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Micron to Close Boise Manufacturing Operations

S

skippy57.0

Active member
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/677660.html

For those of you wondering what this has to do with Idaho State athletics, as I warned you last fall when this downward spiral first began, just watch the bottom line for the athletic departments continue to shrink. In fact, given the current budget crisis in education in Idaho, I would expect the debate over large expenditures for "extra-curricular activities" like football will begin. It has already begun on the public school level. The universities will not be immune to the discussion.
 
Spartan, did it escape your notice that Idaho State is playing Oklahoma next year? Just wondered if you care about that? Do you know why Idaho State is playing Oklahoma next year? Largely because the state has whacked 12 percent out of the Idaho State athletic department budget.

Do you think the fact that the state's former largest employer has cut its employment base by half in just over a year, and will take a huge property tax reduction because it will no longer be manufacturing in this state, will have any impact on the athletic department budgets of the state's universities? Do you think there will be any debate over whether the state should continue to heavily subsidize athletics at the three universities?

I'm just asking, because if you don't think any of this matters to fans of ISU athletics, you certainly have the right to that opinion, and I will not attempt to influence your opinion. I'll just chat with those Bengal fans who might care.
 
as i mentioned - rationalize it all you want - it does not belong here

wow - isu is playing oklahoma to make money????? what a news flash

you can 'chat' with whomever you want - the news you posted and the link to the article have nothing to do with idaho state university athletics - regardless of how much you try to make it so
 
Skippy...I totally agree with you about the Micron closing creating a ripple effect on state tax revenues, and thereby affecting the funding provided to universities by the state legislature. I believe that it will have a much greater immediate impact on the Treasure Valley, but there will be statewide ripples, no doubt. Officials at all state schools have already been asked to put together their lists of projects that could benefit from the federal stimulus package, but instructions were strict, none of the money supposedly coming is for any projects related to athletics in any way, shape or form.

The ISU/Oklahoma game was actually mentioned last week in a story in USA today talking about how ISU at first rejected the proposed game, but after state budget cuts came down, we reconsidered and scheduled the contest.

It is beyond me to understand how someone doesn't think this would be a topic for discussion on a fan board. I do know that when discussions about athletics funding are held here, some pretty interesting things are said...true and untrue...fact and fantasy...but at least IMHO, discussions here aren't out of place just because they don't mention players or coaches or opponents, etc., or because a story doesn't specifically mention Idaho State University.
 
great - then where are all the threads about how opening up sunday liquor sales would benefit idaho state athletics? if you try hard enough, you can 'make' anything fit under idaho state athletics - it still doesn't mean it should be posted there.. thats what the general section is for - imho
 
That's YOUR opinion spartan. But the general concensus here is that it does because of revenues for athletics. Does YOUR opinion speak for the majority of the posters here? I didn't think so either.
 
Budget cuts and scheduling are relevant to this board. I wanted to know why Idaho State played this game--and although financially it was needed, I am still glad that Idaho State rejected it at first.

Spartan, if you do not believe that the state of the Idaho economy is not a factor in the long term vitality of Idaho State football and athletics in general...you are misguided. Idaho State athletics survives on money appropriated by the State.
 
i believe thats what the 'imho' meant... guess you missed that. never said anyone couldn't disagree

(as for that last part - 'I didn't think so either' - ???)
 
A good question to ask is this: With Micron closing its' Boise plant and laying off another two thousand employees...how will this affect other businesses in the region and the state. Won't shutting down one of the state's largest employers have a negative effect on other parts of the state's economy...far and wide? I called it a ripple effect...and it won't be just on state tax revenues collected from Micron...it will affect whether those two thousand people and their families can even stay in Idaho...where they can live...what they can buy, etc. It will have a negative impact on other manufacturing and retail sales...and by the time the domino effect statewide is accounted for...a LOT of the rest of us will feel the ripples. You can put in as many degrees of separation as you'd like...but the effect will be real. If every dollar spent by Micron and its employees goes through an average of six different hands after being spent...

I understand discussions are already underway in the Big Sky and other conferences to see how to save money on travel. Wouldn't it be great to go back to Friday/Saturday basketball road swings through Sacramento and Flagstaff? Even if you play two home games, back-to-back is tough...no matter where. Such a change would give an unbelievable advantage to home teams. We've been there before and it was a disaster as far as competition went...but economically...I'm afraid we're not going to have a choice. It wouldn't take long before we would see some Big Sky games have to be cancelled because team's can't get-there-from-here in less than a day.

Recruiting budgets could well be cut and/or limited...coaching staffs could be reduced. I could even envision schools refusing to send their announcers on the road and picking up feeds from the home team's radio...kinda like Big Sky TV is now...always the home team's announcer. Even the number of players allowed to travel could be reduced. Some schools WILL drop athletics.

You can say what Micron does is of no consequence to Idaho State athletics. I beg to differ...because there are going to be more and more "Microns" everywhere you turn...
 
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