Fisher named as head coach

[ibleedpurpleandgold]

Good coaches continue to move up. Also, 9 years at Vandy, 5 years as a lower division HC...those are some pretty long stints in today's football world.
Almost nobody coaches in one place for more than 4-5 years (in the same position)...they either move up or down depending on how good they are.

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

Fisher said in his recent speech that he wants WIU to have a fast and physical team - as opposed to what, slow and complaisant? He also stated that he wants to take WIU football to a higher level. Since WIU football's record in conference over the past 5 years is a pathetic 12 and 28, is a "higher level" over the next 5 years a .500 team? That woud be an improvement, I guess.

I am all for WIU, trust me, but to me this all seems to be the same old song and dance any time any coach gets hired. Fisher said in the press conference: "You want to win championships, you want to take this program to the highest level on and off the field doing things the right way and achieve as much success as we can." WIU's AD said pretty much the same thing in the press release when Bob Nielson was hired: "As many of you know, football is one of our athletic signature programs and we have found a coach who will help us showcase our football program. More importantly, we have found a coach that will help us win games and to win national championships." Would I have rather them say something different? How about save the speeches and get to work, earn your money, and let your record do the talking. Everyone knows the coach is really happy to make over $200,000 just to coach football (when doctors in the local emergency room and teachers are likely making a fraction of that)...

Sorry that I am not that excited about getting a coach that, to me, appears to be a journeyman who held just one coaching job (which was 17 hears ago) in a 30 year career. Let's see how it goes after the school cuts other sports so it can afford to waste millions more on a program that has a .330 winning percentage over the past decade.

i highly doubt he is making over 200,000 dollars thats what nielson was making and i don't think he's making as much as bob.

[Leatherneck57]

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

You've raised some good questions here but anytime a head coach is fired it is highly unlikely that the new HC will keep any of the previous staff. If he does it might be one or two. Case in point...Bob took 3 from SD's previous staff...pretty unusual.

So when an HC gets fired the staff is put on an interim basis and all are scrambling for jobs at other schools. So when he had to leave Vandy he didn't have a choice. Same thing with Penn State...Bill O'Brien took the job with the Texans so Coach Fisher was offered an Assist HC job at Richmond where he them became the OC. Most of the time you take what you can because you have to put a roof over your head and food on the table.

He has enough coaching experience to run a good program and win a lot of games!

[Leatherneck57]

Here's some stat comparisons from Coach Fishers offense versus our former staff...

Rushing
School Player Rushing Team Total NET
WIU Nikko 1196 1831
Richmond Green 1596 2673

Passing
School Player Passing Team Total NET
WIU Norvel/McGuire 3288 3288
Richmond Lauletta 3598 3653

Receiving
School Player Yards
WIU Lenoir 1184
WIU Borsellino 849
Richmond Brown 1450
Richmond Diggs 901

Total Offense
Team Total
WIU 5119
Richmond 6326 Difference +1207 yards

Ave yards per game
WIU 393.7 (13 Games)
Richmond 451.8 (14 games)

Points
WIU 327 25.1 points per game (13 Games)
Richmond 462 33 points per game (14 Games)

Also remember that Coach Fisher switched from the Spread offense to the I to compliment his running back this year. To be able to put these kind of numbers up and never playing the I at Richmond prior and having this much success in one year...I think it's pretty safe to say he knows what he's doing when it comes to coaching offense.

[brewer2125]

Some of us remember more than just the past decade - back to when WIU football was premier football.
We'd like to see it get back to that level, and if this guy is the kind who can get people interested in it again, more power to him.
I do get a completely different vibe from him than I did Nielson - this guy definitely strikes me as more personable

.

I recall way back when too. Actually, Frank Winters (Packers' center for 15 years) was the very first student that I met on campus and he lived across the hall from me on the 5th floor of Thompson. But back then they weren't cutting programs, either, to keep the football program on a ventilator. To me, that is very disturbing. WIU has cut (and may be looking to cut) other programs to keep a very expensive (and generally losing or around .500 record) program afloat at the expense of other, far less costly programs, and where the football program does absolutely nothing to increase the prestige or enrollment of the university.

And I am not sure you can really say with a straight face that the WIU football program is, or was ever, a "premier" football program. Since WIU first participated in a football conference in 1915, 100 years ago, WIU has won just 10 conference championships outright (it shared the championship three other times) and appeared in post season play just 11 times (the NCAA began Division II playoffs in 1973). WIU did appear in 3 Corn Bowls back in the 1940's and 50's and played against "powerhouses" like Wheaton College and Luther College. Since the NFL draft first began in 1936, WIU has had 28 players drafted in those 79 years.

What all of this means is that, on average, WIU will win its conference 1 time every 10 years, will appear in post season play about once every 4 years, and will produce an NFL draft quality player (not necessarily a player that will actuallyplay in the NFL) about once every 3 to 4 years. That record is not "premier" by any standards.

The current football coaching salaries combined are in excess of $700,000. The salaries of the coaches of ALL of the WIU womens' teams COMBINED total about $400,000. The cost of running the football program, given that there are some 80-plus members of the team, plus coaches, is likely exponentially higher than any other sport, and likely dwarfs all womens' sports combined. Even though the football program BARELY has a .500 record over its existence (.529), the school is cutting other programs... To me, that is absurd. Many, many division I schools have cut football, and maintained their enrollments and have produced other quality sports programs. I can send you a list if you would like... If WIU cut football, other program would stand to benefit greatly, enrollment would not dive, nor would the reputation of WIU academically and, after a year or two, no one would notice or care, in my opinion.

Contrary to what some people may think, the typical college student doesn't select a school because of the football team (and especially a football team that on average produces a .500 record). A recent UCLA survey lists the top 23 reasons identified by college students as being "very important" for choosing a college. Athletics was ranked 18th, and then was only listed as being very important when the student was offered an athletic scholarship. In case you want to see the list, here is it:

1. College has very good academic reputation (63.8 percent)
2. This college's graduates get good jobs (55.9 percent)
3. I was offered financial assistance (45.6 percent)
4. The cost of attending this college (43.3 percent)
5. A visit to this campus (41.8 percent)
6. College has a good reputation for its social activities (40.2 percent)
7. Wanted to go to a college about this size (38.8 percent)
8. College's grads get into top grad/professional schools (32.8 percent)
9. The percentage of students that graduate from this college (30.4 percent)
10. I wanted to live near home (20.1 percent)
11. Information from a website (18.7 percent)
12. Rankings in national magazines (18.2 percent)
13. Parents wanted me to go to this school (15.1 percent)
14. Admitted early decision and/or early action (13.7 percent)
15. Could not afford first choice (13.4 percent)
16. High school counselor advised me (10.3 percent)
17. Not offered aid by first choice (9.5 percent)
18. Athletic department recruited me (8.9 percent)
19. Attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of college (7.4 percent)
20. My relatives wanted me to come here (6.8 percent)
20. My teacher advised me (6.8 percent)
22. Private college counselor advised me (3.8 percent)
23. Ability to take online courses (3.2 percent)

That's my two cents.....

[brewer2125]

Good coaches continue to move up. Also, 9 years at Vandy, 5 years as a lower division HC...those are some pretty long stints in today's football world.
Almost nobody coaches in one place for more than 4-5 years (in the same position)...they either move up or down depending on how good they are.

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

Fisher said in his recent speech that he wants WIU to have a fast and physical team - as opposed to what, slow and complaisant? He also stated that he wants to take WIU football to a higher level. Since WIU football's record in conference over the past 5 years is a pathetic 12 and 28, is a "higher level" over the next 5 years a .500 team? That woud be an improvement, I guess.

I am all for WIU, trust me, but to me this all seems to be the same old song and dance any time any coach gets hired. Fisher said in the press conference: "You want to win championships, you want to take this program to the highest level on and off the field doing things the right way and achieve as much success as we can." WIU's AD said pretty much the same thing in the press release when Bob Nielson was hired: "As many of you know, football is one of our athletic signature programs and we have found a coach who will help us showcase our football program. More importantly, we have found a coach that will help us win games and to win national championships." Would I have rather them say something different? How about save the speeches and get to work, earn your money, and let your record do the talking. Everyone knows the coach is really happy to make over $200,000 just to coach football (when doctors in the local emergency room and teachers are likely making a fraction of that)...

Sorry that I am not that excited about getting a coach that, to me, appears to be a journeyman who held just one coaching job (which was 17 hears ago) in a 30 year career. Let's see how it goes after the school cuts other sports so it can afford to waste millions more on a program that has a .330 winning percentage over the past decade.

i highly doubt he is making over 200,000 dollars thats what nielson was making and i don't think he's making as much as bob.

Good coaches continue to move up. Also, 9 years at Vandy, 5 years as a lower division HC...those are some pretty long stints in today's football world.
Almost nobody coaches in one place for more than 4-5 years (in the same position)...they either move up or down depending on how good they are.

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

Fisher said in his recent speech that he wants WIU to have a fast and physical team - as opposed to what, slow and complaisant? He also stated that he wants to take WIU football to a higher level. Since WIU football's record in conference over the past 5 years is a pathetic 12 and 28, is a "higher level" over the next 5 years a .500 team? That woud be an improvement, I guess.

I am all for WIU, trust me, but to me this all seems to be the same old song and dance any time any coach gets hired. Fisher said in the press conference: "You want to win championships, you want to take this program to the highest level on and off the field doing things the right way and achieve as much success as we can." WIU's AD said pretty much the same thing in the press release when Bob Nielson was hired: "As many of you know, football is one of our athletic signature programs and we have found a coach who will help us showcase our football program. More importantly, we have found a coach that will help us win games and to win national championships." Would I have rather them say something different? How about save the speeches and get to work, earn your money, and let your record do the talking. Everyone knows the coach is really happy to make over $200,000 just to coach football (when doctors in the local emergency room and teachers are likely making a fraction of that)...

Sorry that I am not that excited about getting a coach that, to me, appears to be a journeyman who held just one coaching job (which was 17 hears ago) in a 30 year career. Let's see how it goes after the school cuts other sports so it can afford to waste millions more on a program that has a .330 winning percentage over the past decade.

i highly doubt he is making over 200,000 dollars thats what nielson was making and i don't think he's making as much as bob.

Check the 2015 budget......don't speculate....read.

[brewer2125]

Good coaches continue to move up. Also, 9 years at Vandy, 5 years as a lower division HC...those are some pretty long stints in today's football world.
Almost nobody coaches in one place for more than 4-5 years (in the same position)...they either move up or down depending on how good they are.

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

Fisher said in his recent speech that he wants WIU to have a fast and physical team - as opposed to what, slow and complaisant? He also stated that he wants to take WIU football to a higher level. Since WIU football's record in conference over the past 5 years is a pathetic 12 and 28, is a "higher level" over the next 5 years a .500 team? That woud be an improvement, I guess.

I am all for WIU, trust me, but to me this all seems to be the same old song and dance any time any coach gets hired. Fisher said in the press conference: "You want to win championships, you want to take this program to the highest level on and off the field doing things the right way and achieve as much success as we can." WIU's AD said pretty much the same thing in the press release when Bob Nielson was hired: "As many of you know, football is one of our athletic signature programs and we have found a coach who will help us showcase our football program. More importantly, we have found a coach that will help us win games and to win national championships." Would I have rather them say something different? How about save the speeches and get to work, earn your money, and let your record do the talking. Everyone knows the coach is really happy to make over $200,000 just to coach football (when doctors in the local emergency room and teachers are likely making a fraction of that)...

Sorry that I am not that excited about getting a coach that, to me, appears to be a journeyman who held just one coaching job (which was 17 hears ago) in a 30 year career. Let's see how it goes after the school cuts other sports so it can afford to waste millions more on a program that has a .330 winning percentage over the past decade.

i highly doubt he is making over 200,000 dollars thats what nielson was making and i don't think he's making as much as bob.

Good coaches continue to move up. Also, 9 years at Vandy, 5 years as a lower division HC...those are some pretty long stints in today's football world.
Almost nobody coaches in one place for more than 4-5 years (in the same position)...they either move up or down depending on how good they are.

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

Fisher said in his recent speech that he wants WIU to have a fast and physical team - as opposed to what, slow and complaisant? He also stated that he wants to take WIU football to a higher level. Since WIU football's record in conference over the past 5 years is a pathetic 12 and 28, is a "higher level" over the next 5 years a .500 team? That woud be an improvement, I guess.

I am all for WIU, trust me, but to me this all seems to be the same old song and dance any time any coach gets hired. Fisher said in the press conference: "You want to win championships, you want to take this program to the highest level on and off the field doing things the right way and achieve as much success as we can." WIU's AD said pretty much the same thing in the press release when Bob Nielson was hired: "As many of you know, football is one of our athletic signature programs and we have found a coach who will help us showcase our football program. More importantly, we have found a coach that will help us win games and to win national championships." Would I have rather them say something different? How about save the speeches and get to work, earn your money, and let your record do the talking. Everyone knows the coach is really happy to make over $200,000 just to coach football (when doctors in the local emergency room and teachers are likely making a fraction of that)...

Sorry that I am not that excited about getting a coach that, to me, appears to be a journeyman who held just one coaching job (which was 17 hears ago) in a 30 year career. Let's see how it goes after the school cuts other sports so it can afford to waste millions more on a program that has a .330 winning percentage over the past decade.

i highly doubt he is making over 200,000 dollars thats what nielson was making and i don't think he's making as much as bob.

Check the 2015 budget......don't speculate....read.

Plus, this coach has 30 years, and purportedly far better credentials than the Nielson, so I don't know why he would make less (and the budget for the past coach would be available to our new coach and his negotiating team). If he took less, then I would begin to wonder about his decision-making ability.

[ibleedpurpleandgold]

Some of us remember more than just the past decade - back to when WIU football was premier football.
We'd like to see it get back to that level, and if this guy is the kind who can get people interested in it again, more power to him.
I do get a completely different vibe from him than I did Nielson - this guy definitely strikes me as more personable

.

I recall way back when too. Actually, Frank Winters (Packers' center for 15 years) was the very first student that I met on campus and he lived across the hall from me on the 5th floor of Thompson. But back then they weren't cutting programs, either, to keep the football program on a ventilator. To me, that is very disturbing. WIU has cut (and may be looking to cut) other programs to keep a very expensive (and generally losing or around .500 record) program afloat at the expense of other, far less costly programs, and where the football program does absolutely nothing to increase the prestige or enrollment of the university.

And I am not sure you can really say with a straight face that the WIU football program is, or was ever, a "premier" football program. Since WIU first participated in a football conference in 1915, 100 years ago, WIU has won just 10 conference championships outright (it shared the championship three other times) and appeared in post season play just 11 times (the NCAA began Division II playoffs in 1973). WIU did appear in 3 Corn Bowls back in the 1940's and 50's and played against "powerhouses" like Wheaton College and Luther College. Since the NFL draft first began in 1936, WIU has had 28 players drafted in those 79 years.

What all of this means is that, on average, WIU will win its conference 1 time every 10 years, will appear in post season play about once every 4 years, and will produce an NFL draft quality player (not necessarily a player that will actuallyplay in the NFL) about once every 3 to 4 years. That record is not "premier" by any standards.

The current football coaching salaries combined are in excess of $700,000. The salaries of the coaches of ALL of the WIU womens' teams COMBINED total about $400,000. The cost of running the football program, given that there are some 80-plus members of the team, plus coaches, is likely exponentially higher than any other sport, and likely dwarfs all womens' sports combined. Even though the football program BARELY has a .500 record over its existence (.529), the school is cutting other programs... To me, that is absurd. Many, many division I schools have cut football, and maintained their enrollments and have produced other quality sports programs. I can send you a list if you would like... If WIU cut football, other program would stand to benefit greatly, enrollment would not dive, nor would the reputation of WIU academically and, after a year or two, no one would notice or care, in my opinion.

Contrary to what some people may think, the typical college student doesn't select a school because of the football team (and especially a football team that on average produces a .500 record). A recent UCLA survey lists the top 23 reasons identified by college students as being "very important" for choosing a college. Athletics was ranked 18th, and then was only listed as being very important when the student was offered an athletic scholarship. In case you want to see the list, here is it:

1. College has very good academic reputation (63.8 percent)
2. This college's graduates get good jobs (55.9 percent)
3. I was offered financial assistance (45.6 percent)
4. The cost of attending this college (43.3 percent)
5. A visit to this campus (41.8 percent)
6. College has a good reputation for its social activities (40.2 percent)
7. Wanted to go to a college about this size (38.8 percent)
8. College's grads get into top grad/professional schools (32.8 percent)
9. The percentage of students that graduate from this college (30.4 percent)
10. I wanted to live near home (20.1 percent)
11. Information from a website (18.7 percent)
12. Rankings in national magazines (18.2 percent)
13. Parents wanted me to go to this school (15.1 percent)
14. Admitted early decision and/or early action (13.7 percent)
15. Could not afford first choice (13.4 percent)
16. High school counselor advised me (10.3 percent)
17. Not offered aid by first choice (9.5 percent)
18. Athletic department recruited me (8.9 percent)
19. Attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of college (7.4 percent)
20. My relatives wanted me to come here (6.8 percent)
20. My teacher advised me (6.8 percent)
22. Private college counselor advised me (3.8 percent)
23. Ability to take online courses (3.2 percent)

That's my two cents.....

you are talking about sports programs that no one cares about tennis is the only being cut and they don't even play home matches in macomb.

[ibleedpurpleandgold]

[/quote]

Good coaches continue to move up. Also, 9 years at Vandy, 5 years as a lower division HC...those are some pretty long stints in today's football world.
Almost nobody coaches in one place for more than 4-5 years (in the same position)...they either move up or down depending on how good they are.

I am not sure that your "continue to move up" comment really applies here. In the past 17 years since he last held a head coaching position, he has held only assistant coaching positions. Is leaving Vanderbilt to take the same position at Miami Ohio "moving up"? Is leaving Penn State to take the same job (QB coach) at Richmond "moving up"? Not in my opinion.

I also wonder why in the past 17 years has he not landed another head coaching job until WIU, especially since he has a national championship on his resume as a head coach with University of West Georgia? After Vandy, no head coaching positions available? After Penn State, no head coaching positions available? None??? I'd like to know how many head coaching jobs he applied for, and where, and was turned down.

Fisher said in his recent speech that he wants WIU to have a fast and physical team - as opposed to what, slow and complaisant? He also stated that he wants to take WIU football to a higher level. Since WIU football's record in conference over the past 5 years is a pathetic 12 and 28, is a "higher level" over the next 5 years a .500 team? That woud be an improvement, I guess.

I am all for WIU, trust me, but to me this all seems to be the same old song and dance any time any coach gets hired. Fisher said in the press conference: "You want to win championships, you want to take this program to the highest level on and off the field doing things the right way and achieve as much success as we can." WIU's AD said pretty much the same thing in the press release when Bob Nielson was hired: "As many of you know, football is one of our athletic signature programs and we have found a coach who will help us showcase our football program. More importantly, we have found a coach that will help us win games and to win national championships." Would I have rather them say something different? How about save the speeches and get to work, earn your money, and let your record do the talking. Everyone knows the coach is really happy to make over $200,000 just to coach football (when doctors in the local emergency room and teachers are likely making a fraction of that)...

Sorry that I am not that excited about getting a coach that, to me, appears to be a journeyman who held just one coaching job (which was 17 hears ago) in a 30 year career. Let's see how it goes after the school cuts other sports so it can afford to waste millions more on a program that has a .330 winning percentage over the past decade.

i highly doubt he is making over 200,000 dollars thats what nielson was making and i don't think he's making as much as bob.

Check the 2015 budget......don't speculate....read.[/quote]


Plus, this coach has 30 years, and purportedly far better credentials than the Nielson, so I don't know why he would make less (and the budget for the past coach would be available to our new coach and his negotiating team). If he took less, then I would begin to wonder about his decision-making ability.[/quote]
i did check the budget and exactly what i said nielson made 200,000 last yr nielson was the ad @ duluth and had won 2 national titles so i would say his credentials where pretty high.

[Leatherneck57]

Some of us remember more than just the past decade - back to when WIU football was premier football.
We'd like to see it get back to that level, and if this guy is the kind who can get people interested in it again, more power to him.
I do get a completely different vibe from him than I did Nielson - this guy definitely strikes me as more personable

.

I recall way back when too. Actually, Frank Winters (Packers' center for 15 years) was the very first student that I met on campus and he lived across the hall from me on the 5th floor of Thompson. But back then they weren't cutting programs, either, to keep the football program on a ventilator. To me, that is very disturbing. WIU has cut (and may be looking to cut) other programs to keep a very expensive (and generally losing or around .500 record) program afloat at the expense of other, far less costly programs, and where the football program does absolutely nothing to increase the prestige or enrollment of the university.

And I am not sure you can really say with a straight face that the WIU football program is, or was ever, a "premier" football program. Since WIU first participated in a football conference in 1915, 100 years ago, WIU has won just 10 conference championships outright (it shared the championship three other times) and appeared in post season play just 11 times (the NCAA began Division II playoffs in 1973). WIU did appear in 3 Corn Bowls back in the 1940's and 50's and played against "powerhouses" like Wheaton College and Luther College. Since the NFL draft first began in 1936, WIU has had 28 players drafted in those 79 years.

What all of this means is that, on average, WIU will win its conference 1 time every 10 years, will appear in post season play about once every 4 years, and will produce an NFL draft quality player (not necessarily a player that will actuallyplay in the NFL) about once every 3 to 4 years. That record is not "premier" by any standards.

The current football coaching salaries combined are in excess of $700,000. The salaries of the coaches of ALL of the WIU womens' teams COMBINED total about $400,000. The cost of running the football program, given that there are some 80-plus members of the team, plus coaches, is likely exponentially higher than any other sport, and likely dwarfs all womens' sports combined. Even though the football program BARELY has a .500 record over its existence (.529), the school is cutting other programs... To me, that is absurd. Many, many division I schools have cut football, and maintained their enrollments and have produced other quality sports programs. I can send you a list if you would like... If WIU cut football, other program would stand to benefit greatly, enrollment would not dive, nor would the reputation of WIU academically and, after a year or two, no one would notice or care, in my opinion.

Contrary to what some people may think, the typical college student doesn't select a school because of the football team (and especially a football team that on average produces a .500 record). A recent UCLA survey lists the top 23 reasons identified by college students as being "very important" for choosing a college. Athletics was ranked 18th, and then was only listed as being very important when the student was offered an athletic scholarship. In case you want to see the list, here is it:

1. College has very good academic reputation (63.8 percent)
2. This college's graduates get good jobs (55.9 percent)
3. I was offered financial assistance (45.6 percent)
4. The cost of attending this college (43.3 percent)
5. A visit to this campus (41.8 percent)
6. College has a good reputation for its social activities (40.2 percent)
7. Wanted to go to a college about this size (38.8 percent)
8. College's grads get into top grad/professional schools (32.8 percent)
9. The percentage of students that graduate from this college (30.4 percent)
10. I wanted to live near home (20.1 percent)
11. Information from a website (18.7 percent)
12. Rankings in national magazines (18.2 percent)
13. Parents wanted me to go to this school (15.1 percent)
14. Admitted early decision and/or early action (13.7 percent)
15. Could not afford first choice (13.4 percent)
16. High school counselor advised me (10.3 percent)
17. Not offered aid by first choice (9.5 percent)
18. Athletic department recruited me (8.9 percent)
19. Attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of college (7.4 percent)
20. My relatives wanted me to come here (6.8 percent)
20. My teacher advised me (6.8 percent)
22. Private college counselor advised me (3.8 percent)
23. Ability to take online courses (3.2 percent)

That's my two cents.....

brewer2125 I don't give two hoots about your stats or your comments! I wasn't going to respond to your garbage but you forced it! Everyone on this forum happens to like Leatherneck Football amongst other WIU sports! Football is a great sport to have on a college campus and will be around at this university long after you and I are gone...I guarantee it!!

[WIU0812]

http://www.goleathernecks.com/documents ... t_2015.pdf

This report will probably make things more confusing, but I did see it online. The worst thing is some how they just even all sports out to a $0 dollar profit so I do not know what the real number is by looking at this.