Steve Cottingham On MU Football

[ChicosBailBonds]

Boise State

DII until 1977.  Now they are ranked 3rd in the nation


I don't know why people are against having a football program the level of Nova or even what UCONN was a few years ago.

[mikem91288]

Unbelievable that this is a thread right now. 2 Catholic Schools are in the FBS - ND and BC. No reason for us to try and have a shitty program just to say we have a team.

[GGGG]

Not necessarily as a place to start play, but if it was made out as a ten-year plan. Start with getting a I-AA team playing at a revamped Valley Fields. Up the capacity to 5,000 or so. If you can't draw there, of course you'll never draw at Miller Park, but if they do draw there and start to build a following on campus, then you think about the jump to I-A, and have Miller Park as an already-built venue capable of holding the number of fans needed to maintain I-A status. Of course the team will suck at first, which is why I think going straight to I-A is a bit crazy, but if you start at the lower level it will cost less to maintain early on and you can tempt boosters with the carrot of a I-A program, allowing the school to build up money ahead of time. Then you talk to the Brewers about the use of Miller for the jump. Even if they have ridiculous demands, such as MU providing all staffing for games, or take a huge cut of the ticket sales, it would still have to be cheaper than building a 15,000+ seat stadium.

But what's the point?  The stadium is going to be empty.  The team won't be any good.  It will be a money loser.  I must admit that I don't really see why this should even be considered.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Unbelievable that this is a thread right now. 2 Catholic Schools are in the FBS - ND and BC. No reason for us to try and have a crapty program just to say we have a team.

What does the Catholic thing have anything to do with it?  Why not private schools in FBS?

USC
Stanford
Notre Dame
BC
BYU
Duke
Miami (FL)
Northwestern
SMU
TCU
Syracuse
Temple
Tulane
Wake Forest
Vanderbilt
Rice


Don't get me wrong, I understand your thought process.  I'd like to see MU do a 25 year plan that starts small and moves up slowly.  Can do it for not that much money.  The $125M figure is pure BS and is only equating to starting a major program from day one.  That wouldn't be the smart plan anyway.

[brewcity77]

But what's the point?  The stadium is going to be empty.  The team won't be any good.  It will be a money loser.  I must admit that I don't really see why this should even be considered.

If you want to compete in 5 years, yes, you're right. That simply won't happen. It'll start slow, it'll probably involve quite a few painful years. But the point is that you have to look long term. 25-40 years. It seems like an eternity, but it's about where we're at since our NCAA championship in basketball. It would probably take about 5-10 years to really compete in the FCS. Give it another 5-10 years of establishing ourselves there and building a decent program that can compete at that level. Once that credibility is established, look at making the jump to the FBS. Another 10-15 years and we might be able to crack the top 25 on a semi-regular basis.

It won't happen overnight, anyone who thinks we can just jump right into the FBS is delusional. But that doesn't mean it can't be done, and I think for the long term success of Marquette, it could be a positive.

[PaintTouches]

One thing people gloss over when saying you simply renovate Valley Fields is that there isn't much space to expand. You have the river to the north and the casino to the south. You can't simply add seats where there is no space.

And don't get me started about parking. It was chaotic for the MU vs Bucky soccer game a few weeks ago with only 1043 people there. Let's stay conservative and say MU could draw 8,000 or so. Where do you put the parking lot? I doubt people would be willing to make the trek from campus down 16th St. in the middle of November.

[tower912]

An example I cited in one of these threads was about a college in Alabama going to spend $50 million to build a 30k stadium on land they already owned.   Unless the Brewers actually let us use Miller Park, the cost of  property for a stadium, as well as parking for that stadium, and then adding $50 million to build the 30k stadium, ultimately makes this a non-starter.  And seriously, who on this boards life is less complete because they aren't road-tripping to Milwaukee this weekend?
...and another one....
http://www.wcnc.com/sports/college/UNCC-reviews-football-stadium-design-plans-103703594.html

and another:    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=5580449

and Prairie View: (our natural rivals) http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/fbc/7121984.html

[Aughnanure]

Let's make a deal:

If one of us gets ridiculously loaded one day, then donate the money needed, buy the land to use, etc and get it done. Other than a savior alum coming in to make it happen, this is a dream.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Maybe the dude that donated 2 grand to al's run has a few more sheckles lying around...

[4everwarriors]

We could always hit up Crean to cough up a few big ones like he did for the soccer stadium.

[Tugg Speedman]

Let's make a deal:

If one of us gets ridiculously loaded one day, then donate the money needed, buy the land to use, etc and get it done. Other than a savior alum coming in to make it happen, this is a dream.

MU already received a $50 million donation ... for the law school.  Anyone that has this kind of money to donate to MU is not stupid enough to waste it on starting a football team.

[HoopsMalone]

 And seriously, who on this boards life is less complete because they aren't road-tripping to Milwaukee this weekend?

Football tailgating is a blast.  I went to grad school at a place with a strong football fanbase, and it definitely is fun.  It would be a blast to go back to Milwaukee on a few weekends in the fall and meet up with old buddies.  It gives alums a reason to think about MU and network.  Hopefully, donations would go up.

I like the start slow idea with a lower division team and a smaller stadium.  Students would get blasted outside on a Saturday at Marquette and those alums would be much more likely to want to live that again.  The fanbase of alums would grow and it is something to do in Milwaukee on a Saturday.

It really wouldn't be about winning or losing for the first few years.  It would be about drinking outside in the fall. 

[reinko]

I love drinking.  Like a lot.  But Hoops, most of your reasons for starting a football team revolve around some gray hairs and 20 year olds getting blasted on few afternoons a year.  Hell, I am 11 deep right now, I'm still not convinced that starting a football team is wise.

[HoopsMalone]

I love drinking.  Like a lot.  But Hoops, most of your reasons for starting a football team revolve around some gray hairs and 20 year olds getting blasted on few afternoons a year.  Hell, I am 11 deep right now, I'm still not convinced that starting a football team is wise.

I was just countering something someone said.

The main reasons for spending money on a football program are:
1- Create name recognition for Marquette nationally.  Even if we played in D2 for a while, it would help. 
2- Give alums cause to think about Marquette more and in turn likely lead to more donations
3- Keep the cash flows that come with a BCS conference coming in if major realignments occur
4- Eventually football could directly make money for the school
5- Football games are big events.  They can be used in recruiting students (and as part of official visits for Bball) and for soliciting donations directly from alums at the events. 
6- Allow our alums to be in conversations with professionals who talk about college football (college football has been an ice breaker for me many times in professional networking settings and our alums miss out on entering those group conversations I think)
7- Local business boosts on game days

Having fun is another part of it.  The more good experiences you have at Marquette, the more likely you are to donate, too.

I just think starting small and building up the program is a good idea.  If done the right way, it could be a net positive.

[bma725]

MU can't play D2 football.  Division 1 schools are prohibited from playing anything lower than 1-AA football.

[GGGG]

Hoops I love your optimism but mu football would be too much of a money loser to make up for the positive recognition and donations.  And I think the idea of non-scholarship is completely useless.  Playing the likes of Butler or Valpo has zero appeal.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Boise State's football budget per year.  $5million (per Sports Illustrated)

Interesting....that's actually lower than our basketball budget.


Now, I realize there are all kinds of accounting gimmicks.  What department is paying for the stadium costs as an example.  Plus they don't have to build a stadium.  Nevertheless, an interesting stat.



Ohio State, by the way, spends more than $32million on football each year.

[ChicosBailBonds]

MU already received a $50 million donation ... for the law school.  Anyone that has this kind of money to donate to MU is not stupid enough to waste it on starting a football team.

Maybe not directly to start a team, but plenty of examples of wealthy folks donating for athletic causes.  T. Boone Pickens did something along those lines for Oklahoma State.  Phil Knight for Oregon.  The guy up in North Dakota for ND State.  If a mega rich dude wants to donate money and attach strings to it, God Bless him.  The university can always say no...we have before (see donation for Warriors nickname)

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hoops I love your optimism but mu football would be too much of a money loser to make up for the positive recognition and donations.  And I think the idea of non-scholarship is completely useless.  Playing the likes of Butler or Valpo has zero appeal.

To you, but to others it does have appeal.

[martyconlonontherun]

MU can't play D2 football.  Division 1 schools are prohibited from playing anything lower than 1-AA football.

That, to me, is a bit of a killer. I like the start small approach and I think MU would have a really good lower level program. Think about it, there are no division-2 schools in Wisconsin and Marquette would be the 2 most popular destination behind Madison. I've known so many people from high school that went to small colleges in Wisconsin to play football but would have gone to Marquette if they had a team. We would have all of Wisconsin reject lineman and basically be an instant d-3 powerhouse.

After 10 years, when the school has a football fan-base you could start talking about moving up and a stadium.


As for renovating Valley Fields... it may no be a big stadium, but I bet you could find ways to cram in a couple thousand seats. Have it be more vertical and stands on the north side have a small players area. It would have to be creative to make it work, but it could be an awesome environment where you are literally on top of the opposing team with only a net separating them.

[🏀]

That, to me, is a bit of a killer. I like the start small approach and I think MU would have a really good lower level program. Think about it, there are no division-2 schools in Wisconsin and Marquette would be the 2 most popular destination behind Madison. I've known so many people from high school that went to small colleges in Wisconsin to play football but would have gone to Marquette if they had a team. We would have all of Wisconsin reject lineman and basically be an instant d-3 powerhouse.

After 10 years, when the school has a football fan-base you could start talking about moving up and a stadium.


As for renovating Valley Fields... it may no be a big stadium, but I bet you could find ways to cram in a couple thousand seats. Have it be more vertical and stands on the north side have a small players area. It would have to be creative to make it work, but it could be an awesome environment where you are literally on top of the opposing team with only a net separating them.

Dude, get creative all you want, there is no room. You realize soccer balls are easily lost to the mighty river?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I say domed stadium that turns into an Indian Casino when not used.  Bought and paid for by the tribes in Wisconsin.   

[🏀]

I say domed stadium that turns into an Indian Casino when not used.  Bought and paid for by the tribes in Wisconsin.   

Then they're going to need to build another massive parking structure.

[Big Papi]

Hoops I love your optimism but mu football would be too much of a money loser to make up for the positive recognition and donations.  And I think the idea of non-scholarship is completely useless.  Playing the likes of Butler or Valpo has zero appeal.

How much of a money loser is it if the Big East breaks up and we get stuck in a non BCS league with teams like St. Louis.  I don't think anyone here is asking to start at 1-A and compete against the big boys. Nova in 1-AA is in a sweet position right now.  A great football program that very well might not be a money loser and they can make the move up if they have too.  They will have a say about their future if there is a shake-up.  Unfortunately our options will be very limited. 

[larrym]

Not at all.  The last game the Packers played at County Stadium was in December of 1994.

My understanding is the timing of the Packers leaving was done so that the Brewers new stadium could be planned as a baseball only stadium.  That made it less expensive, so gave it a better chance to happen, and to allow it to have a roof.  Seemed like a deal between Selig and Harlan that was the best for both franchises.  I don't know if it actually resulted in Miller Park being built so that it couldn't fit a football field, but at the time that's how it was sold from the Brewers' perspective.