UNK dropping three men's sports

[MStateMaverick]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

Maybe more will follow the Winona model. All they have for the men is the three required by the conference plus golf and cross country, both being about as low budget as it gets I would think.

That would make financial sense for a lot of institutions.

[DapperDan]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

That would make financial sense for a lot of institutions.

Makes sense but a shame. Wrestling matches between Winona and Mankato used to be a thing of legend. The college opportunities for wrestlers and others in secondary male sports keeps narrowing. Too bad.

I guess on the plus side if you throw all your eggs in a few sports you can at least fund them. Winona fully funds basketball and plans to immediately fully fund to the expanded scholarship level in football. However, this comes with a commitment of assistance from the Warrior Club. Where does Mankato and some of the other public schools get the money to carry so many teams. It's a mystery to me.

[MStateMaverick]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

Makes sense but a shame. Wrestling matches between Winona and Mankato used to be a thing of legend. The college opportunities for wrestlers and others in secondary male sports keeps narrowing. Too bad.

I guess on the plus side if you throw all your eggs in a few sports you can at least fund them. Winona fully funds basketball and plans to immediately fully fund to the expanded scholarship level in football. However, this comes with a commitment of assistance from the Warrior Club. Where does Mankato and some of the other public schools get the money to carry so many teams. It's a mystery to me.

Agree with you. Title IX has really changed the collegiate athletic landscape. I'm all for athletic opportunities for females; however it seems that in many cases the financial challenges of offering a wide array of sports to both genders is becoming more difficult annually.
As for MSU, I don't know how they can offer so many sports, and Division-I hockey for men and women besides. I hope it can be maintained; however it would not surprise me if some changes may be needed in order to economize in the near future.

[DUPanther]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

That would make financial sense for a lot of institutions.

It depends on how you look at it. A whole lot of small private colleges in both NCAA D2 and the NAIA are adding sports - not because they're awash in money but because those sports attract kids that wouldn't otherwise be there which is a revenue plus for the school.

Take baseball for example. The max rides allowed in D2 baseball is 11.7. Drury has 42 kids on their baseball roster, plus another 15-20 in the JV program. It doesn't take a math major to figure out having a sport that attracts the equivalent 45+ kids who pay to go to school there generates money for the school. And that's especially true if the school isn't at capacity student-wise.

Heck, McKendree only has 2,900 students and they have 30 sports. Lindenwood saved that school with their sports programs.

[MStateMaverick]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

It depends on how you look at it. A whole lot of small private colleges in both NCAA D2 and the NAIA are adding sports - not because they're awash in money but because those sports attract kids that wouldn't otherwise be there which is a revenue plus for the school.

Take baseball for example. The max rides allowed in D2 baseball is 11.7. Drury has 42 kids on their baseball roster, plus another 15-20 in the JV program. It doesn't take a math major to figure out having a sport that attracts the equivalent 45+ kids who pay to go to school there generates money for the school. And that's especially true if the school isn't at capacity student-wise.

Heck, McKendree only has 2,900 students and they have 30 sports. Lindenwood saved that school with their sports programs.

That may work for private schools; not so well or at all for public institutions. I believe college administrators in general will be reevaluating college athletics in the future, as to their sustainability in a financial sense.

[MrMustang]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

Maybe in Minnesota, South Dakota doesn't hike tuition like that.

correct. That was my point SD is killing Minnesota on this right now.

[CatFan88]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

It depends on how you look at it. A whole lot of small private colleges in both NCAA D2 and the NAIA are adding sports - not because they're awash in money but because those sports attract kids that wouldn't otherwise be there which is a revenue plus for the school.

Take baseball for example. The max rides allowed in D2 baseball is 11.7. Drury has 42 kids on their baseball roster, plus another 15-20 in the JV program. It doesn't take a math major to figure out having a sport that attracts the equivalent 45+ kids who pay to go to school there generates money for the school. And that's especially true if the school isn't at capacity student-wise.

Heck, McKendree only has 2,900 students and they have 30 sports. Lindenwood saved that school with their sports programs.

So everybody should go private is what you're saying...

[DapperDan]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

It depends on how you look at it. A whole lot of small private colleges in both NCAA D2 and the NAIA are adding sports - not because they're awash in money but because those sports attract kids that wouldn't otherwise be there which is a revenue plus for the school.

Take baseball for example. The max rides allowed in D2 baseball is 11.7. Drury has 42 kids on their baseball roster, plus another 15-20 in the JV program. It doesn't take a math major to figure out having a sport that attracts the equivalent 45+ kids who pay to go to school there generates money for the school. And that's especially true if the school isn't at capacity student-wise.

Heck, McKendree only has 2,900 students and they have 30 sports. Lindenwood saved that school with their sports programs.

This is interesting logic. The financial picture for the athletic departments might look different if the institutions forwarded say 20% of tuition for all participating students under the premise that something like that percentage (or more) may not be in school if not for the sport. It makes sense from my perspective. I ran track at Winona. If they had not had a men's track program I would not have gone to school there. That certainly isn't the case always, maybe more often than not if you are not on scholarship, but it makes some difference.

Now here's the difference, private schools probably think more like private business, public schools probably think more like government. Do I need to say more?

[DapperDan]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

correct. That was my point SD is killing Minnesota on this right now.

Minnesota is liberal; South Dakota is conservative. There may be a connection there somewhere. Perhaps not, but maybe SD tends to stick more to degrees that actually allow kids to earn a living upon graduation, thereby maybe not incurring all the fluff expense for stupid curriculum. I don't know. My colors are shining through obviously.

[DUPanther]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

So everybody should go private is what you're saying...

I wasn't saying everybody should do anything. I'm merely pointing out what a lot of schools are doing with success.

In general, if you're a higher education institution you probably should be figuring out ways to entice kids to come to your school vs the other 40 schools competing with you for their dollars. That seems pretty basic to me.

[Augieholic]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

As a former D2 golfer who watched Mario Chalmers win Kansas a National Title in a Kearney, NE hotel this move saddens but doesnt surprise me. After driving from the Amana Colonies to Kearney we only played 6 of a scheduled 54 holes due to frost/snow. I always wondered what those other 12 holes at Meadowlark Hills were like, but considering our coach was so lost on our drive to the course before the tourney we had to call a UNK golfer for directions I should probably just be thankful I saw the holes I did.

[OldSchool]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

This is interesting logic. The financial picture for the athletic departments might look different if the institutions forwarded say 20% of tuition for all participating students under the premise that something like that percentage (or more) may not be in school if not for the sport. It makes sense from my perspective. I ran track at Winona. If they had not had a men's track program I would not have gone to school there. That certainly isn't the case always, maybe more often than not if you are not on scholarship, but it makes some difference.

Now here's the difference, private schools probably think more like private business, public schools probably think more like government. Do I need to say more?

You must be really old, WSU hasn't had a track program since the 80's....

[DapperDan]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

You must be really old, WSU hasn't had a track program since the 80's....

But young at heart.

[OldSchool]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

But young at heart.

I was just yanking your chain, I ran track at WSU as well along with playing football...

[wsuguy87]

Re: UNK dropping three men's sports

Maybe in Minnesota, South Dakota doesn't hike tuition like that.

We haven't seen that sort of percentage increase in tuition here in Minnesota in some years (at MnSCU schools). Many of the MnSCU schools who are in the NSIC (maybe all of them?) have athletic fees that help provide funding, but as time goes, more and more will have to come from private sources.