Bring back Marquette football

[6746jonesr]

I know it's unreasonable to think this will ever happen.  But if your interested we started a petition so if you want to sign it the web address is http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/marquettefootball.  I know i would donate to get football back and I know a lot of you would too.

[GOMU1104]

Ahh yes...the ever popular "Bring Back MU Football" Thread...havent had one of these in awhile.

You are wasting your time.

[groove]

I'm curious. How can Villanova afford a football program?

[Benny B]

Show me an online petition that has been the cause for such a monumental change, and I'll happily donate whatever dollar amount is needed to fund a football team.

[GGGG]

I'm curious. How can Villanova afford a football program?

It isn't that Marquette couldn't afford one.  I'm sure that it could.  The question is what benefit does MU gain from starting one?  They don't have a place to play...they would be playing in a media market that is completely dominated by Packer and Badger football coverage...and I'm not sure there is much demand for it.

Finally, what conference to they play in?  The Gateway with the likes of Indiana State and Northern Iowa?  Eh...

I just don't think MU gets much benefit from starting a program.

[Dish]

While you're at it, close Wisconsin Avenue and bring back Warr....

...ahh, nevermind. Just let this thread take on a life of it's own.

[damuts222]

 Granted I never really followed college football much before attending Marquette or while I attended MU, but I actually like having the designation of being a basketball only school.

Being a basketball only school is one of the main reasons we spend so much money on the men's basketball team. Also, I know it was only a Marquette club football team when I attended but I'm pretty sure they didn't win a game while I attended Marquette.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It isn't that Marquette couldn't afford one.  I'm sure that it could.  The question is what benefit does MU gain from starting one?  They don't have a place to play...they would be playing in a media market that is completely dominated by Packer and Badger football coverage...and I'm not sure there is much demand for it.

Finally, what conference to they play in?  The Gateway with the likes of Indiana State and Northern Iowa?  Eh...

I just don't think MU gets much benefit from starting a program.

Today, you are correct.  Where this all gets murky is 5, 10, 20 years down the road when a Super Division I is created in the NCAA which will require football to be a member.  When that happens, the Gonzaga, Marquette, DePaul, etc of the world will be in a different tier.  A school like Dayton, G'Town or Nova, because they have football at a lower level, would then be able to decide if they want to upgrade to play in that super division or not.  Schools without football, like SLU, MU, etc, will not have that option

[GGGG]

Today, you are correct.  Where this all gets murky is 5, 10, 20 years down the road when a Super Division I is created in the NCAA which will require football to be a member.  When that happens, the Gonzaga, Marquette, DePaul, etc of the world will be in a different tier.  A school like Dayton, G'Town or Nova, because they have football at a lower level, would then be able to decide if they want to upgrade to play in that super division or not.  Schools without football, like SLU, MU, etc, will not have that option

If this "Super Division 1" only includes the current FBS schools, than pretty much all private schools are screwed.  The only ones that play at that level are ND, BC, Northwestern, USC, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Duke, Syracuse...and I'm sure a couple of others.  Most of them are large, state public universities that Marquette could never compete with.

[wildbillsb]

I'm curious. How can Villanova afford a football program?

They brought it back many, many years ago. I remember reading an article about it in the Saturday Evening Post, I believe.  Not sure if such an article is Google-able - worth a try I suppose.

[MU B2002]

Today, you are correct.  Where this all gets murky is 5, 10, 20 years down the road when a Super Division I is created in the NCAA which will require football to be a member.  When that happens, the Gonzaga, Marquette, DePaul, etc of the world will be in a different tier.  A school like Dayton, G'Town or Nova, because they have football at a lower level, would then be able to decide if they want to upgrade to play in that super division or not.  Schools without football, like SLU, MU, etc, will not have that option

What's next a Ultra Super Division where schools have D1 footbal, basketball, baseball, track, gymnastics, debate, and golf teams?  I am sick of the NCAA and it's quest to create a country full of perfect colleges!

[Ari Gold]

Show me an online petition that has been the cause for such a monumental change, and I'll happily donate whatever dollar amount is needed to fund a football team.

$100 million just to start up If I remember the conversation I had with administrators correctly. I'm as sad as anyone that MU will *likely* never have a football team but it's just a pipe dream that it'll happen. Moreso than the need for money is the need for land/space. Not that building a stadium wouldn't cost too much for MU but finding a spot to put it in that is close enough to campus yet in a respectable location would be a big problem.

Then tack on the fact that the team has to be competitive enough to be entertaining -or the drinking culture for students to not care-. It's too bad MU got rid of their Div 1 FBS program but it's probably never coming back. Even a Div 2 level team (Great Lakes Valley) or Div 1-FCS team (Missouri Valley-not the gateway anymore-) is impossible for MU.  

I will however toss out a different idea: A hockey team. MU could use the facilities already at the BC and the BC has hosted college hockey before. The costs could be less than a football team. MU could play in the WCHA or CCHA Conference and probably develop a competitive team.

[Jay Bee]

I'd love a football team... one suggestion, though, on the petition and requests for 'support': Make sure your grammar and spelling is on point (i.e., "if your interested", "I'm dissapointed", "we hear people say", etc.  

No matter how much I may agree with someone's beliefs, it's difficult to take them seriously as a potential 'catalyst for change' if they can't figure out basic grammar.

[bs4173]

If this "Super Division 1" only includes the current FBS schools, than pretty much all private schools are screwed.  The only ones that play at that level are ND, BC, Northwestern, USC, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Duke, Syracuse...and I'm sure a couple of others.  Most of them are large, state public universities that Marquette could never compete with.

And the private schools that DO have such football programs have enormous endowments:

ND: $5.5 bil
Northwestern: 5.34 bil
Duke: 4.9 bil
USC: 2.5 bil
Vanderbilt: 2.8 bil
BC: 1.3 bil
Baylor: >1.0 bil
Syracuse: >1.0 bil

Marquette's endowment is $357 million, about a third of the smallest on that list. As awesome as it would be to have football, this is really a pointless conversation, because it's not going to happen. Seems like we have it every time a new freshman class comes in and then realizes what they're missing during Bowl Week.

I will however toss out a different idea: A hockey team. MU could use the facilities already at the BC and the BC has hosted college hockey before. The costs could be less than a football team. MU could play in the WCHA or CCHA Conference and probably develop a competitive team.

I'll second that.

[Ari Gold]

I hate to use this source because the Paper has been absolute garbage since 2007 (especially their sports section) but I remember a story from a few years ago that asked this question but got interviews with Wild and Broker.

It was probably the best article that was ever pulled from the sh*t

http://thewarrior.org/2006/10/11/what-it-would-take-to-bring-d-1-football-back/

[ChicosBailBonds]

$100 million just to start up If I remember the conversation I had with administrators correctly. I'm as sad as anyone that MU will *likely* never have a football team but it's just a pipe dream that it'll happen. Moreso than the need for money is the need for land/space. Not that building a stadium wouldn't cost too much for MU but finding a spot to put it in that is close enough to campus yet in a respectable location would be a big problem.

Then tack on the fact that the team has to be competitive enough to be entertaining -or the drinking culture for students to not care-. It's too bad MU got rid of their Div 1 FBS program but it's probably never coming back. Even a Div 2 level team (Great Lakes Valley) or Div 1-FCS team (Missouri Valley-not the gateway anymore-) is impossible for MU.  

I will however toss out a different idea: A hockey team. MU could use the facilities already at the BC and the BC has hosted college hockey before. The costs could be less than a football team. MU could play in the WCHA or CCHA Conference and probably develop a competitive team.

As I said then and will repeat now, that $100 million number is overstated.  I am good friends with three ADs at major schools that all have football (two are BCS schools) and that $100 million number they absolutely laughed at.

It's a scare tactic used by the administration.  What they are doing is including a football stadium in that figure.  Now, sure, if they wanted to build a stadium that was over the top and held 80,000 people, it would cost more than $100 million....much more.

But if they were to build a modest new stadium for 25K to 30K attendance, you can do it for $35 million to $65 million depending on what you put into it.

Akron just did theirs for $62 million.

That $100 Million is baking 90% of the costs into a stadium which may or may not be needed.

All of this assumes MU couldn't find another location, like Miller Park, and avoid that huge cost all together, but rather pay rent for a facility.

I realize this is never going to happen, but the possibility of a Super Division is very very likely.  In fact, my AD friends say it's only a matter of when, not if.

[Hards Alumni]

why build a stadium when Miller Park is right down the street?  I realize it is not ideal, but the Packers used to play in County Stadium.

oh, Chicos just said MP.

[akmarq]

I would rather have hockey than football anyway...

I think a hockey team also makes more sense given the schools location and the hockey tradition of the upper midwest. That being said, I don't think the WCHA or the CCHA would be a good idea for Marquette. That is akin to us starting a football team and deciding to either play in the SEC or the Big 12. No way an MU team could compete with the likes of Denver, Michigan, and Wisconsin right when it started up.

[Ari Gold]

why build a stadium when Miller Park is right down the street?  I realize it is not ideal, but the Packers used to play in County Stadium.

oh, Chicos just said MP.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/57272617.html Apparently the UFL if it stays afloat thinks Milwaukee would be a good choice... It's tough to say, I remember the idea of football being played at Miller Park being nearly or next to impossible because of size... at the very least it'd be a tight squeeze with a lot of bad seets

[GGGG]

why build a stadium when Miller Park is right down the street?  I realize it is not ideal, but the Packers used to play in County Stadium.

Because sticking the 15,000 fans that MU would get for a football game in Miller Park would be pathetic. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Because sticking the 15,000 fans that MU would get for a football game in Miller Park would be pathetic. 

It's only a 42,000 capacity stadium.   Sure beats paying $60 million (or $100 million....using the administration's numbers) to build a new stadium.

The perfect ideal would have been the joint venture soccer stadium downtown.  Build that for soccer and football.  I don't think that one got off the ground.

[4everwarriors]

Can we get Jack to be the running back coach?

[77ncaachamps]

If the NFL ever creates a development league, I'd be behind Marquette if they pushed for an arena for a GB/Chicago/Minnesota D-League team.

[Jay Bee]

If the NFL ever creates a development league, I'd be behind Marquette if they pushed for an arena for a GB/Chicago/Minnesota D-League team.

  NFL Development League already exists.  See: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

[TallTitan34]

Can we get Jack to be the running back coach?

I think he just gives pep talks these days.

As I said then and will repeat now, that $100 million number is overstated.  I am good friends with three ADs at major schools that all have football (two are BCS schools) and that $100 million number they absolutely laughed at.

I think they also may be including the cost of adding women's sports to equal the scholarships added by football.

I will however toss out a different idea: A hockey team. MU could use the facilities already at the BC and the BC has hosted college hockey before. The costs could be less than a football team. MU could play in the WCHA or CCHA Conference and probably develop a competitive team.

I like the idea of hockey since we already use the Bradley Center.  I see Providence has both men's and women's hockey.