Big Sky Cutting Back!

[votb]

This just came out this afternoon from the Big Sky Conference...


BIG SKY CANCELS SUMMER KICKOFF;
MODIFIES VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

OGDEN, Utah (March 31, 2009) - In an attempt to save money during these challenging financial times, the Big Sky Conference member institutions recently voted to cancel the 2009 football Summer Kickoff in Park City, Utah, and modify the schedule for the upcoming volleyball season.
Both moves were made to shore up budgets for the conference’s state-funded universities. Several additional cost-savings moves have been proposed and will be discussed and voted on at the league’s spring meetings May 18-20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
For more than 25 years, the Big Sky Conference has hosted a football summer media days. Coaches from league teams, as well as a player from each school gathered in Park City to meet with members of the media.
“We were fortunate to have one of the top media events in the Football Championship Subdivision level,’’ said Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton. “We received praise from the media for the way we ran our Summer Kickoff, but these are very difficult times for our schools, our sponsors and the media, so we feel canceling this year’s event is a sensible decision.
“We’re hopeful we will be able to bring the Summer Kickoff back in the future as we believe it holds a great deal of value to our league. Not only does it allow in-depth discussion between our officiating crews and coaches, but it’s an opportunity to introduce the regional and national media to our coaches and selected players.”
Beginning in September, the Conference volleyball schedule will move to a Friday-Saturday format, instead of the traditional Thursday-Saturday slate. This change will not include any doubleheader road trip involving a match at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Ariz.
The move will reduce the amount of missed class time by student-athletes as well as decrease travel costs.
“Some of our schools have opted to play Friday-Saturday matches when possible in recent seasons anyway, so for some of our institutions this isn’t a change,’’ Fullerton said. “Our members realize the difficult nature of travel to Northern Arizona, so we’ve decided to continue a Thursday-Saturday format when teams travel to Flagstaff.’’
The decision to cancel the Summer Kickoff and modify the volleyball schedule was made at this time due to urgency before officials and media members made travel plans for the Summer Kickoff and fall athletic competitions. Also, officials for volleyball matches are in the process of being assigned.

 

[isusuperfan]

"...Not only does it allow in-depth discussion between our officiating crews and coaches..."

Really? I can just imagine how this meeting goes:

BigSky Coaches: "So that's what happens. They screw up the calls when it matters most; there's hardly any consistency in these games. We need to train the referees better!"

Doug Fullerton: "...Hmm? What was that? Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't listening...Oh hey! Look, time's up!"

Anyways, it looks like this will be a blow to whatever kind of nationwide notice the Big Sky gets (until another punter gets his leg slashed). Of course, I'm trying to figure out how this costs any more than fielding a football team or travel expenses?

 

[votb]

In the overall costs of an athletic department budget...having a summer football kick-off as a conference may not seem like much of an expense. To Idaho State it's not that much because those going would be able to drive, but if you're from NAU (which is taking MASSIVE budget hits), Sac State, Portland State, etc...now you're talking about flying a coach, sports information director, athletic director, (a sports announcer if he's hired by the school) and likely a couple of players into Salt Lake City, then rental cars to get them to Park City...and oh, by the way, have you priced hotel rooms in Park City? Even if you get reduced rates because it's a convention, you're probably talking thousands of dollars per team after you add up everything (everyone has to buy their own food there, too).

I fear too many of us still underestimate the serious financial situation the country is in...and how that is affecting athletics at most universities, except the elite BCS schools and some private schools. When your budget looks like it could be tens, or hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red, it's pretty irresponsible to spend $5-to-10k on a summer three-day junket. When I used to go to those things, officials had their own meetings while the coaches and players met with the media...then it was all followed by a round of best-ball golf. $$$$ , especially in Park City. I enjoyed going to the conferences and got a TON out of them in preparation for the upcoming football season. But if push comes to shove, it's an expendable event.

IMHO

 

[weberwildcat1]

"...Not only does it allow in-depth discussion between our officiating crews and coaches..."

Really? I can just imagine how this meeting goes:

BigSky Coaches: "So that's what happens. They screw up the calls when it matters most; there's hardly any consistency in these games. We need to train the referees better!"

Doug Fullerton: "...Hmm? What was that? Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't listening...Oh hey! Look, time's up!"

Anyways, it looks like this will be a blow to whatever kind of nationwide notice the Big Sky gets (until another punter gets his leg slashed). Of course, I'm trying to figure out how this costs any more than fielding a football team or travel expenses?

Uh....

they should be doing this in BASKETBALLL not FOOTBALL!!!!!!!


lol


football officiating is like the NFL compared to the basketball officiating!!!!!!!!