Where Are We Bowling?

[AZZZZ]

http://www.footballscoop.com/news/11902 ... owl-season

[Lord_Byron]

. . .Then we can have a college world where there are no sports that don't pay for themselves and no course work that isn't completely supported by student fees.

Sounds like a great world, doesn't it?

Or as it is better known: The University of Phoenix

[BGWriter]

. . .Then we can have a college world where there are no sports that don't pay for themselves and no course work that isn't completely supported by student fees.

Sounds like a great world, doesn't it?

Or as it is better known: The University of Phoenix

LOL. Yeah, don't you just love those commercials that try to build school pride by showing all those grads? Makes me want to jump on-line and become one of them (sarcasm alert).

On the other hand, when I was actually looking at schools to attend, I had done the academic homework and knew there were a couple that were fairly equal in my area of study. I visited them to get a feel for the campus and the student -- and I did it by attending a football game at each. I felt you could probably tell a lot about a school by its school spirit, and the people attending the games and on campus.

Well, at one school, I was basically ignored when I walked around and tried to ask questions (including at the game). In fact the only folks at the game who'd talk to me were fans of the OPPOSING team that day. After the game, I was given a tour and told how I should be prepared to join a fraternity if I wanted any type of social life on campus (I put that in there so you could easily guess which school this might be).

The following week, I went to BG. Everywhere my parents and I went on campus we were greeted with smiles and hellos by students. People (usually students) asked if we wanted any help finding a location. Some teased us that my mom didn't have a carnation (it was homecoming) and offered to give her one.

At the game, the people around us were very friendly and didn't mind answering my questions about the school, the players and the team. It was a very nice day all around -- and BG won the game 6-0 over Miami!

So you see...it was at a sporting even and by meeting people there, that I made the decision to attend BG. It was the PEOPLE who sold me on coming to BG; people I would not have had a chance to meet if not for going to the game. The academics being equal in my proposed area of study, it was going to come down to which place I felt most comfortable in when I made a decision.

Obviously, BG won that competition easily -- and it's a decision I have never, ever regretted. In fact, I'd say making those football trips to gauge what the people were like was probably one of the smartest things I ever did, especially given my young age.

And THAT is why sports are important in marketing your school -- and I'm sure continue to be. No doubt there have been hundreds of potential students who have had similar experiences to mine at sporting events. Or maybe they just watched a game on TV and were captivated by the enthusiasm of the fans; loved the band or the fight song.

You just never know.

[mscarn]

So you see...it was at a sporting even and by meeting people there, that I made the decision to attend BG. It was the PEOPLE who sold me on coming to BG; people I would not have had a chance to meet if not for going to the game. The academics being equal in my proposed area of study, it was going to come down to which place I felt most comfortable in when I made a decision.

Obviously, BG won that competition easily -- and it's a decision I have never, ever regretted. In fact, I'd say making those football trips to gauge what the people were like was probably one of the smartest things I ever did, especially given my young age.

And THAT is why sports are important in marketing your school -- and I'm sure continue to be. No doubt there have been hundreds of potential students who have had similar experiences to mine at sporting events. Or maybe they just watched a game on TV and were captivated by the enthusiasm of the fans; loved the band or the fight song.

Reaction of the faculty association:

[Falcon Fanatic]

I am sure I don't have a clue about the financial stuff regarding bowl money and the schools participating, but can someone please explain where that money goes? If, for example, NIU went to a BCS bowl and we (MAC schools) all got a crap-ton of money, does that money to the athletic department or to the school to use as they see fit? Just wondered what part of the university benefits? And conversely, with us beating NIU, then the money we supposedly ("they" said we lose money to go to a bowl game?) pay out to go to the Pizza Bowl, comes from where?

[Schadenfreude]

Today's Blade offers some answers on bowl costs. Looks like BGSU will not lose money on this bowl trip. Some bowl trips -- in particular, the Boise Bowl -- are money losers for the team involved. But, once you factor in the exposure, MAC schools definitely are of a mind that, overall, these trips are still worth it.

http://www.toledoblade.com/sports/2013/ ... ation.html

[TG1996]

Today's Blade offers some answers on bowl costs. Looks like BGSU will not lose money on this bowl trip. Some bowl trips -- in particular, the Boise Bowl -- are money losers for the team involved. But, once you factor in the exposure, MAC schools definitely feel like, overall, these trips are still worth it.

http://www.toledoblade.com/sports/2013/ ... ation.html

I thought the focus was going to be MAC teams and if they could break even. Finally found that after 5,000 words on how poor OSU lost money going to Pasadena with a $2.1 million budget.

[Schadenfreude]

how poor OSU lost money going to Pasadena with a $2.1 million budget.

Probably includes ice sculptures and silk pajamas for each player.

[transfer2BGSU]

Today's Blade offers some answers on bowl costs. Looks like BGSU will not lose money on this bowl trip. Some bowl trips -- in particular, the Boise Bowl -- are money losers for the team involved. But, once you factor in the exposure, MAC schools definitely feel like, overall, these trips are still worth it.

http://www.toledoblade.com/sports/2013/ ... ation.html

Did you read the comments at the bottom of the article?


David J. Jackson · Top Commenter · University of Detroit
“That three-hour commercial on ESPN and the institutional spots you get on there, I don’t know how you value that,” BG spokesman Jason Knavel said. “It’s huge.”

Yet, evidently not reflected in actual enrollments, which failed to hit their target this year...
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · 21 hours ago

J.g. TheJugganaut · Follow · Bowling Green State University
Enrollment increases typically have a 1 to 3 year lag time.. by the time the bowl games hit most high school students have already made up their minds about where they will be attending
Reply · 1 · Like · 18 hours ago

David J. Jackson · Top Commenter · University of Detroit
High school students have made up their minds in December? Then why do we have our biggest campus visit day on Presidents' Day?
Reply · Like · 46 minutes ago

[Schadenfreude]

Brand building is a long term project. Three hours of going toe to toe with the University of Pittsburgh on national television makes us seem like a peer, especially if we win. I'll take that any time we can get it.

[footballguy51]

David Jackson has gone from a professor that people respect to an annoying union leader. I need to find an angle to argue and complain about every time I post anything anywhere.

[Flipper]

There's two things about Professor Jackson that I've noticed... He seems to think every dollar spent elsewhere is a dollar that should have gone to tenured faculty and he seems to be a great proponent of "shared governance" when it involves the faculty sticking its collective nose into adminstrative issues. He's less enthused about the concept when the administration is turning an eye towards class offerings.

[factman]

I think the athletic department should get a percentage of EVERY research grant any department at the university gets!

[FalconTurf]

I remember my sister talking about this nonsense when she was attending Ohio University from 91-95. It seems they made it through just fine. I think that all factions need to understand we are all in this together. Athletics needs academics obviously and athletics needs to build more bridges to our academics. Unions, rec , dorms and new academic buildings all build excitement. At the same time happy professors and instructors do a lot to recruit students.

One of my old friends in passing told me his daughter chose another college based upon the staff complaints / staff cut backs at BG. They felt these problems indicated a good education would be tough to get at BG. Our faculty needs to understand that that all factors influence student decisions including their own actions.

[mscarn]

If college decisions are going to be limited to places that aren't cutting staff and where professors think they make enough money then the options narrow to the University of Phoenix and Hollywood Upstairs Medical College (alma mater of Dr. Nick Riviera).

Still, if true, the irony is delicious: they complain, fewer students enroll, enrollment declines, fewer professors are required and more cutbacks occur.