http://www.centralstate.edu/news/nws61801.html
Trustees Resolve to Pursue Football at Central State
JUNE 25, 2001
WILBERFORCE, OH ? Central State University has made an important first step toward bringing intercollegiate football back to the campus with a Board of Trustees resolution backing a comprehensive "five year vision" Department of Athletics plan.
Trustees unanimously adopted a plan which would bring back the popular sport nearly 10 years after the State of Ohio shut down the program because of financial issues. The CSU Marauders had been a national powerhouse.
CSU Athletic Director Theresa Check presented a plan that relies strongly on private support. Once $500,000 is raised, a coach can be hired; at the $1.5 million level a non-scholarship team can take the field. In time, as enrollment increases, the university would begin to reinstate scholarships for the sport.
CSU President John W. Garland announced a new anonymous pledge of $100,000, which will be added to nearly $100,000 in previous pledges to start the fund-raising campaign rolling.
Trustee Mike Nelson of Cleveland, a strong supporter of football, said alumni will raise the funds by the end of the year. The resolution was the key. "With an organized, school-sanctioned approach now, raising money will be no problem," said Nelson. "They raised $200,000 and that's with no plan."
"One thing we need to do is bridge the relationship between the team and the community," said Nelson. With the right marketing approach, the team and the community can build off each other."
Trustee Paul Dutton of Youngstown thinks the plan is "financially and fiscally responsible." Trustee Vicki Pegg of Dayton acknowledged herself as a previous "foot dragger" on the board in coming out strongly for the plan, while acknowledging that the University has made major improvements in academics, finances, facilities and campus life. "It's time," she said.
Athletic Director Check's plan includes detailed budgets and timeline progressions. Depending on how soon funds are raised, the first team could be fielded as early as 2004. That squad would play a limited schedule of perhaps four games, with seven slated the following year.
The University will apply for membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II level. With membership in NCAA, CSU would seek membership in one of three conferences ? the Great Lakes Intercollegiate, the Great Lakes Valley or the Southern Intercollegiate.
"Of all of our graduates last Sunday, 20 percent of them were involved in athletics," said Check. "We are recruiting, enrolling,retaining and graduating. Obviously, the return of football increases student enrollment, our band increases in number, and alumni involvement will be much stronger."
While football commanded most media attention at the board meeting June 21, the Department of Athletics plan studied all sports and their relationships, and seeks to add some other new ones ? most immediately the return of intercollegiate tennis for men and women. The plan also calls for both baseball and softball programs. The University's previously announced Master Plan locksteps with the athletic vision by planning new facilities to service the programs.
Scholarship has emerged as a major priority in CSU's athletic program. Over 98 percent of Coach Check's Lady Marauder basketballers have graduated over the years, many with honors. The University is known as a place where student athletes can get a degree while playing for a winner. In addition to nationally ranked basketball teams, the track program has been strongly rebuilt into a national contender by Coach Jahan Culbreath. Six Marauders earned All-America honors for 2000-01 competition.
To further enhance scholarship, the five-year plan calls for the part-time academic advisor position to be expanded to full-time, and continued emphasis given to the Scholar Marauder program, which promotes academic success.
Trustees Resolve to Pursue Football at Central State
JUNE 25, 2001
WILBERFORCE, OH ? Central State University has made an important first step toward bringing intercollegiate football back to the campus with a Board of Trustees resolution backing a comprehensive "five year vision" Department of Athletics plan.
Trustees unanimously adopted a plan which would bring back the popular sport nearly 10 years after the State of Ohio shut down the program because of financial issues. The CSU Marauders had been a national powerhouse.
CSU Athletic Director Theresa Check presented a plan that relies strongly on private support. Once $500,000 is raised, a coach can be hired; at the $1.5 million level a non-scholarship team can take the field. In time, as enrollment increases, the university would begin to reinstate scholarships for the sport.
CSU President John W. Garland announced a new anonymous pledge of $100,000, which will be added to nearly $100,000 in previous pledges to start the fund-raising campaign rolling.
Trustee Mike Nelson of Cleveland, a strong supporter of football, said alumni will raise the funds by the end of the year. The resolution was the key. "With an organized, school-sanctioned approach now, raising money will be no problem," said Nelson. "They raised $200,000 and that's with no plan."
"One thing we need to do is bridge the relationship between the team and the community," said Nelson. With the right marketing approach, the team and the community can build off each other."
Trustee Paul Dutton of Youngstown thinks the plan is "financially and fiscally responsible." Trustee Vicki Pegg of Dayton acknowledged herself as a previous "foot dragger" on the board in coming out strongly for the plan, while acknowledging that the University has made major improvements in academics, finances, facilities and campus life. "It's time," she said.
Athletic Director Check's plan includes detailed budgets and timeline progressions. Depending on how soon funds are raised, the first team could be fielded as early as 2004. That squad would play a limited schedule of perhaps four games, with seven slated the following year.
The University will apply for membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II level. With membership in NCAA, CSU would seek membership in one of three conferences ? the Great Lakes Intercollegiate, the Great Lakes Valley or the Southern Intercollegiate.
"Of all of our graduates last Sunday, 20 percent of them were involved in athletics," said Check. "We are recruiting, enrolling,retaining and graduating. Obviously, the return of football increases student enrollment, our band increases in number, and alumni involvement will be much stronger."
While football commanded most media attention at the board meeting June 21, the Department of Athletics plan studied all sports and their relationships, and seeks to add some other new ones ? most immediately the return of intercollegiate tennis for men and women. The plan also calls for both baseball and softball programs. The University's previously announced Master Plan locksteps with the athletic vision by planning new facilities to service the programs.
Scholarship has emerged as a major priority in CSU's athletic program. Over 98 percent of Coach Check's Lady Marauder basketballers have graduated over the years, many with honors. The University is known as a place where student athletes can get a degree while playing for a winner. In addition to nationally ranked basketball teams, the track program has been strongly rebuilt into a national contender by Coach Jahan Culbreath. Six Marauders earned All-America honors for 2000-01 competition.
To further enhance scholarship, the five-year plan calls for the part-time academic advisor position to be expanded to full-time, and continued emphasis given to the Scholar Marauder program, which promotes academic success.