2016 Schedule

[Obzerver]

Speaking of moving up...we best get the visitor side fixed and add some seats to get to the 15,000 mark. I disagree with Dopa(think that's a first) in that the power 5 conferences will not be scheduling FCS games eventually. If that happens...no more big payouts(a nut punch for EWU) and some sort of water-downed FBS league will be in place and we'll either go up or go down. This isn't a new concept...gotta believe BSC AD meetings have talked about this in detail. But what do I know... http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/31/new-big-ten-scheduling-mandates-power-5-opponents-no-fcs-foes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[LDopaPDX]

I can't believe the university doesn't see value in improving the football stadium. Colorado State is building a beautiful new facility with a mix of public and private funds right now. Clearly, we aren't talking about $50mm in public funding, but you'd think $5mm or so would be a no-brainer.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Speaking of moving up...we best get the visitor side fixed and add some seats to get to the 15,000 mark. I disagree with Dopa(think that's a first) in that the power 5 conferences will not be scheduling FCS games eventually. If that happens...no more big payouts(a nut punch for EWU) and some sort of water-downed FBS league will be in place and we'll either go up or go down. This isn't a new concept...gotta believe BSC AD meetings have talked about this in detail. But what do I know... http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/31/new-big-ten-scheduling-mandates-power-5-opponents-no-fcs-foes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The creation of a new D-1 tier would rule out any statement I've made about BCS teams removing FCS teams from scheduling. I also expect this to be an organic change within 10 years. That said, I'm not sure it's a positive change for football, but with the NCAA granting BCS autonomy and basically locking out the "Group of 5" from any type of championship, you know it'll have a ripple effect.

But the issue with scheduling FCS is largely cost-related. It cost twice as much to put a bottom-end FBS team like Idaho on the sked than it does Eastern (roughly $1mm vs. $500k, and those numbers are going up yearly). While that's peanuts to Oregon or Florida, it's a big issue for teams like Oregon State and WSU.

Back to the possible new tier, think of this, what's the value of having a bowl game between Western Michigan and Middle Tennessee State? None. Why not put those teams into a tourney with the upper tier of the FCS? It'd be far more interesting for the average fan and would give the non-BCS schools a lot more publicity as well as more revenue opportunities.

But Eastern's move to that sort of level is absolutely determinant on finishing a legitimate stadium.

 

[clawman1]

Interesting that the Eastern administration seems to take football for granted. Anybody notice that a couple teams that most recently move to FBS, Georgia Southern and Ap State, won their first bowl game. The national exposure has to be invaluable. Look at the exposure NDSU has gained for Fargo and the University, priceless.
UAB dropped football in June and reinstated the program last month.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12991674/uab-blazers-football-return" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you are not moving ahead you are losing ground, we are in the category of the later.
The EWU board should be saying "get 'er done" rather than a bunch of hand wringing.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

clawman and ALL,
I have given up on anything happening at Roos Field in the near future. Hate to be so damn forward, I have been waiting very long with most of you for something positive to happen for the "Gateway Project" This will not make me leave the Eagle Nation, I will always be a part of "The Eagle Nation". With that I would like to wish All "A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR". February will be here very soon, and we will see our New Recruits coming. Must tell all of you, couple of days ago, had My PSA Cancer reading done, it have have dropped from 10.21 to 0.26. This is my Christmas Gift for myself, Family and Friends. I was put on Hormones 6 months ago, and they are helping. Side effects are Hormones will make me fat , and make me grow boobs hno: hno: hno: hno:. Have great day tomorrow and always with your Families, and Friends. This is the time to be thankful, I am very Thankful for my family, Friends, and to still be kicking at age 81 and counting. !!!!! Vic Wallace

 

[kalm]

Interesting that the Eastern administration seems to take football for granted. Anybody notice that a couple teams that most recently move to FBS, Georgia Southern and Ap State, won their first bowl game. The national exposure has to be invaluable. Look at the exposure NDSU has gained for Fargo and the University, priceless.
UAB dropped football in June and reinstated the program last month.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12991674/uab-blazers-football-return" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you are not moving ahead you are losing ground, we are in the category of the later.
The EWU board should be saying "get 'er done" rather than a bunch of hand wringing.

I here ya, but I'm not sure APP or GASo, are gettgbthst much greater national attention than elite FCS schools and their middle of the pack Sun Belt brethren certainly aren't. I read recently where App's attendance has fallen since moving up.

 

[Obzerver]

Steve Harvey just tweeted that the power 5 conferences will be leaving the NCAA to form their own Football league in 6 years. They will control all Bowl games. The rest of the FBS and upper level FCS (half the Big Sky) will merge and limit scholarships to 70 and have a playoff to crown a D1 National Champion. EWU better get prepared. Steve and I want to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!!!

 

[kalm]

The $$$ aspect of scheduling is going to be changing. The power 5 conferences are getting close to not allowing their members to schedule FCS schools, that is those that haven't already done so. Schools like Eastern that have come to rely on that revenue from major schools will have a big dent in their budgets. Unlike the Montanas, NDSU, and other programs that draw 20,000+ fans for a cupcake game Eastern does not have the luxury of bringing in lesser schools to fill the schedule, we need to travel to get a paycheck.

I get what you are saying, but we need to look at it in a bigger picture...

paying someone to come here gives us a better chance to win, more wins mean more playoff appearances and higher seeds in the playoffs. When that happens more fans and support to the program increase and we don't need all the pay day travel games...

We start to schedule too many away games against difficult teams, we will lose more games, not make the playoffs and start to lose a lot of our fans...

I wish we would look ahead at what success can bring to the program down the road rather than trying to find an extra $100k for our budget year in, year out...

I agree that the long term, off budget impact can pay for this type of investment but it's intangible. Intangibles are tougher to sell when dealing with real budgets.

I read on an AGS thread where NDSU paid PVA&M $200,000 to come to Fargo in 2012. Even with a sellout, I'm guessing once you add up all of the gameday expenses and subtract discounted tickets etc, we'd be losing money in situation even with a sellout.

 

[Eagledawg]

With reasonable facilities. I bet he could get the academies or mountain west teams to travel here and have sell outs. Its time for some action , leadership need to fix the freaking bleachers or at least be more transparent on why they can't. It's now becoming a joke.

We could schedule on of these teams but for the fact they all have bigger stadiums!
http://www.wideopencountry.com/10-biggest-high-school-football-stadiums-texas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Eagledawg]

BTW, I'd guarantee that the power 5 conferences as a whole will not eliminate FCS games. Period. I could give a laundry list of reasons; let's just say it isn't happening. a 12- or 13- game schedule with additional cupcake games each year is far more likely than the elimination of FCS games from the BCS teams.

I'm not so sure. I've seen too many changes in the last few years due to money grabs.
By the way the Big 10 has already banned FCS games.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/31/new-big-ten-scheduling-mandates-power-5-opponents-no-fcs-foes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[air045]

With reasonable facilities. I bet he could get the academies or mountain west teams to travel here and have sell outs. Its time for some action , leadership need to fix the freaking bleachers or at least be more transparent on why they can't. It's now becoming a joke.

We could schedule on of these teams but for the fact they all have bigger stadiums!
http://www.wideopencountry.com/10-biggest-high-school-football-stadiums-texas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Exactly my point- the visitor side upgrade shouldn't be rocket science. I think it's important that every time there's an event - everyone should be asking the AD and president "when will something get done with visitor side of stadium?. Each and every time , they should be asked that same question. Just my two cents

 

[MTcowpoke]

The visitor side upgrade and rocket science do have something in common. They both cost a lot of money. Two cents is not going to do it.

EWU announced the Gateway nearly four years ago and that it would be funded by donors. How much has been pledged for improvements? What will the improvements be? How much will they cost and when will they commence?

 

[FormerEag]

The visitor side upgrade and rocket science do have something in common. They both cost a lot of money. Two cents is not going to do it.

EWU announced the Gateway nearly four years ago and that it would be funded by donors. How much has been pledged for improvements? What will the improvements be? How much will they cost and when will they commence?

Your guess is good as ours, pal. Been in the "silent" phase since the announcement.

 

[GoldenEagle]

The visitor side upgrade and rocket science do have something in common. They both cost a lot of money. Two cents is not going to do it.

EWU announced the Gateway nearly four years ago and that it would be funded by donors. How much has been pledged for improvements? What will the improvements be? How much will they cost and when will they commence?

If only EWU had a Daddy Warbucks that could spread charity like UM has had now for decades.

 

[LDopaPDX]

The visitor side upgrade and rocket science do have something in common. They both cost a lot of money. Two cents is not going to do it.

EWU announced the Gateway nearly four years ago and that it would be funded by donors. How much has been pledged for improvements? What will the improvements be? How much will they cost and when will they commence?

If only EWU had a Daddy Warbucks that could spread charity like UM has had now for decades.

Keep in mind WA-Griz was originally built with a $1.5mm donation--- a little short of the $70mm price tag Eastern is looking for. It takes university support just as much or more than it does private monies. Let's face it, the admin of Montana and Montana State have demonstrated far more vision as it relates to athletics than Eastern has...

Also, as it relates to scheduling, South Dakota paid us a whopping $50k to come to their place for a one-off game. We sell ourselves for peanuts. Now that we regularly get $500k+ for BCS games, re-allocating $125k to bring in an FCS opponent seems reasonable. However, what seems even more reasonable is going to some of these lesser-tier FCS schools and offering home/homes instead of always going to the absolute best of the FCS and dong the same.

If we can get home/homes with NDSU, UNI, and Sam Houston, surely we could get home/homes with Bryant and East Tennessee State. It may result in up to $100k less total revenue (all of these games were contracted as 50/50 splits on both ends), but it is much better for our program in terms of seasonal success.

 

[GoldenEagle]

The visitor side upgrade and rocket science do have something in common. They both cost a lot of money. Two cents is not going to do it.

EWU announced the Gateway nearly four years ago and that it would be funded by donors. How much has been pledged for improvements? What will the improvements be? How much will they cost and when will they commence?

If only EWU had a Daddy Warbucks that could spread charity like UM has had now for decades.

Keep in mind WA-Griz was originally built with a $1.5mm donation--- a little short of the $70mm price tag Eastern is looking for. It takes university support just as much or more than it does private monies. Let's face it, the admin of Montana and Montana State have demonstrated far more vision as it relates to athletics than Eastern has...

Also, as it relates to scheduling, South Dakota paid us a whopping $50k to come to their place for a one-off game. We sell ourselves for peanuts. Now that we regularly get $500k+ for BCS games, re-allocating $125k to bring in an FCS opponent seems reasonable. However, what seems even more reasonable is going to some of these lesser-tier FCS schools and offering home/homes instead of always going to the absolute best of the FCS and dong the same.

If we can get home/homes with NDSU, UNI, and Sam Houston, surely we could get home/homes with Bryant and East Tennessee State. It may result in up to $100k less total revenue (all of these games were contracted as 50/50 splits on both ends), but it is much better for our program in terms of seasonal success.

OK, take Dennis Washington and family out of the equation and then let's see what kind of vision UM would have had. Also, the stadium that was initially built in 1985 was not built with only 1.5 million dollars. Dennis Washington donated approx. 1 million dollars to help build it.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I realize that, and we're sort of talking about the same thing.

I'm SURE we could find someone to throw down $1.5mm, we already had a guy on the line for more than that. It's that the university has to be willing to put up money as well. It's silly to think the university can just hand this off to the private sector and get it all dealt with. At some point university administrators need to budget money for this project. Until that happens, I don't think we'll see dirt getting moved.

 

[EWURanger]

I realize that, and we're sort of talking about the same thing.

I'm SURE we could find someone to throw down $1.5mm, we already had a guy on the line for more than that. It's that the university has to be willing to put up money as well. It's silly to think the university can just hand this off to the private sector and get it all dealt with. At some point university administrators need to budget money for this project. Until that happens, I don't think we'll see dirt getting moved.

Spot on. Scott Barnes, former EWU AD that facilitated the upgrades we did in 2003-2005 is the AD at PITT now, and the UW before that. Coincidence?

This can be done...even if we're only talking 2-3 million initially; it can be done. Honestly, I don't want to hear about the multi-use facility until we address the immediate need, which is seats. We need to get to 15,000 seats within the next few years.

 

[kalm]

I realize that, and we're sort of talking about the same thing.

I'm SURE we could find someone to throw down $1.5mm, we already had a guy on the line for more than that. It's that the university has to be willing to put up money as well. It's silly to think the university can just hand this off to the private sector and get it all dealt with. At some point university administrators need to budget money for this project. Until that happens, I don't think we'll see dirt getting moved.

Spot on. Scott Barnes, former EWU AD that facilitated the upgrades we did in 2003-2005 is the AD at PITT now, and the UW before that. Coincidence?

This can be done...even if we're only talking 2-3 million initially; it can be done. Honestly, I don't want to hear about the multi-use facility until we address the immediate need, which is seats. We need to get to 15,000 seats within the next few years.

:nod:

Seems like we've wasted some time with this. I think we could fill 15K for UNI and homecoming next year with the quality marketing we've been using and I guarantee Montana would be sold out.

Our ticket prices are still relatively low too, so make $5 more per ticket off of even the current gate, and there's easily a quarter million dollar start. Enough to begin the financing.

And/or approach the students for funding a dedicated student session a la the Rec Center as part of the project.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

EWURanger,
I remember Former AD Scott Barnes, he got me to donate for the Present Press Box/Suites we are presently occupying. BTW I didn't get a Suite, just donated to help get them built. If you haven't noticed, on the front of the Suites, there are the names of individuals, firms, etc, that donated to get that built. I don't know why the same can't be done to help us get our Field looking more presentable. Our Press Box used to look like High Hurdles storage bins before we got Suites built. Somebody is sitting their BUTTS, doesn't seem to care. Hope I am wrong. Happy New Year to ALL. Vic Wallace