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Questions and Comments We've Received May 1, 2003 I am not an Alumnus of Tulane. As a matter of fact, I am an alumnus of University of Maryland. However, I was born and raised in the New Orleans area, live in Mandeville and work in the Central Business District. The company I work for is privately owned by a family that has supported Tulane athletics for years and uses these athletics as a source of entertainment for many of its clients. Additionally, I have supported Tulane athletics by purchasing season tickets as gifts and attending many functions on my own. My father and step-father are Tulane Alumnae as well as my step-brother. My step-sister is a graduate of your MBA program. The purpose of my e-mail is to discourage you from deciding to eliminate or down-grade the athletic program. Being a businessman, I certainly understand the need to be prudent financially and I am pleased that a private non-profit institution such as Tulane is carefully looking at its options. However, I would suggest by listening to many of my peers that moving out of Division 1A could be far more devastating than may appear. I have heard from many family members, friends and acquaitances that should this happen, they would discontinue their support of Tulane completely. While this may seem to be a knee-jerk reaction, the reality is that this will surely happen and ultimately affect even the academic prowess I have admired about this University for all these years. I would prefer the committee to address how they could better support and market the athletic programs rather than to tear them down. I do not have a solution because I am not at the heart of the matter. I just wanted to convey what I have heard and let you know that I truly believe the core of your Alumnae do not wish for this to happen. Thank you for taking the time to review my perspective. ***** Dear Tulane: With our rising professional athletes, an awareness about Tulane Athletics is growing. More potential students are realizing what and where Tulane is, and how great of a university that it is. Many of these students could be brilliant minds or future all-star athletes, who could build the university's reputation further. A rising reputation will spread amongst alumni and current students, as well. This will bring more of each to the games; and hopefully cause more alumni to give back to the university. I, for one, am wholly supportive of keeping division 1 athletics at Tulane. ***** President Cowen, I believe that it is extremely important for Tulane to remain a Division I-A school. Athletics are how many high school students recognize schools. Our applicant pool will greatly decrease in size and quality should Tulane drop down. I am very concerned about this issue. I would be extremely embarrassed if we changed divisions. I, along with most other students, chose Tulane because it is a very well-rounded school. We have wonderful academic programs and we also are competitve nationally in athletics. I do not understand how this is even an issue considering how well our baseball and tennis teams are doing, the football team winning a bowl game this winter, the basketball teams being a strong force in Conference USA, and Byron Parker winning the national Slam Dunk Contest! It would be a shame to take this away from our sports programs. I've heard that one of the reasons for dropping down would be to increase our variety of athletic teams. That is ridiculous; no one good would be on those teams and the current students would not want to dedicate time to them. If something is not broke, don't fix it. Obviously our athletic programs are performing very well. Please, let them keep doing so and giving Tulane the national recognition we deserve. Thank you, ***** President Cowen, I am a student concerned with the possibility of Tulane dropping from Division 1. If Tulane becomes a Division 3 school it will do serious damage to the school's spirit. I, for one, am very proud of the incredible athletes that play for Tulane, and would hate to see their programs and funding dwindle. I protest against this decision being made without the consent of the students. The board is being unjust to the student body! Please consider us when you are making a decision that will have such a great impact on us. ***** President Cowen: I am completely opposed to any changes in Divisions for the Tulane Athletic Program. I realize that the main reason of this investigation and review board is financial, however I hope that you and this board are considering the many effects a decision like this could have on the future of this university. There are more facets to a university than academic. Tulane is, obviously, a very prestigious academic institution, and students go to Tulane for this reason; however, the student community is most important. If one is most concerned about the money, think of all the alumni donations the University will lose if Tulane becomes a school in which students pass through the four years here with their noses in books without forming some sort of emotional attachment to Tulane and what it represents. Tulane receives much of its exposure through the successes of its athletic programs. Athletics spark int erst for many high school students. Personally, I had never heard of Tulane or considered it as a possibility until I saw the Tulane Baseball team play in th World Series. Four hours of national coverage on Christmas night of the football team's Hawaii bowl is a financial asset, not in cash money but in exposure and press. The tennis team just won Conference. Exposure like this brings intangible wealth to the university which can be, and is being, overlooked. You are already aware that Tulane has a big problem with apathy on campus. What are two organizations which could help solve that problem? The Greek System and Athletics. Which two organizations are most opposed by academia and Tulane's administration? The Greek System and Athletics. What builds a strong institution and what nurtures a fulfilling and meaningful college experience are not solely the financial success, but the experiences of the students that make that institution possible. Fulfill your responsibility as President of Tulane University and keep the athletic program status quo. I am sure you will hear much more of this from the student body, alumni, professors, and who ever else has been or will be effected by this decision. Respectfully, ***** Dear President Cowen, As a sophomore student at Tulane part of my decision making process for attending this school was the fact that it has competitive Division I sports. My final decision for schools was between Tulane and Lehigh University, which is Division I-AA. I feel that lowering our athletic aspirations will diminish the sense of community that sports bring to the university. The Division I NCAA sports governing body have recently appointed the former Dean at the University of Indiana as commissioner. He has publicly presented the idea of placing sanctions on schools where a certain percentage of scholarship athletes must graduate in order for the university to avoid restricted scholarships and probation from post-season tournaments. Besides, right now Tulane sports are flourishing. Baseball is a perennial top 25 team. Men's basketball is on the rise under the direction of Coach Finney. The football team won the Hawaii Bowl and looks to have even a stronger team next year. Women's basketball has reached the NCAA tournament for the last few years, and the women's tennis team is conference champions. After all of these accomplishments I think it would be detrimental to this university to cut part of the lifeline of community sports brings to the students and the surrounding area. ***** I have followed closely since 1937 the Tulane football fortunes. I have seldom understood the motives of those who influence the Tulane athletic programs. First shortly after world war 11 was the deemphisis of football;next was the decision to leave the SEC. History has proven both to be less than strokes of genius. Over time there have been repeated reviews of the football program, none of which have been helpful to the program development. This raises the question "Why does Tulane embark on these programs of self destruction? One does not hear of such from Vanderbilt and Duke. What is it or who is it at Tulane that support such divisiveness.At Duke and Vanderbilt such elements are not accorded similar forums,or is Tulane lno longer lin that class of university. Let us fervorently hope that Tulane is not about to suffer lanother stroke of questionable genius. ***** Dr. Cowen: This is to urge you to precede with extreme caution in the deliberations relative to the future of the Tulane athletic program. I have been a fan and supporter of Tulane athletics since the mid-1950's when I attended Tulane. In my view, Tulane has finally found it's niche. Conference USA fits Tulane like a glove. With our small enrollment, our graduation rate for athletes and our high academic standards we clearly do not belong in the SEC or any of the other so called "major" conferences. I can understand the concern about subsidizing athletics. The way to overcome the size of the subsidization is not to reduce the program but rather to increase the income of those sports that produce major amounts of money--football, baseball and football. One of the major deficiencies in Tulane's current operation is a serious lack of cooperation between the Athletic Department and the Alumni Affairs Department. Not only do I feel there is little cooperation between the departments, I doubt that they even talk to each other. The greatest opportunity to increase ticket sales may well be through the Alumni Affairs Department -that needs to be exploited. We have a group that attends almost all of Tulane's out of town football games. It is very difficult to find out what events, if any, are planned at those games. The Athletic Dept. generally doesn't have a clue. I hope that you will seriously consider expanded marketing, particularly to alumni, before making any major changes in the athletic programs. ***** To Whom it may Concern, I understand that Tulane University has appointed a committee composed of members of the Board of Trustees to review the future of Green Wave Athletics at its current status of Division I-A and this committee is scheduled to deliver a report on its findings to the full Board at its next meeting, May 29th. Being a parent of one of the student athletes at Tulane, I certainly hope that the board takes into consideration the fact that numerous highly ranked educational institutions maintain high academic standards and have highly competitive sports teams in Division I-A. Tulane touts itself as being comparable to a Rice or a Stanford, of which both have maintained excellence as it relates to academics and sports while competing in Division I-A. There is no reason Tulane should be any different. Tulane has taken many steps over recent years to attract quality athletic directors, coaches and athletes and to now even consider dropping to a lower level is very disappointing. Our impression is that the baseball program is a big part of Tulane University and a very well run organization. Our son plays on the baseball team and that group is a perfect example of students balancing sports and academics as the majority of these athletes were included on Deans's list and/or provided specific recognition for their academic achievements. He came to Tulane for the very reason that he could get a good education and play in a quality Division I-A program. In addition to not being fair to the athletes who have committed to a Tulane sports program it would be extremely unfortunate for the entire university to move to a lower division. I would strongly suggest that at a minimum, that every effort be made to maintain the schools Division I-A status for the near term and set specific goals or requirements which must be maintained for the university to maintain a Division I-A status on an ongoing basis. If it is budget constraints, this will allow time for additional monies to be collected, etc. and if it is due to academics, a specific target can be set for all student athletes to maintain as a whole. To consider reducing the status without taking these steps would be wrong and an injustice for everyone concerned. ***** I think that, in the tradition of good academic schools like Duke, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin, UVA, Va Tech... there is a place for a good 1A program in a quality academic institution. Just like in any business, there must be an equivalent commitment to the "product" to make it successful and "profitable" financially. This means commitment to whatever resources it takes to obtain the best coaches, players, etc. and train them to be the best. Tulane has done admirably well over the years, and I've been a proud alumni and supporter, but I will say, that it would be a good time to say... not only are we staying in 1A, but we are going to go further to make it more competitive, and therefore a better product with a larger draw, etc. Even if the profit doesn't appear on paper, there is huge impact on the institution and the alumni from having a 1A program. I wanted to be a part of a 1A program when I went to college. I am sure there are others. These folks might choose schools like the above if Tulane opts out of 1A. The quality of the application pool might suffer a little, and so might alumni donations. My vote: Stay 1A, and commit further to get the full reward. I think if the programs get better, the Dome can fill up for football ($$), the arena can fill up for basketball ($$), and we can be seeing Tulane athletics nationwide ($$)-- it's a question of committment. ***** As a double graduate of Tulane, I sincerely hope you do not discontinue Tulane's participationin the I-A college sports division. I think that dropping to a secondary program will irreversibly injure Tulane when it comes to recruiting future students. Students don't just want excellent academics, they want the sporting events. Sports is part of the total college experience, and I believe that Tulane will drop out of the ranks of the top universities if it drops its programs. ***** I was A&S 1981 and enjoyed division 1 sports. I still enjoy watching Tulane play the division 1 teams. I am a Green Wave fan and my kids are in the kids club. Keep my support where it belongs, in division 1 sports, including but not limited to football, baseball and basketball. ***** Don't take sports away from students and alumni!!! Past mistakes by the administration have hampered Tulane Athletics, and now they threaten to take them away completely??? While the Wave will have competitive years, college athletics don't have to be about outspending the competition to gain fame and glory for the University. Fans need a tangible aspect of their school to root for. We want an opponent to root against. When it's all said and done, we won't be recognized on the same level as other universities if we take athletics away. Don't let Tulane be another Xavier or Loyola. We're different, we're better. Keep Division 1A athletics for the student-athletes as well as the student body. Bring sports back to campus and away from downtown. Have more games at Fogelman. Play football anywhere but the Superdome. Embrace the enthusiasm the local community has for sports and make it easier to be a fan. Tulane may not be able to fill 70,000 seats for home games, but most teams don't. Like it or not, athletics and academics go hand in hand in this country. I would not have come from Michigan to New Orleans to go to school if there was not a Division 1A program because it's just not the same. If Tulane cuts off athletics it won't be the same school I went to. I won't contribute as an alumn, and that's a fact. Do what you want, but remember this is about young people learning, living, and experiencing something wonderful and unique. It's not the same without Division 1A sports. ***** I'm not going to repeat what everyone's been saying about how Division I-A athletics is a draw for prospective students and how it will ruin recruiting for top-notch athletes and asking why many of the other top academic schools can maintain good athletic programs and Tulane can't. These are all very valid points and I agree with them wholeheartedly. However, there is one issue that I believe people are overlooking. A drop to Division III would kill what little racial diversity is left on this campus. A very good portion of the African-American students at Tulane are athletes who would be at a different school right now if Tulane did not have a Division I-A athletic program. Moving to D-III would not attract the top black athletes to a school that is viewed as very white as it is. The incentive for a black student to attend Tulane would greatly decrease with a move to D-III. So what's the solution? It's tough to say. Tulane's victory in a Christmas eve bowl game definitely helped. In fact, Tulane athletics has had a great year all-around. The women's basketball team made the tournament again, the men's team had a winning season, the football team finished 8-5, the men's tennis team is about host the NCAA regional, and the baseball team is gearing up for a successful run in the postseason. All of this should help attendance at games. Another idea would be to schedule home games against regional powers, for example, baseball games against Rice (who was ranked #1 nationally for a good part of this season) and Mississippi St. (or how about hosting a tournament here like the one the team went to in California this year?), basketball games against Georgia, Texas and Alabama. The football games this year against Texas and Miss. St. are also a step in the right direction. These would draw huge crowds and bring in money for the program. Tulane also needs a marketing team to spark local interest. Football games should be drawing at least 35,000 regularly (an aside: can anyone really picture a Division III school playing football in a stadium that seats 75,000? In addition, attendance at all sporting events will most definitely decrease with a move to D-III), and crowds in Fogelman should top 2500. People need to come to games and be excited about Tulane athletics. More giveaways for the students would help student attendance, also. Bottom line: While a drop to Division III athletics would most certainly save money, there are three times as many reasons not to switch than there are to make the switch. There are alternative ways to make money from athletics that I believe the athletic department has not tried yet. ***** Hey Folks, As the father of a walk-on football player I must say that I feel it would be a huge mistake for Tulane to down-grade the football program to D-I AA or D-II. For football at least, the future seems to look rather bright with a good group of players in the pipe now, good recruits on the way, a winning and dedicated coaching staff, and a solid base to continue to build success on. With this base, the team should be going to bowl games on a regular basis for some time to come. As you know, bowl games pay big money and give an inordinate amount of great free and positive press and television exposure to the university as a whole. While the bowl game cash cow may not pay for the entire program, it goes a long way towards it. Further, how would you quantify and measure the value (or loss) of the free exposure for the university? Also please consider, several players (and parents of players) have mentioned that they would transfer out of Tulane if the football program did not maintain its D-I standing. They did not commit to a lower level program and as such would feel betrayed and act like free agents shopping for the best deal in town so to speak. I imagine that the coaching staff would start to leave as well. Were this to occur, the program would spiral into the dumpster and the next decision/pressure point would then be to drop the program entirely. What exposure value is there in running a lower level program? No one ever says "Yeah, we're number 2!" Tulane administrators should decide once and for all, not every few years, if they want a football program or not. Once this is decided, then a real commitment should be made to maintaining a D-I standing. On the other hand, if it is decided to keep a lower level program, the implementation should be set for 2 years down the road. This would allow current players the chance to transfer, and it would allow prospective recruits the opportunity to make a commitment with the full knowledge of what is to come in the future instead of buying a "hollow bunny". Thank you for your time and consideration. ***** Tulane is known for its versatility and diversity. An individual with superb athletic ability adds to both of these goals. Changing divisions would completely undermine both of these important goals. The Tulane experience must include these outstanding individuals in order to adequately prepare the student body for the road ahead. Tulane would lose most, if not all, of these gifted individuals by dropping divisions. My opinion is that you never play to lose and dropping divisions is just that. Tulane's long standing football history has survived many challenges and to even discuss this now is ludicrous, To do this would be a serious mistake. Tulane should not exhibit a loser attitude. It will stick and spread and the entire University will suffer. ***** I have had season tkts to football and basketball since I was a freshman in Arts & Sciences in 1938. I have always been proud of Tulane and contributed whatever I was able. The last few years that has been at the $1000 range for athletics and more for general and some designated funds. If I wanted to support high school games, I'd might pick Newman, but I'd rather stick with Tulane in Division I. If you are old enough to remember, de-emphasis of athletics in the '50's, was a blow and created a decrease in interest, recognition and giving also. Don't drop my interest down along with de-emphasis again. ***** i have been a life long fan of tulane's sports teams. while i may not hold season tickets i do attend as many events as i can. i follow high school sports closely and for the first time in a long time i see tulane being mentioned often among high school athletes. we have traveled a long road the last 4 years. i have seen the tulane baseball team get a lot of respect lately even from lsu fans. i know a player's family and he is excited about playing for tulane but also is concerned about div 3 talk. we really need to make a decision right now. i will make a contribution to the taf and will talk to my business associates about the same. ***** Dear Tulane Administration, Tulane should maintain it division 1 status in athletics. Based on my experience as a Northeasterner, a significant portion of Tulane's visibility outside of the South is attributed to its division 1 basketball, baseball and football programs. After graduating in 1995 and kicking off a job search in Boston and New York I was frustrated when dealing with a number of recruiters or professionals that knew very little about Tulane. Most didn't know where it was, got it confused with Tulsa and didn't realize it was a competitive institution. However, Tulane's visibility has radically changed within the last 5 years due to the success of many of its athletic programs. It cannot be understated how much athletic success boosts the image of a school among the population and the business world. While many would argue that the quality of academics should be a school's only measuring stick. This is a utopian view and far from reality. Any NFL fan knows that Shawn King from the Tampa Bay Bucs was a star quarterback at Tulane. The positive goodwill generated in the eyes of the far reaching audience at one big college or NFL football game could take years of academic research and achievement to replicate among the masses. The power of mass media is awesome. Dropping down would clearly put Tulane on an uneven playing field with its academic peers who have division 1 programs. Athletic scholarships open up the door of opportunity for the underprivileged. As a former Tulane athlete, I was afforded the opportunity to make friends and associate with people from poor backgrounds. It was an eye opening experience to bond with someone so different in order to reach a common goal. The most diversity I experienced at Tulane was while playing on the grid iron and not in the academic arena. Most underprivileged athletes are able to successfully channel and tap into their energy and talents after graduation thereby making a positive contribution to society. Frankly, in a division III program these life changing opportunities would evaporate for most of the underprivileged. Moreover, many prospective talented students want to attend a school that has a division 1 athletic program. Being associated with a division 1 athletic program is a source of identity, pride and social outlet for a large percentage of the student body. It is an integral part of the college experience that can't be substituted in the minds of many. Dropping down a division would send competitive students elsewhere to institutions such as Vanderbuilt, Rice, Wakeforest, Duke, Notre Dame, Michigan and Stanford where they can take advantage of all division 1 athletics have to offer. In addition, generous alumni would be alienated and lose ties to Tulane. The risks associated with dropping Division 1 athletics outweigh any short sighted cost saving projections. As with any program, a big portion of the value and return of a high visibility Tulane team is intangible and may be difficult to quantify with a traditional cost/benefit analysis. In my mind the benefits clearly outweigh the costs. The assumptions of any projections showing otherwise should be rigorously questioned. I hope that Tulane makes the right decision and continues to roll forward by maintaining its division 1 athletic programs. Dropping down would be a roll in the wrong direction and one that would be difficult to recover from. ***** Please read the following article currently available on CBSSportsline.com. It deals with BCS realignment to include current non-BCS schools. Please consider delaying this move out of D1A until this BCS realignment shakes out. BCS kicks off fifth bowl, title game for consideration ***** I turned on my computer to read the most disappointing news of the day: Tulane is considering knocking it's athletics program to III-A, or abolishing it all together. I think this is a HUGE mistake. Tulane gets so much exposure and support due to its athletics. I think the committee should take careful consideration to the financial burdens this will cause. Alumni support will certainly dwindle if athletics are gone. ***** My wife and are both local alumnus' and contributors to Tulane. In fact my son attends Newcomb Nursery. We want to express our interest in keeping the Tulane Athletice program strong and healthy and remain "as is." The Navy game at City Park last fall was a giant step in the right direction in generating local interest and fan support. Beating the hell out of Hawaii was satisfying as well during bowl season. I truly believe that with more pro-active moves such as games at City Park with a smaller venue which could entertain "tail-gating," fan support will continue to increase. We are ordering our wave family pack of tickets this morning. ***** Dear Tulane Administration, I'm not sure if this discussion on removing Tulane athletics from Division I is some sort of hoax, but in case it is not, I believe it would be an absolute travesty to do so. A decision like that would crush the already fragile school spirit. Financially, it does not seem like an economically wise decision, which is why I do not believe this is a true issue. I am a supporter of Tulane athletics, although my loyalty would be highly jeopardized by a move from Division I, the only collegiate athletic division for which any supporting fan has interest. I strongly urge whomever the decision makers are to consider the severely negative impact a move like this would cause to Tulane pride, both in the alumni and the local community. ***** Don't even think about leaving Division 1. Tulane does well enough in the sports without breaking the rules (I hope) to justify being Division 1. Football won a bowl this year, basketball was around .500 and baseball is in the top 25. This is enough. STAY DIVISION 1. ***** I am a Tulane faculty member who admittedly has not been a full and complete supporter of the athletic program, though I and my family live for sports and we follow Tulane sports closely. Now I realize the school is facing a choice which it has been reluctant to face. I completely agree that something must be done. Either average New Orleanians, alumni and people like me start supporting Tulane or we really shouldn't continue on, certainly not indefinitely, in view of the losses incurred by the institution. I have come to the decision, however, that we should continue because it is not only in the long-term interest of the institution, but of the city and our state, and this wider city and state issue has not been emphasized in the discussions I have heard. If I could speak directly to the Board of Trustees I would suggest that our President and the Board take an unusual step which I realize is unprecedented. It should issue a matching challenge to the City, the Tulane community and individuals like me. The matching challenge I have in mind involves a quid pro quo from the City, State, alumni and fans: The University would allow Tulane athletics to continue in Division I for two or three more years in order to see if a broad community challenge can bring about a dramatic change in ticket sales and attendance. President Cowen would announce the formation of a broad community campaign which enlists the support of the Governor, the Mayor, the faculty, the students, the citizens of the entire region, and the current loyal supporters. I believe this challenge to the City is just as important as keeping the Saints or attracting the Hornets, though it will not require tax dollar subsidies or new stadiums. It will only require an aggressive public appeal using public service spots on television. I think the Mayor needs to be involved because it represents economic vitality and civic pride for New Orleans. If New Orleans' largest employer downsizes its program, it will directly reduce the fan base it has, which will surely affect city sales revenues, dome revenues, and the number of professionals coming to the area. If Tulane downsizes, so does New Orleans' pride. This question is more than about just Tulane or just athletics. It is also about the City and the State--and accordingly the campaign should be widened beyond the efforts of the athletic department. My family and I are ready to do our part, if this suggestion has any merit. ***** I don't know if the option has been considered, but what about staying division I in all sports but football? Drop football to Div II or III, and keep the remaining sports that we have a shot at being competitive as Div I. There are numerous examples of schools that have individual athletic teams involved in different divisions. We are a small school with tough academic requirements (for athletics purposes) and in the grand scheme of things will never be able to compete and win against the top Div I powerhouses. That is precisely what sets Tulane apart, we care about how smart our athletes are. If the BCS national championship game this past year featured the two teams in Div I football with the highest student graduation rate, the game would have been between Tulane (#1) and Notre Dame (#2). I think we should direct our athletic funds to sports that we can have an impact on a national level, and football is certainly not one of them. Or we can keep things as is, and continue to be mocked on Sports Center and by the rest of the nation. I think moving football out of the spotlight of the university athletics will put a greater focus on the programs at Tulane that consistently perform well, such has Tennis and Baseball. Do non-athletes consider the record of the Tulane football team when applying? No. Are there programs at this school that would blossom with the added funds diverted from the football team for facility improvements? Absolutely. Basketball being one. Drop football to Div III, end our contract with the Superdome, and start playing football games on the "practice" field behind the work-out facility against schools that we are at the same caliber of competition. Tulane's days of being a football powerhouse ended with the demolition of the Sugar Bowl and with our exodus from the SEC. We've got a shot at winning in every other sport on the Athletic Dept.'s roster, and lets make that our focus. ***** I feel that a move down to Div III is one step closer to the elimination of Tulane athletics altogether. Get some real coaches (HUGE mistake with your hire after Bowden - we lost a lot of respect and are just now regaining it... he basically had to rebuild a program because people were afraid to come to a new coach with no credentials), play more games at Gormley (great move - now put in some stands, make it acceptable for DI, and roll with it. You'll sell more tickets, guaranteed - you'd still have to work the deal with the Dome for the big games like Alabama and Texas, but hopefully they still owe us!) I would seriously reconsider my support of Tulane Athletics if the switch to DIII or DII occurs. ***** I'm glad I stopped by the e-edition of the Hullabaloo this afternoon to learn for the first time that Tulane is seriously considering leaving IA for Division III. Without more detail it's hard to decide whether it's a good idea or a bad one. Until I see the Administration's assessment of whatever prompted it to consider moving to the lower division and the alternatives, I have to think such a move is knuckle-headed. When I was a student in the mid-60s, Tulane football, our "primary sport," was laughable. We rooted for forfits, ties and "moral victories" ("Yeah, you beat us, but our school is better than yours. See you next year."). No quality players wanted to come to Tulane because not enough of them would attend to make up a competitive team. As an independent, we played for cash--the patsy invited to some powerhouse football program to be the homecoming victim. We probably made money on the deal, but it never improved our own program. Then Conference-USA! That was, in my view, the best decision the Administration made in decades for Tulane sports. Finally we were playing schools with similar goals, size, money, and ability to attract players. Cincinnati, Louisville, Army, Memphis. We finally had a chance to meet and beat comparable schools/teams, and we've had national television exposure. That exposure can only have benefited Tulane--in student recruitment and alumni giving. At Division III there will be no television coverage. Tulane's national name recognition will evaporate. We'll be lucky if anyone (other than alumni and some New York and New Jersey high school guidance counselors) thinks of us outside of Louisiana. We don't need to hear the death knell of Tulane sports. What we need is a quality coach like Tommy Bowden. I could be wrong, but I think leaving Division IA and Conference USA will be a big mistake. Please keep the alumni aware this matter. The students may be dispersed for the summer come May 29, but the alumni are always interested and "electronically around." ***** I am disheartened to learn that Tulane University is considering discontinuing it's Division 1-A football program. I feel that Tulane football is a wonderful tradition and part of the great history of a great university. For alumni, we will always have Tulane in our hearts, and we will always be big Green Wave fans. If this wonderful tradition dies, so too will an opportunity for future students to be enriched by the "Green Wave" spirit. Division I sports are a big draw for prospective students, are great PR for the university, and are a unifying force for students and alumni. Being an elite university that can also compete in Division I football also sets us apart and makes us a unique institution. Dropping football to Division III is a defeatist move. This is particularly surprising to me when the '98 undefeated football season and Shuan King and Patrick Ramsey's high profile NFL careers have contributed to the renewed athletic and academic prestige the university is currently enjoying. An increased commitment to alumni affairs and fundraising that goes hand in hand with a commitment to excellence in athletics will pay off in the long run. Just because these areas may have been neglected in the past does not mean that we should just give up and retreat. Many great private universities around the country like Duke, Stanford, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt balance elite academics with a commitment to successful athletic programs. Isn't our university (Tulane) also about offering our students the best of both worlds? ***** The few remaining Tulane athletic supporters need to "get a clue". Except perhaps for baseball, in recent years, the faculty, staff, and students at Tulane University DO NOT give any noteworthy support to their athletic teams. It is ironic that the only time a crowd shows up in support of athletics at Tulane is when the program is threatened with elimination. Participating in sports is a privilege and not a right. It is time to "cut and burn the dead wood" and get on with the business of being an excellent academic institution. ***** I attend Tulane athletic events occasionally.I am a former football season ticket holder. I did not renew my tickets in protest of Greg Davis as head coach years ago. I am considering purchasing season again.I will not purchase tickets to see division 3. We need to up grade our opponents to create interest NOT DOWN GRADE. ***** Please do not remove Tulane from division I-A. My mother, sister and I went to Tulane and we will be less supportive of the school if you downgraded Tulane's athletics. ***** To whom it may concern: I graduated from Tulane in 00 from the Freeman School. I am surprised to learn of this proposal to destroy Tulane athletics rather than taking steps forward to further improve them. I understand that the administration wants Tulane to be an institution based on academics. That's fine. What I will tell you, and I am not alone here, is that I learned 1000 times more outside the classroom at Tulane than I did in the classroom. Tulane prepared me for life after college because it is a fantastic educational experience, but it is also a life experience. My time at Tulane has enabled me to excel in law school, and I certainly have Tulane to thank as I enter the Dallas legal community. However, if this foolish decision to destroy something that I have supported so much in the past is made, I will neither expose my children to, nor will I support an institution that doesn't value a program that is such a large part of the college experience at Tulane. Many of my fondest memories from Tulane center around the athletic program. I traveled all over the country to see our 12-0 football team. I was at Midnight Madness my freshman year and saw myself and all my classmates on ESPN later that night. In fact, I came down to New Orleans this past year twice to see the football team play. Athletics is such a big part of an institution like Tulane. Dropping down to division II is an insult to the college and its coaches and players. They can compete in division I, and they should remain there. ***** Please do not get rid of division I athletics. This is the only way I maintain an identity with the school. I think it does much to harm the degree I earned from the institution as the athletic teams help to promote the school. I will no longer support any Tulane activity should the school pull D-I athletics. ***** I certainly hope that all the talk about looking into Division 3 or other options is just that, talk. Tulane athletics is very important to the school and being a division 1 school shoulld remain a priority. All teams have seen a lot of success recently and are competitive where they are now. Having moved to Chicago, sports is one of the things that keeps me both connected to the university and to those that I went to school with. This would not be the same if we were not hoping to make the NCAA tournament or a major bowl or the College Workd Series each year. Moving out of division 1 would be nearly as big a blow as getting ris of the football or basketball or baseball programs all together. I don't think that is a message that should be sent to alumni and prospective students. There is certainly nothing wrong with looking at the options, but I hope the final reprot will be a strong message in support of remaining a Division 1 school. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Go Green Wave! ***** While we would certainly welcome an institution with national recognition such as Tulane, wouldn't you be able to cut costs by dropping to I-AA or I-AA non-scholarship football? ***** It is my feeling that all Tulane athletics need to remain in division 1-A. It would be a detriment to programs that have been improving every year. The football program has improved every year for the past four years. The baseball program is in the top 25 for the last four -five years. Tulane has an athletic department that everyone can be proud of. Every program has great coaches and great players. If Tulane lowers to division two or even three, the coaches will and we will not get players such as Lenarias Elphage or Michael Aubrey, Jake Gautreau or Patrick Ramsey and many more. In closing, it is my opinion, that Tulane University needs to remain in division 1-A. Every sport would feel the effect of the division change and the university would not be able to get the caliber of players that it has been getting in the last five to ten years. Please consider leaving Tulane University athletics in division 1-A. ***** I strongly support collegiate athletic programs. These programs provide additional routes to higher education and usually foster a sense of community. However, I just read through Tulane's mission and goals and did not see a commitment to subsidizing Division 1A athletics at the expense of the University's other departments. Leave Division 1A. ***** Tulane is a great academic institution. However, as an involved alumnus in the Atlanta/Houston/St. Louis areas over the past 8 years, I feel the strongest connection with the University, as well as my greatest source of pride in the University, is based on the exposure to the athletic programs. I go out of my way to watch any Tulane athletics on television, and I follow any Tulane alum's who make it to the professional level of sports (Shaun King, Patrick Ramsey, etc.). I believe that dropping out of Division 1 would be a great mistake. The University has spent millions of dollars and vast amounts of time and energy over the years to develop a highly respected academic program, one that fans across the country can identify with. I think this connection is invaluable to the identification with Tulane University - for alumnus, for prospective students, as well as the general public. I find it ridiculous that the current administrative leadership would even consider throwing away all the academic reputation that has been built up over the years, by dropping out of Division 1. I would have a difficult time trying to convince myself to continue to support Tulane University if the decision was made to drop out of Division 1. STAY IN DIVISION 1!!!!!! ***** I am currently a sophomore here at Tulane. I do not support Tulane become anything less than a Division 1 school. First, it takes away from our degree. Many of us came here because this was a distinguished Division school, with the benefits of having intercollegiate athletics. Many of the top small universities do not have athletics at all, and the ones that do are not very successful. That is one of the major things that sets Tulane aside from other division 1 schools. Secondly, athletics is one of the few things that bring this campus together. Although we all come form different places sports are one of the things that we can come together on. Many of us played sports in high school and were not able to continue, and being able to watch our fellow comrades participate is great. If this were to become a division 2 or 3 program all of our scholarship athletes would transfer, and that would bring the level of competition down tremendously. Most sports have only 2 or 3 walk-on players, who are not big contributors to the team. I know that there are many monetary reasons behind this discussion, but division 1 athletics adds to attractiveness of Tulane University and is a cornerstone of this school. ***** This athletic program has always struggled with attendance and funding. A move to DIII makes sense. ***** As a lifetime Tulane supporter, I am overall pleased with the progression of the Tulane athletics department over the last 5 years. It has grown in so many ways in numerous sports. Our athletes consistently compete well (and at times dominate) in our conference and around the country. This is true in the more popular sports (football, baseball, women's basketball) as well as the many other sports (tennis, golf), which are just as important. I am also extremely pleased with our academics. We do not compromise our standards to win more games that other schools may do. It is vital that we stay committed to the education of our athletes along with the rest of the student body. It is critical to stay in Division I-A to continue our growth. Let us not repeat the damaging mistakes that were made in the past, such as when Tulane left the SEC over 50 years ago. We cannot persist with our media growth if we fall to the ranks of Division III. We are continuing to prove to the nation that we are not only a fine academic institution (the Harvard of the South), but also a force to be reckoned with on the field and/or court. Thank you for your time ROLL WAVE! ***** To the Tulane Administration: I am sorely disappointed that the Tulane Administration would consider lowering its athletic department from Division I-A to Division I-AA or lower. May I ask - what are you thinking?!? I assume this decision is a financial one. I further assume that the athletic department perhaps operates at a financial loss. An athletic department will gain not only financial prosperity but also national collegiate recognition when the department and its programs, namely, football and men's basketball, win on a consistent basis on a national level. It's that simple. So instead of seeking alternatives to market, promote, and win on a consistent level, Tulane feels it would be easier to demote the athletic department to a lower and inferior athletic division. Has the Tulane Administration considered that perhaps the reason football and men's basketball do not win on a national consistent basis is because Tulane places a higher academic standard on its student-athletes than does the NCAA? How is Tulane supposed to compete against Notre Dame, Stanford, University of Southern California, Georgia Tech, Duke, Boston College, etc.? These schools maintain the same, if not higher academic rankings, yet these schools far exceed Tulane in athletics, namely, football and men's basketball and I do not understand why. Would someone at Tulane please answer this question for me? Tulane is not only competing for "Ws" against these schools, but Tulane is also competing for money and lots of it. Tulane Administration's apathetic attitude and lack of support (as evidenced by this "review") does not bode well for the future of Tulane athletic programs. Why would any talented high school athlete consider attending Tulane when the Administration vacillates over the future of the department? Following a 2002 bowl-game victory, this is the time any reasonable person would presume the university would rally around its athletic department. However, Tulane is attempting to demote the department. I have followed Tulane athletics since I was a child. And I continue to follow Tulane athletics closely despite living in southern California. I attend at least two football games each year and I attend the annual weekend baseball series held in Los Angeles. I listen to most games on the internet on my home computer. I love it when Tulane defeats LSU or UNO or any other university for that matter. I truly enjoy Tulane athletics and it saddens me to live so far away that I cannot attend a Tuesday night baseball game or every home football game or a Thursday night game at Fogelman. Unfortunately, the career and job market is not as plentiful and lucrative in New Orleans as it is in California. I would be sad to see Tulane's athletic department demoted to Division I-AA or lower. I would like to see the Tulane Administration make a financial and symbolic commitment to its athletic department by openly supporting Tulaneâs athletic apartment as a formidable athletic department which represents academics, sportsmanship, and integrity. In turn, I am willing to make a commitment as well. I will join the Tulane Athletics Fund (TAF) and I will purchase season football tickets pending the outcome of the Board of Trustees "review." If the athletic department classification changes to anything other than Division I-A, I will not donate any amount of money to Tulane University. I do not mean this statement as a threat, however, I cannot in good conscience donate money to a university which is willing to destroy a program which has provided me with so many great memories since I was a child. Please reconsider. Thank you. ***** Sirs: Tulane in Division III ? Unable to kill our school's program, the usual gang of anti-sports at Tulane are now planning to give us a kinder, compassionate sports program. I would rather we battle Vandy for last place in the SEC than becoming a super power vs. the little guys. Rick, get Tulane out of Conference USA and into a decent FOOTBALL conference or get CUSA into the big time. Football drives revenue, and drawing 20,000 in the Superdome against UAB or getting whupped vs. Texas in front of 50,000? Come on. Tulane has spent the past 50 years down playing football. I don't hear Rice considering going Division III. What do they know that we don't? ***** Dear Dr. Cowen; I just wanted to commend you on the wonderful job you are doing as president of Tulane University. Your consultative and open administrative style is so refreshing, and is a phenomenal way to build consensus on issues affecting the university community. Thank you for allowing the Tulane community everywhere in the nation the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions about intercollegiate athletics at Tulane. Although I am not an alumnus of Tulane, I am a friend of Tulane University, so I sent in my comments earlier today--which supports keeping Tulane at division 1A. The purpose of this letter is to share a thought with you. Based on the comments sent in so far on the issue, a large majority of the people are quite passionate about retaining the division 1A status, and improving Tulane athletics--including some suggestions to build a new football stadium on campus! Good. Strike while the iron is hot by going after all these passionate people for the money! A bold national fund raising activity should be properly organized to raise significant financial support for the athletic department--including funds to build a new football stadium on or near campus. All the passionate people who expressed their strong opinion on this matter should be made to put their money where their mouth is; they should be recruited as donors, and also to serve at the local level on steering and implementation committees in a national grass roots effort to raise large sums of money to build a new stadium and support the athletic department at division 1A level. With warm regards, and continued best wishes for much success in your labor of love for Tulane University. Sincerely yours, ***** I dont understand you Dr. Cowen for an educated man you sure seem to be acting irrational. Do you realize the impact you would have on your university by going to division III. As a season ticket holder and supporter I would walk away as hard as it would be for me. I am not the only one, In any university the sports program is a source of pride and spirit. Such a pride cannot be found in any other department, does your medical students sing the Hullabaloo. What Im trying to tell you is that the sports programs at Tulane serve as a ambassader to the rest of the country. Nobody knows who division III football teams are and nobody cares, including me. Dont be foolish and make Tulane look like the laughing stock of the country, because that's exactly what will happen. Please end this foolish enquiry, and lets get back to making positive moves for our future. Proud to be a tulane sports fan!! p.s please respond you owe it to the true fans! ***** How Many Division III Schools attract 18,000 fans to a baseball game? How many attract 18? Answer....... zero. TULANE IS NOT A DIVISION III SCHOOL We are not Emory, we are not Johns Hopkins, we are not Washington University. WE ARE TULANE WE ARE A DIVISION I-A SCHOOL DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!! Tulane will not become a better academic school if it drops in classification. It will probably get worse. The school will lose almost all of its donations from alumni. I SAY AGAIN. TULANE WILL LOSE A LOT OF ITS MONEY AND SUPPORT IF TULANE DROPS TO DIVISION III. ***** To Whom It May Concern: I am a former TU athlete who graduated in 1999. I was a walk-on to the baseball team for 1 year and to the golf team for 3 years. I feel that the education I received at TU would not have been complete without the comraderie that I experienced on the athletic fields. Tulane is a top-tier academic school (I was, in fact, on a large scholarship for academics), and the exposure that the school receives from being a D-1 program only supplements our academic ratings. While there is an admitted lack of school spirit among the student body, it brings much pride to the alumni to see our Green Wave in action on the gridiron, competing on the hardwood, or whipping it around the diamond. From experience as a student-athlete, I can tell you that the pride I felt as an athlete competing against other top notch institutions (most not as academically inclined as us) cannot be paralleled. Had Tulane not had major college athletics, I would not have attended the school. Tulane draws the brightest student-athletes in the country, and my 4.0 high school GPA and 1520 SAT score would have gone to another school had there not been D-1 athletics here. Student-athletes add another dimension to the melting pot that schools try to achieve in their diverse student bodies. ***** As an alumnus of Tulane and a dedicated Green Wave fan I have to say that I would be extremely disappointed if our athletic programs left the ranks of Division 1-A. I don't live locally to New Orleans and I'm sure like other Tulane alum that have left the area, my only connection to Tulane is through athletics. It is the single reason I donate money to the school. If we were to change our Division 1-A status I would cease to donate. Just my two cents... ***** I do not know who is receiving this email or if it will even be read; however, I am still going to voice my opinion in the hopes that someone that matters reads this. I have just learned of the movement to move Tulane Athletics from Division 1-A to Division III. First of all I am appalled and shocked at the fact that this motion has even been considered, and that it has gotten this far. To me this just represents Tulane's strong desire to give up on it's fledgling athletic department and become a purely academic school. I am currently enrolled at the University of the South, in Sewanee, TN. We only have about 1300 students here and we are DIII. I was born and raised in New Orleans, have attended all types of Tulane atheltic games. I wear a 3-year old Tulane hat IN TENNESSEE. All my life I have stood up to my friends, avid LSU fans, and told them Tulane will make its comeback someday. Over the years I have watched Tulane almost kill its rivalry with LSU, I have seen the basketball program go down the drain and the football program go farther down. I feel as though the school is not putting nearly the amount of money or effort into what it takes to be competitive athletically. I am so happy to see the baseball team doing well again, better than they ever have; however, to be honest it would not surprise me if Rick Jones' contract is not renewed within the next couple of years, it would be completely evident of the attitude of the athletic department. I have gotten sidetracked, I apologize. The point is, if Tulane goes to D3, you will lose the already fragile fan base that you have. This is a disgusting move on the part of the school. It does not make any sense to me how this decision can be reached after watching the baseball team become one of the best teams in the nation in the past three years in DIVISION 1-A!!!!! Why would you want to downgrade such an impressive program?...To gain even less national attention for your school? I will be watching this matter closely over the next few weeks, but just know this...this is a huge mistake and the university will lose a great deal of money and a great deal of support from the city of the New Orleans, not to mention losing an unbelievable amount of respect from the entire country. DON'T RUN FROM YOUR PROBLEMS, FIX THEM WITH A LITTLE HARD WORK AND INGENUITY!!!!! ***** Word on the street is that Dr Cowen met with Athletic Officials Mon or Tue telling them one way and one way only to avoid Div II is to come up with the money. If so how much, how soon, and why the devious charade of committee and Board meetings? Tell us the truth ***** As a former Tulane athlete, most people would consider my opinion biased. So I'm going to give an example of a school totally unrelated to Tulane, in hopes that parallels may be drawn. A few years ago, through a job opportunity, I moved to Birmingham, AL. Upon driving into town (both on previous visits, upon my move, and upon every re-entry every time from the western side of the city), I see a billboard for Birmingham-Southern College, which touts the school as "one of America's best colleges." Have you ever heard of the school? I had not. But after living here a few years, I have learned that, through various rankings, it IS indeed one of the better academic liberal arts colleges in the country. So, why has no one heard of the school? Because their athletic teams were NAIA. They won the NAIA national championship in basketball twice in the early 1990's - when I was at Tulane, playing basketball no less - and I had never even heard of them for that accomplishment. They won the NAIA national championship in baseball in 2001, beating D-1 powerhouses such as Georgia (a CWS participant with Tulane) along the way. Yet still, no one outside the state of Alabama knew about them. In 2001, the school made the jump to D-1 in most sports (baseball and some others moved in 2002). They promptly whipped Texas A&M (in College Station) by 20 in basketball, and beat ECU (yes, a C-USA school) in basketball as well. This past year, they came in near the top of the Big South Conference in basketball, although not eligible yet for the conference tourney because of the recent jump to D-1. This past week, they crushed Tulane-rival UAB in baseball. All of this while maintaining excellent academics. What does this mean? In a few years, I have no doubt that they will win the Big South Tourney in basketball and make the NCAA Tourney. Besides tremendous revenue for the school, they will instantly become nationally recognized. A few consecutive years in the tourney and everyone will know them (and in sports, fear them). Does the name Gonzaga ring a bell? I bet it didn't about 8 or 10 years ago.... If some of the "non-major" sports, which do not bring in revenue, have to move down, so be it. Several Big East schools don't even have D-1 football programs, but they have a name from other sports. So let Tulane move down in some sports and not others. But taking the school entirely off of the football, basketball, and baseball map would be a huge mistake. Maybe this current generation will already know of Tulane's reputation from previous exposure, but as time passes, the name will slowly fade away into oblivion.... along with a lot of booster donations, I am sure. ***** Please keep Tulane football rolling - Tulane Belongs in Division 1-A! ! ***** I'll make this very short....I urge you to NOT drop Tulane from Division I-A athletics. ***** With regard to the potential (rumor) reclassification of TU Athletics from Div I to Div III, I think it would be horrible for the school. There are certain teams at TU that have not had that much success in past years, yet how many schools do you know of where every team representing the school is stellar? Not many. Tulane has made large improvements in the image of Tulane Athletics in the past few years (i.e., since early '90s), and I would hate to see those efforts diminished, by sending the school down to the 'minors' of college athletics - thereby virtually completely taking TU out of the view of it's supporters. For certain teams this would not be that big of a deal (i.e., soccer and golf, where Div. III teams are still quite competitive). However, for teams like baseball (one of the best in Div. I), this would be gut wrenching, as well as for basketball and football. Since the late nineties, the University has improved in many ways, and the growth of Tulane over those years has been wonderful, but sending the Athletics department down to Div. III cannot possibly be good for the desirability of the school to propestive students, or for potential alumni support of the future of TU Athletics. ***** Perhaps this is a bit personal, but I take great offense when myopic, close-minded "supporters" of the University systematically and seasonally suggest that Tulane athletics (particularly football) does not "carry its weight" and adds little to enhance the quality of the student body and student life at Tulane. I have two degrees from Tulane, a B.S. in '93, and a J.D. in '98. I live in New Orleans, though I'm not a native. My wife, also an adoptive New Orleanian, is a '95 graduate of Newman. All this ludicrous, irrational talk of dropping athletics to Div. III forced to me consider my relationship to the school and what led me to choose to attend Tulane (and to live and raise a family in this community) in the first place. After reflecting, it became abundantly apparent that my FIRST experience with the university, while a sophomore in high school, was coming down to New Orleans with my mother and father to see a football game between Tulane and another unnamed school (Tulane WON, BTW). It was at that point that I fell in love with Tulane and New Orleans, and knew I wanted to be here. My senior high school year I received two scholarship offers---one from Tulane and one from Rhodes University in Memphis. Looking back now, I realize that I chose Tulane over Rhodes for two reasons: I preferred New Orleans to Memphis AND I wanted to go to a school that had a "bigtime" athletic program. Certainly, I was attracted by Tulane's academic reputation and beautiful campus. But what I cannot express enough is that "bigtime" athletics WAS/IS PART OF THE WHOLE PACKAGE. Is this indicative of all students considering Tulane? Perhaps not, but the simple FACT is that without Division I sports, a lot of our student body, even the most academically gifted, wouldn't have chosen Tulane for the simple reason that they would have never heard of it, and if they had, they wouldn't know much about. This would make many less likely to choose Tulane. I would like you people who think you "know what's best for Tulane", but really don't have a clue, to know just how incendiary this assannine idea of destroying athletics as we know it is to a significant portion of the alumni. I, like many, have VERY personal, sentimental experiences with Tulane athletics, the least of which is the fact that I first met my wife, and mother of my child, at the '91 Tulane/LSU game. Do you think I give a darn whether or not we won? It would have been nice, but it was the experience that obviously impacted my life the most. It's an experience I wouldn't have had but for athletics at Tulane. For the life of me, I don't know what could possibly going on in you people's minds. Dr. Cowen, when I first met you we were at the glorious '98 Liberty Bowl. You seemed so positive about athletics and such a breath of fresh air. It seemed at that time that, like many of us others who experienced that glorious day, you saw the enormous, untapped potential for athletics at our university. I then became your biggest fan, going around town and telling all my friends and fellow graduates (some in town, some out of town) how things were going to be different and how, despite the years of administrative neglect of athletics and its importance, we now had a " new sheriff" who saw the light and understood the importance and symbiotic relationship of academics and bigtime college athetics. It is for that reason that I, like many others, now feel betrayed by you. You must either be a coward, unable to stand up for the longterm best interest of the university, or simply a liar. If you would just stand up for what's right, the vast majority of the alumni would stand behind you as TU's greatest champion and love you forever. As for the board of trustees and ad hoc "committee", I question your motives as well as your loyalty to TU. How many Tulane degrees do you people have collectively between yourselves? One? Two? If you don't have degrees from our school, your legitimacy as an advocate for the school is PER SE in question. There is simply NO MODEL for Tulane to be viable as an institution of its size, reputation, demographics, history, and location with athletics at the Division III level. Virtually every school nationwide that is similarly situated to Tulane-----Vanderbilt, Rice, SMU, Wake Forest, Northwestern, Stanford, Miami, etc., fields division I athletics. Even the holy Ivy League schools do so. Having been in this community for quite some time now, it has become quite obvious to me that the true reasons why the athletic department faces continuous deficits and a lack of fan/community interest is the simple fact that the administration doesn't support the program itself. If the administration would make a GENUINE rather than half-hearted gesture to PUBLICLY get behind the program, I have no doubt that there'd be a groundswell of support from the community both in terms of contributions and attendance. If you people take this away from us, many of us will disown this university. As for me, I won't even set foot on campus again. This message is to inform Tulane University that I, as a 1990 graduate believe that it would be a terrible mistake for Tulane to drop out of Division I-A athletics and move "down" to Division 1-AA or Division III. At a time when it seems that everyone else is scratching and clawing to get into Division 1-A (e.g., Southeastern) it seems utterly ridiculous to even consider moving down. Rick Dickson has been here a short time. I've heard numerous local sports reporters state (publically and privately) that he has the program on the right track. One veteran (and now semi-retired) writer with the Times-Picayune said that Mr. Dickson is the best thing he's seen on Willow Street in over 50 years. Gentlemen: this says plenty about where Tulane's athletic program is heading. And with Tulane's commitment to academics as well and the development of the complete student athelete we could become the Stanford of the Southeast ... or better yet ... make Stanford the Tulane of the west coast. So please give your utmost consideration to the Tulane sports community before making any rash and unwise decisions. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion and Roll Wave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 |