Maybe someone that has a little more insight can set me straight if I'm off-base here, but I just think money is an issue. Unfortunately, SHSU is not a big-money donor school. An almost embarrassingly low percentage of graduates ever donate money to the school. I know there are several professors that are SHSU lifers that harp on that fact incessantly. Full disclosure: I'm a part of that problem. I don't donate to the school like I should. But I think that's a big part of what has kept, and is keeping, the SHSU athletic department from growing like it seems it should to those of us that follow the programs closely. The bigger issue that causes that problem seems to be that there is a gap in the alumni as far as interest in being involved in the school after graduation. Look around at the ages of the people at games at Bowers. There is a group of very involved, very engaged alumni that graduated in the 40s, 50s and 60s and then there seems to be this huge gap until you get into the young alumni that have graduated in the past few years. And it's not just athletic events. Go to any alumni event and you'll see something similar. Granted, I think people tend to be more involved in the alumni association when they first graduate and then as they get older, but I don't think that explains it all. I would be interested to hear feedback from some of you guys about my perceived gap in alumni involvement. Maybe I'm just imaging it. I can say that school spirit increased exponentially from the time I arrived on campus (fall 2006) to when I graduated (Dec. 2011 - I took a victory lap, lay off me), so maybe part of the answer is just giving all of these young alumni that are more involved a chance to get out into the real world and have some more expendable income to give back. But when it gets down to it, the type of money your average alum donates is just a drop in the bucket of what it costs to get a big project done. And SHSU doesn't have a Phil Knight or T. Boone Pickens or Joe Jamail. I hope I'm wrong and there are big things coming in the near future for SHSU athletics as far as new construction goes, but I'm not sure it's in the cards until some of the culture changes.
Bowers is actually supposed to be upgraded soon. Not sure on the completion date, but I'm assuming next year. See the link for photos. I think that they are upgrading the videoboard as well, but don't quote me on that. http://www.shsu.edu/~pre_www/documents/Bowers-PressBox_000.pdf Spoiler Also, as far as donations, you have to factor in that SHSU is a state school and one of the cheaper schools in the state. Also largely a commuter school. With the rising costs of attending college and the student loan and employment rates, I think it's going to be harder and harder for schools like SHSU to count on donations from the average graduate. I also don't know that they have many filthy rich alums that can drop enough cash to finance something like a new stadium.
Stadium upgrades would be nice, but they still have to do something to make people want to come to games. The constant 2pm kickoffs don't help, especially when it's really hot. How about some night games? From what I understand, there is no promotion whatsoever going on at the campus. They need to do something to make students want to stay in Huntsville on the weekends and go to the games. And to make alumni want to come up from Houston to see the games. You can donate to the champions fund....but you have NO IDEA what is being done with your money. Those are not the circumstances I like to donate my money under.
They should do like 17th Street used to do (and might still)...nickel drinks for students. The twist is to line up the kegs in the first row right behind the opposing team's bench. Bower's intimidation factor will level up 50 points easy with that.
Looks like Fritz is a possible finalist at Georgia Southern. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>At Georgia Southern multiple sources telling us that 3 & possibly 4 candidates will visit tomorrow & possibly Thursday. Decision thereafter</p>— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballscoop/statuses/420729997888720896">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sources this afternoon told us Ivin Jasper, Tim Horton, Willie Fritz were all scheduled to visit GSU.</p>— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballscoop/statuses/420730569601712128">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I was confused, but then remembered they're going to the Sun Belt Conference. I guess it would be a good move for Fritz.
Even if he ends up sticking around at SHSU, I'm worried about what his interest in the GSU job says about the state of the SHSU program. With that golden class of seniors gone now, maybe he can see that the remaining talent isn't good enough to sustain a similar level of success. I don't follow recruiting well enough to know if that's really true or not, but that has been my fear. It he were flirting with a more high-profile job, I would be a little less worried, but with GSU, I'm concerned there is more to his interest than a FBS job and a pay increase.
That's going to be a risk with or without that class. Success brings that when your SHSU or the like. Heck, NDSUs coach left for freaking Wyoming (a move he's going to regret, IMO). It was only a matter of time that Fritz was going to get interviews for bigger jobs.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>At Georgia Southern, we are told Willie Fritz will be the new head coach <a href="http://t.co/WuvOiF3uws">http://t.co/WuvOiF3uws</a></p>— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballscoop/statuses/421357583920660481">January 9, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Um, the Sun Belt is still FBS and SHSU still isn't. I know you're spoiled by a few awesome years of success, but let's not kid ourselves here.
I wonder if Bob DeBesse would be interested in coming back to take over. He was the OC in 2011 before leaving to be the OC for New Mexico. He has head coaching experience in the Southland (SWT in the 97-02).
I've had this conversation with my brother (a former SWT player). Yes, it's the FBS. What's the best case scenario for any team out of the Sun Belt? You will never, ever, ever play for anything more than the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. In fact, the Sun Belt was trying to pay bowls to take their teams. Tx State could go undefeated any you will still never sniff the new playoff format. IMO, at least having the chance to play for an actual championship is better than having the your best possible season meaning you play against CUSA's 7th place team on ESPN 8 (THE OCHO!)
From the coaching side, obviously not when you have the NDSU coach going to Wyoming and your coach going to Georgia Southern (alma mater of the sexy Elizabeth Cook!). I'm guessing the more prestigious programs are much more willing to pick from those with FBS coaching experience than those with only FCS. The Auburn coach is one season removed from the Sun Belt. I'm guessing that you're also in the minority from a player's perspective. otherwise, you'd see the FCS continually outrecruiting FBS schools from lower conferences. And more than one school from the Sun Belt made bowl games last season as well.
I completely understand what FBS means compared to FCS. And in this case a lot of it is $$$. I'm sure he got a nice payday and they have a lot more resources at Ga. Southern with their move up than at SHSU. I just thought that he had done such a great job everywhere that he has been that he could end up somewhere even better with a little luck and timing. His name was tossed around for the UH job a couple of years ago and rumored last month at SMU if June Jones were to leave.
I think that if the right jobs had come open, he probably could have done better, but I guess he wanted to strike while the iron was hot. For better or worse, all it takes is one or two mediocre seasons and your name ends up getting forgotten, and with the amount of rebuilding they are going to have to do in Huntsville, a couple of so-so seasons are very much within the realm of possibility. I wouldn't be shocked to see Scott Stoker's name thrown around and I wouldn't mind if he ended up being the guy.
Tough to blame Fritz here. He took the program from nowhere to NC runner-ups for 2 years in a row. And we still can't draw more than a few thousand to home games. Fritz/Bell/Flanders = all gone. I guess this really is the end of an era.
Seems like 5 good candidates. Don't think I'll be upset with any of them, but based on these blurbs I'll lean towards Wyatt.
