Official 2008 Football Schedule

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

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

This doesn't help.

Drake has bailed us out a few times. But we are now closing in on evening the all-time series, so somehow I think those opportunities will be fewer.

Eastern Illinois bailed out of the Gateway years ago because they couldn't handle losing to the "real" Panthers all the time. Not likely they will want to be back unless forced by a playoff committee.

Butler would be a haul, but might be a neat addition if we could get them in basketball, too.

A closer team than Butler would be Valpo. They play in the same league as Drake and Butler and maybe we could swing a basketball series with them as well. Though I don't know what their schedule is like this year.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

YSU has more FCS teams in their region.

They also have a couple DII teams nearby that they routinely schedule.

[JayJ79]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

They also have a couple DII teams nearby that they routinely schedule.

plus, they get a pretty good paycheck to be pounded by Ohio State.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

YSU has more FCS teams in their region.

Fair enough, it does make it easier. And MTs right two about the D-II availability in the area (though I dont think we've ever had a real problem finding those... we've got a lot of options from the MIAA and the Northern Sun).

However, they've also scheduled Mcneese, Samford, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Northeastern, Maine and UC Davis over the last few years which aren't exactly "neighbors" to Youngstown.

For us, I would also add North Dakota (does this count at D-1 this year?) & Cal Poly as options to explore more... they've proved they'll come in the past and I would think you could work out a 2 for 1 type of deal again.

Someone answer me this… will we LOSE money on an extra home game under any viable scenario? I understand that UNI isn’t made of money but sometimes you have to give a little to get a little and maybe even a break even or minimal $$ gain game is worth more than they are willing to believe it is. I don’t think I’m the only one looking at the schedule this year thinking there aren’t a lot of “gimmies” on it and we could just as easily be sitting pretty at the top as we could be in danger territory (playoff bubble). So why not go out and buy a likely win and a home game? North Dakota two years ago notwithstanding, we tend to beat teams we bring in. So a win could help mean the difference between a playoff season or better yet, home games for the playoffs. Well what do the playoffs mean to this school?? A lot I’m guessing that is both quantifiable ($/merchandise, etc) and immeasurable but highly valuable (branding/status/coverage, etc).

I guess my point is that I’m questioning the creativity and imagination of this process from the powers that be. Look what SIU pulled in order to get a home b-ball game with Indiana. Look at the dough Montana and YSU held out to get from Iowa and Ohio St. Yes, those were road game situations but where is that type of creative scheduling?? I just don’t see it. Pile on me for not “getting it” if you want but I’m of the belief that there is more we could be doing and instead are choosing to settle for this “hard to get people to come to the dome” reasoning. Again, its not an invalid reason… but I don’t think we should hide completely behind it.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

Youngstown also has a large stadium and draws very well for their cupcake games. Those contests are usually the first week of the season so they always get a decent game regardless of the opponent.

[06panther10]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

This is pathetic. We are one of the better FCS schools in the country and we have as much success getting games as Indiana State. I realize we have low funds, but what do all of the other FCS schools have? I mean, we win in between 7 and 11 games every year and we have less money than everyone else in the country? We are one of the winningest schools out there and we cannnot get anytyhing? WTF

[Matt Trump]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

FWIW, this scheduling issue has been a problem for a very long time.

[Mudrafan]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

hey heisman...you do realize UNI is a Division I school...correct?

['70 Grad]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

"Someone answer me this… will we LOSE money on an extra home game under any viable scenario? "


I was told by someone in the dept. that as hard as it is to believe, we did not make money on our sellouts last year - with all the security, parking people, etc. that are needed. Sounds nuts, but the source was good. Maybe this is the time to raise ticket prices - while we are "hot." Compared to the big boys they are a freaking bargain.

[Chitown Panther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

5 home games sucks. 11 games doesn't bother me. More time to rest. IF an 8-4 EIU gets in before UNI....that is a problem. But there is no reason we can't go atleast 8-3.

What pisses me off is that we have a Head Football Coach as the AD. That is the Joke. Either Farley needs to coach.....or direct athletics....NOT BOTH!!!!!

[Matt Trump]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

"Someone answer me this… will we LOSE money on an extra home game under any viable scenario? "


I was told by someone in the dept. that as hard as it is to believe, we did not make money on our sellouts last year - with all the security, parking people, etc. that are needed. Sounds nuts, but the source was good. Maybe this is the time to raise ticket prices - while we are "hot." Compared to the big boys they are a freaking bargain.

The financial goal of UNI football has always been to break even.

[heisman6183]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

hey heisman...you do realize UNI is a Division I school...correct?

What?! I thought UNI played Division II football. Man, where have I been. They really need to stop all this FCS/FBS nonsense. I could not care any less how our level of football is seen by others. All that matters is how fans of FCS/I-AA/63 scholarship football view it. It's silly to get worked up about people not considering it Division I. Who cares? We know what it is.

[clenz]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

5 home games sucks. 11 games doesn't bother me. More time to rest. IF an 8-4 EIU gets in before UNI....that is a problem. But there is no reason we can't go atleast 8-3.

What pisses me off is that we have a Head Football Coach as the AD. That is the Joke. Either Farley needs to coach.....or direct athletics....NOT BOTH!!!!!

HE isn't going to do both. He is just filling in for one

[BCPanther]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

I do agree that 5 home games in no fun, but realistically we are dealing with 2 games that we have any flexibility with.

We are locked in to four at home and four on the road within the league. We also lose one home opportunity because we HAVE to play the money game every year. That leaves us two games most years and it is going to be amazingly difficult to get both those games at home.

The other thing is that I don't feel we need to add a home game for the sake of adding a home game in a 12 game year. A game against SEMO or somebody like that does us no good. It doesn't make us better and it doesn't excite the fan base enough to make it a big draw and then by the time we pay their guarantee, we lose money...

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Official 2008 Football Schedule

FYI... rest of the league...

• InSU - 12 games, 5 home
• IlSU - 11/5
• NDSU - 11/6
• SDSU - 12/6
• SIU - 11/6
• WIU - 11/6
• YSU - 12/6

So...

• 63% of the league isn't scheduling 12 games.
• 38% league cant get 6 home games.