Temple University Athletics

From The AD's Desk - January 2011

From The AD's Desk - January 2011
“From the AD’s Desk”
A column from Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw
January 2011

Happy New Year! I trust that each of you and your families enjoyed a healthy, happy and safe holiday season. Whatever your creed or custom, here’s hoping your holiday was special.

By now, you are no doubt aware that on December 12, just hours after we closed the book on the 2010 season at our annual awards banquet, Al Golden accepted the head coaching position at the University of Miami. As I mentioned in our press release that evening, I echo our collective appreciation for the fantastic things Coach Golden accomplished at Temple. To Al, his wife Kelly, and their three children, we wish them well.

While most will measure Temple’s success over the last five years by what they can see most concretely – our dramatic improvement in wins and losses – a look “under the hood” reveals the true growth of our last five years. Ours is now a football program built from the classroom out. Ours is now a football program entrenched in the community with a spirit of humble service. Ours is now a football program where our Core Values of integrity, respect, positive attitude, accountability and continuous improvement guide our daily actions.

Yours is a football program to be truly proud of. We are proud, and that’s why we’re truly excited for the future. Our collective goals are not yet all accomplished, but the foundation for continued success is built to last.
On December 23, I had the pleasure of introducing Steve Addazio as our new head football coach. Formerly the offensive coordinator at Florida, Steve has been part of national championships, some of college football’s most signature programs, and some of the game’s greatest players and coaches.

For those who ask me to describe Coach Addazio, I offer these words: Integrity. Vision. Drive. Focus. Intensity. Organization. Excitement. More than anything, however, I appreciate and admire the sheer PASSION that Coach Addazio brings to Temple. He is the right coach at the right place at the right time to elevate our program to that always-coveted “next level.”

What we want to accomplish – Mid-American Conference championships, bowl games every season and strong non-conference play – requires excellence in leadership. We are confident Coach Addazio brings this, and will bring an exciting style of play to Lincoln Financial Field. Rest assured, though, that your program will continue to be successful the right way. We will adhere to our Core Values, so important to Coach Addazio.

Getting to the “next level” is critically important. Our football program needs to be successful in order to drive the success of the entire athletics program. We must be stronger in ticket sales, stronger in Xtra Point Club fundraising, stronger in television ratings and stronger in attendance. Strength comes from success, which comes from having the resources in place to be successful…such as the needed coaches, facilities and support services (not to mention the right student-athletes!).

Football success is also one of the most important brand-builders for the university. Despite the many, many impressive academic, artistic, cultural and societal accomplishments at schools like Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State and others, so many folks view the university through the eyes of its football program. In other words, a football program and an athletics department are often referred to as “the front porch” of a university.

Think about it. Prior to the turnaround begun under Al Golden, our ticket sales, fundraising, attendance, television appearances, etc. lagged behind because our competitive performance did not inspire alumni and fan participation. Over the last several years, we have worked very hard collectively – and depended upon your support – to hire good coaches, get into a bowl-affiliated conference, win more games, go to a bowl game and successfully overhaul the program academically and socially. We steadfastly believe that Temple University’s upward momentum and growing alumni interest and the upward momentum of our football program are connected. Our football team’s recent success has something to do with the “new way” many alumni and friends are looking at the university at large. And we need to continue to do our part.

How? I’d ask that you consider one or more of the following as a meaningful way to show Coach Addazio that we believe in Temple Football (if you have not done so already):

1) Purchase season tickets for the 2011 home schedule. Non-conference games against Penn State, Army and Villanova plus four exciting MAC games comprise our seven-game home schedule. Visit our Ticket Homepage and reserve your seats today!

2) Join the Temple Owl Club or the Xtra Point Club. Championships begin with our ability to provide the essential operating resources to compete for them. Join the Owl Club with a minimum gift of $110 and designate it to Football; or become an Xtra Point Club member with a $1,000 contribution and receive a lot of exciting benefits specifically for our most passionate football diehards! Inside, exclusive access to the program and Coach Addazio awaits. Visit our Online Giving Page and join the team today!

3) Refer a friend or fellow classmate to #1 or #2 above.

This is not only a new year for Temple Athletics, but a new era as well. We can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Onward and upward!

Other notes from my desk…

1) Hall of Fame Inductions – Save the Date! Basketball legends Eddie Jones, Aaron McKie and Rick Brunson will be enshrined into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, Feb. 19 during a dinner in Center City Philadelphia. Then, on Saturday, March 5, the 1969 Temple NIT Championship Team will be inducted as a group during a pre-game ceremony at the Fox-Gittis Room prior to our men’s basketball game vs. La Salle. Please watch your mailbox and www.OwlSports.com for complete details.

2) Exclusive Men’s Basketball Travel Packages Available: Want to get away with the Temple men’s basketball program, and feel just like a member of the team? Now you can! We’re offering a limited quantity of spots on the official travel party for away games at Xavier (Jan. 22) and Dayton (Feb. 12), two critical Atlantic 10 road contests. Just $600 per person gets you a seat on the team aircraft, room at the team hotel, game ticket and all ground transportation. Space is limited! E-mail the Owl Club or call (215) 204-CLUB to reserve your spot.

3) New Owl Club Website Launches: On Wednesday, Jan. 12, a new age in our ability to communicate to our donors begins. We will launch the website www.TempleOwlClub.com as a one-stop comprehensive resource for everything related to athletics development and alumni relations. Presented by the law firm of Solnick & Levin (Jay Solnick is an Owl Club Executive Board member), this new website will make your participation in Temple Athletics easier than ever. Bookmark it!

4) 8th Annual Owl Club Auction Feb. 20: Calling all bidders! The popular Owl Club Auction returns for its eighth year on Sunday, Feb. 20 in conjunction with Temple’s men’s basketball game vs. Saint Joseph’s at the Liacouras Center. The silent auction begins at 3 p.m. when doors open, and an Open Bar-Live Auction follows the game in the Fox-Gittis Room. Do you have items (or access to items) that could be included in either one of the auctions? No item is too small or large, and gift credit will be provided! Do you want to volunteer staffing an auction table, setting up or tabulating the auction results? Contact Mike Bamonti in the Owl Club at (215) 204-2587. Thanks in advance!

Purchase 2010-11 basketball tickets now!