MSU to Conference USA?

[DUBulldog]

Yes the money issue is his reason for leaving, but it has been well documented that Cofer was on the chopping block because of his refusal to work with MSU's biggest donors. He was given the option to choose his poison I think he made the right choice.

Tough choice to make, seriously.....do what you think is right for the school, or do what the big $$$$$ donors want.

[beatingrillz]

Yes the money issue is his reason for leaving, but it has been well documented that Cofer was on the chopping block because of his refusal to work with MSU's biggest donors. He was given the option to choose his poison I think he made the right choice.

Tough choice to make, seriously.....do what you think is right for the school, or do what the big $$$$$ donors want.

The choice is one thing to basically tell the BOG to piss off is another. He was a horrible hire from day one and the Govenor had enough of his refusal to raise money. Cofer skipped 3 large fundraisers this year alone that is why he is no longer the president of MSU.

[MoValley John]

Well, if C-USA was going to take MSU last week, in light of the press conference and revelation that the budget is still in shambles, no way will they take them now.

[valleychamp]

Well, if C-USA was going to take MSU last week, in light of the press conference and revelation that the budget is still in shambles, no way will they take them now.

Nope, you are wrong. Garrisonforprez has inside sources that say otherwise. You just wait.

[WSUbballer]

I can see why MSU was so high on C-USA's go-to list.

[beatingrillz]

Well, if C-USA was going to take MSU last week, in light of the press conference and revelation that the budget is still in shambles, no way will they take them now.

Where have you seen a release saying the budget is in shambles? The comments from Cofer? I take anything he says with a grain of salt just like I do the audit from the auditor that has since been accused of doctoring the books. The endowment numbers are better than they have ever been and the early numbers have the athletic department in the black this year.

[MoValley John]

Where have you seen a release saying the budget is in shambles? The comments from Cofer? I take anything he says with a grain of salt just like I do the audit from the auditor that has since been accused of doctoring the books. The endowment numbers are better than they have ever been and the early numbers have the athletic department in the black this year.

I don't want to get into petty arguements anymore, and I hope upon hope that this doesn't devolve into petty name calling. Believe it or not, I don't enjoy that and I don't have the time or energy for it.

With that, I will answer your question based on it being an honest question. I first heard of Missouri State's financial problems almost a year ago when the audit was completed. At the time, I was chided for being anti-MSU and just trying to stir things up. In truth, I was concerned about the financial well-being of all of the public schools in the Valley. At the time, I reminded posters of the athletic budget fight UNI was having and that the same thing (albeit different circumstances) was now being launched against Missouri State. For that I was ridiculed. In truth, the economy is in the tank and every public university in the Valley is at risk of politicians submarining their athletic department. This is true of MSU, Illinois State and even Wichita State. Now is the time for keeping your financial house in order and out of reach from politicians that favor the larger state schools.

As for the present budget woes, I simply read about them on MSUBearnation. If you insist, I will pull quotes. I did further reading and read, in detail, the entire JQH report. For anyone that is interested, the whole report can be found at
http://www.missouristate.edu/jqharenata ... ponses.htm

In a nutshell, revenue has not kept up with expedetures and you are now in a $2,000,000 hole that is growing. The service on the debt is killing you and needs to be addressed now. JQH was not a mistake as a few posters on MSUBearnation have opined, but the debt is killing the athletic department. Monies that would otherwise go into athletics are currently being diverted to pay for JQH. Furthermore, monies for season ticket sales have declined, as have revenues from the PrimeOvertime Club.

You can say whatever you want, but the report was drafted primarily by people within MSU. The current situation is in shambles.

To the credit of MSU, it is being addressed and can be corrected. One of the fixes is to sell alcohol at games. MSU is also addressing ticketing policies and prices, as well as looking into better online ticketing. Assessing Student fees, potentially a political landmine, is also being cosidered.

So there are plans being drafted and all is not lost. That said, a school with these budget issues, along with the fact that they don't currently field a FBS football team, is hardly a school that a FBS focused conference like C-USA is serious about.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Well, if C-USA was going to take MSU last week, in light of the press conference and revelation that the budget is still in shambles, no way will they take them now.

Nope, you are wrong. Garrisonforprez has inside sources that say otherwise. You just wait.

I don't think that Cofer leaving and the following presser really impacts our desirability to another conference like Conference USA. I never stated I had an inside source on this one I was just relaying second hand what others had said and many were said on public forums as well so the rumors were out there for all to hear. My experience has been that when there is a lot of smoke there is generally fire, maybe this is the exception to that. A lot of people are scratching their heads.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Why is it that MSU fans keep ignoring this question: What does MSU presently draw for Fb? Is it true that average attendance is only around 9K?

What kind of notoriety would adding MSU bring? Do people nationally even know who Missouri State is? Do they even know it is the same school that was recently known as Southwest Missouri St?

It doesn't really matter about current attendance. FCS football isn't popular outside of the U of Montana and Appalachian State. No one in Springfield cares about FCS football. It would be an entirely different case if we were FBS.

At the time of me posting this I have not read past this post....but you are full of s*** with that statement and you know it.

FCS football is not that popular. Most of the big college football fans refer to it as DII and not because they are ridiculing but because they really don't know better. I'll go to a game here and there but nationally there isn't much coverage of the sport. People don't stop what they are doing for it at least in most places.

[MoValley John]

Well, if C-USA was going to take MSU last week, in light of the press conference and revelation that the budget is still in shambles, no way will they take them now.

Nope, you are wrong. Garrisonforprez has inside sources that say otherwise. You just wait.

I don't think that Cofer leaving and the following presser really impacts our desirability to another conference like Conference USA. I never stated I had an inside source on this one I was just relaying second hand what others had said and many were said on public forums as well so the rumors were out there for all to hear. My experience has been that when there is a lot of smoke there is generally fire, maybe this is the exception to that. A lot of people are scratching their heads.

You really don't think the financial stability of a university impacts its desirability to other conferences? And you really don't think that when a university president is let go and states a negative audit and a sports arena that isn't meeting projections as major factors in the decision, that it has any impact on a schools desirability? You really believe a prospective conference will simply overlook those statements?