FB: Southern Athletic Association

[jknezek]

The latest coach to leave B-SC is the women's VB coach, headed to a D2 school (Montevallo).  Can't blame anyone for looking out for themselves given circumstances.

No. Especially when it likely doesn't involve relocation. If you live south of Birmingham, which I suspect most B-SC employees do, Montevallo is less than 45 minutes away. Good opportunity to pretty much seamlessly continue your life, except you are moving from D3 to D2.

[BSCpanthers]

The latest coach to leave B-SC is the women's VB coach, headed to a D2 school (Montevallo).  Can't blame anyone for looking out for themselves given circumstances.

No. Especially when it likely doesn't involve relocation. If you live south of Birmingham, which I suspect most B-SC employees do, Montevallo is less than 45 minutes away. Good opportunity to pretty much seamlessly continue your life, except you are moving from D3 to D2.

We also had an offensive coach leave to become Head Coach at a private high school in Huntsville.

[jknezek]

Well... Birmingham Southern finally struck back. I just wonder if it is way too little, way too late. I always laugh, however, when they say "independent study" but it was paid for by B-SC. I get they hired someone outside the college, but it's like a subject expert at a legal trial... their expert opinion somehow always comes down on the side that paid them.

https://www.wbrc.com/2023/02/16/new-report-shows-birmingham-southern-college-generates-nearly-100-million-economic-impact-state-each-year/

[Bmo]

Some Trinity scheduling news.

https://fbschedules.com/hcu-adds-arkansas-baptist-to-2023-football-schedule/

[BSCpanthers]

Some Trinity scheduling news.

https://fbschedules.com/hcu-adds-arkansas-baptist-to-2023-football-schedule/

Was Houston Baptist scared of Trinity, because I've seen BSC play ABC, and that is a bad version of a bad team.  Very underfunded at a very small school in LR. 

[BSCpanthers]

Well... Birmingham Southern finally struck back. I just wonder if it is way too little, way too late. I always laugh, however, when they say "independent study" but it was paid for by B-SC. I get they hired someone outside the college, but it's like a subject expert at a legal trial... their expert opinion somehow always comes down on the side that paid them.

https://www.wbrc.com/2023/02/16/new-report-shows-birmingham-southern-college-generates-nearly-100-million-economic-impact-state-each-year/

I wonder how much money the SAA brought into BHM just this past weekend with the swim meet being held here.  Multiple days of hotels rooms, food, transportation and facility rental at the Crossplex.  That could have been $20k+ in one weekend for one event.  That doesn't count the 22 other sports that bring in visiting teams.

[Riley Zayas]

Some Trinity scheduling news.

https://fbschedules.com/hcu-adds-arkansas-baptist-to-2023-football-schedule/

Was Houston Baptist scared of Trinity, because I've seen BSC play ABC, and that is a bad version of a bad team.  Very underfunded at a very small school in LR.

Ridiculous. All I can think is that Trinity got a chance to play a potential Top 15 team and as a result, dropped HCU, as that game vs HCU, while cool, would not have a beneficial impact on Trinity's playoff resume. Seems much more like a Trinity decision than an HCU decision.

[Ron Boerger]

Finally - some good news for B-SC.  Whether it's enough good news to make a significant difference will be seen later today.  My guess would be that this is somewhere in the neighborhood of a few million.

https://www.alreporter.com/2023/02/22/sewell-to-announce-funding-to-support-student-initiatives-at-birmingham-southern-college/

Today, February 22 at 2 p.m. CT, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, will be joined by Birmingham-Southern College President Daniel B. Coleman and members of the student body to announce major funding for the Birmingham-Southern College experiential learning and civic engagement student initiative.

This funding is part of the $42.8 million that Rep. Sewell secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package for local projects in Alabama's 7th Congressional District. It will be used to provide meaningful student support in higher education and strengthen the institution's ability to facilitate placement in high-impact internships and jobs through multiple offerings of the Krulak Institute for Leadership, Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement on campus.

[BSCpanthers]

Finally - some good news for B-SC.  Whether it's enough good news to make a significant difference will be seen later today.  My guess would be that this is somewhere in the neighborhood of a few million.

https://www.alreporter.com/2023/02/22/sewell-to-announce-funding-to-support-student-initiatives-at-birmingham-southern-college/

Today, February 22 at 2 p.m. CT, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, will be joined by Birmingham-Southern College President Daniel B. Coleman and members of the student body to announce major funding for the Birmingham-Southern College experiential learning and civic engagement student initiative.

This funding is part of the $42.8 million that Rep. Sewell secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package for local projects in Alabama's 7th Congressional District. It will be used to provide meaningful student support in higher education and strengthen the institution's ability to facilitate placement in high-impact internships and jobs through multiple offerings of the Krulak Institute for Leadership, Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement on campus.

We were told of this last night in the town hall meeting.  It should be just north of a million dollars for BSC, at least that is what was said. 

[Ron Boerger]

There was also a townhall held by the state representative for that area on Tuesday.  https://www.wvtm13.com/article/birmingham-southern-college-town-hall/43015946

[BSCpanthers]

What was said to be a million dollars, ended up being $500k.  Still have a long way to go to insure another season of BSC football, and the school.

[Ron Boerger]

Of interest:  NACUBO releases an annual study on college endowments; the 2022 study, reflecting endowments through June 30, 2022, was just released.  Unfortunately many schools have ceased to participate over recent years; fortunately the missing schools' endowments can usually be dug out from audits available at Propublica.org.  Here are the endowments for the schools playing football in the SAA; those in italics from ProPublica, the others from NACUBO.

• Berry, $1,236,198,000 (+1.92%)
• Birmingham-Southern, no 2022 audit; 2021 endowment was $53,984,787
• Centre, $408,796,000 (-2.72%)
• Hendrix, no 2022 audit; 2021 endowment was 202,900,995
• Millsaps, $73,008,014 [a decrease of 9,223,080, -11.2%]
• Rhodes, $394,337,000 (-8.67%)
• Sewanee, $439,971,000 (-15.25%)
• Southwestern, $366,390,000 (+0.42%)
• Trinity, $1,704,816,000 (-0.66%)

The lack of a 2022 audit does not necessarily indicate one was not filed; ProPublica states "[t]he Internal Revenue Service is substantially delayed in processing and releasing nonprofit filing".

[Ralph Turner]

What was said to be a million dollars, ended up being $500k.  Still have a long way to go to insure another season of BSC football, and the school.

My cynical side thinks  "...but the politician got the 'photo-op" to signify how much she cares..."

+1! BSCpanthers for the additional research.

[cush]

According to a AL.com article, BSC endowment is between $20-25 million and its debt is $27 million. In 2012, it's endowment was $48 million and debt was $67 million. I'm not sure how the $45 million in pledged funds out of a $200 million goal by 2026 figures into any of this or what kind of operating debt BSC will have this year or next. The $200 million endowment goal in 3 years seems like a huge reach given their current numbers. It would seem BSC would have been better off breaking their fundraising goal into a couple categories, annual operating, endowment and facility improvements. Put a $50 million goal for each category and don't move past annual operating until the goal is meet. A reasonable plan should be to eliminate their debt, get their endowment above $50 million and don't run an annual deficit. Their campus also needs some TLC to function.

[BSCpanthers]

According to a AL.com article, BSC endowment is between $20-25 million and its debt is $27 million. In 2012, it's endowment was $48 million and debt was $67 million. I'm not sure how the $45 million in pledged funds out of a $200 million goal by 2026 figures into any of this or what kind of operating debt BSC will have this year or next. The $200 million endowment goal in 3 years seems like a huge reach given their current numbers. It would seem BSC would have been better off breaking their fundraising goal into a couple categories, annual operating, endowment and facility improvements. Put a $50 million goal for each category and don't move past annual operating until the goal is meet. A reasonable plan should be to eliminate their debt, get their endowment above $50 million and don't run an annual deficit. Their campus also needs some TLC to function.

There has been a lot of differed maintenance as they have moved through this financial situation.  Just to catch up on that is going to take quite a bit of money.  It was noticeable when students came back to campus this past fall that residence hall maintenance had been put off.  Hopefully, if the money is given, that is one of the first things they address is getting the campus back to being as nice and inviting as possible.