Vince, thanks for the fact checking. I was indeed incorrect on some of the numbers. I didn't look at the EADA numbers, partially because I'm lazy and wikipedia was so much closer. I could go into a song and dance about the linearity of the scale in comparing the numbers, but I'll cede that point. KU is lacking in overall athletics on both sides.
I don't anticipate KU adding any sports in the near future, men's or women's. They are bringing in some serious dough right now; last I heard, plans are still on to build a new Olympic sports venue for the Kansas Relays (a great event I might add). With Title IX, they essentially have to add a women's sport for every men's sport, so if there was even strong support for a program on campus it would be a hard sell.
I wasn't insinuating that Zenger would make a push to add wrestling. I was just responding to the usual "KU only cares about basketball" comments. I will stand by my opinion that a western Kansas native would be in support of adding a wrestling program if it were viable. If I ever get the chance I'll ask him in person and then post his reply here, good or bad.
I can't speak to why KU dropped the wrestling program. I do know that K-State dropped wrestling in 1975 and no one ever seems to bring that up (I assume it was a Title IX issue). I just get tired of the perception that KU is somehow anti-wrestling.
jayhawk pride,
Actually I admire your defense of your alma mater. I am a graduate of KU like you and Coach Westphal. I only went there my last two years after starting at KSU on a football scholarship. I am from Omaha and my Dad raised me on Nebraska football. It was pretty easy being a Nebraska football fan for the last five decades.
I also understand your hope that KU will one day add a wrestling team. I hope you can convince KU's new AD to do that. Perhaps you can use some of this information to convince him. I know I had no success with Perkins. If you convince Zenger I will take you and Coach Westphal out for a steak dinner for KU's first dual and I will pay for Zenger too if he wants to come along. I will let each of you bring one guest to the dinner. Deep down I think all of us on this forum hope that adding a college wrestling program will happen not only at KU but also at KSU and WSU. I extend that hope to the instititions of Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Washburn, Mid America Nazarene, Johnson County CC, Kansas City KS CC, etc. I would like someday to see our college wrestling scene in Kansas look like Iowa where they have 3 NCAA D-I teams and a multiple of other college wrestling teams. As a community we are going to have to work hard over the next years and decades to make that happen. We have to financially support it. That is why I am such a strong supporter of the Kansas College Wrestling Fund. I truly believe this is the vehicle that can help make college wrestling grow in Kansas, if we can get the Kansas wrestling community to fully commit to it.
To me these decisions ultimately come down to money. Does the program make money for the institution or how much of a financial drag is it on the institution? I really think it comes down to that a lot more than Title IX considerations. You state that Title IX is an obstacle for KU. I wonder. Look at Nebraska which is pretty comparable to KU on the latest EADA survey report as far as students. Nebraska shows 18,129 (men 9,774 women 8,355) to KU 18,137 (men 9,231 women 8,906). Now these EADA team numbers show Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track as one team listed as All Track combined. Nebraska is showing 8 men teams and 11 women teams. 395 men athletes 258 women. KU is showing only 5 men teams and 9 women teams 277 men athletes and 287 women athletes. I am not a Title IX expert but by these numbers it appears that KU currently would have room to add another team for men right now without adding another women's team. Probably at least two men teams if you compare it to Nebraska current Title IX scenario.
Now here is the money comparison which I think really is the driving force in these athletic department. These numbers are also from the EADA survey reports of 6/30/11 reporting year. Nebraska has more revenue than KU at $83.680 million and expenses of $78.509 million for net profit of $5.170 million. KU is showing the exact same revenue and profit of $70.028 million for no net profit or loss. NU shows a $32.186 profit from men sports and -9.831 million loss from women's sports and a -17 million loss from unallocated revenue and expenses. KU currently shows a -$4 million loss from men sports and a -$11 million loss from women's with a $15 million profit from unallocated revenue and expenses. I am not sure exactly what unallocated revenue less expenses is but perhaps it is donations, corporate sponsorships or contributions from endowment funds. I really am not sure. I know KU was showing net profit on these reports a few years ago but I think the head coaching salaries is abnormally high for KU in that they have had to pay for two head football Mangino and Gill coaches and probably for the former AD Lew Perkins too. KU is showing more in men head coaching salaries than NU. KU men head coaching salaries $9.163 million, total men coaching salaries $12.5 million compared to NU at men head coaching $4.536 million and total men $8.9 million.
The EADA survey also shows a football and basketball breakdown. KU football is showing revenue at $9.525 and expenses at $13.096 million for about a -$3.5 million loss (which is again probably distorted by the fact they were paying for both Mangino and Gill). KU men's basketball has revenue of about $11.536 and expenses of $9.513 for about $2 million of profit. Nebraska football is showing $54.712 million in revenue and $20.17 of expenses for $24.6 million in net profit. NU men's basketball is even showing profit at $6.372 of revenue and $4.343 of expenses for about another $2 million in profit. KU's football is currently out of sync but these two sports are clearly the revenue and net profit generators at both of these schools. Wrestling will not generate this type of revenue or profit but it needs to not be as big of a financial burden on a college for institutions to offer it as a sport. The wrestling community has to generate more money for the colleges for them to add or keep wrestling programs. I believe endowment giving has to be an important source of that for wrestling. Realistically wrestling is not going to generate the type of TV revenue and corporate sports sponsorships that men's football and basketball are currently generating.
If you agree with me on this you will become part of the solution by becoming a Individual Donor and Advocate for the Kansas College Wrestling Fund. If you want to find out about let me know and I will direct you to Sean McCarthy or one of the other Board members of the Kansas College Wreslting Fund. If you just want to make a donation at this time here is an easy way you can do that today.
Join us in this fight by becoming a Donor to the Kansas College Wrestling Fund and working within your local wrestling communities to help this fund grow. Whatever amount ($5, $10, $50, $100, $120, $250, $500, $1,000 or more) will be important. Give whatever you can afford. It will be appreciated and it will help make college wrestling grow in Kansas.
Make checks payable: USA Wrestling – Kansas, Inc./KCWF, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity.
Mail to: Mike Juby, Kansas College Wrestling Fund, 7208 Magnolia Way, Hutchinson, KS 67502
