Earlier this year the Gophers athletic department moved into its new $166 million home. The annual athletic budget stands at $121 million, fueled by a whopping $51 million in Big Ten conference distribution.
This isn’t a mom-and-pop operation.
The amount of money flowing through college sports and the pressure on schools to win big in their flagship programs have never been higher. Athletics have long been cast as a window or front porch to a university, but even that description feels inadequate in measuring the true scope.
Amateurism? Yeah, right. Not anymore...
More specifically, how will the new president view athletics in relation to the overall mission of the university? That should be an important component of the vetting process.
Obviously, nothing supersedes academics in importance. The U’s profile as a top-notch research institution with increased academic standards will always be a driving force.
The visibility of sports on campus though is interwoven with a university’s brand, image and personal connection to alumni, donors and future students. That mandates full commitment and clear vision from the school’s No. 1 leader.
“The Board [of Regents] hasn’t spent much time, if any, talking about these characteristics, but I’m willing to go a little bit out on a limb that we’re going to be looking for a president who brings the same level of engagement, interest and commitment to the athletics world that President Kaler did,” Regents Chairman David McMillan said. “Academics are going to be No. 1 but a very close second can be the athletics side of the house.”...
http://www.startribune.com/university-of-minnesota-can-t-ignore-sports-when-looking-for-eric-kaler-s-replacement/488343121/
This isn’t a mom-and-pop operation.
The amount of money flowing through college sports and the pressure on schools to win big in their flagship programs have never been higher. Athletics have long been cast as a window or front porch to a university, but even that description feels inadequate in measuring the true scope.
Amateurism? Yeah, right. Not anymore...
More specifically, how will the new president view athletics in relation to the overall mission of the university? That should be an important component of the vetting process.
Obviously, nothing supersedes academics in importance. The U’s profile as a top-notch research institution with increased academic standards will always be a driving force.
The visibility of sports on campus though is interwoven with a university’s brand, image and personal connection to alumni, donors and future students. That mandates full commitment and clear vision from the school’s No. 1 leader.
“The Board [of Regents] hasn’t spent much time, if any, talking about these characteristics, but I’m willing to go a little bit out on a limb that we’re going to be looking for a president who brings the same level of engagement, interest and commitment to the athletics world that President Kaler did,” Regents Chairman David McMillan said. “Academics are going to be No. 1 but a very close second can be the athletics side of the house.”...
http://www.startribune.com/university-of-minnesota-can-t-ignore-sports-when-looking-for-eric-kaler-s-replacement/488343121/
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