I didn't take the first jab, I responded to the position of a FIU fan being happy that they can pay players more to gain an advantage. My belief, as reflected in my comment, is that is not a lot to hang your hat on. If a coach can't over sale a couple thousand dollars while recruiting then he's not worth his salary.

As far as props, we have gotten all but one eligible since Doc has been coach. More than that have not played for us, we've had a few leave once they got eligible. If you didn't know the rules, when a kid comes here to prop he is not a member of the football team and not bound to our program. They pay their own way and, like every other college student, are free to go to another school if they choose. They don't sign a binding letter of intent or any form of grant in aid.

The reason we are successful at getting these kids eligible is two-fold, we don't take kids with grade issues, only those with standardized test issues (low ACT or SAT). Marshall also has a very good, nationally renowned actually, H.E.L.P. Center. The acronym is for Higher Education for Learning Problems. It's open to all students at Marshall as well as members of the community and specializes in helping a variety of students that have various issues that prohibit academic performance (ADHD, dyslexia, etc.). The program has been around since 1981 and has been studied and modeled by other universities.

Most of the non-qualifiers that don't graduate are ones that are booted from the team for off the field issues, kids that just can't leave their bad habits behind when they leave home, but that happens at every school whether they take NQs or not.

The problem we are actually having now is that Doc has taken too many props because you have to figure a certain percentage will wash out, but none are. It has put us in a little bit of a scholarship bind and we may have to try and get some of our 2015 recruits to grayshirt.

(08-02-2015 12:55 PM)Fish Wrote:  Does anyone have a list of COA at all schools that have announced so far? Or at least C-USA? I'm curious to see the ranges.

And what's up with these huge ranges some schools are saying? Like USM saying $1400-6000? That's a large difference.

A Houston Chronicle article a few weeks ago gave some of the Texas schools COA. Don't know how accurate it is. UTEP will begin paying all athletes this year.

No figures were available for UNT, Rice or Texas St.

Texas Tech $5,100
TCU $4,700
Texas $4,310
Baylor $3,882
UTEP $3,100
Houston $2,994
Texas A&M $2,706
SMU $2,700
UTSA $2,500


Texas coa

Quote:Speaking of financially strapped, this figures to be one large economic boulder on the back of FIU’s athletic department.

The school, Garcia said, told him: “‘We’re in favor of it, but it’s your deal — go find the money.’ And I’m OK with that.

“I’ve been saving up for the last four years, because I knew this was coming.”

The school just signed a seven-year deal worth (FIU hopes) $9.1 million with Van Wagner Entertainment, which will take over some of the ticket, advertising, suites and media rights sales for FIU athletics. Garcia has been to Brazil a few times — and hosted a contingent from popular Brazilian soccer club Flamengo in July — to get a couple of winter soccer friendlies worth $300,000 per game at FIU Stadium. FIU just struck a new sponsorship deal with Pepsi.

“At the end of the day, it’s going to tax our resources,” Garcia said. “But I strongly believe we’ve got to take care of our student-athletes. And I also believe it’ll be a recruiting advantage.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleg...rylink=cpy

Thanks for sharing, MinerInWisconsin. I found it interesting that the Miami Herald article cited above said FIU will have a higher COA than any SEC school, and double that of Georgia, LSU, and Florida. I figure it can't hurt recruiting.

I hope it does help honestly. A stronger FIU is a stronger C-USA.

(08-13-2015 09:27 AM)MUsince96 Wrote:  I hope it does help honestly. A stronger FIU is a stronger C-USA.

Maybe some of the other C-USA teams in metropolitan areas will have large COAs as well, such as FAU, MTSU, UAB, ODU, Charlotte, etc.

(08-13-2015 09:15 AM)Fish Wrote:  Thanks for sharing, MinerInWisconsin. I found it interesting that the Miami Herald article cited above said FIU will have a higher COA than any SEC school, and double that of Georgia, LSU, and Florida. I figure it can't hurt recruiting.

I think I remember reading on these boards that Tennesee and ECU are maxing out at $6000. You know the herald and its beat writer edit the information for affect. All I read out of that is the cost of living in small college towns is not the same as in large metro areas.

Also, the COA dollar figure at FIU was produced outside the athletic dept.; I think that fact should be highlighted.