Aggie Hoopsfan
09-13-2005, 10:21 PM
NCAA refuses to allow exhibitions to aid Katrina victims
By JOHN ROHDE
September 12, 2005
Guess which organization is standing in the way of a potential $50-plus million windfall to help victims of Hurricane Katrina? No, not FEMA. It's a group far more organized and powerful.
The NCAA is refusing to allow college basketball coaches an extra exhibition game this season with all proceeds designated for Katrina victims.
Division I teams are permitted two exhibition games, but most definitely not three.
After passing along heartfelt good wishes to Katrina victims and commending all colleges, universities and conferences who already have lent their support, NCAA officials said in a Sept. 6 statement, "For those ... who want to do more, we suggest the use of kickoff scrimmages and the existing 2-game basketball exhibition game structure to support Hurricane Katrina relief."
Plenty of college coaches are, shall we say, perturbed.
"This is something the NCAA shouldn't even have to think about," said Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, former president of the National Association Basketball Coaches. "They should just let this happen."
NABC deputy executive director Reggie Minton said of the NCAA's stonewalling, "That's one of the things we have the least control over. We just make the suggestion and let them consider it."
Money used to stage previously scheduled exhibitions already has been committed, with guarantees to visiting teams, officials, et al.
The sensible thing for the NCAA to do is add an exhibition game rather than tinker with what is already in place.
There are 326 Division I basketball teams.
Let's say, for whatever reasons, only about 200 teams are able to participate in the benefit.
In this instance, price gouging at the gate not only would be allowed, it would be encouraged.
How much money could be raised?
One possible scenario: Wichita State at Kansas would become a sellout in about 20 minutes.
With 16,300 seats at $40 per, that's $652,000. From one exhibition game.
Arenas at Syracuse, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville, Wisconsin, Maryland, Illinois and Ohio State likely would draw even bigger crowds.
Six athletic programs from displaced Tulane currently are being housed at Texas A&M.
A benefit game between the Aggies and the Green Wave no doubt would pack 12,500-seat Reed Arena.
"I was surprised when I saw that statement from the NCAA. I figured this idea would be a slam dunk," Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie said.
Let's say 150 exhibition games in Division I averaged 10,000 fans at $20 per ticket. That's $30 million.
Go ahead and throw in all Division II (268) and Division III (383) institutions, and NAIA schools, junior colleges and high schools.
Depending on how many join in, that could be another $20-$30 million.
OK, now think of doing the same thing in football spring games, baseball, softball, wrestling, volleyball and every other collegiate sport under the sun.
Starting to see the financial potential of this thing?
Me, too. But evidently the NCAA is blind as a bat.
"We're disappointed the NCAA feels the way it does on this," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "But maybe they'll come up with another way to raise even more money than we could have."
Don't count on it.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_4077112,00.html
:pctoss
By JOHN ROHDE
September 12, 2005
Guess which organization is standing in the way of a potential $50-plus million windfall to help victims of Hurricane Katrina? No, not FEMA. It's a group far more organized and powerful.
The NCAA is refusing to allow college basketball coaches an extra exhibition game this season with all proceeds designated for Katrina victims.
Division I teams are permitted two exhibition games, but most definitely not three.
After passing along heartfelt good wishes to Katrina victims and commending all colleges, universities and conferences who already have lent their support, NCAA officials said in a Sept. 6 statement, "For those ... who want to do more, we suggest the use of kickoff scrimmages and the existing 2-game basketball exhibition game structure to support Hurricane Katrina relief."
Plenty of college coaches are, shall we say, perturbed.
"This is something the NCAA shouldn't even have to think about," said Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, former president of the National Association Basketball Coaches. "They should just let this happen."
NABC deputy executive director Reggie Minton said of the NCAA's stonewalling, "That's one of the things we have the least control over. We just make the suggestion and let them consider it."
Money used to stage previously scheduled exhibitions already has been committed, with guarantees to visiting teams, officials, et al.
The sensible thing for the NCAA to do is add an exhibition game rather than tinker with what is already in place.
There are 326 Division I basketball teams.
Let's say, for whatever reasons, only about 200 teams are able to participate in the benefit.
In this instance, price gouging at the gate not only would be allowed, it would be encouraged.
How much money could be raised?
One possible scenario: Wichita State at Kansas would become a sellout in about 20 minutes.
With 16,300 seats at $40 per, that's $652,000. From one exhibition game.
Arenas at Syracuse, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville, Wisconsin, Maryland, Illinois and Ohio State likely would draw even bigger crowds.
Six athletic programs from displaced Tulane currently are being housed at Texas A&M.
A benefit game between the Aggies and the Green Wave no doubt would pack 12,500-seat Reed Arena.
"I was surprised when I saw that statement from the NCAA. I figured this idea would be a slam dunk," Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie said.
Let's say 150 exhibition games in Division I averaged 10,000 fans at $20 per ticket. That's $30 million.
Go ahead and throw in all Division II (268) and Division III (383) institutions, and NAIA schools, junior colleges and high schools.
Depending on how many join in, that could be another $20-$30 million.
OK, now think of doing the same thing in football spring games, baseball, softball, wrestling, volleyball and every other collegiate sport under the sun.
Starting to see the financial potential of this thing?
Me, too. But evidently the NCAA is blind as a bat.
"We're disappointed the NCAA feels the way it does on this," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "But maybe they'll come up with another way to raise even more money than we could have."
Don't count on it.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_4077112,00.html
:pctoss