Re: Fisher named as head coach
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 4:32 pm
Leatherneck57 wrote:brewer2125 wrote:beauspencer wrote:You question that WIU football has never been premier??? Just over a decade ago WIU was the #1 team in the nation. And for those quoting football expenses and salaries....do you not realize the program brings in several hundred thousand dollars per year on guarantee games alone and that money is distributed throughout the athletic dept.
Well, you are only partially correct. WIU does get guarantee game money. But, most, if not all of that money goes back into football. If you don't believe me, do some research and find news articles where Bob Nielson stated "a lot of that money goes back into your budget to help fund your program." Western's coaching salaries exceed $700,000. The guarantee from the Wisconsin game was $450,000. That, to me, is still deficit spending. They added another guarantee that year against Northwestern but not enough to offset the program's salaries. Now, the team has to pay the costs associated with getting to those games, housing, meals, blah blah blah. So those guarantees are gross numbers, not net. But, much credit to you for raising that excellent point, which was unlike Leatherneck57 whose only contribution to ths discussion so far has only been "football is a great game - duh." By the way, it is my understanding that there is discussion in the Big Ten about doing away with the gaurantee games because they almost always end up in a rout (WIU lost to UW 34-10, some might say that is not a rout necessarily, but you can't call that a close game, either - and this year WIU lost to Illinois 0-44 and that is a rout).
As far as WIU being ranked #1 in the nation in the past, the key part of your comment was "just over a decade ago." And when during the season was that ranking? Year end? And that year, did they get past the NCAA Division I-AA playoff quarterfinals (see 2002 and 2003) or did they get knocked out in the first and second rounds (see 2000, 2010, 2015). In 1998 (which is almost two decades ago) they were knocked out in the semifinals. So what is your point? As I stated in my earlier post, they win conference about once every 10 years on average, and get into the post season about once every 4 years on average (and then generally get knocked out in the early rounds). I'll stand by my earlier comment that the record does not deserve the tag of a "premier" program.
But all in all, very good points you raised for discussion. Thank you.
Hey brewer2125....your words; I am an "old-timer". I worked in the press box at football games when Leslie Melpass was president (no I did not get paid but had to do it because I played another sport). Games were a good/great time, and are a good/great time.
So you were an athlete? On Scholarship? I can guarantee you back when you were in school football funded some if not all your sport so you could travel, stay in hotels, eat nice meals and have a uniform to wear. I bet you didn't say anything like this to Frank Winters back then because you were an athlete yourself and you were riding footballs shirt tail!
Your words; if WIU said they were cutting football unless it raised a $500,000 in donations every year, would you kick in, and if so, what would be the max you'd contribute? Just curious.
Question for you...I donate every year...do you as a former athlete? What do you contribute to the University? If you can't answer yes then I would say you don't have much to offer this forum and I'm tired of you bashing the football program! I also contributed to building the new locker room when my former coach and VP of the University Larry Mortier started a building fund. Leatherneck Club members are up, and more and more football alumni are getting involved to raise money for a new West side of the stadium. We plan on doing our part!
If you didn't see an earlier post several pages back...I just donated $8000 of interactive equipment to the football office so I got your "duh"!!!!
In your rant, you failed to mention whether you clicked on the link I sent you. I thought you might find that a bit humorous too unless, of course, it hit a little too close to home for you.
Anyway, football doesn't generate a profit, so no one was riding football's coat-tails, nor are they riding football's coat-tails now either. Read LocalYokelFan's post below showing how "heavily subsidized" football really is. Sorry, it's true.
Finally, my genuine congratulations on your donation of $8,000 worth of interactive equipment to the program. You put your money where your mouth is, as do I with decades of donations to my former team. I don't agree with very much you've said, but in the end I give you credit for getting out the checkbook at least and trying to make a postiive impact.
