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That's a question, it is not meant rhetorically.
She's called athletics "the front porch of the university," which it is in a sense that most people learn about UConn through its athletics -- one might even say athletics is the facade of the university -- but it has now become much more: a primary revenue source of the university.
B1G schools are expected to receive around $40 mn per year from the Big Ten Network in the near future. UConn's current Big East deal is worth $3.1 mn per year. The increase of $37 mn/yr, discounted at the rate of state bonds (< 6%), has a net present value of $600 mn. UConn's endowment was $328 mn in 2008 (http://www.foundation.uconn.edu/endowed-support.html); I believe that includes the health center and the main system endowment was $187 mn (http://mup.asu.edu/research2010.pdf). UConn's annual research funding was $110 mn at the Storrs campus and $115 mn at the health center (http://mup.asu.edu/research2010.pdf). Research funding is contracting now nationally while athletics revenue is growing. Another comparison: annual revenue from tuition is on the order of 20,000 students * $10,000 = $200 mn. Athletic money is big money.
So she has the potential to grow athletics revenue by roughly one-third the total amount of research revenue -- only a minority of which is overhead money that supports the university.
UConn's admissions, donations, and other academic-side factors greatly improved after the basketball programs became successful. Athletics markets the whole university.
That's just money. Equally important is an avid fan base which supports the school and promotes the school nationwide. UConn is a state school, that creates the opportunity for residents throughout the state, and former residents nationwide, to be partners in UConn's success.
Marketers don't go out and talk about haters. They ignore detractors, go out and find partners, and recruit them vigorously.
It's not far off to say that athletic success and winning over a larger fan base are the two most critical factors driving UConn's stature going forward.
Why not go on WTIC and say:
When you go on a statewide radio program, you have the opportunity to issue a call to action. You shouldn't miss the chance. Doing so suggests you don't think action is needed, or haven't developed a plan for action -- in other words, that you don't care.
Thus, my puzzle. Does she realize the importance of athletics and marketing?
She's called athletics "the front porch of the university," which it is in a sense that most people learn about UConn through its athletics -- one might even say athletics is the facade of the university -- but it has now become much more: a primary revenue source of the university.
B1G schools are expected to receive around $40 mn per year from the Big Ten Network in the near future. UConn's current Big East deal is worth $3.1 mn per year. The increase of $37 mn/yr, discounted at the rate of state bonds (< 6%), has a net present value of $600 mn. UConn's endowment was $328 mn in 2008 (http://www.foundation.uconn.edu/endowed-support.html); I believe that includes the health center and the main system endowment was $187 mn (http://mup.asu.edu/research2010.pdf). UConn's annual research funding was $110 mn at the Storrs campus and $115 mn at the health center (http://mup.asu.edu/research2010.pdf). Research funding is contracting now nationally while athletics revenue is growing. Another comparison: annual revenue from tuition is on the order of 20,000 students * $10,000 = $200 mn. Athletic money is big money.
So she has the potential to grow athletics revenue by roughly one-third the total amount of research revenue -- only a minority of which is overhead money that supports the university.
UConn's admissions, donations, and other academic-side factors greatly improved after the basketball programs became successful. Athletics markets the whole university.
That's just money. Equally important is an avid fan base which supports the school and promotes the school nationwide. UConn is a state school, that creates the opportunity for residents throughout the state, and former residents nationwide, to be partners in UConn's success.
Marketers don't go out and talk about haters. They ignore detractors, go out and find partners, and recruit them vigorously.
It's not far off to say that athletic success and winning over a larger fan base are the two most critical factors driving UConn's stature going forward.
Why not go on WTIC and say:
"Conference realignment has been a wake-up call for the university and its leadership. The amount of money, prestige, and stature that flows from being in a major conference is increasing, and the financial value of athletic success is now comparable to the value of our university's endowment or are research efforts. Moreover, there is no better marketing program for the university than successful athletic programs.
We at UConn consider ourselves one of the nation's premier public universities, and we are by many measures. But we have several times been passed over by conferences looking to expand -- a clear sign that they see other universities as more valuable than we are in athletic and marketing terms.
At UConn, we aim to be among the elite universities in the country in every way that universities are measured. We are investing heavily in research programs to raise our status as a leader in science and innovation. We have had great success in athletics in the past, including many national championships and a national fan base; but now we know that the bar has been raised, and we must rise a little higher. It is time for us to redouble our investment in athletics to become universally recognized as one of the premier universities in sports as well as in research and teaching.
Therefore, I'm calling on all fans of UConn athletics to join with me in making our sports programs even more successful. Here's what you can do to help the university succeed:
1 ...
2 ...
3 ...
Together, we can bring UConn to the level of success it deserves. Thank you for your support."
When you go on a statewide radio program, you have the opportunity to issue a call to action. You shouldn't miss the chance. Doing so suggests you don't think action is needed, or haven't developed a plan for action -- in other words, that you don't care.
Thus, my puzzle. Does she realize the importance of athletics and marketing?
