Quote from: desertraider on August 11, 2016, 11:22:09 AMQuote from: jknezek on August 11, 2016, 08:53:37 AMQuote from: @d3jason on August 10, 2016, 07:56:17 PM
That's a lot of football helmets. I'd to see that line item on the budget.
Drop in the bucket compared to tuition, room and board. For any college I know of, first years provide the most revenue. Between required room and board and generally the larger class sizes of entry level classes versus higher level classes, first years are great to have around for budget reasons. If they transfer before they are seniors or drop football because they'll never see the field, that's OK. They don't live on campus, or pay as much for meal plans, as they become upperclass students. Transfers help keep the class size averages down, plus you lose the expense of having them tearing up your football equipment.
150 first year football players is all about the dollars, and having to buy more helmets doesn't affect that equation one bit. What UMU, and any other school that plays in these numbers, does with the dollars and how it benefits the student body going forward is key to the value of the school. By any measure of college standings, UMU's regional and national reputation has done nothing but improve throughout its dominant football run, so the benefits are there to those who have or will earn the degree.
That being said, I feel bad for the majority of those kids from a football point of view. If they really wanted to play D3 football, most of them should have gone somewhere else.
I don't feel bad for them at all. They made the choice on their own. Kudos. Most will not see the field in competition - and I think they may know that. Some may think that regardless - it is DIII (the old glorified HS football mentality) and not appreciate the speed or size of an elite DIII team until they suit up. However, I am confident that the 150 chose Mount for more than football. I have had many students in the past that said they chose Mount over BW, Ashland, and OSU for (insert program here - mostly education majors) and played because they loved football and took a shot. They did not last on the team (except for one that I recall) but stayed at Mount. My .02 cents.
The amount of dedication each player has a lot to do with it. Assuming similar athletic prowess, the athlete who works harder and longer tends to be more successful. Examples of this are Mike Frank and Tom Lally.
Speaking about my son, I know his focus and dedication will make dramatic difference for him this year. He has combined his great leg workouts with a new upper body workout. He has made a great improvement in upper body strength and he is faster. I believe he will have significant play time this year. However, he has worked his butt off to get it.
