Staff Reductions Coming To ADs

[AppSt94]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

[Yosef10]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

I guess I just want to know, between here and the 247 site, what exactly are you looking to achieve by just going on and on and on about App’s finances?

I’ve yet to see anyone claim App is some financial behemoth, only that we have what we need to compete in our conference - which we inarguably do. So I just don’t get why this is a constant conversation?

[AppSt94]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

I guess I just want to know, between here and the 247 site, what exactly are you looking to achieve by just going on and on and on about App’s finances?

I’ve yet to see anyone claim App is some financial behemoth, only that we have what we need to compete in our conference - which we inarguably do. So I just don’t get why this is a constant conversation?

Good morning. Allow me to catch you up. The conversation started on this thread because the OG posted an article about an SEC school having to lay off folks do to the current economic constraints around college athletics after getting fat from the revenue for years. My original response to the post simply alluded to the fact that App isn’t in any way able to do this due to working at the bare bones and with limited resources to pay our people. The OG poster who has doubled up everyone else with comments yet you chose to reach out to me about my feelings weird but ok, suggested that we cut everything to scraps and divert everything to football and what’s left over to basketball. As well as fire people and have less people do more. Thats not a sound business model but this guy is ok with it.

I bring up our finances because folks like this guy clearly don’t get it. There are others that see the issues but don’t want to be part of the solution. You understand that we don’t have unlimited resources. Good for you. The comments from the salaries were posted for the staff tell me that most people don’t care where we are fiscally if we are winning.

I’m sorry if my opinion or thoughts on this bother you. Not my problem. Have a great day.

[appst89]

The solution is to cut athletics, but no one wants to say that part out loud. Instead, they want to keep pretending that there is some way to run a department and pay a staff all while bringing in significantly less than we spend, and there is, on the backs of donors who have been told to shut up and send money for years, and who many on this board like to disparage because they aren't giving enough, or on the backs of students who aren't given a choice. It's a bad business model and it's unsustainable.

[AppStFan1]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

That is fine but the powers that be are mainly focused on football and basketball and when the antitrust exemption happens and all the legal stuff plays out I would not be surprised if secondary sports don't like where they end up.

That is true about the donors but if suggestions are being given to GIllin and others and they are ignoring or doing a bad job then I don't know what to say. Do you think we have decision makers who need to go?

[AppStFan1]

The solution is to cut athletics, but no one wants to say that part out loud. Instead, they want to keep pretending that there is some way to run a department and pay a staff all while bringing in significantly less than we spend, and there is, on the backs of donors who have been told to shut up and send money for years, and who many on this board like to disparage because they aren't giving enough, or on the backs of students who aren't given a choice. It's a bad business model and it's unsustainable.

This is 100% right.

[AppStFan1]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

I guess I just want to know, between here and the 247 site, what exactly are you looking to achieve by just going on and on and on about App’s finances?

I’ve yet to see anyone claim App is some financial behemoth, only that we have what we need to compete in our conference - which we inarguably do. So I just don’t get why this is a constant conversation?

Good morning. Allow me to catch you up. The conversation started on this thread because the OG posted an article about an SEC school having to lay off folks do to the current economic constraints around college athletics after getting fat from the revenue for years. My original response to the post simply alluded to the fact that App isn’t in any way able to do this due to working at the bare bones and with limited resources to pay our people. The OG poster who has doubled up everyone else with comments yet you chose to reach out to me about my feelings weird but ok, suggested that we cut everything to scraps and divert everything to football and what’s left over to basketball. As well as fire people and have less people do more. Thats not a sound business model but this guy is ok with it.

I bring up our finances because folks like this guy clearly don’t get it. There are others that see the issues but don’t want to be part of the solution. You understand that we don’t have unlimited resources. Good for you. The comments from the salaries were posted for the staff tell me that most people don’t care where we are fiscally if we are winning.

I’m sorry if my opinion or thoughts on this bother you. Not my problem. Have a great day.

I completely get it but I know that tough decisions are coming and I am just not stressed over them. I know that what is going on is not sustainable.

You think I don't want to be part of the solution? How so? What on earth do you want me to do? I donate and go to games so I am doing my part. It is not my responsibility to do anymore. We have people that are paid by the school who should be finding solutions or we should fire them and get people who can.

[AppSt94]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

That is fine but the powers that be are mainly focused on football and basketball and when the antitrust exemption happens and all the legal stuff plays out I would not be surprised if secondary sports don't like where they end up.

That is true about the donors but if suggestions are being given to GIllin and others and they are ignoring or doing a bad job then I don't know what to say. Do you think we have decision makers who need to go?

I think that we have decision-makers that operate with a great deal more tangible knowledge of the situation than someone that only pays attention to the sources that they value and draws conclusions and thought based on supposition. Gillin or any AD doesn’t have the time or inclination to entertain every suggestion from Joe fan and donors. I’m not going to assume that any idea that I give Gillin is being ignored if it isn’t implemented in the manner that I have decided it needs to be done. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea based on factors that I wasn’t aware of.

[AppStFan1]

The financials provided above are pretty clear. All of the teams are a fiscal money pit. Yes people are going to pick football and men’s basketball over all of the others. That’s not a flex when pretty much everyone in America would say the same thing. The point that is being made is the revenue is NOT covering any or all of our sports programs. Many of them are running on slim margins as it is. Support programs have been asked to cut budgets so that programs can survive. You don’t have to believe it when folks say that the athletic department doesn’t have money but the proof is in the numbers. We are at the minimum of sports provided to be eligible for D1 status. We have a skeleton crew across athletics and they don’t get paid very well. Especially when you consider the cost of living in Boone. That’s the reality.

The fanbase that we love to claim to have isn’t helping out either. We have been stuck in the 3,000 + donors for decades, all the while the University has pumped out thousands of new alumni for decades. Where are these students that enjoy the Gameday experience once they graduate? That’s not an indictment on any person here. We all have our life choices and starting out in the world is hard. But the when you see 10,000 strong in the student section year over year, where are they to support App sports when they have to pay?

That is fine but the powers that be are mainly focused on football and basketball and when the antitrust exemption happens and all the legal stuff plays out I would not be surprised if secondary sports don't like where they end up.

That is true about the donors but if suggestions are being given to GIllin and others and they are ignoring or doing a bad job then I don't know what to say. Do you think we have decision makers who need to go?

I think that we have decision-makers that operate with a great deal more tangible knowledge of the situation than someone that only pays attention to the sources that they value and draws conclusions and thought based on supposition. Gillin or any AD doesn’t have the time or inclination to entertain every suggestion from Joe fan and donors. I’m not going to assume that any idea that I give Gillin is being ignored if it isn’t implemented in the manner that I have decided it needs to be done. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea based on factors that I wasn’t aware of.

Exactly. Nothing more we can do. There are people paid a lot of money to find solutions to all this stuff and that is their job, not ours.

[AppWyo]

What people do not really understand is that athletics provides an opportunity to get a college degree that would not otherwise have that opportunity.

What people do not understand most is that athletics is advertisement for a school. Think about the notoriety that beating Michigan brought to Appalachian. Would anyone even notice Bosie State if they had not beaten Oklahoma? Think about how that win has provided and keeps providing for BSU. Would we even know anything about North Dakota State were it not for their string of national championships. I do not think they would have won that many national championships if they had to compete with teams like App and Georgia Southern year after year in the playoffs. North Dakota States toughest competition had moved to FBS when they came along.

The bottom line is this, you do not need to have athletics to have a university, but athletics is advertisement for your school. It also gives alumni a warm feeling to know that your school has a winning team. I would dare say that many people would not even consider applying to Appalachian were it not for its athletics. I would say that Appalachian's winning is the reason better students are attending Appalachian.

[AppStFan1]

What people do not really understand is that athletics provides an opportunity to get a college degree that would not otherwise have that opportunity.

What people do not understand most is that athletics is advertisement for a school. Think about the notoriety that beating Michigan brought to Appalachian. Would anyone even notice Bosie State if they had not beaten Oklahoma? Think about how that win has provided and keeps providing for BSU. Would we even know anything about North Dakota State were it not for their string of national championships. I do not think they would have won that many national championships if they had to compete with teams like App and Georgia Southern year after year in the playoffs. North Dakota States toughest competition had moved to FBS when they came along.

The bottom line is this, you do not need to have athletics to have a university, but athletics is advertisement for your school. It also gives alumni a warm feeling to know that your school has a winning team. I would dare say that many people would not even consider applying to Appalachian were it not for its athletics. I would say that Appalachian's winning is the reason better students are attending Appalachian.

100% that is what it should be and it could be viewed simply as that with the old system. I liked women having that opportunity, more men beyond the big sports and having a fairly simply system that was easy. You could keep players longer and did not have to fear poaching. Remember the old saying that athletics is the window into your university? The Michigan win did a lot for our program. I am with you.

You need to tell what you just said to the athletes and lawyers. The problem is that it has to be financially feasible and the prior system was that. This is not feasible. If women and athletes in non-revenue sports are going to sue then something drastic will be done. Title IX was great before but now it is being viewed as a problem because they want the same amount of money.

If I had a choice we would go back to what it was and just allow players to make money off merchandise sales, autographs, etc but that toothpaste has been let out of the tube and it won't go back. The next best thing is get to where they can collectively bargain because that would stop the lawsuits and allow a system that would allow us to have players under contracts so we don't lose them every six months. I am simply choosing the lesser of two evils. I understand that non-revenue and women's sports will eventually be hurt with all this but none of us did this. The athletes themselves made these choices to sue and they will sue their way out of existence eventually if they aren't careful.