With realignment a burning topic, I tire of the media stating ISU brings nothing to a BCS conference. It is one thing to hear it from uninformed media type but to hear fellow Cyclones make that statement is crazy. Here is what ISU brings to the table and why ISU will always be in a BCS conference
What does ISU offer a BCS conference you ask?
1) 3 million+ people. Not a major TV market but a very good chunk of people and more than a lot of other teams that are currently in BCS conferences. And definitely more than some teams that people feel we should pursue for the Big 12. Some might argue that ISU doesn't bring the whole state but I would argue they do but that is another discussion.
2) A healthy athletic budget- Is it a big budget when compared to Big 12/SEC/big 10 teams?...No. But when you compare it to other BCS conference like the Big East/ACC and the PAC 12 we are average. YES, AVERAGE!!!!! When all the the new TV money is thrown in, ISU would be right in the middle of the ACC. Right in the middle of the PAC 12 and near the top of the Big East.
3) Healthy attendance levels- ISU continues to show that their attendance levels are stable. Our fans are not fair weather fans that bolt when the team is down. Our football attendance would be 4th in the Big East, 4-5th in the ACC, 7th in the PAC 12. MBB we were 28th out of 100 schools and we were a .500 team. WBB is one of the attendance leaders. Fact is we are a stable fan base that delivers year in and year out. It is consistency with great growth possibilities in a inconsistent economy.
4) Facilities- While our football stadium needs a south bowl, our facilities are along the lines of a BCS school. I believe it was David Irving who said ISU has as good of facilities as any school he visited including USC. We hear that from other recruits as well. Yes, we have a ways to go and no we will never catch the big boys but we have BCS facilities and are making progress towards getting better. Our IPF is second to none as is the student resource center. A new football only facility puts us in line with the bigger boys and ahead of other schools. The scoreboard is phenomenal. WBB/MBB has Hilton and the Sukkup facility. The new football only facility makes things better for non revenue sports by opening up the Jacobsen Building. Etc, etc, etc
5) Academics- Yes, I know this doesn't mean much in the big scheme of things(can't believe I said that, how pathetic is our society) but the NCAA is starting to really break down hard on academics. Schools that don't graduate their students are going to see penalties while schools with good graduation rates, like ISU, are sitting well to take advantage. I also feel the Presidents are tiring of realignment crapola and are going to step in more and more. Our research grants speak for them selves and will continue. We are in the AAU and we won't get kicked out anytime soon
6) Lack of success/success- While we do not have a lot of success in football, we have in other sports. We strengthen non revenue sports competition. Our basketball programs are solid. In the end, no conference wants a conference full of Alabama/Texas/tOSU/Oregon. Conferences don't mind having a program or two that are perceived as easy victories.
In the end, ISU brings a ton to a BCS conference. Our strong attendance numbers despite a lack of success really demonstrates a consistent market. One that will not turn a TV off because of a loss. It demonstrates ISU's ability to deliver the state of Iowa as a market. People that have the WOE IS ME attitude about our budget/attendance/facilities have never stopped and looked at the budgets and attendance numbers for conference members in the PAC 12/ACC/Big East. We fit right in those conferences. Some have nicer stadiums but we have better facilities. We are a middle of the pack BCS conference member in every way shape or form.
What does ISU offer a BCS conference you ask?
1) 3 million+ people. Not a major TV market but a very good chunk of people and more than a lot of other teams that are currently in BCS conferences. And definitely more than some teams that people feel we should pursue for the Big 12. Some might argue that ISU doesn't bring the whole state but I would argue they do but that is another discussion.
2) A healthy athletic budget- Is it a big budget when compared to Big 12/SEC/big 10 teams?...No. But when you compare it to other BCS conference like the Big East/ACC and the PAC 12 we are average. YES, AVERAGE!!!!! When all the the new TV money is thrown in, ISU would be right in the middle of the ACC. Right in the middle of the PAC 12 and near the top of the Big East.
3) Healthy attendance levels- ISU continues to show that their attendance levels are stable. Our fans are not fair weather fans that bolt when the team is down. Our football attendance would be 4th in the Big East, 4-5th in the ACC, 7th in the PAC 12. MBB we were 28th out of 100 schools and we were a .500 team. WBB is one of the attendance leaders. Fact is we are a stable fan base that delivers year in and year out. It is consistency with great growth possibilities in a inconsistent economy.
4) Facilities- While our football stadium needs a south bowl, our facilities are along the lines of a BCS school. I believe it was David Irving who said ISU has as good of facilities as any school he visited including USC. We hear that from other recruits as well. Yes, we have a ways to go and no we will never catch the big boys but we have BCS facilities and are making progress towards getting better. Our IPF is second to none as is the student resource center. A new football only facility puts us in line with the bigger boys and ahead of other schools. The scoreboard is phenomenal. WBB/MBB has Hilton and the Sukkup facility. The new football only facility makes things better for non revenue sports by opening up the Jacobsen Building. Etc, etc, etc
5) Academics- Yes, I know this doesn't mean much in the big scheme of things(can't believe I said that, how pathetic is our society) but the NCAA is starting to really break down hard on academics. Schools that don't graduate their students are going to see penalties while schools with good graduation rates, like ISU, are sitting well to take advantage. I also feel the Presidents are tiring of realignment crapola and are going to step in more and more. Our research grants speak for them selves and will continue. We are in the AAU and we won't get kicked out anytime soon
6) Lack of success/success- While we do not have a lot of success in football, we have in other sports. We strengthen non revenue sports competition. Our basketball programs are solid. In the end, no conference wants a conference full of Alabama/Texas/tOSU/Oregon. Conferences don't mind having a program or two that are perceived as easy victories.
In the end, ISU brings a ton to a BCS conference. Our strong attendance numbers despite a lack of success really demonstrates a consistent market. One that will not turn a TV off because of a loss. It demonstrates ISU's ability to deliver the state of Iowa as a market. People that have the WOE IS ME attitude about our budget/attendance/facilities have never stopped and looked at the budgets and attendance numbers for conference members in the PAC 12/ACC/Big East. We fit right in those conferences. Some have nicer stadiums but we have better facilities. We are a middle of the pack BCS conference member in every way shape or form.
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