I don't know if the 3.5 million for "staff" is an average of their members or a requirement. I looked at the Nevada coaches and they have perhaps 18 to Davis' 12, it's hard to compare because of different roles. While it makes sense to expand the staff, and increase pay, more than tripling Davis' coaching expenditure seem like it would not be necessary to put a good product on the field.

that’s the minimum. The average head coach salary is something like $1,3M, with UNLV’s Dan Mullen topping the list at $3.5M.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/how-much-every-head-football-coach-in-the-mountain-west-and-pac-12-will-make-in-2026

Program needs a huge amount of money to come in. We aren't going to wing it like our neighbors.
My timeline for anything to happen with football is probably farther out than many here. Which is not bad IMO.

at the sac airport:

we should put a lot more ads at SMF and show everyone that the sac region only has one true university

[quote]Mountain West Football Budgets

FY25 Football Expenses

University of Nevada, Las Vegas: $21,767,260
San Jose State University: $16,017,209
University of New Mexico: $15,386,871
University of Nevada, Reno: $14,787,520
University of Hawaii: $13,943,117
Northern Illinois University: $13,269,400
University of Wyoming: $13,091,900
University of Texas at El Paso: $12,717,061
U.S. Air Force Academy: $12,007,431
North Dakota State University: $8,353,482

Average: $14,134,125 per school[/quote]

https://herosports.com/fbs-mountain-west-football-budgets-look-like-ksks/

That is some great information on where UC Davis football stands, moving in the right direction with respect to FCS. Finally having the funds to compete. Doing more with more (not just more with less).

However, it does show where we need to go in the event we want to move to the Mountain West for football.

Side note. For the 2024 season, Sac State had the second highest football expenditures at the FCS level (for reporting schools). Their record for the 2024 season . . . 3-9. This is what "bust" looks like.