Temple University Athletics

From The AD's Desk - November 2010

From The AD's Desk - November 2010
“From the AD’s Desk”
A monthly column from Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw
November 2010
In the span of the past week, I have imagined a boathouse and signed a beam. I have watched exciting basketball and dreamed of another bowl game. I have done the thing an athletics director gets to do when things are moving in the right direction.
Our new mantra is “It’s a great time to be a Temple Owl!” and last week was no exception. It started with news from our athletics development area that one of our great friends, Dr. Athole Jacobi, made a major commitment toward our efforts to construct a dedicated Temple Boathouse along the Schyulkill River for our rowing programs. On behalf of our student-athletes and coaches, I publicly thank Dr. Jacobi for her generosity. We look forward to the day when the Temple Crews are back where they belong – in a first-class facility befitting the programs’ heritage and tradition.

The next day, I joined President Hart, Trustee Committee on Athletics Chair Lewis Katz, our basketball coaches and several student-athletes for a “Beam Signing Ceremony” to commemorate the construction of Temple’s Basketball Practice Facility as part of a larger renovation to Pearson and McGonigle Halls. Scheduled to open in Fall 2011, the basketball practice facility is one more piece of the puzzle. It manifests the university’s commitment to Athletics and to our vision – Comprehensive Excellence.

Two victories by our No. 21 ranked men’s basketball team to open the 2010-11 season followed, and as I watched both our men and women in a home debut doubleheader, I became excited at the prospects for both our squads.

Members of the administrative team have joined me in preparing for Temple’s potential participation in football postseason play. Granted, we still have a monumental game at Miami (Ohio) on national television Nov. 23 (ESPN2, 7 p.m. Eastern), but we’re hopeful for Temple’s second consecutive bowl game appearance and we want you to start thinking about supporting the Owls no matter our destination.

This past week just scratches the surface! Clearly, yours is an athletics program on the rise. We are worth talking about. We are worth seeing. And most importantly, we are worth your participation.

I heard Bret Perkins, the new President of the Temple University Alumni Association (TUAA), speak recently on the value of “one thing.” Bret’s point was that if every Temple alumnus, friend, fan, etc. just did one thing for the university, imagine where we could collectively take Temple!

Drilling down to Athletics, we have over 14,000 living former student-athletes. While many of our former letterwinners are engaged with our sport programs in some way, imagine the potential for our program if every former Owl could find their “one thing” to attach to – whether purchasing a season ticket, making an Owl Club contribution, attending an event, etc.

In every way you can measure a Division I athletics program’s success – academically, athletically and socially – Temple is succeeding. Our student-athletes outpace their non-athlete counterparts in the classroom and in graduation rate. We have nationally-ranked sport programs and some of the best coaches in the business. We contributed over 5,000 hours of community service last year alone.

Our internal investment is strong, as our decisions are too. Still, we cannot climb the mountain alone. To be the kind of program we want to be, and the kind of program our students and alumni deserve, the external commitment must follow the internal commitment.

In 2010 for Temple Football, we were up 31% in total Full Season Ticket sales (new and renewing) from the previous season and increased New Full Season Ticket sales by over 500%. For 2010-11 Temple Basketball, we are up 7% in total Full Season Ticket sales (new and renewing) from the previous season and have increased New Full Season Ticket sales by 80%.

While season tickets, revenue, and attendance are trending higher, we still have significant work to do to achieve our goals. Our football season ticket base reached 84% of our 2010 goal and our men's basketball season ticket base currently stands at 71% of our 2010-11 goal.

The Temple Owl Club donorship stands at just over 2,200 members, including over 100 young alumni donors to our brand-new Graduate Owl Club, designed for alumni less than five years removed from Temple.

Friends, we are making progress but must continue to aggressively grow in our revenue-performing areas: attendance, fundraising and sponsorship. For those of who that may not be doing your “one thing” yet, I assure you that there is no better time to participate. Good seats abound in the Liacouras Center this basketball season. Exciting Owl Club benefits are available to those that provide gifts to our athletics program. Or, take a “test drive” and come to an event in your area soon. As always, I appreciate your feedback and your investment as we work together to build and sustain an athletics program you can be proud of today and tomorrow.

Other notes from my desk:

Complete your Bowl Game Inquiry Form! In preparation for a potential bowl game appearance soon, Temple is again working with its trusted travel partner, Anthony Travel, to offer fan packages regardless of destination. Please visit the Temple Bowl Game Inquiry Page and indicate your interest in traveling with the Owls should we advance to a postseason game!

The Owls go to Washington! As part of the 16th BB&T Classic to benefit Children’s Charities, our Temple Owls take the Verizon Center floor against Gary Williams and the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in our nation’s capitol. Join us in Washington for a pre-game reception at Verizon Center followed by Temple-Maryland, all for the low price of $45 (which includes two other games that day as part of the tripleheader)! Visit MyOwlSpace for complete information and to register for this exciting basketball event!

Temple Football Banquet! One of the annual highlights on our calendar is the Football Banquet, held at the Sheraton City Center and featuring team awards, highlights and other presentations. We’ll gather Saturday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. and want you to join us. We’re proud that this event continues to grow, and want to top the 700-attendee mark this year! Learn more and register online!