(08-12-2019 11:33 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(08-01-2019 11:48 PM)33laszlo99 Wrote:  Please, Stu, if you're going to talk about fiscal responsibility, don't use the State of Illinois as your example. I read a while back that they were handing out IOU's to state lottery winners.

The good news is that even Chicago State has some sort of governing body that, hopefully includes some out-of-staters, and will eventually rein-in the admistration. (Am I deluding myself?)

As a lifelong Chicagoan, yes, you are absolutely deluding yourself.

To be sure, I don't think it has anything to do with the State of Illinois specifically. The exact same local political and alumni pressure exists everywhere (see UAB football).

Ultimately, everyone involved is a human being. The number of university presidents and trustees that want to be etched in history as having killed a football program or an entire athletic department is close to zero. When you add in publicity-seeking politicians and passionate alumni, it's simply something that goes far, far, far beyond the financial numbers.

Close to zero but greater than zero. There have been a few niche types willing to pull plugs

The added political issues going with an HBCU complicate the Chicago State situation even more.

If Chicago State were my sports consulting client we would be sitting down and having some really in-depth discussions regarding the merits of Division II and NAIA membership.

If the enrollment hadn't imploded I would be encouraging Division II but given the enrollment situation, NAIA is probably the better option.

It is much easier to deal with NAIA compliance than NCAA, so some savings there.

Have to think that if the Chicagoland Conference is willing to go to 15 with Indiana University Northwest (in Gary) breaking from their private tenor that Chicago State might be able to join.