Head Coaching Search

[meganeck]

Scott is right, the minimum for the LC is $50 and you designate where your contribution goes, ie football, baseball, men's or women's basketball, etc or just their general athletic fund. So hopefully if anybody isn't a LC member they will seriously consider becoming one.

Also I know JD has paid for items out of his own pocket to be given away to students at women's bb games in the past and I think he has even given cash (not sure about that) away, to try to attract students to their games. So it has been done. I can't remember if anythings been done at men's BB games. I definitely agree nothing wrong with thinking outside the box to try to get fannies in the stands.

 

[Western_101]

I'm not surprised that he was last, but the GAP between him and the next lowest is brutal. I understand that we are in a tough situation as a university, but we need to do better and be more competitive. It is actually embarrassing. 
 




 

Sort of like the gap between our rushing per game average this year and the next lowest in conference.   Both need to be fixed ASAP.
 



 

I remember seeing he made 170k, but that could have factored in everything, including cost of insurance and the above is simply base salary.  Or he could have taken a decent pay cut to stay coach in 2021 on a 1 year deal.https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local ... a4234.html

170k still the lowest in the conference.

 

This, I think the number reported is the 1 year extension pay.  I thought it was $170,000 as well.

[Western_101]

It was mentioned about an attendance bonus for the coach, but maybe the university tries to offer some sort of student attendance incentive.  This is not coach search related, but giving money to support was brought up and I'd be open to helping fund something.

Lets say its student only and for all or specific home games.  Could we scan and track student ID's as they enter the game?  Must be scanned in by a certain minute mark in the first quarter and then a random drawing to start the 4th quarter or specific minute mark and must be present to win.  Assuming you're not allowed to leave and come back in, so must stay for that specific timeframe.  The winner gets $500 cash?  Might not be that simple, but probably possible.

This could be promoted well before the season and be a major incentive for students to show up and stay.  You would think 2000+ students would find it worth while to spend a few hours at a game supporting their university for a chance to win $500.  Not bad odds either and maybe we win some games and they enjoy the experience and want to come to other games.

I hate to have to offer money for WIU students to support their team, but we need to find a way to get them out and engaged.  If someone knows how we can make this happen, I'd be open to further discussions and funding.  I usually donate to both the Leatherneck Club and University general use, but maybe this could be just as beneficial and worth trying.  Could be a complete failure and money wasted, but can't stand having limited student support.  I know this is a major issue for most none Power 5 schools and not winning doesn't help, but just trying to think of something.

 

In my view one offers an incentive for winning, 6wins= X,  7wins= X,....... Playoff= X, Advancing to Semis and Champinonship game= X.  

Fans and students are fickel, take care of the wins and the people will show up. No need to try to incentivize people to show up to a crummy product. Incentivize the Coach to not have a crummy product. The idea that I get all my guaranteed money, but If I can push through this win I get $20,000 extra "walking around money"  well, that motivates some people.

[Leatherneck57]

It was mentioned about an attendance bonus for the coach, but maybe the university tries to offer some sort of student attendance incentive.  This is not coach search related, but giving money to support was brought up and I'd be open to helping fund something.

Lets say its student only and for all or specific home games.  Could we scan and track student ID's as they enter the game?  Must be scanned in by a certain minute mark in the first quarter and then a random drawing to start the 4th quarter or specific minute mark and must be present to win.  Assuming you're not allowed to leave and come back in, so must stay for that specific timeframe.  The winner gets $500 cash?  Might not be that simple, but probably possible.

This could be promoted well before the season and be a major incentive for students to show up and stay.  You would think 2000+ students would find it worth while to spend a few hours at a game supporting their university for a chance to win $500.  Not bad odds either and maybe we win some games and they enjoy the experience and want to come to other games.

I hate to have to offer money for WIU students to support their team, but we need to find a way to get them out and engaged.  If someone knows how we can make this happen, I'd be open to further discussions and funding.  I usually donate to both the Leatherneck Club and University general use, but maybe this could be just as beneficial and worth trying.  Could be a complete failure and money wasted, but can't stand having limited student support.  I know this is a major issue for most none Power 5 schools and not winning doesn't help, but just trying to think of something.


 

In my view one offers an incentive for winning, 6wins= X,  7wins= X,....... Playoff= X, Advancing to Semis and Champinonship game= X.  

Fans and students are fickel, take care of the wins and the people will show up. No need to try to incentivize people to show up to a crummy product. Incentivize the Coach to not have a crummy product. The idea that I get all my guaranteed money, but If I can push through this win I get $20,000 extra "walking around money"  well, that motivates some people.

 

I agree with pay incentives!  I’ve been watching the recent MAC games and their big stadiums are empty too…maybe a couple thousand fans at most! Most of those teams I’ve been watching have winning records.  The NIU game last week against Ball State if it wasn’t for the band on the east side there was no one on that side and the home side looked like 18,000 empty seats!  

It’s just the kids today.  If it’s not a Power 5 school attendance is down across the country except for NDSU and well followed FCS programs.  




 

[ST_Lawson]

I agree with pay incentives!  I’ve been watching the recent MAC games and their big stadiums are empty too…maybe a couple thousand fans at most! Most of those teams I’ve been watching have winning records.  The NIU game last week against Ball State if it wasn’t for the band on the east side there was no one on that side and the home side looked like 18,000 empty seats!  

It’s just the kids today.  If it’s not a Power 5 school attendance is down across the country except for NDSU and well followed FCS programs.


 

I think in that instance, part of it is just that a lot of the MAC games are on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. They've decided that it's more important to get games on higher-profile TV channels (ESPN2 and ESPNU mostly, as opposed to having all their games on just ESPN+) than it is to make it easy for a big crowd of students and fans. You're right though, nearly everyone is struggling with attendance, and actually, NDSU is included in that. 5-10 years ago, NDSU sold out pretty much every home game (Fargodome holds 19k for reference), but this year, they're only averaging 15,750. Now, obviously we'd love to pull 15k+ fans per game, but when you've been pretty much at 19k for a decade, 15k is a step down.

Also, here's the photos you were trying to get posted regarding crowd size. I'll let you provide comments if you'd like.


 
 

[Leatherneck57]

I agree with pay incentives!  I’ve been watching the recent MAC games and their big stadiums are empty too…maybe a couple thousand fans at most! Most of those teams I’ve been watching have winning records.  The NIU game last week against Ball State if it wasn’t for the band on the east side there was no one on that side and the home side looked like 18,000 empty seats!  

It’s just the kids today.  If it’s not a Power 5 school attendance is down across the country except for NDSU and well followed FCS programs.


 

I think in that instance, part of it is just that a lot of the MAC games are on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. They've decided that it's more important to get games on higher-profile TV channels (ESPN2 and ESPNU mostly, as opposed to having all their games on just ESPN+) than it is to make it easy for a big crowd of students and fans. You're right though, nearly everyone is struggling with attendance, and actually, NDSU is included in that. 5-10 years ago, NDSU sold out pretty much every home game (Fargodome holds 19k for reference), but this year, they're only averaging 15,750. Now, obviously we'd love to pull 15k+ fans per game, but when you've been pretty much at 19k for a decade, 15k is a step down.

Also, here's the photos you were trying to get posted regarding crowd size. I'll let you provide comments if you'd like.


 

 

The pictures shown are of Hanson Field in 1978 and ‘79 when I played.  Also included are pictures of when we played at Northern Michigan in 1979 and at ISU in 1977.  ISU was always standing room only no matter what the records were.  It was a rivalry game!  
 

[Neckfansince71]

57, would love to see your pictures too because I was a part of them from 1971 till now.  I will never forget being in the east bleachers for the Central Michigan game.  jc

[sealhall74]

Maybe it just me, but the players looked more "beefy" back then.  Might be the big shoulder pads or the thick thigh pads.  Today's kids want to play football in bermuda shorts.  

More armor the better, pound the rock as far as I am concerned.
 
 

[sealhall74]

Maybe it just me, but the players looked more "beefy" back then.  Might be the big shoulder pads or the thick thigh pads.  Today's kids want to play football in bermuda shorts.  

More armor the better, pound the rock as far as I am concerned.
 
 




 

Screw that "Purple Plattoon" student section.  Let's start going with "Pound the Rock for Rocki" instead.  One of my biggest pet peaves in football today is kids taking a shortcut to the sideline to avoid contact.  They giving up 2 or 3 yards every time they do it.  The game is football, a contact sport.  I want a head coach who would sit a player for a while and let him think about it every time it happens. 
 
 
 

[rocki]

57, would love to see your pictures too because I was a part of them from 1971 till now.  I will never forget being in the east bleachers for the Central Michigan game.  jc

 

Were those the rickety wooden ones where you were packed together elbow to elbow? Fun times back in the day!!!!!!