WT Athletics

[Runnin' Cat]

Tarleton isn't paying $17 million to its coaches, and good find on NDSU. Them being a flagship state school and geographically isolated for travel, it would make sense they would have a very high budget. That's more than a lot of FBS programs.

I think they pay less than $4MM in salaries.

Montana and Montana State (where I live) both are right around $30MM annually, but they also have incredible crowds and booster support. James Madison, before they moved up, were around $40MM.

I know there is always talk about CWU moving to FCS. CWU has just under $10MM in total revenues and eeks out a small surplus. The lowest Big Ky Conference team in Northern Colorado at $20MM. We do have a some facilities that are Big Sky worthy, but not our football facility. I just don't see us making up that difference unless Goods wins the Powerball.

[Goods]

I just don't see us making up that difference unless Goods wins the Powerball.

I've won it twice actually. Taxes and my addiction to gas station burritos have really put the brakes on my alumni donations.

[Goods]

Ironic CWU's budget comes up today on the boards within 24 hours of me grabbing a beer with a CWU friend who spent a decade working with alumni and donors. He's been out of the university mix for 4+ years now, but still has a pulse and feels that CWU to Big Sky might actually be a true thought (not that it's going to happen) if FBS steals away teams like Sac State, UC Davis, Montana, Montana State. Also the continued demise of Eastern Washington's athletic finances might force the Big Sky to look for new blood.

The improvements to Tomlinson Stadium a handful of years ago were great and there is quite a bit of capital improvements still to come for football and baseball/softball. CWU's attendance has averaged over 5,000 the past couple of years, that would still need to significantly improve to be Big Sky worthy IMO...........although I bet we're out drawing EWU, Portland State in football.

[Runnin' Cat]

Ironic CWU's budget comes up today on the boards within 24 hours of me grabbing a beer with a CWU friend who spent a decade working with alumni and donors. He's been out of the university mix for 4+ years now, but still has a pulse and feels that CWU to Big Sky might actually be a true thought (not that it's going to happen) if FBS steals away teams like Sac State, UC Davis, Montana, Montana State. Also the continued demise of Eastern Washington's athletic finances might force the Big Sky to look for new blood.

The improvements to Tomlinson Stadium a handful of years ago were great and there is quite a bit of capital improvements still to come for football and baseball/softball. CWU's attendance has averaged over 5,000 the past couple of years, that would still need to significantly improve to be Big Sky worthy IMO...........although I bet we're out drawing EWU, Portland State in football.

https://herosports.com/fcs-football-...-leaders-bzbz/

[Goods]

You and your damn facts, Runnin' Cat. OK, I stand corrected on Eastern Washington's attendance, but I will say their average of 6,061 includes playing Montana and Montana State at home. We're outdrawing Portland State, UNC, although that's nothing to celebrate.

[Runnin' Cat]

You and your damn facts, Runnin' Cat. OK, I stand corrected on Eastern Washington's attendance, but I will say their average of 6,061 includes playing Montana and Montana State at home. We're outdrawing Portland State, UNC, although that's nothing to celebrate.

CWU is over 100% capacity as are Montana and Montana State. Agree with you that I think CWU would outdraw EWU. Roos is 8,700 capacity. Tomlinson could get to that capacity by enlarging the east side and maybe those corners. I think CWU would easily get that number per game, especially with some more local rivalries (EWU, Portland State, Idaho State). he difficult part is doubling the athletics budget just to be mid pack in the new Big Sky. I worry that the Montana schools would move to the new MWC.

[Buffan78]

If the Horse and Equestrian teams start to falter then it will be the end times and time to send WT to the D3 abyss.

They did away with Horse and Equestrian its more of a club sport now. It is one of WTs finest programs. They have to get rid of this current President, he has done nothing to elevate WT. So My self, my Dad and uncles all are Alums.

[Buffan78]

Florida State might hurt your SOS trying to secure a seed and home field advantage.

but they rake in a big paycheck for the program.

[frutedog]

Actually it’s about $2 million times better.

Yeah, that’s not right. More like 7-800k. But still better than an away D2 game. Yes, you get your butt kicked, but D2’s kick WT’s butt all the time. Even at home. Money games are good for FCS teams. I’ve been to TCU the year they went to the title game, I got to go to Tech, and Baylor, and I’ve already got the trip planned to Army this year. Kyle Feld will have a lot of purple in the stands in 2026. These games represent a chance for the University to be on linear tv. These games offer exposure. You D2 homers can’t even begin to understand how much money that actually means to a University. D2 gets none of that exposure.
Hey, I was against Tarleton’s move to D1. I was wrong. D1 has been incredible for Tarleton, and that goes way beyond athletics.
Tarleton upped its budget to 40 mil in 2025. 45 mil in 2026. That’s an ok budget for FBS. Bottom of the league in the Mountain West, but above mid pack for CUSA. We are looking for an invite. Probably take anything.
I’d like to stay FCS with that budget and win a few things, but I was wrong about the FCS move and I’m probably wrong about the FBS push.
Just seems so silly that WT was light years ahead of Tarleton 6 years ago. Then we got Hurley, you got Wendler.
Wendler killed SIU for 20 years. They are finally recovering and moving forward now. WT has not hit rock bottom yet. That’s the scary thing. It’s actually gonna get worse. Get rid of that cancer!

[MooseLodge]

Yeah, that’s not right. More like 7-800k. But still better than an away D2 game. Yes, you get your butt kicked, but D2’s kick WT’s butt all the time. Even at home. Money games are good for FCS teams. I’ve been to TCU the year they went to the title game, I got to go to Tech, and Baylor, and I’ve already got the trip planned to Army this year. Kyle Feld will have a lot of purple in the stands in 2026. These games represent a chance for the University to be on linear tv. These games offer exposure. You D2 homers can’t even begin to understand how much money that actually means to a University. D2 gets none of that exposure.
Hey, I was against Tarleton’s move to D1. I was wrong. D1 has been incredible for Tarleton, and that goes way beyond athletics.
Tarleton upped its budget to 40 mil in 2025. 45 mil in 2026. That’s an ok budget for FBS. Bottom of the league in the Mountain West, but above mid pack for CUSA. We are looking for an invite. Probably take anything.
I’d like to stay FCS with that budget and win a few things, but I was wrong about the FCS move and I’m probably wrong about the FBS push.
Just seems so silly that WT was light years ahead of Tarleton 6 years ago. Then we got Hurley, you got Wendler.
Wendler killed SIU for 20 years. They are finally recovering and moving forward now. WT has not hit rock bottom yet. That’s the scary thing. It’s actually gonna get worse. Get rid of that cancer!

Tarleton has an enrollment sufficient to tax to be competitive in FCS. Neither ETAM nor WTAM do. Not really even close. ET is going to get their brains humped out in all sports. Who knows, maybe WT too if things keep trending.

[debergfan]

Kinda Ironic:

1) A list of AD candidates to interview and hire and he wasn't on the original list.
2) Wendler flips the bird to the other coaches and unilaterally brings in the GV assistant athletic director not originally on the list.
3) Everyone gives Wendler a pass that this was great out of the box thinking.
4) New AD is going to bring back the glory days of WT football (rah rah rah).
5) Several months later no one can stand the guy and WT athletics titanic found the iceberg in the Atlantic.
6) Now hate and angst back at Wendler for a seemingly incompetent hire that wasnt on the original list.
7) Despair and depression that WT is sinking further in athletics and say goodbye 100% to any D1 talk.

Did I miss anything?

1 RMAC AD was on campus
Current AD
2 Internals (both gone?)

Other finalists
1 LSC ad
1 longtime ad, conference staffer
1 D1 sr ad

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

As usual, you have no idea what you speak of relating to ET athletics and funding.

I watched the Islanders easily dominate and take care of the Lions last night in mens basketball without breaking a sweat.

I looked up all their "major" sports programs and their records out of curiosity after the game.

Football: 3-9
Mens Basketball: 3-20
Womens Basketball: 4-16
Womens Softball: 9-45
Womens Volleyball: 10-19
Womens Soccer: 9-10-3

They are non competitive in pretty much every sport and dont have baseball, tennis, mens soccer, etc. (only have 5 mens sports and 7 womens sports).

I dont remember the other recent LSC teams that departed struggling this much this far into transition.

Not to be a douche (or maybe a little) but the D1 experience in all sports looks like an arse kicking.

[MooseLodge]

I watched the Islanders easily dominate and take care of the Lions last night in mens basketball without breaking a sweat.

I looked up all their "major" sports programs and their records out of curiosity after the game.

Football: 3-9
Mens Basketball: 3-20
Womens Basketball: 4-16
Womens Softball: 9-45
Womens Volleyball: 10-19
Womens Soccer: 9-10-3

They are non competitive in pretty much every sport and dont have baseball, tennis, mens soccer, etc. (only have 5 mens sports and 7 womens sports).

I dont remember the other recent LSC teams that departed struggling this much this far into transition.

Not to be a douche (or maybe a little) but the D1 experience in all sports looks like an arse kicking.

ET A&M wasn't competitive in D2 either, save a few Colby Carthel seasons in football. They were average to below in all sports.

[ASUPops]

ET A&M wasn't competitive in D2 either, save a few Colby Carthel seasons in football. They were average to below in all sports.

Welp....that shut Jake From State Farm up. 😂

[MooseLodge]

Welp....that shut Jake From State Farm up. 😂

You know, I'm all about FCS if you've got the funds to pay for it and be competitive. That's $20-25 million these days. East Texas simply doesn't have adequate enrollment to generate that much in student fees. Certainly you can play a couple of money games and bring in $1 million some years, but you've got to have a solid base of $20 million in student tax income to make it work.

That's a breeze for Tarleton due to their enrollment. It's a breeze for ACU and ICW because they are private and can tax the heck out of a small enrollment.

It's not going to work out for East Texas. I predict they will ultimately either drop football to make the numbers work, or go back to Division 2. I wish them the best, though.