EverettGriz said:
There are significant resources at the FBS level. And it’s not just football television revenue. A MWC basketball team who advances to the Sweet 16 would earn more than the total annual athletic budgets of most bsc programs. Paying the fixed-cost bills would not be an issue, in my mind.
The large but — and it’s a really big one — is the answer to the questions Ursa raises: specifically what will NIL due to the economics of college athletics long-term, and will the state legislators have the foresight to invest up-front monies necessary for the start up costs, in order to get long-run financial gain from the athletic departments.
EG,
I hope that one or both of the schools are doing some behind the scenes lobbying on these issues in Helena with the BOR. At least to put the idea on the table, gauge the support for such a move and develop some potential contingency plans.
I can foresee a scenario where the hot chick in class says “yes” on going to the school dance with you only to later have to call her back and say “my parents won’t let me go.”
Even a concerned citizens group could do some preliminary advocating for the cause. With the slowdown in the housing market I’m sure Mike and Brint have some free time on their hands. They could load Data Point into a small bowl grab a cold pack at Ole’s and be in Helena in two hours.