Is it UT's intention to get its basketball program to "the next level?" I was thinking that if it is their intention, we'll need to pay our coach at the same scale as other schools at "the next level." If our coaches get us there in the next few years, we'll have to pay them more to keep them or if they get that million dollar offer, we'll have to replace them with someone who expects a contract comparable to schools at "the next level." I don't expect us to pay the million dollars, but I would hate to lose a coach to a CAA or Horizon team. So, IMO we need to prepare, one way or the other, to pay our coach much more in four years. Think long-term guys - get us set up.
Get us to the NCAA....then we'll talk about the big $$$.
If Cross is very successful he'll go to a big major conference school.
UT will not have enough money to keep because it's the MAC($300,00+ tops maybe).The Valley for instance has about 4 or 5 television contracts with 50-60 games televised and CBS doing the Valley BB Tournament.Realistically I hope Coach Cross can bring the program back to where it was during the late 70's-early '80's.With the renovation of Savage and Cross's ability,I believe he can.Right now I'm more concerned with the football team getting back on track and
what the future expections for the FB program are.An upset or two, winning the MAC,and a Bowl win is what the Rockets should achieve this season.It's now been over 3 season since the UT Rockets won the MAC FB Championship in '04 and that's too long.
Well put Boca. The FB program needs to get back on track this season. Otherwise, we may looking at another search .
TampaRocket Wrote:Well put Boca. The FB program needs to get back on track this season. Otherwise, we may looking at another search .
I agree.
Toledo football should be competitive if not superlative in the MAC. I expect us to dominate the MAC and at least be competitive out of conference each and every year. Some years may be up, some down, however, the last two have been flat out embarassing. The last two years we can blame on injuries, etc, but the kids on the field were undisciplined and there were a lot of apparent coaching mistakes.
If Amstutz posts another 5-7 season, he's done.
So I guess most fans are content with basketball being an afterthought and as long as we don't suck and our football is good enough to get to a bowl game every once in a while your fine with that because we're too broke to hope for anything better.
RocketJeff Wrote:So I guess most fans are content with basketball being an afterthought and as long as we don't suck and our football is good enough to get to a bowl game every once in a while your fine with that because we're too broke to hope for anything better.
Not for me.As I stated above I want the program to be back where the Rockets were with Miller and Swaney, like a #5 seed and a Sweet 16 team.Butler is a program that's turning over Head Coaches and still making the Big Dance.No reason UT can't do that with the right guys at the helm.Right now Coach Cross is that guy.
I'm with Boca on this. Nothing I'd like to see more than the Rockets putting some serious NCAA tourney money in the bank on a regular basis. Fastest, most cost-effective way to add to the AD budget. Next, a BCS bid. And then another...
The University of Toledo is in perhaps the best position it's ever been in to make these things happen. The big constraint is MONEY. So again, the most cost-effective way to build up cash quickly is through bball. And eventually, hopefully SOON, we'll also see the fball team move into one of those high dollar bowls.
Toledo needs more money and a stronger fan base. Most Toledoans will not put their money into the program. Good potential coming up for more cash to flow in with the Medical School in place. Cochran may be a great spokesperson for that college to generate more interest in the athletics side of things. Great potential - but nothing worse than potential that goes unfulfilled.
MotoRocket Wrote:Toledo needs more money and a stronger fan base. Most Toledoans will not put their money into the program. Good potential coming up for more cash to flow in with the Medical School in place. Cochran may be a great spokesperson for that college to generate more interest in the athletics side of things. Great potential - but nothing worse than potential that goes unfulfilled.
With all the new Rocket Fund members were are about to get with the OSU game. Hopefully a fraction of those also buy season tickets or atleast single game tickets and we get a few overflow crowds at the Glass Bowl as well.
We have a lot of good home match-ups on the way. And the OSU game money on the way as well.
The time to strike is right now.
The team has to be ready to win and capitalize on this golden opportunity.
(then lets' leave the MAC...)
RocketJeff Wrote:Is it UT's intention to get its basketball program to "the next level?"
The new coach must produce a winning product first, under his first 5 year deal, and then if we acheive success the AD has to go in and renegotiate/extend prior to his deal running out to make him (at minimum) think about staying put.
And sellout crowds would certainly provide the revenue to make an improved offer. I might even buy season tickets (and then never go to games so you crybabies can't move down into my empty seat).
RocketJeff Wrote:So I guess most fans are content with basketball being an afterthought and as long as we don't suck and our football is good enough to get to a bowl game every once in a while your fine with that because we're too broke to hope for anything better.
I don't think anyone said that. However, I do think it should be all or nothing with basketball at Toledo. It's truly sad that things have become so expensive anymore that schools cannot field a team for all of the sports--mens and womens--that they would like to. We've dropped several sports already and other schools have been hit even harder than we have.
With basketball I don't see any point in having the teams as an afterthought. Let's either invest in them and make them competitive in the NCAA or drop them--mens and womens--and divert the resources to other sports where we can excel. I don't see the point in continuing the direction we've been going the past several years, and based on the attendance figures it would seem that I'm not the only one. To me the renovation of the facility and hiring of a new coach shows a commitment on the part of the university to compete in NCAA basketball. That's tremendous news.
As far as the "next level," I think we need to first get basketball consistent at the "current level" (well, football too for that matter). Then, if I have to choose between moving basketball or football to the "next level" I'm going with football as I think football will lead all Rocket athletics to the next level.
GO ROCKETS!!
owen Wrote:RocketJeff Wrote:Is it UT's intention to get its basketball program to "the next level?"
The new coach must produce a winning product first, under his first 5 year deal, and then if we acheive success the AD has to go in and renegotiate/extend prior to his deal running out to make him (at minimum) think about staying put.
And sellout crowds would certainly provide the revenue to make an improved offer. I might even buy season tickets (and then never go to games so you crybabies can't move down into my empty seat).
I'd have to move "over" to your empty seat since I'm usually in somebody else's empty seat.
H2Oville Rocket Wrote:owen Wrote:RocketJeff Wrote:Is it UT's intention to get its basketball program to "the next level?"
The new coach must produce a winning product first, under his first 5 year deal, and then if we acheive success the AD has to go in and renegotiate/extend prior to his deal running out to make him (at minimum) think about staying put.
And sellout crowds would certainly provide the revenue to make an improved offer. I might even buy season tickets (and then never go to games so you crybabies can't move down into my empty seat).
I'd have to move "over" to your empty seat since I'm usually in somebody else's empty seat.
I could always give away my tickets to folks who wouldn't otherwise go to games. If I take the plunge to season ticket holder for basketball.
Basketball is the easiest of the major sports to turnaround as you only put 5 players at a time on the court. With us being a MAC school we keep our players atleast 3 years unlike Big Ten and other top conferences. So keeping the programs in the upper level in the MAC should be easier than those leagues. Now, will we be able to compete for NCAA bids, yes. If our coach leaves at that time maybe we will have an assistant ready or we will have an increase in exposure and revenue to attract a top rated coach. Build it and they (fans, media, players) will come.
Everyone seems to be talking about investment, but you don't seem to consider a quality coach as an investment? All I'm suggesting is that if we want quality coaches we should expect to have to pay for them. The way to do that is to continue to spend frugally and set some money aside. If we're as successful as we were 3 decades ago (which I don't consider to be the next level) then there should be significant increases in attendance. That means higher ticket prices and revenues, Rocket Fund contributions, parking revenue, concessions, etc. Don't spend all that money. Set it aside in anticipation of having to increase coaches salaries or at least have the option of being able to offer more to the next coach if Cross decides to move on. What would be so awful about that?
RocketJeff Wrote:So I guess most fans are content with basketball being an afterthought and as long as we don't suck and our football is good enough to get to a bowl game every once in a while your fine with that because we're too broke to hope for anything better.
No, most UT basketball fans expect a NCAA berth every year. Atleast that's my expectations. Look, Cross is a guy that will only be here as long as needed. He has to be looking up at a major conference job within 5 years. I just hope in-between he gets Toledo to the Big Dance and possibly advances them into Sweet 16, Elite 8.
owen Wrote:With all the new Rocket Fund members were are about to get with the OSU game.
For me the OSU game is a no-win situation.
If we loose, everyone will say this game was nothing more than a way for us to prostitute ourselves for a big pay-check.
If we win it'll be perceived a fluke; the Buckeyes will just be torqued-off and they'll never schedule us again outside Columbus (i.e. U Cincinnati).
UT Astrophysics Wrote:owen Wrote:With all the new Rocket Fund members were are about to get with the OSU game.
For me the OSU game is a no-win situation.
If we loose, everyone will say this game was nothing more than a way for us to prostitute ourselves for a big pay-check.
If we win it'll be perceived a fluke; the Buckeyes will just be torqued-off and they'll never schedule us again outside Columbus (i.e. U Cincinnati).
I disagree. The money will be substantial and help the athletics of UT. If we beat OSU and then went on to lose several other games, then it would be a fluke that we won. They'd want a re-match to regain respect. And if we lose to OSU as many expect most will respect that we at least played them. Only if we get slapped around badly will we look like a prostitute, and with the money we'll earn they'll call us an escort rather than a whore. I can live with that.
Quote:If we loose...big pay-check.
If we win...the Buckeyes will just be torqued-off
Sounds like a win--win to me. Either way the bucknuts piss and moan and we still get the big paycheck. Screw 'em.