grizindabox said:
CDAGRIZ said:
I'm pretty sure the point was "If the bball program could earn more, the athletic department would have more money and leverage", and it's honestly the only thing that even resembles a "plan" I've seen. I know it doesn't happen overnight, but UM Bball has a lot going for it with facilities and being the only show for miles around. The Champions Center can't hurt. We hear all the time that we are hamstrung due to finances, and investing more in an already solid program in a sport that has the poetential to bring in duckets isn't exactly a bad idea just because "we have a football program".
But football money is still king, so putting more money into basketball would mean less into football. If the Griz want to move onto a better conference with the options that could be available, they would have to increase football money, and to accomplish what is being suggested, increase basketball money also. Not sure where all that money comes from.
You miss the point. We are saying, while we are where we are at, it might be wise now to invest more into basketball, at our current standing. There really is not a lot more we can put into football at this stage and level. Our football program is already on a pretty attrative level to sell perspective future conference partners. Our basketball program has much more room to grow, to get to that kind of attraction level. A strong basketball program helps our case to move. Also, if GRIZ basketball can become a consistent NCAA Tournament team/program it can give GRIZ athletics more power to within the Big Sky to make the necessary changes within the conference.
Typically, the 1 bid to the NCAA tournament is worth $1,000,000 to the conference, divided among the conference members. That is what the conference is used to. The expectation has to be set higher than that in basketball. If any 1 program can break into being a consistent final 32, or Sweet 16 team, a larger portion of that revenue should go directly to whichever program is truly making the money. At worse, that is an extra $1,000,000 going directly to that program/school. That would serve for some great motivation to up the level within the conference for basketball. For example: the U of M could use that additional money for coaching bonuses, additional recruiting funds etc. Hey Travis, here is the deal, as a reward for success, $250,000, $500,000 etc of this if for you and your program. How do you want this money used?
Because of the NCAA tournament revenue, Baskeball has the potential to be a terrific money maker. Additionally, money aside, it makes for a much better resume to put the athletic department, university, etc to put out to potential buyers, takers, potential conference affiliates, etc.
Using that to get to the MWC would be beneficial. There is no reason why Montana could not compete in football and basketball in that conference. At this stage, the basketball side of things have much more to prove than the football side does. Right now, football has some breathing room and time is for once a luxury. At some point, it would be nice to have basketball on nearly the same level as football has been at, and will get back to.