I looked at the changes in budget sizes over the last decade. While everyone increased their annual athletic budgets over the last 10 years, some really made larger financial commitments. Here are my findings.

Blue Ribbons +$15,000,000 Club
Outstanding Commitments +$10,000,000 Club
Solid Investments +$7,000,000 Club


Programs remaining in C-USA

FIU: 2019-20- $37,417,126 / 2012-13- $27,428,277 (Change +$10,000,000)
MT: 2019- $34,840,886 / 2012-13- $23,155,761 (Change +$11,000,000)
UTEP: 2019- $29,468,952 / 2012-13- $23,557,446 (Change +$6,000,000)
WKU: 2019- $26,568,285 / 2012-13- $25,770,938 (Change +$1,000,000)
LA Tech : 2019- $21,717,648 / 2012-13- $17,047,077 (Change +$4,000,000)

Those leaving for the AAC

Rice: 2019-20- $42,045,636 / 2012-13- $30,256,637 (Change +$12,000,000)
UNT: 2019-20- $40,063,458 / 2012-13- $20,402,052 (Change +$20,000,000)
UAB: 2019-20- $35,725,431 / 2012-13- $27,393,470 (Change +$8,000,000)
Charlotte: 2019-20- $34,983,604 / 2012-13- NA in transition
FAU: 2019-20- $32,271,156 / 2012-13- $21,742,054 (Change +$11,000,000)
UTSA: 2019-20- $29,952,607 / 2012-13 NA in transition

Those leaving for the Sun Belt

ODU: 2019-20- $42,629,922 / 2012-13- $37,211,455, but in transition (Change +$5,000,000)
Marshall: 2019-20- $31,803,256 / 2012-13- $26,407,396 (Change +$5,000,000)
Southern Miss: 2019-20- $22,793,590 / 2012-13- $19,770,938 (Change +$3,000,000)

I corrected FIU's numbers. I had accidentally placed ODU's most recent budget as FIU's. If a Charlotte or UTSA fans can provide me with their numbers from 2012, I'd be glad to update this post. Thanks.

Cool.

Now do dollars spent per win (or winning season) over that same time.

Wonder who would win the blue ribbon for highest budget change for the least results?

WKU got its bang for the buck. Only 1 million dollar increase resulted in 3 division titles and 2 Championships in eight years.

Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

Maybe one of those schools should have put some of that budget money aside just in case their head coach was a bum....

losing season in 4 out of 6 years including 3 straight years. That school is still stuck with that coach because they cant afford the buyout. On the other hand one of the lower budget schools fired their bum after a quick 2 years.

I will take correct decision making (even if I disagreed with the hire) on correcting problem hires over budget increases that lock my school into keeping a loser.

Joe loves posting about money and what things cost....not so much about winning. Well you couldnt shut him up after 2018. Then not so much after 2019 started on.

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

And at the G5 level better not waste money. But spending doesnt mean winning.
Facility wise we will be in decent shape. The paying of the players will be our most likely weakness. JSU should be able to compete with the local G5s for athletes.

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

You do know that schools don’t pay NIL right?

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  Fans focus on winning on the field.

Silly fans. Can you imagine? Caring about football results or the existence of a baseball team when they could be comparing spreadsheets or counting tickets sold?

You can take that blue ribbon you just invented for "changes in budget" and hang it up in a trophy case if you want. Put it next to the "located in a large media market" awards that have y'all "earned." It'll go perfectly.

(06-22-2022 08:11 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

You do know that schools don’t pay NIL right?

*officially

(06-21-2022 10:27 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  Maybe one of those schools should have put some of that budget money aside just in case their head coach was a bum....

losing season in 4 out of 6 years including 3 straight years. That school is still stuck with that coach because they cant afford the buyout. On the other hand one of the lower budget schools fired their bum after a quick 2 years.

I will take correct decision making (even if I disagreed with the hire) on correcting problem hires over budget increases that lock my school into keeping a loser.

Joe loves posting about money and what things cost....not so much about winning. Well you couldnt shut him up after 2018. Then not so much after 2019 started on.

Littrell is a unique situation. UNT has the money to buy him out, but the university just doesn't want to upset one of our largest donors, of which Littrell is a close family friend (name on more then one athletic facility type big money donor).

Remember, Littrell wasn't one of Baker's hires. Baker has the right coaches at all of our other sports (basketball, softball, soccer, golf, volleyball, track,....). Based on his hiring record, once Baker is free to bring in his coach for football, UNT will probably be a player in the AAC. The fans are restless (season ticket sales are down, and apathy has set in with a significant portion of our fans), and I highly doubt Littrell can survive at UNT beyond this season.

As for winning, UNT's wins.... just not at football. This year UNT won conference titles in basketball, golf, & softball. Plus, UNT has the 4th most conference title in 3.0. Only WKU, Rice, and MT have more. UNT wins.

(06-22-2022 08:11 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

You do know that schools don’t pay NIL right?

Everyone knows the universities don't officially pay the players. Apparently, slush funds are created and used to distance the payments from the universities and give the appearance of propriety. Remember, every high school lineman that signs a scholarship with the University of Texas is guaranteed $50,000 a year in payments from their slush funds. That amount will only increase and this behavior isn't exclusive to UT. These types of arrangements are trickling down to the G5 programs. This is the newest wrinkle in the arms race. Every G5 program should already be adapting to this new reality.

(06-22-2022 08:24 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  Fans focus on winning on the field.

Silly fans. Can you imagine? Caring about football results or the existence of a baseball team when they could be comparing spreadsheets or counting tickets sold?

You can take that blue ribbon you just invented for "changes in budget" and hang it up in a trophy case if you want. Put it next to the "located in a large media market" awards that have y'all "earned." It'll go perfectly.

LA Tech just had a great basketball season. Where is Konkol at now? I think you get my point.

Money matter. Only half of the game is played on the field and courts. You might not like it but it's the truth.

(06-22-2022 02:47 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 08:11 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

You do know that schools don’t pay NIL right?

Everyone knows the universities don't officially pay the players. Apparently, slush funds are created and used to distance the payments from the universities and give the appearance of propriety. Remember, every high school lineman that signs a scholarship with the University of Texas is guaranteed $50,000 a year in payments from their slush funds. That amount will only increase and this behavior isn't exclusive to UT. These types of arrangements are trickling down to the G5 programs. This is the newest wrinkle in the arms race. Every G5 program should already be adapting to this new reality.

Right. They’re funded by boosters. So leveraging a 40k student population to increase your budget via student fees doesn’t do anything for you with NIL.

(06-22-2022 02:54 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 08:24 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  Fans focus on winning on the field.

Silly fans. Can you imagine? Caring about football results or the existence of a baseball team when they could be comparing spreadsheets or counting tickets sold?

You can take that blue ribbon you just invented for "changes in budget" and hang it up in a trophy case if you want. Put it next to the "located in a large media market" awards that have y'all "earned." It'll go perfectly.

LA Tech just had a great basketball season. Where is Konkol at now? I think you get my point.

Money matter. Only half of the game is played on the field and courts. You might not like it but it's the truth.

Well, obviously it matters to some degree (otherwise UT-Austin wouldn't win all those football playoff championships every year).

And UNT wouldn't have such an amazing overall conference football win total during this time period.

Like I said, put your new made-up blue ribbon in the trophy case next to the "big market" awards. Let the dumb ole fans worry about the "half" of the game that's actually the games.

(06-22-2022 03:30 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 02:47 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 08:11 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:01 PM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  Spending doesnt mean winning. I would rather win than spend.

JSU is entering FBS football at a very interesting time. With NIL and the transfer portal, spending will continue to become a growing factor in a programs ability to win. The age of small budget underdogs is coming to an end. The P5 have made sure of that.

Fans focus on winning on the field. University leadership does too, but they focus on winning off the field just as much. Every university president and BOR is looking to elevate their university's profile, and in athletics that occurs through conference membership. College football is an arms race. The smart AD's understand this and never stop building and growing their athletics.

You do know that schools don’t pay NIL right?

Everyone knows the universities don't officially pay the players. Apparently, slush funds are created and used to distance the payments from the universities and give the appearance of propriety. Remember, every high school lineman that signs a scholarship with the University of Texas is guaranteed $50,000 a year in payments from their slush funds. That amount will only increase and this behavior isn't exclusive to UT. These types of arrangements are trickling down to the G5 programs. This is the newest wrinkle in the arms race. Every G5 program should already be adapting to this new reality.

Right. They’re funded by boosters. So leveraging a 40k student population to increase your budget via student fees doesn’t do anything for you with NIL.

Exactly. Just like a UNT booster chose to sign on as C-USA's title sponsor for the past couple of seasons. Our boosters like Mr. Ryan can funnel those funds into addressing NIL.

The students fees are a common practice in college athletics. That is a non issue.

(06-22-2022 03:39 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 02:54 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 08:24 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  Fans focus on winning on the field.

Silly fans. Can you imagine? Caring about football results or the existence of a baseball team when they could be comparing spreadsheets or counting tickets sold?

You can take that blue ribbon you just invented for "changes in budget" and hang it up in a trophy case if you want. Put it next to the "located in a large media market" awards that have y'all "earned." It'll go perfectly.

LA Tech just had a great basketball season. Where is Konkol at now? I think you get my point.

Money matter. Only half of the game is played on the field and courts. You might not like it but it's the truth.

Well, obviously it matters to some degree (otherwise UT-Austin wouldn't win all those football playoff championships every year).

And UNT wouldn't have such an amazing overall conference football win total during this time period.

Like I said, put your new made-up blue ribbon in the trophy case next to the "big market" awards. Let the dumb ole fans worry about the "half" of the game that's actually the games.

Way to avoid the question. You know Konk is in Tulsa because LA Tech was either too cheap or too broke to keep him. Times changing. Last season LA Tech's football team went 3-9. Was that a fluke, or the beginning of a down turn due to NIL and the transfer portal? While UNT wasn't good last year, we did make it to a bowl game again.

clt says the answer to any question is money

UNT's athletic spending is increasing, but the amount they spend on football has actually fallen down to around the conference average.




On the flip side, WKU has increased football spending by about 4 million over that same time frame. We have cut various athletic programs over the years, which account for the small total increase in athletic spending. We also have used buyout money to our benefit more often than not.

(06-22-2022 05:01 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 03:39 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 02:54 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 08:24 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 10:19 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  Fans focus on winning on the field.

Silly fans. Can you imagine? Caring about football results or the existence of a baseball team when they could be comparing spreadsheets or counting tickets sold?

You can take that blue ribbon you just invented for "changes in budget" and hang it up in a trophy case if you want. Put it next to the "located in a large media market" awards that have y'all "earned." It'll go perfectly.

LA Tech just had a great basketball season. Where is Konkol at now? I think you get my point.

Money matter. Only half of the game is played on the field and courts. You might not like it but it's the truth.

Well, obviously it matters to some degree (otherwise UT-Austin wouldn't win all those football playoff championships every year).

And UNT wouldn't have such an amazing overall conference football win total during this time period.

Like I said, put your new made-up blue ribbon in the trophy case next to the "big market" awards. Let the dumb ole fans worry about the "half" of the game that's actually the games.

Way to avoid the question. You know Konk is in Tulsa because LA Tech was either too cheap or too broke to keep him. Times changing. Last season LA Tech's football team went 3-9. Was that a fluke, or the beginning of a down turn due to NIL and the transfer portal? While UNT wasn't good last year, we did make it to a bowl game again.

I thought it was a rhetorical question. You obviously knew the answer. He's in Tulsa.

And as I said, it matters but only when it matters. If you grow your budget and still aren't good, you don't get a (real) blue ribbon for that. You can still award yourself one online if you want of course.


To answer your other question, last year was a fluke for us (not the part where we beat UNT with our worst team in a decade, the having a losing record part).