Report to Faculty Senate on Intercollegiate Athletics
October 14, 2010
Jim O’Day, Athletic Director
Jean Gee, Associate Athletic Director
Jim Lopach, Faculty Athletic Representative
As required by President Dennison, this annual report to the Faculty Senate covers AY
2009-2010 with respect to 1) student-athlete academic performance, 2) student-athlete
eligibility for competition, 3) violations of NCAA and Big Sky Conference (BSC)
regulations, and 4) the Athletic Director’s statement regarding notable developments and
issues. At the October 14 Faculty Senate meeting, we will be happy to take questions.
I. Academic Performance of Student-Athletes
UM grade point average and credits taken:
Athletes
All undergrads
Fall 2009
Average term gpa
Average cumulative gpa
Average term credits
On academic probation
2.99
3.06
12.97
3.3%
2.82
2.89
11.80
7.8%
Spring 2010
Average term gpa
Average cumulative gpa
Average term credits
On academic probation
3.04
3.06
13.45
1.0%
2.87
2.93
12.30
4.7%
NCAA Multiyear Academic Progress Rates (perfect = 1000; problematic = 925)*
UM sport
APR
Men’s Basketball
960
Men’s Cross Country
954
Football
936
Men’s Tennis
948
Men’s Track, Indoor
946
Men’s Track, Outdoor
936
Women’s Basketball
979
Women’s Cross Country
970
Women’s Golf
991
Women’s Soccer
959
Women’s Tennis
976
Women’s Track, Indoor
976
Women’s Track, Outdoor
973
Women’s Volleyball
979
*APR formula: Each student-athlete can earn a maximum of two points each semester: 1
point for retention and 1 point for academic eligibility (maximum of 4 points for an
academic year). For each sport, the earned points of the student athletes are added up,
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divided by the number of possible points, and multiplied by 1000 to yield the yearly APR
for that sport. The multiyear APR is derived from the most current APR and the APR for
each of the prior 3 years.
UM Graduation Rates: Four-Class Average
Athletes
All students
63 %
44 %
II. Student-Athlete Ineligibility: Reasons and Frequency
Reason
Number
18/24 credit-hour rule
5
Grade point average rule
8
Six-credit rule
7
Percentage-of-degree rule
11
Of these 31 athletes determined to be ineligible during 2009-10 semesters, 19
regained their eligibility to compete at UM and 7 did not return to UM.
III. Rules Compliance
UM reported the following eight NCAA and/or BSC violations:
 Football athlete competed when he was enrolled for fewer than 12 credits.
 Athletic Department failed to notify two men’s track athletes of the nonrenewal of
their scholarships prior to the applicable NCAA deadline.
 Athletic Department provided a complimentary meal at a dinner for prospects to a
UM football player who was serving as a student-host but whose prospect had
cancelled his visit the day of the dinner.
 Athletic Department provided a complimentary meal at a dinner for prospects to a
former football player who was substituting for the original student-host who had
to cancel suddenly because of illness.
 Head soccer coach exceeded the allowable number of telephone calls in a week to
a prospect who had not yet signed her National Letter of Intent.
 A Missoula business promoted an energy drink by distributing a postcard that
used the name of a current football player.
 Head volleyball coach attended a camp for volleyball prospects that had not been
approved by the NCAA.
 Men’s basketball program provided complimentary meals during an official visit
to relatives of a prospect who were not parents, legal guardians, or a spouse.
 Assistant volleyball coach inadvertently made an email contact with a high school
athlete prior to September 1 of the prospect’s junior year.
IV. Athletic Director’s Statement
Budget. FY 2010’s budget of $13,774,406 was $519,838 less than the FY 2009 budget,
primarily because of one fewer home football game. Scholarship costs (tuition, room,
board, books) increased by $250,000. This is of great concern because we also anticipate
future increases in travel, insurance, rent/utilities, and equipment. Still, in FY 2010, for
the seventh consecutive year, UM Athletics finished with a positive fund balance
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($51,746), despite paying out $108,596 in non-budgeted severance benefits for the
outgoing football staff and $105,000 in incentives to football and men’s basketball
coaches for championships and academic accomplishments.
Focusing on football, it should be noted that that sport operates at a break-even point,
with revenues and expenses each in the $6.5 million range. Some BSC schools are losing
up to $4 million annually in just football (Montana State, the next best to UM, loses $2.5
to $3 million a year). Football is the only UM sport that pays its way, the other sports
each operating at a net loss of about $500,000. Last year’s NCAA football playoff
revenues were on their face significant. Three of these home games brought in a total of
$583,042. Over $450,000 went toward expenses, leaving a positive balance of
approximately $133,000. But $276,518 was needed to send the travel party and marching
band to Chattanooga for the FCS championship game, resulting in a deficit of about
$143,500 (this has been the case in each of UM’s seven appearances in national
championship games).
Future revenues from institutional dollars, student-athletic fees, and gate receipts are
expected to be flat. This fall’s Griz-Cat game in Missoula is already the 32nd highest
priced Division I football ticket in the country. Currently, we receive more than $4.2
million in football ticket sales (compared to $1.2 million at Montana State and $2 million
at the next closest Football Championship Subdivision school), $400,000 in men’s
basketball ticket sales (compared to $201,000 at MSU), and $370,000 in women’s
basketball ticket sales (compared to $40,000 at MSU). The Grizzly Scholarship
Association is generating more than $2.2 million annually (compared to about $750,000
at MSU) and our corporate sales contract with Learfield Sports provides another
$700,000 (compared to half that at MSU). But, note that Montana State’s athletics budget
is larger than ours, the difference coming from institutional funding and student athletic
fees. At UM, new revenue sources will have to be identified to cover the increasing
expenses discussed above, especially scholarships.
The department’s budget is also being negatively impacted by the increasing difficulty of
attracting home contests in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, soccer, and
volleyball. Our limited ability to pay teams to come to Missoula (a high-cost destination
in the first place) makes it increasingly difficult to find opponents for seven home
football games. Our men’s and women’s basketball teams are experiencing the same
problem. This will only get worse in coming years. Consequently, we may need to
schedule more away games with “guarantees” in order to fund the department. A
negative aspect of this approach is more time away from class for our student-athletes.
NCAA certification. Another major issue facing UM athletics is achieving renewal of our
NCAA Division I Certification. This process will focus on rules compliance, academic
integrity, student-athlete welfare, racial diversity, and gender equity. The last standard
may be the hardest for us to meet, and it could require adding one or two new female
sports. To be recertified and to remain in compliance with Title IX, we must meet at
least one of the three Office of Civil Rights “prongs.” Under the first prong, because
UM’s student population is 54% female, we would need to have either 54% female
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student athletes or 54% of our budget dedicated to female sports. When football is
factored in, meeting either of these two criteria is practically impossible. Presently, we
are getting by under the third prong, which pertains to meeting the interests and abilities
of UM students. The Obama administration has tightened up that standard, which could
throw into question our Title IX compliance. Consequences of not complying with Title
IX could affect all UM federal assistance programs, including research grants. Lack of
institutional funding cannot excuse not meeting Title IX guidelines. Thus, it is critical
that we continue to formulate plans to add another women’s sport.
Recent developments. Within the NCAA, conferences are re-aligning, money is tight, and
schools are reconsidering their future in intercollegiate athletics. In the next three months,
we will be invited to join the Western Athletic Conference. This would mean
opportunities for new revenue, but it would also require an initial capital investment.
One question is: Who do we see as our peers? Currently we share BSC membership with
Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Weber State, Portland State, Sacramento State,
Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado and Montana State. We need to ask ourselves, our
fans, and the Montana community whether those schools or WAC members such as
Idaho, Utah State, New Mexico State, Hawaii, San Jose State and Louisiana Tech (all
Football Bowl Subdivision institutions) are our academic and athletic peers. A second
question is whether the economics of such a move make sense. Opportunities for new
revenue would arise, but an initial capital investment would be required.
To remain in the Big Sky Conference and Football Championship Subdivision, we need
to be confident that the BSC is stable, both academically and athletically. In addition, we
have to be assured that our future BSC opponents will come from the western United
States. If other BSC schools eliminate their football programs, switch to non-scholarship
status, or “move up” and we remain where we are, we must have good answers to some
hard questions: Will the FCS exist in five years? Will we have “guarantee” football
games available that pay sizable dollars? Will UM have just a regional presence or will
we merit national recognition, as evident last year by our nationally televised games on
ESPN and CBS.
Significant statistics.
 UM’s Bureau of Economic Research estimates that each Grizzly home football
game generates between $5 million and $7 million for the Missoula community.

UM football led FCS schools in attendance in both 2008 and 2009.

Last year’s Lady Griz basketball attendance was 34th among 327 Division I
schools, and the team ranked in the top 15 in ticket- sales revenue.

Graduation rate for UM student-athletes improved this year from 53% to 64%.

UM vs. Appalachian State on ESPN last December drew the largest television
audience of any FCS football game and produced 250% above normal hits on the
UM website.