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Questions and Comments We've Received

June 7, 2003

I am an avid supporter of Tulane University and have always been proud to say I am a member of the Tulane family. However, at this point in time, I must say I am dismayed to think that my school would give up major time sports without a fight! Shouldn't we have a can do spirit that we can overcome any obstacles that are placed before us. Aren't we creative enough to figure out a way to maintain the Tulane tradition as it has been for over many more than one hundred years. If we drop football or downgrade our sports program, Tulane will never be the same again. I know I speak for thousands of people who love Tulane for what it stands for- an outstanding university in every way!! Don't let the tulane spirit die!

*****

President Cowan and board of Tulane -

I am a '74 graduate of Newcomb, and my late husband was a '74 graduate of Tulane. The current talk of the fate of Tulane sports has caused me to reflect on many of my college memories. I was a cheerleader, and my husband was a fullback on the football team. From singing the national anthem in the old Sugar Bowl Stadium to watching the Green Wave beat LSU in '73, the quality of athletics at Tulane played a major role in my college experience, the college experience of my friends, and the experience of many of our children. While I know sports will continue at Tulane, Division 1A status adds an excitement and a prestige that should be preserved.

The quality of a Tulane education is vital, and I feel that a thriving athletic program constributes immeasurably to the Tulane experience. I hope you will strongly consider giving Rick Dickson's plan a chance. My opinoin is that you will lose more dollars from donors than you will gain by cutting athletics from the school. And I believe that not having Division 1A football will hurt the admissions process.

I hope that everything possible will be done to continue and improve what has been such a joy for so many Tulane graduates: past, present, and hopefully future.

*****

I attended Tulane undergraduate, medical school and residency along with my entire family including my father, brother and sister. We have been a part of Tulane and Tulane has been a part of us for the last 45 years. We come to this discussion in regards to Tulane athletics not as innocent bystanders but as a family greatly affected by the unique qualities of Tulane. We as a family come to this discussion not simply because my brother and I participated in a Division 1 varsity sport at Tulane University but also because each and everyone of us understands and is commited to excellence in academics. We understand that academics is the number one priority at a university having been and are still actively associated with several medical faculties and in my case a departmental chairman and director. Coming to this discussion with this unique perspective I feel that Tulane would be making a grave mistake and possibly even a fatal mistake if they consider dropping down to Div. 3 and or consider eliminating the football team. Frankly it is quite alarming that you and the board are wiiling to disregard the overwhelming support for Div.1 athletics by Tulane alumni, fans,students , parents and the entire City of New Orleans establishment. It is an insult to each and every person who bleeds Tulane. It is sickening to find out that many of the people who would be making this decision are from out of town. Some of these people I am told do not even have ties to Tulane and could not possibly understand the important role of Tulane Athletics and the association that Tulane Athletics has with the city of New Orleans. If you were around for more than five or six years perhaps for as long as 110 years you could begin to understand how both athletics and academics can coexist and flourish with one complementing the other. Coming from a background of academics and higher learning I understand that there is no academician that should be concerned and threatened by athletics. If the truth be told athletics at its highest level the Div1 category enhances a school striving for academic excellence. They feed off of each other and in fact the so called complete student who applies to Tulane may cease to exist if there is not a commitment to be the best at academics and athletics simultaneously as Tulane has strived to do for an entire century. I plead to the board to understand that academics and athletics at the highest level is what Tulane University has always been about. This is what defines Tulane in every way and there should be no compromise. Please do not become shortsighted and put a stranglehold on the athletic program. Give our athletic director Rick Dickson a fighting chance not just 6 weeks but several years to prove himself in regards to solving the athletic financial situation as he has confidently laid out. Whether you agree with his plan are not you as the president of this prestigious university owe the athletic director , the Tulane Alumni, students , parents and perhaps most importantly the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisina this opportunity to rectify this situation.After all you as the president of Tulane were given a similar chance to succeed in 1998 upon your arrival. Rick Dickson can turn this around because if he does not or if you and the board do not give him a chance to turn this around Tulane University will cease to be regarded as a complete university , a top research university with a highly successful Div1 athletic program, one in which is second to none both athletically and academically. Tulane deserves the very best leadership. Leadership which strives to be the best at both academics and athletics and does not cave to the financial pressure and the pressure of higher education in the twenty first century. Great leaders find a way to succeed in every endeavor they take on. They do not give up and they find solutions and invest in these solutions. They are forward thinkers who do not tear down century old institutions but find ways to rejuvinate them. This is what is needed at Tulane University and I hope you Scott Cowen and the entire Board of Trustees will begin to understand this and act accordingly.

*****

Dear President Cowen and Board:

I am absolutely disgusted that this process is still taking place. It is very clear that the vast majority of the Tulane family wants you to leave athletics alone!!! Despite the fact that you think you have Tulane's best interest in mind, I truly believe that you and the board have no idea how much you are going to hurt Tulane by downgrading any portion of our athletic program.

If you change the status quo, you will cause a major rift between Tulane and its alumni. There is a thin line between love and hate in any relationship. Betrayal in any relationship leads to a bitter ending. Tulane alumni are able to have a connection with Tulane through Division I Football and other Division I sports. Take that away and we will feel betrayed. We will be bitter and thus, have no relationship with the school that we once loved so dearly. Thank you for your time and I hope that you see the light and let us keep our Athletic Programs.

*****

I am a member of the Advisory Board for University College at Tulane University, have a child who recently has gone through a college search, married into a family with a very long history with Tulane University and am a business executive with a local bank. I think each of these give me a perspective into the current situation concerning the future of Tulane's athletic program. Without going into a long dissertation on each, though, I do want to make a couple of points why I think Tulane will be making a terrible decision if they downgrade their athletic program by any means.

In general, it is important to recognize that the desirability of any product, city or university to prospective consumers is the entire package. A Snickers candy bar without caramel or peanuts, the city of New Orleans without the Saints or spicy food, or Tulane without a good academic reputation or a strong athletic program all are lacking necessary ingredients that make each of these attractive to a portion of the consuming public. When my son recently chose his college, he told us that one of the deciding factors was its strong athletic program and participation in Division I sports. While he wanted an academically challenging environment (he was valedictorian at his high school and had SAT scores in excess of 1,500), he also wanted the atmosphere that only Division I sporting events can add to college life. I do not think that this is unusual. Most people consider the entire package when choosing their college. To leave out any important component only diminishes the attractiveness of Tulane University to prospective students. It is not an either-or proposition; Tulane needs to have it all.

As a business executive, I have frequently been in similar situations where a product or unit has been consistently underperforming profitability requirements. In determining future steps, I always try to understand the true profitability of the product or unit. As it concerns Tulane, are the athletic and/or football programs underperforming on a fully allocated basis but covering their incremental (variable) costs? If Tulane eliminated the athletic and/or football programs, would it adversely impact the profitability of other departments? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are very subjective, but their importance needs to be recognized and the impact estimated. For example, if profitability is being determined on a fully allocated basis, will elimination of the program(s) result in elimination of all allocated expenses of fixed and variable costs of administrative overhead? Generally not. In fact, in many cases, only the direct variable costs are recovered. It is even conceivable that the elimination of one or more programs could decrease the profitability of the university.

Another important aspect to consider is the strategic importance of the athletic and football programs. While this also can be hotly debated, I would suggest that they are both strategically important for reasons as mentioned in my first paragraph, for alumni support and for its potential for creating national recognition. As such, it is not a question as to whether to cut the programs or not, but more of a question as to how to increase its profitability or at a minimum, decrease its losses. Goals need to be set, plans developed and the proper individuals hired to execute them. If the goals are not met, don't kill the program, change leaders, and keep doing so until you find the right person. Remember, though, as you create your plans, it might require a larger investment to build a successful program. Doing anything less only dooms Tulane to failure.

Finally, I have to add that I think the whole process considering this proposal has been somewhat underhanded. I have been an avid fan and supporter of Tulane since being a child, and I am very disappointed in this administrations' disenfranchisement of its alumni, students, fans, and city and state residents. I can't help but think that this proposal is an attempt to hide other shortcomings of the administration. I would propose that when this proposal is put behind us, that a similar review be made of the University's success or lack thereof in all other financial matters.

I apologize for the long e-mail, but I feel very passionately about Tulane athletics and would hate to see Tulane make what I would consider to be a monumental mistake if it were to cut its athletic and/or football program. Feel free to contact me should you need any assistance or require any further comments.

*****

To the Committee,

I had the pleasure of playing basketball on scholarship at Tulane from 1971-1975. I chose Tulane over Alabama, Auburn and other larger schools because I was interested in a great education in a cosmopolitan city and Tulane fit the bill perfectly. During the time I was there, Tulane played a strong independent schedule against major competition around the country. We faced conference opponents like Texas, Mississippi State and Kansas State and independents like Marquette and Notre Dame. My teammates majored in pre-law, pre-medicine and engineering and Tulane was on par with Duke and Miami athletically and academically. Unfortunately, we lost the things that attracted me to Tulane for sports with the scandals of the 80s and the consequent termination of the basketball program.

Athletic success has benefited Duke and Miami enormously and if Tulane can navigate the ongoing conference re-alignment process and replicate their success then I support that effort. If not, then we might finally acknowledge once and for all that getting out of the SEC many years ago was the end of big time sports at Tulane.

I commend the leadership demonstrated by Rick Dickson. Unlike our previous sports administrators, he clearly understands the need to develop support for our programs. For instance, prior to his arrival, I was never once contacted by the athletic department for support in the 28 years since I graduated from Tulane.

I wish you the best as you work to determine Tulane's role in the ever changing world of college athletics.

*****

Dear Dr. Cowen:

I can not tell you how upset I am with you. I am ashamed you are the President of Tulane University. Tulane is too good for you. I did not want to believe how underhanded you were about trying to sneak in this vote on Tulane athletics. I did not believe it at first but the facts speak for themselves.

I am born and raised in New Orleans. I started going to Tulane football games when I was 12 years old; I am 52 now... My child has gone since he was 6 months old. To think there will be no more Tulane football is unimaginable. My child dreams of going to Tulane and the only way he will get there is on a scholarship for sports. I am not a very rich person but I buy my season tickets every year winning or loosing seasons. It is a love I have for Tulane that is just there.

It is just so unbelievable how out of hand this situation has gotten. All the people you gave your word to like the Assistant Coaches who had a chance to go to other schools but stayed here on your WORD.

You must give Rick Dickson a chance to turn Athletic Department around. Things have changed since 911 but I thought my Tulane football and other sports would always be here. You must give Rick Dickson a chance to turn Athletic Department around. I just can not express in words my feelings about this. I am so depressed. I was hit with the articles in Times Picayune about Tulane and possible closing of Riverdale High School. What a one, two punch I got. I just can not tell you how totally helpless I feel because I hear your mind is made up.

PLEASE KEEP TULANE FOOTBALL - AT PRESENT LEVEL AND ALL OTHER SPORTS. GIVE MR. DICKSON a CHANCE.

*****

I have read all that has been said, and I am totally perplexed. Why would anyone consider downgrading this University? Does it not occur to all involved that the elimination of football (or any of the other major sports for that matter) or the shift to a lower NCAA Division will inherently diminish the prestige of Tulane University?

Among those with whom I've been talking and communicating over the past several weeks, there is a rock-solid agreement that anything other than "staying the course" would be a monumental mistake. The reported commentary regarding other institutions which compete in Division I without football is misleading: those institutions never had football, and have concentrated on other sports. As a result whatever national reputation each has is in no way dependent on its football program, per se. In the case of Tulane, that's not a fair analogy, because Tulane was a football powerhouse many years ago. I dare say, had the University not made the three major mistakes recognized by everyone who has considered the situation (de-emphasizing sports in the 50's, leaving the SEC in the 60's and tearing down the stadium in the 70's), Tulane might well be a major power to this day. Those decisions are water under the bridge, unfortunately, but the lesson from them is crystal clear: this is a one-way street, and for the most part whatever the University does cannot be reversed later.

So, what will happen if Tulane drops football or moves down to Division III? Nothing good, I would be willing to bet. And, just as was learned after the 3 separately disastrous mistakes, not only are such mistakes irreversible, they tend to cumulate. I predict that any move other than keeping athletics exactly as it is (or, ideally "growing" athletics at Tulane) will reap the wind, and Tulane will become "minor league" in many more aspects than just sports.

It is unquestionable that all save a few of the colleges playing Division I football are hurting financially. But this is a problem for the collegiate community as a whole, not something that should be handled institution-by-institution, piecemeal and too hastily. Take it up with the NCAA and air the grievances. Find a way for ALL 1-A institutions to reduce the deficits and prosper.

On two other fronts, I would (a) strongly urge Tulane to align itself with a different conference, and (b) recruit locally, locally, locally in football.

The ACC is seeking additional members - why not throw our hat into that ring RIGHT NOW?? If we could switch to the ACC, I daresay we could compete on a fairly even basis, and we would be gaining immeasurably: TV markets, larger shared conference payouts, etc. It's a natural because of the historical rivalries there - Georgia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, NC and NC State, Florida State and even, yes, Bowden U (Clemson).......... If that doesn't work out, watch the fallout after the ACC does whatever it's going to do, and look for other potential alignments. Conference USA is never going to be a competitor of the SEC or other major conferences, but there is a possibility of forming a break-off with So. Miss, Virginia Tech, TCU, and a few other schools which DO have a national following and can compete with the big boys.

On the recruiting issue, I do not understand why Tulane doesn't look more closely in its own backyard. Many local athletes are ignored, despite evidence provided by predecessors that such athletes can and do contribute in a major way. In recent years I have had sons on the Jesuit football team and have had the opportunity to observe Catholic league play. There are many young men in that league alone who would LOVE to play locally for Tulane if given the chance. A few have done so, like Brant Hocke and Brandt Quick. If Tulane really wants to put fans in the seats at the Dome, then give the locals a chance. Couple this with entertainment before and after the games, and move the games back to Saturday nights, for goodness sake, and I suspect you'd see an almost immediate difference in attendance.

NO disrespect, intended, ladies and gentlemen, but I do not think you are thinking clearly or prospectively at all. Please come to your senses and put the kabosh on this nonsense once and for all.

*****

The alumni and student body have come out overwhelmingly against the idea of changing the status of our athletics program. Rick Dickson has done a wonderful job. Even our money losing football program has the current highest rated QB for the 2004 NFL draft (J.P. Lossman) on ESPN. This means yet another Tulane quarterback will go first round next year. Excellent school recogntion, especially with our student-athlete graduation rate. Name recognition is a serious problem for this school, and will continue to deteriorate without this type of national exposure.

That aside, I always felt Tulane was special because the students were full of personality and life. They didn't want to be at some mid-ranked Tier 1 University because they didn't get their first choice; they wanted to be at a special school with a fine reputation, and Tulane is just that, even if it is ranked five or ten spots lower than some would like. Incidentally, when did the opinion of U.S. News and World Report become more important than the opinions of the student body and the alumni?

I have talked with every alumni I know and have met in the last six months, and it seems most or all of us will stop supporting Tulane. I am proud to have been educated by Tulane, but I also hold a degree from the London School of Economics. A lot of your other alumni have other alma matters to which they might funnel their donations as well, institutions interested in tradition and maintaining positive ties to its alumni. The financial fallout of ignoring such a vocal alumni community will be far worse than allowing Rick Dickson to execute his workable and seemingly already successful plan.

New Orleans already resents Tulane for the perceived notion that our University does not care about our community. Tulane used to be "New Orleans' Team," and it needs to be again. I think, perhaps, a new UC can wait. I saw it the other day; it seemed to be standing strong.

And so, to the board I humbly recommend this: do not test the student and alumni resolve in this matter. You will likely not enjoy the results.

*****

Dear Members of the Board,

I have written previously regarding the upcoming vote on status of Tulane Athletics. The thrust of my argument being that Tulane should be a leader to other non-BCS schools in dealing with the current power and revenue structures. But it seems that a decision based solely on economics is what this is all coming down to. Unfortunately, based on information that has been coming out in various local and national media, the true financial picture of the University as a whole and athletics in particular are deliberately being clouded. For instance, the athletic deficit seems to grow daily, and the further from New Orleans it is reported, the more the deficit is!

The only conclusion that I can make, which I am slowly having to reluctantly accept, is that this is being done deliberately to deflect accountability. I sincerely hope that this in not the case. In your preparation for voting on this important matter, I hope the following are clearly addressed and the findings made public no matter how you vote:

1) The true costs of Division 1 athletics at Tulane for the past 10 years including real hard costs, soft costs such as scholarships, revenue, and alumni gifts.

2) A comparison of these costs to our peer Division 1 institutions, i.e. Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, SMU, etc.

3) The affect that a successful sports program has on enrollment, applications, and qualifications of prospective students. Did all this rise after the basketball teams in the '90s make the NCAA tournament and appear on TV? Did it rise after the '98 undefeated football season? If these did rise, what was the positve the financial impact?

4) What is financial status of the entire University over the last 10 years? Has the endowment grown significantly, shrunk or stayed the same (all publicized scenarios)? Has alumni support increased or decreased? Overall expenditures and revenue? etc.

5) How does the financial health of the University compare to all our peer institutions, Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Emory, Washington U, SMU, etc.?

6) How does the Athletic department fit in with the overall economic trends of the University? Has it mirrored the trends, lagged behind or exceeded these trends?

7) What is the percentage of expeditures of the overall University is the Athletic budget? Are there comparable losses from other nonacedemic divisions of the University?

8) Does the economic impact of athletics to the host city of New Orleans have any positive economic impact for the University?

9) Does the plan outlined and implemented by Rick Dickson address the economic issues? Has the success in implemating the plan so far addressed the short term concerns? If not what precisely needs to be done and how much time may be required to achieve it?

Finally, it is obvious that I am strongly in favor of keeping Tulane Division 1. There are many strong and compelling non-economic reasons, to maintain Division 1 status that others have raised. I only ask that your responsiblities in this matter include making the facts that you base your vote on is clear and made public to the Tulane community. Your decisions must be accountable. Thank you for your hard work in this matter. I am hopeful that we can all improve and strengthen the University and the City of New Orleans.

*****

TULANE ATHLETICS ,

I HAVE BEEN A TULANE FAN FOR FORTY ONE YEARS. MY FAMILY BROUGHT ME TO MANY TULANE SPORTING EVENTS AS A CHILD. ALL THE FOOTBALL AND MANY BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL GAMES WERE ATTENDED BY MY FAMILY & FRIENDS FOR MANY YEARS. I WILL ADMIT MY ATTENDANCE AT TULANE SPORTING EVENTS AS A MARRIED ADULT WITH TWO KIDS HAS DWINDLED. BUT I HAVE NEVER QUIT ROOTING FOR THE GREENIES. WE LIVE ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET LIKE MANY DO. WE ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO PURCHASE A FAMILY PACK SEASON TICKET TO TRY AND HELP KEEP TULANE FOOTBALL ALIVE AND THRIVING. I BELIEVE TRUE TULANE FANS HAVE BECOME DORMANT BUT WE ARE NOT DEAD YET. SHUTTING DOWN THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM WOULD BE THE LAST STRAW FOR ME. ALL THOSE YEARS BATTLING L.S.U & THEIR OBNOXIOUS FANS. IF FOOTBALL IS DROPPED, AS MUCH AS I WOULD HATE TO, I WILL BECOME A TIGER !!!

*****

I am not a Tulane alum, but being from the Southeast, I have always had a great deal of respect for your school. I can safely say that I, as well as EVERYONE I have spoken to (both Tulane alum and non-Tulane alum), are stunned that Tulane is even considering either dropping out of Div I or dropping football entirely. I can't imagine Vanderbilt without Div I sports, and I can't imagine Tulane that way either. Having Tulane in Division I helps keep Tulane in people's consciousness. The only reason many people have even heard of Tulane is through sports. Without Div I sports, Tulane would become just some other college no one ever hears about. Tulane deserves better than that.

By the way, if you do decide to drop Div I sports or football, I think you owe all the people who donated money in response to this "crisis" a refund.

*****

Please make the correct decision, and support Tulane athletics at the Division I-A level. It is the right thing for the school, the students, the athletes, the community, the state, and the nation.

I speak as a sports fan and active member of the Tulane community. There are several reasons I believe Tulane should continue to compete in DI-A, most of which you've already heard before. I will just add my voice to the chorus.

First of all, it is important to recognize the importance of Tulane athletics to the Tulane community. Most of the students at Tulane come from far away (like myself). They do not grow up Tulane fans, but they do leave Tulane fans. Tulane athletics unite the students and other members of the community. I can think of no events that have created such a sense of community as the homecoming football game at Tad Gormley, the Memphis and Marquette basketball games, the record crowd Tulane-LSU baseball game, or even the packed house for women's tennis. Guest lectures and concerts do draw crowds at times, but not to the extent that athletics does; and they certainly do not create the same sense of community.

This Christmas day, I found myself with my whole family watching the dramatic upset of Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. We watched the whole game, and I know there were many, many people in the country who did the same thing. Many friends of mine contacted me in the next couple days, congratulating me for the Tulane win. It was excellent publicity. Most notable, however, was the one fact that nearly everyone noted and repeated to me: the fact that Tulane had the highest graduation rate of any bowl-bound school. There is no other school in the nation that can claim that; there is no other school that received such publicity because of that. There are many, many potential students, including myself, who would know nothing about Tulane except the notoriety of its athletics program. Now there are many, many potential students who know Tulane as the school that can do both: athletics and academics.

This is a source of pride for those associated with Tulane and Tulane athletics. It truly is a model program to be admired and emulated. Tulane athletes ARE student athletes, unlike so many other schools. Memphis comes to mind, notable for their 0% basketball graduation rate. It would be truly tragic for Tulane to throw in the towel; it is akin to conceding defeat to the Memphises of the world, to admitting that athletics and academics are, indeed, incompatible. The ripple effects of such a momentous decision will not be good.

The message sent to the community and state will be a discouraging one. Excellent students and athletes in New Orleans and Louisiana who would have chosen Tulane will not. They may go to LSU, they may go to Rice, they may go to Vanderbilt, but they certainly will not go to Tulane, where it would be clear they are no longer welcome. Members of the community who supported Tulane athletics in the past will not switch their allegiance to Tulane Sociology or Tulane Physics. Their association with Tulane will likely cease. It will represent a further disconnect between a premier university filled largely with students from 500 miles away and the city in which it is located. Tulane alumni located throughout the nation will have one less link to each other and their alma mater.

The worst part about this is that there will be no benefit from eliminating athletics. The quality of Tulane academics will not be improved by dismantling the athletics program. Similarly, destroying the Engineering School will not improve the quality of the Liberal Arts and Sciences. Donations from alumni will almost certainly drop. For a while, Tulane will have increased notoriety and publicity. Potential students all over the nation WILL hear about Tulane University. Tulane will be known as "that school that dropped athletics." That will be the lasting legacy of this decision, not fiscal solvency or improved academic status. Personally, I think Tulane academics would be hurt. Donations would drop, applications would drop; there will not be more money to spend on academics. I imagine Tulane will fall altogether from the list of top 50 schools, though the future is always uncertain.

Finally, just one final note. I do not believe that the elimination of football is and adequate compromise; it is merely a slower form of death. Football is the premier Tulane sport, one that has the potential to bring in money. It is the best chance for Tulane to get exposure; it draws the largest crowds; perhaps most importantly, it draws the greatest number of opposing fans to the city. The 40,000 Texas fans who swarmed the Dome last fall had to have had a great impact on the New Orleans area, and again, to the publicity of Tulane. Even more critical, the elimination of Tulane would make it significantly less attractive to athletic conferences. Any hope of competing with well-known schools on a consistent basis would be eliminated along with football. Tulane's rivals would not be Louisville, Memphis, S. Miss, S. Florida, or potentially Marshall, West Virginia, and Pitt. Rather, the foes would be Louisiana-Monroe, Idaho, Arkansas State, Utah State, or any other number of weak programs that would do little to improve the standing of Tulane University.

Please make the correct decision. Keep Tulane athletics, increase support for Tulane athletics, and avoid the temptation to destroy over 100 years of tradition for no compelling reason.

*****

Since 1985 I have attended every Tulane home game except 1, that game was in 1992 against Nevada and Tulane won 34-17. I have traveled to Houston, Rice, SMU, TCU, ULL, LSU, Southern Miss, Mississippi St., Ole Miss, Alabama, and Florida St just to see Tulane play. I went to the Independence Bowl and the Liberty Bowl. Basically, Tulane football has been a major part of my life every fall for as long as I can remember. I suffered through the terrible years when Tulane was going 2-9, 1-10, 3-9, and many other horrendous seasons filled with lopsided losses. Since 1997 though Tulane has gone 39-31 and enjoyed 2 bowl victories. Finally, we have Tulane football turned around and on the rise and all of a sudden you want to pull the rug out from under us. We have three players on our team right now who will be first round picks in the next 2 years. JP Losman, Mewelde Moore, and Roydell Williams. JP was just rated the best senior quarterback in the country by the NFL's own scouting service. After a successful season last year it appears that football season tickets will double for the upcoming season. We open the season on national TV (ESPN) against TCU, how is that for a 3 hour commercial promoting Tulane and New Orleans that we don't have to pay for. How much great publicity did our bowl victory on national TV on Christmas night give us? How much great publicity did we get from our bowl victory in 1998 and 12-0 season. I remember every Thursday night on ESPN's College preview show Lee Corso talked about us, we got so much national exposure that we could not get in any other way. Have you added the money that these events will bring and have brought to the school in exposure and new students. Why isnt that in the financial reports?? I don't think you see what Division 1-A athletics brings to the table. A vast majority of Tulane alumni in the New Orleans area are strong supporters of Tulane athletics. If you look at the makeup of our teams I would say the majority are from this area. By getting rid of football you will basically segregate Tulane from New Orleans and basically severe any ties Tulane has with this community. Tulane will be alienating alumni, students, New Orleanians, and other supporters. Just today a letter was written and signed by 33 presidents of different Tulane alumni groups strongly supporting the retention of football and athletics at the Division 1-A level. Another point to consider, if Tulane drops it's football program it will lose 40% of its male African American population. This would strip Tulane of diversity that is much needed at the University. Also, I find it strange that Rick Dickson has not been allowed to see a list of the donors the University uses in order to further advance his "Think Green" campaign. Just look at how successful this campaign has been so far, just think if he had a list of other donors that he could contact, we might triple season ticket sales. Shouldn't the president of a university support an athletic director instead of doing everything in his power to undermine his efforts? Why not give Rick a chance to talk to the board? Why is Scott Cowen falsifying the numbers in his favor to make it look like we have to drop football? Why can't we let Rick Dickson set the record straight on the numbers once and for all? The public opinion on this issue is probably 95% in favor of keeping football. The "Think Green" campaign has raised all kinds of money for the athletic program. It's time for this review of Tulane athletics to be put to bed. The only decision is to keep Tulane football and its other sports at the Division 1-A level. A decision of any other kind would be a crime and a tragedy and most likely the beginning of the end of Tulane University. Donations will dry up, enrollment will decrease, support from the New Orleans community will cease to exist. If you vote to change Tulane athletics in any way shape or form you may as well close down the school for good. Do the right thing and vote to keep Tulane athletics in its present form.

*****

Although I must admit that I am not a Tulane fan, I strongly feel it would be a tragedy for Tulane and for the entire Metro Community if the football program is dropped. This is a program steeped in tradition the roots of which far exceed the memory of anyone today. While it is true that the program is not as prestigious as it once was, it is still a viable program as evidenced by the last two quaterbacks to lead the squad as well as the present starter.

Further, dropping the program would have a chilling effect on the Tulane sports medicine program, one of the most respected nationwide. It is obvious from attendance that football at Tulane is not as healthy as it should be, however termination of the program is not the answer.

The problem, in my opinion, lies much deeper than the success of the team or marketing, the problem is so few people in the area attend Tulane or remain after graduation. Tulane should make a concerted effort to attract more local students or at least to persuade graduates to remain in state. Of course these tasks are much easier said than done because of the external forces at work such as the economy. However, long term this is solution to Tulane's problems, not terminating prestigious programs.

*****

We are writing to express our strong support for retaining the athletics program, including football, at the Division I level.

The elimination of the football team, and/or the change to Division III status, would have a profound negative effect on Tulane. First, and most importantly, Division I athletics represents the highest level of competition. Tulane should always strive to compete, and succeed, at the highest level possible - just as Tulane would expect from its graduates. As alumni we would consider it an affront for Tulane to be content with anything less than the highest level of excellence. A desire to compete at the highest level, and an understanding of the importance of a well-rounded student, is one reason that Ivy League schools field the most athletic teams.

Second, a school's athletics program provides an outstanding opportunity to retain the interest and contributions of alumni. There are a large number of Tulane alumni that live outside the New Orleans area, but have an opportunity to keep in touch with the Tulane community through athletics. Many alumni attend Tulane's road games, and/or follow the teams on the internet or national television coverage. For example, we have traveled approximately 3,000 miles round-trip this year attending Tulane baseball games. The interest of alumni, and consequently attendance and donations, will sharply decrease if Tulane athletics moves to Division III. We hope that Tuesday's decision leads to a stronger commitment to athletics rather than to remove Tulane from the list of elite institutions that seek to excel in all areas.

*****

As a Tulane alumnus and a professor at West Virginia University, I strongly urge the Board to discontinue Division 1A football. Big time sports programs have long been a cancer in America's universities, undermining our focus on academic excellence and sapping our financial base. There are very few universities that consistently make money on football, and only one private school (Notre Dame) that has ever achieved excellence because of its football team. Tulane has been guilty of squandering its limited resources in its vain attempt to compete in football. It is time to end this egregious waste of effort, emotion, and resources.

*****

I grew up a Tulane football fan. I have a number of relatives who graduated from Tulane, including my parents. When I was a child, my parents would drive me to New Orleans for games, and those memories are precious to me.

When it came time for me to choose a University, I had many choices. I really believe that on some level I chose Tulane because of my early experiences at Tulane games, and the overall positive impression it gave me of the University. I also wanted a well-rounded college experience, and for me that included being able to support my school in Division I sports, especially football. For that reason, I did not even consider schools like Emory.

It makes me very sad to think that Tulane could possibly drop football and/or Division I sports. It makes me realize that well-rounded students will not want to attend my alma mater, and I will have less in common with those who do.

It also makes me sad to realize that I may not have the opportunity to get together with my family and other alums to watch Tulane games, as we did this past year during the Hawaii bowl.

In summary, I feel strongly that dropping football and/or Division I sports would be a tragedy for Tulane, its students, and its alumni.

*****

Dr. Cowen,

I am writing as Tulane parent. My daughter enrolled at Tulane in the fall of 2002. She is a member of the women's soccer team. She chose Tulane over a great many other universities for basicly two reasons, excellent academics and to play on a Division 1 team. In my mind she has excelled at both. My son will be a 2004 graduate of The Episcopal of Dallas [ 1410 SAT ] . At graduation, he will be a two sport letterman, football and basketball, for four years. He is leaning towards joining his sister at Tulane. If you make either change in athletics, he will not even consider tendering an application. My point is this: if you degrade athletics, Tulane will likely lose two great, intelligent, well rounded kids. But it is not just two, it will be a great many! . What you will lose is the student athlete. It has been my pleasure to meet and spend some time with a great number of Tulane student athletes this past year. They were perfect young ladies and gentlemen, the University should be extremely proud of them. If you and your board drop football, or degrade the program to Division III, I'm afraid it will be only a matter of time before this type of student disappears . What a shame!

My wife and I are graduates of The University of Texas at Austin, however , we have "nudged" our children in the Tulane direction and it has become sort of our adopted alma mater. Needless to say, if either of these changes occur, it would be very hard to support Tulane in the future.

*****

Dear Dr. Cowen:

We have met several times in New Orleans and here in Monroe. I have generally been impressed with your interest in Tulane's athletic teams. However, today I am writing with a heavy heart over the latest reports from New Orleans that you and a majority of members of the Board of Administrators will vote next week to delete the football team from Tulane's athletic program.

I have read many of the letters addressed to you and the board that were posted on Tulane's feedback website, and I, being a fourth generation Tulane graduate and the granddaughter and niece of football lettermen, echo most of the writers' emotions and also have fabulous memories of growing up in both Tulane Stadium and the Superdome watching Tulane football and cheering for the Green Wave in good times and bad. I understand that the Board's decision will, however, not be influenced by emotional concerns of alumni, students and fans, but rather be based on the bottom line, the athletic department's deficit.

You have been quoted as being concerned about the state of Tulane 10 to 20 years from now. I truly believe that you and the Board are underestimating the horrendous result of the elimination of the football program and/or dropping athletics to Division III for the university and the diminished support, both financial and emotional, that the school might have 10 to 20 years from now without a football team and/or with Division III athletics. I would hope that you have considered that Tulane will not be able to recruit a well-rounded and diverse student body without a football program or with Division III athletics.

I am very proud of the Tulane Athletic Department, especially their accomplishments of this past school year, and am amazed that Tulane coaches have all been able to achieve athletic success in spite of limited budgets and the rules and standards that your administration set for them, including the high academic standards for athletes' admission to the university, which eliminate a good number of gifted high school athletes from even being recruited by Tulane. And now, without warning except notice of a department evaluation, you and the Board are planning to eliminate the football program.

How unfair to set goals of academic excellence and winning on the field for football and other sports, as well as fund raising goals for the athletic department, but to then tell the coaches, football players and other athletic department staff that even though your goals were met, and in some cases, surpassed, you are still deleting the football team from the Tulane family. How equally unfair for you and the Board to even consider dropping to Division III and/or eliminating the football team without giving the athletic department an opportunity to formulate a plan to substantially reduce the athletic deficit by increasing revenue, donations and fan support, and without giving alumni, students and fans a chance to implement any such plan.

Even the Wizard of Oz attempted to get Dorothy home when she satisfied his requirement of bringing back the Wicked Witch's broomstick. If you are a wizard, your crystal ball is not giving you a correct message on Tulane's future without a football team and/or with athletics in Division III, and you should be working magic with the Board to keep our football program and Tulane's status in Division I. If you are not a wizard, you should follow the Wizard of Oz's great example of at least trying to grant wishes when your terms are met.

Tulane athletes, coaches and staff have satisfied your requirements and met your terms. The broomstick is at your feet. Please grant the Tulane family's wishes by letting them work to reduce the deficit by meeting fund raising, ticket sales and attendance goals before eliminating the football program or taking any other drastic action concerning our Green Wave athletes.

*****

Come on. Get real. If you drop football it's going to be bad. Bad for everyone. Not a good idea. Here you go, simple solution. 1. Move the home games to Tad Gormley, maybe try to build a new stadium on campus (I know, I know, I used to live uptown) so the STUDENTS can get back into the team. 2. Run, don't walk, away from Conference USA. It is a joke and is set up to fail. Beg, Plead, Borrow, anything to get into the ACC in place of Syracuse. Can you see the Pay day for those games? Money is what you're interested in, isn't it? 3. Play LSU every year IN BATON ROUGE. Take the big pay day in Baton Rouge. Maybe schedule a couple of road trips to, say, Alabama, Florida State. Be a sacrificial lamb for a few years. Scedule some more of the SEC schools in the area.

Tulane Football goes back in New Orleans a long way. If you cut it from the school, you will be cutting a piece of our hearts out. Do the right thing. Don't debate, you already know what it is. KEEP THE PROGRAM.

*****

I feel very strongly that Tulane should remain in the athletic division it is in and keep the football team intact. Moving to a lower division would adversely affect the athletes who work hard and are doing well, lower recruitment, and ultimately hurt the student body quality. I don‚t feel the other well-run sports should be sacrificed by moving to a lower division for the sake of football. Let them continue to compete on the same level that they have been successfully for many years. They have earned that right.

That said, I believe the football program has made great progress the last few years and is being turned around. It will be profitable once again, it just takes a little bit of time to reap the rewards from the last few years after it was dead for so long. Patience at this crucial juncture and faith in the ground work that has been laid are needed. It would be a shame to end the program right as it is on the verge of turning around. You don‚t turn the program around overnight, you need more time.

A few mistakes that I feel have developed the lukewarm alumni support should be pointed out so they can be corrected and not repeated. Moving the football games off campus to the Superdome made attending them depressing. Even if the entire student body from both schools attended, it would still feel empty. Transportation to and from became difficult especially for freshman who are not allowed cars. This resulted in students not attending games and therefore not caring about the outcome. Since your sense of school spirit and identity is mostly developed your first two years, this is critical. Watching the same mistake be made as basketball games moved to the Superdome left people asking if the deptartment ever learns or even cared. Finally, changing the mascot took away any sense of tradition and identity that the school had. The Green Wave was a unique and well-recognized mascot. Uniqueness helps a mascot be known better and longer than a great season. I often run! into people through work who still think the Green Wave is the mascot. If you mention the silly pelican to them, they look confused and ask why. Tradition is vital and you stamped it out.

I believe the football program is making great progress and should be allowed to continue. Football and basketball games should be moved back to campus. This will increase attendance and school identity, which translates into financial support for alumni. A sense of school spirit needs to be developed to replace the apathy I remember from my years. It may be too late to correct the pelican mistake, but the logic that allowed that to happen should never be repeated.

*****

Dear President Cowen or to whom it may concern,    I am going to be a sophomore in Newcomb College next year. I am quite aware of the fact that you have received countless emails, phone calls, letters, etc regarding the decision being made concerning our athletic department. As a result of this continuous flow of incoming responses, I'm doubting that my concerns will even be heard, however, I wanted to share my thoughts on the subject. At the start of the college application process Tulane was a school of interest amongst many. I was recruited by countless DI volleyball programs around the nation to play at the collegiate level. Tulane was not one of the schools that recruited me, however, being one of only two schools I was looking at for reasons purely other than my own athletic well-being, it remained on my list.    Once I narrowed down my top choices and upon getting accepted to every school I applied to, I was making the decision between Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Santa Clara University in Northern California and Tulane. Santa Clara is the #11 school in the country for women's college volleyball but I chose to pay almost $40,000/yr to attend Tulane vs. the opportunity to be on a full ride scholarship at a fairly comparable school academically.    All of this information may seem quite irrelevant to the board members, however I do have a point. Athletics has been a huge part of my life since I was very young. I think that healthy competition, the bonds that develop from playing a sport, and the ability for sports to bring communities and different people together is both an amazing phenomena and a crucial influence in many peoples' lives. I myself chose not to play a sport at the collegiate level, however, I would not have chosen Tulane had I known that I would not be able to still witness that competition, teamwork, and union of people. I love being able to attend football, basketball, and volleyball games and fondly remember my athletic career, I love cheering for my peers who I attend classes with on a daily basis, and without that level of competition and that part of my college I experience, I don't think I would be able to say that I would be truly happy at Tulane.   I applied early action to Tulane and my graduating high school class had 41 students. For the past seven years not one person from my school had attended Tulane. However, because I introduced two of my closest friends to the school, they now are members of my graduating class at TU. Next year, I have 2 more close friends attending Tulane because I have repeatedly talked about the school, how happy I am there, and how glad I am that I chose it as my place of study for the next 4 years. My point is, I'm not sure that if the athletic aspect of the school was to drop to DIII or any other level if I could honestly continue to preach the same enthusiastic pride in Tulane as I do now. Thank you for your time.

*****

Dear board members and President Cowen,    

 I just submitted my response to the athletic issue at hand. But I have one more point to bring up that I believe is yet to be addressed.    

One of President Cowen's main goals since coming to Tulane has been to increase it's recognition academically and decrease it's image as a "party school". For those students who choose to not be involved in underaged drinking, binge drinking, and bar-hopping, athletic rallies and games are one of the only methods to socialize, mingle, and interract with others students without the influence of alcohol. Just a thought.

*****

Dear Board,    

I am dead set against your getting rid of athletics at Tulane but who am I to protest?  From 1963 until one year ago (2002) my entire family maintained eight season tickets to the Tulane Football Games.  When I get cut, I bleed green.  In that lifetime (to me) I missed one football game due to the flu. It depressed me totally to attend those games and witness the dearth of students attending.  I could not figure out even when we were winning every game in 1998, where our fans could be?  It did not matter to me as it seemed I measured the passing of my life by those myriad games that now appear to me to have passed in a blur of time.  I gave up the tickets but not without first in a letter explaining to the coach why.   He answered me in a wonderful letter but it did not change my mind.  Maybe you are right but I believe we must keep the sport. With no valid reason to give except that it is just a woman's gut feeling or intuition.  Tradition to me is everything.  How can we abandon this long tradition? Remember "Fiddler on the Roof"?  Do not do it.   Sincerely,

*****

It would be a disservice to your students and to the community at-large. To discontinue football at this time. Do you no realize the publicity football brings to your school. There are no other marketing programs that get more recognition than college football programs. What are you thinking? maybe the better question is are you thinking.

*****

I am writing to you to express my extreme displeasure over the recent talk of a change in Tulane's athletics status.  I attended Tulane from 1992-1996, when we had a football team, but no real product on the field.  Our basketball team was good, as was our baseball team.  However, during my time at Tulane, our athletics teams never achieved the kind of success that has been seen the last few years.  It boggles the mind to think why Dr. Cowen would choose now to attempt this change.  It is ludicrous to consider this one year removed from hosting the University of Texas in the Superdome, and a Hawaii Bowl victory.  In addition, recent college football conference shakeups have created the very real possibility that Tulane could be part of a BCS conference.  Instead of lobbying for membership in one of these powerful conferences, our administration has been busy attempting to kill our athletics program.  Tulane has not had an athletics department this successful in 60 years.  As an alumnus of the school, it gives me great pride to attend football games and see Tulane take on the occasional juggernaut like LSU or Texas.  To an outsider, it looks as though the administration is attempting to railroad this proposal through before the BCS picture becomes clear.

I find it curious that we find ourselves at this crossroads.  The only options for the football team appear to be life or death, with no possibility for even a probationary period.  The administration has not been forthcoming with alumni.  Were it not for the internet and talk radio, this would likely have already been done, with no input from alumni.  Given the underhanded and secretive nature of this process, and the attempt to sneak a change in through "back door" methods, I do not believe the people in charge of this decision have Tulane's best interests at heart.

It appears to me that the fate of Tulane's athletics department rests in the hands of a few people, most of whom have no tie to Tulane and are not from New Orleans or Louisiana.  The alumni voice has been overwhelmingly in favor of keeping Tulane 1-A.  However, it appears this administration is intent on ignoring that voice.  We alumni feel that our opinions and desires are being callously disregarded.  This administration appears determined to carry out its own agenda, with no regard for its alumni or the community.

A change in athletics status would be suicide for this school.  Given the great strides made in the last 6 weeks by Rick Dickson, I believe that at the very least he deserves 5-6 years to reverse the deficit.

I have received close to 9 years of medical education within the LSU system. However, I still refer to Tulane as my alma mater.  If Tulane makes this change, my Tulane diploma will come off the wall.  I will turn my back and wash my hands of my association with old Tulane.  Tulane will receive no more donations from me.  I had dreamed of what it would be like to send my future children to Tulane.  If this change is made, my children will find other schools to attend.  My donations will instead flow west - to LSU.

*****

To Whom It May Concern:

I strongly believe that taking away division 1 status from such an great acedemic instituion such as Tulane will take away from the schools prestige. Athletics has been growing at this school and will only continue to become bigger and better. Soon, the Football team will indeed be making a revenue, and other sports will turn some sort of profit as well. Many champions are at the school right now, and chose Tulane because it was a great acedemic and athletic university. Without sports, Tulane gets off the radar. All the top schools have great athletic programs that started almost as early as the school itself was founded. Taking away D1 status from Tulane will also create a problem for the city of New Orleans, which profits from the athletics games. Please, look ahead and realize that athletics is a key part in the prestige of Tulane.

*****

Dear Dr. Cowen,    

For weeks now I have been reading the letters regarding Tulane's athletic issue.  The emotion and  tone of feedback has gone from shock and hurt to mistrust and deception to anger, aggression and threats.  This issue has served to destroy the unity of a great university with infighting among and between faculty, alumni, students, athletes, administration, community, local businesses, Board of Trustees, parents and probably more that I've missed. It appears that this has evolved from not only the critical nature of the issue but the way it has been handled.    

As a new member of the Tulane family with a daughter entering her Freshman year, am deeply saddened by this state of affairs. I do, however, still have faith that the Board will make the right decision in allowing Rick Dickson, a dedicated and talented Athletic Director, to implement the plan so widely supported by both internal and external groups.  In doing so, Tulane will serve as a role model for other institutions facing a similar crisis.    

Unfortunately, much damage has been done to the Tulane image and family which will require additional effort to mend. If handled properly, however, this healing process presents the opportunity for Tulane to prove its ability to survive the challenges of today's economy while rising to a position of highest respect. Tulane has the opportunity to transform its unstable and fragmented reputation of today to one of strength and unity which serves as a leader in the ideals of a "total education". Effective marketing of Tulane's plight and commitment to the future of both academics and athletics will become a valuable endorsement for the university. Intangibles such as "trust and security" will prove to be as lucrative as a sale of a season's ticket.    

Dr. Cowen and Members of the Board, if we learn from history, listen to the present and look to the future, will see there is only one option for Tulane's survival and that is a vote for unified support of the university as it exists today.

Thank you.

*****

To whom it may concern:

I am a 52 year old woman who has all of my life been a Tulane fan. I have attended many, many Tulane football games, and I have in the last two years developed a great interest in their baseball team. (Let me preface this by saying that I never did like baseball until I got interested in Tulane baseball.  I'm a graduate of UNO, and don't follow any of their teams.  I am loyal to Tulane athletics.)

I always wanted to attend Tulane University; however, for me the tuition was cost prohibitive.  My dearly departed aunt, who received a bachelor's degree from LSU, was able to get her master's degree from Tulane, and went on to be a very important part of the New Orleans community.  She taught at McMain Junior High School until she was forced to retire to care for her sick mother, my grandmother.  My sister received a degree from UNO, but borrowed money from that same aunt to pay for tuition at Tulane.  She has a master's degree in education from Tulane, and teaches in Orleans Parish as well.  My brother has a bachelor's degree from Tulane ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP. Without that scholarship, he was set to leave the state and attend Auburn University.  He probably would not have returned to this area as a productive member of society.  He is currently employed by a company whose headquarters is on Magazine St., just down the road from Tulane University.  He feels like he's home.  By the way, in case you might question my honesty, you can verify his contribution to the football team by going back to the 1970's.  He was a freshman the year Benny Ellender's team broke the 25 year losing streak against LSU.  In fact, he played in that game as a freshman.  A more proud and loyal family of fans you'll never find.

I implore anyone with the authority to do the right thing by the school, the community, and the great tradition of Tulane athletics, to PLEASE vote to keep Tulane athletics, and, more importantly, to keep them in Division 1.

*****

In examining Tulane's mission and goals for the future, it is essential that we not forget about the school's over 150 years of history.  Indeed, Tulane athletics has been and remains a large part of that history.  It is important that we continue to use our history as a great educational institution with excellent athletics to support our vision for the future.  Furthermore, at this crossroads, Tulane has an opportunity to differentiate itself as a mid-sized Southern institution that is still committed to athletics at a Division-I level.  Let us not forget, our athletics program has been incredibly successful in recent years (INCLUDING OUR FOOTBALL TEAM).  My year of graduation (1999), only 4 years ago, was one of the best years Tulane football has ever had, finishing 8th in the national football polls.  Why then, after only a few years of mediocre performance would we abandon a 100-year institution at Tulane?  Men's basketball was also excellent in 1996 and 1997. Although we didn't make the NCAA tournament, both years we were "on the bubble".  Athletics have fostered increased school spirit - including President Cowen painting his faced, and frankly has brought students to Tulane and kept them there.  Although athletics is very expensive for the university, it's clear that it pays dividends in the form of satisfied students (and in some cases, greater visibility of Tulane on a national scale).

Thus, you (the committee), must ask yourself, do you think Tulane should abandon its Division-I athletics and be more like one of the thousands of small Division-II and Division-III schools in the country?  Or, should it keep its Division-I status and remain one of the few Division-I athletics schools with a relatively small-school feel and top-flight academics?

After all, that is what appealed to me about Tulane (coming from Boston).  I always knew I wanted a 7,000 student school with Division-I sports because I knew a school without D-I sports wouldn't be as enjoyable as one with them.  I think that there are thousands of smart, high-school kids looking for a school just like Tulane.  There just aren't that many out there.  To name many, Vanderbilt, Rice, Boston College, Colgate, Duke, Georgetown, Wake Forest are excellent schools that we should continue to be in the company of.  Athletics sets us apart and should always be there to do so.  Furthermore, as I'm sure you know, without athletics, Tulane's sources of revenue from alumni are seriously diminished. Alumni tend to feel less connected to the school when athletics are not a part of their connection with the school.

Thank you for reading my rambling prose.  I hope you make the right decision.

P.S. - I am now getting my MBA full-time at NYU's Stern School of Business.  Despite NYU's success, I truly believe that the school would be an even better institution if it still had D-I athletics. It moved to D-III some years ago.  And now, athletics seems not to be a part of campus life at all.  It's unfortunate for the thousands of current NYU students as well as for the alumni.

*****

I think dropping to division 3 is a terrible idea. Athletics provide Tulane students with a sense of community as well as giving the university national recognition.  The only reason I even heard of Tulane before looking at colleges was because I knew about the basketball and football teams.  In addition, athletic teams provide students, alumni, and faculty with a sense of pride in the university, which greatly helps with donations.  After people graduate from Tulane, they don't ask other alums, how's the math department doing? they ask how's the football team, the baseball team, or the basketball team doing? if Tulane drops to division 3 a lot of this will go away, as div 3 athletics do not get coverage by the national media.

Building academic reputation is important, but so is making people feel they are part of a community. This is why atheltics and the greek system serve an important function in the university community despite their nonacadmeic nature. if people do not feel connected to the university while they are students, then they will be far less likely to donate money in the future. dropping to division 3 will save the athletic department a lot of money, but it will cost other departments a lot of money in lost donations.

*****

Hello,

I just wanted to respond to the discussion on Tulane athletics and in particular, the football program.  I can't say that I am a real big fan of Tulane, per say, however I am a fan of CUSA.  Having Tulane drop football would be a big blow to the conference.  I do enjoy visiting New Orleans for football and it would be a shame to drop the sport.  I do have a question however, IF football is dropped from the program, when would that take effect?  I'm assuming that the 2003 season would be played (I hope so, because I'm planning a trip to New Orleans for football).  If you could shed some light on this, please let me know.

*****

My family has become football season ticket holders for the first time ever. We have been baseball season ticket holders for quite some time, and now more than ever feel the need to support the Green Wave at Division 1A.  Perhaps Mr. Cowen I'll have you explain to my son why Tulane doesn't play Div 1A anymore after he enjoys this season should you make the wrong choice.

Roll Wave.

*****

For a decision as monumental as deciding whether or not to keep Tulane's football and other teams at the Division I-A level, there needs to be a consensus.  Fortunately, there is a consensus - that consensus is to support football and our other teams at their current level and to follow Rick Dickson's five-year Plan.  In fact, this consensus is OVERWHELMING, and has united the diverse Tulane community more than any one issue I have ever seen.  It is now time for the Board to put an end to this "debate" and join the thousands and thousands of Tulanians across the city, state and nation in support of football and our other Division I-A teams.  Together, we will make this Plan work even beyond our wildest expectations!

*****

As a long time Tulane fan and supporter I implore you not to continue on this course  of destroying Tulane sports. Tulane needs an active sports program and the city of New Orleans needs Tulane to be an active part of it's ambiance.

*****

TO Tulane:  Is all of this driven by Tulane's need to have the best standings in the US News & World Report review of colleges?  Are you trying to create a University where EVERYONE has NOTHING but high SAT scores?  The world is full of a variety of people and it seems to me that Tulane is trying and continuing to manufacture a student body that is SOOOOO focused on academics that the young adults who enroll there will miss what being in college is all about.  What are we doing to our kids these days that we are driving them so academically?  Isn't being a well-rounded person the goal of a liberal arts education?  My daughter who is a student at Tulane says the school is already lacking in spirit and that sporting events are so poorly attended because the UNIVERSITY makes no effort to make them an important part of college life.  Wasn't Family Weekend at City Park enough evidence that THAT'S THE WAY it SHOULD BE DONE?  It would be a sad thing to do away with...right now the University is sitting fat with high admissions #s.  What will happen when that trend changes and Tulane will have to go back to recruiting and students see that student life -- outside the classroom -- is lacking? Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.  Concentrate on PROMOTING school spirit through athletics.

*****

I have two degrees from Tulane (B.A. - 1969 and Law - 1976). The proposal to drop football would be a disaster for Tulane. I would not have attended Tulane if it didn't have a Division I athletic program, including football, and I am sure that many students consider a school's athlectic program in deciding whether to attend that university.  Should Tulane drop football, the decision would alienate a very large number of Tulane alums and would result in their severing all ties to Tulane.  Such a decision would rip apart the University and its alumni for decades to come.  What will happen to overall contributions in the future?  Why not strive for excellance and try to emulate Stanford University?

*****

To drop football or downgrade any of our sports would be an unforgivable slap in the face to alums throughout the nation (including me) who OVERWHELMINGLY support our athletic teams.  We first learned of this "crisis" only about 6 weeks ago!  In that short time, the increased level of donations and overall show of support to T.A.F. has been incredible.  There is a tremendous amount of momentum going, which the University can capitalize on.  Rick Dickson has put together a well thought-out, legitimate plan to strengthen the financial condition of our athletics program.  To throw away over 100 years of football and major-college tradition without even giving it a fair, fighting chance would be a tragic mistake, and one from which, I'm sad to say, my beloved University may never recover.

*****

The idea of Tulane giving up Division 1-A football is one so fraught with danger for the future of our school and such a total capitulation to an inevitable second-tier existence that it is impossible for me to understand. So much is made of the first tier schools and Tulane is one (as described in U.S. News and World Report).  I would think we should aspire to the greatness that is within our grasp.  Why are we not looking to Duke, and Stanford, and Northwestern, and Rice as models to follow?  Does athletics somehow harm their academic reputations?  Do their faculties believe that they are somehow "soiled" by their athletic achievements?  Our president is now chasing around begging Conference USA to "allow" Tulane to remain in the conference if he gets his way and we give up football.  Look it up.  The conference members who do not play football are Marquette, St. Louis, and DePaul.  Cross-reference that list with the "second-tier of schools as defined by U.S. News and World Report-a 100% correlation.  That's not what I want for my school.  We need Division 1-A football at Tulane.  On Tuesday we will find out.  By Wednesday, our direction will be clear.

*****

I'm simply disheartened. When the bomb drops on Tues (no football), Tulane will simply be the place where I went to medical school- nothing more!  It's very sad. We simply need more time- until one month ago the fans did not know about this!

*****

  If anything is done with Tulane Athletics, other than letting Rick Dickson improve the program, you can delete my name from your potential donor list.  I will NEVER give a drop of spit to Tulane if they drop a division or football.  Furthermore, no member of my family will send money or students there either.

*****

I am not a Tulane alumni, but I have attended nearly every football game for the last 10 years and attended every game from 1973-78. I also attend 7-10 baseball games a year. I believe Tulane is making a huge mistake if the football program is discontinued or dropped to a lower division. If Tulane commits to a Division 1 football program, I will begin annual donations to the program as well as continue to purchase season tickets. I am hesitating to donate anything at the moment because I am not sure what I am donating to. Is it a Div. 1 football team, a division 3 program, or women's golf and tennis? The bottom line is this, Tulane is getting on track with the football program, signing deals with Texas, Alabama and bringing in Miss. St. I cannot believe that the University does not realize that if the football program is dropped completely or lowered to Div. 3, annual donations will decrease by more than the 5 million they claim the football program is losing. Just my 2 cents. I hope to be sending a donation to the football program soon, depending on your decision. If the football program is dropped, I will no longer be attending Tulane athletic functions. Sorry, but I am a football fan first.

*****

I fully support the choice of dropping to Division 3.  Why is there even discussion about this?  I would be proud as an alumnus to have my alma mater be in the ranks of such fine institutions such as Sewanee U and Salisbury State U.  I can't wait for those brisk mid December days when I can throw on my old Tulane sweatshirt and watch the mighty Green Wave football team play the Albion Britons for the D3 Championship at 9:00AM on ESPN3.

Plus we would finally be able to get rid of all those scholarship athlete students on campus that stick out like a sore thumb.  All they do is mis-represent Tulane by winning bowl games and succeeding in the baseball world series.  I hate seeing the likes of Michael Aubrey and Shawn King in the national sports media.  Finally the media could focus on the new grant the med school received and the state of the art computer system in the school of architecture.

I definitely agree that we can reduce the athletic deficit by doing this.  I also think if there are deficits in other departments we should reduce funding & efforts in those departments as well.  How's the B-school doing?  If it's losing money let's stop spending money on advertising to recruit new students.  Plus all those high salaried professors, I have a buddy who has a very successful home building business that would teach some classes for probably half the price.  I'm proud see the apathy of the students has made it way up to the administration.

*****

Mr. Koerner,

I recently graduated from the Business School at Tulane.  While there, I took the "Cases in Entrepreneurship" course taught by Sid Pulitzer.  In the first class, you spoke to us about your experience with Barqs Root Beer. It was a troubled company that was shrinking, facing deficeits, and had no marketing.  However, you made deals, increased advertising, and ended up saving the company and making a large profit.

You know as well as I do that Tulane Athletics faces the same problems that Barqs faced.  It has a deficeit because it has been allowed to shrink and contract over the years without any marketing or investment in upgrades. Now is the time to make these investments, and football will bring in the profits.  Just look at the amount of money contributed to the TAF in the past few weeks.  Look at the amount of season tickets that have been sold. Look at the amount of publicity (positive AND negative) that Tulane is receiving from this issue.

I strongly urge you, as Chairman of the Board, to issue a statement supporting the full membership in D-IA athletics.  If football is dropped, then I will unfortunately be forced to disassociate myself with my university.  I know hundreds of recent graduates who feel the same way, and if the endowment is to increase, you cannot afford to alienate us.

*****

I am writing a brief note in support of Tulane maintaining Division I athletics.  Stepping down from Division I play is a mistake if Tulane wants to be considered in the same breath as a Duke or Stanford or Princeton.  All are private institutions that maintain excellent academic credentials as well as competitive sport teams. We are not, and should not try to be, a Harvard or Yale.  I believe we offer a much more rounded "life" education than those institutions and top-level athletics is part of that experience.

*****

I am writing to once again voice my strong support for Tulane's Division I Athletics, and football in particular.  I feel very strongly about this subject, and I am extremely concerned about what I perceive to be a shift in the sentiment of the Ad-hoc committee towards eliminating football.

When I first heard of the review of Division I Athletics, I was very upset that Tulane would even consider throwing away its proud athletic tradition.  In response, I began writing letters and making donations to the Tulane Athletics Fund to show my support.  I have been very impressed with the way that fellow alumni have stepped up to join the cause as well.

At this point, if the Board makes a decision to do away with Division I Athletics and/or football, I will take it as a direct insult and a slap in the face to all of the Tulane Alumni with whom I share a special bond.  I will also seriously reconsider continuing to make the annual gifts to Tulane that I have made since graduation.

However, if the Board makes the right decision and supports Tulane Division I Athletics and football, I will continue to proudly support my Alma Mater in any way possible, including financially.  I will place a particularly strong emphasis on supporting Rick Dickson's action plan for Tulane Athletics, and will give generously to the cause.

I strongly urge the Board to make the right decision to support Tulane Division I Athletics.

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