Daily Stampede - Need Money Article

[BulledOver]

3 minutes ago, NewEnglandBull said:

They should really consider moving the entire athletics department to the state of New Hampshire...but that’s just my opinion...

Not enough room for it all in NH it would cause an overflow or worse...make it lopsided 

[Outlaw]

1 hour ago, John Lewis said:

We were winning in 2015, 2016, 2017, and the first half of last season.

Support didn't dramatically increase, especially in 2016 and 2017 when we won 10+ games in each season. Bigger conferences take notice of that.

Haven't read Collin's article, but it's no secret that we need to raise more money for capital projects (Football Center) and for scholarships. We had a record number of dollars raised in the last fiscal year and our highest number of donors, but we are still behind many teams in our own conference and that is something that needs to change.

We didn't win a top 6 big money bowl. Our University takes most of it's donations and put the money towards Academics. 

[George_Bullnard_Shaw]

1 hour ago, John Lewis said:

We were winning in 2015, 2016, 2017, and the first half of last season.

Support didn't dramatically increase, especially in 2016 and 2017 when we won 10+ games in each season. Bigger conferences take notice of that.

Haven't read Collin's article, but it's no secret that we need to raise more money for capital projects (Football Center) and for scholarships. We had a record number of dollars raised in the last fiscal year and our highest number of donors, but we are still behind many teams in our own conference and that is something that needs to change.

We are a youngish university.

We are a very young football program.

The football program is so young that most of the existence has been during the rise of a demographic that just doesn't care as much about athletics as previous homogeneous generations did. It isn't a moral fault, it's just the way things are going. That's going to make it very hard to get grads to donate to athletics and to get grads/students to continue going to games.

And yes, demotion from meaningful football to the minor leagues is never going to help attendance or donations.

[John Lewis]

1 hour ago, BulledOver said:

John, I don't know you but I respect you stemming from the few times I was ever in touch with you. And your a good info source being at the school.

Besides the heavy hitters who can toss big bucks at the university there is a very narrow group who can donate to all things USF. The new grads starting out are just trying to make it and prob take care of their student loan so they prob don't have an excess of disposable income. The older grads are prob now on fixed incomes and depending how beat-up they got in the market or life in general ?..? Their extra income is prob limited.

So you have the peak earning group..30-60. These are the ones who prob donate the most ( or should) and are the most geographically mobile. We are hit up $ by the University, Alumni Ass. IPF, Bulls Club, etc and all that is before ever trying to get to a game. Personally(example) a home game in Tampa costs us around $800-$1000 not living in the area, I'm sure I'm not alone. My point is this: USF has a rather small segment of fans to derive the most $ from. USF is pumping out grads right and left but how many actually will ever donate. I have & had 2 doctors and a vet( young'uns ) all USF grads. None had any interest in supporting USF. Multiply this by how many..? 

This Summer TBP had a fundraising drive trying to get to $10k. Didn't get there. Think Brad got around $6,000 to give to MK for IPF but as yet I have never heard anything about it from Athletics?? ( maybe I missed it) I would think receiving $6000.00 from a USF group of fans might be ( appreciated) and.. a great marketing ploy to challenge all the USF affiliated clubs, etc. "Six grand is better than a poke in the eye with a stick.".( that's an old saying young'uns). Seems the $20mil number has been mentioned for some time now.

Lastly, we have had our difficulties over the years dealing with tickets, alumni functions, campus book store, etc. After which, I have come away wondering is it just me or are others having problems too. Sometimes I wondered what a small time production it was for such a big school. If its common place it would only serve to dampen peoples enthusiasm for USF.

John, this certainly not directed at you just to you ( and not a rant) but this article hit on some points that provoke thought. And,  **** didn't mean to go on so much but, sometimes you think something is amiss over the years in USF athletics( especially football) Hype is not in short supply but.....continued success seems to elude us...? 

When you hear..send more, send more $$ maybe a lot of folks are "just mored out"     As always, Go Bull's ! 

Thank you for the post and for all you said.

I believe that 1% of USF Alumni are donors to the Bulls Club. 1%! I find that number to be way too low, especially for anyone who attended/graduated after 1997. I certainly understand that there are going to be many alumni who are not fans of athletics, but there is nor reason that our percentage shouldn't be closer to 10% at minimum. I understand the "mored out" comment and that is why we're trying to reach out to those who have not been involved with us in any capacity. I'd love to give more personally, but I, like many who post here, have a family and there things that are a priority for the family above monetary giving.

I know Brad was busy this fall with some things, but we are going to work something out with the dollars that were raised for the IPF through the generosity of the members of this board. I thank all who participated and appreciate your love and passion for USF.

We've certainly had some issues in the past and some holes we've to dig out of, but I am confident of where we are going having Michael at helm.

[John Lewis]

1 hour ago, George_Bullnard_Shaw said:

We are a youngish university.

We are a very young football program.

The football program is so young that most of the existence has been during the rise of a demographic that just doesn't care as much about athletics as previous homogeneous generations did. It isn't a moral fault, it's just the way things are going. That's going to make it very hard to get grads to donate to athletics and to get grads/students to continue going to games.

And yes, demotion from meaningful football to the minor leagues is never going to help attendance or donations.

I hate using the "young program" term at this point, but you do bring up a very good point about the next generation of our fan base and when they grew up.

[John Lewis]

1 hour ago, TheGreatOutlaw said:

We didn't win a top 6 big money bowl. Our University takes most of it's donations and put the money towards Academics. 

It will be interesting to see what donations will look like when we do make, and win, a NY6 bowl. I'm confident that we will get to one of those bowls.

[Joe]

1 hour ago, TheGreatOutlaw said:

We didn't win a top 6 big money bowl. Our University takes most of it's donations and put the money towards Academics. 

What? No. This is not true. Donations tabbed specifically for the athletic departments go to athletics here, just like any school.

Schools aren’t taking general donations for academics and throwing it at athletics. What the writer was saying is that the school has asked for specific donations (medical, Marshall Center) and that has probably affected athletic donations because of the limited pool.

[Outlaw]

32 minutes ago, Joe said:

What? No. This is not true. Donations tabbed specifically for the athletic departments go to athletics here, just like any school.

Schools aren’t taking general donations for academics and throwing it at athletics. What the writer was saying is that the school has asked for specific donations (medical, Marshall Center) and that has probably affected athletic donations because of the limited pool.

Usf campaigns  for and promotes their academics more than athletics.

[SilverBull]

Glad to hear we have deep pockets like the Daily Stampede to answer whenever athletics make another cash call.

I think most of us who love the Bulls are doing what we can, financially and otherwise, to prop up "the front porch" of the University.

[DELdaBull]

Anyone that cries that the university raises funds better for academics than they do for athletics is making a poor argument.