Instructional Salavies v. Coaching Salaries

[professorjackson]

"A winning basketball or football team will do far more for BGSU than any educator ever will."

Then why should we even have classes at all?

[Flipper]

So the basketball and football players will have someplace to meet girls?

[hammb]

"A winning basketball or football team will do far more for BGSU than any educator ever will."

Then why should we even have classes at all?

Because education is one of, if not the sole, central purposes of the university...hyperbole much?

My point still stands. A consistent winning program in either football or basketball would do far more to grow admissions, grow university perception, and get our name out there than any educator ever would.

We could have the best Sociology professor/researcher in the world and nobody would know. But I bet you there are still a TON of people out there that know of BG because it's where Urban Meyer got his start as a head coach.

Like it or not D1 athletics are in the public eye and increase exposure far beyond what any published papers or educational rankings ever will. Obviously, I think BG provides a very quality education, and I think there are a lot of great educators on campus that I hope we can keep. But I see athletics for what it is: A marketing engine. One thing we know, unequivocally, is that the people who are paid to make decisions based on the good of the university as a whole have almost unanimously decided athletics are good for a university. The decision makers at schools that DON'T offer D1 athletics are constantly trying to get into D1 athletics.

So either you're saying that all of these University presidents are completely wrong, or you're a biased faculty member with an axe to grind against athletics.

[Lord_Byron]

Let me try a different approach.

If we accept the hypothesis that intercollegiate athletics are not a significant part of a university's mission, then how do we explain Division III athletics?

Division III colleges have football and basketball teams that draw sparse crowds for a minimal admission fee. The programs run at a deficit and are clearly supported by the college, but yet they continue to have sports. Many have more sports than us. Why is that?

Sure, you can make the argument that the budgets are lower due to lower travel expenses, etc, but take a look at this D III conference:

University Athletic Association

Brandeis University -- Boston, MA
Carnegie Mellon University -- Pittsburgh, PA
Case Western Reserve University -- Cleveland, OH
Emory University -- Atlanta, GA
New York University -- New York, NY
University of Chicago -- Chicago, IL
University of Rochester -- Rochester, NY
Washington University -- St. Louis, MO

Clearly, all these colleges pride themselves on a superior academic experience, do MAJOR research in medicine, economics, and science -- yet they sponsor full slates of DIII athletics. Could they somehow see that athletics have an educational value for both participants and students?

[Flipper]

As has been pointed out numerous times already....small colleges all over the country are ADDING athletic programs. Lourdes college in Sylvania fields teams...Siena Heights in Adrian added football and built a stadium. The issue has been decided. College athletics ARE an integral part of the University's mission.

Sorry if the dog analogy offends you professor...would you feel better being call Don Quixote?

[Globetrotter]

How much less does a football team cost when you don't have to pay the players tuition?

[transfer2BGSU]

How much less does a football team cost when you don't have to pay the players tuition?

Don't forget to add in Room, Board, and Books times 85.

[Class of 61]

Guys,
Hasn't this thread worn itself out yet? (I'm getting tired of reading about athletics vs. academics... I think most if not all of us agree that BOTH are (and should be) a part of the "college experience".

[factman]

........but "professor" jackson always has to have th last word!

He not only got his nose bloodied in this fight, but I think it fell off!

[Flipper]

Why do people feel the need to call for an end to conversations? If you feel enough is enough....stop reading the thread and move on.

[mscarn]

How much less does a football team cost when you don't have to pay the players tuition?

Don't forget to add in Room, Board, and Books times 85.

D-III's have de facto scholarships in the form of university-directed academic scholarship packages and financial aid. The more prestigious ones (like Dave Clawson's alma mater Williams) also dangle offers of admission to their institutions that non-athletes with similar high school grades wouldn't receive.

[guest44]

Has Louis Orr located his next center yet? If so, I'm sure Lou is closing as I type this.

[mscarn]

Has Louis Orr located his next center yet? If so, I'm sure Lou is closing as I type this.

6'9" or over? Check.

Zero offensive ability? Check.

Conditioning issues? Check.

Won't significantly contribute for at least 2 years if at all? Check.

Only other offers are low major D-I, D-II and D-III? Check.

[professorjackson]

"........but "professor" jackson always has to have th last word!

He not only got his nose bloodied in this fight, but I think it fell off!"

Not sure what that even means, but I'm just trying to have an intelligent conversation with people who REALLY disagree with me, because I think it'll strengthen both positions.

[kdog27]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper ... o-alabama/

Not the best example I know but interesting how much there standards have raised since 07.