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Questions and Comments We've Received June 8, 2003 I have been contacted by no one to express any point of view about the athletics review but I feel that I must add my thoughts at this time. As a double second generation graduate of Tulane who sent his daughter as the third generation to Tulane I am appalled at the ongoing process designed to kill the athletic program. The small financial gain that will be realized by doing away with Division 1-A athletics will be more than offset by the loss of disaffected alumni and friends. The Tukane athletics program is a model program and to eliminate Division 1-A football will effectively eliminate the entire program or, at least, result in an ineffective weak program that will be just as much a financial problem as the current program, but without any hope of recovery. I truly hope that the Board will put an end to this effort to end athletics at Tulane and turn a proud heritage into a distant memory. ***** Dr. Cowan, As an alumnus who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at Tulane between donations and tuitions for me and my sons, I urge you to please keep Tulane in division 1 for all sports. ***** I would just like to say that I think Tulane should remain a Division-I school and should also keep the football team. By dropping the football team the school will lose students like J.P. Losman, who has others schools looking at him in case the football team is cut, and it will also lose some fan support. The football team has just finished up the season by winning the Hawaii Bowl and I think they should be allowed to try once again to have a great season. Tulane should remain a Division-I school because as it is, Tulane is not highly noted for their athletic program and bumping the school down to Division- III will only decrease the notability even more. I personally love the competition Division-I allows Tulane to compete with. It is aggressive and can get rough but is one of the best things about Division-I athletics. Division-I sets the highest level possible for athletes to compete at and Tulane does well there. As a result, I believe Tulane should remain in Division-I for as long as possible. ***** Dear Tulane Administration, My first comment with respect to the Divison I versus Division III debate with athletics is that it smells (and appears) like a marketing / fundraising strategy by the administration. It is an interesting way to increase donations to the athletic program and our season ticket base. Threaten to drop programs or move to a lower division level and donations should increase in order to save the athletic program. I wouldn't be surprised if the university increased its donations and athletic funds by at least one million dollars in the short term just by starting this controversy and letting the "fear factor" take its course. I worked for the university's basketball department under Dr. Kevin White and Coach Perry Clark while I attended Tulane. While university athletics can be costly, I observed first hand how university athletics provide immeasurable benefits to the student body. This in turn, benefits the university as a whole. While I was at Tulane the basketball team was one of the better teams in the nation and whether an individual was a basketball fan or not, the entire university took pride in the team. Fogelman Arena was a place that the students desired to go to at least once or twice a week and the atmosphere in the arena provided an education and experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. And such an experience cannot be duplicated if our basketball team moves to Division III and plays schools that no one ever heard of and quite frankly, no one even cares about. Additionally, I think the administration is sorely underestimating the importance of Division I athletics in a student's choice of universities. Despite Tulane's academic standards (which I am not complaining about), I would not have attended the school if it would not have had Division I athletics. I also know many people that use the same factor when choosing where to go school since as discussed above, Division I athelics provide an experience for a student that other division levels of athletics cannot provide. Since I am sure that the administration is very concerned with its enrollment statistics, I would not be surprised if a study of the potential effects on the applicant pool would show a negative effect on the applicant pool by the moving or eliminating of athletic programs. Finally, with respect to the football program, when I attended Tulane, Tulane was an independent and was almost a laughing stock of college football. I remember going to a Tulane-Florida State football game and watching the Florida State players literally jog faster than our players could run. If there was ever a time to consider the elimination of the football program or a move to another division level of play, it was then. Tulane football, however, has made great strides, including but not limited to joining Conference USA, which has bowl tie-ins and TV contracts; having an undeafeated season; playing in other bowl games; and scheduling quality opponents. I am at a loss why after such great strides and a rich football tradition the university would be considering this course of action. I guess the unversity must ultimately decide whether the athletic department should try to operate at a profit (which is not guaranteed even with a drop to division III)and at the same time potentially hurt its applicant pool and definitely anger a majority of alumni. Also remember that alumni also donate to other parts of the university in addition to the athletic department. I wait in anticipation. ***** Ya gotta be kidding! Cowen isn't the reason 5-8,000 people show up for football games. Or about a thousand for MENS basketball. It's a general apathy in the community from locals and Tulane students alike. Ya'll wqant to stay in Division 1-A? GO TO A GAME!!! Tulane is the largest employer in New Orleans. It is a BUSINESS! If you headed a company this size and one sector was losing $7,000,000 plus a year what would you do? The primary mission of the Universuty is to educate students. If a top sports program could go along with that then FINE! That would be icing on the cake. But any money lost in athletics hurts the other parts of the school. They have to do without to make up the deficit. Scott Cowen has DOUBLED the donations to the school over the previous 5 years before he was hired. Scott Cowen is not the problem. So called fans and alumni with fish hooks in their pockets are the problem. I'm sure you saw the chart on Tulane's endowment & private giving compared to similar schools. That is the embarressment. Talk is cheap! p.s. That guy who supposedly represents clubs with 59,000 Tulane alumni? Tell them to send about $100- $150 each to their Alma Mater & the problem would be solved! ***** I will be an incoming freshman for the 2003 fall semester and signed my national letter of intent to play a sport at Tulane. As soon as I heard of this debate, I was a little upset, but I had faith. For some reason I chose Tulane over many other universities; it had something special that I couldn't describe. Every day I log on to read other people's comment and it was today that I found this article. In May, with rumors swirling, Cowen acknowledged the review, which he said was part of a five-year overall review of the university, and said he waited to announce it so as to not affect recruiting efforts by Tulane's coaches. Was Cowen thinking about the athletes? How can he be so selfish. Yes, I am on athletic scholarship, but I believe all my hard work deserved it. If Tulane did drop to Division III, my family would not be able to afford Tulane. IIf I had to transfer, I would be forced to sit out a year. What did I do to deserve this? What athlete would stay at Tulane after Cowen hid the truth to reel us in? I feel like a piece of bait rather than a human with my own goals. I was always told you should never choose a school for its athletics, but it was one of the top three reasons I chose Tulane.(academics, location) My dream is to be a coach and I felt I could learn some of the greatest qualities, skills, and lessons at Tulane. I hope Cowen thinks about the people he is betraying and votes to keep all sports at Division 1. ***** AS A FOOTBALL COACH IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA FOR SOME 35 YEARS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TULANE TO CONTINUE ITS PARTICIPATION AT THE DIVISION ONE LEVEL. SO MANY YOUNG DTUDENT-ATHLETES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THEIR TULANE EXPERIENCE AND GO ON TO DO GRAT THINGS. IT WOULD BE TERRIBLEFOR THIS TO DISCONTINUE. THANKS FOR LISTENIN TO AN OLE COACH ***** In this entire athletics discussion episode, all of the various groups of stakeholders in the Tulane community have essentially been told that the Board and university president -- and only those entities -- know and will decide on their own what's best for everyone. The university held briefing sessions very late in the semester when many students were finished with their exams and away from campus. Until very recently, the alumni association presidents around the country were prohibited from notifying their membership that the issue was under discussion. The athletic director has not been allowed to address the entire Board of Administrators. That there was even a review taking place was kept a secret from the entire Tulane community for a matter of several months, until rumors surfaced and the university administration had no choice but to respond. Administrators are telling us that athletics "cost too much." However, how much is too much, when federal government data show that athletics broke even financially for the fiscal year 2001-2002? How much is too much when Tulane's teams have had much success over the past year on the field and on the court, have garnered much positive publicity for the school and spurred solid attendance? Why not have an actual meaningful dialogue as to how much cost is too much cost, rather than a 'just take our word for it...we the administration know what's best for all of you' pronouncement in which the voices of the majority are discounted and ignored? Is this any example of the true collegiate process, of the true collegiate ideal? ***** In Business school, they have always taught you to use a cost-benefit analysis in making decisions. If you had done this, you would not be making all these problems now, which also has to be considered a cost to the university. The school might save some money if football is trashed. Also, you will get a chance to put your own personal agendas in place. But you better look at the backlash and the costs the school will sustain if you go through with this plan. This will cause Tulane to fall, and possibly go under in the near future. All for the cash savings and your egos. This is really pathetic. ***** I just read the article in this morning's (Sunday) Times-Picayune about the Tulane athletics "review." Among several facts and statements in that article that made my blood boil, this one about put me over the edge: One of the Board members, "worried it's too little, too late, asked of recent donors, "Where the hell were you for the last five years? Or 10 years? Or 30 years?" " I am a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tulane University. Although I am a "recent donor" to the athletics program, I am a long-time donor to the University's general fund. However, I can assure you that had I been informed that the Athletics Department was in need of financial help, or, more unbelievably, that the school might drop our football team after over 100 years, I would have directed all of my donations to the Tulane Athletics Fund. The problem is not that these donations are "too little too late", the problem is that we (as alums) were never even informed of the problem until about 6 weeks ago!!! Since that time, there has been an amazing outpouring of donations and support for our football team and other Division I-A programs. I can also assure you that if the Board decides to "kill" football at this time without even giving Rick Dickson's Plan a chance to succeed, the University will not be receiving any further donations from me. ***** My time at Tulane began in 1974 and ended with my graduation from the School of Engineering in 1978. My interest in Tulane began with a notice that was posted in a New Jersey high school where I was visiting for a math meet. I was attracted to Tulane by the innovative program in biomedical engineering and Dr. William VanBuskirk. My father had heard of Tulane, although admittedly because of their football team in their more succesful days, and after some persuasion, he allowed me to attend Tulane instead of the Arkansas christian college that so many of our family members attended. While at Tulane I played a sousaphone for the marching band and tuba for the concert band. This meant that for every Saturday night home football game I was at Tulane Stadium or the Superdome until the clock ran out allowing us to leave after the customary humiliating defeat. While I appreciate that there is great demand on the time, physical capabilities and mental capabilities of college athletes, it was noted that the football players were not integrated into the academics of campus life. We had a linebacker in the engineering school and one of the gargantuant football atheletes made startling isolated appearances for the midterm and final exam in Introduction to Psychology, but otherwise I had no classroom contact with athletes other than basketball and baseball players. I resented the financial drain that the football program was rumored to have on Tulane at that time and thought that it would have been wise to terminate the program. My biomedical engineering degree allowed me to attend the University of Southern California Medical School and assisted in my development as an orthopaedic surgeon. I am greatful to the university and my professors for my education at Tulane. As an alumnus in Los Angeles for 19 years, Oregon for 2 years, and now Pensacola, Florida for 4 years, the opportunities for my friends and colleagues to hear about Tulane were primarily through the athletic department. The Tulanian was placed to be unread in my waiting room, and there was the occaisional news release about some comment from a professor in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine or other department, but when the Tulane football team went undefeated and when they played in Honolulu last Christmas, they were on television across the country and it was then in that that context that the general public was informed of the high academic standards of Tulane University. My first information concerning the activities of the Ad Hoc committee came during a drive home while listening to WWL. I was initially outraged and even called into the sports talk radio show to express my anger and concern, and I even went so far as to predict the demise of Dr. Cowen. However, while exploring the School of Architecture website for my daughter whom I am encouraging to consider Tulane for the class entering in 2004, it became apparent that the football program is probably no more a part of the academics at Tulane than it was in the 1970's. At a small private school like Tulane, how does the university attract a large enough pool of atheletes that meet the academic requirements and have the athletic talent to consistently compete at a level to attract sufficent fan interest for a profitable program or at least one that does not threaten the finances of school at large? It is not right to exploit the student athletes for the weekend entertainment of the student body and the alumni. After much less consideration than the commitee has given to the subject, it was my conclusion that it is best to accept their recommendation even if it is in their best judgement to terminate the football program or other atheletic programs. It is my desire that the academic integrity of Tulane University be maintained above all other considerations so that it can attract and benefit students now and in the future as it did for me in 1973. If the decision is made to maintain the football program, then I will commit to help support the Tulane Athletic Fund in addtion to my donations to the School of Engineering. My apologies to Dr. Cowen for my rash comments on the radio. ***** First, when I was choosing colleges, I decided between Duke, Texas, the University of Miami, Georgia Tech and Tulane. Early on I quickly removed RPI, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon from consideration. All are excellent academic institutions. I obviously didn't choose Tulane because of its status as a sports powerhouse. But I felt then as I feel now that Division 1 sports, including football, are an integral part of university life. I chose not to deny myself that experience. Secondly, I also have a soft spot for scholarship athletics as a whole, since my brother earned a degree at Georgia Tech while playing football. So here I am, many years later, still wrapped up with Tulane. By the way, I donate money to both athletics specifically and also to the general fund. If football is gone, so will my connection to the university all donations will cease. Thank you for your time, ***** Dear Board of Administrators, As a brief introduction, I am a native New Orleanian who chose to attend college out of state and currently lives in New York City. However, I have family members that attended Tulane, and all of us maintain an intense love for the University. I respectfully ask for your vote next Tuesday in favor of maintaining a Division I-A football program at Tulane University. The reasons why Tulane should have a Division I-A program are listed below. 1) I'm afraid university officials are using static analysis instead of dynamic analysis when calculating the Tulane "athletic deficit." How do you fairly credit athletics with the exposure that occurred when Tulane appeared in a bowl game this past December on national television or had the 12-0 undefeated season a few years ago.Frankly, you cannot buy that type of publicity. Undergraduate admission applications surged after the football team's undefeated season and trip to the Liberty Bowl. Furthermore, Division I-A sports is the only way some alumni / friends of the university keep in contact with Tulane, and leads them to make donations to both athletics as well as academics. None of the above issues were factored into the equation, and therefore "static scoring" is an overly simplistic way of determining the "athletic deficit." 2) The backlash that would occur from eliminating Division I-A football could be insurmountable for the university. I have spoken with alumni who say they will not be as generous when donating funds to the university if Div I-A football is terminated. There will be such hostility pitting the University against the vast majority of current students, alumni, local politicians, etc. The university will suffer from a financial standpoint not to mention the emotional scars created. I don't think anyone would be able to stop the hemorrhaging that would occur to the university if Div. I-A football was eliminated. 3) Ironically, when considering the issue at vote next Tuesday, Division I-A football is the only program that has the potential to raise the revenues necessary to cover the athletic deficit. Why would anyone want to terminate the only sport that has the capacity to do this? If we drop to Division III there will be $0 on the revenue side but $5,000,000 on the expense side of the ledger. Similarly, dropping Div I-A football will likely force us out of Conference USA and at a minimum severely reduce our allotment of funds from the multiyear television package Conference USA signed a couple of years ago with ESPN. Furthermore, Conference USA will make a strong case to be included as part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) when the current contract expires in 2005. With the imminent defections of Miami, Boston College, and Syracuse from the Big East Conference to the ACC, I believe it is likely that Conference USA will replace the Big East in the next BCS contract or Conference USA and the Big East will consolidate into a "Super Conference," which would also receive BCS status. However, none of this would benefit Tulane if we do not maintain a Division I-A football program. 4) Our Athletic Director, Rick Dickson, has done a tremendous job of boosting ticket sales along with Tulane Athletic Fund (TAF) donations, and this surge in momentum will only continue. Dickson's "Think Green" campaign has been brilliant and shows that a creative marketing campaign can result in substantial revenue growth. When your vote occurs next Tuesday, I believe that Dickson will have met or exceeded the goals that were set out for him six weeks ago. Therefore, his future projections with respect to TAF donations and ticket sales are clearly credible. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my views on this issue. Please vote for maintaining a Division I-A football program next Tuesday. ***** Dear Board Members, Before you vote on Tuesday about changing Tulane's Athletic program I would like to tell you a story. All my life, all eleven years, I've been a Tulane fan. I remember sitting with my family in the Superdome watching and cheering for Tulane. Back in 1998 when the football team played in the Liberty Bowl, my family came all the way from California just to watch our team. So as you see clearly I am very attached to Tulane. As a toddler I had no clue how much Tulane was part of my family heritage. I only knew that my mom and dad had attended the school. I had no clue when I was sitting in the Superdome eight years ago, that if I went to Tulane I would be the sixth generation of my family to attend Tulane. The first person to go to school at Tulane, my great-great-great grandfather, was learning there before the school was even called Tulane. This tradition is important to me because I am the first generation of my family to live in California were I can't participate in traditions like this here. My going to Tulane would be so incredibly special to me. But unfortunately that will not happen if you drop athletics. Part of my expectations of college is going to sports games or being on a team, having homecoming parties for the football team, and just having fun at the games. Dropping sports would end a lifetime dream of others and mine who might've wished to play sports for Tulane. They probably won't even consider Tulane for their school and neither will I if you make the mistake of voting off the Tulane's Athletic Program at your meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2003. |