skippy57.0
Active member
See link
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2009/03/04/news/breaking/9.txt
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2009/03/04/news/breaking/9.txt
-
Hi Guest,
We've updated the site to combine all the forums that were part of the Big Sky Fans Network into one location. This will make it easier to navigate and participate in all the discussions for each school without having to have multiple accounts, etc. We are still working out some tweaks but please let us know if you notice anything.
With the migration, in some circumstances, your username could have been merged with one of your other usernames from the other forums. If this is the case, you can request to change your username in your account details page of your profile. -
Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your eGriz.com experience today!
-
Guest, do want an ad free experience on BigSkyFans.com among other benefits? Upgrade your account today!
Simply click your profile name > account upgrades > BigSky Club > choose between the year long subscription (two free months) or month to month
Thanks for the continued support. Cheers!
ISU Professor Suggests Dropping Athletics
- Thread starter skippy57.0
- Start date
bengalcub
Active member
I am not sure what budgets cuts, dwindling donations and what a professor says has to do with Idaho State athletics, LOL?!?!
Tough decisions have to be made and I would not be surprised if Idaho State cannot keep up. It pains me to say it--but I do not see how programs will survive with lack of winning traditions, lack of donations and massive decreases in state funding in already in progress. What happens when Idaho State cannot play in Holt Arena because upgrades cannot be made?
I fear we might be seeing the last days in an athletic department that I have loved and supported my whole life. I am really worried and heartbroken over what I am seeing. I am hoping and praying for the best.
Tough decisions have to be made and I would not be surprised if Idaho State cannot keep up. It pains me to say it--but I do not see how programs will survive with lack of winning traditions, lack of donations and massive decreases in state funding in already in progress. What happens when Idaho State cannot play in Holt Arena because upgrades cannot be made?
I fear we might be seeing the last days in an athletic department that I have loved and supported my whole life. I am really worried and heartbroken over what I am seeing. I am hoping and praying for the best.
skippy57.0
Active member
The next few years are going to be really critical to athletics throughout the Big Sky, in my view. Northern Arizona has been talking about dropping football, for example. If they ever get to that point, the Big Sky has to make a decision. Right now, the league requires all its members to play football. If NAU decided to drop football, would the league boot them out? If they didn't, then they are telling all the other league members it's okay to drop football. And with the exception of the two Montana schools, most of the league's teams lose BIG dollars on football. I could see a lot of Big Sky presidents viewing the opportunity to drop football as a fast way out of a deep budget hole.
The Holt Arena issue is also becoming critical, as you point out, Cub. As the building surpases its engineering design life, entire systems start to fail. It gets to the point where it costs more to keep it up to code than to build a new building. And we all know that the state is not going to spend a dime on a football facility, and there sure doesn't appear to be any big pockets donors out there with the money to replace Holt.
I hate to be so negative. There is always the possibility that good things can happen and someone or something will step up to boost the program. (Hell, maybe I'll win the Power Ball this week and ALL our problems will be over!)
The Holt Arena issue is also becoming critical, as you point out, Cub. As the building surpases its engineering design life, entire systems start to fail. It gets to the point where it costs more to keep it up to code than to build a new building. And we all know that the state is not going to spend a dime on a football facility, and there sure doesn't appear to be any big pockets donors out there with the money to replace Holt.
I hate to be so negative. There is always the possibility that good things can happen and someone or something will step up to boost the program. (Hell, maybe I'll win the Power Ball this week and ALL our problems will be over!)
Bengal Roar
Active member
Cub, you bring up a valid point. As hard as it is to swallow it is the truth. Our minds tell us we will never lose our beloved Bengal sports. Reality is starting to tell us different. We must cherish every game from now on (imo). I hope we never have to see our sports go but when $ comes into play it gets very confusing. I hope we all can get out of this bad funk. GO BENGALS!
notabengalalum
Active member
Dropping Athletics? You know what a real problem is? Going to a furniture store and having the salesman always tell you to drop the drawers!
I think the article is blown out of proportion and is nothing more than a fancy letter to the editor. Of course, it worked its purpose to get people to read it.
Ignore it and Go Bengals!
I think the article is blown out of proportion and is nothing more than a fancy letter to the editor. Of course, it worked its purpose to get people to read it.
Ignore it and Go Bengals!
Athletics is, more often than not, the face of the institution. It's an easy concept, the Bengal basketball or football team, for example, is how the public views ISU. During most of the year, there are large numbers of newspaper articles, radio and television spots talking about the Bengals' athletics. Comparing the number of those articles and sports stories to those dealing with academic achievements, sports will win every time. Oh sure, there are those that look at ISU for it's academics. And I'm not banging on or degrading the value of academics. But you see a more constant flow of data referring to athletics. In most institutions, athletics keep the school in public's eye.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I like it. But, it's a fact of life. Successful on the court, field and/or the track impact enrollment. Generally speaking, I'd wager that many of those institutions with successful athletic programs would take a hit in enrollment if their athletic programs declined over an extended period of time. Conversely, those institutions whose athletics seem to be more successful have a tendancy to have a more vibrant interest in new student enrollment. And to keep athletic programs, ISU needs to find a way to properly fund athletics.
Right now, money is tight throughout the country. Everyone is dealing with budget shortfalls, layoffs and cutbacks. ISU is not alone. But regardless of the situation, ISU needs athletics if it is going to seriously compete with Idaho and Boise State for in-state students. And I believe that is the overall mission of ISU, to educate and equip Idaho students to be successful in their careers.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I like it. But, it's a fact of life. Successful on the court, field and/or the track impact enrollment. Generally speaking, I'd wager that many of those institutions with successful athletic programs would take a hit in enrollment if their athletic programs declined over an extended period of time. Conversely, those institutions whose athletics seem to be more successful have a tendancy to have a more vibrant interest in new student enrollment. And to keep athletic programs, ISU needs to find a way to properly fund athletics.
Right now, money is tight throughout the country. Everyone is dealing with budget shortfalls, layoffs and cutbacks. ISU is not alone. But regardless of the situation, ISU needs athletics if it is going to seriously compete with Idaho and Boise State for in-state students. And I believe that is the overall mission of ISU, to educate and equip Idaho students to be successful in their careers.
BengalFannn
Member
go bengals
wow - thats going to do a world of good. you posted an 'open letter' to a professor who thinks athletics at idaho state should be dropped on a web site devoted to idaho state athletics...? what are the chances he's gonna see that? might have been better to send it to the journal.... jeez
SLCBengal
Active member
Is there a university out there where faculty members don't want to drop athletics?
Keep close tabs of any school, and there is always a call from faculty members to drop athletics. When the University of Idaho was making the various moves which led them from the Big Sky to the WAC (via the Big West and the Sun Belt), there was a vocal group of faculty members who wanted to drop athletics (and then they pushed to go back to the Big Sky when they realized Idaho wouldn't drop sports). There's been some faculty members at MWC schools who have been pushing the same thing.
100 years from now, there are still going to be members of any faculty, be it Oklahoma or ISU, who want to drop athletics. They are looking at their own interests, perhaps rightfully so.
Keep close tabs of any school, and there is always a call from faculty members to drop athletics. When the University of Idaho was making the various moves which led them from the Big Sky to the WAC (via the Big West and the Sun Belt), there was a vocal group of faculty members who wanted to drop athletics (and then they pushed to go back to the Big Sky when they realized Idaho wouldn't drop sports). There's been some faculty members at MWC schools who have been pushing the same thing.
100 years from now, there are still going to be members of any faculty, be it Oklahoma or ISU, who want to drop athletics. They are looking at their own interests, perhaps rightfully so.
