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We’ve found the villain

I peripherally know a couple of the regents -- one degree of separation. People you'd want to have a beer with and attend a tailgate.
 
Ok, I don't do Spotify. How about a concise recap?
Regents support subsidizing football and providing institutional support. Kirk Schulz is the lone hang-up despite having interviews saying we must approach institutional support and fund at a high level.
 
I peripherally know a couple of the regents -- one degree of separation. People you'd want to have a beer with and attend a tailgate.

Since you know Regents personally, and may have their ear, then you need to talk to them. Tell, ask them to not decrease football scholarships, and to not cut coaching pay too much. 2 Million minimum for HC, and 350k to 650k for DC, OC, 250k for main position coaches like Dline, O Line, QB coach. 200k for LB, RB, WR, Secondary, etc, 150k for Special teams, 100k minimum for rest of coaching staff, except GA's that get 8k to 15k to 25k to 35k to 50k.

THEN TELL, ASK THEM TO FIRE KIRK NOW, AND KICK HIM TO CURB IMMEDIATELY, AND TO NOT WAIT 6 MONTHS FOR KIRK TO RETIRE, AND CLEAN OUT KIRK'S OFFICES, NOW.

TELL, ASK THEM TO HIRE A FLOYD LIKE PRES, AND A MOOS LIKE AD, AND A DAVID SHAW LIKE, VIGEN LIKE, JAMARCUS SHEPHARD LIKE HC, SOON.

YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE REGENTS. USE IT, AND USE IT WELL.
 
As if recall referred to Chun as traitor, or something along those lines. Withholding funds from the football program at a critical time might be worse.
 
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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?
 
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?

How much of these financial challenges are the result of enrollment declines many schools are facing since 2020?
 
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.
 
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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?
Payday loan store?
 
Anytime I see a reference to Omaha or Nebraska I pay attention but I had a hard time following this post. Are you saying that Nebraska has the same location problem as Wazzu because Omaha is a small country town like Pullman?


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.
 
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WSU president Kirk Schulz reportedly ‘dragged feet’ on funding football​


Greg Woods

Dec. 24, 2024 at 5:20 pm
The Spokesman-Review

As the final game of Washington State’s season nears, a Friday matchup with Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, the picture of former coach Jake Dickert’s departure is beginning to crystallize.

In a Tuesday piece from Johncanzano.com, back in November, WSU’s Board of Regents instructed president Kirk Schulz to find an additional $2 million in support for the athletics department. It didn’t happen, Canzano reported, citing an unnamed source.

Schulz is set to retire this summer.

According to the report, this dynamic and others played into Dickert’s decision to depart for the head coaching job at the ACC’s Wake Forest last week. Since leaving last week, Dickert has flipped former WSU commit Jack Foley back to the Demon Deacons, and 28 Cougars have elected to enter the transfer portal.

All are eligible to play in the Holiday Bowl, a policy the team voted to adopt, but the number of portal-bound Cougars interested in doing so isn’t entirely clear. Several have already committed to other programs, including Arizona-bound receiver Kris Hutson, TCU-bound defensive lineman Ansel Din-Mbuh and Arizona State-bound safety Adrian Wilson.

Another year of eligibility for two Cougars?​

WSU offensive tackle Esa Pole and nickelback Kapena Gushiken might be able to return for another season if they are so interested. That’s because on Monday, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors — composed of university presidents — agreed to a waiver for former junior college players that grants them an additional year of eligibility if they would have exhausted their eligibility this season.

That policy would apply to Pole and Gushiken, both of whom started their careers at junior colleges and would have been out of eligibility this fall. Pole, who began his career with three years at Chabot College in California, finished the regular season with a Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 86.2, which is No. 22 nationally among offensive linemen with at least 400 pass-blocking snaps.

That would make his return the most meaningful of those two. But Pole attracted the attention of NFL scouts at WSU practice throughout the season, and he would likely hear his name called at this spring’s NFL draft if he goes that route. In previous interviews, Pole has indicated his desire to help out his family by reaching the next level.

Gushiken has had more of an up-and-down season. For the regular season, he finished with a PFF coverage grade of 68.3, starting 10 of 12 games. He also allowed 52 receptions on 81 targets. His 52 receptions allowed are the fourth-most in the country. But he did pick off passes against Texas Tech and Utah State, and he totaled four pass breakups.

More Cougs head to the portal​

As of Tuesday, 28 Cougars had entered the transfer portal. The most recent entrants include freshman wide receiver Chris Barnes, who made his announcement on Tuesday, and fellow freshman wideout Isaiah Cobbs, who did so on Monday.

If he does depart — all players who enter the portal retain the option to withdraw their name and return to their school — Barnes’ departure would add up to the more costly loss for WSU. Barnes, an undersized speedster, played two games this season, making a surprise start at running back in a September win over Texas Tech. He finished with one catch on the season, but his soft hands and compelling speed made coaches high on his upside.

Barnes, a 3-star prospect from Houston, originally committed to Prairie View A&M and then North Texas out of high school. To become a Cougar, he turned down offers from the UNT, Prairie View A&M, plus UTSA, Utah State, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Toledo, Texas State, Montana State and others.

Cougs embracing underdog mentality against Syracuse​

WSU and Syracuse could hardly be headed in more different directions as programs. The Cougars have hit nearly 30 players in the transfer portal, including about a dozen starters, while the Orange have only lost 10, no starters. It’s one reason SU is a 16.5-point favorite in many sportsbooks as of Tuesday.

It hasn’t seemed to face the Cougs set to suit up for the game.

“Syracuse is gonna come in here and think that, ‘Oh, they’re a team that’s struggling. It’s gonna be a cakewalk,’ and they got another thing coming,” Pole said. “Whether we put in our tight end at quarterback, or a quarterback at receiver, or me at D-tackle, whatever we have to do to get this win, we’re gonna find a way to gut it out. And I have no doubt that this team will bond together.”

Greg Woods
Washington State beat writer for The Spokesman-Review
 
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Anytime I see a reference to Omaha or Nebraska I pay attention but I had a hard time following this post. Are you saying that Nebraska has the same location problem as Wazzu because Omaha is a small country town like Pullman?
I realize that many folks are unfamiliar with the midwest so I'd just like to mention a few facts if that's what the author was trying to say.

University of Nebraska location is in Lincoln, current population around 344,000. It's also the state capital.

Omaha current population around 480,000. It is the largest city in Nebraska, about 55 miles from Lincoln.

Pullman current population around 32,000.

Lincoln and Omaha are very different from Pullman.
 
Omaha MSA is 900,000 and I’d assume there’s an Interstate between there and Lincoln?

WSU is the most remote campus that I’m aware of, by far.
Laramie WY is the only comparison. Laramie County (Cheyenne, next 'big' city) at 100K is podunk compared to Spokane County (540K).

And even that is skewed because of Denver/Fort Collins population-wise. Nobody is cheering for Wyoming in Fort Collins.
 
How much of these financial challenges are the result of enrollment declines many schools are facing since 2020?
A relatively small fraction. The deferred maintenance debt has been building for decades, it’s just things that keep getting kicked further down the road, and at this point it’s turning into urgent/emergency expenses to make repairs to things that are failing. Cuts to programs and other operating reductions are largely due to reductions in funding from the legislature and shuffling funds to more urgent needs and flavor of the month programs. The existing shortages trace back more directly to 2008 recession era funding issues than to COVID decreases….although those are certainly a factor also. There was a degree of deficit spending employed through the 2010s on the basis of expected enrollments…which COVID ruined. Basically, they spent money they expected to bring in, but then didn’t bring it in, so are continuing to carry escalating deficits. Hence the multiple rounds of 1-3% cuts over the last several years.

And, of course…it’s all made worse by continuing reductions in funding from the legislature
 
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Laramie WY is the only comparison. Laramie County (Cheyenne, next 'big' city) at 100K is podunk compared to Spokane County (540K).

And even that is skewed because of Denver/Fort Collins population-wise. Nobody is cheering for Wyoming in Fort Collins.
Laramie is also on a freeway…and is only 2 hours from Denver.
 
Anytime I see a reference to Omaha or Nebraska I pay attention but I had a hard time following this post. Are you saying that Nebraska has the same location problem as Wazzu because Omaha is a small country town like Pullman?
Silly girl Julie. You had a hard time following our pal Mik's post? Oh shit I just started laughing, sorry. Didn't you know that Nebraska moved their campus to Omaha? Where have you been?

That said, a rare hit piece by Brand X on Schulz. Good. Link below because we have no rules here. I recall when Rawlins was retiring. They hired Floyd a few months earlier than expected, and Floyd pretty much started immediately (was on contract for a month or so before actually assuming the job) and Rawlins was pretty much invited to Get the F out of Dodge early. But not before he had a huge portrait of himself painted and hung in the Lighty atrium. Is that still there?

 
Anytime I see a reference to Omaha or Nebraska I pay attention but I had a hard time following this post. Are you saying that Nebraska has the same location problem as Wazzu because Omaha is a small country town like Pullman?

Yes and No. Omaha is like a Pullman. The reason Nebraska recruits, gets 4, 5 stars, is because of Nebraska being a Semi Blue Blood, Semi traditional, semi Powerhouse(At least rhey used to be).

Nebraska doesn't get their great recruits because of Omaha.

If moved Nebraska to Pullman, and WSU to Omaha, WSU would still only get 2.5, 3, 3.5 stars, and Nebraska would still get 4,5 stars.

My point was that since Nebraska can recruit a Pullman, Omaha extremely well, then WSU can at least recruit 3, 3.5, lowest ended 4 stars from HS, Transfer Portal, IF WSU has the right coaches, wins game, PAC 12 does well, decent ok NIL, investment by state, board of regents, new pres, better AD, etc.

Since Nebraska recruits Omaha extremely well, then WSU can do it too, IF WSU does the right things
 
Yes and No. Omaha is like a Pullman. The reason Nebraska recruits, gets 4, 5 stars, is because of Nebraska being a Semi Blue Blood, Semi traditional, semi Powerhouse(At least rhey used to be).

Nebraska doesn't get their great recruits because of Omaha.

If moved Nebraska to Pullman, and WSU to Omaha, WSU would still only get 2.5, 3, 3.5 stars, and Nebraska would still get 4,5 stars.

My point was that since Nebraska can recruit a Pullman, Omaha extremely well, then WSU can at least recruit 3, 3.5, lowest ended 4 stars from HS, Transfer Portal, IF WSU has the right coaches, wins game, PAC 12 does well, decent ok NIL, investment by state, board of regents, new pres, better AD, etc.

Since Nebraska recruits Omaha extremely well, then WSU can do it too, IF WSU does the right things

And Pullman is not just Pullman, it's close enough to Spokane. Greater Pullman area is about 50k, and greater Spokane area is about 350k, for a total of about 375k.

Like I said if WSU, Nebraska swapped places, Nebraska would have NO problem recruiting Pullman, Spokane extremely well.
 
Your logic escapes me. Your comparisons escape me.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA (MAIN CAMPUS-IE FOOTBALL) IS IN LINCOLN, NOT OMAHA.

The University of Nebraska system has campuses in Lincoln (UNL), Kearney (UNK) and Omaha (UNO and UN Medical Center).

I grew up in Omaha. I graduated from UNL and attended football games at UNL. I now live in Moscow, ID.

Have a good one. Go Big Red! Go Vandals!
 
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