connection could be a plus.

I'm in.

Dan Patrick is no longer affiliated with ESPN. After 2 years at EKU, he transferred to the University of Dayton.

Ok, I change my mind then. No to EKU.

Dan is on CBSSports Radio and his show is also on the CBS Sports Network. Took a bit of ribbing from EKU's then basketball coach Jeff Neubauer last year when EKU made the dance and played Kansas. Sent him a new EKU jersey with his number.

This is not meant to knock on EKU in the slightest, but I think the location of the school works against the Colonels rather than working for them. EKU is located in Richmond, KY, which is just 30 minutes from Lexington, home of the Kentucky Wildcats, and about an hour and 15 minutes from Louisville, home of the Cardinals.

If I'm correct, Louisville sold out half of their home games this year, while the other three home games had only 5,000 seats or less empty. You also have Kentucky, whom sold out two of their homes games, with the other four home games having impressive attendance that left only a few thousand seats empty. EKU, on the other hand, did not sell out their 20,000 seat stadium once. This is not a knock on EKU or its fans, but it is a knock on the location it is in. Unfortunately, EKU is always going to be in the shadow of UK and Lousiville, which sucks, because is has the room to grow and become great.

With fans that travel to Lousiville and UK on Saturdays rather than to Roy Kidd Stadium, I don't know how EKU will ever get above their attendance plateau.

(04-06-2015 11:41 AM)rknj8993 Wrote:  This is not meant to knock on EKU in the slightest, but I think the location of the school works against the Colonels rather than working for them. EKU is located in Richmond, KY, which is just 30 minutes from Lexington, home of the Kentucky Wildcats, and about an hour and 15 minutes from Louisville, home of the Cardinals.

If I'm correct, Louisville sold out half of their home games this year, while the other three home games had only 5,000 seats or less empty. You also have Kentucky, whom sold out two of their homes games, with the other four home games having impressive attendance that left only a few thousand seats empty. EKU, on the other hand, did not sell out their 20,000 seat stadium once. This is not a knock on EKU or its fans, but it is a knock on the location it is in. Unfortunately, EKU is always going to be in the shadow of UK and Lousiville, which sucks, because is has the room to grow and become great.

With fans that travel to Lousiville and UK on Saturdays rather than to Roy Kidd Stadium, I don't know how EKU will ever get above their attendance plateau.

Part of this too depends on who we are playing. Not a lot of love for playing SEMO, UT-Martin, etc. We drew much better in games against App St when they came to town. App St, Georgia Southern etc I think would be a more appealing line up. Also, WKU's AD has already stated in an interview reference the EKU/WKU game in 2017 that if EKU moves up WKU will play them every year. We both need the game as we both sell it out.

Exactly what Steve said.
Are we ever going to draw 50,000 plus fans ? Probably not in the foreseeable future.
However, Richmond is a large enough city, if we can get those fans and citizens back from Richmond and grads from the surrounding area, including Northern KY where we have a lot of alumni, I think we will draw as well as most. No we certainly are not Atlanta, but has that helped GaState? We cannot move the university, it's true uk hurts us, Louisville not so much, except maybe with alumni who live in Louisville. But you would be surprised how many of our alumni want this move who live in other areas. But they are not coming to Richmond to see UT-Matin, Austin Peay, SEMO or Eastern Illinois, I don't care how good a record those teams have!
We have some unanswered questions. But didn't most of you when you moved from DII or DIA?

I remain opposed (mildly) to EKU based upon geography. They're really close to another, much more prominent FBS school.


Here are the 'covered' schools (e.g., schools with another, more prominent FBS school in the same area)

1) Eastern Michigan
2) Georgia State
3) Florida International
4) Florida Atlantic
5) MTSU - is helped by a large student body and the fact that its' local school is private.
6) Texas State - is helped by a large student body
7) SMU - is helped by a long history

It can be done. But for me, I'm seeing more EMU than Texas State right now. It remains my biggest concern. And the lack of butts in the seats continues to trouble me.

---

EKU has additional bars to cross IMHO. They need facilities. But they need to consistently prove that they can generate the kind of support it takes to be competitive in FBS. Its not fair, but that's where I'm at.

Just rename EKU to UK west and you might have something...Living in Lexington, EKU is too close to UK to have any kind of success in football even though UK is not good at football.....As past history has shown, EKU Is too close to a state university unless you want to run a EMU program which is fine I guess but not ideal....Especially will not make it when you have to pay players, not enough support in Richmond unless its blue...

(04-06-2015 10:22 AM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:05 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Students who normally get in free also have to pay like $5 for the FCS playoff games. Not significant to most of us, but students who are accustomed to going for free would probably rather spend that $5 on a pitcher or a box of condoms or something.

I thought it was closer to $10 or $15?

The answer to this got left behind. Ticket prices are set by the NCAA and all are the same as far as what the host school has to pay the NCAA. Therefore, a stadium may have suites like us at JMU. We might charge $100 per ticket in the suite, but we only have to report it as a $20 sale. Just the opposite for students. The host school may only charge $5, $10, or $15 but as far as the NCAA it is reported as a $20 ticket.

In many cases, like ours last year where we insanely bid over $200K to host that game against Liberty, it didn't matter what we sold the tickets for, we had to come up with $200k by any means necessary, i.e. ticket sales, gifts, concessions, rob a bank, or pan for gold.

(04-06-2015 01:37 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:22 AM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:05 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Students who normally get in free also have to pay like $5 for the FCS playoff games. Not significant to most of us, but students who are accustomed to going for free would probably rather spend that $5 on a pitcher or a box of condoms or something.

I thought it was closer to $10 or $15?

The answer to this got left behind. Ticket prices are set by the NCAA and all are the same as far as what the host school has to pay the NCAA. Therefore, a stadium may have suites like us at JMU. We might charge $100 per ticket in the suite, but we only have to report it as a $20 sale. Just the opposite for students. The host school may only charge $5, $10, or $15 but as far as the NCAA it is reported as a $20 ticket.

In many cases, like ours last year where we insanely bid over $200K to host that game against Liberty, it didn't matter what we sold the tickets for, we had to come up with $200k by any means necessary, i.e. ticket sales, gifts, concessions, rob a bank, or pan for gold.

This has been debated every year GS made the playoffs and attendance numbers were announced (so a lot). There would be numerous times we would have a packed stadium for a quarter/semi final match and the announced attendance would make you think we only had it 2/3 or 1/2 full. The only theory that made sense was that students tickets (since they were sold at $5 instead of $15 or $20) were only counted as a fraction so one student ticket sold was counted as 1/3 for attendance purposes. This was, in theory, to reduce to the loss taken by the NCAA for their cut. So we have 18K actually in the stadium, but only report 15K. Some would argue that the regular season numbers were inflated and the playoff numbers were actual attendance. But if you simply go on the number of seats and rough estimate on the grass hills it didn't add up. So take those playoff numbers with a grain of salt and then flush it down the toilet cause they don't mean squat.

(04-06-2015 01:37 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:22 AM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:05 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Students who normally get in free also have to pay like $5 for the FCS playoff games. Not significant to most of us, but students who are accustomed to going for free would probably rather spend that $5 on a pitcher or a box of condoms or something.

I thought it was closer to $10 or $15?

The answer to this got left behind. Ticket prices are set by the NCAA and all are the same as far as what the host school has to pay the NCAA. Therefore, a stadium may have suites like us at JMU. We might charge $100 per ticket in the suite, but we only have to report it as a $20 sale. Just the opposite for students. The host school may only charge $5, $10, or $15 but as far as the NCAA it is reported as a $20 ticket.

In many cases, like ours last year where we insanely bid over $200K to host that game against Liberty, it didn't matter what we sold the tickets for, we had to come up with $200k by any means necessary, i.e. ticket sales, gifts, concessions, rob a bank, or pan for gold.

ah! that's it! I knew it was something weird like that. Thanks for clarifying.

I don't spend much time worrying myself with what others in the conference draw for games. That's between them, their CFO, and the NCAA. What I am interested in is whether they have the resources to spend an appropriate amount to be competitive. EKU's president said last year they needed more than a million in operating funds annually. Whether they attain that is my interest.

(04-06-2015 02:24 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I don't spend much time worrying myself with what others in the conference draw for games. That's between them, their CFO, and the NCAA. What I am interested in is whether they have the resources to spend an appropriate amount to be competitive. EKU's president said last year they needed more than a million in operating funds annually. Whether they attain that is my interest.

Agree with this statement. Haven't heard yet where we'll come up with that as it is what it will take to add the football scholarships, add two new women's sports to match for Title IX, and add additional athletic department personnel.

(04-06-2015 02:24 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I don't spend much time worrying myself with what others in the conference draw for games. That's between them, their CFO, and the NCAA. What I am interested in is whether they have the resources to spend an appropriate amount to be competitive. EKU's president said last year they needed more than a million in operating funds annually. Whether they attain that is my interest.

I agree. I also want to see University Leadership. How committed are they to raising the funds necessary to compete at a higher level? That would be for any school wanting to move up to FBS football. EKU leadership supports moving up, now will they find the funding?

(04-06-2015 12:06 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I remain opposed (mildly) to EKU based upon geography. They're really close to another, much more prominent FBS school.


Here are the 'covered' schools (e.g., schools with another, more prominent FBS school in the same area)

1) Eastern Michigan
2) Georgia State
3) Florida International
4) Florida Atlantic
5) MTSU - is helped by a large student body and the fact that its' local school is private.
6) Texas State - is helped by a large student body
7) SMU - is helped by a long history

It can be done. But for me, I'm seeing more EMU than Texas State right now. It remains my biggest concern. And the lack of butts in the seats continues to trouble me.

---


EKU has additional bars to cross IMHO. They need facilities. But they need to consistently prove that they can generate the kind of support it takes to be competitive in FBS. Its not fair, but that's where I'm at.

EKU 2014 fall enrollment: 16,454 students
Freshman enrollment up 7.3 %
Honors Program enrollment up 7.5%
Grad School enrollment up 7.8 %
Transfer Students up 6.5 %

Don't know if these number mean a great deal to you, but it shows we are gaining students not losing them.
And Hey!! We got online programs , these students are from every where...from Virginia to Washington State.........we can count on them coming to our out of town games can't we? That is a "theory" by some on here is it not?

(04-06-2015 05:28 PM)LexColonel Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 12:06 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I remain opposed (mildly) to EKU based upon geography. They're really close to another, much more prominent FBS school.


Here are the 'covered' schools (e.g., schools with another, more prominent FBS school in the same area)

1) Eastern Michigan
2) Georgia State
3) Florida International
4) Florida Atlantic
5) MTSU - is helped by a large student body and the fact that its' local school is private.
6) Texas State - is helped by a large student body
7) SMU - is helped by a long history

It can be done. But for me, I'm seeing more EMU than Texas State right now. It remains my biggest concern. And the lack of butts in the seats continues to trouble me.

---


EKU has additional bars to cross IMHO. They need facilities. But they need to consistently prove that they can generate the kind of support it takes to be competitive in FBS. Its not fair, but that's where I'm at.

EKU 2014 fall enrollment: 16,454 students
Freshman enrollment up 7.3 %
Honors Program enrollment up 7.5%
Grad School enrollment up 7.8 %
Transfer Students up 6.5 %

Don't know if these number mean a great deal to you, but it shows we are gaining students not losing them.
And Hey!! We got online programs , these students are from every where...from Virginia to Washington State.........we can count on them coming to our out of town games can't we? That is a "theory" by some on here is it not?

. . . . Please, Don't go there .. .I really want to believe that EKU is better than that

(04-06-2015 05:28 PM)LexColonel Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 12:06 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I remain opposed (mildly) to EKU based upon geography. They're really close to another, much more prominent FBS school.


Here are the 'covered' schools (e.g., schools with another, more prominent FBS school in the same area)

1) Eastern Michigan
2) Georgia State
3) Florida International
4) Florida Atlantic
5) MTSU - is helped by a large student body and the fact that its' local school is private.
6) Texas State - is helped by a large student body
7) SMU - is helped by a long history

It can be done. But for me, I'm seeing more EMU than Texas State right now. It remains my biggest concern. And the lack of butts in the seats continues to trouble me.

---


EKU has additional bars to cross IMHO. They need facilities. But they need to consistently prove that they can generate the kind of support it takes to be competitive in FBS. Its not fair, but that's where I'm at.

EKU 2014 fall enrollment: 16,454 students
Freshman enrollment up 7.3 %
Honors Program enrollment up 7.5%
Grad School enrollment up 7.8 %
Transfer Students up 6.5 %

Don't know if these number mean a great deal to you, but it shows we are gaining students not losing them.
And Hey!! We got online programs , these students are from every where...from Virginia to Washington State.........we can count on them coming to our out of town games can't we? That is a "theory" by some on here is it not?

Online programs put EKU in some good company in the Sun Belt. I saw this today while surfing. It's a ranking of universities with the Best Online Master's in Education degrees. There are a bunch of Sun Belt members on the list. I think online education will be a major force in the future. I was sold with my daughter's positive experience with online courses while in pursuit of her Master's and PhD degrees. (Her courses were a mixture of traditional "brick and mortar" as well as online courses.)

#1 Arkansas State
#3 Georgia State
#5 New Mexico State
#22 UTA
#37 ULM

Others that may or may not be of interest were:
#8 Jacksonville State
#9 Lamar
#11 Liberty
#12 Stephen F. Austin
#23 UAB
#25 Kennesaw State
#57 North Texas

Link to full list: http://www.teachtomorrow.org/online-mast...education/

(04-06-2015 05:53 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 05:28 PM)LexColonel Wrote:  [quote='Tom in Lazybrook' pid='11958377' dateline='1428339995'

Don't know if these number mean a great deal to you, but it shows we are gaining students not losing them.
And Hey!! We got online programs , these students are from every where...from Virginia to Washington State.........we can count on them coming to our out of town games can't we? That is a "theory" by some on here is it not?

. . . . Please, Don't go there .. .I really want to believe that EKU is better than that

Uh.......that's was a joke

(04-06-2015 07:32 PM)LexColonel Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 05:53 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 05:28 PM)LexColonel Wrote:  [quote='Tom in Lazybrook' pid='11958377' dateline='1428339995'

Don't know if these number mean a great deal to you, but it shows we are gaining students not losing them.
And Hey!! We got online programs , these students are from every where...from Virginia to Washington State.........we can count on them coming to our out of town games can't we? That is a "theory" by some on here is it not?

. . . . Please, Don't go there .. .I really want to believe that EKU is better than that

Uh.......that's was a joke

. . . . that was a joke . . . . FIFY, and yeah, I know. . . . .

(04-06-2015 11:47 AM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 11:41 AM)rknj8993 Wrote:  This is not meant to knock on EKU in the slightest, but I think the location of the school works against the Colonels rather than working for them. EKU is located in Richmond, KY, which is just 30 minutes from Lexington, home of the Kentucky Wildcats, and about an hour and 15 minutes from Louisville, home of the Cardinals.

If I'm correct, Louisville sold out half of their home games this year, while the other three home games had only 5,000 seats or less empty. You also have Kentucky, whom sold out two of their homes games, with the other four home games having impressive attendance that left only a few thousand seats empty. EKU, on the other hand, did not sell out their 20,000 seat stadium once. This is not a knock on EKU or its fans, but it is a knock on the location it is in. Unfortunately, EKU is always going to be in the shadow of UK and Lousiville, which sucks, because is has the room to grow and become great.

With fans that travel to Lousiville and UK on Saturdays rather than to Roy Kidd Stadium, I don't know how EKU will ever get above their attendance plateau.

Part of this too depends on who we are playing. Not a lot of love for playing SEMO, UT-Martin, etc. We drew much better in games against App St when they came to town. App St, Georgia Southern etc I think would be a more appealing line up. Also, WKU's AD has already stated in an interview reference the EKU/WKU game in 2017 that if EKU moves up WKU will play them every year. We both need the game as we both sell it out.

Attended/graduated from EKU in the late 70's/early 80's - back in the heyday w/four 1-AA NC title game appearances in a row and two NC titles. No doubt winning helps, as we filled the stadium nearly every home game, save for the odd playoff game during Thanksgiving week. That said, the city of Richmond used to be a big supporter of EKU, much like Statesboro supports GSU and Boone supports App State. Something was lost when Roy Kidd retired, and the town hasn't been behind the university sports since then.

I think a resurrection of the WKU/EKU rivarly would be one way bring back some much-needed excitement. I also think that when the OVC was a bit more regional (WKU, Morehead State, TTU, Murray, etc.) there was a bit more of a rivarly-type atmosphere with those teams as well. And, as many EKU students as there are that call Louisville home, I don't imagine too many hop in their car and drive home every weekend when the bar scene in Richmond is probably as good a draw as it was back in the day.

I for one would like to see them in the Sun Belt; they already recruit heavily in GA and FL...they might as well find the funds and make the move. It'll be good for the university and the community.