Somewhat OT: To those....

[J-Rod]

http://www.news-press.com/article/20140108/NEWS0104/301080017/FGCU-admission-no-longer-slam-dunk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

....who think sports can't further a University.....read that article.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

Ah yes, the proverbial hell it must be to be a recruiter for a school literally on the beach in Ft. Myers, Florida. Like pulling teeth I bet. Just playing J...I am well versed with the "Flutie effect" and fully believe there is a strong correlation between both athletic success and school notoriety/recognition at the higher ed. level.

 

[Hayduke]

Athletics, especially football and basketball, at a university has become more about marketing the school. It doesn't make the school, but helps create awareness and interest in it. It can be an effective recruiting tool.

But, it's just a tool. It does not and should not define the university.

 

[MrTitleist]

Athletics is the front door to the University.. people don't go to shitty schools because they have a wonderful geology program, they go because they're a "name" and when you go to the real world people are like, "Oh yeah, I've heard of that place." People know of Butler, Florida Gulf Coast, Davidson, Virginia Commonwealth not because their great academics, they know them because they saw them on their NCAA brackets at work and saw them wreck March Madness tournaments on live TV.

 

[PokeOLoco]

And it enhances the student experiences. Alumni who enjoyed themselves take pride in their school, and are active and donate money. Oregon students, even ones that don't like sports, graduate Duck fans. It's part of the fabric. Same as Bama, Neb, aTm. Students who graduate from Idaho or even CSU could give two shits about being a vandal or a ram. We're a little better but need to be much much more.

 

[alyssa]

I wouldn't go to FGCU just because it had a good year in basketball last season.

 

[Hayduke]

And it enhances the student experiences. Alumni who enjoyed themselves take pride in their school, and are active and donate money. Oregon students, even ones that don't like sports, graduate Duck fans. It's part of the fabric. Same as Bama, Neb, aTm. Students who graduate from Idaho or even CSU could give two shits about being a vandal or a ram. We're a little better but need to be much much more.

Too G-damn many Idaho grads here!

I hate Idaho... :tickedoff:

 

[PokeOLoco]

You wouldn't go to it, but you would have heard of it. Boise has JC academics, everybody knows about them.

 

[Rj3]

I hear that. Lawrence Kansas is not much more of an exciting place to be than Fargo or Laramie...but Rock-Chalk is the place to be...That's what a big time program can do for schools like ours.

 

[spindoctor02]

people don't go to shitty schools because they have a wonderful geology program,

Hey now...I resemble that comment! :tickedoff:

And on that point, there are a vast majority of students who go to schools specifically for the academics. Only a very small percentage go for the athletics (or athletic traditions). However, that small percentage tends to be the massive majority of those people who post to athletic message boards (like this one), so I expect a full on attack from the "brown and gold faithful" in that every student needs to both care and support "their team". Most of them are just there to get an education, and try to better their career options when they finally leave.

When I was choosing a school for undergrad, athletic tradition never once figured into my choice. Grew up in Minnesota, so naturally applied to the U of M. Also looked into athletic powerhouses like Washington University (in St Louis), Brown, Iowa State, Colorado College, and Wyoming. I had absolutely no recollection of anything Wyoming athletics until after I was already accepted and stayed up late on a Big Monday to see them beat UNLV later that winter (I think the final had both teams in the 100s).

:twocents:

 

[BeaverPoke]

people don't go to shitty schools because they have a wonderful geology program,

Hey now...I resemble that comment! :tickedoff:

And on that point, there are a vast majority of students who go to schools specifically for the academics. Only a very small percentage go for the athletics (or athletic traditions). However, that small percentage tends to be the massive majority of those people who post to athletic message boards (like this one), so I expect a full on attack from the "brown and gold faithful" in that every student needs to both care and support "their team". Most of them are just there to get an education, and try to better their career options when they finally leave.

When I was choosing a school for undergrad, athletic tradition never once figured into my choice. Grew up in Minnesota, so naturally applied to the U of M. Also looked into athletic powerhouses like Washington University (in St Louis), Brown, Iowa State, Colorado College, and Wyoming. I had absolutely no recollection of anything Wyoming athletics until after I was already accepted and stayed up late on a Big Monday to see them beat UNLV later that winter (I think the final had both teams in the 100s).

:twocents:

I think it is different for everyone.
I picked UW at first because I grew up here, and am a die hard Pokes fan.
Part of what college was supposed to be was going to War Memorial and the AA.
Then as I figured out what I wanted to do with my career, I picked Oregon State because of the program they offer.
They aren't the only one that has that specific program, but they are one of the best at it, plus I like the PNW.
Beaver athletics aren't what sold it for me, where in a way, Wyo athletics did sell it for me to come here.

But my brother, had a full ride offer to School of Mines, and the University of Utah, but he picked Utah because they had big time college football. I know that the School of Mines has football but it doesn't compare to MWC/Pac12 football.
He picked Utah because he wanted to have fun on saturdays and be apart of the tailgating and student section, etc.
Then his freshman year they won the Sugar Bowl.
I guess he got what he wanted.

 

[MrTitleist]

Hey now...I resemble that comment! :tickedoff:

And on that point, there are a vast majority of students who go to schools specifically for the academics. Only a very small percentage go for the athletics (or athletic traditions). However, that small percentage tends to be the massive majority of those people who post to athletic message boards (like this one), so I expect a full on attack from the "brown and gold faithful" in that every student needs to both care and support "their team". Most of them are just there to get an education, and try to better their career options when they finally leave.

When I was choosing a school for undergrad, athletic tradition never once figured into my choice. Grew up in Minnesota, so naturally applied to the U of M. Also looked into athletic powerhouses like Washington University (in St Louis), Brown, Iowa State, Colorado College, and Wyoming. I had absolutely no recollection of anything Wyoming athletics until after I was already accepted and stayed up late on a Big Monday to see them beat UNLV later that winter (I think the final had both teams in the 100s).

:twocents:

I'm not saying people pick colleges based on athletics (though, I imagine some do), I'm saying that people tend to pick schools they've heard of based on athletic success.. no one would know of FGCU, Butler, etc if not their athletic success.. then people look and see that, "Oh, they offer my degree program.." That said, shut up, Washington U is a respective university, and you'd be proud to support their division III basketball. :thumb:

 

[spindoctor02]

I'm not saying people pick colleges based on athletics (though, I imagine some do), I'm saying that people tend to pick schools they've heard of based on athletic success.. no one would know of FGCU, Butler, etc if not their athletic success.. then people look and see that, "Oh, they offer my degree program.." That said, shut up, Washington U is a respective university, and you'd be proud to support their division III basketball. :thumb:

This is the problem with your premise. You assume people know things about a schools athletic successes when choosing the school to attend. Sure, those who are into athletics might be more inclined to pick say Butler or Creighton over say a Western Illinois based solely on their basketball reputation, but for all the other people (the majority of females and probably at least half of the male student population), they are going to either pick the school closest to home, have their preferred degree program, offer the most in scholarships, or some other random reason.

 

[PokeOLoco]

schools like Gonzaga have seen their applications double or triple after big athletic successes. In theory that gives you a pool of better applicants for your university.

 

[PokeOLoco]

How many people would dream of going to Nebraska if not for college football? It certainly does not/should not make your university but athletics are very important in branding your school, shaping your student experience, and alumni involvement and engagement.