(12-29-2014 09:00 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: Dear Friends,
.....But what happens if Western falls flat next year with a losing record? If they finish 5-7 or worse, what then? Some here, are sounding like the people from Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh is the miracle man that will turn U-M into a national champion. Maybe.
One good season by a team like Western does not mean anything yet. Let's see how this all plays out.
I understand your points, Ken, but what some schools are doing is trying to build self-sustaining programs with infrastructure, continuity of coaching, etc. etc.
There are programs in Michigan, e.g., UofM and MSU, which have invested heavily in building their football and basketball programs so that they are not 'hit or miss.'
MAC teams, historically, were 'hit and miss' but that is changing as some schools are investing very heavily in infrastructure so that even if a successful HC leaves that the program is well positioned to hire another desirable HC.
Also, remember, if a MAC football program has a top reputation and they go on the road to play a top school, I'll bet they can get say 250K+ extra because their name is Toledo and not Eastern Michigan.
They draw better at home, get better road game guarantees, more booster bucks, etc. etc.
Using some MADE UP numbers: Say Toledo plays LSU. Maybe they get 250K more than we will; maybe their home games yield 750K more in ticket and parking than ours; maybe their boosters donate 500K more than ours.
All of a sudden one school (A) might be 1.5M ahead of the other school (B).