Quote:The only reason that WVU is "self-sufficent" is because of the BCS dollars

-- WVU was self sufficient before there was a BCS or a Big East for that matter

Quote:WVU gets so much more money from the state than Marshall it's not even funny

-- And that is how it should be...Its the land grant school of the state...there enrollment is higher then anyone else in state....the # of in state students is higher then anyone else...over 50% of the student population is from in state ....something BTW Marshall can't claim....Estimates have student enrollment at WVU topping 30k by 2010...that kind of enrollment needs more funding

Quote:For starters, if you knew what you were talking about, you'd realize that WVU's indoor practice facility was completely built with state money

-- Got me there....Caperton Fascility did come from the state and would be fine if the state built MU one as well..... but the new weight room came from private funds...Still the support the football program gets from the state is nothing compared to what other state schools get... Penn St, Uconn or UVA etc

-- Thunder Dent....you don't think its a wast of state money to expand a staduim that is not selling out now? Is is impartive that MU has 20k empty seats for most home games instead of 10k? Like I said above...spend 20K to build MU a law school. That's fine in my book. But this is waste of cash




Jackson

Marshall is shooting for 20,000+ student by 2010. The new president has academics in mind first, which is good. I agree with the Law School comment. Marshall has a really good undergrad and masters Criminal Justice program, and one of the better forensics masters programs in the country ... and the school being founded by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, you'd think they'd already have one. And they should.

There is a lot of academic programs (masters, doctoral and professional) going in in the near future. The engineering program is coming back to the full strength it was in the past.

I think the whole stadium expansion thing (although I agree with your point, and so do others that are Marshall fans even) is just the athletics foundation for the possible move to the Big East in the future.

The academics part of it (a plan to move to a research university level) will aid in that attempt as well.

I think the Gov. wants to see 2 things. One a healthy in-state rivalry every year, and two eventually two state schools in a BCS conference. That will only help the state in the long run. Money and image wise.

Everyone has their own opinions, and I'm sure the governor has his, but I think the "higher-ups" in this decision are trying to lay ground work for a bigger conference in the future, and trying to do what is in the best interest of the state.

i don't understand why marshall doesn't have a bigger following. i don't expect it to be the size of wvu's fan base. for that matter i don't expect it to be HALF the size of wvu's. however, one would expect it to be bigger than what it is. it's a state school who's football team who has had a lot of success since making the jump to div1a. one would think they could at least draw 40,000 fans on a regular basis.

as far as the bcs goes, with the modern day bcs rules, marshall would have been an automatic qualifier in 1999 the year they finished undefeated, so it can be done even if they aren't in a bcs conference.

i think that wvu vs marshall could potentially be a very good rivalry, especially if marshall can field the types of teams they were putting together in the late 90s and early 00s. they aren't really in a position to make it a competitive game now, but if they could build themselves back up it could really be a good series.

that being said, i think it's a little ridiculous that the governor would get involved. i can't understand why west virginia didn't want to play them before now. i know they aren't a very good team right now, but they've been good in the past. it would have been a really good series a few years ago.

WV is in the BCS, ofcouse they can build without taxpayer money. Marshall is a legit D-A football program. WV gov is smart in growing the rivalry. How many construction jobs are created expanding the stadium. Perhaps the Gov is bold to see a future BE where Marshall is a member and hosting UC, Louisville, WV, Pitt, UConn, Rutgers, Syracuse, USF,UCF, ECU, and Memphis. Politics played a huge role in the ACC adding Va Tech. The power that WVU has on BE is huge. The Gov is smart in knowing BE needs WV. WVU can get Marshall into the BE or keep them out. If WVU keeps them out, they needs to atleast play road games in Huntington to keep those Marshall voters happy.

OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:WV is in the BCS, ofcouse they can build without taxpayer money. Marshall is a legit D-A football program. WV gov is smart in growing the rivalry. How many construction jobs are created expanding the stadium. Perhaps the Gov is bold to see a future BE where Marshall is a member and hosting UC, Louisville, WV, Pitt, UConn, Rutgers, Syracuse, USF,UCF, ECU, and Memphis. Politics played a huge role in the ACC adding Va Tech. The power that WVU has on BE is huge. The Gov is smart in knowing BE needs WV. WVU can get Marshall into the BE or keep them out. If WVU keeps them out, they needs to atleast play road games in Huntington to keep those Marshall voters happy.

This is a West Virginia political matter. Do you vote and pay taxes in West Virginia? If not, this debate does not concern you. With all due respect to you opinion, construction jobs don't last. I have a proposal for you, since Huntington is so close to Athens and maybe some southern Ohio folks will find some construction work on the project, why don't you get the Ohio state government to finance the stadium expansion.

MOUNTAINEERFAN64 Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:Thanks for the explanation.

I agree that athletic facilities can make money for a university. However, what is the point if they are only going to sell it out 1 game out of every 12 and not use any of the new seats in the other 11?

I think it comes down to this: Teams don't need to expand a stadium when attendance is at 73% of capacity and they don't have a sellout in school history (@ 38k).

Now there is an intelligent man!

Hooray for intelligence.

xubrew Wrote:i don't understand why marshall doesn't have a bigger following. i don't expect it to be the size of wvu's fan base. for that matter i don't expect it to be HALF the size of wvu's. however, one would expect it to be bigger than what it is. it's a state school who's football team who has had a lot of success since making the jump to div1a. one would think they could at least draw 40,000 fans on a regular basis.

Because the state University for the State of West Virginia is WVU. Marshall isn't the state University, and never will be. The majority of Marshall fans are within an hour of Huntington, while Mountaineer fans are found all over the state (and in many other states as well since the job market is so poor - like me).

bitcruncher Wrote:

MOUNTAINEERFAN64 Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:Thanks for the explanation.

I agree that athletic facilities can make money for a university. However, what is the point if they are only going to sell it out 1 game out of every 12 and not use any of the new seats in the other 11?

I think it comes down to this: Teams don't need to expand a stadium when attendance is at 73% of capacity and they don't have a sellout in school history (@ 38k).

Now there is an intelligent man!

Hooray for intelligence.

xubrew Wrote:i don't understand why marshall doesn't have a bigger following. i don't expect it to be the size of wvu's fan base. for that matter i don't expect it to be HALF the size of wvu's. however, one would expect it to be bigger than what it is. it's a state school who's football team who has had a lot of success since making the jump to div1a. one would think they could at least draw 40,000 fans on a regular basis.

Because the state University for the State of West Virginia is WVU. Marshall isn't the state University, and never will be. The majority of Marshall fans are within an hour of Huntington, while Mountaineer fans are found all over the state (and in many other states as well since the job market is so poor - like me).

yes, wvu is the flagship university of the state's higher education system, but not EVERYONE goes there. there are a signficant number of marshall students and alumni. one would think that that would result in a signficant fanbase. wake forest has less than 4000 undergraduate students, which is WAAAY less than what marshall has, yet they outdraw marshall BIG TIME when it comes to football and basketball. i guess my point is that when a program is as successful as marshall has been in the past, most students and alumni support it whether it's a flagship school or not. for whatever reason, that doesn't seem to be happening at marshall. louisville isn't the flagship institution in kentucky's state higher education system, yet they have a very good fan base. i don't see why marshall doesn't have one as well.

goodknightfl Wrote:well maybe its like WV highways.. if u build em they will come.. lmfao I think its called the BYRD principle.

Everytime I read that name, I hear faint oinking sounds, commercials for "the other white meat" simultaneously come on all TV channels, and the next person to talk has a cartoon-like stutter.

georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:

goodknightfl Wrote:well maybe its like WV highways.. if u build em they will come.. lmfao I think its called the BYRD principle.

Everytime I read that name, I hear faint oinking sounds, commercials for "the other white meat" simultaneously come on all TV channels, and the next person to talk has a cartoon-like stutter.

Yeah, I know what you mean.. goodknightfl has the same effect on me.

MOUNTAINEERFAN64 Wrote:Yeah, I know what you mean.. goodnightfl has the same effect on me.

touche

georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:

MOUNTAINEERFAN64 Wrote:Yeah, I know what you mean.. goodnightfl has the same effect on me.

touche

Quote:WVU can get Marshall into the BE or keep them out.

No.

If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

CollegeCard Wrote:If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

I agree , but I also believe that Cincy didn't get in for their football ..

This past Saturday, with bowl hopes still alive....on Senior Day....and with the home team having gained momentum by winning 3 of their last 4.... Marshall draws a whopping 20,783.

That is clearly the final indication that an expansion is needed to increase capacity from 38,000 to 48,000.

SAHerdFan Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

I agree , but I also believe that Cincy didn't get in for their football ..

Geography and money is why they got in. Look at the endowment figures - I was stunned at the difference between Memphis and UC/UoL when I saw the figures. Kudos to those who contribute to these institutions.

Marshall and Memphis both need to figure out how to get it done in CUSA for the time being. My school, Memphis, took a major step, major step backward on the field this year.

I am one that believes the BE needs to go to some all-sports format to keep all members happy, just not sure what it should look like or who should be invited. Would only hope Memphis but right now that looks like a pipe dream.

CollegeCard Wrote:If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

If Murray State improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East.

L-yes Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

If Murray State improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East.

Murray State? How about Morehead State?

Tigeer Wrote:

L-yes Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

If Murray State improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East.

Murray State? How about Morehead State?

If (insert school east of the mississippi here) improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East.

L-yes Wrote:

Tigeer Wrote:

L-yes Wrote:

CollegeCard Wrote:If Marshall improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East. It won't happen anytime soon however. Think of it like this. If we're talking about staying within the Big East footprint, geography could not be more on their side, yet they weren't even seriously in the discussion in 2003 (when their football was better). That shows how much they would have to improve.

If Murray State improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East.

Murray State? How about Morehead State?

If (insert school east of the mississippi here) improved in a long list of areas, they could be a candidate for the Big East.

I knew what you meant.