Temple University Athletics

From The AD's Desk: December 2009

From The AD's Desk: December 2009
“From the AD’s Desk”
A monthly column from Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw
December 2009

By now you’re aware that the Temple Owls have earned their first football bowl game berth since the 1979 season. It seemed like the entire campus squeezed into the Liacouras Center lobby for the bowl selection announcement on Dec. 6! We are excited to be playing a quality opponent in the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 29 and even more pleased that the bowl site, RFK Stadium in nearby Washington, D.C., is so accessible to our students, alumni and fans. 

But what exactly are the economics behind the bowl? How will our participation impact our athletics program and University? Let’s review some “myths vs. facts” as the Owls prepare to go bowling for the first time since Jimmy Carter was in office:

Myth: The bowl means a financial windfall for Temple – after all, the game is televised on ESPN and has a bank as its title sponsor.

Fact:  Many of the 34 bowl games played around the country result in a financial loss for the participating institutions, and Temple’s participation in the Eagle Bank Bowl will be no exception. After all, bowling means transporting our players, coaches, staff, band, spirit squads, coaches and families and university personnel to the game site for nearly a week … not to mention the cost of keeping our players, managers and trainers on campus during portions of winter break for practice and meetings. Even by “lucking out” with a nearby destination and making best efforts to minimize a travel party and expenses, Temple stands to lose a significant sum via our bowl participation. Indeed, sometimes success comes at a price.

Myth: It doesn’t really matter who you buy your bowl game ticket from – just get to the game!

Fact: While we hope everyone “gets to the game,” it absolutely does matter where you get your tickets from. If you take nothing else from today’s lesson, take this: we need you to purchase your EagleBank Bowl tickets directly and only from Temple Athletics! The vast majority of any revenue Temple sees from this game will come from selling the allotment of bowl tickets allocated to us. Purchasing your tickets from Temple not only helps us realize revenue and offset expenses, but shows bowl organizers nationwide that Temple can sell tickets, travel fans and is attractive for future games and sites. Bowls are all about business, and we need to be a viable product! Let’s show the EagleBank Bowl and a national ESPN audience that Temple means business! Our ticket office can be reached online or by phone at (215) 204-8499.

Myth: You can’t help Temple if you can’t attend the bowl game.

Fact: Yes you can! Whether you can’t make the game, or simply want to go the extra mile in ensuring a successful experience for Temple, consider purchasing tickets and donating them back to Temple. We will put donated tickets to excellent use both by reducing the number of “comps” we are obligated to absorb the cost of, and providing tickets to Temple students who wish to attend but otherwise could not afford tickets. Contact the Temple Owl Club at (215) 204-CLUB (2582) to participate in the Ticket Donation program. You will receive Owl Club giving credit!

Please note these other EagleBank Bowl items:
  • ·        Temple Athletics has partnered with our official travel provider, Anthony Travel, to offer several fan participation options for the bowl. You may choose from a game day bus trip, overnight package at our official team hotel in Washington, or simply to attend the official Temple “Countdown to Kickoff” pre-game party at the DC Armory located a mere 200 yards from RFK Stadium. Registration for these fun packages is now available on the Anthony Travel website!
  •           Are you a 2009 Temple Football season ticket holder? Renew your seat(s) now for the 2010 season and enjoy a $15 per ticket discount on your EagleBank Bowl tickets, for a limited time. Not yet a football season ticket holder? Don’t worry…this special discount program is also available to you when you purchase 2010 season tickets and join the team. Contact the ticket office online or at (215) 204-8499 to take advantage of this offer.

Don’t forget that success is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Our 9-3 football regular season record during this “breakout year” did not occur randomly or by luck. Rather, we’re succeeding because of a step-by-step plan which requires two layers of resource commitment: one layer by the university (internal), and one layer by alumni, donors and fans (external).

Since Coach Al Golden’s arrival in 2006, the internal commitment has continued and only increased. Temple Football is well-resourced compared to its peers within the MAC in terms of institutional budget commitment to the program, including salaries and scholarships. External commitment, however, has lagged behind. We need Temple alumni and fans everywhere to “Flip the Switch” along with our Owls and ensure we can continue climbing. Our bowl game appearance is a perfect reason to renew or increase your membership in the Temple Owl Club or specifically support Football with a gift to our Xtra Point Club.

Another way to help grow the program, and help Athletics as a whole, is by purchasing or renewing your season tickets for the 2010 schedule. Our 2010 season tickets are for sale now! Don’t forget to purchase or renew your seats and receive a $15 discount on your EagleBank Bowl $50 tickets.

If for no other reason, make a gift or purchase tickets in honor of the 16 Temple Football seniors set to graduate this year. Our seniors have been the backbone of one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history and have faced tremendous adversity along the way. Those 16 seniors persisted and now leave Temple with heads high – and most importantly, with degrees in hand prepared for productive and meaningful lives.

As always, we are thankful for the broad participation of our alumni, fans and friends. With your continued loyalty, we shall achieve. Go Owls!

Upcoming Events
December 13: Men’s Basketball vs. Villanova – Plenty of great seats still remain for this heavily anticipated Big 5 men’s basketball game. We need to fill the Liacouras Center with Cherry & White to help the Owls take down the No. 3 ranked team in the country.
 
December 16: Holiday Cocktail Reception – Temple Owl Club donors at the Conwell Society ($1,000) level and above are invited to the Bradshaw home for a holiday cocktail reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Celebrate the season with our coaches and your fellow donors while feasting on great appetizers and drinks. Musical entertainment is also provided. If you have not done so already, please RSVP to the Owl Club at (215) 204-2587.
 
December 19: Men’s Basketball at Seton Hall Pre-Game Reception – Calling all Owls, especially in the New York City metro area! The Temple men’s basketball team plays at Seton Hall in a pivotal non-conference matchup at 7 p.m. at the Prudential Center. Preceding the game, join Temple Athletics at Brick City Bar & Grill at 35 Edison Place in Newark, N.J.  Complete details and registration is available online.