May 14, 2019
Texas A&I Alumni Association
114 S. University Blvd.
Kingsville, Texas 78363
2 Million Reasons
Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.
That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.
What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.
The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.
Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!
Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!
Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is [email protected]
361-593-3209
Thanks for your help. Do it today!
Watch For Upcoming Email
Javelina Athletic Facility
Proposal by Jim Browm
For More Information
979-255-5412
Texas A&I Alumni Association
114 S. University Blvd.
Kingsville, Texas 78363
2 Million Reasons
Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.
That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.
What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.
The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.
Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!
Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!
Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is [email protected]
361-593-3209
Thanks for your help. Do it today!
Watch For Upcoming Email
Javelina Athletic Facility
Proposal by Jim Browm
For More Information
979-255-5412
Comment