(09-14-2014 06:34 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  It doesn't matter. It is completely unrealistic. I know that you're playing the downer "we don't deserve this" card, but it's irrelevant. Money is everything.

I'm not playing any card. I've been saying for years that EMU ought to step up to the plate and commit to D-I football or get out of the game. Whatever EMU thinks it's doing it isn't competitive FBS football. I would have been encouraged if we had scored more than 3 points against ODU. In fact, had we made it closer, say 17-10 or 17-14, I wouldn't have mentioned any drop in divisional status. I never expected a great game against Florida. The sad truth is we aren't competitive at the FBS level. The sadder truth is that we wouldn't even compete well in the FCS - we barely beat a 1-2 Morgan State team that is not one of the upper echelon FCS teams.

I'm willing to give Coach Creighton time but it looks like Coach English, record wise, Part II. Same outcome against the same level of opponents. We struggled against FCS teams under Coach English and continue to do so under Coach Creighton. We struggled against "similarly" matched opponents, like an ODU, under Coach English and continue to do so under Coach Creighton. I'm not even going to mention our butt kicking against the likes of Florida because that is to be expected. I would have been encouraged if we had blown out Morgan State and kept it close against ODU.

As I wrote earlier, the solutions are few and difficult.

Rob

So one touchdown in the ODU game makes that big of a difference in your eyes? Dear god. We were within a score from tying it most of the game, and our offense was dreadful. Creighton has a lot of work to do to clean up English's mess, but I'm not gonna bunch him up with the other failed coaches after just three games. He deserves time.

And again, what you've been "saying for years" is irrelevant. EMU isn't going anywhere. To keep talking about it is a waste of time.

You're right I'm finished wasting my time.


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(09-14-2014 07:07 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  

(09-14-2014 06:35 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Rob, I'm going to disagree with your statement PROSPECTIVELY about bleeding money on football. In the past, I agree.

RETROSPECTIVELY, yes, but this year EMU could have FB revenues of say 3M which is enough to cover the marginal cost of operating a football program.

As I have been posting, ESPN + College FB Playoff monies + Florida guarantee = 2.5M. Add the MSU game + ODU + ...

Steve,

Football is supposed to be a revenue generating sport. At a lot of schools it provides the financial support to allow the non-revenue sports to exist. Not at EMU. In the end, it will not, any time soon, provide enough income to pay for a new stadium or substantial upgrades to Rynearson.

Rob

Rob,

and 'not (supply revenue to other supports) at many universities'

Football, is a little like MLB decades ago, some made big money and many lost money.

Once one gets out of the P5 conferences (e.g., ACC, B1G, SEC, B12, Pac-12) it becomes more dicey.

And even some P5 schools are losing tons of money. Maryland is a classic example. They literally had to join the B1G because B1G has tons of television money. (this has been a big story in the Washington press).

By your logic, the G5 conferences wouldn't exist including the beloved MAC.

Guys, I too need to get back to other things (beside posting), but we have a QB problem, we have an offensive problem, we have a lighting problem (at Rynearson), we might have the worst scoreboard in FBS, etc.

Put ALL those things on a list and Heather and CC need to get them addressed. It isn't 'either/or' but all.

I think you'll see EMU attempt to fix all those things outlined by Steve and give Creighton probably another 5 years. Having said that if CC doesn't succeed I was told that the Regents would take a very close look at the football program and its future, no I don't know what that means, a drop in class perhaps to FCS? CC will get the time to build the program.

By the way since its MSU and EMU week Tim Staudt the guru of the mid Michigan sports scene also thinks EMU football on the field is below the level of Div II power Grand Valley.

As mentioned in my previous posts and by others these payday games are going away slowly but surely.

(09-15-2014 08:38 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I think you'll see EMU attempt to fix all those things outlined by Steve and give Creighton probably another 5 years. Having said that if CC doesn't succeed I was told that the Regents would take a very close look at the football program and its future, no I don't know what that means, a drop in class perhaps to FCS? CC will get the time to build the program.

By the way since its MSU and EMU week Tim Staudt the guru of the mid Michigan sports scene also thinks EMU football on the field is below the level of Div II power Grand Valley.

As mentioned in my previous posts and by others these payday games are going away slowly but surely.

Without getting into details, I have met Heather, Chris (the assoc A/D), etc. etc. and I can tell you those folks did not come to EMU to watch our athletics slide into the sunset.

One can't buy success on the gridiron or basketball court, but if $ and facilities can pave the way for success, we'll succeed in the years to come.

I'm very optimistic about our athletic department and what they're trying to do. (I've heard good things about the folks that Heather has brought in).

They'll raise monies plus the windfall from ESPN & College Football Playoff system we won't be penny pinching forever.

And I do hope that we can put some $ into women's soccer. Kind of like the financial 'field of dreams' - win and the money will flow to the program.

(09-15-2014 08:44 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 08:38 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I think you'll see EMU attempt to fix all those things outlined by Steve and give Creighton probably another 5 years. Having said that if CC doesn't succeed I was told that the Regents would take a very close look at the football program and its future, no I don't know what that means, a drop in class perhaps to FCS? CC will get the time to build the program.

By the way since its MSU and EMU week Tim Staudt the guru of the mid Michigan sports scene also thinks EMU football on the field is below the level of Div II power Grand Valley.

As mentioned in my previous posts and by others these payday games are going away slowly but surely.

Without getting into details, I have met Heather, Chris (the assoc A/D), etc. etc. and I can tell you those folks did not come to EMU to watch our athletics slide into the sunset.

One can't buy success on the gridiron or basketball court, but if $ and facilities can pave the way for success, we'll succeed in the years to come.

I'm very optimistic about our athletic department and what they're trying to do. (I've heard good things about the folks that Heather has brought in).

They'll raise monies plus the windfall from ESPN & College Football Playoff system we won't be penny pinching forever.

And I do hope that we can put some $ into women's soccer. Kind of like the financial 'field of dreams' - win and the money will flow to the program.

That's good part of it is $$$$, but you agree is easier when you see light at the end of the tunnel ie winning or encouraging signs.

(09-15-2014 08:47 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 08:44 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 08:38 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I think you'll see EMU attempt to fix all those things outlined by Steve and give Creighton probably another 5 years. Having said that if CC doesn't succeed I was told that the Regents would take a very close look at the football program and its future, no I don't know what that means, a drop in class perhaps to FCS? CC will get the time to build the program.

By the way since its MSU and EMU week Tim Staudt the guru of the mid Michigan sports scene also thinks EMU football on the field is below the level of Div II power Grand Valley.

As mentioned in my previous posts and by others these payday games are going away slowly but surely.

Without getting into details, I have met Heather, Chris (the assoc A/D), etc. etc. and I can tell you those folks did not come to EMU to watch our athletics slide into the sunset.

One can't buy success on the gridiron or basketball court, but if $ and facilities can pave the way for success, we'll succeed in the years to come.

I'm very optimistic about our athletic department and what they're trying to do. (I've heard good things about the folks that Heather has brought in).

They'll raise monies plus the windfall from ESPN & College Football Playoff system we won't be penny pinching forever.

And I do hope that we can put some $ into women's soccer. Kind of like the financial 'field of dreams' - win and the money will flow to the program.

That's good part of it is $$$$, but you agree is easier when you see light at the end of the tunnel ie winning or encouraging signs.

Agree, but it is the old question which will come first: Facilities or Victories?

As I suggested above, it isn't either or, but BOTH.

We have the worst lighting in the MAC.

We have the worst scoreboard in the MAC (and light years behind say Toledo).

We do have one of the best FieldTurfs in the MAC (I love the gray).

We have one of the worst football buildings.

We have one of the worst, if not the worst, press boxes in the MAC.

We need to be at least 'mid-MAC' in terms of facilities. We can't have losing records and bad facilities. Why would a prospect choose us over CMU or WMU or UT or NIU or BSU (our MAC West competition)?

As I have posted above, I've been to Akron's stadium (not many years old and beautiful) and ODU's (not new but very nice venue) this summer/fall.

Those two stadiums could be reference points for where we need to be.

I do know that the senior athletic staff is traveling to road games and 'taking a look' and will see what other G5 schools have done.

Akron, Toledo, BG, WMU, CMU are all facilities I have seen recently that are LIGHT YEARS better than Rynearson...not even counting game day atmosphere.

Truthfully, GVSU just had a major renovation and their facility is better too! Check it out.

Just as an aside read the Eagle Totem quarterly football report. Just how many more millions are the Regents and the administration willing to put into the program? Consider that the students who don't even attend games are still paying for the indoor practice facility and that was about what $4 million? What's the return or potential return on investment of these millions of dollars for the benefit of the less than 10,000 fans that show up? Don't get me wrong I have and will support trying to keep EMU being Div I as I have supported it all these years. But I certainly realize those that criticize the additional spending on the football program have very legitimate points too.

(09-15-2014 10:44 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Just as an aside read the Eagle Totem quarterly football report. Just how many more millions are the Regents and the administration willing to put into the program? Consider that the students who don't even attend games are still paying for the indoor practice facility and that was about what $4 million? What's the return or potential return on investment of these millions of dollars for the benefit of the less than 10,000 fans that show up? Don't get me wrong I have and will support trying to keep EMU being Div I as I have supported it all these years. But I certainly realize those that criticize the additional spending on the football program have very legitimate points too.

I understand your points but EMU does get payback on its investments.

I know a retired faculty member who thinks the President's house was a great investment. It is HEAVILY used for promotional purposes. It is a big ASSET to the U. What it costs we have got extra donations, etc. many times over. This is not a 'white elephant'.

The IPF is also a big asset and used by others beside EMU athletics.

The Convo hosts what dozens of high school convocations a year.

It is easy to be down on EMU athletics because we don't win (FB) or we don't draw (good crowds) but it is about more than EMU FB, hoops, etc.

But build good facilities which are a credit to the university and have real value to the greater community (we are getting there).

Beside the stadium we could spend some money on the soccer facility. :)

Hm I don't disagree but which community are you trying to impress with all the proposed millions to upgrade facilities? Are you talking about? Ypsi? Ann Arbor? alums students?

I question out loud how many Ypsi or Ann Arbor residents even have an interest in attending a EMU athletic event. Take the 350 for the basketball tournament game you would have thought at least 350 residents of Ypsi would have attended the game I mean it is Div I basketball right? Its not like EMU sports is overpriced either.

Not sure I understand how GVSU isn't FCS yet.