Needs of the Football Program

[BillyClone]

After following Clone2TheBone's thread, I have some questions.

As a Cyclone fan who is not really in the know, what is our football program missing or lacking that makes it difficult for us to compete?

From my point of view, this is what I see has happened in the last ten years:

• New Jacobsen Athletic Building & remodeled Olsen Building w/offices, weight rooms, locker rooms, auditorium, and team meeting rooms
• Bergstrom Indoor Practice Facility & Johnny Majors Practice Complex
• Press Tower and Sky Box Suites on west side
• New Video Board on the south end
• Recently renovated locker rooms
• New Athletic Academic Center currently under construction
• Recently released plans to bowl in south end zone and add more sky box suites

So, what are we missing? I have no idea what the other schools in the conference have -- how far behind are we? What does this program lack that an increase in funding would be able to provide? Facilites? Salaries? Recruiting budget? What is it?

 

[bmuff]

I think that the biggest thing that they are missing is a big-time stadium. Bowling in the south endzone will go a long ways toward that. The next thing needed is for the Jacobsen Building to be football-only. That will happen once the new building is added by Hilton. JT also needs more suites and an improved club section, but that's more for added income than for recruiting. Also, a new fence around the stadium and new gates/entry plazas would be nice...these are also in JP's plan. Basically, the major additions needed should be in place by 2010.

After that, I'd guess I'd like to see the north end enclosed around the Jacobsen Building. I'd like to see the press tower expanded (maybe three times the size?). And, I'd like to see some sort of facade around the stadium. Maybe pillars like Hilton?

 

[ISUFan22]

What does this program lack that an increase in funding would be able to provide? Facilites? Salaries? Recruiting budget? What is it?

All of that. Take a look at the athletic budgets around the country...namely the Big 12. Then visit a few of the other teams facilities.

You'll see we are far, far behind the rest.

 

[BillyClone]

ISUFan22-

Can you give some examples of where we are far behind schools in the conference? I know they have bigger budgets, but what are the other schools spending their money on?

Thanks!

 

[cyclonekj]

ISUFan22-

Can you give some examples of where we are far behind schools in the conference? I know they have bigger budgets, but what are the other schools spending their money on?

Thanks!

Bling, ya heard? Dubs, grills, Hummers with Colecovision in the windshields, etc.

Pimpin' ain't easy. (But it sure is fun!)

 

[CyinCo]

I posted this on the other thread explaining the role of money in college athletics:

To answer the question about how money can buy success, you must think of college football as a business that "lures" fans and players. Think theme parks or casinos as comparatives. New Jersey is home to some casinos in Atlantic City. Those casinos also have table games and slots just like Las Vegas. But, if given the choice of a trip to Vegas or Atlantic City, how many people do you think would pick AC over Vegas? Probably not many. The only difference is the presentation of the facilities. The atmosphere created in Vegas lures people to Vegas despite everything in Vegas being the same underneath it all. The same is true in college sports. Both athletes and fans want to be impressed by the atmosphere. And how do you create that lucrative environment? Money. Lots and lots of money. You cannot think of sports as sports because it no longer is. That is why previous ADs have failed. They think a leg press sitting a weight room is as good as a leg press anywhere else. This is like saying a slot machine in Atlantic City or on some floating casino in the mississippi river is equal to a slot in Vegas. By the most stripped down definition, it is true. But there is so much more to it. It all comes down to Money. Look at the Bellagio in Vegas. Ridiculous how much money was spent to make a place where nothing different happens than what happens at any other casino in the world. Yet people go there because the money was spent. The same is true in college sports. This is an ENTERTAINMENT business.

 

[ISUFan22]

ISUFan22-

Can you give some examples of where we are far behind schools in the conference? I know they have bigger budgets, but what are the other schools spending their money on?

Thanks!

Well for one, until recently, D-Mac was 10-12 on the list of salaries in the Big 12...his assistants were also well underpaid. As anyone knows...good assistants is the key to success. Now ISU I think is in or near the middle of the pack...at least for D-Mac. The assistants got raises too, yet I'm not sure where they rank.

The stadium is much, much smaller and less advanced than others...basically all except Kansas. Also, the Jacobson building is very full from what I understand...and not with just football. With Pollard's master plan, the Jacobson building will be basically 100% football.

Until recently (again), ISU did not advertise well. They AD dept. was content with just the status quo it seemed...a little growth here and there yet nothing agressive. Finally the tides have changed - billboards are up, filling the DMR will content, new radio programs, etc.

Some of the other members can help add to this list...as there are other shortcomings. I honestly aught to do a few work things at some point today.

 

[HiltonMagic]

Great analogy CyinCo!

 

[ISUFan22]

Great analogy CyinCo!

I agree...a job well done.

 

[tazclone]

Keep in mind recruiting costs money also. Trips for recruits, trips to other states, etc. Obviously it is less expensive for Oklahoma andTexas to recruit Texas than ISU.
The stadium is probably the biggest example of where we lack. Probably the only school in the Big 12 with worse facilities as a whole is CU and possibly KU. KU is throwing 30 million at it right now and CU has mountains.
As ISU Fan22 stated Assitant Coaches are huge. Some would say the 03 debacle was related to Brickey and Fine. Assistants hired quickly to replace departed Assistants. Some will go as far as to say our OL issues are still a result of this. Remember Cotton has only been here for two and a half years and is still installing his system. And getting his players in the mix. Sophomores this year are Barney's recruits.
Now have we fixed some of these? Yes! Have we seen some results from the upgraded facilities...I think so. Good recruiting class last year and a strong start this year.
In short, while Money doesn't solve everything, it sure helps.

 

[cydsho]

Remember Cotton has only been here for a year and a half and is still installing his system.

Not to completely nitpik but Cotton has been here for 2 1/2 years (came in Jan 04), so this is will be year 3 of his offense. I know some of the OL were brought in by the old OL coach but I hope Cotton's system is taking hold by now and works. By year 3 we should see major improvements.

 

[JCloned]

It isn't just more things although Texas, OU, NU etc have additional things that we don't, it is the scale and scope of what you do have. If you have ever had an opportunity to tour Nebraska's stadium and facilities, for example, it is truly awe inspiring. I can imagine the impact that would have on an 17 or 18 year old recruit. Don't get me wrong we have made and are making great progress, but its like comparing Valley High Schools football stadium (that many small colleges would be envious of) with its field turf etc (like ISU by the way) with the small high school I grew up in rural Iowa. Yes they both have football fields, they both have bleachers, they both have a scoreboard, but wow it is night and day. Nebraska's video is not only incredibly high quality, but is larger and more impactful than our entire scoreboard.

(BTW, lest you think I am a NU fan, I despise them, but have gone to ISU games there and have some connections that have brought me to the stadium recently)

Do the weight rooms at Texas and NU and the full staffs they have make them automatically better than what Getty can do at ISU - no, but they don't hurt, and if you are a wide eyed high school kid with visions of playing in the NFL, where do you want to train.

When you walk through Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and see nearly 90,000 screaming fans and a huge video replay board, and envision yourself scoring a touchdown to the cheering throngs, is it the same image you get at Jack Trice.

The lists could go on and on, and it is not just the Big 3, even with the changes that Pollard has proposed we will still be dramatically behind the bulk of the Big 12.

 

[JCloned]

Excerpt...and link to full article definitely a must read.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/colleges/big_12_conference/14783132.htm

Missouri built a massive basketball arena. Oklahoma State, thanks to a $165 million donation earlier this year by oilman Boone Pickens, will have its own athletic village. Nebraska, the forerunner in the JumboTron business 10 years ago, is installing what it calls the largest JumboTron at any stadium.
The screen will be 117 feet wide and 33 feet high - it's so big that there already is a myth growing buildingthat an airplane passenger overhead could see what's playing on the JumboTron. By comparison, K-State is putting in a new video board, but it is not quite that mammoth at 61 feet wide and 23 feet high.

 

[JCloned]

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/7239613/2/c_7242823?f=most_read

Another great article...interestingly it uses Iowa State in its article called Money Bowl as the opposite end of the comparision to Ohio State which has the largest Athletic Budget in the country

 

[CyinCo]

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/7239613/2/c_7242823?f=most_read

Another great article...interestingly it uses Iowa State in its article called Money Bowl as the opposite end of the comparision to Ohio State which has the largest Athletic Budget in the country

Wow, that was somewhat depressing to read. The rich get richer, and poor get left behind. This re-enforces what I said above. This is an entertainment business. This isn't just getting in place what it takes to field a team anymore. Glitz, glamour, show, TV deals, merchandise, etc. That is what makes a sports program. The rest falls in place because people want to be a part of the entertainment.

I just really hope that all of this stuff doesn't ruin the game.

 

[JCloned]

Makes you glad we have JP not BVD

 

[theshadow]

Excerpt...and link to full article definitely a must read.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/colleges/big_12_conference/14783132.htm

Missouri built a massive basketball arena. Oklahoma State, thanks to a $165 million donation earlier this year by oilman Boone Pickens, will have its own athletic village. Nebraska, the forerunner in the JumboTron business 10 years ago, is installing what it calls the largest JumboTron at any stadium.
The screen will be 117 feet wide and 33 feet high - it's so big that there already is a myth growing buildingthat an airplane passenger overhead could see what's playing on the JumboTron. By comparison, K-State is putting in a new video board, but it is not quite that mammoth at 61 feet wide and 23 feet high.

New at Texas for 2006...

http://www.texassports.com/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=4499

http://www.daktronics.com/dak_news.cfm?articleID=527

And for 2008...

http://www.utsystem.edu/news/2006/BOR-Materials-02-08-06/FPCStadium2-9-06Attmt 1.pdf

 

[tazclone]

Not to completely nitpik but Cotton has been here for 2 1/2 years (came in Jan 04), so this is will be year 3 of his offense. I know some of the OL were brought in by the old OL coach but I hope Cotton's system is taking hold by now and works. By year 3 we should see major improvements.

Sorry bad math but you must remember that his first recruits, class of 05, would be sophomores right now(of course the Fishers were his but they do play). That means he had players that may or may not have fit his system. Prime example is Hicks, a great straight ahead runner but not necessarily the perfect fit for the spread. Johnson who is more of a cutback find the hole runner is a good fit. Scales is a good fit. Look at Nebreska and they are just now getting their offense down. It usually take 2-3 years to get players to fit a coach's system. ISUFann22 said it about paying assistant's. Keeping assistant equals continuity. A coaching change of any sort results in changes in philosophy in one way or another and solicits a learning curve.

 

[JCloned]

Facility wise isn't $100MM of the JP fund going to Hilton with $30MM to Jack Trice. By the time that "big" improvement is completed it sounds like the schools that are already ahead of us will have spent more than that to extend their lead. It really is an arms race. I think it will make recruiting increasingly challenging...for coaches as well as players

 

[tazclone]

Facility wise isn't $100MM of the JP fund going to Hilton with $30MM to Jack Trice. By the time that "big" improvement is completed it sounds like the schools that are already ahead of us will have spent more than that to extend their lead. It really is an arms race. I think it will make recruiting increasingly challenging...for coaches as well as players

Exactly, which is why we needed a guy like JP to step in. He gets it. He knows MBB will sell and it is easier/less inexpensive to run that BB program and then turn a profit. Corporate boxes will sell as long as we are remotely competetive. He has also looked at FB and knows the need for skyboxes. I believe there is currently a waiting list for sky boxes in FB. Corporate $$$ is big $$$$. The reduced ticket prices in endzone season tickets is set to draw fans, get them used to coming to games, introduce them to the great atmosphere, get them hooked on the experience, and then keep them as fans. He is growing the fan base. All the Macs have to do is stay competetive to keep them coming. Down the road a bigger fan base equals bigger and better facilities. We won't ever catch Texas and OU but if we can keep pace with the North teams in CU, MU, KSU, and KU we can compete.