GreenBlooded1

Board Of Regents Votes To Elevate Western Kentucky Football To Division I-A Status Nov 2, 2006 WKU's Board of Regents voted Thursday to move the Hilltopper program to the NCAA Division I-A level. (photo by Faye Lash) Owensboro, Ky. — Coming off the heels of winning the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA national championship and with 10 consecutive winning seasons under its belt, the Western Kentucky University football program might never be in a better position to make a move in the NCAA’s classification system. WKU’s Board of Regents helped make that happen Thursday at the group’s quarterly meeting. In a 7-2 vote (with one abstention), the board accepted a proposal to elevate football from the NCAA Division I-AA classification to Division I-A status. The university will submit paperwork to the NCAA office in Indianapolis prior to June 1, 2007, and will be considered as a reclassifying institution for the 2007 and ’08 seasons. The first year WKU will be eligible to participate for the Sun Belt Conference championship and a berth in a bowl game is 2009. “What a gigantic day in the history of WKU. Competing at the highest level of college football will enhance the quality of life on our campus and increase the national profile and prestige of our institution,” WKU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said. “This transition from I-AA to I-A will represent a considerable amount of work requiring philosophical and financial support at the highest level possible from all of our constituents. We will all have to dig a little deeper to ensure the success of this transition. “However, the additional sacrifices will be well worth it as we build toward an exciting I-A future. We must all be careful not to look and evaluate this move to I-A in the short term of three-to-five years. Rather, this is a bold, long-term move that should be evaluated over several decades as to its total positive impact on WKU and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. With a sense of urgency and pride, I look forward to immediately beginning the transition to I-A and anxiously await its positive impact on all 20 of WKU’s intercollegiate athletic programs. “I want to thank President [Dr. Gary] Ransdell and the WKU Board of Regents for the confidence they have placed in WKU Athletics and our football program for such a transition, and their support of a successful transition to I-A.” Hilltopper head coach David Elson, assistant coaches and players will not be available for comment on the transition until the conclusion of the 2006 campaign. WKU — which is 5-3 overall, 4-1 and tied for first place in the Gateway Football Conference — faces No. 14 Northern Iowa Saturday at 4:05 p.m. (CST) in Cedar Falls before ending the regular season with home games against nationally ranked Youngstown State (Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. in the school’s final league contest) and Austin Peay (Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.). With the move, the school will add 22 scholarships by 2009 while also increasing the overall football budget by an estimated $2.5 million by the time the transition is complete. This afternoon’s vote included a $70 increase in the student athletic fee beginning with the fall 2007 semester. The proposal was discussed in more than a dozen forums on campus and across the state — on the WKU campus, it was endorsed by a majority vote of the staff and students, but failed in a faculty vote. Dr. Ransdell cited several reasons for proposing the move at this time, including inequity in the percentage of scholarship funds awarded to female student-athletes, causing the University to run afoul of Title IX compliance requirements. They currently receive about 6 percent more of the percentage of scholarship dollars than their percentage of participation would require. According to Selig, anticipated opponents during the first transition season could include Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Troy at home as well as likely trips to Ball State, Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee and North Texas. The EKU and UTC games are part of existing contracts. In 2008, he envisions a slate that has Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and North Texas coming to Bowling Green and road games against Indiana and Navy among others. The Hilltoppers hope to open a renovated L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix on Sept. 6 that fall. A $37.5 million project on the structure began over the summer, with construction on a new three-story building to house much of the program as well as grandstands on the west side of the stadium set to begin this winter. “Scheduling will be somewhat tricky. The Sun Belt Conference member institutions and Commissioner Wright Waters have been great in their willingness to work us into the league schedule over the next two-to-three years,” said Selig. “Still, we must be careful not to overschedule ourselves too early in our transition as we grow into a full I-A program of 85 scholarships. That may not be entirely within our control however. While we may be attractive to many I-A programs who potentially view us as ‘easy prey,’ basically a I-A institution on training wheels during the early years of our transition, there will still be a number of I-AA and some I-A programs who may not want to line up against us as we increase our scholarship limit above the 63 I-AA maximum allowable toward the 85 scholarships allowed at the I-A level. “I look forward to answering all the scheduling calls that may come our way as a result of this transition — hopefully, we will have to install a second phone line to handle the increase in call volume.” The goal is to schedule six NCAA Division I-A institutions in 2007 and eight a year later before facing a full-fledged I-A slate in ’09. To qualify as an NCAA Division I-A institution, athletic programs must offer 200 full athletic scholarships (with 85 going to football), field a minimum of 16 intercollegiate sports, average 15,000 attendance for its home games and play at least five home games against I-A opponents. WKU currently supports 20 men’s and women’s programs, and the move will push the total number of scholarships offered by WKU well over 200. All but football and men’s soccer already compete in the SBC, with the move to the league guaranteeing four home contests. Next season, WKU will introduce two new ticket policies. While reserved chair and Red Towel seats will continue to require the same donation to the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation and ticket price levels that currently applies, all other season tickets will cost $25 for the year — those on the lower level will be reserved bleacher seats that will require a $50 HAF donation, the minimum to join at the Fan Level, while all other upper-deck seats are general admission and do not require a donation. Also, students will be able to purchase an unlimited number of tickets for guests for $5 each per game and enjoy an expanded seating allocation to accommodate the anticipated rising number of individuals coming to games. When the renovation to Smith Stadium is complete in 2008, all reserved seats except those in the current Red Towel section — which will remain in the upper deck of the existing structure — will move to the new West Grandstand. New seating opportunities on the west side of the stadium will include Red Towel seats, premium seats under the overhang of the new upper-level section, reserved bleacher seats and approximately 800 club seats. The Topper Club Seats will be available at a cost of $750 per seat and will include a season ticket and parking as well as all food and non-alcoholic beverages. Individuals will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages in the club area as well. Season tickets will remain $25 in the upper level — excluding the Red Towel section — in ’08. A family of four will be able to attend Hilltopper football home games for $100 for the year. The student section will move to the entire lower level of the current East stands in 2008, which will be behind the visiting team’s bench once the renovation project is complete. Once construction begins in the winter, a web cam will be set up to follow the development of the new building/grandstand. For more information on WKU Football ticket prices and policies with the announcement of the school’s transition to the NCAA I-A level, contact the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation at 270-745-5321 and the WKU Athletic Ticket Office at 270-745-522 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. — WKU —

Western KY is renovating (completely redoing?) their stadium in preparation for their move to DI in 2009..... Enlarging the SB and giving us another rival. Nice stadium and in our budget also... here is thier link WKU Smith Stadium

Dude... you forgot his wings!!!

AWESOME.....

I like the combination of the NT and the eagle head..... like this

Had OSU not been out for 51 days, what would have happened.... OSU Vs UF the week following the OSU v Mich. Game.... OSU would have utterly spanked the Gaters. But that is not how the Almighty BCS does things so we will never know. We have all stated... the system $ucks. I guess we will have to live with it because the likes of us will never get the money men associated with the BCS to change anything.

That's impressive for a 3A School.

Wow... no hard feeling there and I can hardly blame them.... Is Tulsa on our schedule again next year??? If so, let's pound them for ourselves... for Rice and for the good 'ole Lone Star State!!!

Must be nice to have that kind of capitol and support... maybe one day we will get that lucky!!!

What an awesome pick up he would be... size, speed & a nose for the ball. Could be another awesome piece to an ever improving evolving "Dodge Ball" team. I would have never thought that a guy visiting Big Blue would ever even consider UNT. Boy this is going to take some getting used to --- but I LIKE IT!!!!! Time for dreams of great Mean Green football to become reality!!

Thanks for the complement.... Seems like it is sooooo far down an older thread that no one is seeing it...

More options.... Interlinked NT with Eagle head

Beeramid -- love it!! I got a PSP system, a game and some accessories from my Hubby, a Queen size Sleep Number bed for both of us from my Mom, and a Kalouah gift set (with the booze) from my brother and sister-in-law. Also gave many many squeeky toys and treats to my four legged furry Minature Schnauzer children, and I gave my hubby a ton of Ohio State stuff since he's from there. GO MEAN GREEN & GO BUCKEYES!!!

I got a PSP system, a game and some accessories from my Hubby, a Queen size Sleep Number bed for both of us from my Mom, and a Kalouah gift set (with the booze) from my brother and sister-in-law. Also gave many many squeeky toys and treats to my four legged furry Minature Schnauzer children, and I gave my hubby a ton of Ohio State stuff since he's from there. GO MEAN GREEN & GO BUCKEYES!!!

Let's all hope so!!!!!

Print Project Manager for a large private company in Irving..... Advertising/Marketing background. I also post from work.. till IT decides to block the site.

LOVE THIS ONE... Keeps our Eagle heritage, will be easy to identify once people see it. So far this is my favorite. Keep up the work Smitty!! But I wonder.... since we are just playing anyway.... for giggles and grins... could this be done over the top of the helmet??? Tallon by each ear hole with the head and beak comming over the crest to the top of the helmet to the facemask???

Actually during the branding campaign, Alums were asked both on-line and via the North Texan for their input. The call was made for people to get on-line and vote for their favorite version of the script lettering. I did just that. This is not a new thing... like any branding campaign it takes litterally years to develop. Then it has to be implemented in stages so that the University will not loose money. Things printed with the old look have to be used up before new can be ordered... if not then they are just throwing money down the drain. I have an Advertising/Marketing background and negoitate and purchase printing for a living.... I know that there is more behind the scenes than most people realize. As far as the green yes look for the unis to be different this year..... as for the logo - they are keeping that a secret. All I can say is be patient, standardization will follow but it just takes time. -- I for one am just thankful that they decided to ditch that horrid navy blue and copper!!!! GO MEAN GREEN!!!

Read this link and then get over it...... you can not change the branding for a company -- much less an entire university overnight. http://web2.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=9188 Here is just a tiny snippit: ...From this point forward, the updated marks will change the look of UNT's academic and university publications, university letterheads, faculty and staff business cards, university signage, UNT advertising, T-shirt logos and athletic uniforms. The new words are selected to position UNT as a place to "Discover the power of ideas" and to "Discover the power of green." (And now, the UNT green will be a more vibrant shade.)

And I just took his avatar and redrew it in Illustrator changed the colors and put it on a helmet....

How about this??????

You guys MUST have something better to do.... Like obsess over TD's potential hires or something, Yes???

Our history is awesome, unique and rich.... truely the school needs to do more to keep the history and traditions alive in new students. FFR -- Personally I think that that was the best "Mean Green" Eagle ever.... beat the cartoon Scrappy hands down. Long live the "Mean Green" Eagles of UNT!!!

Hold on to your hats boys... it's going to be a fun ride!! But let's not get too carried away until we actually see this "domino effect" start to happen. Perception CAN be a good thing, if they are writing about it.... at least someone must be considering it.