Stories on Missouri State Athletics

[kchats]

Missouri State University is reviewing their athletic programs. They sponsor 21 sports which is 3 more than the 18 sponsored by the Missouri Valley Conference. This article talks about their football program losing money and it says most football programs lose money.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/NEWS04/511130403

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/SPORTS0401/511130380/1096

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/SPORTS0401/511130382/1002

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/SPORTS/511130384/1002

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/SPORTS0401/511130385/1002

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/SPORTS0401/511130383/1002

Interesting read. Missouri State only sells 1485 season tickets for football. There is a lady that supports the athletic program that is trying to get the university to drop the football program to nonscholarship status. She says the football games with nonscholarship teams are just as good as the ones in the Gateway Conference. She is definitely smoking crack if she believes that.

[dakotadan]

Some great reads. It is always interesting to see how other athletic departments work. It will be interesting to see what the outcome of this is.

[sambini]

Very interesting. It just shows how lucky we are here with President Chapman and Gene Taylor.

[kchats]

I was surprised at how little their season ticket base is for football. How many season ticket holders at NDSU? I guess they are a basketball school but that is pretty poor. If you read through it the Gateway Football Conference doesn't do all that well with season tickets, which I found surprising. I'll keep following the stories and post what they decide to do. They do have way too many teams though.

[Bisonguy]

I was surprised at how little their season ticket base is for football. *How many season ticket holders at NDSU? *I guess they are a basketball school but that is pretty poor. *If you read through it the Gateway Football Conference doesn't do all that well with season tickets, which I found surprising. *I'll keep following the stories and post what they decide to do. *They do have way too many teams though.


NDSU has somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000-5,000. NDSU nearly has as many Team Makers as they do sesaon ticket holders.

[roadwarrior]

Missouri State fired their football coaching staff today.

[kchats]

I hadn't heard that yet. *I found the story in the Springfield New Leader.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051114/BREAKING02/51114005

And from the official website of Missouri State.

http://www.missouristatebears.com/webapps/release?id=2710

[kchats]

Another story on their football team. Talks about the fact they should be able to field a winning team.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051116/SPORTS0401/511160366/1002/SPORTS

[kchats]

A few coaches throwing their name in the ring for the MSU job.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/SPORTS0401/511170376/1002/SPORTS

[kchats]

Missouri State had 51 apply for their position.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051203/SPORTS0401/512030370/1002/SPORTS

[sambini]

I hope we don't those any coaches this year. UNC job is now open etc...

[kchats]

I agree. I think if the Bison could have a year or two where they retain their entire staff it would be very helpful. Coaching staff continuity is also important in having a consistently good team.

[sambini]

When are they going to name a coach at MSU?

[kchats]

They thought sometime early in December.

Here is another story on their search. NDSU and Coach Bohl are mentioned in the sidebar. The article is about division I-AA schools having success hiring division I-A assistants with no head coaching experience.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051205/SPORTS0401/512050341/1096

[sambini]

Is this the school that Todd Wash was at one time?

[Bisonguy]

Is this the school that Todd Wash was at one time?

Todd was at Missouri Southern State

[kchats]

I don't know if Missouri Southern has hired a new coach yet either. Their head coach died of a heart attack in his office during the season this year. He was found slumped over his desk. Very sad deal I think he was in his 40's.

[sambini]

I heard they wanted Todd to apply. But he is happy to be home again.

[kchats]

That would be a tough job to have. Just across the state line from Pittsburg State. I just don't see Missouri Southern being able to steal recruits from PSU yet.

I talked with a Pitt State alumnus today at my health club. He told me that Pitt State is recruiting division I-A players that ride the pine. They send scouts to the games and talk with the players after the season. I guess they guarantee them exposure to 5 NFL teams and entice them to transfer so they can play instead of riding the pine at a division I-A school. I find the scenario a bit hard to believe myself. Have any of you ever heard of this?

[sambini]

That sounds illegal to me?

[kchats]

It is similar to what Mankato State did to the wrestling team at NDSU. Poaching is what it is called.

[sambini]

THAT IS NOT RIGHT OR ETHICAL.

[Jeffdaryl3rd]

This sort of thing is rampant in D-I college baseball. In summer leagues especially, big-time D-I and even a few elite D-II teams will steal players from lesser programs or programs where there is top-shelf talent riding the bench. It is against NCAA rules and it really gets under my skin how arrogant some of these schools are in doing it, but they are pretty adept at manuevering well enough to avoid getting caught.

[kchats]

Another story on Missouri State's athletic department. *I guess tomorrow they release their report on the study of the athletic department. *This is an article written in response to a wacky professor trying to eliminate football at Missouri State. *Obviously this guy knows nothing about athletics and the president of MSU basically says this when he states there are so many errors in his proposal I won't comment on it until Thursday. *One option in his proposal is to eliminate football but leave the remaining programs at the I-AA level. *He is a complete nut job. *I think cutting a football program is the fastest way to lower athletic department revenues. *The best thing to do is get the football program winning and producing revenue.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/NEWS04/512070355/1007/NEWS01

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/assets/pdf/DO13463127.PDF

If his idiotic proposal goes through maybe he can petition to change the name of the university back to Southwest Missouri State University since he wants to drop to division II and become a regional university again.

[kchats]

Another article on Missouri State University's athletic program. They are cutting 5 programs to reduce the total number to 16 from 21. They cut men's indoor and outdoor track and cross country along with men's and women's tennis. They are still keeping footbal scholarshipped at the I-AA level but the president and athletic director said that was for now. It definitely sounds like the new coach they hire for football will have alot of pressure on him, because if he doesn't produce a winner there is a very strong possibility that they will drop to non-scholarship. That would reduce the number of teams in the Gateway Football Conference to 7 and if I was the Gateway Football Conference I would definitely look at inviting NDSU and SDSU to bring the membership to 10 and provide cushion for the loss of Missouri State eventually. Getting into the Gateway Football Conference should be helpful to NDSU and SDSU's search for a conference for the remaining sports. I would hate to leave Cal-Poly and UC-Davis in the learch but the Gateway would be a more stable conference option for our football program.

Here is the story.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051209/NEWS01/512090392

[kchats]

The announcement that this is the way they are going for now (remaining a scholarshipped program in I-AA) is probably not the best thing to put out there while searching for a new coach.

[sambini]

I wish we were in the Gateway. Maybe there is some hope?

[kchats]

Gene should definitely talk to them.

[kchats]

Missouri State has announced their 4 finalists for the football coaching position. My bet is on Terry Allen.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051212/BREAKING02/51212007

[mikelsch]

Terry Allen was 1 of 3 finalists for the Bison job before he withdrew - staying at Iowa State. His withdrawal left 2 remaining - Craig Bohl and Casey Bradley.

[kchats]

He has also been mentioned as a candidate at Northern Colorado. They better move fast on him if they want to interview him.

[sambini]

Do you think he is ready to a head coach again?

[kchats]

Sounds like it. He is interviewing with Missouri State.

Here is today's article.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/SPORTS0401/512130389/1002/SPORTS

[sambini]

He is a good one.++++

[kchats]

He was in over his head at Kansas University though. He did a horrible job while coaching the Jayhawks.

[sambini]

That is true.

[Paulie]

Allen would need to lose that 'stache if he came to Greeley... on second thought, that might fit in well with the locals. :o

[kchats]

Missouri State had their first candidate in town today.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051214/SPORTS0401/512140374/1096

[kchats]

Terry Allen interviewed for Missouri State's coaching job today.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051215/SPORTS0401/512150350/1002/SPORTS

[kchats]

All 3 candidates have interviewed. *They hope to have a new coach by Tuesday.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051216/BREAKING02/51216007

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051216/SPORTS0401/512160386/1002/SPORTS

And a couple of stories about their funding and the 5 sports they cut.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051216/NEWS01/512160366/1007

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051216/SPORTS/51216006

[kchats]

They are getting restless here in Springfield.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051218/SPORTS0401/512180400/1002/SPORTS

[sambini]

Good luck to whoever they hire down there.

[kchats]

I won't be able to follow their program very much anymore. I was downsized the other day so I am looking for a new job pretty much anywhere I can find one. Our house goes on the market tomorrow. I have applied at all the big engineering firms around the country and hope to have a new job before the end of January.

[Bison_Kent]

Sorry to hear that KC. Hope you can find a job shortly. I have been there twice myself and now it is not much fun.

I have been to Springfield twice and they should be better. You drive by a nice baseball stadium on the way to the MSU campus and Springfield itself is a large city with over 200,000 in population. As compared to the other Gateway cities, I believe it is the largest.

[sambini]

Sorry to hear that KC and good luck in your job search. Have a merry christmas.

[kchats]

I actually have 3 leads right now. *I have a telephone interview tomorrow with an engineering firm in Flint, Michigan that is mid-sized about 150 employees. *I am working on a firm in Indianapolis, IN which is similar in size and have also heard a firm in St. Louis, MO is interested in me. *I received a call from a very large worldwide engineering firm that wants to consider me for a job in Seattle, WA on the team working on the Alaskan Way Viaduct which is a $4 billion tunnel and seawall project near downtown Seattle that will last 10 years. *I am surprised things are moving this fast so far and I hope to have a few firms to choose from. *My house is on the market and I am pretty sure I will have a new job before the end of January. *Thanks for all the support.

Yes this isn't the most fun thing to have happening in your life. I moved twice last year too so that was even tougher. It makes it difficult to establish roots when you aren't sure how long the job will last. I am hoping for a long term position this time around.

Merry Christmas Bison fans! ;D

[kchats]

Sounds like it is Terry Allen.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051219/BREAKING03/51219008

We'll know tomorrow.

[kchats]

It's official Terry Allen has been hired to be the next head football coach at Missouri State.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051220/SPORTS/51220010

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051220/SPORTS/51220012

[sambini]

Congrats to Terry Allen. And good luck Kchats sounds like you will be doing fine. MERRY CHRISTMAS +++++

[kchats]

I see Missouri State might be getting a new arena. John Q. Hammons is a wealthy hotel barron that gives alot of money around Springfield and to Missouri State.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS01/60209005

[kchats]

The official release.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13841221.htm

And from the Springfield newpaper with a rendering.

http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/NEWS01/60210005