(This is the last article examining proposed restructuring of the Virginia athletics program.)
It's no secret the big boys of the Tier One sports comprised of football, men's basketball and women's basketball help to support many of the University's 21 other varsity sports.
Coaches believe the Strategic Planning Task Force on Athletics' recommendations to divide varsity athletics into four tiers would not impact these popular sports. Instead, coaches think the plan would help ensure the future success of these programs. The Tier One sports are characterized by full funding of grants-in-aid "to compete at the highest intercollegiate level," according to the recommendations.
The proposed tiering of sports is not a rigid structure. Instead the task force stated that the athletics department should reevaluate the specific tiers each year and determine if sports should be moved because of extra donations.
"Being new on the scene I became aware of the recommendations on the day they were submitted, but they look like they had been done with great diligence," football coach Al Groh said. "I don't think it will have a huge effect on football, though, because we help generate most of the money."
Men's basketball and football especially are vital in generating money for the University. Ticket sales for the renovated 60,000-seat Scott Stadium, television revenue and corporate sponsors help support other sports. Also, these teams' exposure from a Final Four appearance or a Bowl Championship Series berth can give a school national publicity.
"Those are the financial engines for the rest of the athletic department, beyond fundraising," said Carl Zeithaml, a task force member and the dean of the Commerce School. "Those are the sports that support many of the other sports. Being in business I know you have to invest money to make money."
After Virginia Tech advanced to the football national championship in 2000, the school's number of undergraduate applications increased. The extra exposure the football program provided enabled the school to increase its academic standards.
The task force focused heavily on the athletics departments' facilities and determined the most pressing issue was a new basketball arena. However, the task force did not come to a clear determination of the feasibility of building a new arena, instead it stated such a step should be taken with "considerable caution."
As the men's basketball team tries to establish itself as a consistent winner in the ACC, many say it needs a new arena to keep up with its rivals. University Hall, which opened in December 1965, has a seating capacity of 8,394 - the smallest in the ACC. Also, University Hall was shut down for two months in fall 1998 when 32 of the tension wires supporting the dome snapped.
N.C State opened a 19,700-capacity arena two years ago, and Georgia Tech finished extensive construction on Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald's Center five years ago. Maryland has plans to open its new arena during the 2002-03 season.
"From a competitive standpoint with recruiting, it is vital that we have a new arena within the next five to seven years to keep up with our rivals," men's basketball assistant coach Tom Herrion said.
The task force estimated the cost of a new arena to open in 2007 to be $125 million, which would come from major gifts. However, the recommendation for the Capital Campaign to raise $100 million specifically for the athletics program puts a tremendous strain on donors to meet those stated goals, Zeithaml said.
The task force looked at other basketball arenas around the country built with private money, and its members felt it was essential that an arena could operate and support itself.
"Everybody should be very careful in terms of the way it is funded - make sure it is the appropriate size and make sure it is operated effectively," Zeithaml said. "It is going to happen, we are going to have a new arena and we were saying 'make sure you understand the implications of how you go about it.'"
If the Board of Visitors passes the task force's recommendations, the University would cut funding to many of the Tier Four sports. However, these cuts may help the sports at Virginia that perennially compete in the top 20 take a further step toward excellence, Zeithaml said.
"If we are going to have a major athletic program, let's be truly excellent in the things we can be excellent in," he said. "Rather than have a big mediocre program, let's be honest and say: "Here are the sports where we are really going to put our emphasis, and these other sports we will have for Virginia athletes but we won't be competing at the same level"
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