Talking about budgets, 2015-16

[basedog]

We are in the top 50 (45th) in the country. Average Sec budget is $122 million, ours being around $75 Million but we made close to a $6 million profit. We are 12th in conference, yes we have come a long ways but so has everyone else. The rich get richer and we are getting rich.

Hey, just interesting facts.


school conf total revenue total expenses total subsidy % subsidy
Texas A&M SEC $192,608,876 $109,313,651 $0 0.00
Texas Big 12 $183,521,028 $173,248,133 $0 0.00
Ohio State Big Ten $167,166,065 $154,033,208 $0 0.00
Michigan Big Ten $152,477,026 $151,144,964 $263,345 0.17
Alabama SEC $148,911,674 $132,354,913 $2,616,895 1.76
Florida SEC $147,105,242 $125,384,443 $1,856,122 1.26
LSU SEC $138,642,237 $121,947,775 $0 0.00
Oklahoma Big 12 $134,269,349 $123,017,251 $0 0.00
Tennessee SEC $126,584,033 $113,413,325 $0 0.00
Penn State Big Ten $125,720,619 $122,271,407 $0 0.00
Auburn SEC $124,657,247 $115,498,047 $4,293,893 3.44
Wisconsin Big Ten $123,895,543 $118,691,112 $7,850,256 6.34
Florida State ACC $120,822,522 $111,386,681 $7,073,039 5.85
Kentucky SEC $116,494,690 $115,159,039 $0 0.00
Georgia SEC $116,151,279 $96,559,307 $3,212,769 2.77
Arkansas SEC $114,172,847 $97,106,539 $0 0.00
South Carolina $113,172,545 $107,430,044 $0 0.00
Minnesota Big Ten$111,162,265 $111,162,265 $6,919,096 6.22
Michigan State Big Ten $108,687,274 $108,283,151 $702,284 0.65
Iowa Big Ten $105,969,545 $109,214,651 $650,000 0.61
Oregon Pac-12 $105,701,523 $103,880,557 $2,009,125 1.90
Louisville ACC $104,325,207 $101,624,437 $7,139,281 6.84
Washington Pac-12 $103,540,117 $104,403,253 $3,895,000 3.76
Nebraska Big Ten $102,157,399 $98,023,037 $0 0.00
UCLA Pac-12 $96,912,767 $96,912,767 $2,668,512 2.75
Oklahoma State Big 12 $95,931,739 $93,144,396 $7,795,211 8.13
Maryland Big Ten $92,686,128 $92,558,535 $14,546,411 15.69
Kansas Big 12 $91,860,673 $92,207,877 $1,960,129 2.13
Virginia ACC $91,256,772 $91,345,925 $13,555,431 14.85
Missouri SEC $91,217,778 $86,859,158 $1,515,000 1.66
West Virginia Big 12 $90,523,565 $87,265,473 $4,403,165 4.86
North Carolina ACC $89,128,256 $89,080,843 $9,040,407 10.14
Indiana Big Ten $88,362,421 $88,330,530 $2,707,752 3.06
Mississippi SEC $87,602,519 $82,399,898 $1,995,752 2.28
Arizona Pac-12 $87,135,331 $80,706,045 $8,965,277 10.29
Illinois Big Ten $85,998,659 $87,163,188 $3,728,444 4.34
California Pac-12 $85,539,904 $94,016,545 $1,252,719 1.46
Arizona State Pac-12 $84,440,040 $83,873,516 $19,379,132 22.95
Clemson ACC $83,534,371 $82,855,674 $4,190,747 5.02
Virginia Tech ACC $80,230,095 $77,679,721 $8,127,300 10.13
Texas Tech Big 1 $79,979,481 $76,525,961 $4,261,291 5.33
Georgia Tech ACC $77,202,758 $74,979,077 $7,271,782 9.42
North Carolina State $76,834,60 $73,074,396 $6,696,315 8.72
Purdue Big Ten $75,637,694 $74,420,334 $0 0.00
Mississippi State SEC $75,400,407 $69,493,395 $1,730,000 2.29
Kansas State Big 12 $75,323,278 $67,316,209 $862,680 1.15
Iowa State Big 12 $75,283,516 $75,209,309 $2,044,400 2.72
Connecticut AAC $72,155,789 $72,062,423 $28,070,681 38.90
Rutgers Big Ten $70,558,935 $70,558,935 $23,803,903 33.74
Colorado Pac-12 $67,852,236 $65,273,311 $12,216,734 18.00

[Liverpooldawg]

In absolute terms we are light years ahead of where we were. In relative terms nationally we have progressed. In the SEC we are still in pretty much the same place we have always been.

[DanDority]

In the SEC we are still in pretty much the same place we have always been.
Yep, DEAD LAST, with the exception of VU who are private in which case we don't know what they bring in.

[basedog]

Yep, DEAD LAST, with the exception of VU who are private in which case we don't know what they bring in.

My bad, we are 13th. Vandy doesn't report.

History doesn't matter**

[EngDawg]

In absolute terms we are light years ahead of where we were. In relative terms nationally we have progressed. In the SEC we are still in pretty much the same place we have always been.

What people don't realize.

[maroonmania]

Yes, we are still last in the conference but we have gained significantly over non-SEC schools (which should theoretically make winning OOC games easier). Also, at some point aren't there some diminishing returns in football for just having more dollars. I mean its probably a lot easier to have a luxurious tennis facility or women's softball field or whatever with a bunch more millions of dollars but I would think at some point just extra dollars for football wouldn't help that much. Our problem in football right now is much more lack of enough prospects from a low population state and lack of a large fanbase and tradition. Those things will never get fixed just with more money. The only place I can say we are hurting money wise with our football program is in assistant coach's salaries. And we could likely solve that if we threw another couple of million into that pot which should be doable when our total budget is somewhere between 75-90 million. Heck, we could take 500K of that from the head coach's salary and I don't see that it would make much difference. Mullen sure isn't worth more than 3.8 mil/yr if that much.

[basedog]

Mullen has done great beating non SEC schools. The problem for Msu has been competing in football against Sec schools.
They will always be a major task regardless.

[Homedawg]

Yes, we are still last in the conference but we have gained significantly over non-SEC schools (which should theoretically make winning OOC games easier). Also, at some point aren't there some diminishing returns in football for just having more dollars. I mean its probably a lot easier to have a luxurious tennis facility or women's softball field or whatever with a bunch more millions of dollars but I would think at some point just extra dollars for football wouldn't help that much. Our problem in football right now is much more lack of enough prospects from a low population state and lack of a large fanbase and tradition. Those things will never get fixed just with more money. The only place I can say we are hurting money wise with our football program is in assistant coach's salaries. And we could likely solve that if we threw another couple of million into that pot which should be doable when our total budget is somewhere between 75-90 million. Heck, we could take 500K of that from the head coach's salary and I don't see that it would make much difference. Mullen sure isn't worth more than 3.8 mil/yr if that much.

We play 8 games in the sec against 8 teams w larger budgets. No money isn't everything but it's a huge part. Nevermind, we are in the bottom half of the league tradition wise as well. It's not impossible to achieve, but it's damn sure difficult to say the least. And no, I'm not saying we should just sit back and like it either.

[Dolphus Raymond]

Time to get the new ball park built. No excuses.

[maroonmania]

We play 8 games in the sec against 8 teams w larger budgets. No money isn't everything but it's a huge part. Nevermind, we are in the bottom half of the league tradition wise as well. It's not impossible to achieve, but it's damn sure difficult to say the least. And no, I'm not saying we should just sit back and like it either.

Well more money always helps but the biggest disadvantages we have against the top half of the SEC are things that money will never cure IMO.

[Homedawg]

Well more money always helps but the biggest disadvantages we have against the top half of the SEC are things that money will never cure IMO.

For sure!

[Dawgbite]

Time to get the new ball park built. No excuses.

Heard something pretty disappointing about the new DNF. Only raised a little over half what was needed to do what was presented. New video board is already started as we know. Condos are out. New outfield cubicals will be started after this season, LFL rigs are gone after this season. Existing grandstands will not be torn down, skyboxes and press box will be torn off to be replaced buy a walking/ standing deck with seating and press box added above that after the 2018 season. The entrance in right field will be scaled back considerably. Unless somebody has a spare 40 million laying around, be prepared to be underwhelmed.

[HSVDawg]

Heard something pretty disappointing about the new DNF. Only raised a little over half what was needed to do what was presented. New video board is already started as we know. Condos are out. New outfield cubicals will be started after this season, LFL rigs are gone after this season. Existing grandstands will not be torn down, skyboxes and press box will be torn off to be replaced buy a walking/ standing deck with seating and press box added above that after the 2018 season. The entrance in right field will be scaled back considerably. Unless somebody has a spare 40 million laying around, be prepared to be underwhelmed.

If that's the case then I would rather scrap the entire plan and put all that money towards further football renovations. Would be a total waste of money to halfass the new DNF. Just money flushed down the toilet.

[Liverpooldawg]

I never understood spending that much money in a non-revenue sport.

[Cooterpoot]

So, Cohen couldn't get the money for the stadium but we want him to be the lead in fundraising as our AD? Doesn't make much sense.

[Jarius]

Yes, we are still last in the conference but we have gained significantly over non-SEC schools (which should theoretically make winning OOC games easier). Also, at some point aren't there some diminishing returns in football for just having more dollars. I mean its probably a lot easier to have a luxurious tennis facility or women's softball field or whatever with a bunch more millions of dollars but I would think at some point just extra dollars for football wouldn't help that much. Our problem in football right now is much more lack of enough prospects from a low population state and lack of a large fanbase and tradition. Those things will never get fixed just with more money. The only place I can say we are hurting money wise with our football program is in assistant coach's salaries. And we could likely solve that if we threw another couple of million into that pot which should be doable when our total budget is somewhere between 75-90 million. Heck, we could take 500K of that from the head coach's salary and I don't see that it would make much difference. Mullen sure isn't worth more than 3.8 mil/yr if that much.

This is all correct. Not to mention, our budget according to Striklin for this coming year is just under 100 million, not 75 million (he said this on the B&B show right before football season). At some point, money becomes a non issue. Yea other people have more, but what are they doing with it that we can't do with what we have at 100 million? We have a nice stadium and facilities. We pay our HC as much as pretty much anyone in the country. We need to bump up assistant pay, but other than that complaining about money makes little sense. Diminishing returns, like you said, comes into play.

[Maroonthirteen]

$100M of revenue? ...and we are scaling back the DNF project? Football assistants are under paid. Where is the money going? Maybe we do need a new AD.

Not to mention I am paying $8 for a bottle of water and hotdog. $5 for some dipping dots and $20 to park. Well I don't pay to park any longer but I have a long walk because I don't.

[Taog Redloh]

The only thing that can close that gap (or at least get it to the point of diminishing returns) is to add another 2 million people with buying power to the state of Mississippi. Out of state students won't cut it. They come in, and leave. Not sustainable.

[trob115]

Heard something pretty disappointing about the new DNF. Only raised a little over half what was needed to do what was presented. New video board is already started as we know. Condos are out. New outfield cubicals will be started after this season, LFL rigs are gone after this season. Existing grandstands will not be torn down, skyboxes and press box will be torn off to be replaced buy a walking/ standing deck with seating and press box added above that after the 2018 season. The entrance in right field will be scaled back considerably. Unless somebody has a spare 40 million laying around, be prepared to be underwhelmed.

Not sure where you're getting that info from, but the grandstand will be torn down completely at the end of the 18 season. The condos are out right now, but they are still there if there is a demand. We raised enough money to move forward with phase 1&2.

[Maroonthirteen]

. Our problem in football right now is much more lack of enough prospects from a low population state and lack of a large fanbase and tradition. Those things will never get fixed just with more money. .

Bingo. What we need right now is our own Bear Bryant to take the HC job. We need a guy to stay here for 20 years. He needs to be 100% dedicated to building this program. Mullen has done some good things. He has gotten the ball rolling, a foundation laid. He has put a number of State guys in the NFL. I wish Mullen had a change of heart and wanted to retire here but.........IF IF IF HUD was performing better....maybe he would be that guy. However, ULL isn't tearing it up. Anyway.......We need a guy that continues to build the program and Produce player after player. Then those players go on to be coaches. When they are coaches, they have an influence on their players. They can inform their players what is REALLY taking place at MSU and Starkville.

IF IF We can keep what Mullen has going. We will build the fan base. The fan base will have some presence in ALL the small towns. That will influence kids to come to MSU. This is why it is SO CRITICAL that we NOT have a knee jerk reaction and fire Mullen. We have to get it right with Mullen to stay or find the next coach. Also, find the right AD.

[sleepy dawg]

Yes, we are still last in the conference but we have gained significantly over non-SEC schools (which should theoretically make winning OOC games easier). Also, at some point aren't there some diminishing returns in football for just having more dollars. I mean its probably a lot easier to have a luxurious tennis facility or women's softball field or whatever with a bunch more millions of dollars but I would think at some point just extra dollars for football wouldn't help that much. Our problem in football right now is much more lack of enough prospects from a low population state and lack of a large fanbase and tradition. Those things will never get fixed just with more money. The only place I can say we are hurting money wise with our football program is in assistant coach's salaries. And we could likely solve that if we threw another couple of million into that pot which should be doable when our total budget is somewhere between 75-90 million. Heck, we could take 500K of that from the head coach's salary and I don't see that it would make much difference. Mullen sure isn't worth more than 3.8 mil/yr if that much.

Well, Mullen did pretty damn good for 6 years with the cheapest coaching staff in the league. Who knows where we'd be right now if he had money like the rest of the league does to spend on getting him some help. People complain about getting first timers, but with what we pay, we either get an up and comer, or old and faded out.

[Really Clark?]

I don't why people keep using the diminished return because schools have an enormous amount of money. In a one year budget comparison that may have some validity but over a 4-5 year span we are over $250 MIL behind league average. Not the top 3-4 but league average. That is a large gap that allows for budgets, staffs, facility upgrades, etc. that still puts us behind. Now if we can get to $100 MIL and maintain that for some time then the playing surface will start to feel more level.

[Dawgbite]

Not sure where you're getting that info from, but the grandstand will be torn down completely at the end of the 18 season. The condos are out right now, but they are still there if there is a demand. We raised enough money to move forward with phase 1&2.

I hope you are correct and I'm wrong but this came from someone who should know what they are talking about and had specific details. I would think that with Sticklin leaving, nobody knows all the details at this time. The new AD may want to put his fingerprint on the project. I personally think it would be a mistake not to completely replace the grandstands.

[Cooterpoot]

Not sure where you're getting that info from, but the grandstand will be torn down completely at the end of the 18 season. The condos are out right now, but they are still there if there is a demand. We raised enough money to move forward with phase 1&2.

Well, really, the condos were the only original idea. So, basically, Dudy Noble is going to look a lot like every other high-end facility now, with the elimination of the LFL as we know it.
I really don't like where this is headed....Sounds like we lose the LFL with no better/unique idea to take it's place really.

[Taog Redloh]

Well, really, the condos were the only original idea. So, basically, Dudy Noble is going to look a lot like every other high-end facility now, with the elimination of the LFL as we know it.
I really don't like where this is headed....Sounds like we lose the LFL with no better/unique idea to take it's place really.

Fans make the atmosphere, not the stadium. It won't matter what we do, as long as we trot out a winner DNF will remain the best atmosphere to watch a game, old stadium or new stadium.

[Cooterpoot]

Fans make the atmosphere, not the stadium. It won't matter what we do, as long as we trot out a winner DNF will remain the best atmosphere to watch a game, old stadium or new stadium.

I agree to a point, but you lose tradition without something unique to fill the void of the LFL. That's the one niche we've got going for us. And if they're scaling back the taj, then we aren't making that big an impact with a renovated stadium. Not when there are so many new ones already.

[Jarius]

I don't why people keep using the diminished return because schools have an enormous amount of money. In a one year budget comparison that may have some validity but over a 4-5 year span we are over $250 MIL behind league average. Not the top 3-4 but league average. That is a large gap that allows for budgets, staffs, facility upgrades, etc. that still puts us behind. Now if we can get to $100 MIL and maintain that for some time then the playing surface will start to feel more level.

We just completed a top notch football facility and top not football stadium upgrades. Could we use another 100 million dollars? Of course we could. Who couldn't? Will 100 million more dollars help us in football very much? No, probably not. We have facilities on par with everyone in our league and we have made stadium upgrades to make our stadium look almost as good as it is going to look for the amount of people we can hold. More money isn't going to buy us 25 thousand more fans or a 100 year history that isn't atrocious. I will admit that it would probably buy us a better DC than Peter Sirmon, but I think we should be able to buy that with a 100 million dollar budget anyway. Don't you?

[Really Clark?]

We just completed a top notch football facility and top not football stadium upgrades. Could we use another 100 million dollars? Of course we could. Who couldn't? Will 100 million more dollars help us in football very much? No, probably not. We have facilities on par with everyone in our league and we have made stadium upgrades to make our stadium look almost as good as it is going to look for the amount of people we can hold. More money isn't going to buy us 25 thousand more fans or a 100 year history that isn't atrocious. I will admit that it would probably buy us a better DC than Peter Sirmon, but I think we should be able to buy that with a 100 million dollar budget anyway. Don't you?

It's not the per year difference that is as big an issue, it's $250-400 MIL difference over a 5 year period that shows up. Yes we are getting there to be more on par but it's just now getting there and has to maintain for a period of time. Just like a better winning tradition will take time. But when they can take their surplus above our budget and build a brand new stadium every five years if they wish, or no matter what salary we offer assistant we will always be out bid, when their auxiliary staff and tutors are 4-5 times more than we have, recruiting budget 3-5 times ours, no body blinks an eye for cosmetic upgrades every 12-18 months when you have that much extra (some complained that our staff wanted to do so), etc. All of that adds up.

[Jarius]

It's not the per year difference that is as big an issue, it's $250-400 MIL difference over a 5 year period that shows up. Yes we are getting there to be more on par but it's just now getting there and has to maintain for a period of time. Just like a better winning tradition will take time. But when they can take their surplus above our budget and build a brand new stadium every five years if they wish, or no matter what salary we offer assistant we will always be out bid, when their auxiliary staff and tutors are 4-5 times more than we have, recruiting budget 3-5 times ours, no body blinks an eye for cosmetic upgrades every 12-18 months when you have that much extra (some complained that our staff wanted to do so), etc. All of that adds up.

Yea, they can build a new stadium every 5 years if they want to, but they don't because that would be retarded. That's the point. At some point you run out of shit to spend money on (get your recruit buying jokes in here). I don't think a kid goes to our stadium and our facilities and sees a difference in quality. I've been to every other stadium in our conference (and every talking head in the country that has seen the Seal Complex lets everyone know how top notch it is). The biggest difference is, like you said, in the recruiting budget and the assistant pay. I would imagine that if we have a problem hiring enough of those type people with a 100 million dollar budget, we probably have someone managing our finances that isn't doing a very good job.

[Really Clark?]

Yea, they can build a new stadium every 5 years if they want to, but they don't because that would be retarded. That's the point. At some point you run out of shit to spend money on (get your recruit buying jokes in here). I don't think a kid goes to our stadium and our facilities and sees a difference in quality. I've been to every other stadium in our conference (and every talking head in the country that has seen the Seal Complex lets everyone know how top notch it is). The biggest difference is, like you said, in the recruiting budget and the assistant pay. I would imagine that if we have a problem hiring enough of those type people with a 100 million dollar budget, we probably have someone managing our finances that isn't doing a very good job.

I would throw auxiliary staff in with assistants as well. I think that can be a noticeable difference as well in just ratio per student athletes.

[Liverpooldawg]

We just completed a top notch football facility and top not football stadium upgrades. Could we use another 100 million dollars? Of course we could. Who couldn't? Will 100 million more dollars help us in football very much? No, probably not. We have facilities on par with everyone in our league and we have made stadium upgrades to make our stadium look almost as good as it is going to look for the amount of people we can hold. More money isn't going to buy us 25 thousand more fans or a 100 year history that isn't atrocious. I will admit that it would probably buy us a better DC than Peter Sirmon, but I think we should be able to buy that with a 100 million dollar budget anyway. Don't you?

Our football facilities aren't on par with the rest of the SEC. What we did got us to where we were at least in the ball park with them, but we are still behind.

[Cooterpoot]

Our facilities are middle of the pack in the conference right now. When we upgrade, to get on par, the big boys are going beyond that and it takes us years to catch back up, and then they go bigger again. We're always chasing them. That's where the money issue gets you. Along with the fact that we have less than a quarter of the football support staff that Bama has and the lower assistant pay. Our facilities will never match AL or A&M or LSU.

[Political Hack]

$100M of revenue? ...and we are scaling back the DNF project? Football assistants are under paid. Where is the money going? Maybe we do need a new AD.

Not to mention I am paying $8 for a bottle of water and hotdog. $5 for some dipping dots and $20 to park. Well I don't pay to park any longer but I have a long walk because I don't.

This is where my heads been for a year or three. I don't get it. We're not making good investments outside of expanding the football stadium, basketball facility, and the big 3 head coach's pay. We lack in recruiting budgets, assistant salaries, our baseball stadium is dated. Our athletic department officials are under paid. Where the hell is all the money going?

[Jarius]

Our football facilities aren't on par with the rest of the SEC. What we did got us to where we were at least in the ball park with them, but we are still behind.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiL-9SAoIjQAhUG5CYKHTE5An4QFggxMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fblog%2Fsec%2Fpost% 2F_%2Fid%2F44750%2Franking-the-secs-football-facilities&usg=AFQjCNHwVddzqnQwuRYkR_am1p28moSxBw&sig2=9ma7efXTQP-7Nb9JbcHuwg&bvm=bv.137132246,d.eWE

Our facilities were ranked 9th before we even upgraded them. Facilities are not an issue at Mississippi State. No one goes to another school over ours because of that in 2016.

[BrunswickDawg]

Our football facilities aren't on par with the rest of the SEC. What we did got us to where we were at least in the ball park with them, but we are still behind.


Our facilities are middle of the pack in the conference right now. When we upgrade, to get on par, the big boys are going beyond that and it takes us years to catch back up, and then they go bigger again. We're always chasing them. That's where the money issue gets you. Along with the fact that we have less than a quarter of the football support staff that Bama has and the lower assistant pay. Our facilities will never match AL or A&M or LSU.

I disagree. Our facilities are as of high a quality as the big boys in football - and better than some - the Swamp comes to mind. The only way we are behind them is in seating capacity. As long as OM is in existence, we will never catch the top 8 in the SEC in size.

[Jarius]

Our facilities are middle of the pack in the conference right now. When we upgrade, to get on par, the big boys are going beyond that and it takes us years to catch back up, and then they go bigger again. We're always chasing them. That's where the money issue gets you. Along with the fact that we have less than a quarter of the football support staff that Bama has and the lower assistant pay. Our facilities will never match AL or A&M or LSU.


No one is choosing to go to Alabama or LSU over MSU because of facilities. We just built a 25 million dollar football facility. Would people go to other schools over us if we had not upgraded? Yes.

[Cooterpoot]

I disagree. Our facilities are as of high a quality as the big boys in football - and better than some - the Swamp comes to mind. The only way we are behind them is in seating capacity. As long as OM is in existence, we will never catch the top 8 in the SEC in size.

UF is in the middle of a huge upgrade. They'll be moving up soon. But we don't compare to AL, A&M, LSU, TN, AR, etc. Even UM is about to be ahead of us once they get their football facility.

[Cooterpoot]

No one is choosing to go to Alabama or LSU over MSU because of facilities. We just built a 25 million dollar football facility. Would people go to other schools over us if we had not upgraded? Yes.

So you aren't interested in beating those teams? You just want to give up on that dream? Even before Saban was at AL, Shula was taking our recruits and Bama wasn't even great. You have to at least try. You don't think having the top training facilities (we can never match their stadium size) would help at all? I disagree. Kids look at everything from the junk they get to the facilities, to the coaches, to tradition, etc. etc. etc. You at least win somewhere and give yourself something to sell.

[Jarius]

So you aren't interested in beating those teams? You just want to give up on that dream? Even before Saban was at AL, Shula was taking our recruits and Bama wasn't even great. You have to at least try. You don't think having the top training facilities (we can never match their stadium size) would help at all? I disagree. Kids look at everything from the junk they get to the facilities, to the coaches, to tradition, etc. etc. etc. You at least win somewhere and give yourself something to sell.

What is going to help us more, upgrading a brand new facility that a 17 year old kid probably isn't going to notice or hiring more recruiting coaches/upgrading assistant pay? If you can't recruit with a 25 million dollar facility, you probably aren't going to recruit with a 5 million dollar upgrade. We don't need better facilities to get better players at this point. We need to not have 3 people trying to do what Alabama has 12 people doing. We also need 40 thousand more fans so we can add on to Davis Wade.

[Cooterpoot]

What is going to help us more, upgrading a brand new facility that a 17 year old kid probably isn't going to notice or hiring more recruiting coaches/upgrading assistant pay? If you can't recruit with a 25 million dollar facility, you probably aren't going to recruit with a 5 million dollar upgrade. We don't need better facilities to get better players at this point. We need to not have 3 people trying to do what Alabama has 12 people doing. We also need 40 thousand more fans so we can add on to Davis Wade.

Oh, I agree with you. But you still have to keep up with Jones on facilities or you have no shot.

[Tbonewannabe]

I disagree. Our facilities are as of high a quality as the big boys in football - and better than some - the Swamp comes to mind. The only way we are behind them is in seating capacity. As long as OM is in existence, we will never catch the top 8 in the SEC in size.

It is kind of like Saudi princes not having anything to buy. One of my buddies was in Iraq when they got Saddam. They got to hang out in his palace and he got to take a dump on a gold toilet. You have serious problems in your soul if you are spending money on gold toilets.

Facilities aren't our problem in football, it is Bama having an auxiliary staff of 30 people while we just hired Brad Peterson and a 3 more guys. They have so many more guys to look for diamonds in the rough that we are going to lose the only advantage we had in that respect. The Jon Banks and McKinney's of MS are about to start going to Bama and Saban will just process them if they don't show potential right away. This will just keep us from having the chance to develop them.

[maroonmania]

It is kind of like Saudi princes not having anything to buy. One of my buddies was in Iraq when they got Saddam. They got to hang out in his palace and he got to take a dump on a gold toilet. You have serious problems in your soul if you are spending money on gold toilets.

Facilities aren't our problem in football, it is Bama having an auxiliary staff of 30 people while we just hired Brad Peterson and a 3 more guys. They have so many more guys to look for diamonds in the rough that we are going to lose the only advantage we had in that respect. The Jon Banks and McKinney's of MS are about to start going to Bama and Saban will just process them if they don't show potential right away. This will just keep us from having the chance to develop them.

Yes, recruiting budgets and assistant coaching pay are things that do directly affect the quality of our team. We should focus first there. Whether you the fan are sitting on a concrete bleacher or partying in your skybox really doesn't matter to the player. Now yes, we need lots of fans at the game, but IF MSU has a good product on the field fans will be there no matter what they are sitting on.

[HSVDawg]

The Jon Banks and McKinney's of MS are about to start going to Bama and Saban will just process them if they don't show potential right away. This will just keep us from having the chance to develop them.

Totally disagree. Bama won't be getting those types because they don't need to take the risk or need to expend the effort to find them. They have 4-star / 5-star guys at their doorstep begging them for spots that they have to turn away. Why would they need to waste time and money looking for under the radar types? Besides, they can only sign 25 guys. If they did decide to go that route then for every 2 star or 3 star diamond in the rough they offered, there would be a 4 star or 5 star that was then up for grabs.

[Homedawg]

This is where my heads been for a year or three. I don't get it. We're not making good investments outside of expanding the football stadium, basketball facility, and the big 3 head coach's pay. We lack in recruiting budgets, assistant salaries, our baseball stadium is dated. Our athletic department officials are under paid. Where the hell is all the money going?

You guys need to remember we didn't pay cash for the football complex nor the stadium renovation. We have a bond note to pay. That's a debt service every year.

[Homedawg]

It is kind of like Saudi princes not having anything to buy. One of my buddies was in Iraq when they got Saddam. They got to hang out in his palace and he got to take a dump on a gold toilet. You have serious problems in your soul if you are spending money on gold toilets.

Facilities aren't our problem in football, it is Bama having an auxiliary staff of 30 people while we just hired Brad Peterson and a 3 more guys. They have so many more guys to look for diamonds in the rough that we are going to lose the only advantage we had in that respect. The Jon Banks and McKinney's of MS are about to start going to Bama and Saban will just process them if they don't show potential right away. This will just keep us from having the chance to develop them.

No they aren't, they can get all 4-5 stars if they want. Instead they evaluate some guys that are "3" stars by recruiting services and put them in the nfl. And most of those kids are from Bama.

[Homedawg]

This entire thread is bothersome in that it's obvious that most people have no clue what it takes to run an athletic Dept. Peel by the football complex one day and look what goes into that staff, food, scholarships etc. and that's one sport! Being in the sec allows you to do extra stuff compared to the rest of the country, but we aren't debt free and stuff costs lots. If you are in business you get it, if you work for the government you don't.

[Maroonthirteen]

Accounting is not rocket science. I do admit I don't recall how much of the football facility and stadium expansion are financied. However im assuming we didn't bankrupt ourselves getting into those notes. In addition, our revenue has continued to grow each year.

I realize an extra 25mil in revenue in the next two years doesn't mean we can also 25 down on the bank counter. But it does mean you can afford another bond note.

And 500k for assistants.

[BrunswickDawg]

Accounting is not rocket science. I do admit I don't recall how much of the football facility and stadium expansion are financied. However im assuming we didn't bankrupt ourselves getting into those notes. In addition, our revenue has continued to grow each year.

I realize an extra 25mil in revenue in the next two years doesn't mean we can also 25 down on the bank counter. But it does mean you can afford another bond note.

And 500k for assistants.

If I recall, 100% of the projects are financed. Something to keep in mind is that the big funds raised for the big projects (football complex, DWS expansion, DNF rebuild) are typically donated over time. So, someone who gives $5 million may be making that payment over a 5-10 year period. When you look at our debt service, our past fundraising, and the expansion of our budget, it is a very complex financial operation.

[bulldogcountry1]

Heard something pretty disappointing about the new DNF. Only raised a little over half what was needed to do what was presented. New video board is already started as we know. Condos are out. New outfield cubicals will be started after this season, LFL rigs are gone after this season. Existing grandstands will not be torn down, skyboxes and press box will be torn off to be replaced buy a walking/ standing deck with seating and press box added above that after the 2018 season. The entrance in right field will be scaled back considerably. Unless somebody has a spare 40 million laying around, be prepared to be underwhelmed.


This would be a complete travesty and pointless, really. It goes against everything we have been told. I don't really believe it.

[maroonmania]

No they aren't, they can get all 4-5 stars if they want. Instead they evaluate some guys that are "3" stars by recruiting services and put them in the nfl. And most of those kids are from Bama.

Bama has to be using the extra staff to constantly barrage the 4 and 5 star recruits they want with attention. Bama sure doesn't waste their time nor do they have a need to sign many diamonds in the rough.

[Dawgbite]

This would be a complete travesty and pointless, really. It goes against everything we have been told. I don't really believe it.

Agree 100%. As I said earlier, hope I'm wrong.