| Spear defends athletics |
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| Written by Reid Wright - Argonaut | ||||||
| Thursday, 12 February 2009 | ||||||
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Athletic Director Rob Spear spoke to the Faculty Council Tuesday
seeking to squash rumors the athletic department is immune to budget
cuts during economic hardships at the University of Idaho. “For somebody to say that we have not been impacted financially is totally not true,” he said. “We have been significantly impacted.” Athletic Director Rob Spear spoke to the Faculty Council Tuesday seeking to squash rumors the athletic department is immune to budget cuts during economic hardships at the University of Idaho. “For somebody to say that we have not been impacted financially is totally not true,” he said. “We have been significantly impacted.” Spear said the department suffered a nearly $157,000, or 6.4 percent state holdback of state funds as well as an almost $183,000 strategic re-allocation of funds for the 2009 fiscal year. “We had zero percent body fat before the beginning of the year, so we cut in (to) muscle,” he said, citing several positions left vacant, the elimination of the assistant track coach, travel reductions, elimination of sports banquets and a scale-back of recruiting. But as academic programs go under the scalpel as part of the Program Prioritization Process, Spear faced a chilly reception by some Faculty Council members. While some said they support student athletics, they had reservations about the financial sustainability of a Division I athletic program at UI. Other council members criticized the department for not making a direct profit and being allowed to pay a 3 percent General and Administrative fee to the university while other departments pay 8 percent. “I was not impressed with the numbers you presented as return of value to the university,” said Paul Oman, a council member. “I average 800,000 to a million a year in research revenues and the university takes 43 percent of that … When your accounts are taxed 8 percent and when you give 430,000 out of every million you bring in — then we’ll be on even ground. But until then, I’m subsidizing you.” Spear pointed out that although the athletic department paid a smaller percentage GA fee, it was second only to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the amount of money contributed, which was $178,000 for this year. “In the past we were exempt (from the GA fee), and there is a reason we were exempt,” Spear said. “One is the recognition of us being a marketing arm of the institution … the role we play in marketing and enrollment. And the recognition that that would assist us in meeting our gender equity plan (by) funding two programs – soccer and swimming.” UI’s compliance with gender equity standards brings in nearly $800,000 annually, Spear said. Athletics also has benefits that are harder to measure, he said, such as bringing a sense of pride to the university, attracting students, adding to diversity and keeping alumni involved in the school. Several council members suggested the UI athletic program might be more competitive and economically viable as a Division II program. “The best thing for the state of Idaho,” Oman said, “would be for Boise State (University) to dominate the league they are in, the University of Idaho to dominate the league we are in and the whole state would be winners.” Spear said he thinks UI is currently in the right league. “We would not receive near the conference revenue, you wouldn’t receive the corporate sponsorships, you wouldn’t receive the ability for a game guarantee because of the Western Athletic Confrence it’s a better payday … our goal is to be competitive in the WAC and I think we are going to get there,” he said. Oman said he had heard this argument before. “I appreciate the coach’s optimism,” Oman said. “But let me point out that the (athletic directors) and coaches have been predicting a turnaround in this league since we got in there … That’s optimistic and the evidence is simply not there to hold that optimism.” Idaho coach Rob Akey was present to stand up for his program. “Are we going to get good? Yes we are,” he said. Akey said the freshmen and sophomores on the team offered the support needed to hold the lead in the last game against BSU. He said these young players would be even stronger next year. “If we can do it for a half, we can do it for a whole game,” he said. The UI football players are also contributing to the positive image of the university by being encouraged to be better students and citizens, Akey said. Football games were a “great marketing tool” for the university, he said. “Every time we play a game on TV, that’s a four-hour commercial for the University of Idaho,” he said. “You can’t buy that kind of marketing.” Spear said athletes are held to a higher standard than most students. “Our vision is simple: to be a premier athletic department,” he said. “To be competitive on the field, on the court and in the classroom.” Spear also addressed concerns that student athletes are coerced into becoming general studies majors. “77 percent of student athletes not in general studies,” he said. “Many times after they meet eligibility, they move into another major … It’s not true that we force our students into general studies.” Spear weighed in on the behavior of the Vandal fans at the BSU basketball game, and said he was addressing the issue. “The term being chanted was not a racial term,” he said. “That was a sexual connotation. It’s not appropriate, let me be clear on that … I wish we would have been a little more pro-active in that event.” Actions were being taken to prepare coaches and athletic department officials to prevent similar behavior in the future, he said. Ultimately, the whole university was suffering from financial constraints, Spear said. “The economy is tough, it’s tough all over,” he said. “I want to help you … to turn this crisis into an opportunity.” Faculty Council Vice Chair Jack Miller said athletics was an inseparable part of UI. “Athletics is part of the culture of higher education in this country and whether you agree with that or not, you should accept that fact. And I think you should embrace it and go with it,” he said. “We are all Vandals, and we all care about our athletic program.”  Add as favorites (80) | Views: 1369
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