Senior Thesis

Saving Weber State Football
A history of the downfall and revival of football in Ogden
Matthew Gerrish
History 4990
Senior Thesis
July 30, 2010

1
During the winter months of 1993 Weber State University seriously considered cutting its
football program due to lack of revenue, expensive operating costs, and an increasing
dependency on subsidies to keep the program afloat. The university’s plan to review and decide
football’s ultimate fate sparked a grassroots movement led by head coach Dave Arslanian, which
led to Weber State records in attendance and home game revenue in 1994. This movement
temporarily saved the football program, but did it pave the way for long-term solutions for
decreasing dependency on subsidies to fund the program, despite gradually increasing costs for
the athletic department’s most expensive sport during the next 17 years?
The massive disparity between operating costs and generated revenue was nothing new to
the football program in 1993. From 1987-1992 Weber State generated an average of $317,671
per season in home revenue, compared to a per-season average of $861,025 in operating
expenses, which generated an average deficit of $543,354 to be paid by subsidies or other
revenue sources.1
This deficit issue was brought to the attention Weber State President Paul H. Thompson
shortly after the 1993 season. The state legislature expressed its discomfort with the amount of
state dollars Weber State was using to subsidize its athletic programs. While no members of the
legislature told Thompson he needed to drop the football program, he knew something needed to
change quickly.2
This forced Thompson and Weber State Athletic Director Tom Stewart to act. After
conferring with other university officials, including Vice President for Administrative Services
Allen Simkins, who oversaw many aspects of the athletic department, Stewart announced on
1
Norm Tarbox, “ WSU football: summary of revenue and expenditures.” Weber State University, June 3, 2010.
Copy in the possession of the author.
2
Paul H. Thompson, telephone interview by author. June 8, 2010.

2
November 15, 1993, Weber State needed to come up with ways to save money in athletics, and
immediately, the football program was on their radar.3
While Stewart denied serious cost-cutting plans had already been made regarding
football, he did acknowledge football, as in most collegiate athletics departments, was by-far the
most expensive to operate and it would be addressed after a process that would take about a
month.4
In reality, Thompson set a deadline to have the final decision made by January 15, 1994.5
Thompson’s initial plan was to involve only the President’s Council. Doing so, they would
discuss the issue and make a final decision that December. However, Thompson faced
opposition from the Board of Trustees and many local alumni, who cried for a chance to
demonstrate they could generate community support and asked Thompson and the President’s
Council not to make any harsh decisions. From there, Thompson changed the decision-making
timeline and first, gave the football program a December deadline to demonstrate they had a plan
in place to generate revenue. If the Board of Trustees found improvement and approved the plan
in a December vote, he would then give the football program a year to demonstrate they could
make it financially viable.6
In a press release to the media on November 18, 1993, Thompson announced
discretionary funding from subsidies that had balanced the budget and bailed out the football
program in the past, would no longer be available, forcing WSU to cut about $500,000 from its
athletic budget. He offered three initial options: One, WSU could cut every sport’s budget by 15
percent; Two, the athletic department could reduce the football budget by about half, to the tune
3
Jeff Simon, “Football No. 1 target in WSU budget cuts.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), November 16, 1993.
4
Simon, November 16, 1993
5
Jeff Simon, “WSU to slash $500,000 out of athletic budget.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah). November 19,
1993.
6
Thompson, telephone interview. June 8, 2010

3
of about half a million dollars, exactly what the university needed to cut; Or three, WSU could
drop the football program entirely, saving the school close to $1 million.7
The first option was the least likely to happen, given Thompson’s assertions that all other
sports were already operating on a next-to-nothing budget. The third option, seemingly the
easiest, presented other advantages, such as WSU’s ongoing gender equity dilemma with Title
IX. If WSU cut football entirely, that would have reduced the total number of male athletes from
148 to 65, thus not only saving money, but abruptly narrowing the playing field with female
athletes at WSU, who numbered only 59.8
However, that option would have forced WSU to add
another varsity sport, keeping the school at the minimum 14 required sports in order to be a
member of the NCAA. That left the second option; find alternative ways for the football team to
raise $500,000 and pay their own way.
From here, all eyes shifted to Arslanian. That winter, the fifth-year head coach at WSU
was forced to defend his team, which just came off its third consecutive winning season, the first
time the team had done so since the late 1960s when his father, coach Sark Arslanian, was at the
helm. The Wildcats started the 1993 season slow, but rallied to win their final five games,
finishing with a 7-4 overall record. Only four days after Thompson dropped the bombshell
regarding budget cuts, the Wildcats found out they narrowly missed receiving a bid to the
Division I-AA football playoffs (now known as the Football Championship Subdivision
playoffs).9
Despite the team’s success on the field, Arslanian’s Wildcats failed miserably to fill the
stands during their 1993 campaign. In seven home games that season, WSU averaged only 4,812
7
Simon, “WSU to slash $500,000.” November 19, 1993.
8
Allen Simkins, “Costs and percents of various scenarios –athletes at WSU.” Athletics subcommittee – strategic
planning task force, Weber State University, April 4, 1994.
9
Standard-Examiner staff, “Montana, Idaho go to I-AA playoffs.” Sports shorts, Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
November 22, 1993.

4
fans per game, a sharp drop from the 8,437 fans per game in 1992. At the time, those marks were
the lowest in the history of the football program, ranking the university seventh out of eight
schools in attendance in the Big Sky Conference that year.10
Although Arslanian’s team
increased home revenue from 1992 to 1993 by about $50,000 (WSU had only five home games
in 1992), the $398,000 generated in 1993 only covered 39.3 percent of its total expenditures.11
Standard-Examiner sports editor Randy Hollis believed that an early-season loss to the
University of Idaho was the likely culprit of sagging ticket sales that season. He cited blowout
losses, like Idaho’s 56-0 rout of WSU in their home-opener, can turn fans off in a big way.12
But just like he promised to the Board of Trustees, Thompson did not make knee-jerk
decisions and simply throw Arslanian and the football program to the wolves. The WSU
president immediately held a public forum on November 23, and listened to opinions from
students, staff and the public, in order to determine if there was any or partial support to continue
the intercollegiate sport.13
Over 200 people attended the forum at WSU’s Wildcat Theatre and
Thompson faced a slew of questions from football supporters, who often made emotional and
hostile statements, demanding answers.14
Several WSU alumni called out the administration,
claiming they had not spent a sufficient amount of time and money promoting football in the
community. They were met with an emotional response as well, with Thompson firing right back
at the fans, “If you want to promote football, do your damnedest. We’ve been busting our butts
10
Simon, “Football No.1 Target.” November 16, 1993.
11
Tarbox, “Summary of revenue and expenditures.” June 3, 2010.
12
Randy Hollis, “Arslanian not ready to cry ‘uncle’ in fight for his team.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 1, 1993.
13
Standard-Examiner staff, “Our View: WSU football decision rests with community.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
Utah), November 23, 1993.
14
Lori Bona Hunt, “Fans argue for keeping football at Weber.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), November 24,
1993.

5
for four years! We’ve subsidized the program with $3.5 million in the past four years. That
seems like a hell of a lot of effort to me!”15
During an interview with Thompson nearly 17 years later, he admitted he could have
done more. Thompson conceded the notion that the most successful football programs are those
which are marketed well, and although he does not believe it was the sole reason fans did not
attend football games, it played a major role in the lack of community involvement.16
Several arguments were also made about image at the forum. Some people, including
former WSU instructor Myrtle Gallego, pointed out if WSU lost the 63 football scholarships it
had, it would show how the university does not care about bringing in students from outside of
Utah, who otherwise might not be able to attend college.17
This generated powerful responses
from a few football players in attendance. Freshman defensive back Max Mitchell, one of dozens
of out-of-state players who would have been forced to reconsider their academic future if
football was dropped, said, “If I wasn’t playing football, I would have stayed at home (in Las
Vegas, Nevada). I wouldn’t be able to go to school if my scholarship were dropped.”18
Many supporters though, were less combative, like Arslanian and former Weber County
Commissioner Joan Hellstrom, who said the university and the community should use the
football crisis as a chance to work together and come up with ways to increase revenue as a
community.19
This is where a fourth option to save the program was born. Rather than cutting football’s
budget by half a million dollars, the notion of raising an additional $500,000 through increased
15
Hunt, “Fans argue for keeping football.” November 24, 1993.
16
Thompson, telephone interview. June 8, 2010.
17
18
Lori Bona Hunt, “Players anxiously await decision on fate of Weber State football.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
19

6
student fees, community donations, and increased revenues from ticket sales appealed to the
public eye.
During the next several days after the public forum, eight people formed The Committee
to Save Weber State Football, who met regularly to map their strategy regarding fundraising for
the football program. The committee, which consisted of Ron Ferro, Randy Johnson, Ted
Johnston, Curtis Breitweiser, Ron Hadley, Jim Wold, Robb Akey and Phil Sotomayor, joined
Arslanian in rallying football players together. Their goal was to hit the streets and fire up public
support for the program through donations to the Wildcat club and pledges for 1994 season
tickets.20
Ferro said their goal was to raise at least $300,000 and to sell 5,000 season tickets in
only four weeks, and to sell 10,000 season tickets by the start of the 1994 season, an
astronomical increase from the 750 season tickets sold during the 1993 campaign.21
WSU football players promptly set up shop behind a folding table at the Ogden City
Mall, hounding shoppers for 1994 season-ticket pledges or to commit to buying a few single-
game tickets. Arslanian’s wife Pat was even on hand to help generate awareness for passersby,
who said the team was pushing for a December 15 deadline to convince Thompson and the
university’s Board of Trustees not to cut the program or its funding, even though Thompson
emphasized the program would not necessarily die on Dec. 15 if all the money was not raised.
However, he said he at least wanted a plan in place for coming up with the money by then.22
Players also joined committee members at the Dee Events Center on December 1 during a men’s
basketball game against Central Washington University, selling more season tickets and T-shirts
to support the football program.23
20
Randy Hollis, “Team effort may save WSU football.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), November 28, 1993.
21
Hollis, “Team effort may save WSU football.” November 28, 1993.
22
Author unknown, “Weber players hit mall for help.” The Associated Press, November 28, 1993.
23
Hollis, “Team effort may save WSU football.” November 28, 1993.

7
At this point, Arlsanian and his coaching staff put their coaching careers on hold. They
sat down and laid out a plan, like they would for any football game, and tossed around ideas on
what they could do to generate cash. Although it is unclear who initially suggested it, one of
WSU’s assistant coaches asked if it was possible to contact the Utah Jazz and see if they could
help in some way. From there, Arslanian contacted Utah Jazz executive and former head coach
Frank Layden and explained the program’s dire situation. Layden and team owner Larry H.
Miller agreed to invite both Dave and Pat to a Jazz game that week. At halftime, Layden and
Miller called out the Arslanians to center court where they urged Jazz fans in both the Delta
Center and those watching on television to do what they could to help WSU football. Layden and
Miller then handed Dave and Pat two personal checks of $1,000 each.24
Arslanian still credits this moment as one of the turning points in their efforts to save the
program — not because of Layden and Miller’s willingness to reach into their own pocket to
help the Wildcats — but because of the awareness it generated to help build fan support for the
upcoming season.25
Although Arslanian was quickly gaining traction in his fundraising efforts, the campaign
to save Weber State football did not go without debate or opposition. Several WSU educators
and administrators claimed the university’s decision regarding whether or not to cut football
should have been an easy one, suggesting that given a choice between cutting athletics and
cutting other programs at WSU, academics should always trump athletics. WSU provost and vice
president for academic affairs Bob Smith pointed out football alone received a subsidy half as
large as the library’s entire annual allocation, and stated athletics should be completely unrelated
24
Dave Arslanian, personal interview by author. June 17, 2010.
25
Arslanian, personal interview. June 17, 2010.

8
to the primary mission of the institution.26
College of Applied Science and Technology dean,
Warren Hill, seconded that notion, claiming the athletics budget was more than his entire
college, which was just over $3 million. The fact that WSU pumped more taxpayer money into
its athletics programs than any other Utah college or university, a whopping $1.1 million per
year, was also noted during the debate.27
Athletic director Tom Stewart did agree with these arguments to some extent, conceding
the notion that a university’s number one mission had to be academics, but it did not mean to say
one area is more important than another, stating when financial constraints are presented, you
cannot look at academics regarding cutbacks and not look at athletics. The Dean of the College
of Arts and Humanities joined Stewart’s argument, citing how unfortunate it is when athletics
and academics are pitted against one another, because they are different issues.28
That did not stop Economics Department chairman Richard Alston though, who authored
a petition against athletics, which about 250-300 WSU faculty members signed. Alston claimed
two-thirds of the faculty supported elimination of football and one-third supported a reduction in
funding, and pointed out WSU subsidized about $109,000 for the aerospace center, $50,000 for
the theater and $33,000 to environmental services, compared to athletics’ $1.1 million.29
WSU’s football program did not entirely rely on season-ticket sales and donations from
the community when looking for help. Stewart turned to the Big Sky Conference for support,
hoping that conference rules dictated all members of the league were required to have a football
team in order to retain their school’s membership. Bad luck struck when Big Sky Commissioner
26
Lori Bona Hunt, “WSU debates budget.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), December 5, 1993.
27
Hunt, “WSU debates budget.” December 5, 1993.
28
29

9
Ron Stephenson informed Stewart how university presidents voted to allow schools to compete
in the conference without football programs merely a year earlier.30
However, Stephenson did suggest if WSU dropped football and remained in the Big Sky,
it could cause major trouble with the league’s other schools. Stephenson suggested if extra
money in the athletic department was available as a result of football being dropped, it could
then be dumped into basketball, which could give the Wildcats an unfair edge against Big Sky
schools who still funded football. Stephenson cited Gonzaga University as an example, which
dropped football and ended up leaving the Big Sky after the 1978-79 season.31
Some fans suggested Stephenson and the Big Sky gave up on Weber State football, but
evidence shows Stephenson was already going to bat for WSU and the other Big Sky schools on
another issue. While WSU was facing its budget issues during the winter of 1993, they were also
anxiously waiting on a decision from the NCAA regarding the possible cut of scholarships
among all Divison I-AA football programs nationwide. The decision was slated to come in
January 1994, so the Big Sky and several other conferences were fighting for all their football
teams on a different front at virtually the same time.32
While the Big Sky kept its hands full with the NCAA, WSU administrators found local
business people who were willing to offer help and support with any potential ideas regarding
long-term funding for football. John E. Lindquist, a member of The Chamber Ogden/Weber
board’s executive committee proposed that WSU could collect about $500,000 per year if the
state government required Utah University and Utah State University to play WSU every year.
Lindquist suggested with the additional revenue from in-state games, that money would go a
30
Jeff Simon, “All Big Sky, NCAA can do is give WSU moral support.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), December
7, 1993.
31
Simon, “All Big Sky can do is give support.” December 7, 1993.
32
Ron Stephenson, telephone interview by author. June 8, 2010.

10
long way toward reducing subsidies to the program.33
Arslanian claimed those games would give
WSU more exposure and playing Utah would bring in a $70,000 to $100,000 guarantee.34
However, that notion was promptly rebuked by Thompson, who cited several reasons
why it would not work. First, Thompson said, was most universities schedule their football
games several years in advance, noting University of Utah athletic director Chris Hill already
scheduled the Utes through 1998; second, most NCAA division I-A schools like Utah and Utah
State are weary of scheduling many games with I-AA teams like WSU, because bowl game bids
are often determined by victories against I-A opponents and strength of schedule; and finally, I-
A schools like Utah and Utah State run the risk of losing to I-AA schools when scheduling them,
thus causing embarrassment, hindrances in recruiting and decreases in home revenue from
discouraged fans.35
Lindquist’s proposal also rang on deaf ears, considering WSU already had a schedule in
the works before the proposed budget cuts where the Wildcats would play just three home games
in 1994. Road games on the proposed schedule included Southern Utah, Kansas, Northeast
Louisiana and Northern Iowa, which would provide significant financial guarantees to help cover
some costs of the program.36
However, that did not stop Arslanian from trying to set up the
Wildcats’ schedule for future seasons. Arslanian contacted both Hill and Utah State University
athletics department officials, asking if their respective programs could at-least announce they
33
Steve Green, “Chamber board pitching in to try to save WSU football.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 7, 1993.
34
Jeff Simon, “Marketing emphasis of proposal to keep football at Weber State.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
Utah), December 8, 1993.
35
Green, “Chamber board pitching in.” December 7, 1993.
36
Simon, “Football No. 1 target.” November 16, 1993.

11
were trying to schedule WSU in the future. Doing so would help generate interest in the
program, even if the games themselves did not materialize.37
Not all of Lindquist’s ideas were rejected though. The Chamber did pitch in by mailing
1,500 “Save Football” fliers out with their monthly newsletter. Executive director Scott
Parkinson also pointed out how cutting football would have limited economic impacts on the
community, particularly in retailers, restaurants and hotels where visiting teams stay.38
On December 7, Arslanian finally released the first draft of his long-term plan. Beside his
immediate obligation to raise $500,000 to counter athletic department budget cuts for 1994
within two weeks, Arslanian outlined a five-part plan to members of the local media. In addition
to his plan to play big-name schools for big-time payouts, Arslanian also proposed how WSU
should find more ways to get students involved, given a large percentage of their student fees go
to athletics. Also, he suggested new strategies regarding season-ticket sales, claiming to have
already sold over 1,000. He even suggested WSU involve local high schools where the university
could sell tickets to students in the area, encouraging them to be more involved with their
potential destination for higher education.39
Arslanian’s biggest emphasis on growth and perhaps on where to place the blame for the
athletic department’s budget woes lied in marketing. Arslanian asserted the administration took a
half-hearted approach when looking for sources of funding, saying, “When I hear our people
saying we have no plan, that gives us part of the answer to what the problem is. We’ve had too
many of our people throw up their hands and surrender.”40
Arslanian even pushed an idea to
campus professors who would allow students to earn credit and gain experience by helping the
37
38
Green, “Chamber board pitching in.” December 7, 1993.
39
Simon, “Marketing emphasis of proposal.” December 8, 1993.
40
Simon, “Marketing emphasis of proposal,” December 8, 1993.

12
surrounding communities through marketing and using business strategies to help fund the
program.
He also asked for more donations, citing increased contributions could go to
endowments, where generated interest could go a long way towards improving facilities for the
entire athletic department.41
This presented a fairly unsung aspect of athletics department budget woes, which the
media reported little about during the pivotal month of football talks. At least four times in the
previous two years, officials had presented stadium deterioration issues to WSU administrators,
which all had potential for tremendous costs.
On May 20, 1991, J. Robert Folsom from the university’s architectural and engineering
services, informed then-athletic director Richard Hannan (who would resign less than eight
months later), regarding cracks and soil washing problems in WSU’s football stadium,
suggesting an ideal solution that would prevent further deterioration, estimating a $536,000 price
tag for the repairs.42
Later that fall, Folsom informed Hannan about needs to install handicap
facilities, refinish track walls, landscape terrace at stadium ends, install new sprinkler systems
and build an underground storage facility in the stadium’s hillside, with an estimated combined
cost of $178,000 for the projects.43
Less than two months later Folsom informed associate vice president for administrative
services Craige Hall, who acted as lead administrator for facilities management, about two major
areas of concern structural engineers found with the stadium. The memo outlined costly
corrections involving rusting of steel anchors and supports, and the spalling of concrete beams
41
Simon, “Marketing emphasis of proposal,” December 8, 1993.
42
J. Robert Folsom, “Football Stadium – East Stands.” Weber State University Administrative Services and
Architectural and Engineering Services memo. May 20, 1991.
43
J. Robert Folsom, “Stadium handicap area – east stands.” Weber State University Administrative Services and
Architectural and Engineering Services memo. September 23, 1991.

13
and columns.44
Not even a year later, on September 16, 1992, Hall sent a memo to WSU’s
associate vice president of academic affairs Jeff Livingston, suggesting extensive repairs to the
stadium’s sound system and possibly a complete replacement, with an estimated cost of
$35,000.45
None of these advised stadium costs were factored into the 1993 decision regarding the
fate of WSU football, or at least it was not disclosed to the media. Thompson concurred, saying
although he and the university were aware of the stadium’s issues, it was far down the list of
their immediate concerns, although admittedly, he knew it would be something to address after
the decision came on whether or not to keep the football program around.46
With the Board of Trustees’ first vote approaching in less than a week, Thompson
expressed confidence in what he had seen so far from Arslanian and the football program’s
efforts during the previous month. During an interview with Hollis at the Standard-Examiner on
December 11, Thompson dropped the words which gave the fan community its first sign of real
hope since the November announcement, saying, “I believe we will play football next year. We
found that there is larger support for Weber State football than we expected, both in the amount
of interest to come to the games and also in the way of donations and season-ticket sales.”47
However, it was not a done deal yet. Several Standard-Examiner columns pointed out
that although Thompson was confident the vote would go in favor of Weber State football, he
still had to give the Board of Trustees a proposal that demonstrated that there was inestimable
community support and goodwill to sustain the program. He needed to be armed with athletic
44
J. Robert Folsom, “Stadium Deterioration.” Weber State University Administrative Services and Architectural and
Engineering Services memo. November 7, 1991.
45
Craige S. Hall. “Stadium Sound System.” Weber State University Administrative Services. September 16, 1992.
46
Thompson, telephone interview. June 8, 2010.
47
Randy Hollis, “Wildcat football team appears to be saved – at least for now.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 12, 1993.

14
department staff recommendations for launching a viable and inexpensive marketing campaign
to increase ticket sales and fundraisers.48
To help Thompson accomplish this, the Standard-Examiner provided something more
valuable to the football program than any of the half-dozen columns calling for fan support ever
did. The Ogden newspaper contracted a survey, through the Belden Associates research
organization of Dallas, Texas, to determine what percent of Northern Utah readers had a
significant interest in WSU athletic events. Using statistical projections based on 605 interviews,
Belden determined about 127,600 of the 270,000 adults in the Standard-Examiner’s primary
market area (47.3 percent) were interested in stories about WSU sports.49
Only a few days before
the vote was to take place on the program’s fate, Scott Trundle, the Standard-Examiner’s
publisher, sent the findings to Thompson as ammunition for his case.
On December 17, Thompson gave the Board of Trustees his proposal and it passed with
flying colors. The board voted unanimously to keep the football program for the 1994 season,
but Thompson made it known the subsidy would be dramatically decreased, and the program still
needed to raise the remainder of its budget through other means.50
The football program cleared its first major hurdle thanks to the efforts of many,
including: Arslanian, his coaching staff, The Committee to Save Weber State Football and many
others, whose fundraising efforts nearly covered the entire $500,000 needed to fund the team for
the 1994 season. Through countless donations, including generous contributions from local
businesses, the Utah Jazz, and a $1 million endowment from the Stewart Education Foundation,
48
Standard-Examiner staff, “Our View: Fan support for WSU football must endure.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
49
Don Baker, “Survey finds plenty of Wildcat fans.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), December 16, 1993.
50
Lori Bona Hunt, “Verdict: Football stays, but trim subsidy.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), December 18,
1993.

15
the football team raised over $400,000 before the December 17 vote.51
Not only did the program
receive a plethora of donations, but Ferro and the Committee to Save Weber State Football
reached their initial goal to sell 5,000 season tickets, which was a new WSU record (still
standing after the 2009 season).52
Less than a week after the vote, Weber State director of marketing Steve Pearson stepped
down from his position, but claimed there was absolutely no pressure from WSU administration.
This came as little shock to the public, since many had criticized the school’s marketing efforts
regarding the embattled football program.53
The football team was temporarily saved, but was still on the chopping block barring
another vote the following winter after the 1994 season. But WSU was not alone in its ongoing
struggle to keep its football program financially viable. According to report by the NCAA in
2009, a total of 49 collegiate football programs were dropped due to financial constraints from
1987 to 2009. Thirteen of those football programs were dropped in the three-year span of 1992-
1994, the same time WSU was struggling to keep its football team.54
From here, Arslanian’s focus shifted from fundraising back to coaching and recruiting.
The Wildcats suffered a substantial recruiting setback from the month off, a time when coaches
usually travel around the country to lure high school prospects to play for their teams. In addition
to a late start on the recruiting season, a few key players on the Wildcats’ roster departed in fear
of losing their scholarships if football was dropped. This included All-Big Sky running back
51
52
Jeff Simon, “WSU football likely to make full recovery.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), December 16, 1993.
53
Standard-Examiner staff, “Pearson to leave Weber State post.” Sports shorts, Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 22, 1993.
54
Craig Haley, “Added and Discontinued NCAA Programs Since 1950.” National Collegiate Athletics Association,
2009.

16
Markeith Ross and star quarterback Brad Otton, who went on to have a successful career at the
University of Southern California before a brief stint in the NFL.55
The hits continued to come for WSU coaches. Already operating on minimal funding,
several coaches piled into a car and drove to California on January 16 to look at local high school
standouts, with the intent of snagging commitments to Weber State. They stayed at a hotel in
Northridge, California, and laid out their plan for schools they were going to visit the next day.
Unfortunately, they never saw a single recruit on that trip, because an earthquake with a
magnitude of 6.7 struck early that morning, which killed 72 people and injured over 9,000, thus
shutting down all schools indefinitely in the Los Angeles area.56
The now-famous disaster
wasted their entire recruiting trip.
While the football program was busy preparing for the 1994 season, WSU’s Athletics
Subcommittee, who dubbed themselves the Strategic Planning Task Force, sat down for its first
meeting on January 25, and continued to meet weekly thereafter. It was at this meeting where
WSU administrators drafted recommendations, which were contingent upon the 1994 season and
its community support, regarding what to do with the football program. The committee mapped
out several options.
First, if the team generated “overwhelming support,” defined as ticket sale receipts of at
least $350,000 in addition to home attendance of at least 14,000, they would retain football at its
present size and anticipate upgrading to class I-A as soon as practical and funds are found to
support such an action.57
55
Wil Grey, “Weber State hopes intensity will make up for turnover.” Deseret News, August 28, 1994.
56
57
Weber State University, “Athletics Subcommittee – Strategic Planning Task Force Report.” Weber State archives,
January 25, 1994.

17
Second, if the team generated “substantial, but less than overwhelming support,” defined
as ticket receipts of at least $220,000, but less than $350,000 in addition to an average home
attendance of at least 10,000, but less than 14,000, they would retain football at a reduced
amount, dropping 22-30 scholarships and three coaches to participate in a manner similar to
Southern Utah University’s program.58
And finally, if there was not at least “substantial support,” WSU would drop football and
add another men’s team sport, with preference given to sports that were cost-efficient with
revenue potential.59
In order to meet these steep demands, the football program was forced to not only
increase its fundraising efforts, but to continue exploring options to market the team and
continue generating pledges for season ticket sales. Ever since Thompson announced his plans to
analyze football in November, a pair of marketing and promotions interns — who coincidentally
were hired just several months before — working diligently behind the scenes to help
accomplish this task. Mike Hogan and Albert Vicario both had master’s degrees in sports
administration, but had never taken on a project of this size.60
Working alongside Arslanian and his coaching staff, Hogan and Vicario helped raise an
additional $200,000 in guaranteed money and pledges by May. Stewart announced part of that
total came from an anonymous donor, who committed $100,000 each year for 10 years.61
Hogan
and Vicario also helped coin ideas such as package deals, where WSU offered family general
admission tickets — good for two adults and up to six children — for all 1994 football and
volleyball home games for only $60. They sent out fliers to the Wasatch Football League for
58
Weber State University, “Strategic Planning Task Force Report.” January 25, 1994.
59
Weber State University, “Strategic Planning Task Force Report.” January 25, 1994.
60
Jeff Simon, “Dynamic duo helped save WSU’s football program.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), November 8,
1994.
61
Jeff Simon, “Fund-raising drive nearing 50-yard line.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), May 18, 1994.

18
parents to receive during their child’s registration. Season tickets were on sale at the Ogden
Street Festival, the Parkway Festival and the Weber County Fair. Locations were opened up to
serve as ticket outlets at Hill Air Force Base, the Ogden City Mall and the Layton Hills Mall.
They even helped Arslanian schedule speaking engagements throughout northern Utah, to help
generate donations and increase team visibility. With their help, the football program already
sold 1,365 season tickets, about 27 percent of the 5,000 season tickets pledged during the team’s
campaign the previous winter.62
In an interview, Arslanian credited Hogan and Vicario as an integral part of saving
WSU’s football program, saying, “I don’t know what those guys lived on, because we didn’t pay
them much — probably just enough to buy some hamburgers everyday — but they absolutely
worked their tails off that whole year.”63
The efforts of Hogan, Vicario, the Committee to Save Weber State Football, Arslanian
and his coaching staff culminated in a comprehensive eight-page packet outlining nearly 140
ideas and suggestions to help market and promote the football program. Arslanian submitted this
to Stewart, Simkins, and Thompson in August, less than a month away from the team’s season-
opener against the University of Montana-Western.64
Outside of a seemingly endless list of ideas regarding how to boost ticket sales for future
seasons, perhaps the most important suggestions came near the end of their packet. Corporate
sponsorship ideas were badly needed, given the lack thereof in previous seasons. The program
planned to sell more signage in the football field’s end zone through local businesses. WSU
contracted a sponsorship through Smiths grocery chain, which would hold a field goal contest
62
Standard-Examiner staff, “For $60 your family can see WSU football, volleyball action.” Standard-Examiner
(Ogden, Utah), July 14, 1994.
63
64
Arslanian, “Marketing and Promotion follow up for Wildcat Football 1994.” Weber State University, August 3,
1994.

19
during games. The Wildcats even reached out to companies like Logo and Start for current
fashions with the intent to market and catalog team merchandise. They even suggested a boost in
family sponsorship, where families could purchase a stadium step or seat, and to eventually name
the stadium after a generous sponsor.65
Not only did Hogan and Vicario help generate this invaluable packet of ideas, they also,
for the first time ever, set up an entire year’s worth of television advertising for WSU athletics
events. They surprised Thompson and Simkins with a full schedule of football commercials to be
aired on KUTV during the week leading up to the home-opener.66
The next moment of truth came on September 3. The Wildcats took on Montana-Western
in their home-opener and they got almost everything they wanted. Competing for fans with a
much-hyped battle between Utah and Utah State that same day, WSU drew 12,063 fans in a 30-
12 victory. It was not the 14,000 needed to fall in the category of “overwhelming support,” but at
the time, it was the second-largest home-opening crowd at WSU since 1981.67
The home-opener got the ball rolling for the Wildcats’ next two games against Montana
Tech and Big Sky rival Montana State, and after only the third home game, WSU averaged over
13,000 fans per game, which more than doubled the previous two years’ home game revenue
combined.68
Another reason for the team’s early success at the gates can be attributed to its success on
the field. In those first three games — which were all at home — the Wildcats went 3-0, a far cry
from the 56-0 drubbing they took in their home opener against Idaho the previous season, a
setback that Hollis suggested turned fans away for the remainder of the year.
65
Arslanian, “Marketing and Promotion follow up.” August 3, 1994.
66
Mike Hogan, “KUTV Commercial Schedule.” Weber State University, August 26, 1994.
67
Randy Hollis, “WSU not disappointed in attendance.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), September 4, 1994.
68
Brad Larsen, “2008 Weber State Football Media Guide.” Weber State University, August 2008.

20
However, the on-the-field success did not last long for WSU. The Wildcats simply could
not overcome losing 19 starters to graduation and transfers from 1993, and they lost three of their
next four games, all of which were on the road. But winning the final game of their road trip
against in-state rival Southern Utah carried support over to the next week, a homecoming
showdown with Big Sky power Montana on October 22. The Wildcats suffered another loss in
that game, but the crowd turnout set a daytime WSU record of 16,547 fans, which still sits on the
charts as the fifth-largest WSU crowd ever.69
After the record-setting game against Montana, the Wildcats finished out the final three
games of their schedule, picking up one more win against Idaho State in the season-finale. Two
day’s before the win over Idaho State, home-game revenue and community involvement
compelled the Board of Trustees to meet with Thompson and finally make the big decision
regarding the future of Weber State football. University officials announced they were
overwhelmed by the support from the community and stated it was not an issue they wanted to
deal with again, giving the unanimous vote of approval to continue football at WSU.70
WSU failed to put together its fourth consecutive winning season, finishing 1994 with a
5-6 mark, but it surpassed expectations in the stands. After a year of uncertainty, WSU averaged
12,853 fans per home game, surpassing the previous record of 12,303 in 1980 by over 500 fans.
The record still stands today.71
The 1994 season actually generated slightly less home-game revenue than the previous
season, but did so with two fewer home games on its schedule. Also, the football program
managed to only increase its total expenditures by $2,640 from 1993 to 1994, compared to an
69
Larsen, “2008 Media Guide.” August 2008.
70
Author unknown, “Wildcat football is here to stay!!” Wildcat News, Weber State University, 4th
Edition, Fall
1994.
71
Paul Grua, “Weber State Football Home Attendance – Since 1967 Season.” June 7, 2010.

21
increase of $115,410 from 1992 to1993.72
Another area of growth came in advertising and
sponsorships, one of the main goals set by Arslanian, Hogan and Vicario heading into the pivotal
season. In 1993, WSU athletics generated $76,541 in advertising and sponsorships. In 1994,
WSU improved that total to $96,383, an increase of almost $20,000.73
The only major setback the 1994 season experienced regarding revenue came in football
guarantees. The original plan for only three home games — before the budget issues came to
light — fell through and WSU only managed to schedule two “money” games in Southern Utah
and Northeast Louisiana and WSU’s football guarantees dropped from $75,000 in 1993 to only
$35,000 in 1994.74
Overall, the Weber State football program was saved, but solutions to its long-term
survival stemmed from the controversial year in which Thompson, Stewart, and Simkins forced
WSU to find different sources of funding for a program that had been losing a lot of money for a
long time. Ever since the football program’s financial crisis, WSU has managed to keep the
financial disparity from revenue to expenditures at bay with a number of strategies, many of
which, university officials adopted after the 1994 season.
After the record-setting attendance figures that year, football averages dropped steadily
until a brief spike in 2001. Numbers dropped as low as 5,789 fans per game in 2004, before
Weber State hired Ron McBride as head coach in 2005. That year the Wildcats generated 10,151
fans per game, their highest total since 1994 and third-highest ever, but attendance plummeted to
a record-low 4,092 per game in 2007.75
From 2008 to 2009 the Wildcats experienced their best
two-year run in program history on the field, winning a Big Sky championship in 2008 and going
72
73
Norm Tarbox, “Schedule of Selected Revenues – For fiscal years 1993, 1994, 2010 and budget for 2011.” Weber
State University, June 24, 2010.
74
Tarbox, “Schedule of Selected Revenues.” June 24, 2010.
75
Grua, “Home attendance.” June 7, 2010.

22
to the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. However — just as the
program experienced during winning seasons prior to the 1994 inquiry — WSU failed to draw
large crowds, averaging only 6,910 fans in 2008 and 6,500 in 2009.76
For a comparison, the 1994 season generated enough revenue to cover 35.3 percent if the
football team’s total expenditures. Although football expenditures have increased from
$1,017,183 in 1994 to an estimated $1,755,938 in 2010, WSU estimates it will bring in enough
revenue to cover 56.6 percent of the program’s total expenditures.77
One strategy WSU administrators have used to combat lackluster attendance and cover
the remaining deficit is the increased focus on advertising and sponsorships, which has evolved
in a big way since WSU’s $20,000 increase to $96,383 in 1994. Weber State is slated to generate
$153,927 in that category in 2010, a 59.7 percent increase over the past 17 years.78
Another source of revenue — football guarantees — transformed from a dismal total in
1994 to perhaps, the football program’s greatest source of income today. The guaranteed $35,000
in 1994 prompted the athletic department to schedule more “money” games after that season to
help cover growing costs. For example, the 2010 Wildcats are scheduled to play road games
against Boston College and Texas Tech, which guarantee WSU a total of $420,000, a 1,100
percent increase since 1994.79
In addition to increased advertising, sponsorships and football guarantees, WSU used
another generous donation from the Stewart Education Foundation to upgrade its press box to the
38,000 square foot Sky Suites & Press Box Facility in 2001, which the university uses for an
additional source of revenue. During the 2009-2010 athletics season alone, the Sky Suites
76
Grua, “Home attendance.” June 7, 2010.
77
78
79

23
brought in $12,580, and the increased use of stadium scoreboard advertisements at Stewart
Stadium and the Dee Events Center brought in an additional $117,500.80
Another strategy – one that has quietly helped cover increasing costs in football and the
athletic department as a whole – is the gradual increase in student fees. When the football
program raised about $400,000 during the winter of 1993, Arslanian suggested WSU increase
student fees to help cover the remainder in order to reach the $500,000 needed by the December
17 vote.81
Whether or not Weber State administrators did so is unclear, but that notion has
transformed into a steady increase of student fees ever since.
For example, in 1993 WSU generated $4,396,339 in total student fees. By 2010, that
number rose to $11,243,070, a 155.7 percent increase over that span, going hand-in-hand with
the school’s tuition inflation, which rose 195 percent over that same span.82
Although specific
allocations regarding the football program are unavailable, out of the student fees in 1993,
$822,416 was allocated to the athletics department. That number rose by 94.6 percent by 2010,
where $1,600,099 was allocated to athletics.83
However, those increases can be deceiving, given
that a large percentage of football program expenses in smaller universities often take the form
of scholarships for student athletes. So a sizeable chunk of the money raised through student fees
often disappears through the 195 percent tuition inflation.
In summary, these strategies combined are what have helped keep the WSU football
program from depending on state subsidies ever since 1993. Weber State’s 1993 decision to
cease its heavy dependence on these subsidies caused a short term crisis for the football program.
The team was forced to put football on the backburner and focus on generating community
80
Norm Tarbox, “WSU Athletics 2010-11 Dashboard and Goals.” Weber State University, May 26, 2010.
81
Hunt, “Verdict: Football stays, but trim subsidy.” December 18, 1993.
82
Norm Tarbox, “Total student fees and allocations for athletics: Fiscal years 1993 and 2010.” Weber State
University, July 12, 2010.
83
Tarbox, “Total student fees and allocations for athletics.” July 12, 2010.

24
support. But thanks to the tireless efforts of many, including Arslanian, his coaching staff, WSU
administrators and staff, interns, students and most of all, the greater Ogden community, the
Wildcats were able to play on for another year. It was this effort that rallied fans around the
Wildcats in 1994, when WSU paved the road for alternate ideas to fund expensive programs such
as football. Bringing these ideas to the table produced strategies that still work today, such as the
increased role of corporate sponsorships, football guarantees and student fees. Despite the
gradual rise in football expenses over the years, it is these financial solutions, which have helped
keep college football in Ogden ever since.
When asked about the significance of the crucial time period from the winter of 1993 to
the fall of 1994, Hollis summarized it like only a columnist can:
“Nobody panicked. Well, actually, a lot of people did at first. But most of
the people involved eventually took the entire issue in stride. Some guys unfairly
got a bad rap, but the truth of the matter is it was a problem that was a long time
coming. … People are always going to debate about athletics and academics, but
that year Weber took that debate and used it to get the ball rolling. They said,
‘Hey. We can’t keep doing this. What can we do to fix it?’ I mean, they didn’t fix
everything all at once, but that didn’t matter. They just wanted to start the thought
process. You look at a half empty football field now and you probably ask, ‘How
can Weber afford to keep these guys?’ Well, if you look at that year (1993), you
know the school won’t keep ’em if they are losing a lot of money. So, they’ve
obviously gotten something figured out since then.”84
84
Randy Hollis, telephone interview by author. June 23, 2010.

25
Primary Works Cited
Arslanian, Dave. Personal interview by author, June 17, 2010.
“Marketing and Promotion follow up for Wildcat Football 1994.” Weber State
University, August 3, 1994.
Baker, Don. “Survey finds plenty of Wildcat fans.” Standard-Examiner, (Ogden, Utah),
December 16, 1993.
Bona Hunt, Lori. “Fans argue for keeping football at Weber.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
“Players anxiously await decision on fate of Weber State football.” Standard-Examiner
(Ogden, Utah), November 24, 1993.
“WSU debates budget.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), December 5, 1993.
“Verdict: Football stays, but trim subsidy.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 18, 1993.
Folsom, Robert J. “Football Stadium – East Stands.” Weber State University Administrative
Services and Architectural and Engineering Services memo. May 20, 1991.
“Stadium handicap area – east stands.” Weber State University Administrative Services
and Architectural and Engineering Services memo. September 23, 1991.
“Stadium Deterioration.” Weber State University Administrative Services and
Architectural and Engineering Services memo. November 7, 1991.
Grey, Wil. “Weber State hopes intensity will make up for turnover.” Deseret News, August 28,
1994.
Hall, Craige S. “Stadium Sound System.” Weber State University Administrative Services,
September 16, 1992.

26
Hogan, Mike. “KUTV Commercial Schedule.” Weber State University, August 26, 1994.
Hollis, Randy. “Telephone interview by author.” June 23, 2010.
Simkins, Allen. “Costs and percents of various scenarios – athletes at WSU.” Athletics
subcommittee – strategic planning task force, Weber State University, April 4, 1994.
Simon, Jeff. “Football No. 1 target in WSU budget cuts,” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
November 16, 1993.
“WSU to slash $500,000 out of athletic budget.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah).
November 19, 1993.
“All Big Sky, NCAA can do is give WSU moral support.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
“Marketing emphasis of proposal to keep football at Weber State.” Standard-Examiner
(Ogden, Utah), December 8, 1993.
“WSU football likely to make full recovery.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 16, 1993.
“Dynamic duo helped save WSU’s football program.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,
“Fund-raising drive nearing 50-yard line.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), May 18,
1994.
Standard-Examiner staff, “Montana, Idaho go to I-AA playoffs.” Sports shorts, Standard-
Examiner (Ogden, Utah), November 22, 1993.
“Our View: WSU football decision rests with community.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden,

27
“Our View: Fan support for WSU football must endure.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden
“Pearson to leave Weber State post.” Sports shorts, Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah),
December 22, 1993.
“For $60 your family can see WSU football, volleyball action.” Standard-Examiner
(Ogden, Utah), July 14, 1994.
Stephenson, Ron. Telephone interview by author. June 8, 2010.
Tarbox, Norm. “WSU Athletics 2010-11 Dashboard and Goals.” Weber State University, May
26, 2010.
“Total student fees and allocations for athletics.” Weber State University, July 12, 2010.
Thompson, Paul H. Telephone interview by author. June 8, 2010
Weber State University. “Athletics Subcommittee – Strategic Planning Task Force Report.”
Weber State archives, January 25, 1994.
Secondary Works Cited
Author unknown. “Weber players hit mall for help.” The Associated Press, November 28, 1993.
Author unknown. “Wildcat football is here to stay!!” Wildcat News, Weber State University, 4th
Edition, Fall 1994.
Green, Steve. “Chamber board pitching in to try to save WSU football.” Standard-Examiner
Grua, Paul. “Weber State Football Home Attendance – Since 1967 Season.” Weber State
University, June 7, 2010.
Haley, Craig. “Added and Discontinued NCAA Programs Since 1950.” National Collegiate
Athletics Association, 2009.

28
Hollis, Randy. “Arslanian not ready to cry ‘uncle’ in fight for his team.” Standard-Examiner
“Team effort may save WSU football.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), November
28, 1993.
“Wildcat football team appears to be saved – at least for now.” Standard-Examiner
“WSU not disappointed in attendance.” Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah), September 4,
1994.
Larsen, Brad. “2008 Weber State Football Media Guide.” Weber State University, August 2008.
Tarbox, Norm. “WSU football: summary of revenue and expenditures.” Weber State University,
June 3, 2010. Copy in the possession of the author.
“Schedule of Selected Revenues – For fiscal years 1993, 1994, 2010 and budget for
2011.” Weber State University, June 24, 2010.

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