| Upgrade facilities to attract coaches, student-athletes, and fans. |
| 3 |
| Eliminate one or more sports to better support the others. |
| 5 |
| Move some or all programs from Division I to Division II status. |
| 3 |
| Join new conference with other Illinois or closer to home universities. |
| 1 |
| Gain attendance/dollar support from community, students, and alumni. |
| 0 |
| Replace administrators and coaches of losing or mismanaged programs. |
| 6 |
| None of the above. |
| 0 |
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| 0 |
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Forum Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/9/2010 10:22:38 AM
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I didn't vote because I could not pick just one. I will start with the potential move to DII. It is the wrong way to go (I use it as a wake up call but seriously nothing would be gained) and it will never happen. If we just acted professional and worked hard success would be available for WIU in the Summit and DI.
I think the removal of TVA will finally happen due to the horrible handling of Coach P (maybe a condition of the settlement?). P needed to be let go after the season. While not performing to WIU football standards he didn't do anything that would call for a mid season termination. Regardless, being average (or below) should not be allowed for any athletic department. I do want to congratulate him on the athletes GPA though. I am not all about hating...
Swim and dive should not be dropped because with the number of walk ons they bring in what they cost. If you look at expenses they do not even reach 100K. The facility from what I understand is acceptable (is this correct swim people?) for D1 standards. I would argue the lockers rooms need renovation. However, we do need to scholarship sports to their maximum NCAA limit. If we have to lose a weak link so we can strengthen others fine. If it actually comes to it swim and dive is the first to be cut. Somebody is going to be upset about this decision and I understand that. They did not win any duals this past season and never finished in the top half of any meet. If there is really a Title IX issue we should add Field Hockey (women). We have the field space. SLU, Mich St., Iowa, Ball State, Indiana, Central Mich., Kent State, Miami (OH), and Louisville would be the other teams in the Midwest. Kind of a cool and random sport to add. If the costs get off set so be it. I would rather have an added women's team and then bust @s$ to raise money or enough he// to fully scholarship the other sports. It would stop any Title IX complaints for years....
Our conference is fine. When the Dakotas moved in it stabilized everything. We have a chance to win and be competitive in every sport playing in the Summit. Southern Utah needs to be shown the door (obnoxious travel), thank goodness Centenary is leaving. We can schedule in state games for non conference and be fine. I have no clue why people assume we can make a move to greener pastures. If OVC called I would leave but I know Horizon will not call on WIU. Oakland and others are ready to make a similar move and hold much better credentials.
I addressed what it would take to be a true DI school in regards to facilities in the money crunch post (page 2). It is very honest and the numbers are legit. It ended up being around 38 million dollars for eveything. Obviously you would prioritize things and move forward from there. It would need to be broken up over a 12-15 year time period. I think that if you finished the football stadium and people saw the improved facility (and if used right better performance) other projects would start to fall in line.
The community will support a winner. Macomb will be connected to Peoria in the next stimulus package according to Ray LaHood (USA Transportation Secretary from Peoria) by a four lane road. It will create a surge for Macomb in every way and allow WIU to access another market in a much more efficient manner. A 50 minute drive to Peoria would help recruiting, travel, sponsorships, and much more.
WIU Athletes work hard to represent the University and Macomb. Regardless of any comment I make on a topic I want to affirm my support. Go Leathernecks....
Remember Athletics are a window for the public to view the entire University.
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Forum Member
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Last Login: 7/26/2010 8:25:46 PM
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| Hail Leathernecks Isn't that the truth? Which one do you pick? Some nicely put ideas Hail Leathernecks. I don't necessarily agree with them all but I think you have some good reasoning and ideas to think about. I might be swayed, who knows. Lacrosse...where would we recruit for that? Iowa and some of those other schools have long histories of lacrosse. East coast recruitment would be required for success I think. Could be fun though as you noted.
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Lacrosse is more expensive and there are not ten other Midwest teams to schedule. Also, if you add the sport people are going to want men's and women's Lacrosse together. That would cancel out the Title IX benefit. Field Hockey would share the soccer field (same dimensions) allowing for any resources invested to impact three teams. It would finally push the school to reward two quality soccer programs. I listed how easy it would be to renovate John MacKenzie Field in another post. By building a solid seating structure on the East side with concessions, bathrooms, locker rooms, and a small training room underneath WIU would have a great facility. It could seat about 1,000 fans and have a very modest press box. IHSA events could be held there (revenue...) and it would be a gem for recruiting. The best part about it is that it shouldn't cost more than 1,000,000 for the athletic department to build. Student money could be used because the Rec could access some areas (concessions and bathrooms) during student intramurals events (concessions could create revenue for them.... notice the trend? leaders working together and making small consistent revenue). It would be nice to get the port a potty look off the intramural fields too.
WIU Athletes work hard to represent the University and Macomb. Regardless of any comment I make on a topic I want to affirm my support. Go Leathernecks....
Remember Athletics are a window for the public to view the entire University.
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Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/22/2010 12:46:20 AM
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Western should ID a "core" group of sports that are important and fund those sports at 90% of NCAA max scholarships.
Actually what I think the SL should do is have that core group of sports and require all schools to fund those sports at 90% of NCAA max for scholarships.
I would have these sports as core sports in the SL.
men's hoops
soccer
women's hoops
volleyball
soccer
I would also force all SL schools to sponsor those sports.
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