New Ask The AD

[FUBeAR]

Rather than start a new thread, dropping this here as it seems topical here...

"This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees," stated Chairman and the Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., Ph.D. "The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game. For that reason, as a Board, we aim to best provide resources and support to our student-athletes in this changing environment that aligns with our mission, Catholic institution, and our community's expectations."

[FUATT]

I don’t think Furman can afford to drop football. It would destroy a significant part of what’s left of our brand and culture ams a significant chunk of the donor base would walk. It would be such a shock it would create a huge crisis of confidence in both the leadership and the perception of the viability of the University.

[Sad Din]

Drop football? heck they should be trying to find a way to upgrade to FBS. Thats where the big buck are

Maybe Mr Bain will suggest that...

[Roundball]

Even Clemson is having to make hard financial decisions. “Clemson University is issuing a hiring freeze to go with 'mission critical' pause on spending.”

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... 02%2032525

[apaladin]

Even Clemson is having to make hard financial decisions. “Clemson University is issuing a hiring freeze to go with 'mission critical' pause on spending.”

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... 02%2032525

Clempson is not having any financial problems, they have more money than some nfl teams. I suppose that the hiring freeze does not affect the hiring of athletes, that will continue.

[FUATT]

Even Clemson is having to make hard financial decisions. “Clemson University is issuing a hiring freeze to go with 'mission critical' pause on spending.”

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... 02%2032525

Clempson is not having any financial problems, they have more money than some nfl teams. I suppose that the hiring freeze does not affect the hiring of athletes, that will continue.

The hiring of athletes, otherwise known as Revenue Sharing, is creating financial pressure for every school. I don't care who you are, you take $20M out of the pot and give it to athletes, not to mention funding additional scholarships for some sports which is above and beyond the revenue share, it makes a mark.

Indiana University has laid off 25 in the AD.
Iowa State is imposing a 10% across the board budget cut on all sports.
Ticket prices everywhere are going up, and donor levels to get tickets/perks are rising.

This situation as it stands is not going to last long. There will be collective bargaining so there can be agreements between labor (athletes) and management (schools/ADs) that will give the schools more certainty and predictability so they can manage all this for the long term.


Nobody is immune from the impact of this.

[Sad Din]

its tough out there

[Roundball]

Research Universities like Clemson are having to make difficult decisions. Sooner than later, it will affect the athletics department. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltni ... ing-chaos/

[FUATT]

Research Universities like Clemson are having to make difficult decisions. Sooner than later, it will affect the athletics department. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltni ... ing-chaos/

Topline, Furman needs to boost enrollment.

One of the surest ways to boost enrollment is to bring in more athletes looking for a chance to get a good education and compete.

If Mens Lacrosse had been done right, that would have likely produced a significant number of nearly full tuition paying kids. But we blew that one. Maybe we could come back to it.

If you look at what Anderson is doing, they are adding sports and driving enrollment with it. Furman should have a similar strategy. It's not rocket science. We just need to settle on more sports that have a low entry cost and get the student athletes.

[FUBeAR]

Research Universities like Clemson are having to make difficult decisions. Sooner than later, it will affect the athletics department. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltni ... ing-chaos/

Topline, Furman needs to boost enrollment.

One of the surest ways to boost enrollment is to bring in more athletes looking for a chance to get a good education and compete.

If Mens Lacrosse had been done right, that would have likely produced a significant number of nearly full tuition paying kids. But we blew that one. Maybe we could come back to it.

If you look at what Anderson is doing, they are adding sports and driving enrollment with it. Furman should have a similar strategy. It's not rocket science. We just need to settle on more sports that have a low entry cost and get the student athletes.

The AD @ Erskine once told FUBeAR that Athletics WAS THE primary driver of enrollment there.

He weren't lyin'

Erskine Undergraduate Enrollment 2023-2024 per https://www.erskine.edu/2024/06/06/from ... 0us%20all. = 935

Erskine Athletes per current online rosters...

Sport Men Women Spirit Co-Ed Total
Baseball 47 0 0 0 47
Basketball 47 20 0 0 67
Bass Fishing 0 0 0 10 10
Beach Volleyball 13 21 0 0 34
Cheerleading 0 0 3 0 3
Cross Country 10 7 0 0 17
Dance 0 0 13 0 13
Flag Football* 0 0 0 * 0
Football 167 0 0 0 167
Golf 29 8 0 0 37
Lacrosse 0 14 0 0 14
Rodeo 0 0 0 13 13
Soccer 32 28 0 0 60
Tennis^ ^ 11 0 0 11
Track & Field 28 14 0 0 42
Volleyball 26 23 0 0 49
Total 399 146 16 23 584 62.46%

* Coming '25-'26
^ Returning '25-'26


Probably some overlap (2 sport athletes) with a few of these, but ~62% of undergrads are Athletes in Due West...and most of them are paying customers ... 47 Men's Basketball Players! 167 Football Players!

Erskine costs about $40k (sticker) - it ain't FU $$$$, but it ain't cheap.

[FUATT]

Research Universities like Clemson are having to make difficult decisions. Sooner than later, it will affect the athletics department. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltni ... ing-chaos/

Topline, Furman needs to boost enrollment.

One of the surest ways to boost enrollment is to bring in more athletes looking for a chance to get a good education and compete.

If Mens Lacrosse had been done right, that would have likely produced a significant number of nearly full tuition paying kids. But we blew that one. Maybe we could come back to it.

If you look at what Anderson is doing, they are adding sports and driving enrollment with it. Furman should have a similar strategy. It's not rocket science. We just need to settle on more sports that have a low entry cost and get the student athletes.

The AD @ Erskine once told FUBeAR that Athletics WAS THE primary driver of enrollment there.

He weren't lyin'

Erskine Undergraduate Enrollment 2023-2024 per https://www.erskine.edu/2024/06/06/from ... 0us%20all. = 935

Erskine Athletes per current online rosters...

Sport Men Women Spirit Co-Ed Total
Baseball 47 0 0 0 47
Basketball 47 20 0 0 67
Bass Fishing 0 0 0 10 10
Beach Volleyball 13 21 0 0 34
Cheerleading 0 0 3 0 3
Cross Country 10 7 0 0 17
Dance 0 0 13 0 13
Flag Football* 0 0 0 * 0
Football 167 0 0 0 167
Golf 29 8 0 0 37
Lacrosse 0 14 0 0 14
Rodeo 0 0 0 13 13
Soccer 32 28 0 0 60
Tennis^ ^ 11 0 0 11
Track & Field 28 14 0 0 42
Volleyball 26 23 0 0 49
Total 399 146 16 23 584 62.46%

* Coming '25-'26
^ Returning '25-'26


Probably some overlap (2 sport athletes) with a few of these, but ~62% of undergrads are Athletes in Due West...and most of them are paying customers ... 47 Men's Basketball Players! 167 Football Players!

Erskine costs about $40k (sticker) - it ain't FU $$$$, but it ain't cheap.

Well, I certainly don't think we need to be at that level. But maybe having more like 15-20 percent might make sense.

[FUBeAR]

SoCon published a position statement related to some of these discussions…

https://nextgen.soconsports.com/article ... d092b1ba0/

This x-post calls out the parts FUBeAR found interesting…

[FUBeAR]

Research Universities like Clemson are having to make difficult decisions. Sooner than later, it will affect the athletics department. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltni ... ing-chaos/

Topline, Furman needs to boost enrollment.

One of the surest ways to boost enrollment is to bring in more athletes looking for a chance to get a good education and compete.

If Mens Lacrosse had been done right, that would have likely produced a significant number of nearly full tuition paying kids. But we blew that one. Maybe we could come back to it.

If you look at what Anderson is doing, they are adding sports and driving enrollment with it. Furman should have a similar strategy. It's not rocket science. We just need to settle on more sports that have a low entry cost and get the student athletes.

The AD @ Erskine once told FUBeAR that Athletics WAS THE primary driver of enrollment there.

He weren't lyin'

Erskine Undergraduate Enrollment 2023-2024 per https://www.erskine.edu/2024/06/06/from ... 0us%20all. = 935

Erskine Athletes per current online rosters...

Sport Men Women Spirit Co-Ed Total
Baseball 47 0 0 0 47
Basketball 47 20 0 0 67
Bass Fishing 0 0 0 10 10
Beach Volleyball 13 21 0 0 34
Cheerleading 0 0 3 0 3
Cross Country 10 7 0 0 17
Dance 0 0 13 0 13
Flag Football* 0 0 0 * 0
Football 167 0 0 0 167
Golf 29 8 0 0 37
Lacrosse 0 14 0 0 14
Rodeo 0 0 0 13 13
Soccer 32 28 0 0 60
Tennis^ ^ 11 0 0 11
Track & Field 28 14 0 0 42
Volleyball 26 23 0 0 49
Total 399 146 16 23 584 62.46%

* Coming '25-'26
^ Returning '25-'26


Probably some overlap (2 sport athletes) with a few of these, but ~62% of undergrads are Athletes in Due West...and most of them are paying customers ... 47 Men's Basketball Players! 167 Football Players!

Erskine costs about $40k (sticker) - it ain't FU $$$$, but it ain't cheap.

Well, I certainly don't think we need to be at that level. But maybe having more like 15-20 percent might make sense.

Go BIG or go home!

We need to add Rodeo, Bass Fishing, Men's & Women's Beach & Men's Indoor Volleyball, and Swan Rasslin'

Swagging that Erskine takes in roughly $15-20 million / year (net revenue) from its Athletes. If we want to pump up the top line, something to definitely consider, ain't it?

Swan Rasslin' singlets are very inexpensive.

FUBeAR will be looking for Bain to recommend adding this revolutionary new Sport to FU's Athletics portfolio!

[greenvegas]

Combining the sports of lawn darts and dodgeball would be very exciting I feel. Although the crowd would have to be behind safety glass and insurance may be problematic. Each game would be sponsored by The Blood Connection.

[FUBeAR]

Combining the sports of lawn darts and dodgeball would be very exciting I feel. Although the crowd would have to be behind safety glass and insurance may be problematic. Each game would be sponsored by The Blood Connection.

Sure, we all played that game, and took our share of lumps and gashes, as kids, but this younger crowd wouldn’t know a genuine Jart from a pair of Jorts.



Looks like VMI may be putting a Team together…