Lindenwood Football

[Pure cool]

I noticed that Lindenwood plays Kansas next week in football. Just a curious question, I thought football stadium and basketball arena size mattered before jumping to D1. This is NOT a bash on Lindenwood, but it has to be more than just adding 2 additional women's sports to the athletic department. I'm sure huge $$$$ investments played a massive role. Again, no dig on Lindenwood. I'm just curious as schools such as Pitt and NWMO can jump just based on strength and fanbase.

[GorillaTeacher]

Money, and number of sports and invitation to a conference are the largest factors.

[northwest missouri state]

the ps guys can speak for themselves. we don't have the $. nor am i interested regardless in moving up & getting my brains beat in by western ill & finish as an also ran each yr.

[GorillaTeacher]

I think the general idea around here is the same. Although we are adding sports, and raising money. So I have been curious about the administrations thoughts on moving up a classification.

[GorillaTeacher]

We will have 13 teams when Women's Golf is added next year.(pure speculation ahead) I wouldn't be surprised if we add Wrestling, (maybe men's and women's?). It's a huge sport in this area...

[Predatory Primates]

I think it would be foolish for Pitt with enrollment shrinking at such an alarming rate over the last decade.

I'm not sure, but I fear that sports are being added to attract more students. I hope I'm wrong, but the numbers make me think that's the case.

[Try II]

I noticed that Lindenwood plays Kansas next week in football. Just a curious question, I thought football stadium and basketball arena size mattered before jumping to D1. This is NOT a bash on Lindenwood, but it has to be more than just adding 2 additional women's sports to the athletic department. I'm sure huge $$$$ investments played a massive role. Again, no dig on Lindenwood. I'm just curious as schools such as Pitt and NWMO can jump just based on strength and fanbase.

A school has to be invited to a league; you can't just move up and hang out. Have to pay the D1 fee (millions) and be prepared for no NCAA Championships for 5 years. Next, pay your coaches more, add staff and improve facilities. Coaches want to compete with the Joneses so you'll need Sugar Daddies. Finally, more scholarships for all sports. Guess you could stay status quo in minor ones but that's leading lambs to slaughter.

[Jayhawk Juco Guy]

I'm not sure, but I fear that sports are being added to attract more students. I hope I'm wrong, but the numbers make me think that's the case.

That has been the model that Jucos and NAIA schools have worked with for decades. Add a sport, bring in athletes to fill dorm rooms and classes, and hopefully, some of their friends come along for the ride. Look at how many NAIAs/Jucos in our conference footprint have added such sports as Lacrosse and flag football in recent years.

Women's wrestling will probably pick up momentum as well as its participation rate in high school across the nation. From the NFHS "And participation on girls teams has continued its historic rise as well with 64,257 participants last year – an increase of 102 percent from the 31,654 in 2021-22."

[TigerAlum]

Some interesting points made here and teams and enrollment.

Hays has 16 sports already not including the dominant shooting team and also add rodeo. As others have said sports add to enrollment. Everyone is fighting adding enrollment as state funds drop and less students.

Hays already has both men's and women's wrestling. Women's wrestling was added last year and many think it is a great add, ahead of almost everyone else at the NCAA level especially in the area.

[Predatory Primates]

Some interesting points made here and teams and enrollment.

Hays has 16 sports already not including the dominant shooting team and also add rodeo. As others have said sports add to enrollment. Everyone is fighting adding enrollment as state funds drop and less students.

Hays already has both men's and women's wrestling. Women's wrestling was added last year and many think it is a great add, ahead of almost everyone else at the NCAA level especially in the area.

Wrestling is big out that way, or at least it used to be.

[the Northeasterner]

If you're not in a decent size metro area of 75,000ish or more,you shouldn't join fcs.

You're really not going to sell enough tickets to make it worth your time or find corporate sponsors to get your program to be cost efficient because you're not going to break even. The key is to help drive enrollment and alumni donations to the school as a whole.

And it's not going to work in this age of just dropping enrollment to do it. Adding sports is good because it drives enrollment especially low cost ones like wrestling and golf.

[washeduptiger]

Wrestling is big out that way, or at least it used to be.

It was a very intelligent add out of administration. My brother is a coach and Women’s wrestling has found a pretty big hub in western Kansas - Hays/Garden City/Dodge City and Great Bend all with usually pretty solid teams. Lakin has also put out a number of wrestlers.

[AlexTheHAMMER]

It's worth mentioning that Lindenwood cut 10 sports in December also to boost budgets and be competitive in the OVC. Big athletic departments dont always go over well when your resources are strung out too thin.

[Micheal]

It's worth mentioning that Lindenwood cut 10 sports in December also to boost budgets and be competitive in the OVC. Big athletic departments dont always go over well when your resources are strung out too thin.

Wow cutting 10 sports. Hope they're having fun in FCS, best be worth it.

I was sad when UNK cut baseball, men's golf and men's tennis. They've since brought men's tennis back but.

[RollChos]

Lindenwood always sucked but is getting your ass kicked by Kansas really better than being competitive in the MIAA?