Thu, Feb 25, 2021
Tennessee Expects $28M Operating Loss, Here’s How UT Will Cover That Deficit
- Tennessee athletics expects to incur an operating loss of more than $28 million during the 2021 fiscal year, and it will rely on financial support from the university and the SEC to cover the deficit.
- The projected loss is primarily tied to a steep reduction in ticket revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- UT Chancellor Donde Plowman detailed the financials during a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday.
- The university has committed $12.5 million in institutional support from financial reserves to help cover the deficit, Plowman said. That support is not funded by tuition dollars, she said. Additionally, the SEC will provide financial relief, Plowman said.
UF Athletic Program Grows Revenue, Profits During 2020 Fiscal Year
- The University Athletic Association posted a successful 2020 fiscal year despite the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- That’s mostly because the fiscal year runs through June 30, so the impact on the higher-dollar fall sports won’t be felt until next year’s report, with a projected $60 million revenue loss.
- UF’s annual financial report shows a $35.2 million profit for the 2020 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2020.
- That’s almost twice the net operating income from the previous fiscal year ($17.9 million), with profit from the football program increasing by more than $9 million — nearly half of which came from the $4.37 million payout for the 2019 season opener against Miami — and $5 million less debt from the spring sports.
Diversity Hiring in College Sports Still Lags Behind the Pros, Study Finds
- A diversity study for racial and gender hiring across college sports found little change in scores that continue to lag behind the professional ranks.
- Wednesday’s report card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at Central Florida assigned an overall C-plus grade, a B for racial hiring and a C-plus for gender hiring for the 2019-20 sports season.
- Those were the same grades from last year in the report, which examines a range of positions including leadership at the NCAA headquarters, conference commissioners, athletic directors and head coaches across Divisions I, II and III.
The ‘Hardest Job in Athletics,’ a Struggling Budget and the Guy Who Needs to Get it Right or Drop ULM Down
Mizzou AD Jim Sterk Open to Contract Extension for Cuonzo Martin
- Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk met with local reporters in-person Tuesday night for the first time in nearly a year before the men’s basketball game against Mississippi.
- The conversation covered about a dozen topics, including Sterk saying “it’s that time” to start looking at an extension for Tigers head coach Cuonzo Martin.
- Sterk, in his fifth year as AD, also discussed the overall athletic program’s finances and his thoughts about what a fall football season could look like.
- The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees have determined how they will handle various scenarios related to a team needing to withdraw from the 2021 Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships should it encounter issues related to COVID-19.
- Other championships committees are expected to follow similar procedures.
- The following tenets are fundamental to the committees’ decision: Once the bracket is finalized and released, teams will not be reseeded, nor will the bracket change.
- Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure a full field is in place before the start of the championship. No replacement teams will be introduced after the championship begins.
UNC is Welcoming Fans Back to Chapel Hill
- In an open letter to fans, North Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham outlines how the school will welcome fans back to sporting events.
- “We’ve missed having you at our events this season, cheering on our student-athletes and teams and enjoying the camaraderie of being on campus. At long last, we’re pleased to tell you that beginning this weekend, we are able to welcome more of you back. Under NC Executive Order 195, outside stadiums will be allowed 30 percent capacity and indoor arenas with at least 5,000 seats will be allowed 15 percent capacity beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26.
- “This means that we will be able to welcome a limited number of fans to our Men’s Basketball, Baseball, Women’s Lacrosse and Men’s Lacrosse games this weekend — and to more sports competitions as they compete at home in the future.”
Tennessee’s Staff Has Certainly Seen Some Changes. These Four Positions Total Over Half a Million in Salaries + Benefits
Marquette to Welcome 1,800 Fans to men’s Basketball Game
- The Marquette University men’s basketball team plans to welcome up to 1,800 fans to their March 6 game against Xavier at the Fiserv Forum.
- Unfortunately, tickets will not go on sale to the general public.
- The MU athletic department plans to communicate directly with groups who will be eligible to attend including students, players, staff members, donors and athletic department personnel.
Pac-12 to Allow Players’ Families at Las Vegas Basketball Tournaments
- The Pac-12 will allow players’ family members to attend its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Las Vegas next month.
- The policy still must be approved by Las Vegas health authorities. No fans will be allowed to attend.
- The women’s tournament is March 3-7 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. The men’s tournament is March 10-13 at T-Mobile Arena.
Not One, But Two Development Vacancies in the MAC to Keep Your Eye On
Cal Athletics Turned a Profit in FY20 Thanks to a Massive Assist From Central Campus
- Cal’s latest financial report includes two jaw-dropping but interconnected numbers: The Bears finished the 2020 fiscal year with a $3.2 million surplus (in a pandemic) but received $25.1 million in university support — support that was booked as revenue.
- Both numbers run counter to established norms in Berkeley, where huge year-end shortfalls and steep faculty resistance to athletics are as commonplace as gluten-free options.
- The $25.1 million in direct institutional aid represents a six-fold increase over the average from the previous five years.
UNCW Will Allow Fans at Sporting Events Starting Friday
- UNCW Athletics announced on Thursday that some fans will be allowed back at sporting events.
- This comes after Gov. Roy Cooper announced loosening on COVID-19 restrictions.
- The athletic department shared new guidelines relating to attendance at home events starting at 5 p.m. on Friday.
C-USA Announces Adjustments to 2021 Basketball Championships
- Conference USA has announced that it will provide an opportunity for all member institutions to participate in its men’s and women’s basketball championships this season.
- The Air Force Reserve C-USA Basketball Championships presented by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Frisco will adjust the schedule to accommodate games to be played on Tuesday, March 9 and run through Saturday, March 13.
- The brackets for this year’s Championships, including seeds and tipoff times, will be announced at the conclusion of the regular season on Saturday, March 6.
Tom and Kristy McFarland Endow Notre Dame Head Men’s Soccer Coach Position
- Tom and Kristy McFarland of Corona Del Mar, California have made a gift to the University of Notre Dame to endow the men’s soccer head coach position. Tom, a 1986 Notre Dame graduate, is a former Fighting Irish soccer student-athlete.
- “We are appreciative of the generosity that Tom and Kristy (McFarland) have shown in their gift to endow our men’s soccer head coach position,” said University Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick.
- “Anytime a former student-athlete (Tom) and their family make the decision to support their alma mater, it’s a special moment. This gift ensures that we will continue to have future generations of soccer student-athletes taught by great coach-educators like Chad Riley, Bobby Clark and the others before them.”
Now That The State of North Carolina is Allowing Crowds of 15%, What Does It Mean For Duke? Sources Fill Us In
Nebraska Volleyball Matches at Wisconsin Postponed as Badgers Undergo COVID-19 Contact Tracing Precautions
- The Nebraska volleyball team’s matches against Wisconsin this weekend have been postponed due to COVID-19 issues for the Badgers’ most recent opponent, Michigan State.
- Nebraska and Wisconsin were scheduled to play on Friday and Saturday in a matchup of No. 4 and No. 1.
- The matches were postponed due to Wisconsin needing to take COVID-19 contact tracing precautions, a Nebraska Athletics spokesperson confirmed. Wisconsin’s opponent last week, Michigan State, has postponed its matches this week due to COVID-19 issues within its program.
NCAA: Former South Carolina Assistant Coach Violated NCAA Ethical Conduct Rules
- A former South Carolina men’s basketball assistant coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules when he accepted between approximately $3,300 and $5,800 in bribes from an individual associated with a professional sports agent, according to a decision released by the Division I Committee on Infractions.
- In exchange for the bribe payments, the coach agreed to arrange meetings with a South Carolina student-athlete and his family and influence them to retain the agent’s services, according to the decision.
- Though the assistant coach did not actually arrange any meetings between the agent’s associate and student-athletes during his time at South Carolina, the committee noted that his conduct violated NCAA rules and does serious harm to the integrity of college sports.
Ohio State Football Home Game With Oregon Locked In for 2021, But Return Date Uncertain
- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith confirmed Wednesday that the scheduled Sept. 11 home game against Oregon is set in stone for this fall.
- However, the Buckeyes’ return trip to Eugene remains up in the air.
- Ohio State was scheduled to play at Oregon last season before both the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences eliminated non-conference games due to the coronavirus pandemic. Smith said both he and Oregon AD Rob Mullens wanted to keep the OSU home date in place. Due to established schedules for the next several years, it is too soon to say when the Buckeyes will head west to honor the other half of the original contract.
Notre Dame AD Reveals Thoughts on ACC ‘Experiment’
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused many changes in college football last year, and one of them was Notre Dame joining a conference in football. The Fighting Irish entered the fray in the ACC, but don’t count on that being the norm in the near future.
- On Wednesday, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick went on ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’ and was asked about his team’s experience within the ACC. Swarbrick said it was good to fully be a part of the conference for a year, but it didn’t sound like he wanted to commit to anything in the near future.
- However, Swarbrick did also note that the landscape of college football is rapidly shifting.
Belle Koclanes Departs as Dartmouth Women’s Basketball Head Coach
- After eight years as the Gail Koziara Boudreaux ’82 and Family Head Coach of Women’s Basketball at Dartmouth College, Belle Koclanes has announced her departure to become the President of Strive: How You Lead Matters, a non-profit organization located in Wilmington, Delaware, that is dedicated to spreading the power of character-driven leadership.
- “This is an extremely unique opportunity for me to continue to share my passion for leadership development with an organization that inspired me to pursue a career in coaching back in 2002,” Koclanes said.
North Dakota State to Receive $1.85 Million in the First Year of Learfield Deal
- The right to broadcast North Dakota State’s football and basketball games on television and radio is under negotiation, but no matter which local entities win those fights, it’s already guaranteed NDSU’s athletic department will be a winner. It’s all about the cash.
- NDSU in 2020 signed a 10-year, $21.9 million deal with Learfield. The Bison athletic department will receive $1.85 million in the first year of the deal and the annual figure escalates over the duration of the contract.
- NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen said that is more revenue than the school could generate on its own selling things like broadcast rights, digital advertising, in-game sponsorships, corporate sponsorships, corporate hospitality and arena signage.
Ohio State Football Tapping Season Tickets for More Athletics Revenue Beginning in 2022
- Ohio State will fundamentally change the way it allocates season tickets, shifting to a more modern approach while creating another source of athletic revenue.
- Beginning with the 2022 season, fans wishing to purchase season tickets in five of six new seating zones in Ohio Stadium must make a per-seat donation to the Buckeye Club.
- Previously, fans made an annual contribution to the club along with their season ticket purchase. Other groups instead made contributions to academic endeavors or were exempt from contribution requirements due to their long standing as season ticket buyers.
- Boundless Futures, a comprehensive personal, professional and leadership development program for student-athletes at the University of Washington, will soon encompass programming designed to help student-athletes seize opportunities created by upcoming Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation.
- NIL refers to pending federal legislation and NCAA rule changes that would allow student-athletes to earn compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness.
- This means student-athletes would be able to do things like: start and promote a business, be paid for sponsored content and endorsements, and sell autographs.
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