Has Marquette ever considered starting a football program again?

[BrewCity83]

Could this Marquette football team play at Miller Park?

I think we'd be doormats for many years.  We would probably have to go play Wisco and ND at their place in a buy-out type of game for the first few years.

It would be fun to start a team.  It would add 6 or 7 fun Saturdays each fall for the students.  We just don't have the cash for it.

Miller Park was built specifically for baseball.  I think I remnember hearing that a football field would have to have a corner cut off in order to fit in the park.

[Litehouse]

The football field at Valley Fields could probably be configured with a stadium to seat 30,000.  Not sure where all those people would park, but the good folks at Potawatomi might be willing to help accommodate that many visitors to the neighborhood with some additional parking ramps.

[thatman32]

I think this would be very good for the school.....   anyone know if it has been considered?

Hi, I'm reality have we met . . . I can be quite inconvenient!  Apparently you never read the NCAA handbook about Title 9.  The short Answer is NO not at all and probably NEVER. 

[bma725]

I understand that 200 million is the cost when you project 4 or 5 years down the line BUT, football would bring in tons of money too.  I am not saying we would profit right away, but it would soften the loss.  And it could be very profitable to be the only football team of significance in Milwaukee.  I highly doubt Duke puts over 9 figures into their football program.

Tons of money is an overstatement.  The fanbase simply doesn't exist in this area to support.  MU isn't a large school, it doesn't have a ton of alums around here.  Any stadium it's going to build will be small and not a money maker because it can't support a big one.  No matter what this is still a pro football state and a pro football city.  Badger football comes after that, even in Milwaukee.  MU would not be a draw.

Truthfully, I could care less if MU gets a team but I think the potiental to be very profitable is huge.  Not sure why they don't have one.  I think its more of a matter than the administration does not care to have one.  All the hurdles mean squat.  If the administration really wanted one, it would happen.

Actually the chances that it's a huge money loser are huge, the chances it's profitable are incredibly slim.  There's a reason very very few private religious institutions have football.  It's a money loser for schools like them.  Duke for example lost $7 million dollars on their football program last year.  

And no, the administration wanting it wouldn't change anything.  DiUlio was interested in it for a little while, but when he put out feelers about getting the money, the donors not only weren't willing to pony up the cash, some that are big time b-ball spenders threatened to pull out completely.  MU doesn't have the money to do it on their own, they need someone with a lot of money to pay and then get away of the way.  Very few people are willing to do that.  

[flash]

Having a football team at Marquette would be awesome, I know it will probably never happen, and if we did ever get a football team we would most likeley be awful for the first few years.  With that said, I would much rather have a good basketball team. 

[Litehouse]

Duke for example lost $7 million dollars on their football program last year.

That's probably the best description of why it would never happen, since Duke's situation would probably be our best case scenario.  Nobody is willing to dump $7M down the drain every year, even after all the other related costs (Stadium, additional women's sports) are accounted for.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I think this would be very good for the school.....   anyone know if it has been considered?

I dunno....has Indiana considered fielding a football team either?

[ErickJD08]

Only the largest state schools, in the largest of conferences make money on football.  (Yeah, I know there are exceptions like ND and USC.)  They are generally loss leaders for most athletic programs.  I am fairly certain that football at Nova is a money loser.

You're right...
http://www.zimbio.com/NCAA+Football/articles/17/Idiocy+Funding+College+Football

I am fine with the way things are.  I'll keep on cheering for my team that will not be mentioned.

[Cooby Snacks]

I dunno....has Indiana considered fielding a football team either?

I can't believe it took 30 replies before someone gave this response.

[thanooj]

hahahaha More-Head

....boobs

Kudos to you.  This is my favorite quote in a long time.  Awesome.


... boobs.  Hahaha

[Marquette84]

The 500 pound gorilla in the room is the possibility of a NCAA/BCS split.

If it never happens, fine, then all the arguments listed above against football make perfect sense.

If it does happen, and we don't have a football program, then we are SCREWED.  We will be in a DII-like world for the rest of time.

Don't count on sticking with the other Big East basketball schools.  If this split occurs, I would fully expect that Villanova and Georgetown--schools with a current Division I (formerly 1AA) football program--would upgrade their football to BCS status.  If for no other reason for the benefit of their basketball programs and compete with UConn and Syracuse and Pitt. 

Some people would say don't worry--the BCS will invite the stronger basketball-only schools to participate. I think this is wishful thinking--a school like MU would add little to nothing in terms of a national TV contract.  Think of it this way--if MU wasn't part of the NCAA or dropped to D2 as was rumored during the Dukiet years, how much less would CBS's $545million/year contract be reduced?   

The incremental coverage that MU would add to a combined Football/Basketball package would be nearly invisible. The BCS would already have the Milwaukee market, for example, based on the presence of Wisconsin football/basketball.   

The time to start planning for this possibility--some would say this eventuality--is now.  We should start planning to implement a Georgetown/Villanova-level football program, and be prepared to upgrade if the need arises.   I don't see a way to start from scratch if we wait until its too late.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The 500 pound gorilla in the room is the possibility of a NCAA/BCS split.

If it never happens, fine, then all the arguments listed above against football make perfect sense.

If it does happen, and we don't have a football program, then we are SCREWED.  We will be in a DII-like world for the rest of time.

Don't count on sticking with the other Big East basketball schools.  If this split occurs, I would fully expect that Villanova and Georgetown--schools with a current Division I (formerly 1AA) football program--would upgrade their football to BCS status.  If for no other reason for the benefit of their basketball programs and compete with UConn and Syracuse and Pitt. 

Some people would say don't worry--the BCS will invite the stronger basketball-only schools to participate. I think this is wishful thinking--a school like MU would add little to nothing in terms of a national TV contract.  Think of it this way--if MU wasn't part of the NCAA or dropped to D2 as was rumored during the Dukiet years, how much less would CBS's $545million/year contract be reduced?   

The incremental coverage that MU would add to a combined Football/Basketball package would be nearly invisible. The BCS would already have the Milwaukee market, for example, based on the presence of Wisconsin football/basketball.   

The time to start planning for this possibility--some would say this eventuality--is now.  We should start planning to implement a Georgetown/Villanova-level football program, and be prepared to upgrade if the need arises.   I don't see a way to start from scratch if we wait until its too late.

I worry greatly about this very thing happening as well.  This is also why I want the 96 team expansion ASAP and locked into a long term television contract.  If that happens, then even a split as you describe would leave room for the non-football schools.  Essentially it guarantees a seat at the table.  Without that expansion, very problematic for schools like Gonzaga and Marquette.

[mu72warrior]

maybe they could play in Wrigley Field as no other team plays there!

[MerrittsMustache]

maybe they could play in Wrigley Field as no other team plays there!

Huh? If it wasn't for the non-sensical Top Ten list posted the other day, this might have been the worst attempt at humor I've seen on here in a long, long time.

[bma725]

The 500 pound gorilla in the room is the possibility of a NCAA/BCS split.

If it never happens, fine, then all the arguments listed above against football make perfect sense.

If it does happen, and we don't have a football program, then we are SCREWED.  We will be in a DII-like world for the rest of time.

Don't count on sticking with the other Big East basketball schools.  If this split occurs, I would fully expect that Villanova and Georgetown--schools with a current Division I (formerly 1AA) football program--would upgrade their football to BCS status.  If for no other reason for the benefit of their basketball programs and compete with UConn and Syracuse and Pitt. 

Some people would say don't worry--the BCS will invite the stronger basketball-only schools to participate. I think this is wishful thinking--a school like MU would add little to nothing in terms of a national TV contract.  Think of it this way--if MU wasn't part of the NCAA or dropped to D2 as was rumored during the Dukiet years, how much less would CBS's $545million/year contract be reduced?   

The incremental coverage that MU would add to a combined Football/Basketball package would be nearly invisible. The BCS would already have the Milwaukee market, for example, based on the presence of Wisconsin football/basketball.   

The time to start planning for this possibility--some would say this eventuality--is now.  We should start planning to implement a Georgetown/Villanova-level football program, and be prepared to upgrade if the need arises.   I don't see a way to start from scratch if we wait until its too late.

I don't disagree that you need football to be in the position to stay on the top level.  I just have my doubts that the BCS people are going to want to include anyone at the table that wasn't already there.  A bunch of them don't like the fact that they had to open up to USF, Cincy and Louisville....so not adding a Nova, GTown or MU would be no skin of their back.  In fact I wouldn't be shocked to see a split that doesn't take those teams with them.

[GGGG]

I don't disagree that you need football to be in the position to stay on the top level.  I just have my doubts that the BCS people are going to want to include anyone at the table that wasn't already there.  A bunch of them don't like the fact that they had to open up to USF, Cincy and Louisville....so not adding a Nova, GTown or MU would be no skin of their back.  In fact I wouldn't be shocked to see a split that doesn't take those teams with them.

+1

Georgetown and Nova would be on the outside looking in.

[Litehouse]

Even if there was a split, would it be worth losing $7M/year on a mediocre football team to keep our basketball at the highest level?  I don't know, that's a tough call for an institution like MU.

[groove]

would settle for lacrosse or men's volleyball

[CrimsonNCrean]

I dunno....has Indiana considered fielding a football team either?

we try......   

[HouWarrior]

http://www.ncaafootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=34&url_article_id=16601&change_well_id=2
u of minn is most recent football stadium---near mu, seats 50k...and it cost 250mil
add the startup costs of program, practice fields etc and if mu wants to be a div1-a /bcs (BE) football school it should plan on 300 mil
annual div programs av outlay(excl of infrastructure costs is 16 mil)

note  u of minn and all new div programs have had public$/BOND DEBT BACKING-
this just isnt even in the realm of a possibility

[Tugg Speedman]

I believe their are only three private schools that have football teams that make money ... TCU, USC and ND (as noted earlier Duke loses money).  ND and USC need 80 years of tradition and excellence to stay in the game (and some think ND is on its way out).  Why do we think that MU would be the fourth?  Because we played in the 1938 Cotton Bowl?  Get real

It is a colossal waste of resources to field a money losing program.  Wanna bet G-Town and 'Nova drop their programs in the next 5 years?

The only way it happens is if alumni/interested parties write a check for $100 to $200 million to start one.  Even then the administration would try and tell them to fund a new dorm and/or building(s) with that money instead ... and they should.

All those posters that think its a good idea, the administration will send you a bill for $1,000.  Let see how many send money back.  We are all good at spending other peoples money.

[wildbill sb]

I believe their are only three private schools that have football teams that make money ... TCU, USC and ND (as noted earlier Duke loses money).  ND and USC need 80 years of tradition and excellence to stay in the game (and some think ND is on its way out).  Why do we think that MU would be the fourth?  Because we played in the 1938 Cotton Bowl?  Get real

It is a colossal waste of resources to field a money losing program.  Wanna bet G-Town and 'Nova drop their programs in the next 5 years?

The only way it happens is if alumni/interested parties write a check for $100 to $200 million to start one.  Even then the administration would try and tell them to fund a new dorm and/or building(s) with that money instead ... and they should.

All those posters that think its a good idea, the administration will send you a bill for $1,000.  Let see how many send money back.  We are all good at spending other peoples money.

Boston College?  Tulane?  Brigham Young?  Pitt?  Syracuse?

[Tugg Speedman]

Boston College?  Tulane?  Brigham Young?  Pitt?  Syracuse?

You sure they all make money?

[Marquette84]

if mu wants to be a div1-a /bcs (BE) football school it should plan on 300 mil
annual div programs av outlay(excl of infrastructure costs is 16 mil)

Who says we need a stadium like Minnesota's?  Two other BCS football stadiums have opened recently:

Akron (capacity 30,000):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoCision_Stadium_%E2%80%93_Summa_Field
Completed in 2009 for $61.6 million.  

Central Florida (capacity 45,000):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_House_Networks_Stadium
Completed in 2007 for $55 Million

Its a nice straw man to pick out the most expensive new college football stadium of the last decade--perhaps ever--then casually suggest that we should "plan on" spending $25 to $50 million more.

In reality, we would build a more modest facility that is a) similar to Akron's or UCF's and b) will be dual-use, incorporating the Soccer facility we're already planning to build.

[SacWarrior]

I'm an optimist so I'll try to look at the situation from a "best possible scenario" mindset.

The best possible scenario involves Marquette overnight transforming into THE catholic school in the Midwest. How this is achieved I haven't the faintest clue, maybe somehow every Catholic, not to mention ESPN, realizes how criminally overrated and obnoxious that one college in that one Indiana town is, then they lose their entire undergraduate population and decide to sport gold and blue (God forbid this day ever occurs for obvious reasons)

Marquette's new enormous fanbase isn't enough though, overnight we would have to expand into downtown Milwaukee a few blocks. We would probably need to buy the MPL, the Wisconsin club and a few more buildings for both academic and student housing services. Then we would relax our standards and allow just any applicant up until 75% (we're not Arizona State for God's sake) are admitted. With our new huge campus and giant undergrad population in the 30,000s we can build a new football field.

We then buy Potawotomi, demolish it, convert it into parking, then demolish the train yards and build a modest 40,000 seat stadium.

Then what? We probably start (if we're lucky) in DII like Villanova. Then maybe one day we go to the Football Championship Subdivision, then a few decades later we maybe get in the FBS. Even then we're still hemorrhaging money. Wisconsin, which sells out every single game of their 70,000 seat stadium, not to mention sells more apparel and gear to fans than most other schools, still loses a good deal of cash each year on football. And they're a "successful" team both on the field and in the boardroom.

It's not happening. And to be completely honest I don't want it to ever happen. It's a shame that college football, which controls division realignment and the pocketbooks of ADs everywhere, guides decisionmaking, because it's killing college basketball.