Why should the school pay for something that students may not want?Why should it fall on fans who want to see this program take a step up to fund the move up by writing big checks?
Why should the school pay for something that students may not want?Why should it fall on fans who want to see this program take a step up to fund the move up by writing big checks?
Ok, fine. A bit shortsighted since they'd be overlooking the power a successful sports program has regarding enrollment, but OK.Why should the school pay for something that students may not want?
Maybe you missed this sentence...you really bring up bama as your example what are you smoking cali I would love to isu succeed I would lovw to see us move up but lets win in the valley first
Ok, fine. A bit shortsighted since they'd be overlooking the power a successful sports program has regarding enrollment, but OK.
I know 'Bama is a bit of an outlier, but many successful sports programs experience the same successes (albeit on a smaller scale). However, before Saban's success, they were a below average school (academically). I believe their football program now brings in $200 million/year of which a large portion is geared toward academics and has steered them towards an elite level, across the board:
I personally have multiple friends in IL that have kids at 'Bama. That was unheard of 20 years ago.
- Enrollment is up 55% since 2015.
- Donations (mostly due to the success of football) at a record $106 million (in 2019)
- $16 million + in scholarships are now available, thus attracting a higher caliber student
- improved infrastructure
- new additions to the nursing school
- additions to the math and science department
- better housing for students and faculty
- in all actuality, the recent renovations too numerous to list
In other words, a successful sports program floats all boats. To not realize this is, at the most rudimentary level, incompetent.
States such as Illinois need to recognize the brain drain among the college student population to schools in other states and why it is happening. The University of Arkansas has a program where students from neighboring states can receive a 70%, 80%, or 90% discount off the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, depending upon a student's high school GPA and/or ACT scores. Once on campus the student has to maintain a reasonable GPA (2.75 or higher) in order to keep the reduced tuition. A couple of years ago UArk expanded the program to include students from the states of Georgia and Illinois; Chicago and Atlanta are closer to Fayetteville than is El Paso, TX. UArk is expected to have a record-setting sized incoming freshman class for fall 2022. Having a quality bowl-worthy football team, an Elite 8 men's basketball team, membership in the SEC, and an attractive campus will help do that for a school's enrollment numbers. One of our children just finished his first year at UArk and loves being a Razorback. We love the fact he qualifies for the 90% reduction, which means his renewable, reduced out-of-state tuition for a full academic year is approximately $3500 less per year than the current in-state tuition at Illinois State University. Woo Pig Sooie!The state of Illinois is the #2 state when it comes to exporting students across state lines. The pool of Illinois HS students is very enticing to schools all over the country, but the SEC schools need these students. These are very large schools and they need to fill seats.
My youngest went to Kentucky and spent her four years in hs being a decent student, but far from spectacular. KY gave her/us schollie of $7,500 a year. Insane. Three of her four roommates for the last two years were from Illinois. Her freshman year roommate was from Illinois. Bama allows free tuition for any student who scores a 32 or higher on their SAT. These large schools are feeling the pinch of technology (online courses) and competition in a shrinking pool of talent and due to these factors, they are offering up YUGE deals to get kids to enroll. We can joke and laugh all we want about the northern HS school v the southern HS student, but the proof is in the pudding.
The tail wags the dog and students want to go to schools where athletics are strong and winning is a priority. Everyone loves a winner.
No one is comparing ISU to Bama.If everybody had the money of Alabama, they would be spending it.
It’s not that ISU and 250-300 other schools simultaneously don’t want to spend on athletics or are “incompetent”. It’s they don’t have the access to that kind of money.
Comparing Alabama to ISU is completely misunderstanding economics at a 101 level.
NIU isn’t experiencing the growth other successful sports schools are because the success has to be sustained for several years.Interesting sports=increased enrollment discussion here. Illinois is well aware of the student export problem, it is not new. What’s at play here are a lot of students want the “big time” college experience and the only place to find that in Illinois is at U of I which prices many of those students out which pushes them to other states.
However, it is not successful sports alone, if that were true NIU would have seen a boost since the orange bowl, instead it has severely shrunk to an enrollment smaller than ISU while ISU has maintained, which is a real testament to the work the university does and to our location, not to our athletic prowess.
Illinois has seen a drop in high school graduates for several years and universities are preparing for an additional upcoming “enrollment cliff” as it was described to me recently.
Unless ISU were to suddenly and miraculously become a P5 school, enrollment will be determined by many factors, the least of which is athletics.
NIU’s enrollment increased in 2020. That was the first year it had increased since 2008. So the Orange Bowl did nothing.NIU isn’t experiencing the growth other successful sports schools are because the success has to be sustained for several years.
I’ll bet they did see an increase in enrollment the year after their Orange Bowl appearance. Im just too lazy to look it up. Gotta go catch some waves
Using Alabama is a straw man argument.Ok, fine. A bit shortsighted since they'd be overlooking the power a successful sports program has regarding enrollment, but OK.
I know 'Bama is a bit of an outlier, but many successful sports programs experience the same successes (albeit on a smaller scale). However, before Saban's success, they were a below average school (academically). I believe their football program now brings in $200 million/year of which a large portion is geared toward academics and has steered them towards an elite level, across the board:
I personally have multiple friends in IL that have kids at 'Bama. That was unheard of 20 years ago.
- Enrollment is up 55% since 2015.
- Donations (mostly due to the success of football) at a record $106 million (in 2019)
- $16 million + in scholarships are now available, thus attracting a higher caliber student
- improved infrastructure
- new additions to the nursing school
- additions to the math and science department
- better housing for students and faculty
- in all actuality, the recent renovations too numerous to list
In other words, a successful sports program floats all boats. To not realize this is, at the most rudimentary level, incompetent.
Serious question, is there a different version of redbirdfan.net where those that comment actually have to read the entire statement on which they’re commenting about?If everybody had the money of Alabama, they would be spending it.
It’s not that ISU and 250-300 other schools simultaneously don’t want to spend on athletics or are “incompetent”. It’s they don’t have the access to that kind of money.
Comparing Alabama to ISU is completely misunderstanding economics at a 101 level.