State of Athletic Program
by beavsfan10 on Jun 5, 2009 6:57 AM PDT
20 comments
[Bumped to the front page. --jake]
With Bobby D's latest AD report (it can be found here: http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/060209aaq.html) talking about the lack of donations and season ticket renewals for the upcoming football season, I was wondering what you guys think we could/should do to fix the problem? Obviously this is a tough economic time for everyone in the entire country but things don't seem to be quite as dire in other parts of the country as they do at OSU. Especially considering the fact that we are coming off a season where we were just one Pac-10 victory away from the Rose Bowl, won yet another bowl game, and had all of our games on national television. If Oregon State and Beaver Nation ever wants to be considered among the elite in college football then we have to find a way increase donations, expand our base, and up ticket sales. There is no way a team that has finished in the top 25 for three straight seasons should not be selling out all their home game and have plenty of revenue coming in. I agree with Bobby D that this is a make or break type of situation for our athletic program. Either we can keep settling for 8-9 win bowl teams, secondary post season basketball tournaments, and first round regional exits or we can start backing our programs and push them to new heights such as the Rose Bowl, the NCAA tournament, and more CWS appearances.
So how do we do it? Thats the question I pose to the rest of you in Beaver Nation.
GO BEAVS!!!
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or the Building the Dam staff. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable Oregon State fans.
0 recs |
20 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Here's what I think you're going to see
This upcoming year, with a winning season (as is expected) you will have the first ever 4 year class to graduate with a winning season EVERY YEAR. It may not seem like much, but it means a lot when these kids that graduate start making good money in 5-10 years. You’re going to see the rewards quite soon. Basketball is on the up, and baseball (albeit underachieving) is still successful. These kinds of things don’t happen over night. Winning is a new thing to OSU. And yes, it is a hard time right now. And remember what a lot of OSU grads are— engineers. There is absolutely no construction right now. These are hard times for everyone, and I agree with you in that we should be selling out our stadium.
But trust me, once kids like myself graduate, you will see people starting to give back a lot more. I plan to routinely give at least $1,000 a year to the athletic program. I know most of my friends are as well. If you figure that 5,000 kids graduate a year from OSU, if each gave $1,000, that’s an extra $5m to the athletic program, from that class alone. I see no reason why this isn’t happening now.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Jun 4, 2009 12:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I am with you on that...
I don’t understand how/why more current students graduating are not giving money. Even if it is just the minimum $100 a year to be BASF donor. At least that would be something and add some revenue to the athletic program. I too plan to donate at least $1000 a year after I graduate and hopefully more as I would love to see OSU athletics reach its full potential.
Does anyone know if the the athletic department reaches out to kids after they graduate urging them to donate? That would seem to be the best idea to get people at least thinking about it right away. Also, we have to find a way to sell out the stadium. Especially if we ever want to see it expanded to 60,000 which has been talked about in the past and I think would REALLY put us on the map. But I still say a new state-of-the-art basketball practice facility needs to priority #1, then look in to either expanding Reser again or upgrading some of our other football facilities.
GO BEAVS!!!
by beavsfan10 on Jun 4, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't mean to be a total jerk, but
But trust me, once kids like myself graduate, you will see people starting to give back a lot more. I plan to routinely give at least $1,000 a year to the athletic program. I know most of my friends are as well. If you figure that 5,000 kids graduate a year from OSU, if each gave $1,000, that’s an extra $5m to the athletic program, from that class alone. I see no reason why this isn’t happening now.
Why this isn’t happening on a regular basis = 1) Buying a house, 2) Having a family, 3) Economic and employment fluctuations, 4) Paying off student loans, 5) Other living and health expense debt, 6) etc. and etc. and etc. = Our lives.
As much as I love OSU sports I actually give to the academic side of things in my donations, and support athletics by ticket sales and buying merchandise. Athletic programs celebrate that they are “self supporting,” so there is a side of me that says “you live by the sword, and you die by the sword.” For me things are much more important than OSU sports, sorry but that is the way it is and if self supporting athletics can’t manage their finances better, well…if I can’t manage my finances better and/or make hard financial decisions I can lose my house.
I think it is great you both are planning to give at least $1000 a year, but I have chosen a different path to give as much as I can to academics. I very much think athletics needs to be supported for it gives a bunch of great experiences to people who might not be able to afford a college education, so on a more positive (I hope!) note is I see that there is a really important need for supporting OSU athletics and academics.
Oh, and I also think one should support athletic programs when they are not successful as much as you do when they are successful. To be again the weirdo on the sports blog block, college sports is not all about winning and big TV markets it is also about helping young adults grow and become well educated adults.
A fix? Well, not sure I have a good or positive answer for this.
Again, I think it is great how you both will be supporting the program after graduating, I’m just saying it is all not that an easy fix/situation and personally I don’t like how it sometimes is projected back at the fan to make up the difference. That’s just me though and take this all as you will.
-RVM
by rvm on Jun 4, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thunder stealer.
Though I Rec you with a vengeance…
"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''
- from Quick's Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door, 4/16/09
by ArbyOSU on Jun 4, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
sorry and thanks!
Glad I’m not the total odd-man out here…
-RVM
by rvm on Jun 4, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As much as I love OSU sports I actually give to the academic side of things in my donations, and support athletics by ticket sales and buying merchandise.
That’s funny because I just had a conversation with some graduating friends last night about this very thing. What we came up with is that good academics do not increase exposure. Good athletics do. And exposure leads to increased applications. And increased applications leads to stricter requirements for admission. And so far down the line. Is there any reason why Oregon has higher requirements for admission than does Oregon State? Because they have higher application rates for the same enrollment. And this is because when kids turn on the TV, they don’t see Oregon’s business school, or Oregon State’s engineering school. They see Oregon’s flashy football jerseys, or Oregon State beating USC. Generally speaking, better athletics leads to better schooling, not the other way around.
So really, the best way to improve academics is by starting with athletics. $1,000 a year is roughly $85 a month. If that’s a lot, I apologize. But generally speaking I would hope most college graduates could afford an extra $85 a month to support their athletic program.
Please don’t think that I am looking down upon academics, or that I think you are wrong for giving academically as opposed to athletically. But realistically, there are actually very few (literally, I think I read less than 10) athletic programs that are self sustaining. A smaller program like ours needs all the help we can get. And quite honestly, Oregon State athletics represent who I am. When I graduate, I want athletic programs that I can be proud of. I want to say “I’m a Beaver” and have it mean something. Yes, I want our athletes to continue the solid run of “good men” that we have had, and we have the coaches in place for just that. But I also live a life by Ws and Ls, and I want to see our programs take that next step. We have built a nice little niche in our small, little rural town, and there’s no reason to think that our programs can’t be as good as anyone else’s.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Jun 4, 2009 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've really stated about all I wanted to say above
Going to leave it here and will say I disagree with your point of view, but that is your opinion and I respect that.
University is about academics first and foremost. Sorry, but if let’s say a worse case scenario happened and athletics all went away that is the way it would have to be.
To be a bit more blunt about it all, on $1000 a year, you get back to me in five to ten years about how that’s holding up for you. I would love to have an expendable/extra $85 a month in this current economic times to donate back to OSU. Oh and for the recent graduates how about assuring them of good employment before asking them for paying more out of their incomes that most likely are already burdened by student loans?
-RVM
by rvm on Jun 4, 2009 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The university IS about academics, first and foremost. I understand that. But my point was that for an institution like ourselves, academics and athletics co-mingle. They are not separated from each other. And yes, in this current economic time, I agree that it’s probably not feasible. But this economy isn’t going to be this bad forever. Things will pick up naturally. I believe the term is laisezz faire (sp)
And I said in my original post that it would take 5-10 years to see the benefits, but that we will see it. Winning produces interest. And interest produces money. For right or wrong, its the way the world works.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Jun 4, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
a good quote on academic/athletics
"Athletics are the front porch of the university," Mr. Barnes said. "It’s not the most important room in the house, but it is the most visible."
from this article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/sports/30colleges.html?_r=2&em
Woof
by Charles Barkley McLovin on Jun 4, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry VD, have to agree with RVM on this one. Supporting the athletic department at a University may offer exposure for gaining new students but it doesn’t do a lot for attracting new faculty which is key to creating top end academia. You can have super high academic standards but what good does it do if you can’t get the professors to come in? Like it or not, there is a huge divide that exists on all campuses when it comes to splitting the dollars up and academia just doesn’t see your point of view. In their mind, more students doesn’t equal more equipment and a better quality of education. It means larger class sizes, hiring more teachers but not investing in the quality of that education.
When I graduate, I want athletic programs that I can be proud of. I want to say "I’m a Beaver" and have it mean something.
This is a real bummer to me. I very much value my Bachelor’s Degree from Oregon. It means more to me than any BCS game or NCAA tournament berth. I’m a Duck and it means something. It means I finished school, have a degree (which is something a lot of people can’t say) and have the experiences to take with me always. Athletics come and go, teams will be good and teams will be bad but you should always be proud of your school in everything that it does because there is more to be proud of than just athletics.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
by dvieira on Jun 4, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m always going to be proud of my school. But what I said was that I want “athletics” to be proud of. I know that times will be good and times will be bad.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Jun 4, 2009 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some of us are paying off loans, paying for more education and living their lives, which cost money...
I buy tickets to every game I can get to—usually half to 3/4 of the home schedule and most years, an away game—and donate where I can but we’re in tough times economically as a country. I cut a check for $125.00 at the Stanford CBI game and do as much business with OSU as possible, buying tickets, merch, etc.
I DO NOT expect people to give extra money on top of what they pay for tickets or education, I just expect them to turn out, give support and IF they can afford it, give money. Let’s cut mens soccer or something that generates little interest and even fewer funds… just don’t stick us with the bill.
As for the Reser expansion, yeah, that’d be cool, but let’s just fill it up regularly. It’s nice as hell right now—love going to that place. We agree on the basketball facilities. Gill needs more upgrades and the training facilities need to match up with the competition for us to maintain this uptick… (why I cut my check essentially)…
Oh, and I’m holding you to that first year donation of $1,000.00. Can BASF invoice you for that now?
"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''
- from Quick's Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door, 4/16/09
by ArbyOSU on Jun 4, 2009 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've got a year left of school and am already getting calls from OSU fund
My proudest day will be after graduation writing a donation to Oregon State University.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Jun 4, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually...
I am already a BASF member and I have 2-3 years left until I get my masters so yeah I think they can count on me for that. I understand that everyone has a different circumstance but I am not going to be married or have children anytime soon so I should have the ability to give to OSU athletics from the start. And I agree with VD in the fact that a) the economy will not be bad forever b) better athletic programs helps the university. It’s one of the reasons that you see so many university presidents support their athletic programs so much. They know that if they can generate more interest in their university then they can get more applicants, increase academic standards, get more tuition money, attract better teachers, and get more national recognition (athletically and academically). Look at the top 5-10 athletic programs and you will see that almost each of them is one of the top universities in the country (non ivy league). USC, Texas, Florida, Ohio State, UGA, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc. All of them rank in the top 50 schools nationally according to US News. Do you think it is a coincidence that they also have great athletic programs and that in fact many of them academically have gotten better since there athletics have? I think not. And yes, I also want to say that “I’m a Beaver” and have that mean something both academically and athletically throughout the country.
by beavsfan10 on Jun 4, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
be careful with citing US News and World Report as an “unbiased” source
Staffer: Clemson Manipulated Rankings
How Clemson Moved From ‘38′ to ‘22′ in the U.S. News Rankings
Manipulating,’ Er, Influencing ’U.S. News
Also, define “great athletic programs” because a lot of the schools in the top 50 have athletic departments that are successful, just not when it comes to Football and Basketball. Harvard, for example, traditionally has good Crew and Squash teams. Even more so, there are plenty of schools in the Top 50 that don’t have good football or basketball teams that aren’t in the Ivy League. Here’s a link to the list: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search/
There are also plenty of programs with a VERY rich tradition in say, football for example, that aren’t near the top 50 at all. Oklahoma is ranked 108, Alabama at 83, Kentucky (for basketball) 116.
Do you think it is a coincidence that they also have great athletic programs and that in fact many of them academically have gotten better since there athletics have?
Can you link your source on this? I can only seem to find info back a couple years, not nearly enough to see if this is truly accurate or not.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
by dvieira on Jun 4, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not saying that this is true for all schools and there are certainly plenty of schools that are good athletically and may not be very good academically. As for what sports I am talking about, I am sticking mainly to football and men’s basketball since those are the only revenue producing programs at most schools. I think people are misinterpreting what I am trying to say. Academics are the first and most important thing for any and every university. As a student, it is obviously more important to me that my degree means something than my school’s football team is successful BUT at the same time, I do see a huge correlation in the two and I don’t think it is wrong to exploit your athletic programs to try and increase the prestige of your university. And athletic success is important to me as an alumni but I guess to most people it may not be.
by beavsfan10 on Jun 5, 2009 12:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
And athletic success is important to me as an alumni but I guess to most people it may not be.
I see your point but I think this goes back to what RVM mentioned earlier. At a certain point, people just don’t have anything to give and it doesn’t reflect on their fandom or how important athletics are to them. All some can do is go to a couple of games, buy a sweatshirt or two and root like hell for the team. If you want to give to the athletic department in hopes that your money translates into getting one or two more wins for your teams, all the power to you. A lot of people do that and there’s nothing wrong with it. Some people just simply can’t because of their real world situations and when the choice comes down to $85 a month to feed your kid versus $85 to help the electric bill for Reser, choosing to feed the kid doesn’t make them less of a fan.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
by dvieira on Jun 5, 2009 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well stated, I like the way you put it that it’s not really an all or nothing deal and there can be varying degrees of support. And choosing one degree over another doesn’t make you any less a fan than someone else.
I also really liked your previous statement about what you are most proud of, and what truly makes you a UO Duck, is your degree, I couldn’t agree more. I see my OSU education and degree as what makes me able to connect to OSU sports and not the other way around.
-RVM
by rvm on Jun 5, 2009 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
real world situations and when the choice comes down to $85 a month to feed your kid versus $85 to help the electric bill for Reser, choosing to feed the kid doesn’t make them less of a fan.
Agreed completely, and I didn’t mean to step on any toes, rvm, by suggesting you’re less of a fan because you choose to give academically. I applaud you for that. I just wanted to point out there is quite a correlation between good athletics and good academics. Its not an exact science, as dvieria points out above. But more often then not, there is subtle increases when football are basketball are good. And when I graduate, chances are I will be living at home (or renting) and will have disposable income, a lot of which will be put towards this universities athletics program.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Jun 5, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I support the beavers by buying products. I own a langoleer, umbrella, house key, at least a dozen t-shirts, jacket, a couple signs, baseball cap etc…. all with beavers logos. I get something useful and OSU gets a cut. If I had a spare $1,000.00 I could find hundreds of more worthy causes starting with a plethera of diseases or medical conditions, than to donate the money to the athletic department.
by osubeavs6 on Jun 6, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
