Wesley College football coming to WDEL.

[ixnay]

With Sean Greene doing traffic reports from the sideline. ;D

Read all about it at http://delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/SPORTS/608140327/1002/SPORTS . Scroll towards the end of the article for the mention.

IIRC this is the first time since 1998 with UD that WDEL has carried one of the Diamond State's college football teams, but please correct me.

If this has already been posted let us know.

Also IIRC WRDX is again airing Blue Hen football.

Who will air DSU football this year?

ixnay

 

[OldNumber7]

My first reaction is to ask "By what logic is there any value in doing broadcasts for a Division III team that is 55 miles away?." My second reaction is to say, "Well, I guess they know what they're doing." Who would listen? How many people north of the canal even know Wesley has a team, or have even heard of Wesley? There are high school teams in Delaware with much bigger followings (although most play on Fri. night, not Sat. afternoon). Whatever happened to the old football roundup dealie that DEL did on Saturdays? At least it moved along with cut-ins and phoners from interesting HS and college games around the region. Can Wesley games draw more advertisers than that did? Yeah, I guess so. But still.....

 

[fred flintstone]

The U of D keeps climbing in the US News rankings* and becoming more selective in admissions. This means:

• More students from north of the canal who can't get into the U of D.
• More parents from north of the canal have kids going to Wesley or Del State.
• More alumni from downstate schools north of the canal.

None of this is surprising given the quality of many of the Wilmington area pie-wedge school districts, and the long term affects of DuPont's toxic chemicals in the environment on cognitive ability.

Maybe WDEL is going after the slacker and under-achiever demographic, a group many advertisers apparently want to reach. WDEL already carries the "Fatso Fone Fantasmagoria," sponsored by Wilmington College, a proprietary institution targeting people who don't make the cut at the U of D.

AM1290 used to carry Penn State (maybe they still do), which makes even less sense. Penn State is even harder (and more expensive) for Delaware students.

_________________________________________________
*Note to jocks and jock lovers: The US News rankings are academic rankings and not to be confused with wire service sports rankings. Possibly you are not aware that many colleges also run schools and offer classes in various subjects.

 

[ixnay]

The U of D keeps climbing in the US News rankings* and becoming more selective in admissions. This means:

• More students from north of the canal who can't get into the U of D.
• More parents from north of the canal have kids going to Wesley or Del State.
• More alumni from downstate schools north of the canal.

None of this is surprising given the quality of many of the Wilmington area pie-wedge school districts, and the long term affects of DuPont's toxic chemicals in the environment on cognitive ability.

Maybe WDEL is going after the slacker and under-achiever demographic, a group many advertisers apparently want to reach. WDEL already carries the "Fatso Fone Fantasmagoria," sponsored by Wilmington College, a proprietary institution targeting people who don't make the cut at the U of D.

AM1290 used to carry Penn State (maybe they still do), which makes even less sense. Penn State is even harder (and more expensive) for Delaware students.

_________________________________________________
*Note to jocks and jock lovers: The US News rankings are academic rankings and not to be confused with wire service sports rankings. Possibly you are not aware that many colleges also run schools and offer classes in various subjects.

Fred, that was one hilarious footnote!!!!

Back on topic... in addition to the responses posted already, WDEL's airing of the *other* Wolverines' season opener on Sept. 1 will preempt the day half of the Phillies/Braves double dip at the Cit.

ixnay

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Reenn State Football on AM1290

Actually, there are quite a few folks in the Wilmington Metro area that did graduate from Penn State and my guess is, that possibly carrying Penn State football could be a money maker for AM 1290. I believe that AM 1290 st9ill airs the U of Del's Basketball games too. The River 94.7 WRDX airs U of Del football. As both of these are part of Delaware's Clear Channel stations that package probably brings in listeners and revenue.

Apparently WDEL hasn't been able to out bid WRDX to get back the U of Del football games as I'm sure they'd love to do that. So maybe what WDEL's been airing on Saturday's on their station while the actual U of Del game is airing on WRDX hasn't given WDEL the results they had hoped for so they are trying to pull in a different group of listeners, the folks who support Wesley College football in Dover. I do agree with you Fred, that I've never heard anyone up here in the Wilmington Metro area ever talk about Wesley College football. Oddly enough, I don't believe that any Wilmington station carries Del State football. I believe that WDOV (Dover) used to carry Del State games, but am not sure if they still do. I'm surprised that 101.7 didn't bid on Del State games for the Wilmington market.

 

[fred flintstone]

Well, now we are getting into issues which Julius has already raised on the Philly board (more often than necessary). Change the names of the schools and the comments there apply to most any market.

Radio stations carry college (and high school) sports because they can sell it. School sports airs in response to advertiser demand, not necessarily listener demand. In major markets, local advertising is less a factor and you hear less college sports, and very little high school sports.

I do not know what the case is with specific Delaware schools, but some "institutions of higher learning" have paid stations to carry their games. Sometimes it's a straight pay to play incentive deal; sometimes it's more of a brokered deal and the school buys the time and sells spots itself.

Games air in dead time periods in which stations - especially news-talk stations - don't have much of an audience any way.

College football is a lot more available on TV than it was. If memory serves, at least two broadcast networks, one independent station, local cable sports channels and ESPN all carried multiple college games each week. On top of that, subscription packages and Pay Per View make additional games available. If given a choice between watching a game on TV or listening to it on the radio, most people would take TV. But even the worst game involving the most obscure school is not as bad as some of the weekend programs (brokered and public service) on local stations.

 

[OldNumber7]

Reenn State Football on AM1290

Actually, there are quite a few folks in the Wilmington Metro area that did graduate from Penn State and my guess is, that possibly carrying Penn State football could be a money maker for AM 1290.

The beauty of carrying sports broadcasts produced by somebody else (as in the case of Penn State games) is that you don't have to deal with the production costs. It doesn't take much in the way of revenue to make money. If you don't sell a single spot, no biggie.
On the other hand, UD football (as popular as it is with listeners and advertisers) is an expensive proposition for a station to do, i.e. the cost of the broadcast rights and production costs make it revenue neutral, at best. The appeal of carrying UD games is that they drive up cume and are a good image builder for the station. So any money lost is considered a promotional cost. But under the usual business model, neither Del State nor Wesley are capable of providing either profit, or reasonable promotional value to a station. That said, perhaps Wesley is actually paying WDEL to carry the games (as a way of promoting the school)?
Funny story: I remember when the old WKEN had Del State games and, in 1988 I think it was, they had exactly ONE local sponsor -- a malt liquor distributor (in violation of NCAA rules against alcohol commercials in games). The point of the story being that the only sponsor they could get was one they weren't supposed to have -- in Del State's home town, no less.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Thanks, Old Number 7. it was WKEN, not WDOV that carried Del State games. You may be right that Wesley College is paying WDEL to carry their games. Hey, Brokered Football ! A couple hour informercial for Wesley College. Hey that 's got to be more interesting to hear than a brokered show for the latest diet pill.

 

[WTUX]

When WWTX started carrying the Penn State games, I read in the News-Journal that it was a CC issue. They had the game and wanted it in each market in this region where they owned stations. And a plus here is that Penn does have a lot of fans and alumni.

As to Wesley, WDEL has given them much coverage in recent years, as has the News-Journal. The college has picked up coverage due to having a decent team in and an improved image. Wesley does well in attracting students who do not necessarily like a larger college such as the UofD and the rising crime rate in Newark.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

I was thinking the other day that Delaware needed another university that was a "full service" live on campus type of institution to replace the U of Del as it's now in the "big time" rated, I believe it was, #21 best college in that annual ranking of colleges. Many Delaware students can't get in to the U of Del and have to parallel at Del Tech and then later transfer over. It has seemed to me, for years, the U of Del has grown too big for its britches and any and all state funding should be stopped as that university seems to favor out of state students anyhow so why should our tax dollars underwrite that university.

Bringing this back to radio, with that above thought in mind, it just may be that Wesley College in Dover could be the U of Del's replacement and possibly WDEL made a really good move in airing their football games . I guess time will tell.

 

[fred flintstone]

I was thinking the other day that Delaware needed another university that was a "full service" live on campus type of institution to replace the U of Del as it's now in the "big time" rated, I believe it was, #21 best college in that annual ranking of colleges. Many Delaware students can't get in to the U of Del and have to parallel at Del Tech and then later transfer over. It has seemed to me, for years, the U of Del has grown too big for its britches and any and all state funding should be stopped as that university seems to favor out of state students anyhow so why should our tax dollars underwrite that university.

The University of Delaware is actually tied at number 67 (with the University of Connecticut and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cites).
Most "professional" journalists check their facts. In many of the top journalism schools, an incorrect fact on an assignment is an automatic F.
The U of D is not in the top 50 academically. And they still play in double-A. Hardly "big time."
And, oh yes! Taxpayers should not be forced to support public institutions with selective admissions standards. Heaven for fend! Public schools should have to take everybody - then flunk them out at the first opportunity. Or better yet, dumb down the curriculum and let everybody pass. This approach has worked so well for Delaware's public secondary schools. Let people who want a challenging curriculum and academic standards send their kids to private schools (as Wilmington-area parents do).
The U of D has gotten so big for its britches that is aspires to emulate the University of California, the University of Michigan ("The Wolverines), the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Illinois, University of Washington, University of Texas and - of course, Penn State. All these states that have the nerve to tell taxpayers, "your kids better study or you can forget about in-state tuition."

 

[MikefromDelaware]

>>U of Del as it's now in the "big time" rated, I believe it was, #21 best college in that annual ranking of colleges.>>

Fred, note the use of the words, I believe. I only had heard the story on the radio in passing one day, while working at my weekday job, and thought the number was in the 20's. I didn't state it as fact and if I was using it in a news story or on my talk show, I would have taken the time to actually check the info. Here I was just discussing the issue and figured that one of you experts who have plenty of time on their hands would actually know the correct ranking, apparently tied for 67 ( you must be a real hoot to have a conversation with at a party). In any case in spite of all your comments about Delaware public schools, etc, I still don't think a tax supported college should be geared to people from other states, especially when Delaware has only two universities (Uof D and Del State). I didn't say the U of D should take everyone, but today Delawareans with a 3.0 grade average can't get in and are forced to take the Del Teck route and later transfer over to U of D or go elsewhere, that isn't reasonable in my opinion.

In any case, maybe Wesley will become the University for Delawareans that the U of D used to be. In which case WDEL's decision to air Wesley football could be a good move for WDEL.

 

[OldNumber7]

In any case in spite of all your comments about Delaware public schools, etc, I still don't think a tax supported college should be geared to people from other states, especially when Delaware has only two universities (Uof D and Del State). I didn't say the U of D should take everyone, but today Delawareans with a 3.0 grade average can't get in and are forced to take the Del Teck route and later transfer over to U of D or go elsewhere, that isn't reasonable in my opinion.

In any case, maybe Wesley will become the University for Delawareans that the U of D used to be. In which case WDEL's decision to air Wesley football could be a good move for WDEL.

Mike,
I couldn't disagree more strongly with this post.
1) One key reason why UD is tax-supported is so IN-STATE students can easily afford to go there (and plenty do!). If it wasn't, they couldn't. If Delaware kids are getting good grades but can't get accepted that says more about grade inflation in the Delaware public schools than it does about rigid standards at UD. UD is a good school, with competitive but not unreasonable standards for a public university. Keeping standards at a reasonably solid level is part of what makes the school attractive to those out of staters who pay twice what local kids pay (and help keep costs down for the local kids). Lowering the bar = fewer paying the full ride = a heavier burden on state taxpayers and/or state students = a mediocre public university.

2) Your post assumes there is something wrong with doing two years at Del Tech before transferring in to UD. Actually, it's a pretty cost-efficient way to get a decent college education. And the state's new scholarship program means any kid with a B average in high school (and a clean arrest record) can get two free years at Del Tech before transferring to UD. That is a really fine deal by any measure.

3) Wesley is a terrific school, academically. It is also a small college and doesn't have any illusions about being a university. It is a private school, therefore not cheap. It has modest growth plans of which touting its football team (got to the Division III semis last year) is part of the strategy. But it is to Delaware what Rowan is to New Jersey: A good private college for bright upper middle class kids who aren't bright enough to get in to a top tier private college. If Wesley is paying WDEL for the game coverage that makes perfect sense for the school -- they are reaching into the Brandwine Hundred market -- the most concentrated community in Delaware for upper middle class kids.

 

[fred flintstone]

Fred, note the use of the words, I believe. I only had heard the story on the radio in passing one day, while working at my weekday job, and thought the number was in the 20's. I didn't state it as fact and if I was using it in a news story or on my talk show, I would have taken the time to actually check the info. Here I was just discussing the issue and figured that one of you experts who have plenty of time on their hands would actually know the correct ranking, apparently tied for 67 ( you must be a real hoot to have a conversation with at a party).

You come on this board presenting yourself as a "professional." You should live up to the billing you give yourself. Tossing in phrases like "I believe" and "I think" is no excuse for blowing smoke. Apparently, you don't care enough about what you publish in this setting (or the audience which reads it) to take LESS THAN A MINUTE to look up the US News ranking for the U of D. (Go to Google. Type in "US News College Rankings.")

You apparently think being paid is all that is takes to be a "professional" (a view also held by most hookers). However, if your posts here are an indication of the quality of your work, you may hold a unique distinction in broadcasting: The only person at WILM ever to be over-paid.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Old Number 7, I agree that the high schools shouldn't be inflating grades, etc. I've heard of numerous kids who had good grades not getting in, but do know of one student specifically who went on to study medicine who did have a 3.0 grade average all through high school, had a good SAT, good student, a serious student not the partying type (maybe that's what kept her out as Uof D is well known as a party school) who didn't want to go to Del Tech as she wanted to experience the entire college thing living on campus, etc. She ended up going to Del Tech and doing the parallel route , since graduated from U of D and is now in medical school (so she obviously isn't a poor student with inflated grades). It seems to me though that the UofD has started to focus more on out of state students as they are more of a cash cow for the university as they pay far more than in state students. I seem to remember some stats, published a few years ago, that showed that the U of D has considerably less in state students vs out of state now than say 20 - 30 years ago which is why I say what I'm saying about not needing to support the U of D with tax dollars.

Fred, I view discussions on these boards like a discussion around the water cooler. They're just conversations and opinions. This isn't a court of law, a radio newscast, a composition class, a spelling bee, but simply a "B.S" session between folks who like, want to work in, do work in, or used to work in RADIO. I've tried repeatedly to have a worthwhile discussion with you and sometimes you and I seem to be able to achieve that, but more often than not, you seem to need to put people like me down (especially those of us from WILM newsradio). This my friend makes you appear to be like a drowning man. The drowning man will pull down the other person who's there to rescue them because it raises them higher in the water. That's what people like you seem to need to do. You just can't disagree with someone and have a discussion, you've got to insult them or put them down which makes trying to discuss stuff with you not a very pleasant experience. If being real intelligent like you claim to be makes a person act like you do then I'd rather be a dummy. The difference between you and me is I know I can learn something new each day and welcome that opportunity, but you believe you already know it all. Frankly, I feel sorry for you.

As I've repeatedly said to you, if you find my posts to be so far below your standard of excellence than don't read or respond to them. I'm totally willing to agree with you on one thing, that we both see the world very differently. Go in Peace.

 

[fred flintstone]

The more I see of your posts, the more I appreciate Julius.
He doesn't pretend to be an expert.
He just says what he likes.
And when challenged, he is gracious.

You on the other hand, keep giving false "information" to support your arguements.
You keep trying to suck up and ingratiate yourself.
And when challenged, you turn passive-aggressive and claim it doesn't matter what you say here.

I read an article the other day about how people die because of lab errors (i.e., mislabeling samples).
And I thought of you.

So, while prefer to read Julius, when you make false or inaccurate assertions to demonstrate your "expertise," I will be here.

Now, what have we learned today?
Some people make inferences on the U of D's admissions policies based on the experiences of one student.
The U of D allegedly turns down applicants for not being party animals.

Topic for further discussion:
Are U of D seniors now more attractive to business and professional schools BECAUSE the university has a stronger academic reputation related to the school being more-selective and having more of a national student body?
Oh, no, Mr. Bill. Let's keep the U of D a tax-supported academic backwater for mediocre in-state students.