President Allen

[Griffitz]

So I was at a supper hosted by the president tonight, and at one point he opened up the floor for questions. I asked him basically: going forward, what can the athletic department expect as far as budget cuts and sports being cut?

His answer intrigued me...he spent the large majority of his response talking about the problems football caused (as we are a very good team but lose money) and spoke longingly about the BCS conferences and how teams like Iowa State can be set just by being a part of them. He talked a little bit about the complications of title IX and how they had no clear "next sport up to the block", but it was mostly football.

Not to say that he would want to cut football in any way...in fact he described the pressure he gets from the board of regents to reduce athletics funding and to me sounded like he believed staunchly in the importance of athletics and football to a university. His answer just left me wondering that if the budget situation doesn't get any better, reforming football in a way to make it more cost effective would become inevitable.

I'm sure this topic has been discussed on here many times before, just thought I'd pass this along.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: President Allen

I don't think the President of the University is likely to give a real glimpse into a complicated answer nobody has a firm grasp on yet at a some kind of organized "supper."

[Griffitz]

Re: President Allen

I don't think the President of the University is likely to give a real glimpse into a complicated answer nobody has a firm grasp on yet at a some kind of organized "supper."

lol sorry...just thought his answer was interesting.

[06panther10]

Re: President Allen

I am definitely worried about the future of UNI athletics.

[r54uni]

Re: President Allen

How is a team like Western Kentucky doing financially compared to if they would have stayed in FCS football? Are our only two options if there is a change to go the way of the Hilltoppers or go with the Bulldogs of Drake?

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: President Allen

How is a team like Western Kentucky doing financially compared to if they would have stayed in FCS football? Are our only two options if there is a change to go the way of the Hilltoppers or go with the Bulldogs of Drake?

Iirc, I believe you have to have a stadium with around 35000 capacity and average somewhere around 20k per game to be able to transfer to FBS... Somebody can correct me on this, but I'm almost positive those numbers are neighborhood.

[06panther10]

Re: President Allen

I dont think it is that high. I think you have to average around 15K.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: President Allen

I dont think it is that high. I think you have to average around 15K.

Idaho seats less than the dome, iirc

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: President Allen

UNI football will not be cut because of financial reasons....... The disaster that is title lX is a whole other animal though.

[Pantherpower]

Re: President Allen

Idaho seats less than the dome, iirc

Didn't they/Don't they skirt around that by using WSU's stadium in nearby Pullman, WA?

[Chitown Panther]

Re: President Allen

Well, push come to shove, the PSC will die and the contributions will go straight to the Football team.

I really don't believe that, but its the first thing that comes to my mind....

[Cat80]

Re: President Allen

Idaho seats less than the dome, iirc

Per Idaho's website: Official capacity 16,000; largest crowd 17,600 at 1989 game with Boise. Kibbe Dome currently undergoing renovation to increase capacity to 20,000.

[06panther10]

Re: President Allen

Per Idaho's website: Official capacity 16,000; largest crowd 17,600 at 1989 game with Boise. Kibbe Dome currently undergoing renovation to increase capacity to 20,000.

Thats interesting. IIRC, their dome is somewhat similar to ours, I wonder how they are increasing it to 20K?

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: President Allen

Well, push come to shove, the PSC will die and the contributions will go straight to the Football team.

I really don't believe that, but its the first thing that comes to my mind....

This...

And if it came absolutely necessary a 2nd FBS game would be scheduled. Football could be self sufficient if it absolutely had too... If the PSC donations went to specific sports as designated by the donor I would bet football would already be there or very close.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: President Allen

Per Idaho's website: Official capacity 16,000; largest crowd 17,600 at 1989 game with Boise. Kibbe Dome currently undergoing renovation to increase capacity to 20,000.

They were grandfathered in when the newer attendance/capacity rules went into effect.

We should have no interest in FBS football. We'll never be in a BCS league, and I'd prefer winning games and championships at the FCS level to being an absolute nobody like Marshall or Western Kentucky.