Good stuff as always.  I just joined the Bobcat Club on Monday, and I'm trying to get every other OU friend I see to do the same.

I agree with your position that led to your post but with anything that is competitive in nature, elite success isn't in the what, it's in the how.

Do you have this summarized in a power point presentation???? 

This makes me think of the commercial where the kid uses PPT to get his parents to get him a dog....

Seriously though, great post and great points made.  I agree on all counts, and like the commercial lets hope our BBall program doesnt get shot down like the husband in that commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g30omUwhHTs

There is a BIG difference between Butler/VCU and Ohio

Football. Butler and VCU do not have a D1 Football programs and thus have more money to toss at basketball. While I agree Ohio needs to put more money into basketball, sustaining a solid D1 football program also costs money. It also takes Alumni support. Does Ohio have a solid financial backing from the Alumni(I don't know)?

We have to HAVE the money to throw at the program before we can actually throw it.

We're already missing opportunities. I have many thoughts but I'll give one example for now in the interest of time. 

If you went to the Bobcat Bash in Nashville you probably noticed that the Athletic Department was charging $15 at the door. I think that's a dumb decision. $15 is small potatoes. 

What they should have been doing was having people sign in, so the department would know who they are. If they had their digital files they could instantaneously know if someone was an OBC member, when the last time was that they donated, how much they donated, etc. 

With the right information the options would have been endless. Ask people who haven't donated in a set time to fill out a donation promise. Get people not in the club into it. Ask current donors who are feeling great about the team's success if they'd like to donate on the spot.

Certainly you don't want events like this to feel uber-salesy but there's a professional way to do it without it devolving into that. Have Schaus include something in his remarks about donations like the ones they're receiving today making athletic success like this possible (especially given the economic climate). Give people opportunities and nudge them to donate without pushing it.

I know there are a few people on this board who were in the 110. Those people will remember the Macy's parade trip in 2000. Each 110 member had to pay their own way (maybe like $300 a piece? nothing major but enough that a college student certainly felt it.) Well about halfway through the season the 110 played at a tailgate for President Glidden and some of his well funded friends. At the end of the tailgate Dr. Suk mentioned that the 110 was headed to the Macy's parade, had some trouble funding the trip, and one of Glidden's guests wrote the 110 a check (well into the 5 digits if I'm not mistaken). The 110 members didn't need to make their last trip payment and some of the money was used on entertainment (like a cruise on the Hudson and tickets to a musical) while they were in NYC. 

That's what the Athletic Department should be doing. Forget the $15 a head. It's time to go big game hunting.

Excellent points.

Like I said, these are things Schaus and McDavis know all too well. I talked to Schaus in Nashville and he made an analogy about building a house, then putting the house on stilts. I think the house is built. It's time for the stilts. And this is something he's done before at Wichita. Though he left a few years ago, he was a big part of what's going on there now.

And yes, what I'm saying probably doesn't make much difference. But I think these are important things for people to know. And if it compels a few to contribute, then all the better.

The Bobcat Bashes are hosted by the Alumni Association. They track everything. Those of us that preregister for the event have to enter all of our information online in order to sign up. I am proud of my donations to the Ohio Bobcat Club. I enjoy supporting the programs (Athletics, College of Business, Sales Centre, etc) that are winners on campus. I started giving back shortly after graduation because I believed Ohio University had a profound impact on my life. This board is full of the most supportive Bobcats. We spread the word and open our wallets. We just need 5000 more folks to feel the same way we do. Ohio is a special place that deserves to be in an upper class.

I think President McDavis is all over this. As I recall, I think I read in one of the articles in the media this week that he was taking the trip to St. Louis with several donors/potential donors.

We do need the support of our alumni.  Keep sending $ and wearing yOUr OHIO pride!  This University is on the way up!

This past summer I increased by donation by $40 to get into the next level.  I wanted to (and have been wanting to) increase it more but have only been able to afford to pay the amount necessary to maintain my seats in the Phillips Club.  This year has been much better than last (starting your own business takes time) so I am hoping to increase my donation to the level above my new level.  I wish I could just make my monthly student loan payment my donation to Ohio.  I wouldnt mind writing that check!

I thought the idea that revenue must go up in order to enable spending to go up was self-evident.