Inaction is an Action in Itself
February 25, 2010
Another year is upon us and another year has slipped by without measurable progress to achieving the student-demanded goal of moving the Texas State University football program to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). As far as I can tell, TXST has not made any additional funding available to support this goal and it appears, other than the generous donations made by the Fields, the only available funding has come from additional fees the students voted to pay to achieve this goal. Where would TXST’s athletics programs be without them? This tells me TXST leadership simply does not support this goal.
The progress made to date basically equates to a new football stadium addition with the Fields’ name on it (rightfully so), along with suites for TXST management and existing advertisers. It is my understanding that the recent stadium addition is only a small portion of what will be needed to bring the stadium within FBS compliance, so where will the additional funding be generated?
It was announced during the recent UT vs. Alabama national championship football game that the President of Texas Tech University was in attendance to observe coaches for recruitment purposes. What a fantastic message of support and solidarity. TXST’s President absolutely must make continual statements of affirmation and generate the funding necessary to support the move to FBS. Without this type of leadership, attaining the FBS goal will fail.
There is a steady murmur of discontent regarding TXST athletics. “The Drive” campaign is essentially a lost cause. I have previously stated my objections concerning “The Drive” campaign. In the past year, what specific advancements have occurred to achieve the goal of moving to FBS? What momentum has been gained?
There have been recent comments questioning Coach Wright. In my opinion, questioning Coach Wright is simply a deflection of where blame should squarely be placed – on TXST’s Athletics Director. If there is one thing I’ve learned in life, it is that you can not just sit back in your recliner and wait for magic to happen. It takes hard work, personal comittment, grit, dogged determination, and someone who knows how to make it happen. Everyone I talk to is sick of excuses, so where is the accountability? Whether Coach Wright is the best man for the job cannot be established without TXST’s administration fully supporting the program. Regardless, he obviously cares about the program and has the desire to succeed. Who can deny he has the competitive spirit TXST needs?
It has been a little over a year since I have written a column for BobcatFans Magazine. I decided to give TXST’s leadership a chance to make some progress toward the move to FBS. I wrote the following list of TXST shortcomings over a year ago and in reviewing it was struck again by how little has been achieved.
- Not recruiting leadership qualified to advance athletic programs beyond their present status.
- Not having a results-based system of accountability.
- Not recognizing the importance of athletic programs in attracting top quality educators, athletes, students, and in portraying an image of excellence.
- Very limited detailed information regarding TXST iniatives is made available to the public.
- Not adopting best practices that other universities employ that are proven to be successful.
- Having numerous athletic programs and not supporting them in the manner other successful universities do.
- Not hiring a professional marketing agency.
- Not advertising outside of the San Marcos area.
- Not having radio station broadcasts of athletic events outside of the San Marcos area.
- Not having TXST-licensed promotional items available in major metropolitan areas.
- Removing the TXST name from the football uniforms.
Inaction is an action in itself!
David Eyre
loyal2youtsu@yahoo.com
I would like to acknowledge Mr. Steve Thompson of Dallas, Texas for writing his Texas State University – San Marcos Athletic Manifesto and his related petition drive. You can review Steve’s manifesto at the following website: http://www.petitiononline.com/78666TSU/petition.html
1.) There are 400 members of the Bobcat Club. There is some blame to be placed on the atrociously apathetic alumni.
2.) The stadium donation is one piece of the puzzle. We don’t have enough money or support to work outside these means. True, this is a result of a lazy AD, but this business rides a continuum.
3.) Coach Wright has posted back-to-back winning seasons and had an excellent recruiting haul this year. I’m not sure what benchmark you use, but it doesn’t seem to be recruiting or W’s and L’s. That said, we do need to monitor the situation and ensure continued progress.
4.) The things in your list cost money. A lot of it. See number 1. Fixing your impending doom list is as simple as deepening the fund pool. Once again, back to the lazy AD. However, as someone who has worked in both private and public sectors, I can tell you that ANY AD or anyone else with a similar position is a puppet. Consider:
A.) People don’t donate because Teis is inept.
B.) Teis sees that he only has 400 paying constituents. Assumes there is no market for increased efforts that all cost big money. Retains no drive to please said constituents. Appears inept. See number 2. Vicious cycle.
The only option is to shock the systemin attempts to override the issues and achieve more efficient functionality, similar to the way a responder would a fibrillating heart. How? Fire the AD, or deepen the dept.’s pockets. Well, despite the need for more instructors in classrooms, it’s obvious that Trauth’s focus is on academics. Teis graduates his athletes. Plain and simple. Therefore, Teis is going NOWHERE. Get over it.
Therefore, the only other way to get the system in gear is to engage financially. Wonder where your money is going? Demand transparency. (Of course, you can’t really demand ANYTHING if you don’t donate, correct? This is not the United States- a welfare state; this is an enterprise in which money talks.)
Sure it’s a gamble, as any investment is. However, the base level of BC membership is, what, $100? And you won’t put that toward the 50-50 chance that seeing more constituents pop up would help facilitate proactivity on Teis’ part? Those are much better odds than Vegas, my friends.
And your bets are hedged. Trauth has a lot more reason to fire an inept AD when there’s 1,500 names on the BC list than 400. Otherwise, it’s not even worth the paperwork.
So you can sign a meaningless petition that gets thrown in the trash, or you can get your name on a list that gives you a piece of the pie and a voice. I guess the other option is to whine and weedle about how the system was once run and how you’re not comfortable with the gamble. In which case, please reread this “Time to Act Like Grownups Manifesto”.
This manifesto is not getting thrown into the trash.
I will mail it to Trauth and Teis tomorrow.
Steve
And what do you assume they will do with it? No, they won’t cock their head back and churtle maniacally as they rip it, burn it and crumble it up and throw it into a wastebasket. But it will be placed on a receptionists desk, sit in an inbox for 3 weeks, be read once by an assistant and then they will issue a “First Word” or BC email to address; in essence- thrown in the trash. The point is that they have better things to do than listen to non-donors gripe. Are all of the signees non-donors, probably not, but considering there are only 400 BC members, I would imagine that most are indeed- non-donors.
Why would a politician try to pass legislation on behalf of a lobby that doesn’t vote?
I am very troubled by the alumni apathy. Don’t they realize that if they don’t step it up and assure the 15,000 or more average, hopes of Texas State meeting even Tulane in a home and home contest will be a foregone conclusion. Alumnus, take pride in the football program NOW, then one can dream of the day when traveling to San Marcos on a football day Saturday is a bigtime event.
The students have done a majestic job in returning to their rightful seats—–now— why can’t the community, its fans, and ex students do the same. Don’t dream about it, make it a reality.
Me—–I have mixed feelings on Teis. The critics have shut up since the beautiful baseball//softball facilities have opened. The football stadium transformation becomes more and more impressive. Perhaps Teis rumored,, lazy ways is not that at all. Seemingly, he is doing something right.
This is my adminition AD Teis. Do get “those butts in the seats on that dark side.” Then let the light shine brightly and with assured hope leading to happiness—–this being a university earning its rightful place in the far more prestigious FBS.