$200,000 Payday for SFA
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:40 amFrom The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel:
By KEVIN GORE
The Daily Sentinel
Thursday, September 03, 2009
While the outcome of the SFA's season opening football game with SMU in Dallas will not be decided until late Saturday night, the Lumberjacks' athletic program is already a big winner.
SFA will receive $200,000 for playing SMU, a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
Saturday's game will be SFA's fourth game against a FBS team in the last four seasons.
The Lumberjacks received $150,000 and $300,000, respectively, for playing Tulsa and Arizona during the 2006 season.
They received $225,000 for playing TCU last season.
SFA athletic director Robert Hill said he intends to schedule at least one game per season against an FBS opponent. With SFA being a Football Championship Subdivision team, the enticements for simply playing an opponent from the higher division are too good to pass up.
"Money is one reason," said Hill. "It helps with our budget.
"But that's not the sole purpose. We don't get much statewide coverage outside East Texas. This is a chance for us to get our team mentioned in Dallas and Houston and other bigger markets. We raise our level of visibility for our athletic program. Plus, it's a recruiting tool for us."
While the SMU game is one of the lower guarantees compared to previous games, it's attractive, nevertheless.
"It's a bus-ride trip for our team," Hill said. "Our band will be there, and parents of the players and fans will have a chance to see us play."
Hill has worked deals with Texas A&M next season, Baylor in 2011 and SMU again in 2012. Those guarantees are $325,000, $300,000 and $225,000, respectively.
Revenue generated from playing FBS teams, called "money" or "guarantee" games, is allocated into the athletic department's budget, Hill said.
"The more money we bring in, the less burden for the university," he said.
The SFA men's basketball program is second to football in generating revenue with guarantee games. The basketball team plays two or three money games per season, raising anywhere from $60,000 to $90,000 for each game.
Hill said he believes the largest guarantee for the SFA Ladyjacks' basketball team was $25,000, for playing Baylor.
The athletic director said he is always willing to listen to offers from other athletic directors about the possibility of SFA playing bigger athletic programs.
He said he hopes to tap into the Houston market, by scheduling a team in that area or possibly playing an opponent with Houston as the neutral site for both teams.
"We have so many alumni down there," he said.
While the money is attractive, SFA has had scattered success when playing FBS teams.
SFA is 2-8 against FBS opponents — the wins coming against Louisiana Tech in 2000 and Louisiana-Monroe in 2003.
Saturday's 7 p.m. game will be the first meeting with the Mustangs.
By KEVIN GORE
The Daily Sentinel
Thursday, September 03, 2009
While the outcome of the SFA's season opening football game with SMU in Dallas will not be decided until late Saturday night, the Lumberjacks' athletic program is already a big winner.
SFA will receive $200,000 for playing SMU, a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
Saturday's game will be SFA's fourth game against a FBS team in the last four seasons.
The Lumberjacks received $150,000 and $300,000, respectively, for playing Tulsa and Arizona during the 2006 season.
They received $225,000 for playing TCU last season.
SFA athletic director Robert Hill said he intends to schedule at least one game per season against an FBS opponent. With SFA being a Football Championship Subdivision team, the enticements for simply playing an opponent from the higher division are too good to pass up.
"Money is one reason," said Hill. "It helps with our budget.
"But that's not the sole purpose. We don't get much statewide coverage outside East Texas. This is a chance for us to get our team mentioned in Dallas and Houston and other bigger markets. We raise our level of visibility for our athletic program. Plus, it's a recruiting tool for us."
While the SMU game is one of the lower guarantees compared to previous games, it's attractive, nevertheless.
"It's a bus-ride trip for our team," Hill said. "Our band will be there, and parents of the players and fans will have a chance to see us play."
Hill has worked deals with Texas A&M next season, Baylor in 2011 and SMU again in 2012. Those guarantees are $325,000, $300,000 and $225,000, respectively.
Revenue generated from playing FBS teams, called "money" or "guarantee" games, is allocated into the athletic department's budget, Hill said.
"The more money we bring in, the less burden for the university," he said.
The SFA men's basketball program is second to football in generating revenue with guarantee games. The basketball team plays two or three money games per season, raising anywhere from $60,000 to $90,000 for each game.
Hill said he believes the largest guarantee for the SFA Ladyjacks' basketball team was $25,000, for playing Baylor.
The athletic director said he is always willing to listen to offers from other athletic directors about the possibility of SFA playing bigger athletic programs.
He said he hopes to tap into the Houston market, by scheduling a team in that area or possibly playing an opponent with Houston as the neutral site for both teams.
"We have so many alumni down there," he said.
While the money is attractive, SFA has had scattered success when playing FBS teams.
SFA is 2-8 against FBS opponents — the wins coming against Louisiana Tech in 2000 and Louisiana-Monroe in 2003.
Saturday's 7 p.m. game will be the first meeting with the Mustangs.