Firing someone on the tarmac after 11 years speaks volumes about what kind of man Matt Billings is and what kind of organization he works for. How do you explain this except they just don't care (about anything).
John, great interview and it really got me to think and dig into some numbers. As a PSU alum, son of someone who taught there, and someone who had many influential mentors who taught at PSU. Bruce deserved better than being fired on the airport tarmac after 11 years of service. It reflects very poorly on PSU that they handled it this way and maybe they should have consulted with the conflict resolution department, which they just cut.
After reading Bruce's suggestions for the future of PSU football, I dug into the numbers with some help from AI, to see if I agreed with his conclusions.
Even back in the Mouse Davis run-and-shoot years, when the teams were genuinely fun to watch, and attendance often averaged around 10,000 fans per game, the football program wasn't self-supporting.
Today, Portland State faces a projected $35 million structural deficit by 2028. The university has eliminated academic departments, including conflict resolution and university studies, and has terminated 36 full-time faculty positions.
Bruce argues that PSU should stop scheduling payday games and increase football scholarship funding. I understand why he believes that. If I were coaching the team, I'd want the same thing.
The challenge is that I don't think the numbers support making that investment.
The traditional justification for investing in football is that a successful program builds the university's brand and ultimately increases enrollment. I was curious whether that argument really applies to PSU.
Approximately 90% of PSU students live off campus and commute to class. About 75% come from the Portland metro area, 38% attend part-time, and more than 60% transfer from local institutions like PCC. Many students are working adults, parents, or commuters seeking a flexible, affordable education. That's a very different demographic than the traditional "Saturday is football day" campus.
Financially, the picture is also challenging. PSU athletics relies on direct university subsidies for roughly 64% of its budget, with another 15% coming from mandatory student fees. Ticket sales account for only about 1% of the athletic budget. Even with the payday games, which I've never enjoyed because we usually end up auditioning for the other team's highlight reel, PSU football still operates at a significant deficit.
I believe the PSU football program has value. It creates opportunities for student athletes and has given alumni like me a lot of great memories, and an excuse to get together with other alum. But given the university's financial challenges and the makeup of its student body, I think PSU should seriously evaluate whether continuing to fund football is the best use of limited resources. Ironically, eliminating the payday games, as Bruce suggests, would require an even larger subsidy from a university that is already making painful cuts to its academic mission.
I'd genuinely like to see PSU football succeed. I just have a hard time making the numbers work.
Not only football but other sports, Portland State keeps getting dead last in the All Sports trophies for the Big Sky Conference in both men's and women's divisions. Yes men's basketball was pretty good this year but historically they're not very competitive and neither are there other sports. You're either all in or you're not. I don't know how they could maintain football and that would be 63 scholarships not 85 which is fbs. They're struggling to compete in FCS I don't know why someone would want them to be FBS. The cold hard reality is Portland is not a sports town, and PSU football is just something they wouldn't support. Hate to be so negative as if you need to have them be successful. I'm not seeing it.
This is well written but I cannot think of another program that could generate a game changing return for Portland State in return for 85 scholarships and a football stadium.
My youngest son just graduated from a public high school that has a 9600 seat stadium.
It was funded by a school district.
PSU does not need the Taj Mahal, it just needs a place to attract Oregonians who have already proven they like football.
Football is a game changer. There is no other investment that this university could make for that price that could generate local interest and financial return.
The right person with the right vision is out there.
@Noury, yours is an interesting post. I was particularly invested in this:
Approximately 90% of PSU students live off campus and commute to class. About 75% come from the Portland metro area, 38% attend part-time, and more than 60% transfer from local institutions like PCC. Many students are working adults, parents, or commuters seeking a flexible, affordable education. That's a very different demographic than the traditional "Saturday is football day" campus.
Is this demographic that you describe any more interested in a mid-week basketball game or volleyball match? My guess is no. If PSU isn't willing to invest in football. Why bother investing in any sport?
My guess is the same as yours, likely not. A distinction is that sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer typically cost far less to operate than a football program. That doesn’t change the demographics, but it may change the financial calculus of whether those programs are worth continuing.
Full disclosure: I haven’t looked at attendance figures, revenues, or the costs of PSU’s other athletic programs, so this is my poorly informed by data, opinion, rather than a conclusion based on research.
Not poorly informed at all. I apologize if I implied that. I don't know anymore than you do. I responded to your post because I am a Portland kid who remembers some great times for football at PSU. It's not a traditional campus or school by any means, but I have seen athletics do well there, and while maybe my emotion is fueled by nostalgia, I keep thinking it can return. Thanks for a great post and response.
Oh gosh Rob, no apology necessary. I was taking a shot at myself because I haven’t dug into the other sports. I’ve enjoyed football and a little basketball at PSU, and I like you emotionally still hold out hope. Stay healthy, I enjoyed interacting with you here.
Why does PSU even play football? Does playing in the Big Sky help recruit prospective students? Do students even care? Seems like they should follow the University of Portland or Gonzaga model and play basketball, soccer, and baseball. Mouse Davis and Neil Lomax were a long long time ago
@JuneauJim, interesting question. But it suggests that prospective students would be more drawn to basketball, soccer, and baseball. Why do you think that would be the case?
Bruce was the most quotable and accommodating coach I've met in my many years of interviewing hundreds of college coaches in a variety of sports. He always knew I had a job to do and did his best to fulfill what I needed. He will be missed. Nick Saban would have been 1-11 at Portland State last year as well. Support is critical and Bruce Barnum never had it.
The kids that have to play the Blood Games deserve to get some of the money paid to their school. I can’t imagine those kids look forward to getting blown out by 50+ points.
First, Coach Barnum is a good man. He’s a good coach and a good human. He was put in an almost impossible spot, and I’m afraid Coach Fisk is in the same or worse spot.
Portland State needs to make a decision as an institution. They really only have two options involving football:
1. Make the investment needed to be competitive in the Big Sky and FCS. Fund scholarships. Play only one “pay day” game a season like many other FCS programs (and try to rotate it between OSU/UO/WSU/UW to save travel money). Build the on-campus stadium. Invest and act like you belong.
2. Drop down to Division II and join Western Oregon University and Central Washington University football in the Lone Star Conference. Less investment needed. Less expectations. Could continue to play in Hillsboro or maybe a Portland HS stadium. Still good football.
They could also just drop football, but that would have some enrollment considerations that could be negative to PSU because of the lack of football players attending.
PSU needs to make a decision. They can’t just keep doing it halfway. It’s bad for the university, players, coaches and the city.
Division II might actually be a worse option if they have to play 80% of their away games in Texas. Not a long-term success plan for Central Washington and Western Oregon either.
I’m an OCE, aka WOU alum. When I was there, they played Linfield, PLU, Willamette, SOC, etc. Great conference and rivalries. Now in DII, who cares? I don’t.
When they were division 2, they were drawing upwards of 10,000 a game under pokeowin. I know that division has changed and knowing how schools work they don't want to be aligned with Central Washington and Western Oregon, even though 99% of most students it doesn't matter when you're at that level or at the Big Sky. They might want to play division one in another sports even though other than men's and women's basketball, most small colleges would pretty much crush them and in other sports. Like you said, they have some choices there and need to make those decisions.
It seems as though, at least in the perspective of football, PSU has lost its way. They either need to make a financial investment in football, or just get out of football all together. With all the money flying around college athletics these days, it feels like PSU is missing an opportunity.
Agree with Coach and Ed S it has been an impossible situation for years..Portland State needs to fund this sport and be able to offer full scholarships to players…a place to play and a schedule where there is “hope” Football I believe is a real “character Builder” but this program and the State need to find the funds “even the playing field”
This was a good interview, John. And he was much easier on Billings than Billings was on him last fall when he was fired. Nobody can win at PSU when the leadership won't do anything substantive to boost the program. Hope Coach will enjoy his time off, and take your invitation to do a weekly spot on upcoming games while he sorts out his next move. Thanks!
I don't know where to begin, my brother gave about 1.5 million to the wrestling hall of fame. He wrestled at PSU and did a great job in his 3 years there. He complained about the facilities and the way the administration handled things way back in the 60s. He became so fed up that he finished out his senior year at OSU. Throughout his years after leaving school he was contacted many times by PSU for donations to the athletic fund. He never gave. Eventually he had a meeting with PSU and was asked why he would not consider giving to the school. His answer was BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO WIN. I'm not so sure they don't want to win but I am sure the admin at PSU is not willing to step up and fund a winning program. You can fire and hire coaches till the cows come home and once in a while the blind admin will find a not and win a couple of games. Granted a million five will not go far in this day and age but at least it would have been something. I guess I said that to say this, you have to be willing to invest or PSU will look like the rest of Portland.
Here's the Dirty Little Secret most people don't know about and that's the majority of FCS football schools aren't even close to fully funding their scholarship amounts for that sport and others. Eastern Washington was dead broke just like Portland State, The faculty recommended going D2 but others said that will hurt their image. Instead they're shifting money is all over campus, cutting academic programs, diluting the university at a school that draws 8, 000 a game if they're lucky, even though they won a national title. In basketball they probably draw a thousand or less. Portland State has similar basketball numbers.
There's a few prominent Big Sky schools for years not fully funded, that being 63 football scholarships, so most people just think everybody's fully funded and they're not. Yes Montana and Montana Montana State draw 25,000 a game at the gate have $10 million dollar indoor facilities and fully fund their programs. That's not the norm.
Most Big Sky schools don't fully find all their sports andPortland State is probably the lowest of all of them. I don't know how you can play the Division 1 game with those numbers.
Will the AD and PSU Prez listen? Sure. But, the situation is what the situation is. PSU doesn't have the funding. If they could tap into the wealthier alumni, perhaps they could be a force in the Big Sky.
Firing someone on the tarmac after 11 years speaks volumes about what kind of man Matt Billings is and what kind of organization he works for. How do you explain this except they just don't care (about anything).
John, great interview and it really got me to think and dig into some numbers. As a PSU alum, son of someone who taught there, and someone who had many influential mentors who taught at PSU. Bruce deserved better than being fired on the airport tarmac after 11 years of service. It reflects very poorly on PSU that they handled it this way and maybe they should have consulted with the conflict resolution department, which they just cut.
After reading Bruce's suggestions for the future of PSU football, I dug into the numbers with some help from AI, to see if I agreed with his conclusions.
Even back in the Mouse Davis run-and-shoot years, when the teams were genuinely fun to watch, and attendance often averaged around 10,000 fans per game, the football program wasn't self-supporting.
Today, Portland State faces a projected $35 million structural deficit by 2028. The university has eliminated academic departments, including conflict resolution and university studies, and has terminated 36 full-time faculty positions.
Bruce argues that PSU should stop scheduling payday games and increase football scholarship funding. I understand why he believes that. If I were coaching the team, I'd want the same thing.
The challenge is that I don't think the numbers support making that investment.
The traditional justification for investing in football is that a successful program builds the university's brand and ultimately increases enrollment. I was curious whether that argument really applies to PSU.
Approximately 90% of PSU students live off campus and commute to class. About 75% come from the Portland metro area, 38% attend part-time, and more than 60% transfer from local institutions like PCC. Many students are working adults, parents, or commuters seeking a flexible, affordable education. That's a very different demographic than the traditional "Saturday is football day" campus.
Financially, the picture is also challenging. PSU athletics relies on direct university subsidies for roughly 64% of its budget, with another 15% coming from mandatory student fees. Ticket sales account for only about 1% of the athletic budget. Even with the payday games, which I've never enjoyed because we usually end up auditioning for the other team's highlight reel, PSU football still operates at a significant deficit.
I believe the PSU football program has value. It creates opportunities for student athletes and has given alumni like me a lot of great memories, and an excuse to get together with other alum. But given the university's financial challenges and the makeup of its student body, I think PSU should seriously evaluate whether continuing to fund football is the best use of limited resources. Ironically, eliminating the payday games, as Bruce suggests, would require an even larger subsidy from a university that is already making painful cuts to its academic mission.
I'd genuinely like to see PSU football succeed. I just have a hard time making the numbers work.
Logical, well played, Noury. Charlie
Not only football but other sports, Portland State keeps getting dead last in the All Sports trophies for the Big Sky Conference in both men's and women's divisions. Yes men's basketball was pretty good this year but historically they're not very competitive and neither are there other sports. You're either all in or you're not. I don't know how they could maintain football and that would be 63 scholarships not 85 which is fbs. They're struggling to compete in FCS I don't know why someone would want them to be FBS. The cold hard reality is Portland is not a sports town, and PSU football is just something they wouldn't support. Hate to be so negative as if you need to have them be successful. I'm not seeing it.
This is well written but I cannot think of another program that could generate a game changing return for Portland State in return for 85 scholarships and a football stadium.
My youngest son just graduated from a public high school that has a 9600 seat stadium.
It was funded by a school district.
PSU does not need the Taj Mahal, it just needs a place to attract Oregonians who have already proven they like football.
Football is a game changer. There is no other investment that this university could make for that price that could generate local interest and financial return.
The right person with the right vision is out there.
I want you to be correct.
@Noury, yours is an interesting post. I was particularly invested in this:
Approximately 90% of PSU students live off campus and commute to class. About 75% come from the Portland metro area, 38% attend part-time, and more than 60% transfer from local institutions like PCC. Many students are working adults, parents, or commuters seeking a flexible, affordable education. That's a very different demographic than the traditional "Saturday is football day" campus.
Is this demographic that you describe any more interested in a mid-week basketball game or volleyball match? My guess is no. If PSU isn't willing to invest in football. Why bother investing in any sport?
My guess is the same as yours, likely not. A distinction is that sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer typically cost far less to operate than a football program. That doesn’t change the demographics, but it may change the financial calculus of whether those programs are worth continuing.
Full disclosure: I haven’t looked at attendance figures, revenues, or the costs of PSU’s other athletic programs, so this is my poorly informed by data, opinion, rather than a conclusion based on research.
Not poorly informed at all. I apologize if I implied that. I don't know anymore than you do. I responded to your post because I am a Portland kid who remembers some great times for football at PSU. It's not a traditional campus or school by any means, but I have seen athletics do well there, and while maybe my emotion is fueled by nostalgia, I keep thinking it can return. Thanks for a great post and response.
Oh gosh Rob, no apology necessary. I was taking a shot at myself because I haven’t dug into the other sports. I’ve enjoyed football and a little basketball at PSU, and I like you emotionally still hold out hope. Stay healthy, I enjoyed interacting with you here.
Why does PSU even play football? Does playing in the Big Sky help recruit prospective students? Do students even care? Seems like they should follow the University of Portland or Gonzaga model and play basketball, soccer, and baseball. Mouse Davis and Neil Lomax were a long long time ago
@JuneauJim, interesting question. But it suggests that prospective students would be more drawn to basketball, soccer, and baseball. Why do you think that would be the case?
Mouse Davis: lightning in a bottle. Was he Chip Kelly’s inspiration?
Many say it was Gary Crowton. https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-chip-kelly-20180802-story.html
Others say a bit of Hal Mumme mixed in.
Bruce was the most quotable and accommodating coach I've met in my many years of interviewing hundreds of college coaches in a variety of sports. He always knew I had a job to do and did his best to fulfill what I needed. He will be missed. Nick Saban would have been 1-11 at Portland State last year as well. Support is critical and Bruce Barnum never had it.
The kids that have to play the Blood Games deserve to get some of the money paid to their school. I can’t imagine those kids look forward to getting blown out by 50+ points.
Put the football money into the basketball program and forget about football.
@David, if done right the ROI on football dwarfs basketball.
First, Coach Barnum is a good man. He’s a good coach and a good human. He was put in an almost impossible spot, and I’m afraid Coach Fisk is in the same or worse spot.
Portland State needs to make a decision as an institution. They really only have two options involving football:
1. Make the investment needed to be competitive in the Big Sky and FCS. Fund scholarships. Play only one “pay day” game a season like many other FCS programs (and try to rotate it between OSU/UO/WSU/UW to save travel money). Build the on-campus stadium. Invest and act like you belong.
2. Drop down to Division II and join Western Oregon University and Central Washington University football in the Lone Star Conference. Less investment needed. Less expectations. Could continue to play in Hillsboro or maybe a Portland HS stadium. Still good football.
They could also just drop football, but that would have some enrollment considerations that could be negative to PSU because of the lack of football players attending.
PSU needs to make a decision. They can’t just keep doing it halfway. It’s bad for the university, players, coaches and the city.
Division II might actually be a worse option if they have to play 80% of their away games in Texas. Not a long-term success plan for Central Washington and Western Oregon either.
Edit: added away
I’m an OCE, aka WOU alum. When I was there, they played Linfield, PLU, Willamette, SOC, etc. Great conference and rivalries. Now in DII, who cares? I don’t.
The private schools have said they will no longer play state schools and that upended everything.
When they were division 2, they were drawing upwards of 10,000 a game under pokeowin. I know that division has changed and knowing how schools work they don't want to be aligned with Central Washington and Western Oregon, even though 99% of most students it doesn't matter when you're at that level or at the Big Sky. They might want to play division one in another sports even though other than men's and women's basketball, most small colleges would pretty much crush them and in other sports. Like you said, they have some choices there and need to make those decisions.
So why does Portland State even field a team given the circumstances under which it operates?
Are they waiting for a reincarnation of Neil Lomax to lead them to the Promised Land?
Ignoring reality can lead to problems.
It seems as though, at least in the perspective of football, PSU has lost its way. They either need to make a financial investment in football, or just get out of football all together. With all the money flying around college athletics these days, it feels like PSU is missing an opportunity.
Agree with Coach and Ed S it has been an impossible situation for years..Portland State needs to fund this sport and be able to offer full scholarships to players…a place to play and a schedule where there is “hope” Football I believe is a real “character Builder” but this program and the State need to find the funds “even the playing field”
One other thing…how about a mention of my Montana Stare Bobcats visiting the Whitehouse today!
He did an admirable job considering the university’s situation. I hope his final paycheck didn’t bounce.
North Dakota is also an FCS program. This is who PSU must compete with. It should not be considered a "payday" game.
Yep, and UND isn't even a power FCS program. Just a "goid" program. Nothing close to NDSU.
I wonder if John mistakenly thought the home game with North Dakota was an away payday game at North Dakota State.
This was a good interview, John. And he was much easier on Billings than Billings was on him last fall when he was fired. Nobody can win at PSU when the leadership won't do anything substantive to boost the program. Hope Coach will enjoy his time off, and take your invitation to do a weekly spot on upcoming games while he sorts out his next move. Thanks!
I don't know where to begin, my brother gave about 1.5 million to the wrestling hall of fame. He wrestled at PSU and did a great job in his 3 years there. He complained about the facilities and the way the administration handled things way back in the 60s. He became so fed up that he finished out his senior year at OSU. Throughout his years after leaving school he was contacted many times by PSU for donations to the athletic fund. He never gave. Eventually he had a meeting with PSU and was asked why he would not consider giving to the school. His answer was BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO WIN. I'm not so sure they don't want to win but I am sure the admin at PSU is not willing to step up and fund a winning program. You can fire and hire coaches till the cows come home and once in a while the blind admin will find a not and win a couple of games. Granted a million five will not go far in this day and age but at least it would have been something. I guess I said that to say this, you have to be willing to invest or PSU will look like the rest of Portland.
Here's the Dirty Little Secret most people don't know about and that's the majority of FCS football schools aren't even close to fully funding their scholarship amounts for that sport and others. Eastern Washington was dead broke just like Portland State, The faculty recommended going D2 but others said that will hurt their image. Instead they're shifting money is all over campus, cutting academic programs, diluting the university at a school that draws 8, 000 a game if they're lucky, even though they won a national title. In basketball they probably draw a thousand or less. Portland State has similar basketball numbers.
There's a few prominent Big Sky schools for years not fully funded, that being 63 football scholarships, so most people just think everybody's fully funded and they're not. Yes Montana and Montana Montana State draw 25,000 a game at the gate have $10 million dollar indoor facilities and fully fund their programs. That's not the norm.
Most Big Sky schools don't fully find all their sports andPortland State is probably the lowest of all of them. I don't know how you can play the Division 1 game with those numbers.
Will the AD and PSU Prez listen? Sure. But, the situation is what the situation is. PSU doesn't have the funding. If they could tap into the wealthier alumni, perhaps they could be a force in the Big Sky.