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EKU making the right moves - ARSTATEFAN1986 - 04-22-2014 11:30 AM
By WESLEY ROBINSON
wesley_robinson28@mymail.eku.edu
Eastern’s Board of Regents didn’t make any decisions, but it laid the foundation for the university’s future Tuesday, including the possibility of jumping into big time football.
The Board met with Eastern’s administration to discuss university business but did not make any decisions during its retreat in Frankfort. One of major points of discussion the benefits of moving from Football Championship Subdivision Football to Football Bowl Subdivision.
Making the move to FBS football is the best and fastest chance to take the university to the next level in 10 years, said Mark Sandy, athletic director and interim vice president for marketing and university relations.
“It defines in many ways how you are and where you’re going,” Sandy said of football and university athletics.
Sandy compared Eastern to Western Kentucky University before it moved to FBS Football. Sandy said Eastern had about the same enrollment as WKU prior to it making the jump from FCS to FBS football, but Western’s numbers took off afterward adding more than 3,000 students over the nine years while Eastern’s enrollment has hardly grown.
President Michael Benson said he recently met with the presidents of schools in the OVC, who insisted the conference was a basketball conference. Benson cited the overall popularity of college football as a reason for the move.
“The most popular spectator sport in America is football,” Benson said. “They stated unequivocally that they are a basketball conference.”
He also said the OVC is considering bringing in a Division II school, North Alabama, into the conference, which also has less stringent academic requirements and possibly does little to enhance the conference’s profile.
Benson said the Sun Belt Conference may potentially be one of the conferences considering taking on Eastern, specifically so that it can have a football playoff by 2015. He said if a move were to occur, it would provide much greater exposure than Eastern would get as a part of the OVC.
Ernie House, vice chair of the Board, said it wasn’t clear when WKU made the jump whether it would increase its profile, but ultimately has proved its worth.
“Has it been successful for their program athletically?” House asked. “But it has been for their success as a whole.”
The Board also discussed the need for non-mandatory student fees to move to FBS football and improve athletics. WKU imposes a student fee of $250 for athletics. The board also pointed to Radford University in Virginia, which imposes an $1,100 student fee for athletics.
Craig Turner, chair of the board, said the university must have an answer ready should a conference invite Eastern. He said the move is an opportunity for the university to raise its profile.
“It’s like our Good Morning America piece—we can’t pay for that kind of advertising,” Turner said.
Turner said no decisions have been made on the matter adding that the board wanted to find out more information about the potential move and other major decisions at the retreat.
In other business at the retreat, the board also reviewed plans for capital projects and Master Plan improvements including a new Student Center, Model Lab and changes where the Combs residence hall is currently.
Sarah Carpenter, Student Government Association President and student regent, said SGA is working on plans to revamp the current student center exploring a non-mandatory student fee for Richmond campus students only.
The project would cost $25 million and would take the student center completely out of service during renovations. If students go for a fee, the building would be finished by 2018. Carpenter said a student fee isn’t popular, but the new student center would incorporate more of what students want and leave a lasting impact on campus.
Benson also said the university is looking at completing the Model Lab and College of Education project in two phases to help alleviate initial cost burdens. Plans are also in place to revamp the university entrance at Barnes Mill Road. The plans take about 50 parking spots from the Martin Lot, but provides new dorms and green space and makes campus more welcoming, Benson said.
The Board also visited the state’s General Assembly and spoke with Rep. Arnold Simpson, vice chair of the appropriations and revenue committee and Rep. Rita Smart of Madison County.
Simpson said he was pleased to see the Board at the capitol and encouraged them and the university to continue to lobby on Eastern’s behalf.
“My goal is to attempt to create mechanism where we can restore the 2.5 percent cut the governor recommended,” Simpson said. “We can’t lose track of affordability. That will be a deterrent to students. Restoration of the cuts is probably the most important thing that we’re looking at.”
RE: EKU making the right moves - Yosef Himself - 04-22-2014 11:34 AM
I do like to see a President excited about being in the Belt.
RE: EKU making the right moves - Saint3333 - 04-22-2014 11:43 AM
So would teams fly into Louisville to get to EKU?
RE: EKU making the right moves - boroeagle2 - 04-22-2014 11:45 AM
Sounds intriguing.
"Craig Turner, chair of the board, said the university must have an answer ready should a conference invite Eastern. He said the move is an opportunity for the university to raise its profile."
The plot thickens.
RE: EKU making the right moves - EKUSteve - 04-22-2014 11:46 AM
(04-22-2014 11:43 AM)Saint3333 Wrote: So would teams fly into Louisville to get to EKU?
Lexington Blue Grass Field.
RE: EKU making the right moves - EKUSteve - 04-22-2014 11:48 AM
Also, the Eastern Progress article above is from February.
RE: EKU making the right moves - GoApps70 - 04-22-2014 11:56 AM
Teams wanting the Sun Belt is always good.
RE: EKU making the right moves - ASUMountaineer - 04-22-2014 12:28 PM
(04-22-2014 11:45 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote: Sounds intriguing.
"Craig Turner, chair of the board, said the university must have an answer ready should a conference invite Eastern. He said the move is an opportunity for the university to raise its profile."
The plot thickens.
It seems as if EKU would forego a "study" to determine if a move to FBS is in its best interest. In fact, it seems EKU's leadership has made that determination. Perhaps EKU has a better chance than I originally thought...
RE: EKU making the right moves - CajunExpress - 04-22-2014 12:34 PM
You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
RE: EKU making the right moves - NCeagle - 04-22-2014 12:42 PM
(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
well compared to Liberty, yes, we would welcome EKU. Now would we prefer an already FBS team? Yeah, of course, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
RE: EKU making the right moves - buryyourduke - 04-22-2014 12:45 PM
Doesn't matter what people here like...
RE: EKU making the right moves - EKUSteve - 04-22-2014 12:50 PM
(04-22-2014 12:28 PM)ASUMountaineer Wrote:(04-22-2014 11:45 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote: Sounds intriguing.
"Craig Turner, chair of the board, said the university must have an answer ready should a conference invite Eastern. He said the move is an opportunity for the university to raise its profile."
The plot thickens.
It seems as if EKU would forego a "study" to determine if a move to FBS is in its best interest. In fact, it seems EKU's leadership has made that determination. Perhaps EKU has a better chance than I originally thought...
RE: EKU making the right moves - GoApps70 - 04-22-2014 12:51 PM
(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.When we are told that the Sun Belt is determined to go to 12 speculation begins. If you guys can get SoMiss to go ahead and join we will be glad to quit speculating.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
RE: EKU making the right moves - Ole Sleepy - 04-22-2014 12:52 PM
(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
Nope. I've already said I didn't want anyone else in that wasn't at our levels. Yeah, we may have been FCS, but we weren't just your normal FCS schools. We were the definite exceptions to the rule, whereas EKU is just above average.
The only teams in FCS (support + success) that should have been mentioned in the same breath as App and GS were Montana and now NDSU.
RE: EKU making the right moves - CajunExpress - 04-22-2014 12:53 PM
(04-22-2014 12:42 PM)NCeagle Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
well compared to Liberty, yes, we would welcome EKU. Now would we prefer an already FBS team? Yeah, of course, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
We are talking hopes and desires here. We do not need to weaken the conference in football, baseball, softball, basketball, and all the rest. We are improved by doing nothing and regress with any current moves available.
You do get that don't you?
RE: EKU making the right moves - NCeagle - 04-22-2014 12:56 PM
(04-22-2014 12:53 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:42 PM)NCeagle Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
well compared to Liberty, yes, we would welcome EKU. Now would we prefer an already FBS team? Yeah, of course, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
We are talking hopes and desires here. We do not need to weaken the conference in football, baseball, softball, basketball, and all the rest. We are improved by doing nothing and regress with any current moves available.
You do get that don't you?
Is anybody on this forum actually making a contribution towards the decision of who gets in? This topic was geared toward EKU, and what they are doing to get an invite. All we are doing is stating our opinion on who is being rumored to get an invite.
You do get that don't you?
RE: EKU making the right moves - CAJUNNATION - 04-22-2014 01:05 PM
I say go for it.
1) It keeps Louisiana in the West.
2) It gives App a travel partner.
3) It gives us a championship game in football.
4) They bring another quality basketball program to the SBC.
RE: EKU making the right moves - CajunExpress - 04-22-2014 01:10 PM
(04-22-2014 12:56 PM)NCeagle Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:53 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:42 PM)NCeagle Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
well compared to Liberty, yes, we would welcome EKU. Now would we prefer an already FBS team? Yeah, of course, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
We are talking hopes and desires here. We do not need to weaken the conference in football, baseball, softball, basketball, and all the rest. We are improved by doing nothing and regress with any current moves available.
You do get that don't you?
Is anybody on this forum actually making a contribution towards the decision of who gets in? This topic was geared toward EKU, and what they are doing to get an invite. All we are doing is stating our opinion on who is being rumored to get an invite.
You do get that don't you?
Oh, no doubt I get the part about wants and desires. There is still time to avoid the obvious mistake Benson is about to make. He still has visions of the WAC implosion, and needs income and free golf trips for a few more years. The SBC is not nearly in the position of the WAC.
RE: EKU making the right moves - NCeagle - 04-22-2014 01:11 PM
(04-22-2014 01:10 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:56 PM)NCeagle Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:53 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:42 PM)NCeagle Wrote:(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
well compared to Liberty, yes, we would welcome EKU. Now would we prefer an already FBS team? Yeah, of course, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
We are talking hopes and desires here. We do not need to weaken the conference in football, baseball, softball, basketball, and all the rest. We are improved by doing nothing and regress with any current moves available.
You do get that don't you?
Is anybody on this forum actually making a contribution towards the decision of who gets in? This topic was geared toward EKU, and what they are doing to get an invite. All we are doing is stating our opinion on who is being rumored to get an invite.
You do get that don't you?
Oh, no doubt I get the part about wants and desires. There is still time to avoid the obvious mistake Benson is about to make. He still has visions of the WAC implosion, and needs income and free golf trips for a few more years. The SBC is not nearly in the position of the WAC.
Trust me, I'm pretty sure, if we could pick anyone, EKU would not be in the top 5, maybe not even the top 10. But I don't think the Sun Belt is in the position to be extremely picky at this point.
RE: EKU making the right moves - JTApps1 - 04-22-2014 01:12 PM
(04-22-2014 12:34 PM)CajunExpress Wrote: You guys amaze me daily. Especially App State, Troy, and Georgia Southern. You fought like hell to get out of FCS, only to want all your FCS brethren to join you. Just a wonderful Kum Ba Yeah moment.
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/kumbayah.html.
Reminds me of some old UL fans who long for the days playing McNeese, Lamar. Oh, man this is so sad.
We would all love to have an established FBS team join, but there doesn't seem to be any available (other than UMass who isn't really established). If we have to add then teams like this are our only option. Let's not forget that nearly every team in the Belt (and many who have left) were once I-AA/FCS. There are still a small number of FCS programs worthy of moving up.
Now if the CCG Proposal is passed I'd be all for dropping Idaho and NMSU to stay at 10.