Program cuts

Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:31 pm

sealhall74 wrote:I assume by cutting programs, that means they will still be around for another three years, right? Or will on-board students be forced to transfer immediately? Maybe switch to a different minor - students do that all the time, dont they? If you think about it that way, a change over the span of 3 or 4 years will hardly be noticeable. LOL

The way they would do it is that the program just wouldn't accept any new students, and then once all the current students are done, it'd be eliminated completely. Students would always have the option to switch to a different minor or transfer to a different school, but they wouldn't be forced to. Some things, like Journalism merging with Broadcasting will just make existing Journalism minor students essentially be minoring in Broadcasting-Journalism. Something similar happened to me in my undergrad, although in the reverse situation. I was a "Communications" major with emphasis in Broadcasting for my first two years, but then they separated out Broadcasting as it's own program and I became a Broadcasting major (emphasis in radio).

They'd probably be able to cut a few classes here and there (the lower-level program-specific ones that the current students in the program had already completed) and slowly work their way up the ladder.

sealhall74 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:49 pm

Once again, I am relying on my gut/Ouija board here, but I think a possible step down to DII has been in the works for a number of years now. One, we hire a proven DII FB coach with athletic director experience under his belt. Same thing for Women's BB, JD very successful at that level. Last, Mo restored us to a level of respectability but knew it was coming and his calling card to move on. What better strategy than hire great DII coaches to assist with the transition down. Our facilities are already MOSTLY there to compete at that level. To be perfectly frank, 95% of the student-athletes we have now are DII caliber. Good kids, good students, work very hard, but DII caliber. No matter how it goes, I just want my alma mater to be something I can be proud of. I want to hear many success stories from the classrooms. I want our athletes to feel like they can win each and every time they step out on the field or court.

WIU0812 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 1:37 pm

sealhall74 wrote:Once again, I am relying on my gut/Ouija board here, but I think a possible step down to DII has been in the works for a number of years now. One, we hire a proven DII FB coach with athletic director experience under his belt. Same thing for Women's BB, JD very successful at that level. Last, Mo restored us to a level of respectability but knew it was coming and his calling card to move on. What better strategy than hire great DII coaches to assist with the transition down. Our facilities are already MOSTLY there to compete at that level. To be perfectly frank, 95% of the student-athletes we have now are DII caliber. Good kids, good students, work very hard, but DII caliber. No matter how it goes, I just want my alma mater to be something I can be proud of. I want to hear many success stories from the classrooms. I want our athletes to feel like they can win each and every time they step out on the field or court.

What is the possibility of dropping other sports to DII, but keeping football at DI level? We obviously have a ton of great DI FCS football players that are going to be able to compete in playoffs most likely this year, I know many of our other sports have been down, though Baseball and Womens Basketball have done pretty well for themselves as well.

sealhall74 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:02 pm

WIU0812 wrote:
sealhall74 wrote:Once again, I am relying on my gut/Ouija board here, but I think a possible step down to DII has been in the works for a number of years now. One, we hire a proven DII FB coach with athletic director experience under his belt. Same thing for Women's BB, JD very successful at that level. Last, Mo restored us to a level of respectability but knew it was coming and his calling card to move on. What better strategy than hire great DII coaches to assist with the transition down. Our facilities are already MOSTLY there to compete at that level. To be perfectly frank, 95% of the student-athletes we have now are DII caliber. Good kids, good students, work very hard, but DII caliber. No matter how it goes, I just want my alma mater to be something I can be proud of. I want to hear many success stories from the classrooms. I want our athletes to feel like they can win each and every time they step out on the field or court.
What is the possibility of dropping other sports to DII, but keeping football at DI level? We obviously have a ton of great DI FCS football players that are going to be able to compete in playoffs most likely this year, I know many of our other sports have been down, though Baseball and Womens Basketball have done pretty well for themselves as well.

As I read the rules, we could not keep football or basketball at DI. Not sure exactly why that is. We could keep one other men's sport and one other women's sport at DI though.

WIU0812 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:20 pm

In that case I do not think they have been setting themselves up for a drop down as I see the hiring of the best DII coach a great move for a DI trying to find a great coach at a cheaper price. It is either that or hiring a coordinator and changing them into a head coach which does not always work out. I suppose time will tell, but I do not see them dropping our football program out of DI unless financials just really get to be that bad that there is no other alternatives.

sealhall74 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:32 pm

WIU0812 wrote:In that case I do not think they have been setting themselves up for a drop down as I see the hiring of the best DII coach a great move for a DI trying to find a great coach at a cheaper price. It is either that or hiring a coordinator and changing them into a head coach which does not always work out. I suppose time will tell, but I do not see them dropping our football program out of DI unless financials just really get to be that bad that there is no other alternatives.

I hope you got it right. But something in the athletic budget will have to take a hit if everything else does.

WIU0812 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:46 pm

I seriously think they will cut a sport before dropping down, just my opinion though. If they cut two less followed sports I am sure that probably saves at least 5% on the overall budget, no scholarships for these sports to pay, no travel, equipment, etc to pay for which in turn helps keep a viable program.

I hate the idea and I am sure there are a few out there that hate me for saying it, but tough times call for tough choices. I just doubt that we drop down because you will have to start from scratch most of the athletes would transfer in a heartbeat if they were able to get a DI option and you know DI schools would poach these athletes away. Then you just have large DII facilities that still cost the same amount to maintain and have less attractive draws on fans and athletes. Basically the only savings is on less scholarships as we would have the same facilities, same equipment, and same travel expenses. You would probably get new coaches and be able to pay them less which would save some. Maybe I am forgetting something though perhaps cost more to pay to be in the leagues in the DI?

Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:01 pm

You can read more about the rules here: http://www.ncaa.org/about/who-we-are/me ... sification

If you scroll down the timeline to 1991, that's when the rule was made that all of a school's sports teams had to be classified in the same division. A large part of that reason was because (it looks like, based on the wording of the rules) some universities were classifying things like football and men's bball as Div. I but women's bball or other women's sports as Div. II or III. It was to help even out the opportunities for women in sports.

That was also the reason for the creation of the Pioneer Football League. A bunch of schools still wanted to field a football team, but they also wanted to compete at the Div. I level (generally for a non-football sport reason), so you had the formation of a specific non-scholarship Div. I conference with teams like Butler (basketball), Dayton (basketball), Drake (track), Valparaiso (basketball), etc.
You also saw a few California Div. I schools choose to drop football right around that same time (schools had until '93 to completely comply). UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach and Santa Clara University all chose to drop football in that time frame but stay Div. I.

So, current NCAA rules state that we can't put some sports in Div. I while continuing with a Div. I football (or basketball) team.

Personally, I don't think dropping down is the answer. You'll probably see them drop tennis and/or swimming & diving before they consider a divisional move. They did very nearly shut down swimming and diving just a few years ago actually.

WIU0812 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:33 pm

I know one thing if they are planning on redoing the west side of football stands they will need a major sponsor in order to do so without hurting the school. I really like the sounds of John Deere Stadium since the school has been partnering with them using our Quad Cities campus. Truthfully though I will take anyone to become a major sponsor of the schools athletics whoever it is NTN Bower, Pella, HyVee, anyone who can afford to dish out many millions and keep some pride around the schools athletics.

sealhall74 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:49 pm

WIU0812 wrote:I know one thing if they are planning on redoing the west side of football stands they will need a major sponsor in order to do so without hurting the school. I really like the sounds of John Deere Stadium since the school has been partnering with them using our Quad Cities campus. Truthfully though I will take anyone to become a major sponsor of the schools athletics whoever it is NTN Bower, Pella, HyVee, anyone who can afford to dish out many millions and keep some pride around the schools athletics.

Someone needs to give a shoutout to Bob Nardelli ('71). Or maybe its too late to do that.