Quote from today's Enquirer article:

 

NKU says it will have to pay for some of expansion out of its current budget. But it insists that new students, sponsorships and publicity will help pay for the rest.

 

 

Average travel is 580 miles.

 

Spending will go up "at least" $3M annually.

 

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20111208/NEWS0103/312080073

Hmmm, wonder what this could be about:

 

Major Announcement Regarding Northern Kentucky Men's Basketball Today!

 

There will be a live streamed press conference around 3 pm today. It should have links on both the NKU main web page ( http://www.nku.edu ) and also the athletic website ( http://www.nkunorse.com/index.aspx )

 

"The Northern Kentucky University campus community will have the opportunity to be part of history today at 3 p.m. at The Bank of Kentucky Center when President James Votruba makes a major announcement about the future of the Norse intercollegiate athletics program. All faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to participate in this historic event. The first 1,000 people to arrive at The Bank of Kentucky Center will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Additional details about the announcement will be shared with the campus in a personal email from President Votruba this afternoon."

Hmmm, wonder what this could be about:

 

Major Announcement Regarding Northern Kentucky Men's Basketball Today!

 

There will be a live streamed press conference around 3 pm today. It should have links on both the NKU main web page ( http://www.nku.edu ) and also the athletic website ( http://www.nkunorse.com/index.aspx )

 

"The Northern Kentucky University campus community will have the opportunity to be part of history today at 3 p.m. at The Bank of Kentucky Center when President James Votruba makes a major announcement about the future of the Norse intercollegiate athletics program. All faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to participate in this historic event. The first 1,000 people to arrive at The Bank of Kentucky Center will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Additional details about the announcement will be shared with the campus in a personal email from President Votruba this afternoon."

 

Sadly, I would be shocked if they had 1000 people there.

what's up with the school not qualifying for post season play the first 4 years? That seems ummmm dumb???l?

what's up with the school not qualifying for post season play the first 4 years? That seems ummmm dumb???l?

 

I'm pretty sure that is the stipulation for any school making the jump from D-II to D-1.

Sadly, I would be shocked if they had 1000 people there.

 

We didn't even put out 1,000 shirts.:lol:

We didn't even put out 1,000 shirts.:lol:

 

Sad, I'm sure SK, Campbell County, Ryle etc etc could all get 1,000 people for a pep rally. Just a shame. Who knows maybe 20 years from now we will look back at this and just laugh, maybe one day NKU will be one of the top 3 D1 schools in the region.

Question for the fans of schools like NCC, Holmes, Dixie, CCH, Holy Cross and other programs with good support.

 

Your team is playing. UK is also on TV. NKU hosts any school from the ASun.

 

Which game are you going to?

Sad, I'm sure SK, Campbell County, Ryle etc etc could all get 1,000 people for a pep rally.

 

Only cause they are forced to go! Haha just kidding.

Only cause they are forced to go! Haha just kidding.

 

They could pull it off and not even with the free t shirts being involved.

I will pose this question Clyde?

 

Why should any school in a smaller conference be Division 1? Why are you so against it? If you told me 15 years ago that NKU would be where it is today, I would have laughed at you. The school has a ton of potential and I applaud the leaders for trying to capitalize on it. Is it going to cost them quite a bit of money in the beginning? Sure, but what school that has made that move hasn't had to do the same thing? I just don't see how Morehead, Murray, and Eastern can all be D-1, but NKU will struggle.

I will pose this question Clyde?

 

Why should any school in a smaller conference be Division 1? Why are you so against it? If you told me 15 years ago that NKU would be where it is today, I would have laughed at you. The school has a ton of potential and I applaud the leaders for trying to capitalize on it. Is it going to cost them quite a bit of money in the beginning? Sure, but what school that has made that move hasn't had to do the same thing? I just don't see how Morehead, Murray, and Eastern can all be D-1, but NKU will struggle.

 

1. This has nothing to do with the size of the conference. There are schools in small conferences that draw well.

2. I am against it only because I think they rushed into it before Dr V retires. Wrong conference. Money will not be there. You're intimately aware of NKU workings. You're aware that state funds have been decreasing at a rapid rate over the years meaning NKU has to make cuts AND raise tuition. Now they're going to to have to dig into a pot that is already light and only there because of raising tuition and cutting programs to pay for an athletics program that has not shown they can draw fans. Add in that they're in a god-awful conference that no one can find on a map and you've got yourself a receipe for continual dipping into general funds that have so many hands in them now .

 

Add in that I'm not sure the current AD has the experience and background to lead a D1 program.

 

Other than that I think they're right on.

1. This has nothing to do with the size of the conference. There are schools in small conferences that draw well.

2. I am against it only because I think they rushed into it before Dr V retires. Wrong conference. Money will not be there. You're intimately aware of NKU workings. You're aware that state funds have been decreasing at a rapid rate over the years meaning NKU has to make cuts AND raise tuition. Now they're going to to have to dig into a pot that is already light and only there because of raising tuition and cutting programs to pay for an athletics program that has not shown they can draw fans. Add in that they're in a god-awful conference that no one can find on a map and you've got yourself a receipe for continual dipping into general funds that have so many hands in them now .

 

Add in that I'm not sure the current AD has the experience and background to lead a D1 program.

 

Other than that I think they're right on.

 

Fair enough. But I'm not sure they've rushed into this decision. This has been in the plans for quite a while, which is why the BOKC and Soccer stadiums were built. The BOKC has been open three years now, so you'd imagine that it had been planned for at least five years. I don't really think Dr. V retiring has anything to do with this (just my opinion) for the same reason that you stated for the AD. Dr. V doesn't have the experience to be President of a D-1 school. He retires, after an incredible 15+ years at NKU and they bring somone who does have some of that experience, who can lead NKU and help make this transisiton.

 

As for Dr. Scott Eaton, as much as I hate too admit it, I have to agree that him not having D-1 experience may hurt. I'm interested to see how all of that plays out. He is in a tough spot, but I will say that I think he is one of the hardest working men around and he will do whatever it takes to make NKU successful, there is no doubt in my mind about that.

 

I just feel like there are so many D-1 schools out there, who are obviously successful or they woudln't stay there, why can't NKU be the same? NKU got royally screwed by the OVC, if you ask me, which is why they were stuck going to a conference that doesn't totally excite anyone. I just don't see how NKU can't be successful in this climate if EKU, Morehead, and Murray are doing just fine. In my opinion NKU has a lot more going for them in moving forward than those schools (maybe some Admissions Office bias coming through there) but I really feel that way.

 

What programs have they cut? I don't think they have cut any to my knowledge and I don't think they will cut any. Maybe I'm naive, but this move isn't just because of atletics. That's very far from the truth, but all most see.

Fair enough. But I'm not sure they've rushed into this decision. This has been in the plans for quite a while, which is why the BOKC and Soccer stadiums were built. The BOKC has been open three years now, so you'd imagine that it had been planned for at least five years. I don't really think Dr. V retiring has anything to do with this (just my opinion) for the same reason that you stated for the AD. Dr. V doesn't have the experience to be President of a D-1 school. He retires, after an incredible 15+ years at NKU and they bring somone who does have some of that experience, who can lead NKU and help make this transisiton.

 

As for Dr. Scott Eaton, as much as I hate too admit it, I have to agree that him not having D-1 experience may hurt. I'm interested to see how all of that plays out. He is in a tough spot, but I will say that I think he is one of the hardest working men around and he will do whatever it takes to make NKU successful, there is no doubt in my mind about that.

 

I just feel like there are so many D-1 schools out there, who are obviously successful or they woudln't stay there, why can't NKU be the same? NKU got royally screwed by the OVC, if you ask me, which is why they were stuck going to a conference that doesn't totally excite anyone. I just don't see how NKU can't be successful in this climate if EKU, Morehead, and Murray are doing just fine. In my opinion NKU has a lot more going for them in moving forward than those schools (maybe some Admissions Office bias coming through there) but I really feel that way.

 

What programs have they cut? I don't think they have cut any to my knowledge and I don't think they will cut any. Maybe I'm naive, but this move isn't just because of atletics. That's very far from the truth, but all most see.

 

I'm not sure they got 'royally screwed' by the OVC. It would have been a good fit, but it wasn't the right time. NKU would put the OVC at 13 teams. Not exactly the best number for a conference.

 

As far as EKU, Morehead and Murray being successful....yes they have stayed D1. I can't speak for Morehead and Murray, but EKU is far from financially successful. When you have budget of 8-10 million and only bring in 2 million in revenue, something doesn't add up.

McKendree is replacing NKU in the GLVC. They were heading that way in 2 years anyways, but now they are going to speed it up by a year.