Chris Kingston leaving

[Schadenfreude]

Yep...I thought the "frustration" comments re Kingston were out of line. He admits he didn't talk to him and doesn't really know him...where does he get off projecting his perceptions of BGSU onto Kingston?

Frustration is one reason to walk away from a high-paying job and take something less lucrative. Sometimes the organization really is the problem. But there are other reasons to walk away. Sometimes you are the problem, and you know your days are probably numbered.

I have no idea why Kingston left. He seemed to do a good job. I'm not saying he was pushed. We just don't know. But the scenario pushed by Hackenberg -- that Kingston was burning out in a somewhat hopeless challenge -- is only one possibility. There are others.

There is probably some truth in the fact that the job is a challenge. Certainly, there isn't a lot of corporate support for BGSU athletics. it probably is more challenging to be the director of athletics at Bowling Green than it is at, say, Buffalo.

On the other hand, Bowling Green isn't Eastern Michigan, either. The department has historically been pretty successful. The football team has been MAC champions two out of the past three years. We have a rising hockey program. Women's basketball is normally a regional powerhouse.

Hackenberg hints that BGSU athletics are flailing a bit. I am not ready conclude that he is right about that.

[BGSU33]

The biggest challenge for BGSU is being competitive in the MAC while trying to support hockey. All of BGSU's "revenue sports" spend a lot and don't bring in a lot. At least with the MACs ESPN deal each school gets a little bit of TV money each year. Hockey's the tough one for an AD. Costs a lot, plays in a below avg league, still not winning anything of substance.

Excellent point. BG is one of only a handful or so schools in the nation that is not from a Power 5 conference in football but also has a D-I hockey program. This is a huge issue to juggle for the athletic department and one that most of our peers in the MAC do not have to deal with whatsoever (only Miami and WMU do).

[Critical Thinker]

I've heard "Talons Up" came from the students before it was pushed by the ath. dept. .

I believe it was the women's swimming and diving team that thought this one up.

It was created by a group of students in Harshman Hall about 4 years ago. It was originally just meant to be used during free throws at bounceyball, then the marketing department got a hold of it, blew it up, and has taken it to the point no one wants to use it. I even know one of its creators wishes he never came up with it now that he knows what it became.

#RollAlong

[BGSU33]

I've heard "Talons Up" came from the students before it was pushed by the ath. dept. .

I believe it was the women's swimming and diving team that thought this one up.

It was created by a group of students in Harshman Hall about 4 years ago. It was originally just meant to be used during free throws at bounceyball, then the marketing department got a hold of it, blew it up, and has taken it to the point no one wants to use it. I even know one of its creators wishes he never came up with it now that he knows what it became.

#RollAlong

I always liked and thought BG should use/stick with "Roll Along." It's different. Off the top of my head I'm not aware of anyone else using it. Alabama says "Roll Tide" which is the closest I can think of just sitting here. The whole "We Are_ _" is so common and overused by so many schools. I don't hate it, I just think we can do better. Also, when had the equipment trailer designed, I always thought "Roll Along" would be perfect to display on it, especially when it's in use being pulled around Ohio or from state to state. Instead it also says "We Are BG." I guess I just like some of our unofficial things like AZZ better. Like when I was at Virginia, UVa's official nickname is the Cavaliers, but the unofficial nickname is Wahoos or just 'Hoos. Those are much, much more popular with students and alums than Cavaliers. It's unique. And Virginia embraces it.

[MarkL]

Like when I was at Virginia, UVa's official nickname is the Cavaliers, but the unofficial nickname is Wahoos or just 'Hoos. Those are much, much more popular with students and alums than Cavaliers. It's unique. And Virginia embraces it.

And it involves alcohol. Even better!

[zete]

I want to see #TalonsUp replaced with #RollAlong and #ForwardFalcons because those are phrases that Falcons from 50 years ago will identify with. I want an AD who will advance our traditions, not replace them with their own.

Good point. #TalonsUp is about as cookie cutter as it gets.

i recall during the mid 70s the SID came forth with "Orange you glad you go to BG" - never caught on.

[gmartin]

Can't Read? Can't Write? Kent State.

Well that saying has been around since 1916.

100 years later that slogan has stuck.

[apollo]

The biggest challenge for BGSU is being competitive in the MAC while trying to support hockey. All of BGSU's "revenue sports" spend a lot and don't bring in a lot. At least with the MACs ESPN deal each school gets a little bit of TV money each year. Hockey's the tough one for an AD. Costs a lot, plays in a below avg league, still not winning anything of substance.

Excellent point. BG is one of only a handful or so schools in the nation that is not from a Power 5 conference in football but also has a D-I hockey program. This is a huge issue to juggle for the athletic department and one that most of our peers in the MAC do not have to deal with whatsoever (only Miami and WMU do).

Exactly... The "Bring Back the Glory Campaign" raised almost nothing. The department cut scholarships, the university threw in a couple million for renovations to the arena, and a couple people made some nice donations. As far as raising 7,8,9 million, it never even sniffed a quarter of that. It just makes it tough to compete in the MAC with that extra expense.

All that being said I think there is definitely more to the story than him being burned out or something similar to that...this is a huge step backwards career wise.

[Tech2000]

Question, in the past several years, did we either lose someone or did we get someone from learfield? I can't put my finger on it but something is familiar about this. I have looked but can't seem to come up with anything but that doesn't mean much either.

[Schadenfreude]

Cal Bowers was with Learfield Sports for a while.

[Flipper]

All that being said I think there is definitely more to the story than him being burned out or something similar to that...this is a huge step backwards career wise.

It could be that he viewed himself as being near the end of a road that has about a qtr mile of pavement left, so he backed up a bit to get on a road that stretches far into the horizon. There's only so many D1 college AD jobs out there . Is the chance to work at a P5 school where you'll make less than a top football assistant worth waiting for when you can walk into a field with nearly limitless potential as a VP?

[ZoombaFalcon]

Could BGSU be Akron 2.0??!?

June 2015: AD Tom Wistrcill leaves Akron to take position with Learfield Sports. http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college ... g_int.html

August 2015: Akron cuts baseball, eliminates 215 jobs
http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/uni ... n-1.607079

[Flipper]

Akron is saddled with an unGodly amount of debt ...we aren't in that boat

[ZoombaFalcon]

I don't have any numbers to look at, but there has been a significant amount of construction on campus over the past few years. Not sure how those were all funded. And though enrollment was up this year, it had been down nearly 8.5% from 2010-11 (23,666) to 2014-15 (21,659). That's a lot of student fee money.

[footballguy51]

I don't have any numbers to look at, but there has been a significant amount of construction on campus over the past few years. Not sure how those were all funded. And though enrollment was up this year, it had been down nearly 8.5% from 2010-11 (23,666) to 2014-15 (21,659). That's a lot of student fee money.

We're fine. I won't say anymore (because I shouldn't), but we're fine.