As I write this post just let me say this is my opinion. As each passing day goes by, I have seen where several schools have eliminated non-revenue sports like men's and women's tennis. Arkansas with all their money and support from Walmart, Tyson Foods and a large trucking company have decided to eliminate men's and women's tennis. A lot of small schools in D-2, NAIA have eliminated sports all together. As I was in California recently, I was talking with a friend, and he told me really it started a long time ago. Southern California used to be a powerhouse in D1 men's baseball but due to the gangs, illegal immigration and because of the location where Southern California is located going to a baseball game is one where you fear for your life, with all the gangs and illegal immigration. People quit going to baseball games. So Southern California has gone from being relevant to non-relevant in men's baseball. Lot of NAIA schools on the west coast have dropped sports all together because of NIL, transfer portal and people not supporting the athletic programs. Just look back at in the past 10 years or more Clemson has dropped men's wrestling, The NIL and transfer portal is not sustainable. Clemson tried to eliminate track, but they were taken to court, and they had to reinstate the men's and women's track program. I will say this the Big10 and SEC with their lucrative television contracts and their support for football they can sustain, but for how long we will see. I mean all those non-revenue sports that have coaches and facilities that have to be supported by football and the television contracts. Carolina with their success in women's basketball still loses money every year but with all the championship banners, winning streaks that is one program that will be supported by the university. LSU every year on their financial statements show where the athletic departments run a deficit. How long the schools can operate like this remains to be seen. All these athletes at a SEC school, Big10 with the scholarship money, free board, food, first class travel when they travel to play, nutrition, medical all comes to an estimated total of $800,000 a year for each student and this does not include rev share. Like a lot of high-level coaches like Nick Saban, Tara Vandameer (former women's basketball coach at Stanford) the men's basketball coach at Virginia have decided not to coach anymore. Like a person's bank account checking or savings if you spend it all you are out of money. None of these football, basketball coaches in D1 deserve the high salaries they get, but yet like I have been told hardly any of these coaches participate in NIL or the booster clubs at the school they represent. Texas Tech spent over 2 million dollars for an elite softball pitcher. Last year Texas Tech was national runner up in D1 softball. Texas Tech was not relevant until they had a big-time booster basically support the women's softball program. Only time will tell before schools' default on the NIL, Rev share and not participate in the transfer portal.
Future of sports in D1 - Not good
- Thread starter rgamecock1
- Start date
I used to care a lot. Now not so much.
Many of us were dead set against paying players. We were called Boomers and told to STFU.
Oh they good ole days when a free education, room, board, food, clothes, therapy, etc was a good deal. You say we’re going to hell in a hand basket. As a person you experienced 80’s and 90’s I feel like we are there.
Not sure what illegal immigration has to do with this. Gangs for certain. Are pro sports suffering too?
There are plenty of schools which sponsor a fair number of varsity sports but do not field a football team. How have they managed? From everything I've read, the various teams do not have as luxurious facilities as P4 schools which sponsor football.
There are plenty of schools which sponsor a fair number of varsity sports but do not field a football team. How have they managed? From everything I've read, the various teams do not have as luxurious facilities as P4 schools which sponsor football.
I understand. Found myself checking the USC/Winthrop score the other night from time to time.Trying to let go without much success.
I'm not a conspiracy type person (most the time), but as we see the college blueprint look more and more like the professional one, the problems with both look similar.
I know the college programs of the past weren't free of issues but they are now riddled with them. Gambling, and all the evils associated with it, are just one of the huge problems that influence both pro and college sports now.
The water is "under the bridge " and I fear the family friendly college sports experience we used to love is gone forever.
I know the college programs of the past weren't free of issues but they are now riddled with them. Gambling, and all the evils associated with it, are just one of the huge problems that influence both pro and college sports now.
The water is "under the bridge " and I fear the family friendly college sports experience we used to love is gone forever.
Football is a huge money drain on athletic departments. I heard an AD from a smaller school speak about his school's lack of a football team. He said they would never have a football team as long as he was AD. He said the cost of having a football team is astronomical. His school had basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, softball and track and field. Student athletic fees and whatever donations they could get paid for all sports, the athletic fee was around $175 per semester. The facilities were nice enough and travel was basic (vans, buses, Hampton Inn type hotels) and the school managed to compete in D-II for all sports except golf, which is D-I.
I think FBS football could end up becoming, not the goose that lays the golden egg, but the elephant that eats the colleges athletic departments out of house and home. Colleges will pursue the fool's errand of trying to save football by eliminating other sports and, in the end, they will find themselves broke from feeding the insatiable appetite of the football program as they chase championships that will never come and have a school with no sports at all.
Agree.
So many fans have drifted away from professional sports all the evils have now made the transition over the the college game where the fan action is actually alive and growing.
Fewer people will be attending college sports simply due to the cost.I know of numerous people who use to purchase season football tickets that stopped.The colleges don’t really seem to care as long as the luxury boxes remain sold.
People’s sports interest change.In the 1920’s baseball,boxing and horse racing were the most popular sports.In my youth it was baseball with the NFL starting to gain steam.
I ask in all honesty how many out there watch regular season NBA,MLB or even college hoops?In 20 years I have no idea what will be popular.But somehow AI will likely be involved.
People’s sports interest change.In the 1920’s baseball,boxing and horse racing were the most popular sports.In my youth it was baseball with the NFL starting to gain steam.
I ask in all honesty how many out there watch regular season NBA,MLB or even college hoops?In 20 years I have no idea what will be popular.But somehow AI will likely be involved.
Erskine re-established their football team a few years ago. Such schools see it as a way to get more students and alumni/alumnae engaged. Apparently, Erskine has the $$$ to do it. I guess I'm playing devil's advocate here.
But your comment regarding basic facilities and travel is the answer as to how schools manage to sponsor several varsity sports without football. P4 football programs bring in the $$$ to allow more luxury facilities and travel arrangements for sports such as golf and tennis.
Tuition at Erskine is around $36,000 per year, D2 football teams get 36 scholarships, so that is $1.3 million in tuition alone for the football team. Adding in coaches salaries, equipment, travel and other expenses, I would guess having football will cost the school $2-2.5 million a year. There are only 854 students at Erskine, so student fees aren't going to be able to fund the football team. They play their home games at Greenwood High School's stadium. I hope they have some wealthy and generous alumni. I don't see any way the football program is going to be self sufficient.
I see this is a poor decision on the part of Erskine.
I imagine that "renting" a high school stadium does cut down on expenses (instead of using your own). Per the Erskine web page, home football games in 2026 will be played at Dixie High School. And for a school with an enrollment of under 1000, they have a very robust number of varsity sports.
On the surface, it does look like a poor decision coming from Due West. They must have their very own Darla Moore or some such.
With only around 225 or so graduates each year, they must have some wealthy alumni. It would take them 30+ years to equal the number of graduates SC has in one year. They would be a 3A HS in SC with their enrollment.