(09-26-2021 11:26 AM)BucDoctor Wrote: "Using the highest spending program in the Sunbelt and then transfering the difference to increasing student fees by $1000+ is completely false and blatantly misleading."
"To put info on this board that is read by 1000s of interested, invested Buc fans that indicates huge increases in student fees and terrible returns on investing in a highly successful Athletic Department is a crime."
Facts are a pesky thing.
There is a strong correlation between athletic spending and athletic success. If you want to spend less in a FBS conference and be less than successful, then so be it. If you want to look at a poor budget and success, look no further than Wake, they can compete in one sport occasionally. Vanderbilt can complete in one sport occasionally. ETSU's athletic budget would be just behind Troy in the Sunbelt. How successful is Troy? If that is successful enough for you, then you and I differ in our definition of success.
I am a huge Bucs fan, my wardrobe is blue and gold. I'd like for ETSU to be in a P-5 conference, but it is what it is. My last post on the topic.
I prefer winning as often as possible. We need to build a larger, consistent fan base in football, at least doubling the present one. Only winning can do that given the historic culture. See Marshall, App State, Ga Southern, as examples. My guess, winning and loving it is the key reason James Madison, for example, hasn’t “moved up” , and they’ve certainly built the fan base and have the money to do so.
The only thing I find attractive about the Sun Belt for ETSU athletics right now would be old rivals, App State and GA Southern. But, when the stars align right, I’m certainly in favor of ETSU moving on up. Yea, our budget is close to SBC schools, even exceeds ULM. There you go, how many folks in upper East Tennessee know what school ULM is, for example?
My dream group — ETSU, UTC, JMU, EKU, JMU, ODU, App State, Charlotte, Coastal, GA State, GA Southern, and Mercer or Western to make it 12. But, there’s a long list of objections to that at this juncture, obviously. And, back to reality —- $$$$. Just saying.