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Future of Athletic Department


slu92

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I have a question….hear university is having some big financial struggles currently and athletic department is really having major financial issues, a lot of it compounding from the Travis Ford contract, mbb over spending last few years and no NCAA appearances. Why doesn’t slu just drop everything but mbb, wbb, men’s soccer and women’s soccer programs? Let those teams have CC since they pretty much do anyway. Department is throwing everything they can and “hoping” mbb wins, wbb is such a huge financial drain on department it’s not even funny. Both soccer programs would thrive. Department has abandoned other programs, minus the absolute basics needed, again the bad TF contract put a huge hole in finances, long and short term, and being in A10 with all the travel makes no sense, just more throwing good money away. Gotta think with NIL now, people are going to expect more winning, streamlining operations might make more sense, less staff, less everything overall. AD has not proven he can build anything without Chaifetz and Kavanaugh….which are one in same as basketball and soccer programs. Less to mess up day to day. Put everything in those 4 and actually try and win longterm and big every year. Baseball and softball field would be premium parking for both sports as well. Just a thought. 

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I’ve banged drum for baseball and softball facilities for a while, IF slu could actually do them right and top notch, those would give department 2 spring sports, ticket them and actually promote. I’d say keep them, especially in St. Louis of all places. Baseball is a no brainer. If both programs were actually funded and treated professionally they might thrive. 
What do swimming, track, cross country, volleyball, field hockey, tennis, etc bring to the table financially? And before someone says it’s about education….not anymore with NIL. Expectations are to win. Athletes are employees. AD’s should be held accountable like in real world. Produce or get fired. Maybe one day thaw sports could come back, after 4/6 started producing and actually put slu on the map nationally as far as athletics. 
 

On top of all of this, I’m confident Chris May couldn’t run a local little league, so the less to manage, mess up, the better. Department morale is at an all time low right now and people have had enough. Before one of Chris May’s fan club members jump on me, yes I 1000% think the guy hides more than he shows, regardless this is all coming from people within the department. So take that as you’d like. 

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1 hour ago, slu92 said:

I have a question….hear university is having some big financial struggles currently and athletic department is really having major financial issues, a lot of it compounding from the Travis Ford contract, mbb over spending last few years and no NCAA appearances. Why doesn’t slu just drop everything but mbb, wbb, men’s soccer and women’s soccer programs? Let those teams have CC since they pretty much do anyway. Department is throwing everything they can and “hoping” mbb wins, wbb is such a huge financial drain on department it’s not even funny. Both soccer programs would thrive. Department has abandoned other programs, minus the absolute basics needed, again the bad TF contract put a huge hole in finances, long and short term, and being in A10 with all the travel makes no sense, just more throwing good money away. Gotta think with NIL now, people are going to expect more winning, streamlining operations might make more sense, less staff, less everything overall. AD has not proven he can build anything without Chaifetz and Kavanaugh….which are one in same as basketball and soccer programs. Less to mess up day to day. Put everything in those 4 and actually try and win longterm and big every year. Baseball and softball field would be premium parking for both sports as well. Just a thought. 

To be a Division I member, FBS schools must sponsor a minimum of 16 sports, and FCS and Division I Subdivision(non football D1s like SLU) schools must sponsor a minimum of 14 sports…

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10 hours ago, slu92 said:

I have a question….hear university is having some big financial struggles currently and athletic department is really having major financial issues, a lot of it compounding from the Travis Ford contract, mbb over spending last few years and no NCAA appearances. Why doesn’t slu just drop everything but mbb, wbb, men’s soccer and women’s soccer programs? Let those teams have CC since they pretty much do anyway. Department is throwing everything they can and “hoping” mbb wins, wbb is such a huge financial drain on department it’s not even funny. Both soccer programs would thrive. Department has abandoned other programs, minus the absolute basics needed, again the bad TF contract put a huge hole in finances, long and short term, and being in A10 with all the travel makes no sense, just more throwing good money away. Gotta think with NIL now, people are going to expect more winning, streamlining operations might make more sense, less staff, less everything overall. AD has not proven he can build anything without Chaifetz and Kavanaugh….which are one in same as basketball and soccer programs. Less to mess up day to day. Put everything in those 4 and actually try and win longterm and big every year. Baseball and softball field would be premium parking for both sports as well. Just a thought. 

 

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I understand you need 16 sports but they don’t care or support 16 in any shape or form. The more college sports are becoming like pro sports, changing literally on a daily basis, nothing is sacred. My whole point is if you are paying players and giving coaches millions yearly, how does a place like SLU sustain it? Especially given how financially challenged it is. All those other sports, and wbb literally burn millions a year, terrible business model and outdated. Education aspect went out window when NIL and transfer portal showed up. IF your departments strategy is hoping your mbb team is hot one week in March each year…that’s concerning. It’s just not a sustainable model not just for SLU but another 80% or so schools as well. Just asking if that would be a wise strategy in the future if it was allowed to happen, everyone acts like NCAA rules are set in stone, P4 doesn’t seem to think so. All I’m saying. Same people saying I’m a troll probably said at one time no way players will get paid, things change guys and reality doesn’t care about SLU bubble some of us live in. 

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21 minutes ago, slu92 said:

I understand you need 16 sports but they don’t care or support 16 in any shape or form. The more college sports are becoming like pro sports, changing literally on a daily basis, nothing is sacred. My whole point is if you are paying players and giving coaches millions yearly, how does a place like SLU sustain it? Especially given how financially challenged it is. All those other sports, and wbb literally burn millions a year, terrible business model and outdated. Education aspect went out window when NIL and transfer portal showed up. IF your departments strategy is hoping your mbb team is hot one week in March each year…that’s concerning. It’s just not a sustainable model not just for SLU but another 80% or so schools as well. Just asking if that would be a wise strategy in the future if it was allowed to happen, everyone acts like NCAA rules are set in stone, P4 doesn’t seem to think so. All I’m saying. Same people saying I’m a troll probably said at one time no way players will get paid, things change guys and reality doesn’t care about SLU bubble some of us live in. 

You are a troll, and I agree with you on a lot of things. Perhaps if you didn't write like you're furiously typing on your phone in a stream of consciousness and put together coherent sentences people would respond in kind. Just one guys advice who was given the same advice 20 years ago on being taken seriously. 

To answer your question: You win. Beyond that you stay on the forefront of the day to day changes in college sports. 

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14 minutes ago, slu92 said:

I understand you need 16 sports but they don’t care or support 16 in any shape or form. The more college sports are becoming like pro sports, changing literally on a daily basis, nothing is sacred. My whole point is if you are paying players and giving coaches millions yearly, how does a place like SLU sustain it? Especially given how financially challenged it is. All those other sports, and wbb literally burn millions a year, terrible business model and outdated. Education aspect went out window when NIL and transfer portal showed up. IF your departments strategy is hoping your mbb team is hot one week in March each year…that’s concerning. It’s just not a sustainable model not just for SLU but another 80% or so schools as well. Just asking if that would be a wise strategy in the future if it was allowed to happen, everyone acts like NCAA rules are set in stone, P4 doesn’t seem to think so. All I’m saying. Same people saying I’m a troll probably said at one time no way players will get paid, things change guys and reality doesn’t care about SLU bubble some of us live in. 

Not sure you are a troll but your idea of paving athletic fields for parking lots seem like you have some troll tendencies.   The strategy of "We will field 16 teams, but 10 of them we will treat like crap, because screw them, no funding for them"  doesn't seem like a winning one.  

SLU will have to adapt to the everchanging environment.  I'm confident they will.   I wish we had  more progressive leadership than we do but they have gotten some very important things right lately....hired really good coaches/new field hockey facility/and NIL store that is absolutely blowing up.....

 

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6 minutes ago, OkieBilliken said:

Not sure you are a troll but your idea of paving athletic fields for parking lots seem like you have some troll tendencies.   The strategy of "We will field 16 teams, but 10 of them we will treat like crap, because screw them, no funding for them"  doesn't seem like a winning one.  

SLU will have to adapt to the everchanging environment.  I'm confident they will.   I wish we had  more progressive leadership than we do but they have gotten some very important things right lately....hired really good coaches/new field hockey facility/and NIL store that is absolutely blowing up.....

 

I think you might be buying into the marketing of the NIL store. It’s good to see these ladies pulling in the NIL coin, I just don’t know how much of it is like 3rd party purchases. I would like to see them start bringing that merchandise into Hermann stadium or Chaifetz Arena/Pavilion to sell during games. Seems like a no-brainer. But to the point of the social media buzz, like that’s exactly what I want. I want them to be like see other people are buying into NIL and supporting the student athletes. I just don’t want it to turn into some “It Works” type sales . 
 

You’re right about wanting more forward thinking leadership I don’t have as high of confidence in the current leadership. 

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12 hours ago, slu92 said:

I have a question….hear university is having some big financial struggles currently and athletic department is really having major financial issues, a lot of it compounding from the Travis Ford contract, mbb over spending last few years and no NCAA appearances. Why doesn’t slu just drop everything but mbb, wbb, men’s soccer and women’s soccer programs? Let those teams have CC since they pretty much do anyway. Department is throwing everything they can and “hoping” mbb wins, wbb is such a huge financial drain on department it’s not even funny. Both soccer programs would thrive. Department has abandoned other programs, minus the absolute basics needed, again the bad TF contract put a huge hole in finances, long and short term, and being in A10 with all the travel makes no sense, just more throwing good money away. Gotta think with NIL now, people are going to expect more winning, streamlining operations might make more sense, less staff, less everything overall. AD has not proven he can build anything without Chaifetz and Kavanaugh….which are one in same as basketball and soccer programs. Less to mess up day to day. Put everything in those 4 and actually try and win longterm and big every year. Baseball and softball field would be premium parking for both sports as well. Just a thought. 

Why didn't you just bump your August 18th thread on the Department Culture instead of starting a new one? You have already stated your opinion once.  Those interested responded back then.

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11 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

I think you might be buying into the marketing of the NIL store. It’s good to see these ladies pulling in the NIL coin, I just don’t know how much of it is like 3rd party purchases. I would like to see them start bringing that merchandise into Hermann stadium or Chaifetz Arena/Pavilion to sell during games. Seems like a no-brainer. But to the point of the social media buzz, like that’s exactly what I want. I want them to be like see other people are buying into NIL and supporting the student athletes. I just don’t want it to turn into some “It Works” type sales . 
 

You’re right about wanting more forward thinking leadership I don’t have as high of confidence in the current leadership. 

True.  A table full of NIL merch at CITYPARK would have been great idea.    For a second I thought there was one when I saw 18 people wearing Schwartz jerseys but I guess her family must have bought them before.  

The administration hit a grand slam when they desperately needed one hiring JS.   The new FH venue was surprisingly great.   I was on campus a couple of weeks ago and was shocked at how nicely the athletic complex was being kept up.  A definite improvement in the past few years. 

I certainly have a long laundry list of things they can improve on, but credit where credit is due.  

 

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23 minutes ago, OkieBilliken said:

True.  A table full of NIL merch at CITYPARK would have been great idea.    For a second I thought there was one when I saw 18 people wearing Schwartz jerseys but I guess her family must have bought them before.  

The administration hit a grand slam when they desperately needed one hiring JS.   The new FH venue was surprisingly great.   I was on campus a couple of weeks ago and was shocked at how nicely the athletic complex was being kept up.  A definite improvement in the past few years. 

I certainly have a long laundry list of things they can improve on, but credit where credit is due.  

 

They still haven't touched the track that is crumbling day to day around the soccer field. The hideous vinyl signage affixed to every set of bleachers has faded, not being updated in the last decade. They are still using tents for concessions when you have comparable schools solving the problem more efficiently using trailers. See Xavier's women's soccer facility. They have one for concessions and one for merch. Why not get a fleet of 3-4 of these things that can be towed out to field hockey, baseball, softball etc. They'd rather have some minimum wage Delaware North employee or gameday ops staff drag multiple carts from Chaifetz Arena. Same for the Chaifetz SLU Shop Guy. Maybe it's a lack of real streets through campus? Maybe a lack of vehicle to pull that sort of weight. I don't know. 

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1 hour ago, billikenfan05 said:

I think you might be buying into the marketing of the NIL store. It’s good to see these ladies pulling in the NIL coin, I just don’t know how much of it is like 3rd party purchases. I would like to see them start bringing that merchandise into Hermann stadium or Chaifetz Arena/Pavilion to sell during games. Seems like a no-brainer. But to the point of the social media buzz, like that’s exactly what I want. I want them to be like see other people are buying into NIL and supporting the student athletes. I just don’t want it to turn into some “It Works” type sales . 
 

You’re right about wanting more forward thinking leadership I don’t have as high of confidence in the current leadership. 

Softball was selling shirts during their double header fall season game last Saturday.

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35 minutes ago, Speyburn said:

Softball was selling shirts during their double header fall season game last Saturday.

Were they selling the NIL shirts or just team merch? Either way it's a good thing. I would just like to see SLU be proactive in their NIL direction and putting t-shirts with these cool a$$ college athletes directly in front kids and their parents is a great way to reach a captive audience. 

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57 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

Were they selling the NIL shirts or just team merch? Either way it's a good thing. I would just like to see SLU be proactive in their NIL direction and putting t-shirts with these cool a$$ college athletes directly in front kids and their parents is a great way to reach a captive audience. 

That’s great. Every Billiken home game in every sport should have a merch table or two with official and NIL merch, starting sales before the game and not closing down until 30 minutes after the game. We also should have had merch for sale at the Bronze Boot game. SIUE had two full tables of various merch for sale during both games, SLU had NOTHING. We also should have gone in with SIUE and produced programs for the Bronze Boot and sold some ads in them for corporate sponsors. SLU is leaving money on the table.

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15 minutes ago, Lord Elrond said:

That’s great. Every Billiken home game in every sport should have a merch table or two with official and NIL merch, starting sales before the game and not closing down until 30 minutes after the game. We also should have had merch for sale at the Bronze Boot game. SIUE had two full tables of various merch for sale during both games, SLU had NOTHING. We also should have gone in with SIUE and produced programs for the Bronze Boot and sold some ads in them for corporate sponsors. SLU is leaving money on the table.

I've really tried to not harp on that situation, but it's truly mystifying decision making.

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3 hours ago, OkieBilliken said:

Not sure you are a troll but your idea of paving athletic fields for parking lots seem like you have some troll tendencies.   The strategy of "We will field 16 teams, but 10 of them we will treat like crap, because screw them, no funding for them"  doesn't seem like a winning one.  

SLU will have to adapt to the everchanging environment.  I'm confident they will.   I wish we had  more progressive leadership than we do but they have gotten some very important things right lately....hired really good coaches/new field hockey facility/and NIL store that is absolutely blowing up.....

 

Hey!  We could fill in those 10 "we treat like crap" teams for e-sports teams.  Very little infrastructure needed, just a bunch of pc's gaming chairs and cases of Monster Energy.  I know you'd follow the World of Warcraft team around the country.  The Women's World of Warcraft Team would probably sell as much merch as the field hockey team and as Looney92 noted above, that new field hockey field could be converted to a surface parking lot pretty easily.....

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27 minutes ago, Billiken Rich said:

Hey!  We could fill in those 10 "we treat like crap" teams for e-sports teams.  Very little infrastructure needed, just a bunch of pc's gaming chairs and cases of Monster Energy.  I know you'd follow the World of Warcraft team around the country.  The Women's World of Warcraft Team would probably sell as much merch as the field hockey team and as Looney92 noted above, that new field hockey field could be converted to a surface parking lot pretty easily.....

I draw the line at esports.  You probably have some eligibility left, maybe you could captain our Minecraft team.  

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