FB: Southern Athletic Association

[BSCpanthers]

We received this email from the school this afternoon.


Statement Regarding the College's Future
As has been reported in the press, Birmingham-Southern College has developed and begun implementing a plan to put the College on a sound financial footing for the long term.
Over the past 18 months, BSC President Daniel Coleman has secured firm commitments from hundreds of private donors for $45 million toward a goal of raising $200 million by May 2026 to refresh its endowment fund. This is a remarkable demonstration of support for BSC and a reflection of the fact that the College is important—not only to Birmingham, but to the State of Alabama.
In order to allow sufficient time for this fund-raising effort to succeed and to give BSC breathing room to operate, we are seeking a one-time contribution of $12.5 million from the second tranche of the American Rescue Plan Act and $17.5 million from the Education Trust Fund.
BSC is also asking for a commitment of $5 million from the City of Birmingham and $2.5 million from Jefferson County. We believe Birmingham-Southern College's contributions to the greater Birmingham area and the state warrant such an investment, which is clearly permissible under state law and for which there is considerable precedent.
BSC's financial challenges began with a building program in the mid-2000s that drew heavily upon the endowment and caused the College to take on significant debt. The financial crisis of 2008-2009 and an error in the accounting of federal financial aid further depleted the College's resources. Subsequent presidents did a remarkable job of funding the year-to-year operations of the College despite significant challenges. Without a healthy endowment, the economic model under which BSC operates is simply not sustainable for the long term.
Some months ago, the College's administration approached leaders in state government to share our plan for financial resilience. We found them receptive to our effort and we believe we will enjoy significant support for our plan.
Birmingham-Southern College and its graduates have made great contributions to our state, nation, and indeed the world. We are now asking for support with bridge funding to ensure the future of this valuable educational institution.
As our plan unfolds, we will continue to share reports on the progress toward our goal. We remain confident that BSC will endure and thrive, and we are committed to making good on the College's motto: "Forward, Ever."
12/17/2022

[Ron Boerger]

I really hope BSC can pull through.  That's an awful lot of money to come up with in a short period of time and hopefully there are some sympathetic decision makers and donors.   

Not working in the school's favor is that this is the second time this century it has had to take drastic action to survive.  Numerous programs were cut in 2010 due to the Pell grant situation and that the school finds itself in arguably worse position ten years later could make major donors less willing to provide additional relief.

[Pat Coleman]

Can you imagine if they had stayed in D-I any longer than they had?

[BSCpanthers]

Can you imagine if they had stayed in D-I any longer than they had?

Might actually be better off had we stayed D1.  We could still be selling out the basketball arena and getting revenue from the conference.  The DIII move was for adding football, even though that added enrollment, basketball took a hit and now can't seem to get anyone in the building to watch. 

[Ralph Turner]

Can you imagine if they had stayed in D-I any longer than they had?

Might actually be better off had we stayed D1.  We could still be selling out the basketball arena and getting revenue from the conference.  The DIII move was for adding football, even though that added enrollment, basketball took a hit and now can't seem to get anyone in the building to watch.

Thanks for the comment.

Next question, which had the greater impact on the bottom line?


Ticket Revenue from basketball
minus total amount of scholarship monies spent on D-1 scholarships for men's and women's sports


Or extra revenue to the bottom line for adding football players and other new students
minus total amount of new monies awarded in grants and scholarships to students under the D-3 model versus the D-1 model.

Yes, you can give a full tuition athletic scholarship to a 3.5 GPA women's basketball player or an academic, need-based package to that same 3.5 GPA woman player.

Thanks

[BSCpanthers]

News I've known for about 36 hours or so, but waited until he addressed the team. Tony Joe White has stepped down as head coach at Birmingham Southern.  He has accepted a job in his home state of Texas, but I don't know what that position is.  The OC, Anthony Colucci is taking over the head coaching duties at BSC.  Of course this comes on the heals of the news that BSC is possibly shutting down due to financial reasons.  Sounds like it will be mid-January before we find out if the school will continue past May of 2023. 

FORWARD, EVER!!!!!

[BSCpanthers]

HC White went to Austin College.

[Ron Boerger]

HC White went to Austin College.

Tough break for Panther fans, and it's hard to see coach White leaving what he had built at B-SC for the very much struggling AC program absent the news of the last week.  Yes, he's a Texas boy (at least he played his college ball here) and will have some insights into recruiting there - was Texas his area of responsibility at Birmingham, because if not he will have to rebuild those relationships.

Even with that the ASC schools that are used to essentially an extra practice week when they face the team from Sherman will be in for a surprise next season.  The 'Roos have been a run-first team for a long while which should build to Coach White's strength immediately if he can get some talent to come to north Texas.

[Ron Boerger]

And if the unthinkable does happen, this would put SAA football on an uneasy footing once Trinity (and Southwestern who we'll see next year) leave, with only six schools left playing football.   The ASC will be on even worse footing once TLU, Austin, and McMurry head to the SCAC; with the very strong possibility of Sul Ross going D2 they would be left with only *four* schools with football programs. 

One possibility would be the ten remaining schools getting together for football but I can't see the SAA going that route unless their hand is forced (e.g. NCAA D3 changing back to seven school minimum for football AQ) and even then they'd probably place a call to one or two of the schools to make that work. 

[BSCpanthers]

Could add some of the team as that play in the USA South. 

[Ralph Turner]

Could add some of the team as that play in the USA South.

... which begs the "Mission and Vision" question.

Who in the USA South matches the "Mission and Vision" of the SAA?

[awadelewis]

Could add some of the team as that play in the USA South.

... which begs the "Mission and Vision" question.

Who in the USA South matches the "Mission and Vision" of the SAA?

What benefit would the four affiliate football playing schools in the USA South (Belhaven,  Huntingdon, LaGrange, and Maryville) get from switching their affiliation to the SAA?   Not something I would see happening with those schools being some of the leaders in the split of the CCS schools from the USASouth for other sports.     

Those four, with the possible addition of Berea for non-FB sports would be the only ones I see being pursued for full membership in the SAA.  Those are the only USASouth/CCS member who I think our Presidents might consider meeting the profile of schools in our league.

[BSCpanthers]

Could add some of the team as that play in the USA South.

... which begs the "Mission and Vision" question.

Who in the USA South matches the "Mission and Vision" of the SAA?

What benefit would the four affiliate football playing schools in the USA South (Belhaven,  Huntingdon, LaGrange, and Maryville) get from switching their affiliation to the SAA?   Not something I would see happening with those schools being some of the leaders in the split of the CCS schools from the USASouth for other sports.     

Those four, with the possible addition of Berea for non-FB sports would be the only ones I see being pursued for full membership in the SAA.  Those are the only USASouth/CCS member who I think our Presidents might consider meeting the profile of schools in our league.

The benefit would be maintaining autobid numbers. 

[awadelewis]

The benefit would be maintaining autobid numbers. 

That's true for the SAA and its schools. I was asking the opposite of that coin:  What would be the enticement for any of the USA South fb affiliates to switch their affiliation to the SAA? I don't see how they would get any benefit from making the change. 

Hopefully, it will be turned into a moot question by B-SC being able to line up survival funding and then getting their financial house in order. 

[BSCpanthers]

Merry Christmas my SAA brethren. 

Right now it looks like BSC will make it through this situation.  So hopefully it will become official mid-January and we can return to worrying about conference championships and not if there will be class in September.