Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
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(In Topic #29519)
First Flight
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
By Randy Schultz
Palm Beach Post Editor of the Editorial Page
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Take your choice of corny word plays. Football has thrown FAU for a loss. FAU needs to punt. FAU football faces third-and-long. At Florida Atlantic University, they all apply.
Seven years after then-President Anthony Catanese made the ill-advised decision to start a football team at FAU, the consequences have hit home. Last week, university trustees learned that the athletic department, which has a $10.1 million budget, is $6.25 million in debt to the university and the FAU Foundation. Football isn't the only problem, but it's the major problem.
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Dr. Catanese didn't just want a team; he wanted a team in Division I, the highest and most expensive level. It made no sense for what is largely a commuter school, especially since FAU's modestly priced basketball team was still struggling for a following despite competing in Division I since 1992. And though Dr. Catanese said that students wouldn't have to pay for football, fees and tuition went up in 2001, the team's first year.
When Frank Brogan succeeded Dr. Catanese in 2003, he saw quickly that the athletic department was a mess. He hired a new director and cut costs. Last week, he said the university has a plan to balance the athletic budget "within a year." He sees "residual benefits" to a university when sports are "done right." But, he added, "If we can't do it right, we're not going to do it."
At most schools, team is a loser
Dr. Catanese used a myth to sell football: the team would provide a rallying point for the community, resulting in a higher profile and more money for FAU. In fact, most National Collegiate Athletic Association studies have shown that only the top tier of established football programs make money, profit that often goes to underwrite other teams such as tennis that don't draw many fans. Nor does football automatically boost giving across the board.
In 1999, the average loss among the then-104 Division I football teams was $1 million, though profits for those at the top were increasing. Even for the elite, though, the numbers didn't always work. Most teams that play in holiday bowl games lose money on the events because of all the costs. At Division I-AA, FAU's current level for football, the percentage of profitable teams has been even lower.
Nor has FAU's 20-6 record over the past two years drawn enough fans to qualify the football team for Division I. The NCAA requires, among other things, that teams average 15,000 at home games. Last season, FAU drew about 10,700. Athletic Director Craig Angelos and Coach Howard Schnellenberger want the NCAA to relax the rule, but if anything, the NCAA should tighten the standards. Many new teams at the bottom of Division I survive by serving themselves up at the home stadiums of big-time teams in return for a paycheck. It's like a boxer spending his whole career on the undercard.
Brogan has higher priorities
Because of Dr. Catanese's sleazy attempt to wangle himself a Corvette when he left FAU in 2002, it's easy to forget how much he did for the university. When he arrived in 1990, there was serious talk in the Legislature of starting a new university in Broward because FAU was serving the county so badly. As Boca Raton Mayor Steven Abrams notes, roughly two-thirds of the FAU traffic that crowds Glades Road at the main campus is from the south.
But Dr. Catanese quickly beefed up course offerings in Broward, and the political threat disappeared. Then he pushed north, with the honors college in Jupiter and a new satellite campus in fast-growing Port St. Lucie that offers courses in conjunction with Indian River Community College.
In the push to expand, though, the quality of the student body didn't keep up. President Brogan has correctly raised standards. He has promised to raise faculty salaries. With those as priorities, it's hard to see where football can fit in, especially with the Legislature still shortchanging all the state's public universities.
Yet Mr. Brogan, who became a new father last week, is not ready to dump the team that was left at his door. "At some point," he said, "someone will have to make a call" on whether football can work. "Excitement can take you only so far. At this point, though, it is far too early to make that call." So like a bad English lit professor, football will hang around. At least Mr. Brogan isn't ready to give it tenure.
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
O.G., I am sure that you have the inside scoop on all of this. Would you care to enlighten us?
GO OWLS!!!
2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
Posted
Full Flight
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
how negative can you be man? I bet he's never been to a game or even been on campus!!!! FAU has grown a lot since I graduated in 02 and I think we will do just fine. If we build it THEY WILL come…..
Addition: Owlfan1 I think FAU must not be sharing all of it info and plans with the public. This guy knows jack s##t, I bet FAU has various plans and cash flows that they wish not to disclose to the TREACHEROUS PRESS
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
"Randy Schultz was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee.
Schultz began working for The Post in 1976. He served previously as reporter, columnist, city editor and managing editor.
He became editor of the editorial page in 1990.
Schultz is the winner of 1993 Best of Cox Newspapers Award for Editorial Writing.
He lives in Boca Raton."
email: [email protected]
phone: 561-820-4447
President of the No Homers Club. Keepin' it real since 2001.
Posted
First Flight
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
Don't talk about what you dont' know. Why bother writing such a negative article when all you do is right on rumors and half truths. You do nothing to mention the guarantees of the away games this year, upwards of 800K. go back to sticks of tennessee you hick.
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Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2003
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2004
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2003
Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%
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