Official 2008 Football Schedule

[Matt Trump]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Maybe this was answered before but why are we at WIU again this year ?

The schedule got flipped a bit due to the addition of SDSU and NDSU

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Don't think they didn't try. If we have the money it isn't a problem. We still have to pay the bills.

I still don't understand it at all. So if NDSU and SDSU don't join would we be playing a 9 game season?

[MGLD Panther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

This is a terrible schedule...There is some tough tough games on there, not to mention that we have one home game in the last 5 weeks of the season. Why is it so hard to get a decent schedule? Wouldn't it be more benificial to play the little sisters of the poor in the Dome than not having another game?

That is what the Hawkeye's do! Chill out.

[alleycat]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

I still don't understand it at all. So if NDSU and SDSU don't join would we be playing a 9 game season?

I am not saying that. If SDSU and NDSU don't join we have 2 additional dates that may work with other teams. We are not only looking at filling a spot, but a specific date. Teams know we need to fill this date and can demand a higer pay out. The number of teams available for one date is reduced.

[JayJ79]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Perhaps this was a contributing factor in some way toward Hartzell leaving.
Football scheduling was getting tougher, given our success. And the budget constraints (perhaps imposed by whoever RH had to report to, hence that issue of wanting to report directly to the Prez) made it even more difficult, and that contributed to him wanting out.

Just a theory. I have zero inside knowledge of the workings of the athletic dept.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Perhaps this was a contributing factor in some way toward Hartzell leaving.
Football scheduling was getting tougher, given our success. And the budget constraints (perhaps imposed by whoever RH had to report to, hence that issue of wanting to report directly to the Prez) made it even more difficult, and that contributed to him wanting out.

Just a theory. I have zero inside knowledge of the workings of the athletic dept.

The reasons for his leaving have been thoroughly discussed and were quite obvious. Scheduling was not one of them.

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

I am not saying that. If SDSU and NDSU don't join we have 2 additional dates that may work with other teams. We are not only looking at filling a spot, but a specific date. Teams know we need to fill this date and can demand a higer pay out. The number of teams available for one date is reduced.

Thanks I hadn't really thought of that. But we do actually have 2 dates open (Sept 13, and Oct 4) I'm just really disappointed at only 5 home games again especially in a 12 game year. I'm sure every possibility was and still will be explored especially with farley as AD.

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Interesting to note around the gateway.

Illinois state is the only other school to only have 5 home games scheduled for this year.

*SDSU and YSU have a 12 game schedule

*I couldn't find schedules for MSU and Indiana State but both of them had 6 home games last year when we did not.

Not to be too hard on the administration but I just find it hard understanding why it's such a unique situation at UNI.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Not to be too hard on the administration but I just find it hard understanding why it's such a unique situation at UNI.

I agree. Unfortunately, while I understand some of the difficulties we have I just dont hear about it happening to other schools like it does to us (maybe that's just it... I dont hear about but it does happen... anyone know?). This will mark the FOURTH time since 2001 that we've played a 5-game regular season schedule. To me that doesn't even seem possible.

I understand that it costs money to schedule even a patsy... but how is that not offset by the fact that its 10-16,000 extra fans in the stands this fall? Seriously, you're telling me there isn't a non-schollie out there we couldn't coerce to come in for a big payday (mind you, "big" to them can be $40-50K)?? And its not just the potential revenue unrealized, but its the stunted momentum only playing at home 5 out of 13 Saturdays will do to a team. We can't always count on beating an ISU and being ranked #1 to give an incredible boost to attendance. Fans also want to develop a connection and even one less chance to do so is a severe problem, IMO.

Correct me if I'm wrong but couldn't we have garnered a lot more money with potential deals with LSU, FSU, etc but we balanced money with the potential to perhaps pull an upset at BYU as a determining factor for taking a smaller payday? I was fine with that strategy before I knew we wouldn't get 6 home games. But since its come to this, I would have found the biggest payday possible. Heck the exposure of playing LSU alone would have been worth it.

I know I likely don't understand the whole situation and I'm sure I would struggle with it if I were in UNI's shoes but from an outside perspective I have a hard time feeling as sympathetic when I hear we are strapped for cash when there seems to be options available for us that we don't take advantage of enough.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Breakdown of 5 home game regular seasons for Gateway schools that have been a participant from '01 to Present.

• ILSU - Two seasons (however 7 home games in '03)
• InSU - Four
• MSU - Three (7 in '02 & '04... and only played 10 games in '05)
• SIU - Three (7 in '02)
• WIU - Four
• YSU - Zero (7 in '01, '03 & '07)

Well, I'll admit, its a more widespread problem than I originally realized. Ind St doesn't surprise me but the rest do a bit. Though, its interesting that many of our rivals play 7 game home schedules which is something we could never dream of.

I'm no longer buying the argument that "no one wants to come to the Dome because we're too good." I dont think a whole lot of teams want to play at the Ice Castle, but YSU has had as many 7-game home schedules as we have had 5-gamers so they must be doing something right.

[heisman6183]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

This might be a little off topic, but the BYU game is about the worst that could have been scheduled, unless they're paying us double what anyone else would have. A few of the reasons for a D-I game is the big payday, chance for your fans to go, chance to win, opportunities to play in a recruiting area and have potential recruits see your team in person, or play a big name that everyone can get excited about.

Like I said, unless BYU is paying double what anyone else would have, this game fails at all aspects. Getting to Provo, UT isn't the easiest for fans, at least not as easy as getting to a Big 10 locale or somewhere in the south where there are other things to do like go to the beach. BYU has a phenomenal team this year and, not to be negative, will dominate the game. I hope it doesn't happen this way, but they're a big boy football team. Last time I checked, we don't recruit in Utah and nobody else does either. Finally, even though everyone on here knows how good BYU is, the average UNI fan doesn't, and if we lose bad to them, the average fan (ones who go to games based on the team's success) will think that was a game we were supposed to win wince App. St. beat Michigan last year and we beat Iowa St. last year and they'll think UNI stinks and won't go to any games. Not to mention the difficult atmosphere they will have.

Of the names Hartzell mentioned awhile ago, Miami was the most attractive to me. They're a big name, they're not very good, they're in Florida, and they have no homefield advantage, especially since they'll play in Dolphin Stadium this year and they only get about 30,000. LSU obviously was not afraid of us since they scheduled App St. If you're going to play a top 25 team, you might as well play the defending champ. I know every Panther fan could get excited about that one. As a whole the schedule isn't great, but there's plenty of opportunities to win some games, make the playoffs, and have a great season.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

I'd rather pound Drake again in the dome then have no game at all.

Unfortunately the Bulldogs disagree.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Not to be too hard on the administration but I just find it hard understanding why it's such a unique situation at UNI.

Teams don't line up to come play us in the dome.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

I'm no longer buying the argument that "no one wants to come to the Dome because we're too good." I dont think a whole lot of teams want to play at the Ice Castle, but YSU has had as many 7-game home schedules as we have had 5-gamers so they must be doing something right.

YSU has more FCS teams in their region.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

FCS teams with decent travel distance: Drake, Eastern Illinois, and Butler.

This doesn't help.