"Football...the front door to institutions."

[StrayDawg]

This is an excellent article, where Washington State President, Elson Floyd, is quoted as saying, “Like it or not, football serves as the front door to institutions, with the exception of the Ivy League…The reputation of a school is predicated on athletics. Football is first. Basketball is second.”

It talks about how schools brand themselves through their athletic programs, and says (of football), "you can't afford to be bad at it."

It's also impressive to click on the article about Nick Saban and see the change he has brought about at Alabama, regarding enrollment and alumni donations.

http://thebiglead.com/2013/10/01/col...-is-untenable/

The Saban article actually links to Forbes.com and can be directly accessed here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanri...go-to-alabama/

[Blue Dawg]

When it comes to 90% of potential students, donors, and other supporters, perception IS reality.

[RhinoDawg]

Athletics, specifically football, is the bay window through which the world views a university.

[StrayDawg]

Athletics, specifically football, is the bay window through which the world views a university.

Dr. Reneau liked to say that, but his actions proved that he didn't really feel that way. I hope Dr. Guice is different in that regard.

If I recall correctly, Boise State saw admissions applications increase by 30% the year after they beat OU in the Fiesta Bowl. The Forbes article is hard to argue with. Numbers like that don't lie.

[TechFanno1]

This is an excellent article, where Washington State President, Elson Floyd, is quoted as saying, “Like it or not, football serves as the front door to institutions, with the exception of the Ivy League…The reputation of a school is predicated on athletics. Football is first. Basketball is second.”

It talks about how schools brand themselves through their athletic programs, and says (of football), "you can't afford to be bad at it."

It's also impressive to click on the article about Nick Saban and see the change he has brought about at Alabama, regarding enrollment and alumni donations.

http://thebiglead.com/2013/10/01/col...-is-untenable/

The Saban article actually links to Forbes.com and can be directly accessed here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanri...go-to-alabama/

If you listen our New Athletic Director at speaking engagements-he says this all the time.

[EJ]

I have also heard Tommy McClelland say "athletics is the front porch of the university"

[DAWG8DAWG]

Not sure of the exact#s, but TCU has grown exponentially since Gary Patterson started winning there.

[Blue Dawg]

I have also heard Tommy McClelland say "athletics is the front porch of the university"

We need new floorboard and joists.

[techman05]

We need new floorboard and joists.

I was about to say that I think we have a termite problem.

[BuzDawg73]

We need to upgrade to a veranda.

[nadB]

We need a sign in the front yard, "NO LOSERS ALLOWED !!!"

[HogDawg]

The Saban article dovetails with exactly what I've witnessed locally. Here in Texas, my next door neighbor's kid is a new freshman at Alabama-Tuscaloosa. In fact, she and several of her high school classmates from McKinney Boyd High School decided to go to BAMA for college. I asked the girl 's mom if Ashley (the daughter) had ever even been to the state of Alabama before this, and she said no....at least not until a senior year visit to the campus for cheerleader camp.

[hoppinmad]

"Watch that top step behind me, it took a month for that jake leg to pull up 15 1x4s."

[Dawg06]

Dr. Reneau liked to say that, but his actions proved that he didn't really feel that way. I hope Dr. Guice is different in that regard.

If I recall correctly, Boise State saw admissions applications increase by 30% the year after they beat OU in the Fiesta Bowl. The Forbes article is hard to argue with. Numbers like that don't lie.

More like a 300% increase in applications.

Baylor was the most applied to school in Texas last year thanks to RGIII. This year it will be A&M. After UT won the BCS in 2005, their number applications tripled. Same with Florida after they won.

[Dwayne From Minden]

Right now we have a three-legged dog and one eyed pig lying on our front porch...