Whether or not we can maintain our present level of success is going to depend on whether or not we can boost our budget up to a level that will allow us to compete financually with even the most average of division one schools like Central Florida and San Diego State. These schools have the advantage of receiving state money for athletics whereas UTEP(and all other schools in Texas) does not. Currently our budget is about 14 million, up from the 6 million it was when Bob Stull arrived but still embarrasingly low by C-USA standards, and we MUST get it to 20 million within the next 3 years or the fragile house of cards we have recently built could easily come crashing down. Fortunately, Bob Stull understands this and has scheduled so that UTEP can keep winning which brings the crowds and also playing at home so that UTEP can MAKE MONEY from those crowds. Bear in mind that we have to pay a 2-million dollar fee for joining C-USA and we had to forego conference revenues in the WAC last year so that squeezes our athletic department financially even more. Without a larger budget we cannot afford to pay our coaches and administrators competitive salaries, have competitive recruiting budgets, continue to improve the facilities, and be able to pay the big money guarantees that we need must in order to attract big name visiting teams. It is crucial that UTEP fans stop criticizing Bob Stull and get behind the team. Considering we drew 34K for the Weber State game last year I think they will. It is great that we led C-USA in both football and basketball attendance last year but this is about more than just bragging rights. It is an absolute necessity that our attendance remain VERY high. We are at a crossroads. On one side is the road towards building a Louisville-like athletic program but we must have the money to maintain that consistency. The other side is a return to the dreary past. We must support Bob Stull, Mack Rhodes, Mike Price, and Doc Sadler if we want to have the kind of program that we know UTEP could be and stop whining, criticizing, and trying to undermine their efforts.

Bravo!!! *CLAP CLAP CLAP* excellent post.

charles Wrote:Bravo!!! *CLAP CLAP CLAP* excellent post.

Thanks, I would even add that a 20 million dollar budget would be just a START. If we really want to compete with the strongest mid-major programs such as BYU and Utah we must have at least a 30 million dollar war chest every year. Heck, Louisville isn't even playing in a BCS conference yet and they've already announced a $37 million dollar athletic budget. That's what we're up against boys and you need to understand that. The problem with El Paso is the so-called "brain drain". I guess it means a lot of people had their brains drained out and replaced with cow poop because they don't have the mental capacity to see the forest from the trees. You need to look at the big picture like Bob Stull is doing, the present may look ok but if UTEP doesn't build a stronger foundation the long term future is EXTREMELY fragile. People need to enjoy the success and support the athletic program but also understand that what Stull, Rhodes, Sadler, Price, etc...are doing is what is in the best LONG-TERM interests of the program and that they know a lot more about this than some "Joe Six-Pack" on the steet who has never been an AD or a college coach.

MajorMiner Wrote:

charles Wrote:Bravo!!! *CLAP CLAP CLAP* excellent post.

Thanks, I would even add that a 20 million dollar budget would be just a START. If we really want to compete with the strongest mid-major programs such as BYU and Utah we must have at least a 30 million dollar war chest every year. Heck, Louisville isn't even playing in a BCS conference yet and they've already announced a $37 million dollar athletic budget. That's what we're up against boys and you need to understand that. The problem with El Paso is the so-called "brain drain". I guess it means a lot of people had their brains drained out and replaced with cow poop because they don't have the mental capacity to see the forest from the trees. You need to look at the big picture like Bob Stull is doing, the present may look ok but if UTEP doesn't build a stronger foundation the long term future is EXTREMELY fragile. People need to enjoy the success and support the athletic program but also understand that what Stull, Rhodes, Sadler, Price, etc...are doing is what is in the best LONG-TERM interests of the program and that they know a lot more about this than some "Joe Six-Pack" on the steet who has never been an AD or a college coach.

Preach on brother!

Bob Stull is the man!