Steve Cottingham On MU Football

[Robyrd5]

I don't pretend to know much about all this stuff, but I thought this article was relevant enough to share.

http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/kennesaw-state-students-approve-743667.html

Kennesaw State students approve football fee
Kennesaw State University students have approved a fee increase, bringing the school one step closer to fielding a football team in 2014.

Student government officers and KSU President Dan Papp announced the survey results Tuesday before a packed room in the university's student center.

About 55.5 percent of the 7,358 students voting in a seven-day online survey last week approved the $100 per semester fee increase to fund the football program and to expand women's sports.

The fee, which would take effect in fall 2012, is expected to generate $5 million to $6 million a year.

Papp equated the affirmative fee vote to a halftime lead. "It's nice to have, but at the end of the day it doesn't mean all that much," he said.

Before football can be played, the university must begin an 18- to 30-month campaign to raise the $8 million to $12 million in start-up costs.  If that's successful, the university would present a business plan — which would include a formal request for the $100 fee — to the state's board of regents.

If the plan is approved, football coaches could be recruited as early as fall 2012, followed by players in fall 2013.

About 33 percent of the 22,388 eligible voters — students who currently pay KSU's existing $144 per semester athletic fee — voted in the football fee survey.

The school announced its intentions to field a football team in September after a recommendation from an exploratory committee, headed by former Georgia football coach Vince Dooley.

[Benny B]

But this is just for a I-AA team.  The cost (and requisite student fees) to start-up a I-A team is likely much greater.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/kennesaw-state-plans-to-614102.html

Not to beat a dead horse here, but football is discretionary right now at MU - it doesn't matter if the start-up cost is $8M, $30M or $125M.  If it one day becomes a necessity, then MU will have to decide whether it wants its athletic teams in a BCS conference with football or in the A-10 without.  My guess is that the students would approve it in a heartbeat if the annual fee was tolerable... the question is whether the finance office can justify.

[reinko]

So if the students in 2017 vote they don't want to pay the fee, will they disband.  This vote is bull.

[john_cocktoasten]

Before football can be played, the university must begin an 18- to 30-month campaign to raise the $8 million to $12 million in start-up costs.  If that's successful, the university would present a business plan — which would include a formal request for the $100 fee — to the state's board of regents.

This is a state school and has the resources of the state tax payers.... And that's why MU will never have a football team.

[HouWarrior]

A one time student fee charge of $10,000 per student, times 11,600 students = $116 mil.

Eureka, the start up cost of football is paid. Of course, those students would get preferred seating, even over alums, at the football games-lol

[PBRme]

7358 X 100 X 2 Semesters = $5 to 6 million???????????

Sounds like Washington math to me

[BrewCity83]

7358 X 100 X 2 Semesters = $5 to 6 million???????????

Sounds like Washington math to me

You're right...they would need about $375 per student per semester to get to $5.5MM.

[ChicosBailBonds]

7358 X 100 X 2 Semesters = $5 to 6 million???????????

Sounds like Washington math to me

I believe you left out a number (just my guess, not trying to pile on)

7358 students X $100 X 2 semesters X 4 years (remember, they said 2014)

That equals $5,886,400.00

[ChicosBailBonds]

But this is just for a I-AA team.  The cost (and requisite student fees) to start-up a I-A team is likely much greater.

That's why we should start up a I-AA team and not a I-A team.   

[rocky_warrior]

I believe you left out a number (just my guess, not trying to pile on)

7358 students X $100 X 2 semesters X 4 years (remember, they said 2014)

That equals $5,886,400.00

I don't disagree with your math, however

The fee, which would take effect in fall 2012, is expected to generate $5 million to $6 million a year.

So the article clearly states per year.  Also, if it takes effect in 2012, then there's only 2 years to accumulate money before fall 2014, not 4 years

[ChicosBailBonds]

Maybe here's where the number comes from

22,388 eligible voters (students) ....the 7,358 were those that voted for the fee

22,388 X $100 X 2 semesters = $4,477,600

That's not $5 to $6 million, but getting closer   

[rocky_warrior]

Ahhh...we're all being silly...

About 33 percent of the 22,388 eligible voters

So at least 22,388 * $100 * 2 semesters = $4,477,600

Only 7358 voted.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Funny, I just posted the same thing

[rocky_warrior]

Beat your edit by 31 seconds

[ChicosBailBonds]

Beat your edit by 31 seconds

I've always lasted longer than you Rocky   *rimshot*

[Coleman]

But this is just for a I-AA team.  The cost (and requisite student fees) to start-up a I-A team is likely much greater.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/kennesaw-state-plans-to-614102.html

Not to beat a dead horse here, but football is discretionary right now at MU - it doesn't matter if the start-up cost is $8M, $30M or $125M.  If it one day becomes a necessity, then MU will have to decide whether it wants its athletic teams in a BCS conference with football or in the A-10 without.  My guess is that the students would approve it in a heartbeat if the annual fee was tolerable... the question is whether the finance office can justify.

I agree that as of RIGHT NOW, football is discretionary, assuming things stay the same in perpetuity. However, starting up a football program takes years. When/if it does in fact become, as you said, a necessity for MU, it will be too late to start a program at that point. Conferences will realign, and then MU will join the A-10 or something similar. At that point, no BCS conference is going wait around for 4 years while MU cobbles together a D 1-A program in an attempt to stay in the Big East or another BCS conference. Its something that will have had to be in place beforehand. So yes, in a sense its discretionary, but its something that we need to be thinking AHEAD of time, if we want to stay in a BCS conference for all of our sports.

My 2 cents

[GGGG]

Before football can be played, the university must begin an 18- to 30-month campaign to raise the $8 million to $12 million in start-up costs.  If that's successful, the university would present a business plan — which would include a formal request for the $100 fee — to the state's board of regents.

This is a state school and has the resources of the state tax payers.... And that's why MU will never have a football team.

No, the Board of Regents simply has to approve the fee the students charge themselves.  They won't be allocating tax dollars to this in a direct sense.