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A number of MAC teams are making power conference scheduling breakthroughs, e.g., Ohio, Toledo, and Miami are scheduling home games with Big East, Big Ten, and Big 12 teams. I believe Ohio has Minnesota at home and of course just recently played Pittsburgh. Toledo has signed a contract with Purdue which includes a home game and I believe they have upcoming home games with Kansas and Iowa State.

Miami just recently announced a 1-1 contract with Syracuse. So, in 2006 they play Northwestern at home and in 2007 they play Syracuse at home and have 6 home games.

Will BG have similar success in scheduling teams like these including some home games? I sure hope so.

The old, standard excuses such as "Nobody wants to play us", are losing their credibility.

I'm guessing BG will be making some similar breakthroughs. As far as home games go, the athletic department probably wants to see them scheduled after the completion of the Sebo Center.

Salsa:

I wonder what kind of money Toledo, Miami & Ohio are offering. Reading between the lines, I get the sense that these games end up costing the host team, rather than being a financial windfall and that Krebs has been reticent to go into the hole.

we have Boise St at home, which isnt too bad. I sure hope its on a Saturday though, bc we suck during these middle of the week games. Our Wisconsin game is sort of at home... at least its not at Camp Randall again.

1987 alum:

You may be right. I did notice, though, that BG's athletic budget last year was in the black. And I'm sure that officials are hoping that this year's budget, with a home game against Toledo and next year's budget, with a "home" game against Wisconsin at Cleveland, a home game against Boise St., and a nice pay day against Ohio St. will also be in the black.

Also, this year's game against Toledo includes a surcharge ($5?). Toledo has done this for years against higher profile opponents. I think this year is the first time for BG.

Anyway, the budget outlook for the next 2-3 years looks pretty good to me. Going to the Motor City Bowl a time or two would make it even better.

I'm not sure what kinds of budgetary risks BG is making. But maybe during the next few years would be a good time to take some risks.

And if these risks are required in order to make some advances in our home schedules, I'd like to see us do that.

1987alum wrote:Salsa:

I wonder what kind of money Toledo, Miami & Ohio are offering. Reading between the lines, I get the sense that these games end up costing the host team, rather than being a financial windfall and that Krebs has been reticent to go into the hole.

I expect Toledo to be just fine financially with these games. Remember, Toledo will have over 30K at these games and probably charge $30 a ticket.


Our AD came in 2002 and he is doing a fine job. Each of the last two academic years our athletic budget has finished in the black and nearly paid off the hole we were in from the last incompetent AD.

rf:

Thanks for the insight. I wonder if Krebs is still cleaning up BG's financial situation ... ahhh, I don't know. There are a lot of factors in play, I suppose.

[quote="Salsa"]1987 alum:



Also, this year's game against Toledo includes a surcharge ($5?). Toledo has done this for years against higher profile opponents. I think this year is the first time for BG.

quote]

Salsa,
BG had a "surcharge" on tix for Marshall a few years ago, so this is NOT a new precedent.

Our AD hinted recently about an upcooming announcement of a Big Ten team coming to our place. Probably a 2 for 1 deal. Guesses include Minn, Indiana, Northwestern. The Illini won't play us. Certainly not a Michigan or OSU since it would be a big revenue loss for them.