I can’t read the whole Canzano article, but this doesn’t sit right. This feels like just pinning the blame on the guy who’s leaving and hoping nothing sticks to the people who are staying, and believe me - WSU does that.
Even if it’s true, and even worse f in November the regents told Schulz “find $2 million”…where? There are limited funds that could legally be tapped, and there are a lot of other things that are needed too. If he just pulled $2M from discretionary funds and handed it to football, faculty would revolt. After all, WSU’s mission and purpose doesn’t even mention athletics - the academic and research sides are much more central. There’s also $1.8 billion ( yes - with a B) in deferred maintenance for campus buildings. Cuts to programs have already been happening for years, and at this point the greatest concentration of fat is in The athletic department and French Ad….but even cutting those things doesn’t produce $2M in liquid, useable cash. So, again…where?
WSU has access to a little of the 250 million PAC money. Yes that money is for running the conference, getting the teams that have already joined conference, getting at least 1,2 more to join conference, and for to pay conference debts, etc. Yes almost all has to be reserved to tackle various possible cost. But 2.5 million out of that, isn't much.
Also there is the 1.8 million that conference get from CFP, until that likely becomes 3 to 5 to 7 to 9 mil. Then there is the about 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13 mil per team per year media deal. And their is NCAA units in million of dollars, and there is current and future bowl money.
It won't be easy, but it is doable, so no need to cut scholarships, pay below 2.25 mil for a HC, etc.
And even if there were not enough money, WSU needs to both get money from the state to do that via Regents, just like UW, and needs to increase donor and fan donations a little tiny bit.
I know that's easier said then done.
But if WSU does not do that, does not try to do that, then what hapoens:
1. WSU eventually, gradually after years, decades, etc, becomes either D2, Whitworth level, below G5, FCS, or scraps football program altogether.
2. That would cause enrollment, paying tuition, grants, research, academics, etc, to go down, because Football, at least nest of rest G5, Pac 12, winning football, athletics, is the Front Porch, Image, Reputation, introduction, that can, does help colleges get more enrollment, more paying tuition, more grants, research projects, etc.
3. If WSU does not invest, they will be R2, R3, no better then, equal to BSU trucking College, eventually
WSU needs to do what UW does in getting more money from state when, if necessary. And needs to have the right Floyd like Pres, Moos like AD, Leach, Price, David Shaw, Vigen, Jamarcus Shephard, Moore like HC, better Advertisment, marketing, better fundraising, better investment, better game day atmosphere, and better NIL.
And to those who say that WSU location prevents better NIL. Tell that to the Blue Bloods, Semi blue bloods, like Nebraska, either Alabama or another SEC college, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, KSU, Texas Tech, etc, that are in Pullman sized small country towns like Omaha Nebraska, etc, that still manage to get better NIL.
Yes I know that that or part of that is because they are semi blue bloods, even if they in a Pullman like place like a Omaha, unlike WSU.
But if WSU steps up, and does what they should do, WSU can gradually eventually get better NIL, win more games, build their program up gradually, eventually by investing, better NIL, using JC transfers, using Transfer portal, becoming a semi professional single A, Double AA, triple AAA FARM SYSTEM, where 3 stars, 3.5 stars, low end 4 stars that rotting on bench at blue bloods, etc, can goto WSU, develop, then either goto NFL or get a big NIL payday, after, when they transfer to another blue blood college.
And WSU can do the same with 3 stars, 3.5 stars, 2.5 stars, low end 4 stars, HS recruits, that develop at WSU, have 1 awesome season, then get a BIG NIL PAYDAY, when they transfer to a blue blood college, or goto NFL, etc.
It can be done. It's doable, the only question is if WSU, Regents will invest, do it, hire the right WSU leaders, admin, staff, top to bottom that do those things, etc.
That said, I don't trust the state, Regents, WSU leadership, donors, fans, so probably won't happen, and I'll believe if I see it happen.
But I don't have any hope of it happening for now at least.