VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 12345[6]78910 ]


[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 07:59:02 02/05/03 Wed
Author: JoeStag
Subject: CT Post - Football "May" have the plug pulled

A decision has not been made, but it does not look good for the continuance of the program. Just because its non-scholarship does not mean that there is not a big cost and need for a lot of resources.

I am Ok if we keep the program, but I would like us to upgrade, spend more dollars and compete at a true Division 1-AA level..... but I don't think thats an option, at least not this year.

CT Post - Football "May" have the plug pulled

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]


Replies:

[> Some troubling statements in that article -- Stagsfan, 13:11:03 02/05/03 Wed

What really bothered me about that article is the player's opinion that other than hoops, the school has no commitment to any sports right now. It could be sour grapes, or maybe they are just speaking the truth - we are putting all our eggs in one basket at the expense of the others.

Men's and womens hoops will always be number one here. But we could easily put some more money into low cost sports like soccer and lacrosse and dominate these sports. Like I've said before, with all the high school lacrosse talent in Fairfield Ccounty, it's hard to believe we can't field a top 10 team every year.

If football goes, ice hockey would seem to be next. I can't imagine this sport making any money right now, and I have nothing against the program, but they're overmatched and not very competitive.


[ Edit | View ]


[> [> Re: Some troubling statements in that article -- Alchemist76, 15:27:02 02/05/03 Wed

The problem with ice hockey is that it badly underfunded.
Fairfield offers the fewest scholarships in the MAAC. Another huge negative is they play at the antiquated Wonderland of Ice, which was fine when it was a club team but unsuitable for a D1 program. How do they expect to attract top athletes playing in a barn like that? They need an on campus facility that can attract local fans and students alike and make it a fun experience for all. They could jump start interest as well by enticing some Hockey East clubs like BC and BU to play at the Harbor Yards Arena. Don't count on this happening. I totally agree with Andrew Turf that Fairfield's administration only cares about basketball; I expect football to be eliminated Thursday and don't be surprise if they also announce the elimination of the hockey program as well.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: Some troubling statements in that article -- Sobro, 15:41:45 02/05/03 Wed

You can forget about an on campus facility. The university has been down that road before and the town simply won't allow it.

As far as not caring about any other sport, FF does enjoy regular success in men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and softball. It's a sign of the times. Smaller liberal arts schools are going to have to be choosy about what sports they are going to compete in and then fully fund them. They're will be no more "half" funded sports.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> I clearly don't understand the costs -- JCM, 15:59:31 02/05/03 Wed

My high school has a football team and manages to fund it with little impact on the school budget. I understand the issue with Hockey, it is a very expensive sport. But non scholarship football? 3 coaches, travel to games and equipment, what other costs are there? How much does it cost to run a non scholarship football program. I'm guessing a lot if its getting the ax but I don't understand where the money is going


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> Re: I clearly don't understand the costs -- Stagsfan, 16:37:48 02/05/03 Wed

Recruiting takes a lot of money, trying to locate and lure about 80 players to play here. I believe when a player and his family visit, we pick up all hotel expenses. Travel is also a lot, although I think MAAC rules dictate you can't bring your whole team, only a smaller travel squad. I'll bet those road games to San Diego and Orlando cost a bundle.
The other big difference between HS and college football is the higher salaries you have to pay coaches. Most HS coaches are already on salary as teachers or admins, so they can handle it. I think Fairfield has at least 5-8 full time coaches, plus trainers and staff.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> I'd be surprised if more than 3 coaches are full-time -- skeptic, 17:57:23 02/05/03 Wed


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: I clearly don't understand the costs -- DitchMitch, 21:23:53 02/05/03 Wed

What I can't understand is why did the administration make the commitment to football in the first place seven or so years ago, when they instituted the program? It's not like the program has been around 20+ years; they had to realize what they were getting into. If they aren't going to see it through, they never should have started it up in the first place. All of that money could have gone to supporting other sports that have existed all along.

In my mind, it would be the second major bad decision the administration has made in the last few years regarding sports. Having the basketball teams play at Harbor Yards is the other. I know it's early, and I've only been to two games there, but the atmosphere is so disappointing compared to what it used to be on-campus: it's a beautiful new arena, but is at best one-third full for men's games (on a good night), and less attendance/excitement from the student body, which is what college basketball is all about. For what, to get Duke in for a game? I guess it helps recruiting, but we haven't seen that come to fruition yet, either.

And good point about the Wonderland of Ice...it's a disgrace that a Division I hockey team calls that its home ice. It'd be like the basketball team calling the Sheehan Center in Bridgeport home.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Have not heard many Arena "atmosphere" criticisms -- Menzies, 06:52:04 02/06/03 Thu

Arena has been pretty uniformly praised as the obvious right answer. I have to agree the fan atmosphere is nowhere close to Alumni Hall. We should wait though and see if a fan base can be developed to make the Arena atmosphere at least reasonable. A ways to go though.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Too early to judge the Arena move -- JoeStag, 08:23:09 02/06/03 Thu

Too early to judge if the Arena is the correct move. It was definitely the right decision to go to the Arena..... we just have to make it work. Lots of positives about the arena; however if the Attendance and Atmosphere are not there, then it is not worth it. But I think you have to look at it over 4-5 years.... not in just 1.5 years, expecially since we have had quite a few losing seasons.

My expectations is that we should increase attendance by 400 each year. We took a hit this year, but I think are attendance goals should be:

2001-02 - 2,900 (actual)
2002-03 - 2,600 (currently, hopefully to finish at 2,800)
2003-04 - 3,200
2004-05 - 3,600
2005-06 - 4,000

Thye key is to increase Season Tickets, which I think decreased this year because of our poor season last year.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: Some troubling statements in that article -- ChicagoStag, 17:37:28 02/05/03 Wed

Sobro:

I understand the University has had discussions on an on campus Ice arena and time and again have decided against it. But what issues would the town have with it?


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> Re: Some troubling statements in that article -- Sobro, 19:32:16 02/05/03 Wed

The town of FF has had something to say every time FF wants to build a facility that would "attract a crowd". Heck, the town took the university to court and forced them to remove lights from the new practice field.

From what I understand, the idea was floated re: two on- campus facilities, an ice rink with a seating capacity that was to be discussed, alongside a new basketball facility, that would have a seating facility of somehere around 3.5 to 5000. The town let it be known that they would fight any facility that would have a greater attendance than Alumni Hall, and cited traffic problems as the main reason.

Having had their fill of the town of FF and court, when the Arena idea was brought up to the University, it became a real no brainer. The bad part is, the FF hockey team gets to recruit to the Wonderland on Ice.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Some troubling statements in that article -- GOSTAGS, 21:53:12 02/05/03 Wed

Sobro- yep...you are absolutely right from what I had heard about the proposed upgrade for alumni hall...the town sited traffic problems etc etc...somehow FU needs to get all the people that attend all the Quick Center events to stand up for them in these types of battles...that whole removing the light deal from the practice field makes me wonder who FU's lawyer is....we seem to cave on all these issues (unlike SHU, who battle for 10 story eyesores in the middle of residential houses)....but that's a whole different deal....i hope that the future holds this type of upgrade for Alumni Hall and we go back to playing there and playing the "big draw" games at the arena...it's the best of both worlds..UCONN does it, St. John's does it.....i wish hockey could benefit from this situation as well ( i know I'm in the minority on this board about Hockey) but I still don't understand why we don't put a better team out on the ice...everybody seems to point out that Fairfield county is a hot bed for LAX...this is true, but there are some pretty decent hockey programs around as well..Prep for instance....all in all it would be great to have a BC type arena on campus but maybe the cost to keep up such a facility would be too much...i would love it though


[ Edit | View ]






Forum timezone: GMT-5
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.