Momentum

[Jimmy Serrano]

Yes, it’s pretty simple- the university would drop to FCS rather than abruptly ends its near 100 year history in the sport all together. I don’t see us becoming St Johns or Xavier. If Maine, UNH and Rhode Island can run a leaky FCS program, then sure as hell we are going to do it too. Bubble gum and band aids.

This is insane.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Do you have evidence the financial holes to run FCS football are deeper than our current deficit or you just making that up? 125+ programs on the stupid bus.

Where would they even play the games?

 

[whaler11]

Do you have evidence the financial holes to run FCS football are deeper than our current deficit or you just making that up? 125+ programs on the stupid bus.

Their existance is a historical relic. They are going to start dropping like flies especially at public schools. The students are finally wising up to student debt loads and how they get saddled with it for things like athletic subsidies.

The cost savings is 20 odd scholarships and a million+ dollars in coaching salaries or so.

The revenue loss is all of the revenue.

How would you ever close the gap with that trade?

The next state budget is going to punish UConn - the subsidy is going to really come under scruitiny next cycle.

 

[Purple Stein]

Yes, it’s pretty simple- the university would drop to FCS rather than abruptly ends its near 100 year history in the sport all together. I don’t see us becoming St Johns or Xavier. If Maine, UNH and Rhode Island can run a leaky FCS program, then sure as hell we are going to do it too. Bubble gum and band aids.

Maine's program is not leaky and quite occasionally vaguely successful!

 

[Palatine]

Dropping to FCS doesn't save any money. It is a big financial loser with no chance to break even or make profit.

There is a saying on the Appalachian Trail, "never make a decision when you are walking uphill." Making a decision about the football program when it is at it nadir would be similar. Any change in the football program needs to balance its potential and peripheral effects on the university. Getting a couple of years past Diaco before doing anything would be a rational move.

 

[YoungFree]

They will drop football altogether before they go FCS.

Really?

 

[YoungFree]

Someone needs to tell the 125+ school’s playing at the FCS level what they are doing makes zero sense. Playing FCS makes more sense to me than dropping football altogether. The list of schools with a major athletic profile without any football is short to non existent.

One thing that makes perfect sense in FCS: the playoff system.

 

[YoungFree]

Yikes. That's nuts.

 

[Exit 4]

Where would they even play the games?

IDK - The Rent looks to have a permanently wide open schedule.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

IDK - The Rent looks to have a permanently wide open schedule.

LOL yes an FCS program will games at the Rent.

Why would you even want an FCS team? It would borderline criminal to sink money into this during these budget cycles with rising tuition costs. Look at the link medic posted. It’s criminal for state schools to be doing this. They are not only stupid they are insane.

 

[YoungFree]

LOL yes an FCS program will games at the Rent.

Why would you even want an FCS team? It would borderline criminal to sink money into this during these budget cycles with rising tuition costs. Look at the link medic posted. It’s criminal for state schools to be doing this. They are not only stupid they are insane.

I argue that for state schools like Delaware, could they even make enough money to pay for FBS scholarships and the travel associated with it? Delaware is tiny and doesn't pull in that much money. CT has insane budget woes already so I agree as a money-making venture, FCS isn't financially the best way ahead. And seeing as college sports seem to be all about money...

 

[Exit 4]

The revenue loss is all of the revenue.

What revenue? Best I can tell the revenue we generate now barely covers the cost to open the Rent. And we already get very little TV revenue.

We are not going to drop football all together unless we can do it under the cover that our surrounding state universities are doing the same. When Albany, Stony Brook, Buffalo, URI, NH and Maine cut football then we will have cover to cut it too, otherwise we aren't going to blaze that path.

 

[Exit 4]

LOL yes an FCS program will games at the Rent.

Why would you even want an FCS team? It would borderline criminal to sink money into this during these budget cycles with rising tuition costs. Look at the link medic posted. It’s criminal for state schools to be doing this. They are not only stupid they are insane.

Yes - all criminally insane: With respect to the state budget, CCSU will lose their team before we lose our team.

List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs - Wikipedia

 

[whaler11]

What revenue? Best I can tell the revenue we generate now barely covers the cost to open the Rent. And we already get very little TV revenue.

We are not going to drop football all together unless we can do it under the cover that our surrounding state universities are doing the same. When Albany, Stony Brook, Buffalo, URI, NH and Maine cut football then we will have cover to cut it too, otherwise we aren't going to blaze that path.

They do still sell some tickets. Many of which come with seat donations. The program has some supporters that donate. There is some bowl money they get.

Going to FCS enrages a huge piece of your fanbase without closing the deficit.

We can agree to disagree but your logic makes no sense. Nothing those schools do or don’t do is going to influence how the numbers force UConn’s hand.

Making a change from FBS football is 100% a financial decision - there is no reasonable half measure that addresses the financial gap.

 

[whaler11]

Why would anyone even want FCS football?

At least if they drop it they have additional resources to throw at basketball and hockey.

FCS would be an absolute embarrassment.

 

[YoungFree]

What revenue? Best I can tell the revenue we generate now barely covers the cost to open the Rent. And we already get very little TV revenue.

We are not going to drop football all together unless we can do it under the cover that our surrounding state universities are doing the same. When Albany, Stony Brook, Buffalo, URI, NH and Maine cut football then we will have cover to cut it too, otherwise we aren't going to blaze that path.

Even with all our history as a football program? Wouldn't that be like saying Rutgers will cut their program? Rutgers started playing in 1869.

Looking at your list above:

Maine: 1892
NH: 1893
URI: 1895
UConn: 1896
Buffalo: 1899
Stony Brook: 1969
Albany: 1973

Some other New England/New York Schools:

Columbia: 1870
Harvard: 1873
Brown: 1878
UMass: 1879
Dartmouth: 1881
Fordham: 1881
Cornell: 1887
Colgate: 1890
Holy Cross: 1891
Boston College: 1893

I feel if Stony Brook and Albany drop their programs it won't be as big a hit as the others on your list. Once those other schools or some of the other New England/New York schools do it, then I say doomsday is getting closer. Wouldn't it be better to pack a stadium for winning FCS team then have an empty stadium for a losing FBS team?

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Yes - all criminally insane: With respect to the state budget, CCSU will lose their team before we lose our team.

List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs - Wikipedia

Your position is basically, because there are over 100 schools being stupid, that we should be stupid too. And until some of our neighbors wise up, we shouldn’t wise up until they do.

If we drop from FBS it’s a financial move. We are not going to drop a level to dig a deeper hole. It’s basic math. We also have a basketball program we are trying to protect. If we dropped from FBS we’d be out of the AAC and join the NBE. Why on earth would we want a CAA program as a financial albatross? There’d be justified outrage.

 

[Pudge]

First ... UConn Athletic Department is NOT just Football and Men's Basketball. The Jimmy Carter Malaise exhibited by some is because these years have been tough in those two bell cow sports. The Overall AD is genuinely in good shape. But we were in the Jeff Hathaway Zzzzz years. We hire Program coaches and let them develop to compete for championships. That was true of Calhoun and Auriemma; but also Stevens and Ray Reid (?). Jim Penders. Mike Cavanaugh. Randy Edsall is proven - in my mind. It is tough this term because the new conference does not provide the buzz for State of Connecticut fans as the Big East slant of Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, WVU, BC. But, some of the things Edsall is doing this time informs me that he is actually a better HC than the previous years.

Second ... Michael Hogan was a very mediocre administrator. The Susan Herbst years, in contrast, has been one of significant University growth and excellence. The athletic department is merely one important component of a campus (series of campuses) that needed energetic leadership and change. To judge Susan Herbst (or David Benedict) on conference status ignores that our path was largely set in 2002-2003, long before they arrived. Beat out Louisville>? Only if the collective political structure was willing to bankrupt the City, County and State (further) with a YUM type deal; which I suspect is rivaled by their PapaJohns Stadium deal. The University, in the realm it operates, does not have the juice to push through stupidity. I do not see the New Big East as a hugely beneficial option. I think we are in FBS Football for the long haul given a $200-300m investment. And the marketing, given the poor field performance since 2010 (hmmm) is pushing a rock up a hill thus far.

The reason I don't like to engage in the debate is the above answer doesn't really ever change. Nothing about this moment in time gives more momentum than Danny Hurley and Randy Edsall - solid two gets and contracts given the circumstances. And, yet, I do bring up the history: We sucked before John Toner edged us into the Dave Gavitt discussion; we have a glorious rise since. And there will be great days again.

 

[Exit 4]

Your position is basically, because there are over 100 schools being stupid, that we should be stupid too. And until some of our neighbors wise up, we shouldn’t wise up until they do.

If we drop from FBS it’s a financial move. We are not going to drop a level to dig a deeper hole. It’s basic math. We also have a basketball program we are trying to protect. If we dropped from FBS we’d be out of the AAC and join the NBE. Why on earth would we want a CAA program as a financial albatross? There’d be justified outrage.

Yes - you have summed it up. But we are not really in the right position to judge the financial hole. I'm not convinced that our football deficit in 2016, 2017 and 2018 isnt already rather massive and would be less massive so to speak in an FCS setting.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Yes - you have summed it up. But we are not really in the right position to judge the financial hole. I'm not convinced that our football deficit in 2016, 2017 and 2018 isnt already rather massive and would be less massive so to speak in an FCS setting.

Money we would save:

22 scholarships @ $60k per kid = $1.325 million

Coaches salary = about $1 million

Through in the reduced cost of travel to get to $3 million.

Now tell me how much money is going to be lost revenue wise on the following:

Ticket sales
Seat donations
Corporate sponsorships
TV revenue
Bowl money
AAC money

That’s just a start.

 

[Excalibur]

Dropping to FCS doesn't save any money. It is a big financial loser with no chance to break even or make profit.

There is a saying on the Appalachian Trail, "never make a decision when you are walking uphill." Making a decision about the football program when it is at it nadir would be similar. Any change in the football program needs to balance its potential and peripheral effects on the university. Getting a couple of years past Diaco before doing anything would be a rational move.

Perhaps. But at some point you have to make a call as to whether something can be fixed or not. I'm not saying we're there yet, but that decision point exists.

 

[UCFBfan]

Well this thread definitely started some positive momentum on this board....nothing talking about dropping football to spark some interest

 

[YoungFree]

Why would anyone even want FCS football?

At least if they drop it they have additional resources to throw at basketball and hockey.

FCS would be an absolute embarrassment.

Do you think the following schools look at FCS football as an embarrasement?

Montana - 2 national championships (7 appearances), 18 conference championships, 23 playoff appearances, 93.33% avg attendance in 2017, 100.6% in 2016, 95.72% in 2015
James Madison - 2 national championships, 7 conference championships, 14 playoff apperances, 87.32% avg attendance in 2017, 79.76% in 2016
North Dakota State - 6 national championships, 9 conference championships, 8 playoff apperances, 96.48% avg attendance in 2017, 97.66% in 2016, 97.35% in 2015

Comparison:
UConn - 0 national championships, 2 conference championships, 6 bowl games, 50.04% avg attendance in 2017, 65.94% in 2016, 70.53% in 2015

Here is an article about the financial woes of UMass' move to FBS: Football is forever: The money-losing drug these schools can't quit

 

[whaler11]

Do you think the following schools look at FCS football as an embarrasement?

Montana - 2 national championships (7 appearances), 18 conference championships, 23 playoff appearances, 93.33% avg attendance in 2017, 100.6% in 2016, 95.72% in 2015
James Madison - 2 national championships, 7 conference championships, 14 playoff apperances, 87.32% avg attendance in 2017, 79.76% in 2016
North Dakota State - 6 national championships, 9 conference championships, 8 playoff apperances, 96.48% avg attendance in 2017, 97.66% in 2016, 97.35% in 2015

Comparison:
UConn - 0 national championships, 2 conference championships, 6 bowl games, 50.04% avg attendance in 2017, 65.94% in 2016, 70.53% in 2015

Here is an article about the financial woes of UMass' move to FBS: Football is forever: The money-losing drug these schools can't quit

Did I miss when those schools were in a BCS league and went to the Fiesta Bowl.

If your point is people will support a winning FCS team here....

1. There isn’t really any evidence they would win at the FCS level

2. They wouldn’t draw 5k to FCS games

It would be a total and complete embarrassment.

 

[Husky25]

Do you think the following schools look at FCS football as an embarrasement?

Montana - 2 national championships (7 appearances), 18 conference championships, 23 playoff appearances, 93.33% avg attendance in 2017, 100.6% in 2016, 95.72% in 2015
James Madison - 2 national championships, 7 conference championships, 14 playoff apperances, 87.32% avg attendance in 2017, 79.76% in 2016
North Dakota State - 6 national championships, 9 conference championships, 8 playoff apperances, 96.48% avg attendance in 2017, 97.66% in 2016, 97.35% in 2015

Comparison:
UConn - 0 national championships, 2 conference championships, 6 bowl games, 50.04% avg attendance in 2017, 65.94% in 2016, 70.53% in 2015

Here is an article about the financial woes of UMass' move to FBS: Football is forever: The money-losing drug these schools can't quit

I think they have accepted FCS football as their ceiling.

Could you put attendance in context next time?

Washington Grizzly Stadium holds 25,200
Bridgeforth Stadium holds 25,000
The FargoDome holds 19,000

UConn was getting close to 40,000 not too long ago. When they were FCS, they were drawing about 14,000, max. Most of the time, far far less. I know. I was there.

I amend my previous question to: Could you put your argument in it's proper context next time?