(07-14-2020 02:05 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(07-14-2020 01:43 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Leaving D1 would definitely eventually cost the University more than it would save, one way or another. You will lose some potential future students who want the D1 vibe, you will lose some alumni $ (major donors included) that see FBS-level sports as a major link to the University, etc.. All of these losses and more, and we'd still be funding a football team with some travel and way less P5 $ coming in. Would be an insane move.

Every G5 school is going through some form of this right now. I predict the world will look fairly normal to Huskie fans next fall, biggest difference hopefully will be the half built Facebook compound going up a short scooter ride away from campus :)

Id like to believe that, something feels permanent about this athletics reshuffling though

Agreed. I hate to say this, but the MAC feels like the person who is deep in debt, but luckily has a decent job to make ends meet. Then one morning he wakes up, goes into the office, and finds out that he has lost his job.

Budget "Bloodbath" at University of Akron

We don't know what will happen at NIU. Enrollment is going to be way down.

"While the vast majority of university revenue comes from academics in the form of student tuition and fees, the union wrote, its athletic programs are another story. According to the AAUP chapter’s accounting, Akron has been losing an average of $21.5 million per year on athletic programs for the last 10 years, topping $215 million in lost revenue during that time. Among other options, the AAUP advocates leaving Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association."

(07-16-2020 09:14 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  "While the vast majority of university revenue comes from academics in the form of student tuition and fees, the union wrote, its athletic programs are another story. According to the AAUP chapter’s accounting, Akron has been losing an average of $21.5 million per year on athletic programs for the last 10 years, topping $215 million in lost revenue during that time. Among other options, the AAUP advocates leaving Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association."

Akron would have to pay a MAC exit fee of $2 million, they would probably have to pay all the P5 guarantees that they currently have scheduled (since i'm sure they were signed in understanding that Akron was going to remain a 1-A football program), lose out on the ESPN-MAC tv money, lose playoff system money that is dispersed among all the G5 conferences, lose NCAA basketball tournament credit money, etc. etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if a nice chunk of that $21.5 million in lost revenue per year is because they are paying on the football stadium. I don't think NIU currently has any athletic facility debts (besides maintenance costs). Aren't all of our facilities already paid for?

Not taking a side here, but I think people would be surprised what a FCS playoff every year capped with championship banner would do for recognition and attendance (like it could get any worse).

Unfortunately even winning at a lower level would not be guaranteed.

And if we start to have a carousel of good players leaving each year, would it really be worse a level lower?

And I hardly think anyone is going to NIU for our superior DI programs (ok, football) any more. If it was 20% of the 2k students at a game I'd be shocked. Doesn't seem to hurt ISU.

(07-17-2020 11:01 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Not taking a side here, but I think people would be surprised what a FCS playoff every year capped with championship banner would do for recognition and attendance (like it could get any worse).

Unfortunately even winning at a lower level would not be guaranteed.

And if we start to have a carousel of good players leaving each year, would it really be worse a level lower?

And I hardly think anyone is going to NIU for our superior DI programs (ok, football) any more. If it was 20% of the 2k students at a game I'd be shocked. Doesn't seem to hurt ISU.

I completely agree. While I certainly understand fans' desire for NIU to remain DI, times have changed (and none so more than the last 6 months). Finances are drying up and schedules are being washed down the drain. If NIU were forced to drop down to FCS, it would not change my support or financial commitment one bit.

The Akron faculty recommendation is D2? That is below FCS, and would drop them completely from D1 for men's basketball and soccer and all other sports.

(07-17-2020 09:18 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 09:14 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  "While the vast majority of university revenue comes from academics in the form of student tuition and fees, the union wrote, its athletic programs are another story. According to the AAUP chapter’s accounting, Akron has been losing an average of $21.5 million per year on athletic programs for the last 10 years, topping $215 million in lost revenue during that time. Among other options, the AAUP advocates leaving Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association."

Akron would have to pay a MAC exit fee of $2 million, they would probably have to pay all the P5 guarantees that they currently have scheduled (since i'm sure they were signed in understanding that Akron was going to remain a 1-A football program), lose out on the ESPN-MAC tv money, lose playoff system money that is dispersed among all the G5 conferences, lose NCAA basketball tournament credit money, etc. etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if a nice chunk of that $21.5 million in lost revenue per year is because they are paying on the football stadium. I don't think NIU currently has any athletic facility debts (besides maintenance costs). Aren't all of our facilities already paid for?

Its going to be a blood bath at a lot of schools.

If an entire conference went to DII and had good marketing and a hyped conference championship, that might keep enough fans watching and in the stands, due to a number of "name" schools participating.

Or a number of well-known schools could drop to DII and form a new, well-marketed, hyped conference.

Of course this new conference wouldn't be able to compete against the SEC, Big Ten, etc. for athletes or sponsorships or TV time, but it might be a financially healthy alternative to conferences having several schools drop their football programs in order to maintain NCAA DI standards.

(07-17-2020 01:47 PM)stpeterocketfan Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 09:18 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 09:14 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  "While the vast majority of university revenue comes from academics in the form of student tuition and fees, the union wrote, its athletic programs are another story. According to the AAUP chapter’s accounting, Akron has been losing an average of $21.5 million per year on athletic programs for the last 10 years, topping $215 million in lost revenue during that time. Among other options, the AAUP advocates leaving Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association."

Akron would have to pay a MAC exit fee of $2 million, they would probably have to pay all the P5 guarantees that they currently have scheduled (since i'm sure they were signed in understanding that Akron was going to remain a 1-A football program), lose out on the ESPN-MAC tv money, lose playoff system money that is dispersed among all the G5 conferences, lose NCAA basketball tournament credit money, etc. etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if a nice chunk of that $21.5 million in lost revenue per year is because they are paying on the football stadium. I don't think NIU currently has any athletic facility debts (besides maintenance costs). Aren't all of our facilities already paid for?

Its going to be a blood bath at a lot of schools.

NIU does not have a big donor base. We have done a great job with smoke and mireors

(07-17-2020 02:13 PM)Huckin Fuskie Wrote:  If an entire conference went to DII and had good marketing and a hyped conference championship, that might keep enough fans watching and in the stands, due to a number of "name" schools participating.

Or a number of well-known schools could drop to DII and form a new, well-marketed, hyped conference.

Of course this new conference wouldn't be able to compete against the SEC, Big Ten, etc. for athletes or sponsorships or TV time, but it might be a financially healthy alternative to conferences having several schools drop their football programs in order to maintain NCAA DI standards.

What?

(07-17-2020 02:13 PM)Huckin Fuskie Wrote:  If an entire conference went to DII and had good marketing and a hyped conference championship, that might keep enough fans watching and in the stands, due to a number of "name" schools participating.

Or a number of well-known schools could drop to DII and form a new, well-marketed, hyped conference.

Of course this new conference wouldn't be able to compete against the SEC, Big Ten, etc. for athletes or sponsorships or TV time, but it might be a financially healthy alternative to conferences having several schools drop their football programs in order to maintain NCAA DI standards.

Are you referring to FCS or true DII? DII is a drop of two levels and athletic never land. Most people can’t even name a DII school.

The only two DII football programs in Illinois are McKendree and Quincy. Is that what you are suggesting?

If NIU drops down, leaves MAC, etc., costs would include ...

1. MAC Exit fee of $2 to $2.5 million (not sure which ... read both). Only if leaving the MAC for another D1/FCS conference.
2. Repayment of any partial receipts from future P5 games. I recall reading somewhere that NIU accepted something from Notre Dame (could be wrong). Any others?
3. Loss of paydays from future P5 road games.
4. Loss of $833,000 a year via the ESPN/MAC tv contract. And I believe that goes up to $1 million a year later in a deal that runs through 2027.
5, Loss of (unknown) donations from alumni, etc., counting on NIU being FBS in football.
6. Loss of CFP money.
7. Loss of future payouts from the NCAA tournament (NCAA policy of paying out over time) from MAC appearances to date.

Bottom line: there is a tangle of commitments, payments, income streams, etc., based on being in the MAC at D1/FBS. This is the same situation Alron faces, but NIU doesn't have (again, I read somewhere) a commitment to $6.5 million payments for Infocision and its IPF.

You reach a point where you're stuck, with a number of years required to extricate yourself. By that time, the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis may well have sorted out ... and then where are you?

Weather the storm.

(07-17-2020 11:08 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 11:01 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Not taking a side here, but I think people would be surprised what a FCS playoff every year capped with championship banner would do for recognition and attendance (like it could get any worse).

Unfortunately even winning at a lower level would not be guaranteed.

And if we start to have a carousel of good players leaving each year, would it really be worse a level lower?

And I hardly think anyone is going to NIU for our superior DI programs (ok, football) any more. If it was 20% of the 2k students at a game I'd be shocked. Doesn't seem to hurt ISU.

I completely agree. While I certainly understand fans' desire for NIU to remain DI, times have changed (and none so more than the last 6 months). Finances are drying up and schedules are being washed down the drain. If NIU were forced to drop down to FCS, it would not change my support or financial commitment one bit.

Screw FCS, ISU would kill to bump up to FBS if they had a clear path. The savings from dropping down would be greatly eclipsed by the losses, tangible and otherwise.

(07-17-2020 11:08 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 11:01 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Not taking a side here, but I think people would be surprised what a FCS playoff every year capped with championship banner would do for recognition and attendance (like it could get any worse).

Unfortunately even winning at a lower level would not be guaranteed.

And if we start to have a carousel of good players leaving each year, would it really be worse a level lower?

And I hardly think anyone is going to NIU for our superior DI programs (ok, football) any more. If it was 20% of the 2k students at a game I'd be shocked. Doesn't seem to hurt ISU.

I completely agree. While I certainly understand fans' desire for NIU to remain DI, times have changed (and none so more than the last 6 months). Finances are drying up and schedules are being washed down the drain. If NIU were forced to drop down to FCS, it would not change my support or financial commitment one bit.

I'm with you on this. I'm an NIU fan despite the level. Now I hope we don't have to, but we are in a tough spot. Hopefully our course changes, and all of our wildest dreams come true. Enrollment goes back up and we start winning bowl games, thus leading to that Master plan becoming a reality.

Sorry, meant FCS. Thanks for the catch.

(07-17-2020 03:28 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 02:13 PM)Huckin Fuskie Wrote:  If an entire conference went to DII and had good marketing and a hyped conference championship, that might keep enough fans watching and in the stands, due to a number of "name" schools participating.

Or a number of well-known schools could drop to DII and form a new, well-marketed, hyped conference.

Of course this new conference wouldn't be able to compete against the SEC, Big Ten, etc. for athletes or sponsorships or TV time, but it might be a financially healthy alternative to conferences having several schools drop their football programs in order to maintain NCAA DI standards.

Are you referring to FCS or true DII? DII is a drop of two levels and athletic never land. Most people can’t even name a DII school.

The only two DII football programs in Illinois are McKendree and Quincy. Is that what you are suggesting?

Power 5 conference seem to want to get rid of Group 5 teams..
They jumped on the pandemic as one way to toss programs down to FCS level.
Whats their motive?

Perhaps to see which Group of 5 teams can survive and roll those into their conferences?
Or may it becomes a Group of 3?

Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of Power teams...besides money

I also find it interesting to see how little authority the NCAA has over scheduling for exmplw....The conferences are deciding how to handle the pandemic issue and not the NCAA.

Perhaps the next move is to leave the NCAA?

Just tossing out some things to think about!!

College football and basketbal is changing in a big way but will it be the right way...

Fire away....Ive been confined to quarters so I can blame this rambling narrative on that

On a positive note. Saturday games and tailgating.

(07-18-2020 04:18 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 11:08 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 11:01 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Not taking a side here, but I think people would be surprised what a FCS playoff every year capped with championship banner would do for recognition and attendance (like it could get any worse).

Unfortunately even winning at a lower level would not be guaranteed.

And if we start to have a carousel of good players leaving each year, would it really be worse a level lower?

And I hardly think anyone is going to NIU for our superior DI programs (ok, football) any more. If it was 20% of the 2k students at a game I'd be shocked. Doesn't seem to hurt ISU.

I completely agree. While I certainly understand fans' desire for NIU to remain DI, times have changed (and none so more than the last 6 months). Finances are drying up and schedules are being washed down the drain. If NIU were forced to drop down to FCS, it would not change my support or financial commitment one bit.

Screw FCS, ISU would kill to bump up to FBS if they had a clear path. The savings from dropping down would be greatly eclipsed by the losses, tangible and otherwise.

They averaged more at home than NIU in 2019