Posted this in the other thread...thought it deserved its own.
http://www.flowrestling.org/article...res-faces-pressure-from-students#.WPgWjr4xLcc
http://www.flowrestling.org/article...res-faces-pressure-from-students#.WPgWjr4xLcc
Boise State Breaking News -- Program Cancellation on Hold
- Thread starter RoarLions1
- Start date
While there are likely more sides of the story than what is presented in the Flo article, the President and the AD come off as pretty inept.
Students displeased ... won't make a difference.. Cue up History of the World Part I: "The people are revolting." "Yes they are."
Alumni donors would be a different story, particularly football donors.
One of the commenters made a salient point: this is about Boise positioning itself to someday join the Pac 12. 11 of the 12 teams have baseball; only 3 have wrestling. Sacrificing wrestling now, a few years before baseball games, gives them some money toward their share of the new minor league stadium.
I'll take it a step further: this isn't about baseball, it's about football -- that is, Athletics strategy for the football program. Being outside the Power 5 + ND means Boise eats at the kiddie table. Which is why it's important for football boosters to step up here.
Alumni donors would be a different story, particularly football donors.
One of the commenters made a salient point: this is about Boise positioning itself to someday join the Pac 12. 11 of the 12 teams have baseball; only 3 have wrestling. Sacrificing wrestling now, a few years before baseball games, gives them some money toward their share of the new minor league stadium.
I'll take it a step further: this isn't about baseball, it's about football -- that is, Athletics strategy for the football program. Being outside the Power 5 + ND means Boise eats at the kiddie table. Which is why it's important for football boosters to step up here.
One more point: even if the program is "saved," it's still in huge trouble.
If I'm Mike Mendoza, my relationship with my 2 bosses (the AD and president) is now poisoned. I can't trust them to not do this again next year or the year after; to support the program and not let it just wither on the vine; or even to involve me in my own program.
So there's a real chance Mendoza and his assistants will leave next year voluntarily. Then who would take that job? The hiring process could make Heather Lyke look like Jack Welch.
Regardless, the instability is a recruiting nightmare, even before the negative recruiters come out. This could set the program back for years, when the school is looking to justify cutting it.
The one potential benefit is that, if the alumni really step up in a big way, Mendoza could have a lot of leverage to upgrade the program.
If I'm Mike Mendoza, my relationship with my 2 bosses (the AD and president) is now poisoned. I can't trust them to not do this again next year or the year after; to support the program and not let it just wither on the vine; or even to involve me in my own program.
So there's a real chance Mendoza and his assistants will leave next year voluntarily. Then who would take that job? The hiring process could make Heather Lyke look like Jack Welch.
Regardless, the instability is a recruiting nightmare, even before the negative recruiters come out. This could set the program back for years, when the school is looking to justify cutting it.
The one potential benefit is that, if the alumni really step up in a big way, Mendoza could have a lot of leverage to upgrade the program.
...don't know Mike Mendoza, so this could go several ways if the program is saved. Assuming the donors are completely behind me, and the fans, and I'm committed to the wrestlers, that has to be worth something. If I'm reading the competence meter correctly for the AD...and I'm the coach, I should outlast him.
Per WrestlingNomad on Twitter, there does seem to be a little bit to go on here. If it's accurate that the cancellation didn't follow explicit already spelled-out procedures for cancelling/adding programs, and it's accurate that the student body's intercollegiate athletics fee-paying renders them stakeholders within that process (and thus standing to contest), it seems plausible that they can gum up the works for the time being. Whether any such works-gumming only manages to kick the can down the road or provides an opening to successfully lobby for wrestling's 'reinstatement' is an open question.
But Jefe's point above about instability is a good one here; if due process is all that student body/council can hang their hat on, well, due process takes time for review periods and the like, and the wrestlers on the team kind of need to know whether they're going to school next year if they want to continue wrestling, nevermind the havoc created on the recruiting front.
EDIT TO ADD: And it's worth pointing out that this recent information is coming entirely from a group of students who evidently believe they do have standing to gum up the works; it shouldn't surprise if they're entirely mistaken as to their perception of their own leverage.
But Jefe's point above about instability is a good one here; if due process is all that student body/council can hang their hat on, well, due process takes time for review periods and the like, and the wrestlers on the team kind of need to know whether they're going to school next year if they want to continue wrestling, nevermind the havoc created on the recruiting front.
EDIT TO ADD: And it's worth pointing out that this recent information is coming entirely from a group of students who evidently believe they do have standing to gum up the works; it shouldn't surprise if they're entirely mistaken as to their perception of their own leverage.
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That may be, but the added revenue from access to the PAC12 network would more than compensate the school in the long term.
That might very well be a very big IF. Boise State is not exactly an academic powerhouse, there are some excellent academic institutions in the Pac-12, would not be surprised if there is some academic snobbery. For example in the B1G, if you are not an AAU institution, basically no need to apply unless you are part of a package deal with Texas or Notre Dame.
When the Big12 was looking to expand in 2016, they also passed on Boise State.
Then you have the matter of the purpose of conference expansion, it revolves around football, Boise State adding a baseball team will not make or break there admittance to the Pac 12 or Big 12, it is a complete non-factor. Certainly if Boise State is admitted to either conference, they could fund both baseball and wrestling teams.
You may very well be right about their strategary but Boise State being accepted into the Pac12 is a pipe dream.
That's probably true, but when did that ever stop an executive trying to build a legacy or get a promotion?
There's another reason I don't see the Pac 12 admitting Boise Stste: economics. They want a much bigger fish, like Texas.
I agree the Broncos being excepted into PAC 12 seems pretty far off but it's amazing how the university has grown last ten years. They used to be second fiddle to U of Idaho in everything not long ago. Most young kids are BSU or Oregon fans around here now a days.
Yep they definitely handled this poorly. Doesn't sound reL promising for pac12 wrestling either. They just signed a couple of good recruits in last couple weeks also.
Good luck. Again not noted by anything in this process, the students can revolt all they want....but if a team is ADDED, not substituted....there will have to be a women's team added.
On the other hand, students and boosters might like that.
On the other hand, students and boosters might like that.
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