Marquette Football Update

[The Lens]

Return to football and you've got ready-made opponents in Butler, Georgetown and Villanova, with three non-scholarship Div. I teams (St. Thomas, Drake, and Valpo) within driving distance of Valley Fields.

The biggest force that would prevent this is dark money from the University of Wisconsin.  I'm half kidding.
Which means I'm half serious.  Wisconsin is the 20th state in population but has only one Division 1 team.  This imbalance gives UW an incredible advantage in cultivating their walk on program.  It also explains why UW-Whitewater is so dominant. 

A FCS or D2 program could be pretty competitive in Wisconsin given metrics. 

I'm not advocating for a team but merely pointing out that when you look at state's population and see that from 21-40 most have 2 teams, some have 3 and even a few have 4, there could be opportunity in Wisconsin.

[Galway Eagle]

The biggest force that would prevent this is dark money from the University of Wisconsin.  I'm half kidding.
Which means I'm half serious.  Wisconsin is the 20th state in population but has only one Division 1 team.  This imbalance gives UW an incredible advantage in cultivating their walk on program.  It also explains why UW-Whitewater is so dominant. 

A FCS or D2 program could be pretty competitive in Wisconsin given metrics. 

I'm not advocating for a team but merely pointing out that when you look at state's population and see that from 21-40 most have 2 teams, some have 3 and even a few have 4, there could be opportunity in Wisconsin.

We could recruit Whitewaters roster fill in some legit D1 recruits and win FCS based on what I remember from the last FCS football game I watched

[Herman Cain]

The biggest force that would prevent this is dark money from the University of Wisconsin.  I'm half kidding.
Which means I'm half serious.  Wisconsin is the 20th state in population but has only one Division 1 team.  This imbalance gives UW an incredible advantage in cultivating their walk on program.  It also explains why UW-Whitewater is so dominant. 

A FCS or D2 program could be pretty competitive in Wisconsin given metrics. 

I'm not advocating for a team but merely pointing out that when you look at state's population and see that from 21-40 most have 2 teams, some have 3 and even a few have 4, there could be opportunity in Wisconsin.

To your point, Michigan has U of M and MSU and also has Central, Western and Eastern as MAC teams in D1. Then you get into Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan DII.

MU could put together a very decent quality FCS team. 
 

[Uncle Rico]

Maybe Al McGuire will rise from the grave and announce his intention to coach again, too

[The Lens]

Fun fact: Al McGuire played high school football against Joe Paterno.  Al was able score easily bc JoePa looked the other way.

[Billy Hoyle]

We could recruit Whitewaters roster fill in some legit D1 recruits and win FCS based on what I remember from the last FCS football game I watched

Could Whitewater be competitive in FCS?  Would we be scholarship or non-scholarship FCS? It's a hell of a lot easier to get kids to pay to pay full costs at Whitewater or LaCrosse especially in-state kids (Minnesota too if WI still has tuition remission for MN natives) than to pay full costs at MU. Tuition at Whitewater is under $8K a year, $15,384 with room and board. $24K for out-of-state students. This is without merit and need based aid too. Meanwhile, MU is $60K. That's the biggest impediment, IMO.

To your point, Michigan has U of M and MSU and also has Central, Western and Eastern as MAC teams in D1. Then you get into Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan DII.

MU could put together a very decent quality FCS team. 
 

Saginaw Valley and Wayne State in D2 as well. However, all of those are public schools. It costs $25K for in-state students and $30K for out-of-state students at GVSU, all in. Even less at SVSU, Ferris, and NMU.

[Herman Cain]

Fun fact: Al McGuire played high school football against Joe Paterno.  Al was able score easily bc JoePa looked the other way.

I think there is a photo of this somewhere.

[Herman Cain]

Could Whitewater be competitive in FCS?  Would we be scholarship or non-scholarship FCS? It's a hell of a lot easier to get kids to pay to pay full costs at Whitewater or LaCrosse especially in-state kids (Minnesota too if WI still has tuition remission for MN natives) than to pay full costs at MU. Tuition at Whitewater is under $8K a year, $15,384 with room and board. $24K for out-of-state students. This is without merit and need based aid too. Meanwhile, MU is $60K. That's the biggest impediment, IMO.

Saginaw Valley and Wayne State in D2 as well. However, all of those are public schools. It costs $25K for in-state students and $30K for out-of-state students at GVSU, all in. Even less at SVSU, Ferris, and NMU.

Non scholarship FCS to start. MU would have no problem attracting students to be in the program. Georgetown has kids falling all overthemselves to play football for the Hoyas. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Non scholarship FCS football is worthless.

[JWags85]

Could Whitewater be competitive in FCS?  Would we be scholarship or non-scholarship FCS? It's a hell of a lot easier to get kids to pay to pay full costs at Whitewater or LaCrosse especially in-state kids (Minnesota too if WI still has tuition remission for MN natives) than to pay full costs at MU. Tuition at Whitewater is under $8K a year, $15,384 with room and board. $24K for out-of-state students. This is without merit and need based aid too. Meanwhile, MU is $60K. That's the biggest impediment, IMO.

Competitive? Sure. I think part of Whitewater’s success is the lack of FCS programs within 3 hours of Milwaukee or Madison.  So you can get a lot of fringe non-D1 talent to play there.

“Win” FCS like Galway said? I’m not sure if he meant win games or win a title, but if it’s the latter, no way in hell.  The best FCS teams like NDSU, James Madison, and Eastern Washington could probably win some of the lower level FBS leagues and regularly beat FBS teams.  They’d obliterate Whitewater or Mount Union

[The Lens]

Non scholarship FCS to start. MU would have no problem attracting students to be in the program. Georgetown has kids falling all overthemselves to play football for the Hoyas.

Love the enthusiasm but I’m gonna say this: We’re not Georgetown

And now louder for the folks in the back:
WE’RE NOT GEORGETOWN

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Could Whitewater be competitive in FCS?  Would we be scholarship or non-scholarship FCS? It's a hell of a lot easier to get kids to pay to pay full costs at Whitewater or LaCrosse especially in-state kids (Minnesota too if WI still has tuition remission for MN natives) than to pay full costs at MU. Tuition at Whitewater is under $8K a year, $15,384 with room and board. $24K for out-of-state students. This is without merit and need based aid too. Meanwhile, MU is $60K. That's the biggest impediment, IMO.

Whitewater and the other UW schools would not be competitive in FCS. They just don’t have the resources. They have looked at D2 before and even that’s a stretch.

D3 is perfect for them. They get the glory of winning titles without the costs associated with D2 or FCS.

[Herman Cain]

Non scholarship FCS football is worthless.

I have been to a few games and saw a lot of school spirit and people having fun.

[wildbillsb]

Likely the aptly named Frosty Ferzacca.

Johnny Druze?

[JWags85]

I have been to a few games and saw a lot of school spirit and people having fun.

Whats “a lot of school spirit”?

Valpo averaged 1800-2000 fans a game the last few games, and that was usually buffered by a “big” game early in the year.  Multiple games have under 1200 fans.

Butler similarly, averages around 2500 a game, but again multiple games under 1500 fans a year.

Drake, under 2000.

Dayton has the highest of the set, but they are still under 3000 fans.

All of schools play in stadiums that seat way more than they bring.  Drake and Dayton both play in stadiums that seat more than 10K fans.  And they all have basketball teams that draw way more fans.

It’s a waste of time.  The Pioneer League has the lowest attendance as a conference in the FCS and usually gets blasted in any non-con games against legit FCS programs.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Whats “a lot of school spirit”?

Valpo averaged 1800-2000 fans a game the last few games, and that was usually buffered by a “big” game early in the year.  Multiple games have under 1200 fans.

Butler similarly, averages around 2500 a game, but again multiple games under 1500 fans a year.

Drake, under 2000.

Dayton has the highest of the set, but they are still under 3000 fans.

All of schools play in stadiums that seat way more than they bring.  Drake and Dayton both play in stadiums that seat more than 10K fans.  And they all have basketball teams that draw way more fans.

It’s a waste of time.  The Pioneer League has the lowest attendance as a conference in the FCS and usually gets blasted in any non-con games against legit FCS programs.

I mean, I guess schools like Valpo are using football to get 50-80 students in the door they wouldn't otherwise get.  But I don't think that would be a smart enrollment move for MU.  They would be using resources best spent elsewhere.

[The Lens]

I’m with Fluff & Wags.  The juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Also it’s pretty clear Jennifer Carton is anti big football school.  She has DJ leave football factory tOSU and then only left MU after the Peter “Clyde” Hall story surfaced. 

Being The U of the North is hurting recruiting.

[war1980rior]

I think there is a photo of this somewhere.

[Warrior Code]

Marquette football with the shoutout in SI today.

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/05/01/iowa-state-first-round-nfl-draft-picks

Undefeated since 1960!

[keefe]

Could Whitewater be competitive

Well, it's certainly no St Norbert's

[willie warrior]

Out of the Golden Avalanche era. That would be a great name to bring back, instead of Golden Eagles, and would keep Gold in the family.
If my memory serves me, MU last football victory was over those arrogant pricks, No Dick. What a way to close out.
F*%K No Dick.

[djorling]

Marquette's last football victory occurred on 10/8/1960.  They beat Boston College 13-12.

http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Marquette.htm

Years ago I happened across an old Life magazine with a full-page picture of a Marquette Football game.  My computer skills being what they are, I had to take two frames to get the picture and the caption.  I hope the attachments work.  The pictures may help explain why Marquette dropped the sport.  If they are not attached, if someone could help me with the process I will try again.

[djorling]

Apparently, the second half was attached, but not the first.  Here's another try.

[Dawson Rental]

Dropping football also might have had something to do with a million dollar (and growing each year) deficit that was real money in 1960.

The good news was that retiring this debt drove the decision to go big time in basketball to pay the debt off.

Maybe we should get MU to startup football again. I mean if it leads to another decision to go big time in basketball, it would be well worth it.

[The Lens]

Marquette did restart the Football Program, it's called Lacrosse.  They bet on the demo / geography of LAX players when investing in that sport and so far it seems to have paid off.  It had helped MU on both coasts.

Adding football would be more of an alum play.