I wasn't sure if this thread was a joke or not, and then I saw the article..... and now I'm still not sure if this whole thing is a joke or not
Chicago State is literally smaller than many high schools, and the article if I'm reading correctly talks about jumping right over Division II to AND FCS right into a cozy FBS slot??? Get the enrollment up a tad and then discuss a realistic Division II starting point with a modest aluminum-bleacher stadium.
I think all states, including and especially Illinois, will in the near future close a few of the smaller/weaker public colleges to better allocate resources as national enrollment wanes, and as 1-2 years of online education prior to hitting a brick and mortar campus becomes more popular. I personally think Chicago State is the ideal poster child for exactly that end-game (ridiculous Chicago/Illinois politics aside) but I also don't blame anyone who likes the school for trying to turn that situation around. I'm guessing football is not part of the answer if one exists...
(01-28-2023 09:25 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ]I wasn't sure if this thread was a joke or not, and then I saw the article..... and now I'm still not sure if this whole thing is a joke or not
Chicago State is literally smaller than many high schools, and the article if I'm reading correctly talks about jumping right over Division II to AND FCS right into a cozy FBS slot??? Get the enrollment up a tad and then discuss a realistic Division II starting point with a modest aluminum-bleacher stadium.
I think all states, including and especially Illinois, will in the near future close a few of the smaller/weaker public colleges to better allocate resources as national enrollment wanes, and as 1-2 years of online education prior to hitting a brick and mortar campus becomes more popular. I personally think Chicago State is the ideal poster child for exactly that end-game (ridiculous Chicago/Illinois politics aside) but I also don't blame anyone who likes the school for trying to turn that situation around. I'm guessing football is not part of the answer if one exists...
They need something to happen at soldier field.
But seriously, bring University of Chicago back to prominence before this joke. That program has the history of the Big Ten, two national titles and a Heisman winner. Plus they have healthy enrollment.
(01-28-2023 09:54 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-28-2023 09:25 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ]I wasn't sure if this thread was a joke or not, and then I saw the article..... and now I'm still not sure if this whole thing is a joke or not
Chicago State is literally smaller than many high schools, and the article if I'm reading correctly talks about jumping right over Division II to AND FCS right into a cozy FBS slot??? Get the enrollment up a tad and then discuss a realistic Division II starting point with a modest aluminum-bleacher stadium.
I think all states, including and especially Illinois, will in the near future close a few of the smaller/weaker public colleges to better allocate resources as national enrollment wanes, and as 1-2 years of online education prior to hitting a brick and mortar campus becomes more popular. I personally think Chicago State is the ideal poster child for exactly that end-game (ridiculous Chicago/Illinois politics aside) but I also don't blame anyone who likes the school for trying to turn that situation around. I'm guessing football is not part of the answer if one exists...
They need something to happen at soldier field.
That is something the Chicago Park District can campaign on: "Worried about the Bears building their own stadium in Arlington Heights? We got a solution to fill that void! Chicago State University Cougar Football!
(01-28-2023 10:01 AM)Schaefer Beer Wrote: [ -> ] (01-28-2023 09:54 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-28-2023 09:25 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ]I wasn't sure if this thread was a joke or not, and then I saw the article..... and now I'm still not sure if this whole thing is a joke or not
Chicago State is literally smaller than many high schools, and the article if I'm reading correctly talks about jumping right over Division II to AND FCS right into a cozy FBS slot??? Get the enrollment up a tad and then discuss a realistic Division II starting point with a modest aluminum-bleacher stadium.
I think all states, including and especially Illinois, will in the near future close a few of the smaller/weaker public colleges to better allocate resources as national enrollment wanes, and as 1-2 years of online education prior to hitting a brick and mortar campus becomes more popular. I personally think Chicago State is the ideal poster child for exactly that end-game (ridiculous Chicago/Illinois politics aside) but I also don't blame anyone who likes the school for trying to turn that situation around. I'm guessing football is not part of the answer if one exists...
They need something to happen at soldier field.
That is something the Chicago Park District can campaign on: "Worried about the Bears building their own stadium in Arlington Heights? We got a solution to fill that void! Chicago State University Cougar Football!
If Chicago State can play on Saturdays and put other directional Illinois schools on their schedule including SIU, WIU, ISU, etc they could probably pull in the casual college football fans and many alums from those other schools that live in Chicago.
(01-28-2023 12:24 AM)NIU75 Wrote: [ -> ]What a waste of time. I wonder who is getting paid off? The only reason that school is still open is The Chicago Way of who sent you.
I’m honestly amazed they are still open.
I bet their finances are…entertaining.
(01-28-2023 09:25 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ]I wasn't sure if this thread was a joke or not, and then I saw the article..... and now I'm still not sure if this whole thing is a joke or not
Chicago State is literally smaller than many high schools, and the article if I'm reading correctly talks about jumping right over Division II to AND FCS right into a cozy FBS slot??? Get the enrollment up a tad and then discuss a realistic Division II starting point with a modest aluminum-bleacher stadium.
I think all states, including and especially Illinois, will in the near future close a few of the smaller/weaker public colleges to better allocate resources as national enrollment wanes, and as 1-2 years of online education prior to hitting a brick and mortar campus becomes more popular. I personally think Chicago State is the ideal poster child for exactly that end-game (ridiculous Chicago/Illinois politics aside) but I also don't blame anyone who likes the school for trying to turn that situation around. I'm guessing football is not part of the answer if one exists...
Per NCAA rules if your sports are div 1 then your football team must be FCS or FBS.
They will play at Gately until the Bears move then Soldier Field!
How will they find money?
(01-30-2023 01:29 PM)Klake1987 Wrote: [ -> ]How will they find money?
Chicago has unlimited money.
I always thought it was funny to read that Lori was allocation $100M+ to Chicago State. The thinking, wait, that place is smaller than my high school.
The mayor probably wants chicago state to play at soldier field once the bears leave. Lol
(01-30-2023 03:47 PM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote: [ -> ]The mayor probably wants chicago state to play at soldier field once the bears leave. Lol
I definitely think that's the plan.
But creating a D1 program isn't easy. Nor is creating a successful one or one with a strong fanbase as well.
(01-30-2023 12:44 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ]They will play at Gately until the Bears move then Soldier Field!
Are you sure? CSU's soccer team plays at SeatGeek in Bridgeview. Can you imagine a Division I program wanting to play there?
(01-30-2023 04:47 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 03:47 PM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote: [ -> ]The mayor probably wants chicago state to play at soldier field once the bears leave. Lol
I definitely think that's the plan.
But creating a D1 program isn't easy. Nor is creating a successful one or one with a strong fanbase as well.
I just can't see a realistic way for a 2500 student college to field an FCS-level team, or fanbase. If I still lived in Chicago/Illinois I would insist this all be done without a nickel of tax $, as it seems like a very illogical Hail Mary for a floundering institution.
Also guessing the cost of labor and turning the lights on would outweigh ticket/food revenue from Chicago State attendance if Soldier Field was ever utilized.
(01-30-2023 05:46 PM)uiniu57 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 12:44 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ]They will play at Gately until the Bears move then Soldier Field!
Are you sure? CSU's soccer team plays at SeatGeek in Bridgeview. Can you imagine a Division I program wanting to play there?
That is because Fire left there
(01-31-2023 10:38 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 04:47 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 03:47 PM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote: [ -> ]The mayor probably wants chicago state to play at soldier field once the bears leave. Lol
I definitely think that's the plan.
But creating a D1 program isn't easy. Nor is creating a successful one or one with a strong fanbase as well.
I just can't see a realistic way for a 2500 student college to field an FCS-level team, or fanbase. If I still lived in Chicago/Illinois I would insist this all be done without a nickel of tax $, as it seems like a very illogical Hail Mary for a floundering institution.
Also guessing the cost of labor and turning the lights on would outweigh ticket/food revenue from Chicago State attendance if Soldier Field was ever utilized.
It's a public university. How would you expect them to do anything without tax money?
(01-30-2023 05:46 PM)uiniu57 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 12:44 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ]They will play at Gately until the Bears move then Soldier Field!
Are you sure? CSU's soccer team plays at SeatGeek in Bridgeview. Can you imagine a Division I program wanting to play there?
One already did in the past.
The Mt. Carmel Caravan!
(01-31-2023 01:14 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 05:46 PM)uiniu57 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 12:44 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ]They will play at Gately until the Bears move then Soldier Field!
Are you sure? CSU's soccer team plays at SeatGeek in Bridgeview. Can you imagine a Division I program wanting to play there?
One already did in the past.
The Mt. Carmel Caravan!
I'm all for moving Huskie football to Seat Geek. No one is driving out to DeKalb, and the students are exactly packing the east side. Bring the game to where people are.
(01-31-2023 02:13 PM)thehappyhuskie Wrote: [ -> ] (01-31-2023 01:14 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 05:46 PM)uiniu57 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 12:44 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ]They will play at Gately until the Bears move then Soldier Field!
Are you sure? CSU's soccer team plays at SeatGeek in Bridgeview. Can you imagine a Division I program wanting to play there?
One already did in the past.
The Mt. Carmel Caravan!
I'm all for moving Huskie football to Seat Geek. No one is driving out to DeKalb, and the students are exactly packing the east side. Bring the game to where people are.
Yeah, moving games 64 miles from campus is just a great idea.
(01-31-2023 12:00 PM)Big Red Wrote: [ -> ] (01-31-2023 10:38 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 04:47 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 03:47 PM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote: [ -> ]The mayor probably wants chicago state to play at soldier field once the bears leave. Lol
I definitely think that's the plan.
But creating a D1 program isn't easy. Nor is creating a successful one or one with a strong fanbase as well.
I just can't see a realistic way for a 2500 student college to field an FCS-level team, or fanbase. If I still lived in Chicago/Illinois I would insist this all be done without a nickel of tax $, as it seems like a very illogical Hail Mary for a floundering institution.
Also guessing the cost of labor and turning the lights on would outweigh ticket/food revenue from Chicago State attendance if Soldier Field was ever utilized.
It's a public university. How would you expect them to do anything without tax money?
Uhhhh.....private, alumni, corporate $? I don't think they're a great candidate for launching an FCS-level football program at this juncture, so just would hate to see tax dollars going towards that currently wasteful end (facility construction) for this particular school. Maybe delay this concept until they get back up over 7-10k students again, if ever.
(01-31-2023 10:38 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 04:47 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2023 03:47 PM)mustangfootball2004 Wrote: [ -> ]The mayor probably wants chicago state to play at soldier field once the bears leave. Lol
I definitely think that's the plan.
But creating a D1 program isn't easy. Nor is creating a successful one or one with a strong fanbase as well.
I just can't see a realistic way for a 2500 student college to field an FCS-level team, or fanbase. If I still lived in Chicago/Illinois I would insist this all be done without a nickel of tax $, as it seems like a very illogical Hail Mary for a floundering institution.
Also guessing the cost of labor and turning the lights on would outweigh ticket/food revenue from Chicago State attendance if Soldier Field was ever utilized.
They'll need to continue to leverage their HBCU adjacent status as a Minority Serving Institution while not being an HBCU. They attempted to join the MEAC recently and deciding factor for the no vote was likely due to no football given that the MEAC recently lost NCa&t and Hampton. An HBCU experience for football in Chicago could be seen as attractive to both the MEAC and SWAC. The Chicago Classic games do well. The SWAC has three football schools with similar enrollment to Chicago State in Arkansas Pine Bluff, Alcorn St, and Miss Valley State.