Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Skip navigation

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

Football a bad call for FAU
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.

More from Opinion
? Columnists
? Editorials/Letters
? Don Wright cartoons


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.


Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

Well this guy is a real piece of work. He is apparently a graduate of one of the upper tier schools that he praises so dearly. I can't believe the Post hired an idiot like this. His investigative reporting is far below par, he hasw taken a little information and blew to hell and back. Another one of those Puletzer Prize winning columnist or communist that is trying to make a name for himself. This type of guy is able to identify all the problems but does'nt have a clue how it should be fixed. This guy missed some very important key points and threw BIAS reporting out the window. Frankly his opinion to be forced on other people is BULL. I would debate this ass anyday of the week. So bring on Randy here is an open invite to debate the crap your slinging on an open forum. But until then stick your opinions up your A#$ where the sun don't shine
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

Is there really that much of a question about football at FAU? Up until this point everything has been very positive. Is this guy simply making a mountain out of a mole hill or are there some real concerns?

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
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

If FAU is in such an extreme financial bind as Schultz suggests, how can we afford to add a band? Plus, the school is growing by leaps and bounds meaning that there should be more $ for athletic programs as well as everything else that is going on around campus, new buildings, etc. Things just don't seem to add up. One more thing, how much are we getting paid for games at Kansas and Louisville? We should be getting pretty nice pay checks. My guess is somewhere upwards of $50,000 per game plus travel expenses. GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

This guy sure knows how to be grimm, he should freakin' write horror novels…

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
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

Here you go guys. This is Randy Schultz's bio and contact info. Figures he's making all this beef about FAU football when he went to Tennessee.

"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.
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

An email I sent this hick….. with link to this topic.
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.

?topic=1012
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

This tool needs to be put back in the shed. ::)
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

Well damn I was right he is from one of the "Big Boy schools". Another one affraid that they may have to cut the BCS pie up. My take on him is to bad Randy!!! TIME TO RETIRE . Read between the lines, I think this guy is upset with the traffic on Glades. Like I said in another thread maybe they should look to the north campus.
Back to the top

Post

Randy Schultz - Is a P#$$%

This may get poofed but.. ;D

Back to the top
Control functions: