Fire Jack Owens

Men's Sports Men's Basketball
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I also am not a proponent of dropping a major men’s program…I have wondered aloud on the board about Miami dropping to CCHA and received a pretty strong negative reaction from the hockey supporters here.

I would only also state that I agree with the past comments that hoops is probably the sport you could turn around the quickest…you just need a good coach and a couple of stud players and voila! Of course to get there you also need a competitive venue which sadly we don’t have with the aging Millett. I have no answers other than that We need a fund raiser to put up a new arena and a commitment to supporting hoops. *Preformatted text*

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Here is a portion of a letter I wrote to President Crawford when he took the helm in 2016:

…David Sayler has been a tremendous advocate for Miami athletics and I believe that he has the correct vision for Miami. Sayler has made positive changes to the MBB schedule and has made some needed cosmetic changes to Millett Hall. However, so much more needs to be done.

  • As you’ll soon discover, Millett Hall, the home of Miami basketball (men’s, women’s and women’s volleyball) was built in 1968. Since that time, Miami built TWO (2) new hockey facilities. The original “Goggin Ice Area” was built in 1976, while the SECOND facility was built in 2006. I can’t think of another major academic institution that values athletics that constructed two new hockey facilities while completely ignoring another major sport as Miami has done.*

Miami’s last campus wide fundraising campaign (“For Love and Honor”) raised over $500 Million Dollars. The Love and Honor campaign had an athletic component that helped build the new “Goggin”, a new field hockey complex, a new baseball complex (McKie Field), a new softball complex and provided the McVicker Football Complex additions and considerable renovations to Yager Stadium. It should be noted that the Love and Honor Campaign provided NO support for Millett Hall or the Men’s Basketball Program. ZERO dollars were earmarked during this campaign for Millett Hall or Men’s Basketball.

Currently, David Sayler has successfully raised over $50 Million dollars towards the “Graduating Champions” campaign that as you know is an ALL-ATHLETIC capital campaign. The goal is to raise $80 Million dollars and I’m very impressed that Miami would venture into such a historic endeavor. The Graduating Champions website suggests that this campaign is a “once-in-a-generation effort that will create and name the signature athletic facilities that will be cornerstones of today’s and tomorrow’s athletic success”. I commend Saylor for this type of vision and progress that he’s made. In the past twenty-years, he is the only individual that I believe has made a genuine effort to implement positive change for Miami athletics. However, I hope that this is NOT a “once-in-a-generation” effort as it currently ignores Men’s Basketball.

*A review of the goals of the campaign suggest that the ONLY component for Men’s Basketball is an approximate $4 Million dollar project that addresses locker rooms and support services. Although I believe that the locker room project is needed, Men’s Basketball only garnered 5% of the campaign goal of $80M. Considering the lack of support in the “Love and Honor” Campaign and considering the decline of the Men’s Basketball program, I believe that the cornerstone of the “Graduating Champions” campaign should have begun with Men’s Basketball. Further, it is reasonably believed that the sole project earmarked for Men’s Basketball will never be completed. As such, it is amazing that over the past forty plus years, there has been no significant reinvestment in Men’s basketball and in the facilities that support Men’s Basketball. *

In short, Miami has conducted two separate fundraising campaigns (with one being a SPORTS ONLY campaign) that have done nothing to address the constant decline of the Men’s Basketball program.

I’ve read tremendous things about you and am excited for you to take the helm at Miami. However, I have no idea what route you are taking with regard to athletics. As such, I hope that this letter provides you some context regarding the deterioration of what should be a cornerstone of any division I athletic program. At the risk of being overly dramatic, the Men’s basketball program is on “life support”. It has been hemorrhaging fans and it is no longer relevant on even a local level. I hope that you make a statement with your actions to help remedy what was once a proud and successful part of Miami University.

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Well written.

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Inquiring minds want to know what the response (if any) was from President Crawford?

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This is the lynchpin for everything. I wish I had more faith in the current ICA but I do not.

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he said thanks for the letter…blah blah blah

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It was actually "Thanks for the letter. It’s definitely on the agenda. Love and Honor. "

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Nick–Great letter. Hard to believe it has been 5 yrs and NOTHING has changed. And if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse–and falling further behind even non-D1 programs.
I urge you to send this letter to the president again , with an update Those of us that support your position need to be vocal about their disappointment and request for a response that addresses your/our concerns. Request for immediate action–any action, which would at least signal that there is a pulse…

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MightyMU…I remember one time talking to DS about upset emails/text messages/twitter posts. I asked him whether or not it bothered him. His response was that that fan contact was appreciated—even if it was negative. He suggested that having nobody upset was what he was scared of…that meant that the fan base was to apathetic to even reach out.

By way of background, I drafted and sent similar letters to formers AD Maturi and Bates and to current AD DS along with former President Hodge. I did in fact send a follow-up letter to Crawford which was ignored.

In the past, I’ve volunteered my time for Miami as a board member for the Red & White Club, I’ve held private events in the Dayton area for athletics (I got together with guys like Andy Stef and created the “Miami Athletic Club” that had events in both Dayton and Cincinnati) and I’m one of the individuals that helped start the now defunct “6th Man Club” for Men’s basketball.

At one point I held four (4) courtside seats for Men’s Basketball, six (6) season tickets for Football (Hannon Lot Parking) and four (4) seats for Hockey (I shared these with another person and we would alternate Fri/Sat). I’ve discontinued all tickets and have cut my Red and White contribution to Zero. Interestingly, nobody from Miami ticketing ever reached out when I dropped Football or Hockey. I did have one call from the ticket office when I dropped basketball tickets (even then they had no idea I had court side seats) but never had an inquiry when my R&W contribution stopped.

Unfortunately, I’m done writing letters. All my efforts:

  1. volunteering on the R&W advisory board (I helped implement the loyalty points program);
  2. Purchasing season tickets to all major sports;
  3. Financial Contribution;
  4. Helping create/organize and run the Miami Athletic Club in Dayton
  5. Helping create/organize and run the 6th Man Club

…have led to no change. After a while you feel foolish. Time, energy and effort and no changes in ICA.

I’m done writing letters or purchasing season tickets or contributing money until I see change.

I still love Miami University and root for wins. I watch all games on ESPN+. I WANT Miami to succeed and I WANT Miami to change its approach. I’ll jump back in when I see meaningful change

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I have written Sayler and Crawford in the past. My sense is that Crawford is fairly detached from the athletic programs. The thrust of my letter was to ask why the major revenue producing sports aren’t held to same standards of success as other Miami programs, specifically academic. If the mediocrity of bball is acceptable to the administration, how are Miamians supposed to believe the rest of the university is worthy of its reputation? Sayler didn’t reply. I think Crawford said something about his wife baking cookies for Family Day.

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This is one of the most powerful statements I’ve read in like forever. I hope someone who knows the AD forwards this to him. In marketing, when you lose brand advocates, the brand eventually dies.

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I have known @Nickskin’s story and every time I read/hear it again it makes my blood boil. This post should be plastered all over the ICA offices. &$!&@

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Nick–Completely understand your position. I know you have been a great supporter of Miami athletics. It is distressing when people who have invested so much and tried so hard get to the point of, “Why?” I don’t blame you at all for your position. Miami has done a lousy job in ICA regarding bball. Only because we had some big money football and hockey donors were we able to build their terrific facilities. But we all reach a point where it becomes, “why bother and waste my time and energy.” Hope we see a change–soon.

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MightyMU, there have been so many opportunities that have come and gone. Part of the problem is that there have been no “champions” for MBB (or WBB/VB) in the athletic department. Maturi was hockey 100% and put up with football. Bates was football and had no understanding of basketball. Neither spent any time with MBB. Neither cultivated relationships with players.

During Bates tenure, hockey was already put in motion and he was a terrible fundraiser. Basketball scared him and that caused him to stay away (anyone remember how awkward he was speaking to a MBB pregame before a Wright State game at the Nutter Center?)

Guys like Maturi, Cady and Fenton drove the train. One would have thought that Hedric would have been an advocate/voice but during the capital campaign (Love and Honor) there was quite a bit of time and input by some basketball voices about the needs of MBB/WBB and VB. However, Hedric was silent and that campaign ended up eliminating any fundraising for MBB.

We talk about the alums that stepped up for football and hockey and there is a suggestion that MBB didn’t/doesn’t have that. I agree. However, I don’t blame the MBB alums. The better question is why is there a disconnect? Miami ICA Relationships are born and established during involvement while student/athletes are on campus. Who was establishing those relationships during the Maturi/Bates regime? Who was reaching out to the players after graduation? Who was involved enough in ICA to care about them? Why even cultivate relationships when you’re not involved in the program and haven’t established any goals or projects for MBB. Fundraisers establish relationships when they have a need. Since Miami devoted no resources or had any plan in place, MBB and its alums were not needed or had anyone pay any attention to.

Guess how many regular season trips Joel Maturi or Brad Bates took with MBB? Guess how involved those guys were in the program?

Here’s an example of the lack of caring anyone in Miami ICA had with regard to MBB.

Anyone remember the 2005-06 MBB season? The previous year, Miami was 19-11 and the MAC Champs with an NIT invite. After the 2005-06 season, Miami was 18-11 and 14-4 in the MAC. The Redhawks lost in the MAC Quarterfinals but were still an outside NCAA bubble team that had averaged 4,028 fans that year. Guess who was in Millett Hall that night with the MBB team waiting for the NCAA call? Nobody from Miami’s ICA…not Brad Bates. The only folks there…the basketball team, coaching staff and secretary. Miami had assigned - - -I believe - - Karen Womack – as the MBB “liaison”/sports administrator from the athletic department and she wasn’t there. When Miami didn’t get the NCAA invite, it did receive a call from the NIT who informed Miami that they were in! They’d be the 7 seed and would host Butler, the 8th seed. Coles and company couldn’t reach anybody. Couldn’t reach Bates and Womack was already in bed. We know the rest. Miami couldn’t host the game because of a prior commitment for the Ohio State Boys Basketball Tournament (and there was nobody in Athletics that could work out the kinks…so Miami traveled to Butler and lost 54-53

Let me repeat the important part: NOBODY FROM ATHLETICS WAS WITH THE TEAM DURING THE NCAA ANNOUNCEMENT NOR AVAILABLE FOR AN NIT HOSTING OPPORTUNITY. WTF?

Miami has had had MBB donors come to the table on their own. Anyone remember Randy Ayers wanting to contribute? When he came…unsolicited…he was told there was no plan or any use for his money. The contribution went to Notre Dame. There are others I know about. Part of the problem is that Miami has done a disgraceful job of cultivating relationships with MBB players (anyone remember Juby Johnson getting run out of the student section a few years ago?). Kenny Hayes is making a small fortune playing oversees (like quite a few others: Bramos, Peavy, Hatcher…). Has anyone reached out to Kenny? Invited him back? What’s the point. Even if there was a contribution coming from him…to what plan?

People may question the validity of the aforementioned. However, can anyone point to one area (other than new lighting and new red seats) where Miami’s ICA has done anything to help advance MBB over the past two decades? if not, why would anything I say suprise anyone.

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I-N-F-U-R-I-A-T-I-N-G

:rage:

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Amazing stories. It appears at this stage the only reason we have a basketball program might be that we have to have one to maintain our D1 football status and conference affiliation. I can see no other rationale given the information provided by Nickskin.

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Pathetic. That’s all.

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Is the potential revenue greater in hockey? MBB has a smaller roster and a greater potential for national recognition.

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I can’t actually see how hockey running on all cylinders makes more than men’s basketball. If you sell out every seat at Millett and have every sponsorship opp covered and get money games while only traveling 20 people max you have way more chance to make money, no? And in my equation, we’re a good team that plays in the post season. Of course, current reality is far from this, but the ceiling for profitability has to be higher.

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Until you factor in the cost of a new arena before we could even hope to get to ground zero. I am still not convinced our demographics, economic opportunities, media coverage, fan access and geographical situation lend themselves to a big time successful hoops program anymore. The dynamics have changed greatly in the past 25 years.

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