Conference Shuffle

[QCPanther05]

Some seem think that we must do what we can to stay competitive in the *third tier* of college football. Why? We could shovel that money into a sport in which we could be competitive in the *first tier* (bball) instead. The counter argument is that we’ll lose corporate sponsors and donors. Ok, are those sponsors and donors even helping the football program break even? If not, football is an overall drain on resources UNI doesn’t have and should be discarded. Do you want UNI to be competitive in the third tier of football at the cost of being competitive in the first tier of basketball. Because some point sooner than you want to admit the school is going to have to make a choice. We really can’t be competitive in both sports and only one of them matters to the school’s bottom line.

[BrockLesnar]

Some seem think that we must do what we can to stay competitive in the *third tier* of college football. Why? We could shovel that money into a sport in which we could be competitive in the *first tier* (bball) instead. The counter argument is that we’ll lose corporate sponsors and donors. Ok, are those sponsors and donors even helping the football program break even? If not, football is an overall drain on resources UNI doesn’t have and should be discarded. Do you want UNI to be competitive in the third tier of football at the cost of being competitive in the first tier of basketball. Because some point sooner than you want to admit the school is going to have to make a choice. We really can’t be competitive in both sports and only one of them matters to the school’s bottom line.

Yeah, I'd say there's something to that. So, the Dome will be for high school football, concerts, a sports show, and indoor track?

[BCPanther]

Some seem think that we must do what we can to stay competitive in the *third tier* of college football. Why? We could shovel that money into a sport in which we could be competitive in the *first tier* (bball) instead. The counter argument is that we’ll lose corporate sponsors and donors. Ok, are those sponsors and donors even helping the football program break even? If not, football is an overall drain on resources UNI doesn’t have and should be discarded. Do you want UNI to be competitive in the third tier of football at the cost of being competitive in the first tier of basketball. Because some point sooner than you want to admit the school is going to have to make a choice. We really can’t be competitive in both sports and only one of them matters to the school’s bottom line.

It's no secret that I'm a basketball guy but dropping football is a non-starter. The backlash and negative publicity would kill the entire department.

The biggest thing would be having a competent athletic director that could actually ****ing raise money.

I don't believe that being competitive in both is impossible. Look at the entirety of the Hartzell years. We had an aggressive AD that could go out and get money and we were better across the board. That's where it starts.

[BrockLesnar]

East: Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Missouri State, Murray State, Illinois State, North Dakota, Indiana State, Youngstown State, and Western Illinois.

West: Montana, Montana State, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington, Weber State, UC Davis, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Northern Colorado, Idaho, Cal Poly, and Idaho State.

Play 12. Ten divisional, one inter divisional, and one non-conference.

[BCPanther]

East: Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Missouri State, Murray State, Illinois State, North Dakota, Indiana State, and Montana.

West: Montana State, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington, Weber State, UC Davis, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Northern Colorado, Idaho, Cal Poly, and Idaho State.

Play 12. Ten divisional, one inter divisional, and one non-conference. Six home six road. Peace out to WIU and Youngstown. It might be also 5 home 7 road depending on the non-conference game.We could schedule down to D2 in the non-conference to make sure we have it at home to equal 6 home 6 road. Could even be 7 home 5 road getting to be at home non-conference and inter divisional.

The Valley and Big Sky aren't merging.

[vbfan19]

So, the Dome will be for high school football, concerts, a sports show, and indoor track?

but people on here are always complaining about how bad the Dome is, and that it is outdated and lacks atmosphere

[vbfan19]

Play 12.

not allowed during most years by FCS rules

[BrockLesnar]

not allowed during most years by FCS rules

Yeah, rules are meant to be broken. Just watch my wrestling show.

[BrockLesnar]

but people on here are always complaining about how bad the Dome is, and that it is outdated and lacks atmosphere

Oh what the Hell, let's just pop up a new 500,000 seater with all the bells and whistles. I'm sure the farmers could use some rest.

[ofpantherandman]

but people on here are always complaining about how bad the Dome is, and that it is outdated and lacks atmosphere

It is objectively outdated and it does lack atmosphere - unless it's packed full, which it is not anymore. The Dome is a terrible place for concerts, ok for indoor track, kind of fun for softball, just ok for our football team, and pretty great for state football.

[BCPanther]

It is objectively outdated and it does lack atmosphere - unless it's packed full, which it is not anymore. The Dome is a terrible place for concerts, ok for indoor track, kind of fun for softball, just ok for our football team, and pretty great for state football.

You can cross track off that list. The surface is shot and the Valley moved the indoor meet to Chicago.

The rest is exactly right. It's got the charm of a cold war missile silo at this point.

[UNIpanther99]

I feel like if we passed the hat during IHSAA playoffs and said we are at risk of losing the Dome and next year you might have to play at Drake, we could make more money than you might think.

Non-UNI people who are connected to high school football in the state really care about the Dome. Not at an individually high dollar amount, but a well targeted campaign could raise a significant amount of money.

[Big Cats]

If you look at the history of the state playoffs you will find that the first year or two the semi's and finals were held at Kinnick. I don't think the IAHSAA wants to go back to that.

[UNIpanther99]

If you look at the history of the state playoffs you will find that the first year or two the semi's and finals were held at Kinnick. I don't think the IAHSAA wants to go back to that.

U of I would charge them much more than we do, I can guarantee that. And the parking situation there would be atrocious. They'd be having teams dress in the Rec center or Field House. And that's all on top of the fact that it's outdoors. It might have worked as a one-off situation during the covid year if we wouldn't have been able to host indoors, but Kinnick isn't a viable long-term solution. Jack Trice would make a little more sense, but still not great, especially with the natural surface.

The UNI-Dome is the perfect venue for an event most Iowa high school boys dream about playing in someday.

[BCPanther]

I feel like if we passed the hat during IHSAA playoffs and said we are at risk of losing the Dome and next year you might have to play at Drake, we could make more money than you might think.

Non-UNI people who are connected to high school football in the state really care about the Dome. Not at an individually high dollar amount, but a well targeted campaign could raise a significant amount of money.

You, um, interested in working for the department?

That's a more solid fundraising idea than they've had in over a decade.