Sounds like Wichita St to the AAC... Who gets an Invite?

[nafstrops]

They didn't drop football in order to focus on basketball. They dropped football because they didn't want to move to FCS with the rest of the MVC and competing as an independent didn't make sense. That, plus they hadn't been able to establish any sort of sustained success in the sport after the crash.

Certainly it's helped that basketball has become the primary sport for WSU fans to support. But it's not you can draw a direct line to dropping football and sustained basketball success 20 years later. There are a ton of factors that have contributed to WSU's success.

They dropped football because they didn't want to throw money at a football program that would not be competing at the highest level. They chose to focus on basketball and attempt to excel in that at the highest level. Basketball did not become the primary sport at WSU. It has been since the 1950's.

[BirdsEyeView]

They didn't drop football in order to focus on basketball. They dropped football because they didn't want to move to FCS with the rest of the MVC and competing as an independent didn't make sense. That, plus they hadn't been able to establish any sort of sustained success in the sport after the crash.

Certainly it's helped that basketball has become the primary sport for WSU fans to support. But it's not you can draw a direct line to dropping football and sustained basketball success 20 years later. There are a ton of factors that have contributed to WSU's success.

They dropped football because they didn't want to throw money at a football program that would not be competing at the highest level. They chose to focus on basketball and attempt to excel in that at the highest level. Basketball did not become the primary sport at WSU. It has been since the 1950's.

Since you have joined this board nafstrops, you have made a ton of assumptions. Were you a part of the decision making promise that dropped Football at WSU? Can you show a direct correlation between schools with and without Football to their basketball program's successes?

I feel like all of this is only your hypothesis based on your agenda you are pushing.

[Aargh]

WSU dropped football because it was bankrupting the athletic department. We were in debt past a mill in 1986, which would be several mill today. It was impossible to raise money from donors or the community for a program that wasn't very interesting, played in a league no one cared about, and was typically badly embarrassed when playing good teams for a payday.

We also had a "who cares" athletic director, and a President who seemed to hate the fact that WSU even had an athletic department. That President was in the office until 1993, which helps explain the state of WSU basketball during the '90's.

[BirdsEyeView]

WSU dropped football because it was bankrupting the athletic department. We were in debt past a mill in 1986, which would be several mill today. It was impossible to raise money from donors or the community for a program that wasn't very interesting, played in a league no one cared about, and was typically badly embarrassed when playing good teams for a payday.

We also had a "who cares" athletic director, and a President who seemed to hate the fact that WSU even had an athletic department.

That makes sense.

Nafstrops is hating on Football, but wasn't only a year ago WSU looking at getting a Football team again to leverage a move to a bigger conference? If so, clearly the school did not think that adding back Football would burden their blossoming basketball program as recently as one year ago.

[nafstrops]

They didn't drop football in order to focus on basketball. They dropped football because they didn't want to move to FCS with the rest of the MVC and competing as an independent didn't make sense. That, plus they hadn't been able to establish any sort of sustained success in the sport after the crash.

Certainly it's helped that basketball has become the primary sport for WSU fans to support. But it's not you can draw a direct line to dropping football and sustained basketball success 20 years later. There are a ton of factors that have contributed to WSU's success.

They dropped football because they didn't want to throw money at a football program that would not be competing at the highest level. They chose to focus on basketball and attempt to excel in that at the highest level. Basketball did not become the primary sport at WSU. It has been since the 1950's.

Since you have joined this board nafstrops, you have made a ton of assumptions. Were you a part of the decision making promise that dropped Football at WSU? Can you show a direct correlation between schools with and without Football to their basketball program's successes?

I feel like all of this is only your hypothesis based on your agenda you are pushing.

Yes I am quite familiar with WSU's decision to drop football.
Can you show there is not a correlation? It's really just logic. When money is an issue you can choose to under fund two programs, dooming them both to mediocrity or try and make one elite.

[nafstrops]

That makes sense.

Nafstrops is hating on Football, but wasn't only a year ago WSU looking at getting a Football team again to leverage a move to a bigger conference? If so, clearly the school did not think that adding back Football would burden their blossoming basketball program as recently as one year ago.

Perhaps you missed it, but that study did nothing but reaffirm my narrative.

[BirdsEyeView]

They dropped football because they didn't want to throw money at a football program that would not be competing at the highest level. They chose to focus on basketball and attempt to excel in that at the highest level. Basketball did not become the primary sport at WSU. It has been since the 1950's.

Since you have joined this board nafstrops, you have made a ton of assumptions. Were you a part of the decision making promise that dropped Football at WSU? Can you show a direct correlation between schools with and without Football to their basketball program's successes?

I feel like all of this is only your hypothesis based on your agenda you are pushing.

Yes I am quite familiar with WSU's decision to drop football.
Can you show there is not a correlation? It's really just logic. When money is an issue you can choose to under fund two programs, dooming them both to mediocrity or try and make one elite.

You have not shown me a correlation just words. Each athletic program's budget is different. Each athletic program performs at varying levels of success across the country, especially with financial success of those two sports programs (Football and Men's Basketball). To say that Football spending impacts every school's ability to compete in basketball at a high level(or vice versa) without evidence is just some random person talking to talk.

A few other varying factors that also impact how good a basketball program can be:

1. The Athletic Director and President
2. The Donors within the program
3. The Head Coach

Not always a direct correlation and you have yet to prove anything beyond just making statements on a message board post. Show me proof that every school is impacted in the way you say with having a Football program.

[nafstrops]

They dropped football because they didn't want to throw money at a football program that would not be competing at the highest level. They chose to focus on basketball and attempt to excel in that at the highest level. Basketball did not become the primary sport at WSU. It has been since the 1950's.

Yes I am quite familiar with WSU's decision to drop football.
Can you show there is not a correlation? It's really just logic. When money is an issue you can choose to under fund two programs, dooming them both to mediocrity or try and make one elite.

You have not shown me a correlation just words. Each athletic program's budget is different. Each athletic program performs at varying levels of success across the country, especially with financial success of those two sports programs (Football and Men's Basketball). To say that Football spending impacts every school's ability to compete in basketball at a high level(or vice versa) without evidence is just some random person talking to talk.

A few other varying factors that also impact how good a basketball program can be:

1. The Athletic Director and President
2. The Donors within the program
3. The Head Coach

Not always a direct correlation and you have yet to prove anything beyond just making statements on a message board post. Show me proof that every school is impacted in the way you say with having a Football program.

If money is an issue their is always a correlation. Probably the most important thing to having an elite basketball program is retaining a good coach long term. If a program can't find the money to do that, they will be starting over every few years. If dropping football helps them find the money to do that, then that a good place to start.

I'm not going to argue with you about it. That is my opinion, which I think is backed up by logic, if you have a different opinion that is fine.

[BirdsEyeView]

I would agree that a school needs money to maintain success (keeping coaches, upgrading facilities/perks for recruits, etc.). However, some schools have Football, but also a huge endowment, for example. Other schools newfound success in basketball has provided the athletic department with an increase in revenue to help offset costs and even financially support the program's growth. I am thinking UNI here with Jacobson's $1 million a year salary, even with FCS Football "burdening" them.

In general, I believe you are simply thinking far too one-sided and assuming that Football at an FCS level specifically, is the primary downfall for the potential success of a basketball program. There are lots of other mitigating factors to consider, most of which, probably hold more weight than having a Football program.

[Khan4Cats]

Villanova plays FCS football. Even won a national title a few years ago with current Chicago Cub Matt Szczur.

They are basketball first, but have been just fine in football as well without hurting their basketball.