UMES FOOTBALL
Feasibility Study
What do we know?
Cons:

Football is expensive and often strains university budgets and potentially presents
significant governance challenges for a university president.

Past efforts to reinstate at UMES football have been unsuccessful.

In its final decade, UMES experienced very mediocre results on the playing field (Its
combined win/loss record was 28 wins, 71 losses and 1 tie).

NCAA rules regarding Division I level basketball and football programs, Federal Title IX
legislation, and State of Maryland guidelines prohibiting the use of State operating funds
for athletics posed major challenges against reinstating football at UMES.
Pros:

Football potentially increases college enrollment.

Football promotes male student enrollment.

Football is the neucleus of homecoming activities and alumni participation at most
universities.

Football on campus builds potentially morale.

UMES football termination is a major alumni concern.

Football potentially has a positive impact of alumni giving and other forms of financial
support. For example, the entire out-f-pocket cost ($3,100) of the survey component was
paid for by two local businesses. In addition, appropriately $30,000 has been raised from
less than 50 donors in the past two years in the Vernon “Skip” McCain/UMES football
Reinstatement fund.
GENESIS

Dr. Thompson, President UMES commissioned the
feasibility study at AUG./04 Board of Visitors meeting

Nelson Townsend, athletic director selected as committee
chair

Sub Committees established



Interest survey, Dr. B. Mitchell
Finance Committee, A. Ward – Bov
Level of Competition, Ms. E. Morse
Three committees were formed to conduct the study
•
Survey of Interest Committee:
1.
2.
3.
•
Finance Committee
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
•
Bryant Mitchell – Chair
James Taylor
Gary Kleiman
Armstead Ward – Chair
Ms. Jessie Cottman Smith
Gary Kleiman
James Kellam
Ladd Colston
Bryant Mitchell
Ronnie E. Holden (V.P. for Adm. Affairs should be
included)
Level of Competition Committee
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ms. Edwina Morse – Chair
Gary Kleiman
Henry Brooks
Ladd Colston
Plan of Action

Survey stakeholders, analyze results and establish direction

Determine competition level and other requirements

Assess financial demands and develop a realistic and
sustainable economic engine

Report findings to president



Survey and financial analysis
Recommended strategy
Next steps
Survey Results
Would you like to see football reinstated at UMES?
Total
Survey Group
Survey Profile (Percent)
Responses
Percent **
For
Against
Business Community
46
4.9% **
95.8%
4.2%
Community At-Large
74
8.0% **
92.5%
7.5%
UMES Alumni
244
26.2% **
100.0%
0.0%
UMES Faculty/Staff
152
16.3% **
83.3%
16.7%
UMES Students
392
42.2% **
98.0%
2.0%
High School Students
17
1.8% **
100.0%
0.0%
High Teachers/Staff
5
0.5% **
100.0%
0.0%
Total
930
100.0% **
95.6%
4.4%
Hard Count
930
889
41
Represents the total number of survey participants as of 02/05/05 .
Survey Results
Would you be willing to support the program financially?
Survey Group
Business Community
Community At-Large
UMES Alumni
UMES Faculty/Staff
UMES Students
High Teachers/Staff
Total
Hard Count
Total
Responses
44
68
241
133
388
5
880
880
Percent
5.00%
7.80%
27.40%
15.10%
44.10%
0.60%
100.00%
Survey Profile
**
Yes
No
** 67.70% 32.30%
** 61.30% 38.70%
** 91.60%
8.40%
** 55.80% 44.20%
** 79.40% 20.60%
** 40.00% 60.00%
** 76.90% 14.00%
677
123
Survey Results
What is the maximum you would contribute annually?
Survey Profile (Percent)
Survey Group
Total
Percent
**
$25-$50
$100-$250
$500 plus
Business Community
30
8.10%
**
40.00%
35.50%
24.60%
Community At Large
42
11.40%
**
60.00%
36.40%
3.60%
221
59.90%
**
31.60%
52.60%
15.80%
UMES Faculty/Staff
74
20.10%
**
53.50%
39.60%
7.00%
High Teachers/Staff
2
0.50%
**
50.00%
50.00%
0.00%
Total
369
100.00%
**
40.00%
46.80%
13.30%
Hard Count
369
147
173
49
2
1
3
UMES Alumni
Ranking
Note: The total non-students respondents represents 68.6 % of the total 538 survey nonstudent participants
Survey Results
Are UMES students willing to pay increased athletic fees?
Additional Fees/Semester
$50 to $75
$75 to $99
$100 to $150
$125 to $150
Other
Total Respondents
**
**
**
**
**
Total
168
39
27
43
31
308
Percent
54.4%
12.7%
8.9%
13.9%
10.1%
100.0%
Note: The total students respondents represents 78.6 % of the total 392 survey participants
Survey Results
Would you purchase season tickets?
Total
Survey Group
Responses
Business Community
16
Community At-Large
30
UMES Alumni
137
UMES Faculty/Staff
51
High Teachers/Staff
2
Total
236
Hard Count
236
Ranking
Percent
7.00%
12.70%
57.90%
21.60%
0.80%
100.00%
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
$35/yr
21.20%
11.60%
12.80%
30.00%
50.00%
17.30%
41
4
Survey Profile (Percent)
$50/yr $75/yr $100/yr
12.10% 21.20% 45.50%
32.60% 11.60% 44.20%
25.50% 23.40% 38.30%
23.30% 30.00% 16.70%
0.00% 0.00% 50.00%
24.80% 23.00% 35.00%
58
54
82
2
3
1
Competition Level
&
Other Requirements
Competition Level Survey
At what level of play would you like for us to compete?
At any
level
Div. I AA
Div. II
Div. III
Club
Business Community
47.3%
30.8%
12.1%
9.9%
0.0%
Community At Large
37.6%
35.2%
9.1%
3.4%
0.0%
UMES Alumni
37.6%
51.8%
8.2%
2.4%
1.6
UMES Faculty & Staff
50.0%
28.1%
7.8%
12.5%
1.6%
UMES Students
30.3%
53.5%
11.1%
4.0%
1.0%
High School Students
25.3%
55.8%
6.3%
12.6%
0.0%
High School Staff
40.0%
60.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
% of Total
37.6%
47.0%
9.6%
5.2%
0.7%
Proposed Level of Competition Based Upon





Which Teams do you want to play against?
What teams can you afford to compete against?
History/legacy of athletic programs
What is the stature of the Conference?
What are the UMES survey results?
Conclusions



The consensus is that if football were to return it should return
to compete on a Division I AA level of competition.
At the Division I AA level the preferred conference would the
MEAC.
Fulfilling Title IX requirements would require the addition of
new female athletic programs.
Financials
Football Feasibility Study Financial Analysis
Comparative Budgets
LINE ITEMS
DIV. III
DIV. II
DIV. IAAA
DIV. IAA
AVG. COST
Supplies & Equipment
$ 33,500
$ 53,200
$ 62,600
$
87,443
$
59,186
Travel, Meals Lodging
$ 38,700
$ 26,500
$ 79,300
$ 101,070
$
61,393
Recruiting
$ 30,800
$ 11,800
$ 80,000
$1 08,248
$
57,712
Coach
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
$
$
80,000
Full Time Staff
$120,000
$240,000
$ 80,000
$ 472,676
$ 228,794
Part Time Staff
$211,000
$ 79,200
$ 33,000
$
50,919
$
93,530
Trainer
$
39,000
$ 39,000
$ 39,000
$
39,000
$
39,000
*
$159,763
$520,000**
$1,000,000
$ 559,921
$689,463
$973,900
$1,939,356
$1,179,536
Roster Size
Stadium Cost
***
Total
$553,000
80,000
NOTES
* Financial aid only, no impact on athletes
** 30 Grants for Athletes
*** Consider options for stadium, cost may vary based upon choices
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, IT WAS AGREED THAT DIVISION IAA HIDDEN COST MUST BE
PLANNED FOR. THEREFORE, THE PLANNED START UP BUDGET IS BETWEEN $2 TO $2.5
MILLION.
Financial Summary

2.5 million start up cost

$1-1.5 million annually to sustain a competitive
program

Provide Financial support of title IX
requirements

Financial cost related to stadium considerations
Current Financial Status

Past fund raising efforts are not considered and will not be
included in reinstatement accounting, with the notable
exception of fund currently in The Vernon Skip McCain
UMES Reinstatement Football Fund

The Vernon Skip McCain UMES Reinstatement Football
Fund has a beginning balance of appropriately $30,000

Fund raising is not designed to cannibalize UMES Capital
Campaigns
Major Fund Raising Components To Generate $2.5 Million Start
Up Cost Prior To 2010 Football Kickoff
Component
Amount
Percentage
Alumni
$1,125,000
45%
Student Fees
(Banked reserves)
$1,000,000
40%
$375,000
15%
$2,500,000
100%
Business
Community &Other
TOTAL
Note: The actual total that would have to be raised is $3.33 million
in order to satisfy 75-25 proposed fundraising model.
Estimated Start-up Costs
Proposed Expenditure
Additional Seating
2,500 $
25
Stadium Scoreboard
Repair Stadium Lighting
Landscaping of Field
Renovation of Ticket Booths
Renovation of Press Box
Renovation of Sound System
Repair of Goal Posts
Repair of Perimeter Fensing
New Locker Rooms
2 $ 50,000
New Weight Room Equipment
General Repairs and Painting
Subtotal Facility Upgrade
Capital Reserve to Support Operating Costs
Total Start-up Costs
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Amount
62,500
85,000
50,000
15,000
20,000
20,000
25,000
5,000
20,000
100,000
150,000
7,500
560,000
1,940,000
2,500,000
Operating Budget & Fund Requirements
To Sustain A Competitive Program
2010
2011
2012
421,500
570,000
633,200
1,181,100
1,416,100
1,572,200
General Administrative Expenses*
192,500
206,100
220,400
Program Operating Expenses
984,700
1,085,500
1,287,800
1,177,200
1,291,600
1,508,200
Alumni (45%)
529,740
581,220
678,690
Student Fees (40%)
470,880
516,640
602,080
Business Community & Other (15%)
176,580
193,740
226,230
1,177,200
1,291,600
1,508,200
Operating Income
Non Operating Income
Total Expenses
Revenue Generation Requirements
TOTAL
•Includes marketing expenses of $35,700, $44,500 and $53,800
respectively.
Funding Strategy
We offer football at $100
$100.00
With $25.00 going towards
strengthening existing athletic programs
and Title IX compliance
- $25.00
_________
Designated for football reinstatement
$75.00
Twenty-five percent of all funds raised are earmarked to strengthen
existing athletic programs. Funding to begin immediately
Justification for Football Reinstatement

Promotes a student culture of giving while they are in school with transference
when they become alumni.

Develops a “You get what you pay for” model for alumni and students.

Puts pressure on the alumni – no free lunch.

Strengthens existing athletic programs.

Does not cannibalize the UMES Capital campaign fund.

Get football back on campus.

If financial requirements are not met, money in the fund is earmarked for the
UMES Athletic Department and for the National Alumni Association to develop a
credible body in full support of UMES objectives.
Next Steps
Strategy
Proposed Timeline for UMES Initiation of Football
Activity
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009





Proposal to President

President
Decision/Support


Strategic Personnel
Assignment/Fund Raising


Fund Raising Kickoff

Fund Raising Activities


Recruit Head Coach
*

Recruit Asst. Athletic
Director
*
Recruit Asst. Coach
2010
2011









*
Begin Player Recruitment


Apply for Div. IAA
Admission


Begin Football Play
* Dependent upon the capabilities of the head coach and his/her staff.
Recommendation

Approve the following:




President Announcement






Financial Planning Strategy/Model
Competition Level
Fund Raising Strategy
“We Can Do This”, Fund Raising Kickoff
Appoint Fund Raising Chair
Quality Program, High Profile Football Coach
Begin Play On or Before 2010
Invite Former Football Players to Play an Active Role in
Reinstating Football
Begin Fund Raising Immediately