Week after week after week I see the same things.

We go on the road, lose a close game and chalk it up to their officials in their place and grind of playing on the road.

We stay at home we play a purportedly inferior opponent and lose and mark it down as the dangers of playing someone we overlooked.

We talk about how the SEC and Big 10 teams get about as much or more in conference revenue than we will spend on our entire athletic department.

We talk about the lack of bowls, the lack of respect, the lack of TV.

What is the fix?

The key to problem solving is identify the hurdles and then figure out a way to go over, under, through or around them.

What are we doing to go over, under, around or through the hurdles that stand between us and a national level of success?

Money... which comes from fans... which come from a tradition of winning.... which comes from recruiting good players... which comes from having nice stuff (facilities).... which comes from money.

Unfortunately that is the $64,000 question my friend. The SBC (along with the MAC and maybe the MWAC) is mired in being the whipping boys to those bigger conference schools. We have a huge huddle to clear that we might not ever cross. It is the price we pay for being 1-A (or FCS). Will we ever be on the level of the SEC or Big 10? I doubt it because the playing field isn't level. The bigger conferences don't want us up there with them - we might eventually beat them. But they need us to help their overall OCC records. It is a lose-lose at times.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg ?

So far, this is looking like a "down" year for SBC Men's Hoops. It's still early, however.

(11-18-2009 11:12 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Week after week after week I see the same things.

We go on the road, lose a close game and chalk it up to their officials in their place and grind of playing on the road.

We stay at home we play a purportedly inferior opponent and lose and mark it down as the dangers of playing someone we overlooked.

We talk about how the SEC and Big 10 teams get about as much or more in conference revenue than we will spend on our entire athletic department.

We talk about the lack of bowls, the lack of respect, the lack of TV.

What is the fix?

The key to problem solving is identify the hurdles and then figure out a way to go over, under, through or around them.

What are we doing to go over, under, around or through the hurdles that stand between us and a national level of success?

Are you talking about Football? If so, I think we need to continue to stay the course. Look where we were just a few short years ago. We had no Bowl game, then the conference signed the NO Bowl and we thought Wow, we've made it. A few years later we are now projected to have 3 Bowl teams by Rivals.

The 5 non-AQ's also need to continue to push for greater fairness in scheduling and the voting process. We've already seen how Boise can't get a game with anyone and how the TX coach admitted to a voting bias. These are examples of exclusivity among the AQ's who are trying desperatly to protect the fiefdom.

I think that ESPN (aside from some of their analyst, Heirbstreet sp?, comes to mind) is doing a better job at provding the non-AQ's with access to nationally televised games and fairer coverage. But more needs to be done to change the cultural bias which exists in the national media. Another good start will be if the projected BCS games include Boise and TCU and they match-up well. I know ratings may suffer to some degree but it boils down to access for all participants; maybe the low ratings are a function of the media's bias toward these programs and lack of respect/coverage.

In the end, we have no choice but to stay the course and fight for more equal treatment. I know I probably sound like a liberal left-winger....but I guess politics make strange bedfellows.

Yeah, it's a bunch of BS, and I do not know the answer except to get rid of the BCS altogether. It's the rich get richer.

A couple of years ago when USF was at #2, they were talking what a horrible boring national championship to have USF in the big game...

What a crock of horse $#!+... It's all about ratings for TV, so if it is not (texas, usc, ohio state, florida, and maybe a couple others in the championship) it will be a "horrible game".

I am soo sick of seeing the same teams, I would love to see TCU or Boise have a shot, hell I would rather see anyone have a shot other than the normal teams that get in. And even if there were playoffs, yeah it would be a LONG-SHOT for an SBC team to make it through all the games to the championship, but there is always a chance and a better chance for some of these better non-AQ teams like boise and TCU, they would at least have a shot if they pull a few upsets. It would also level out recruiting a bit too, some better players can choose lesser known schools for more playing time, because everyone has a shot at the championship with a playoff format.

It's all about money to the big BCS teams, ratings for the TV, when will it ever change... rich get richer!

I don't think we stay the course. We have improved but I submit that the improvements we've seen have been more a function of having a stable conference than any affirmitive actions on the part of the members.

Who in the Sun Belt would terminate a coach who won 59% of his games, had one losing season in six years, and was .500 his last year? Bowling Green did that last year.

(11-18-2009 12:12 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I don't think we stay the course. We have improved but I submit that the improvements we've seen have been more a function of having a stable conference than any affirmitive actions on the part of the members.

Who in the Sun Belt would terminate a coach who won 59% of his games, had one losing season in six years, and was .500 his last year? Bowling Green did that last year.

I thought the thrust of your statement above was "We talk about the lack of bowls, the lack of respect, the lack of TV...", so I tried to adress this by my comments above. We have 3 bowls possible this year, we are more respected (if only marginally) and we're seeing more television.

So yes, as you say and prove my point, our success has come from having a stable conference (staying the course) not from anything any one member has done (except maybe Troy and their 'over-recruiting' ).

BGSU fired their coach last year? So? are you suggesting that Troy or MTSU fire theirs to reach the next level? Again, incremental improvement and having our sights set on the MAC to get that extra pay-out should be the focus of this conference now.

What has BGSU done this year? I haven't a clue, other than beating Troy.

(11-18-2009 12:47 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  What has BGSU done this year? I haven't a clue, other than beating Troy.

Last I checked I think they were at .500, 5-5, and a decent shot to finish out 7-5 based on their last two opponents. They lost the next 4 after beating Troy, but they were to #25 at the time Missouri (6-4), and Boise State (10-0). A pair of 7 point losses against Marshall (5-5) and Ohio (7-3), and another L to Central Michigan down the line, who is 8-2 and 6-0 in the MAC.

They have also beat Kent State (5-5), Ball State (1-9), Buffalo (3-7), and Miami OH (1-10).

Basically, won what they were supposed to, and lost what they were supposed to, and split a couple of toss-ups.

I think for the Florida Schools is win baby win.

S. Florida is a Band Wagon town, always has been always will be.

FAU is outdrawing FIU probably because we had success in the last 2 years in regards to the bowl games. Otherwise we might mirror each other in attendance.

I dont know arstfan. I keep thinking we need 1 team to "breakthru" and be that BCS buster, but that sure as hell hasnt helped MWC, WAC and CUSA other then they get more cash when a team is in a BCS bowl

I think a playoff is needed where EVERY Confrence champion gets a shot and then you fill in the remaining slots with non-champion ranked teams. I dont know the logistics behind it but that is the only "FAIR" system IMHO.

You all know the NCAA tourney far better then I do, but isnt it great when a "cinderalla" teams wins and advances against all the odds. You have the whole country pulling for them which grows your fan base and would garner recruits.

Like anything in life, the answer is about matching the level of ambition/expectations with the level of resources required to achieve it.

If the goal is to be a national power in football, you better have hundreds of millions to spend on facilities, coaches, recruiting etc. If you don't have that money or can't raise it, your chances of getting there are very slim, indeed. Most SBC schools can't spend like that, so disappointment comes pretty easily ecah year, when teams can't sustain that level of play.

If the goal is to put out a reasonable football team that draws some fans on campus on Saturdays, you can do that for less money, but don't expect to be elite. If SBC fans can live with that, than they won't be disappointed when they get blown out by the big powers.

Or, if you want to be great at something and can't afford for that to be big time football, you can do what Denver did in in 1960 - they got out of the big time football trap and put the money into ice hockey, where we are a seven-time national champion since that period. Sure our homecoming is a hockey game and not a football game, but with the speed, violence and fun of big time hockey on campus, it's a great spectator sport that brings the campus together. Do we miss football? Sometimes, sure. But I'd rather watch a top 5 hockey team each weekend with a real chance to win NCAA D-I hardware that a mediocre D-I football program that can beat other similar programs but will be usually taken to the woodshed by teams from power conferences.

I guess it comes down to philosophy, and if I can't afford to do something really well, I'd rather do something else.

(11-18-2009 11:23 AM)WKULooseCannon90 Wrote:  Unfortunately that is the $64,000 question my friend. The SBC (along with the MAC and maybe the MWAC) is mired in being the whipping boys to those bigger conference schools. We have a huge huddle to clear that we might not ever cross. It is the price we pay for being 1-A (or FCS). Will we ever be on the level of the SEC or Big 10? I doubt it because the playing field isn't level. The bigger conferences don't want us up there with them - we might eventually beat them. But they need us to help their overall OCC records. It is a lose-lose at times.

I know that several SBC schools are getting close to a million or more for a "Bodybag" game.

Perhaps were not asking for ENOUGH money for these games? Why not ask for 2 Million?

How about this converstaion between AD's

SEC AD- "Wed like you to come up here and play our team, we wouild like to offer 900K to you in exchange for that one game-

SBC AD- "We are willing to do that, however the price is 2 million dollars. Youll make that in Parking and concessions even without ticket sales. Conversely we would accept a Home and Home series with your team if you would rather not pay."

SEC AD- "Thats too much, well go to CUSA-MAC and play them."

SBC AD- " Ok, sounds good, by the way we talked about it and have set the price at 2 Milliion between all the Non-AQ's schools so they should be telling you the same thing"

There is an old saying.

You get what you tolerate.

What is being tolerated?

Right now we have in my view 8 schools chasing Troy when we ought to have 9 schools dismissing what Troy has done so far and should be chasing Boise State, TCU, and Utah.

We have 12 schools chasing WKU in basketball when we ought to have 13 schools asking what can they do to be a Memphis or George Mason.

I think if you look at the league, you see the focus. We split into divisions in basketball despite not playing true divisional schedules to avoid having anyone finish 13th. It sounds better to be division champs than to finish third. We go to Hot Springs and come to the conclusion that its fun to go there so instead of leaving the higher standard of being in the top 61.5% of the conference to get there and be part of the fun, we just invite everyone. We had two coaches whine about not getting a bowl game at 6-6 instead of focusing on the fact that if they had just won one of the six they lost, they were guaranteed a bowl berth.

The attitude for years in basketball has been poor us, we are a one bid league, we just want to win the conference tournament, get listed with the other 64 schools, hope we get a few minutes of coverage before we collect our loss and go home. We've seen it can be better but who is demanding that of their coaches?

(11-18-2009 02:19 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  There is an old saying.

You get what you tolerate.

What is being tolerated?

Right now we have in my view 8 schools chasing Troy when we ought to have 9 schools dismissing what Troy has done so far and should be chasing Boise State, TCU, and Utah.

We have 12 schools chasing WKU in basketball when we ought to have 13 schools asking what can they do to be a Memphis or George Mason.

I think if you look at the league, you see the focus. We split into divisions in basketball despite not playing true divisional schedules to avoid having anyone finish 13th. It sounds better to be division champs than to finish third. We go to Hot Springs and come to the conclusion that its fun to go there so instead of leaving the higher standard of being in the top 61.5% of the conference to get there and be part of the fun, we just invite everyone. We had two coaches whine about not getting a bowl game at 6-6 instead of focusing on the fact that if they had just won one of the six they lost, they were guaranteed a bowl berth.

The attitude for years in basketball has been poor us, we are a one bid league, we just want to win the conference tournament, get listed with the other 64 schools, hope we get a few minutes of coverage before we collect our loss and go home. We've seen it can be better but who is demanding that of their coaches?

Id say more the administration then coaches. If you want top flight talent you usually have to pay top notch dollar for it, somethings as T Won said we dont really have all that much of.

Even then its no guarntee, look no further then Tommy West pullin in 900K and led Memphis to muliple 6-6 seasons with bowl appearences and a misserable season this year, with no "support" for his program.

Short of getting ALL of our alumni on board and ponying up what the "BIG" time alumni do, the Money situation is perhaps the biggest hurdle that I can see.

What do you do to raise money?

Do you send people out to make sales calls?
Do you do cold calling?
Do you offer multi-year packages where you can make monthly payments automatically to buy your tickets?

You win.