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Questions and Comments We've Received May 6, 2003 Dr Cowen: I am just letting you know that I am stepping up to the plate and giving money to the athletic fund and buying a season ticket plan for football and basketball. I guess you can call me a middle class man and money is tight for me. I am willing to sacrifice some things in my life for the love I have for Tulane. I know some of my friends are doing the same thing. Please give the fans a chance to show how much Tulane means to them. ***** The article in today's Times -Picayune on Tulane's athletic future was excellent and I hope it will generate support for Tulane remaining in Division I. I am a contributor to the Green Wave Club and will do better this year . ***** President Cowen, I am writing to voice my concern over the recent discussions regarding Tulane Athletics. I would like to address this from the perspective of a parent whose daughter will be a freshman at Newcomb College this fall and a member of the athletic community, specifically, the newly formed Division I Womenâs Swimming and Diving Team. I am also addressing you as an overall sports enthusiast who is saddened by what appears to be a steady deterioration of collegiate sports programs. I would like to first briefly discuss how and why my daughter came to select Tulane as her #1 school of choice. When initially beginning the college search some time ago, the criteria seemed clear. She had been an excellent student in an extremely challenging curriculum. As an achiever in academics and a Magna Cum Laude graduate, she wanted a college where she could obtain an elite education. As a dedicated athlete, she searched for a high-level swimming program where she could continue to improve in what had become not just a sport, but also a passion. Her swimming performance had excelled to a National and All-American level, while her contributions as a team player had been recognized by several honorary team spirit and support awards. The mission now, was to find a college where she could continue to grow as an academic, an athlete and an individual. The challenge at hand was to also find a college where her peers would share similar goals of academic and athletic excellence, unquestionable character and a love of life. After much research, many college visits and meetings with coaches the list of possibilities consisted of eleven schools, all within NCAA Division I. A mere coincidence? Not at all. She could have opted for an excellent Division III institution where she would have been ãa starä, but that was not her choice. Being a ãstarä was not necessarily synonymous with being a fulfilled athlete. She found her motivation, drive and desire to excel had already put her into the Division I category of competitive, dedicated athletes. Profiles of dedicated athletes reflect more than individuals who have been successful in their sport. They are the individuals who have excelled, achieving that level of excellence because they possess elite qualities that go beyond physical performance. Division I athletes are what they are because of an inner drive and need to compete with the best. They have already worked for years in rigorous programs comprised of pre-dawn practices, hours of daily afternoon and weekend training sessions, weight and dry land training, competition on a local and national level, a precise nutrition regiment and many personal sacrifices. They have persevered through the ups and downs of intense training and competition for the purpose of attaining a goal. Division I athletes have mastered the art of both time and life management as evidenced by their achievements and involvement in athletics, academics and the community. They are determined and able to stay focused on the task at hand while maintaining a healthy balance with all aspects of their life. These are individuals who believe they have not yet reached their potential and encourage others to continually strive for excellence and not accept mediocrity. They are the well-rounded members of the student body who can in some way relate to all facets of a diverse population and serve as a catalyst in unifying the community. The academic, athletic and community venue offered by Tulane University is unsurpassed. It is this ãpackageä that has attracted the caliber of students of today. It is this ãpackageä that has established Tulaneâs reputation and standing among the top institutions in the nation, and it was this ãpackageä that separated it from the other considerations. A change to Division III status will negatively affect its ability to attract the elite, multi-dimensional student body that is so important to the Tulane Experience. I have to honestly say that if this decision had been made a year ago, our daughter would not have pursued Tulane in her college search. Fortunately, that was not the case and we are thrilled with her decision and hope she will be able to remain there for the duration of her college years. While other institutions are succumbing to economic and fiscal challenges by eliminating athletic programs, they are compromising ideals that carry more than a monetary value. They have lost the trust and support of their alumni, present and future students and their community. At this very moment, however, our family members from the Northeast, Midwest and Southern states are planning a fall reunion in New Orleans so that we may be there to rally around the Swimming and Diving Team during their inaugural season. I would like to see Tulane become proactive in promoting its institution as one that continues to honor its commitments to and respect its contributions from the Tulane family. I feel this unfortunate situation may actually afford the Green Wave an opportunity to ãturn the tideä and strengthen its athletic state of affairs by capitalizing on its commitment to the talent and dedication of present and future student athletes and fans. Marketing Tulane in this manner, as the elite institution dedicated to both academic excellence and a strong, stable and committed athletic program may very well be the competitive edge in attracting future high caliber athletes looking for a secure and trustful environment. This could be the opportunity for Tulane to energize its program and following to a level far beyond what it has yet experienced. I urge you to not follow the trail taken by other schools but explore how Tulane can set a precedence by overcoming these economic challenges without jeopardizing the faith and values that make the Tulane Experience what it is today. Thank you ***** Dear Mr. Cowen, I have truly bled green since I was a child. Both my parents graduated from Tulane University and I am proud to say I will be attending Tulane in the fall. Ever since I could remember I was a Green Wave fan. In 1993 when I was only eight years old my dad and I flew down to Atlanta to see Jerrold Honeycutt in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. In 1998 I was so consumed in the spirit of Tulane football I wrote my eight grade research paper on why I loved Tulane and how their football team was going to win the National Championship. Of course I was wrong due to the setup of the BCS but that is not the point. Even through the years of losing I tried to watch and follow every single Tulane game I could. Moving down to Division III would possibly create a positive cash flow for the school but ultimately it will be a mistake. In October I went to a prospective students meeting near O'Hare Airport and you were there. A thing that has stood out in my mind since that meeting was a picture of you helping students move into their dorms during orientation. That told me that you were doing your job for the students more than anything. Dropping to DIII would be a major disappointment for the students, alumni and fans of Tulane. Please do as much as possible to keep Tulane a Division I school forever. Thank you for your time. I will see you in August. ***** I thought they should downsize the program to Division II so it doesn't cost as much and they don't get their butts kicked so often. Further, they should emphasize sports that don't require "knuckle-draggers" to play it. If that "survey" was just a come-on for more money, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. Please pass this along to the clown who sent the message, as well as the university president. Thanks. ***** Let me say that I think that a move from Division I athletics would be tantamount to the same sort of downfall of support that came from the move from the SEC and the demolition of Tulane Stadium. The decisions of former university leaders to focus on being an academic powerhouse, at the expense of athletics (through changing scholarships, etc.), have proved successful. Now, the university is just that, a place for academics where athletics is in the background As a Tulane graduate from both undergraduate and graduate programs, I spent my fair amount of time around the campus and experienced life on and off-campus.. Sports programs are no longer a source of school pride and enthusiasm and spirit like that seen in other major colleges. It is spirit that lacks most. People don't love the school like they do at LSU or FSU or Georgia, etc. Why?? Answer that question and your problem is solved. Make people love the school and have spirit for it and your problem is solved. Personally, I think the fan base is not there like it used to be for many reasons. 1) I realize that a great deal of that problem comes from having only a small fraction of alumni living close by, but that regional diversification was also a choice of the school. More focus has to be on local admissions. Educate the people like myself who grew up in New Orleans, went to school here and now work here. I was told many times in both application processes that the school may not admit me because they like to bring in regionally diverse applicants and I was from here. I was treated like I wasn't wanted because I was from New Orleans. Stop giving slots & scholarships away like candy to the Northeast region. When I went to school, everyone seemed to be from New York, New Jersey, or Philly, or Connecticut. I know it is because that region can afford tuition and they came and got their respectable degrees and then they all left to go back home to work and care nothing for the area. They come here to party in New Orleans and to get their very acceptable degree in the meantime and then bolt. Did you ever notice how LSU has tons of Louisiana students as a state school and they all tend to live here and go to games and spend ridiculous amounts of money on athletics?? Do that in New Orleans!! Recruit the locals. 2) The venue for football is horrible. I live here and never go to games because I hate the idea of going to the dome to watch a game. It is a hassle to drive there and park and it has no chemistry whatsoever. The best possible thing you could have is an outdoor stadium if the saints get one. But short of that, given the number of people around, I think that Tad Gormley is definitely next best. At least it has an outdoor feel, even though it is a high school stadium. I admit their isn't too much you can do here, but it hurts the program tremendously to not have a stadium, even one like Ole Miss's that is smaller (though I think they are or have improved it already). Somewhere to go and tailgate outside would really help. I know they try it at the dome, but it doesn't feel the same. And we really need a bigger band. 3) Winning/Recruiting. Football makes the money for most athletics programs in college. Tulane is good at baseball, but that doesn't get it done. Football needs as much as you can give it to look attractive to prospects. This is all cyclical, but you have got to recruit the better players in order to win, Win and you will be able to recruit more. And so on and so forth. It worked when Sean King was there. You need about three of those level of guys on offense and defense and you'd be fine, they will sell everyone else. Look at Florida this year, once Chris Leak, QB, said he was going with the Gators, they signed several other high end players who were on the fence because they now thought they could win there, that something exciting was going on. All you need is to sign one star and things could be much better. Win and people will go watch and spend money. Win for a couple of years and you are an up and coming school all of the sudden. Just look at Maryland the last couple of years. You need a buzz. Whether it's a rising coach or star player, etc. 4) And the home games really need to be scheduled at different times that the LSU home games so more people could and would go. Whatever happens, I'd stick with Div I. People hardly want to see the games vs. East Carolina and Navy. Do you think playing Div II or III teams is going to bring out more support. That might kill the program all together eventually. Just my two cents, but if you followed any one of those suggestions, especially the first two, things would improve for sports and the school. ***** Dear Mr. Cowen, As a former athlete at Tulane University (Baseball '91, '92, A&S '92), I am deeply disappointed that the school would even consider dropping the athletic programs to a division three level. Athletics not only enhances the life of the athletes themselves, but also creates a sense of pride for the whole student body and opportunities for students, who otherwise would not intermingle, to share experiences together. I understand that the objective of a university is to educate its students, but isn't the real goal to prepare young men and women for life after college. Part of this education is learning to engage others and interact with all kinds of people. This is not accomplished solely through academics. I need only point to Duke University, one of the premier schools in the nation, where the students feel a sense of pride in their school, a pride which is built partly out of a basketball program that is also one of the top in the nation. It would be ridiculous for me to say with a straight face that the basketball program is the reason for this Duke pride, but it is one of many factors. Other examples of great academic institutions that have become prominent athletic schools would be Stanford and UC Berkeley. This should be the model that Tulane looks at for the future, and in some respects is already heading in that direction. On a personal note, after leaving Tulane I had the opportunity to play professional baseball in the minor league systems and then went on to law school at Georgetown University. I now practice in one of the top law firms in the country and I believe that none of this would have been possible without my Tulane experience. I had transferred to Tulane from Yale for many reasons, one of which was to play baseball on a more competitive level while still attending school at a university with a great academic reputation. I look at my experience at Yale and Georgetown, and realize that there was something missing at those schools. There is not that excitement that comes to most of the student body when there is a big game, a rivalry game with LSU in any sport, or a championship game. Tulane has a great reputation as an academic institution and its reputation in the athletic community has been growing year to year. Please don't allow this great part of the university to fall by the wayside. Once the athletic program is torn down, it will be impossible to build back up. If the academic side suffers a little bit at the hands of its athletic programs, and Tulane is not ever among the top 5 or 10 schools in the country, it would still be well worth it. The TOTAL education that one receives at Tulane is far superior to any Ivy League education. I look around my office and see some of the top lawyers in the country displaying items from their colleges sports teams and with the college logos (most, if not all, of these colleges have prominent sports programs, i.e. Penn State, Michigan, Kansas, etc.). In my own office, I proudly display my name plate from my baseball jersey that was given to seniors as they left. I implore you to persuade the board to keep the athletic programs in division one and, if anything, to build them up. Please feel free to contact me for anything that might be helpful. ***** Simply, it would be a disaster. The administration of all people should know that the exposure from division one athletics programs is great for the University. Also, when they have a good season, number of applications go up; that is true for all univeristies. Dropping the program would put Tulane in a category like Wofford or Roanoke. Those are good schools like Tulane, but would anyone on a national level think of those schools as better? NO. ***** Rick, Please keep football as is.My 3 sons did not even consider colleges with little or no football teams. This change is a bad idea. Look at the 98 season, you could fill the dome with a consistent winner. Would your son consider an Emory over a Tulane? My son l is a football player and loves to watch as well as participate, he's at Newman also. Thanks, ***** I think we all want our University to compete at the highest level. We also desire to see the University be a winner. The question is what level should that be. If we want to stay a major player the time is now to make that decision and back it up. I have given to the Athletic fund and the Annual fund on a regular basis. The amounts are not great but what I can afford to give. Those who wish to see Tulane stay a major college program need to consider the amount they contribute and how much more they can give. I intend to increase my giving both to athletics and academics. I can not believe the lack of adequate support will be the reason Tulane ceases to be a major football team. We are surely better than that. ***** Dear Members of the Board: As a 1992 graduate of Tulane University (A&S), I urge you not to drop Tulane athletics from Division IA. My reasons are many, and I could go on for pages, but I will try to be succinct, as I know you have pages and pages of other comments to read. Obviously, the primary factor against Tulane staying in Division IA is financial concerns. However, I believe there are multiple countervailing factors which should be considered and which, in my view, outweigh the annual losses that the athletic department is now incurring. 1. Connection with Alumni. Many other supporters have included this topic in their comments, but I believe I have some unique points to add here. A Division IA athletic program is the primary method by which most active alumni maintain a connection with their school. And, with Tulane's recent successes, the alumni base has only recently begun to energize. If Tulane sports teams continue winning like they have in recent years, the alumni will continue to become more and more active. Generating an active sports alumni base, such as that of Duke, Miami, Notre Dame and Stanford, takes years of winning. Tulane's sports teams have had successes only in recent years, and only baseball has been a consistent winner recently. If the teams, primarily football, continue their recent success, you will see the alumni base become more and more active in their support, both financial and physical. Although there are already large numbers of Tulane alumni who are avid followers of the sports teams, there are also a large number of alumni who don't actively follow the sports teams. However, the number of avid alumni sports fans increases with each year of success, and it will continue to do so. Despite the baseball team's success, it is the football team that can drive the economic engine. Obviously, the baseball has generated a top-notch - and much envied - following due to its consistent winning. The football program will do the same if it continues on its current path, and it will do so on a much grander scale. The more the alumni are energized, the more active they will become and the more money they will donate. I am a perfect example of this. Although, as a young alumnus, my donations have not been exceptionally large, I have made them in recent years, both to athletics and to the general fund. As I progress in my career, so will my ability to donate to Tulane. The primary impetus for both types of donations has been the connection I maintain with the University through following its sports teams - a practice which I began only recently, because the teams were not good enough to warrant "following" until the late 1990s. Please allow time for other alumni to become similarly energized. The University has not properly supported the football team until the late 1990s when it hired Tommy Bowden. As any college football aficionado can tell you, building a quality program takes time and commitment. Tulane is on the right track, and it would be a tragedy to halt the progress now. 2. The Future of College Football. Focusing again on football here, the current BCS system is obviously creating two distinct worlds in the Div. IA college football today. Teams in the BCS conferences share revenues in the tens of millions of dollars, while teams in the non-BCS conferences share sums, which pale in comparison. However, the BCS system is a fluid system. In the next few years (before 2006), it is likely that the BCS system will change dramatically, and it may even be done away with entirely. Right now, Tulane sits in Conference USA, which is clearly the top non-BCS football conference in terms of quality of play. The rising stature of CUSA can be seen by the recent TV deal it signed with ESPN and ABC. The money generated by that deal will increase substantially if and when CUSA adds one additional football team and creates a conference title game. On April 30, Dennis Dodd reported on CBS SportsLine that the BCS was considering adding another bowl game and inviting non-BCS teams to play in it. (The article also notes how the BCS will likely undergo that or other changes when it is scheduled to renew in 2006.) In any expansion of the BCS, CUSA would surely be the first additional conference taken. Moreover, it remains possible that the BCS could collapse altogether, either by election of the current schools or via legal action brought by the non-BCS schools. In addition, there have been recent, and prevalent, rumors that U. of Miami (another small, private school), Syracuse and Boston College may leave the Big East and join the ACC. On May 5, Miami has acknowledged that it is considering this move. The departure of these schools would drastically weaken the Big East, which would no doubt lose its BCS status. CUSA would be a natural replacement for the BCS, and could even strengthen its status by adding some of the remaining Big East teams, such as Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Admittedly, it is conjecture to state that Tulane and CUSA will be added to the BCS, but I think it is quite plausible. It is a fact, however, that the entire BCS system comes up for a renewal in the next couple of years, and it would be sad to see Tulane "drop out" when it is so close to being one of the "haves" in college football and when the future landscape in college football is so uncertain. 3. Intangible Benefit of Division IA Athletics. Like many others have noted, maintaining a Div. IA athletic program provides free advertising for the University. And the amount of this advertising increasing will only increase as Tulane's sports programs continue improving their performance. As Tulane's sports teams continue to improve, they will receive more and more attention from the regional and national media. This increased exposure would be to both prospective students and alumni. As CUSA and Tulane improve in football, more and more games will be shown on TV and more and more highlights will be covered on sports telecasts. Same goes for basketball, in which Tulane clearly has the capacity to compete at a high level. Only positive things can happen from this increased exposure. I, for one, will be devastated if the decision is made to drop Tulane from Div. IA athletics. Having Tulane compete in Div. III will not ease my feelings. Because I live in Georgia, it will be virtually impossible for me to follow Tulane teams in Div. III. Div. III teams get virtually no media exposure, outside of their local market. My primary connection with Tulane will be lost. Tulane's past administrations have made several watershed decisions which have placed the athletic programs in the economic situation in which they currently are - dropping from the SEC as part of a "de-emphasis" on athletics and tearing down the on-campus stadium in favor of the superdome are two prime examples. Please do not make a third mistake. Thank you for considering my comments, and roll wave! ***** I appreciate your candor at addressing the serious issue of intercollegiate athletics at Tulane and your willingness to open the dialogue with all parties concerned. As a recent graduate of Tulane College ('98), I can reflect on my experience with great fondness and a true desire to remain connected with the University. Since graduation, however, most of my involvement has come through the athletic department. As a proud spectator, I applauded our undefeated football season in 1999, our constant rivalry with LSU in baseball and, this year, the Tulane women's basketball team competing in the NCAA tournament (just to name a few). While we may not always win, our students work very hard at representing Tulane and that involvement always brings me back, at least mentally, to my incredible experience in Uptown New Orleans. Understanding a university doesn't operate solely on goodwill and positive reflections from their alumni and other interested parties, I know the decision weighs heavily on financial constraints and the future of the University. Growing up in Shreveport, LA I always lived in the shadow of LSU. I assumed, much like my peers, that once I graduated from high school, I would load up my car and drive down to Baton Rouge to attend "the State University." I chose otherwise and I'm glad I did. I will say, however, that I was always envious of LSU - not for their success in athletics, but for the community that it helped develop and sustain. It is that community that Tulane needs more than anything and the athletics department is an invaluable investment in getting there. I unfortunately left before you arrived, but have heard numerous compliments of your efforts to reinvigorate student involvement and to strengthen the "Tulane Family." I feel that a move to dismantle the athletics program would devastate these efforts and the fragile community that exists around Tulane. Many of my friends' parents who grew up in New Orleans talk about the "glory days" of Tulane and the excitement of a Saturday afternoon in Sugar Bowl stadium. I understand times change and the financial burden of an athletic program is costly, but feel that removing the athletic program is a step in the wrong direction. Not that I fully agree with the sentiment that Tulane's "glory days" have past, on the contrary, I feel that each year we get stronger. I do however feel that removing sports from Tulane takes away from the collegiate experience and gives rise to the "glory days" argument. Tulane is an incredible university. I chose to attend for several reasons: 1.) Strong academic record 2.) Diversity among students 3.) Challenging academic structure 4.) Intense social environment - but, above all, I chose Tulane because it is a place that I could have a "true" college experience. I could learn, challenge my beliefs, meet great and interesting people (like my wife), attend a college football game, live in a vibrant city and graduate fulfilled and more than able to move to the next step. I never played a college sport, or even intramurals, but feel that the mere existence helped build a community - a community that was richer for having attended, played or supported our school on the field or the court. I know that this community can be even stronger with the right support from the faculty and staff and I encourage you to "go the other way" on this issue - Instead of removing the athletic program, further infuse it into the University as it has never been - give prospective students another reason to attend; current students another way to support the school and be involved; and the alumni another outlet for their support and contributions. I know it will be a tough debate and wish you the best of luck. Thanks again for your openness. ***** Dear President Cowen, I am the parent of an incoming freshman next fall at Tulane. I was recently informed Tulane was considering changing from Division 1 Athletics to Division II or Division III. I feel this would be a huge injustice to the current students, the University, and its reputation. Tulane is well known over the world for its excellent academics and competitive sports programs. This combination creates the atmosphere that draws the most talented and involved students for the future. My daughter is a swimmer and plans to participate on the new swim team being formed by Coach Irle. We considered Division III schools, but my daughter chose to commit to a Division I school because she is dedicated to becoming the best she can be. This would not be possible at a Division III school because the commitment level is variable and the competition almost nonexistent. Also, Tulane offered her an academic scholarship, making this school financially possible. I cannot speak for other sports, but swimming requires highly committed, focussed, excellent students because of the amount of time required for training to reach national levels of competition. My daughter has a 4.0 GPA, excellent SAT scores, has been involved in student government all 4 years of high school, and has not only been involved in community service for 5 years she has initiated service projects in her school and with other community schools. This is the type of student that will be lost if the school changes to Division III. Hoping for the future, my family from Cincinnati to Florida to Phoenix look forward to coming to New Orleans to support not only our new swimmer, but to enjoy a football game or basketball game or enjoy a play offered by the University. We look forward to the excitement and knowing in our hearts, our daughter is receiving a full college experience, both in excellent academics and in an involved athletic life. Whether watching sports or participating, I feel this is a healthy lifestyle to provide and promote for our young adults. ***** Dear Committee Members: I know that you have received numerous communications from Tulane alumni and fans about the importance of Tulane Athletics to themselves and to our nationally prominent University. I know that they have expressed their pride in our student atheletes, coaches and current athletic administration. I also know that the current debate is not about the benefits of these fine programs to our university, it is about the money to fund these programs and the other programs of Tulane University. Two years ago I anticipated that my wife and I would be retired by the present time and be attending even more Tulane Athletic events, however, due to events that were largely out of our control our retirement savings declined by over 32%. I felt a sense of panic that all my carefully laid plans had failed and that our lives would be unalterably changed for the worse. To my surprise, I am overcoming this panic even though we have had to defer our goals. I know that many others are facing similar or greater challenges and I have faith that our country will solve the problems facing it and that our economy will continue to grow. My wife and I resolved to continue to support and enjoy Tulane Athletics and the things that mean the most to us, and find that we are attending even more events and are able to continue and even increase our level of support. I know what Tulane Athletics means to members of the committee and to Dr. Cowen and I know that we share a common belief that "...the university has a special relationship with its outstanding student-atheletes" and that athletics provides the university with exposure, excitement, pride and passion that cannot be replaced by other academic endeavors. I also know that given a little more time Rick Dickson and his staff will be able to put our programs on a firm financial foundation. They have made significant progress in a short time in spite of terrible economic conditions and the problems caused by past mistakes and many years of neglect. I ask that you recognize the amazing progress that our atheletes and coaches are making by refusing to panic in the face of tough circumstances. You have put our athletic program on the right path, now give your plans time to succeed. A proud and loyal Tulane Alumnus and Fan ***** Tulane ought to be considering dropping football and moving not to D-III but to D-IAAA. According to Tulane's own steering committee report and the Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education's EADA website, Tulane football loses approximately $4mil/year. It is not as though Tulane football is widely seen on TV or known about in general, for otherwise the exposure would be enough to justify this size of loss. As it is Tulane's athletic deficit appears to come primarily from football, which is not returning the favor through national exposure. Student attendence has never been extraordinary either. Hence, cut football, drop to D-I triple A, and funnel the money to other sports, facilities, or other departments. ***** When will Tulane bring back mens track and field which was canceled after over a hundred years of tradition? ***** As a Tulane Almuna I would be very embarrassed if the Tulane Athletic Department got any worse or altogether ceased to exist. If it takes x amount of dollars per year to keep the program alive, please publish that in your May report and see what the Alumni can pledge to do. I hope that your report says that you should grow the athletic department. ***** Athletics can be used to do several things that can both benefit the quality of the students and the school's reputation for excellence. My first suggestion would be to develop existing programs such as Men's Football, Basketball, and Women's Basketball. Traditionally it is Football and Basketball that is the draw for any school and merit a concerted effort to develop these programs. Tulane football is missing the ability to recruit and needs an entertainment value to attract. I have not seen allot of recruitment from Tulane in my New Jersey schools for either of these sports and it is a must to get students from my area. Primarily since Football and Basketball are the number 1 sports in the Northeast. Also, Tulane is the only NCAA team that does not have a Marching band and is a must to keep the stands full. Because even when teams do not do well there would be a reason to attend and lends credence to Lagniappe and tradition. As a whole musicians that are recruited add creativity, intelligence and soul to the entire student body. My suggestion for teams to add would be a Woman's and Men's Fencing Program. Of all the sports today fencers have the highest SAT and Academic records of any sport. Competitions involving Notre Dame, Penn State, Duke, U Penn, and other Ivy Leagues can build reputation and draw some of the smartest students coming out of High schools today. With the break-up of the USSR there are lots of coaches that have the ability to develop a program with the ability to be a NCAA winning team and an experienced coach is easy to get. I have more ideas but this is just a start! ***** Sorry, but I have difficulty accepting the idea that the Tulane athletic program is a worthwhile charity. |