MarkL wrote:Bill, I had the same thought. The statement is both deceptive and not. It is deceptive because students are free due to the student fee. It is not deceptive because that student fee is money already guaranteed. Not a single cent of revenue from sold tickets is guaranteed, and we need each and every one of those cents to support top level football, men's and women's basketball, and hockey.
How much of the Student Fee is earmarked for sport's?
$413 per student per semester.
A total of about $12.7 million of our $22 million athletic budget comes from general fees.
This is not that far off of what I'm paying for the Princess to go to Syracuse this fall. On top of that, if she wants to go to football and basketball games, she has to buy a season pass for $200.
Syracuse gets ACC money, draws 25,000+ to hoops and only sponsors 16 sports.
I'm not sure the AAC would take Bowling Green. If the Big 12 wouldn't take Cincinnati, you're kidding if you think that's even a starter.
If anyone in the MAC is moving, I think it's NIU to the AAC. They'd be a great fit but it would be an unwise move. Not enough increase in revenue to offset the drastic increase in travel budget.
MarkL has spoken.
You may all now return to your daily lives.
MarkL wrote:I'm not sure the AAC would take Bowling Green. If the Big 12 wouldn't take Cincinnati, you're kidding if you think that's even a starter.
If anyone in the MAC is moving, I think it's NIU to the AAC. They'd be a great fit but it would be an unwise move. Not enough increase in revenue to offset the drastic increase in travel budget.
NIU would have to dump $50-100 million in facilities upgrades to join the AAC. Football and basketball are not the only sports played. They can't make their budget as is. No chance AAC would come close to considering a MAC school unless the P5 break away and some of the leftovers drop football.