Question about the new SAC

[It's the Journey...]

I love the idea of the SAC. And, just as many others in here, I have ideas of what I would like to see concerning the Doyt and any additions. I would build a two story facility with coaches offices occupying the second level facing the field and a balcony for observation/VIP's. I would build in seating under the balcony and move the marching band to that area. That changes many things. A section is opened up for seating, complaints of looking around the tuba's while they are playing would end, people throwing food and m&m's in the tuba's would end, and finally they would be in place for pre-game. I would also extend the seating to meet up with the SAC, thus adding a few more seats. Thats the North end. I would also like to see improvements to the South end. That is where I would put up a new arena. The bookstore and falcon club area could be build into the facility in such a way that it could be in the new arena, but was able to be used for both football and basketball. I would also mount the new scoreboard on the wall of the new arena. It is a logical site, expecially with the University putting as many as three parking garages up on the west side of mercer st. People would no longer have to deal with limited parking in commuter and faculty lots. And with the on-campus student cars closer to the main bulk of campus there would be less of a change for break in's. Those are just my thoughts.

[It's the Journey...]

By the way, I have just found out that the marching band will be sitting in the North endzone seats for the 2004 season. Athletics is covering the wonderful wooden seats with aluminum so the band does not tear the brand new uniforms they will be sporting this season. Just somethig I thought some of you would like to know.

[CapitalFalcon]

I don't understand faculty sometimes. Do they not understand that you can have both...That a strong athletic program, builds strong university presence? People want to go to a school that has some notoriety. Not to mention the fact that as the university grows, so does enrollment, and then consequently so does the alumni base. More alumni = more money donations to the University. I contribute annually to the university. Why? Because I live close by, have attended a number of football games, and feel it is the right thing to do. If BG would grow to eventually have more national prominence, I would thing that more and more alumni would be will to shell out a few bucks in donations to the university.

Let's face it...BG is not a research-based university, so there will be no notoriety through research breakthroughs. And it is not going to garner national recognition for academics unless it significantly increases academic standards. So the one solution to help in that area is to have great sport options. The other option is to just keep treading water. A great quote I have heard is, you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got.

[Schadenfreude]

If it weren't for football, few people outside of Indiana would ever have heard of Notre Dame. If it weren't for football, Notre Dame wouldn't be a selective school. It would be northwest Indiana's version of John Carroll or the University of Detroit (or something -- the precise analogy eludes me right now).

I look at continuing to build a good football program as something like buying lottery tickets.

On the surface, it's woefully irrational. But, at a certain point in life, people realize they just aren't going to be rich. The lottery is a shot at the dreams that have eluded you.

And it's fun.

I think most of us can agree that if Bowling Green had won all its games last year, we would have been mythical national champions. I tend to think if we can win all our games this year, we would certainly be part of the mythical national championship debate.

So... if BGSU ever hits the lottery and pushes itself into the mythical national championship debate -- it might do more for BGSU in terms of grabbing attention from high school seniors and academics and what not than anything Sidney Ribeau is doing. (And God bless him, from a distance, it looks like he's doing a lot right.)

Look at last season. Our football team was on national television six times. Throw in GameDay and that's close to 20 hours of national television for BGSU.

Yes, it's terribly irrational.

It's an irrational world out there.

The day interpersonal communications has a chance to get 20 hours on national television, I'll start buying season tickets to IPCO.

[CapitalFalcon]

Schad, WELL PUT!!!! I totally agree. It doesn't need to be an "either" "or" situation. I think you can build a great football program that will help to also foster academic excellence. Look at Michigan as an example. They have a top notch Medical School, Law School, Business School, Hospital, and one of the biggest football programs in the country. They the two can support each other, not fight against each other...

[Lord_Byron]

I contribute annually to the university. Why? Because I live close by, have attended a number of football games, and feel it is the right thing to do.

You know, Motown. I contribute annually. Why? Because I live relatively far away and have no other easy options to support my alma mater.

Same result, two perfectly sound reasons. . .

[Rightupinthere]

Schad, isn't the lottery gambling for people not good in math?

I think there is a better counter to the irrational argument of "sports - bad: academia - good."

It used to be and still is that sports enhances not only learning potential, but also enhances the univeristy environment. Similar to art, music, and literature, although to a lesser extent.

There are further factors which make investing (yes, investing) in a popular attendance sport an excellent application of resources. When I look up my favorite Falcon team be it football, hockey, or b-ball, I feel closer to my univeristy. I feel pride in my chosen institution - especially when the teams are doing well.

I feel close to my memories of BG and I may open up my wallet to the progams I attended. And if I do win the lottery, then there is some big honkin' checks heading towards the profs.

I will alway cherish my learning at BG, but I can cherish that learning without feeling "close" to the school. When I pull for the sports, however, I'm there again in my nut-hugger jeans, mullett, and converse high tops (okay, I still own converse high tops.)

[Flipper]

This fall marks the first time in 10 years that the University is using off campus housing to meet the needs of a larger than expected freshman class. (at least that's what I heard on the radio). 1994 was the tail end of the good part of Blackney's run. (it's also the year we set the BG avg home attendance record).

I don't think it would be unreasonable to suggest that there is a history of on field success in football boosting enrollment.

[Tricky_Falcon]

Technically it's true. For the first time they're officially partnering up with apartment complexes for freshman and incoming students. (I think its Green Briar). There was something in the BGnews about this a month or so ago.

But even three years ago there was over crowding and they let a certain amount of freshmen/new students live in apartments. Things were getting so bad that some actually had to live in the dorm lounges until rooms were available. No joke.

[transfer2BGSU]

Technically it's true. For the first time they're officially partnering up with apartment complexes for freshman and incoming students. (I think its Green Briar). There was something in the BGnews about this a month or so ago.

But even three years ago there was over crowding and they let a certain amount of freshmen/new students live in apartments. Things were getting so bad that some actually had to live in the dorm lounges until rooms were available. No joke.

No incoming freshmen have been allowed to move off-campus. Those returning students with 25 or more semester hours completed were given an opportunity to reside in apartments off-campus, but under the auspices of Residence Life. There will be RA's in the complexes and students will still be bound to the student handbook.

Incoming transfer students that were enrolled full-time the previous academic year or who had completed 30 semester hours were also given the opportunity to reside off-campus.

The major problem with the student lounges - getting the students to move out. That's right - they don't want to go into them, but when it comes time to move to an actual residence hall room they don't want to leave that nice large room they've been living in.

Yes there will be some students living in lounges this fall. However, these are students that applied late in the cycle and paid their housing deposits late. That is why we encourage students to apply early and to pay attention to the mailings that come to them. Sometimes they contain important information.

[hammb]

Schad, isn't the lottery gambling for people not good in math?

Sure is. However, you can put yourself into a positive odds situation if you only play the lottery when the jackpot (what you'll take home, after taxes) exceeds the odds. I'm not real sure how the lottery works nowadays with the powerballs and whatnot, but the odds are probably somewhere in the 1:15,000,000 range. So, when the take home exceeds $15,000,000 you're into a positive odds situation making it a winning bet in the long run.

That said the long run in this sense is a VERY LONG RUN! However, the math is sound!


I'm in agreement with the masses on this thread. I just don't understand why some people cannot see what the football program can do for the university. I just had a guy in from Montana for training on a new software package at work (and unfortunately has kept me away from here this week ). However, he knew who BG was! Why? Because we had a top 25 football program last season, and were in the news the past 2 years for football. That is the sort of publicity that our university cannot afford to purchase, but the football team is bringing it in.

The football program has the potential to do for BGSU what no other facet of the university could ever hope to, and that's bring national recognition.