Men's Basketball Success vs. Football Program - Question

[Falconfreak90]

I wouldn't trade in the football program for anything but that's me....the football program is my fave by a wide margin and I could never see BGSU without football. I love it at the 1-A level.

[Falcon137]

The more I think about it, the more I would never trade BG football. Tailgating, homecoming, 20k+ at Boise St and Minnesota, I wouldn't trade those memories for a better basketball school.

[BGSU33]

I agree, keep football, at the FBS level, period!

Further, let's say we did drop down to FCS in football or drop football all together (God please let neither happen!) and we still can't climb in basketball. Then what??? It's not like we haven't ever been a factor in the basketball landscape. We've had some very good teams, players, coaches and success in the last decade or so. We just can't ever break through the conference tournament. We couldn't get into the NCAA Tournament with two guys who went on to the NBA (Antonio Daniels & Keith McLeod) or our school's all-time leading scorer (Anthony Stacey), or with a coach who took a "mid-major" team in George Mason to the Final Four in Jim Larranaga.

And while I am thrilled we are going to have a new arena after next season, we must remember, that building isn't going to win us a single game. Will it help our efforts in recruiting or open the eyes of players we are looking to bring in? I sure hope so. But it's not going to do a thing for us in the W/L column. Hell, I remember watching East Michigan not long ago putting a hurting on the MAC and going to the NCAA Tournament while playing in old Bowen Fieldhouse. It was a basketball court placed in the middle of an indoor track with bleachers and curtains around it, and the lighting was more yellow/orange than anything that resembled white. EMU later built a very nice convocation center that is very nice, but the basketball teams that play in the new place aren't anything like the ones in the old one. Another new venue in the MAC is Northern Illinois. Need I say more?

[FalconTurf]

I agree, keep football, at the FBS level, period!

Further, let's say we did drop down to FCS in football or drop football all together (God please let neither happen!) and we still can't climb in basketball. Then what??? It's not like we haven't ever been a factor in the basketball landscape. We've had some very good teams, players, coaches and success in the last decade or so. We just can't ever break through the conference tournament. We couldn't get into the NCAA Tournament with two guys who went on to the NBA (Antonio Daniels & Keith McLeod) or our school's all-time leading scorer (Anthony Stacey), or with a coach who took a "mid-major" team in George Mason to the Final Four in Jim Larranaga.

And while I am thrilled we are going to have a new arena after next season, we must remember, that building isn't going to win us a single game. Will it help our efforts in recruiting or open the eyes of players we are looking to bring in? I sure hope so. But it's not going to do a thing for us in the W/L column. Hell, I remember watching East Michigan not long ago putting a hurting on the MAC and going to the NCAA Tournament while playing in old Bowen Fieldhouse. It was a basketball court placed in the middle of an indoor track with bleachers and curtains around it, and the lighting was more yellow/orange than anything that resembled white. EMU later built a very nice convocation center that is very nice, but the basketball teams that play in the new place aren't anything like the ones in the old one. Another new venue in the MAC is Northern Illinois. Need I say more?

Great post! Agree completely.

[falconfan1]

33 and turf, I agree also. The big, big difference in NIU and EMU's newer buildings and the Stroh Center is we are building what we actually need- a new facility that will have all the updated amenities and details AND an intimate and energizing court/setting for the three teams to win games and matches. The buildings at EMU and NIU are completely overbuilt, don't fit their needs and are expensive to maintain. They made a mistake there. The Stroh Center will not win one game or match. But it will absolutley help us recruit players. And players win games. With support. The building will help us get players especially in men's basketball where AA is particularly an issue.

And it will bring a lot of pride for our school- students, alums and friends. Plus I think Aerosmith may return. I really enjoyed that show at AA in April 1974. If Steven Tyler can just get healthy...

Go Falcons!

[JWEIII]

I would hate to lose those Saturday afternoons in the fall.

Which one? Or both of them?

(Kidding)

[BGFalconfromCincy]

33 and turf, I agree also. The big, big difference in NIU and EMU's newer buildings and the Stroh Center is we are building what we actually need- a new facility that will have all the updated amenities and details AND an intimate and energizing court/setting for the three teams to win games and matches. The buildings at EMU and NIU are completely overbuilt, don't fit their needs and are expensive to maintain. They made a mistake there. The Stroh Center will not win one game or match. But it will absolutley help us recruit players. And players win games. With support. The building will help us get players especially in men's basketball where AA is particularly an issue.

And it will bring a lot of pride for our school- students, alums and friends. Plus I think Aerosmith may return. I really enjoyed that show at AA in April 1974. If Steven Tyler can just get healthy...

Go Falcons!

Completely agree with your points at NIU and EMU's new buildings. While they are very nice buildings indeed, they are just way to big for either school (especially NIU IMO). For those who said the Stroh needed to sit 6000 or 8000 or even more, thats not what we, as falconfan1 said we needed a new facility that will have all the updated amenities and details AND an intimate and energizing court/setting, and thats what I think we are getting, and will all be happy with

[MacGuy]

33 and turf, I agree also. The big, big difference in NIU and EMU's newer buildings and the Stroh Center is we are building what we actually need- a new facility that will have all the updated amenities and details AND an intimate and energizing court/setting for the three teams to win games and matches. The buildings at EMU and NIU are completely overbuilt, don't fit their needs and are expensive to maintain. They made a mistake there. The Stroh Center will not win one game or match. But it will absolutley help us recruit players. And players win games. With support. The building will help us get players especially in men's basketball where AA is particularly an issue.

And it will bring a lot of pride for our school- students, alums and friends. Plus I think Aerosmith may return. I really enjoyed that show at AA in April 1974. If Steven Tyler can just get healthy...

Go Falcons!

Completely agree with your points at NIU and EMU's new buildings. While they are very nice buildings indeed, they are just way to big for either school (especially NIU IMO). For those who said the Stroh needed to sit 6000 or 8000 or even more, thats not what we, as falconfan1 said we needed a new facility that will have all the updated amenities and details AND an intimate and energizing court/setting, and thats what I think we are getting, and will all be happy with

I agree about having a building that is the right size, but does 4,700 with likely no way to expand, put BG in a corner if a times comes for a better conference?

[BGSU33]

My thoughts on the capacity is this....I think the building is going to be great, but I believe the capacity will be too small - overall. But I say that for the overall use of the facility, and NOT just for basketball. If I am building a "convocation center" on a D-I campus with an enrollment in the ballpark of 17,000 or so, I would like to see something at least 6,000. Like many of you, I completely agree that we didn't need 10,000-seat venue, but I wouldn't have minded seeing something that seats more than Anderson Arena as with all of AA's seating, it's about 4,700 as well. I know it's listed as less than that (about 3,500) for basketball now, but it's because we aren't using the bleachers in the upper south level any longer. It's just puzzling to me that for concerts or graduation or non-sporting events such as that, the knock on Anderson Arena always was it was too small. Then we finally build a new facility, with near the exact same capacity. Yes I know the overall venue will have many of the bells and whistles that AA does not, but I think it could have used a little more seating overall. That said, I am very excited to see the place once it's built and I do believe it will aid in the over BGSU campus in many ways.

[Rollo83]

My thoughts on the capacity is this....I think the building is going to be great, but I believe the capacity will be too small - overall. But I say that for the overall use of the facility, and NOT just for basketball. If I am building a "convocation center" on a D-I campus with an enrollment in the ballpark of 17,000 or so, I would like to see something at least 6,000. Like many of you, I completely agree that we didn't need 10,000-seat venue, but I wouldn't have minded seeing something that seats more than Anderson Arena as with all of AA's seating, it's about 4,700 as well. I know it's listed as less than that (about 3,500) for basketball now, but it's because we aren't using the bleachers in the upper south level any longer. It's just puzzling to me that for concerts or graduation or non-sporting events such as that, the knock on Anderson Arena always was it was too small. Then we finally build a new facility, with near the exact same capacity. Yes I know the overall venue will have many of the bells and whistles that AA does not, but I think it could have used a little more seating overall. That said, I am very excited to see the place once it's built and I do believe it will aid in the over BGSU campus in many ways.

I whole heartily agree. Hell, I've been to plenty of high school tournament games at AA that were sell outs. I think 4,700 seems a litttle low. I agrre that 7,500 would have been a better capacity for me.

[falconfan1]

Capacity threads are old. The Stroh is set and will be great- for new student convocation, graduations, concerts, volleyball and both basketballs. Our home attendance in the three sports over the past 30 years tells me (and everybody else) that we don't need 7000 seats- period. In addition, more seating means more costs which would have had to be raised privately. In addition to what we have raised/are raising.
I would love for this building to be so "small" that we have students/people camping out for tickets like Cameron at Duke. Super problem to have. This building fits us and- unlike NIU, EMU, etc- we will have a facility where we can have a a homecourt advantage. With a practice court, hall of fame, team store, enough restrooms(!), club type seating for those who choose it, cool entrance, giant falcon and so on.

The capacity posts are.... over my capacity. It's here baby. Check the web cam. And get your tickets and let's have a "capacity problem"!

Go Falcons!

[ZuluWarrior]

I have to admit I'm a little surprised that there is overwhelming support for fans to have an above average MAC Football program and below average MAC Basketball Program vs. an elite mid-major Basketball program with no football, but great comments by all.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I have to admit I'm a little surprised that there is overwhelming support for fans to have an above average MAC Football program and below average MAC Basketball Program vs. an elite mid-major Basketball program with no football, but great comments by all.

I'm not surprised, football is the top sport in this country for a reason

[jscottfitzwater]

I'll note that you're probably going to end up losing more money moving down to 1-AA unless you go Pioneer League.

[Falconfreak90]

An above average football program with a great tradition and history....