Grading the Athletic Dept: '03 - '04

[FIUFan]

Well the results are final and they 'aint pretty as far as FIU is concerned. From a last place finish in Women's Soccer and Men's Hoops, to down year's in Women's Hoops, Volleyball and Baseball; the FIU Athletic Dept. won none of the 15 Sun Belt sanctioned sports it was entered in and finished ninth out of eleven schools for the Vic Burbas trophy.
(http://news.sunbeltsports.org/x/article/2958)

On the bright side, we did have one champion, unfortunately, at this time, Men's Soccer is not a Sun Belt sport.


Here's a question to the board. In your opinion, was this poor performance due to:

A.) Too much emphasis on the Football program
B.) Just had a down year, things will improve
C.) Poor Administrative Leadership
D.) Lack of Community/Fan Support
E.) None of the Above/Other
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[FIUFanatic]

It certainly has been one of the worst ever, program by program, in the last decade or so (at least that's what it seems). The exceptions were men's soccer, and a rebound of women's tennis. Of your "answers", I would select letter "b"....I believe things will certainly improve, and that it was just a down year.....Let's hope I'm correct in I this assesment......

[Devastator]

Chose b). Cant get anyworse than this year

[GPFan]

The grade has to be an F for this year, perhaps the worst overall season ever. Baseball and women's hoops is usually what we hang our hat on and they were down. No big surprise from women's soccer and volleyball. Softball was down as well.

As for the voting, I would have a selection of all of the above. I think it's a combination of all of that.

[MaXx]

I also chose B. Mainly to remain positive. Baseball still has a chance to do something in the Sun Belt tournament, last year Middle Tennessee won it and they were the 4th or 5th seed. I think our baseball team will not be down for too long, they'll probably address some of the issues we had this year with recruiting.

I'm hoping that basketball can only get better. Rouco looks to be showing his recruiting skills already, now we'll just have to see how good his coaching skills are.

I think our football team will be much improved this year. I think we're gonna surprise some people. I'm ready to put 03-04 behind us and look forward to September 2nd.

[paws]

The real reason for the dismal performance this year is the curse of mens soccer team They tried to get rid of the program and this is the revenge that is being forced upon us The only way to clear this up is with an exorcism

[Xpedition]

b) down year.

BBall can't be any worse. Rouco is already tearing up the recruiting trail and I'm looking at a much better squad on paper already.
Baseball has had 2 very down years due to horrible pitching. I look for that to be addressed in recruiting. I doubt the coaches will let it continue.
Women's BBall was plagued by bad bad luck. To begin with, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year but injuries really hurt the ladies. Look for a strong women's team next year, like we're used to. Cindy is one of the best coaches in the NCAA and will deliver a solid recruiting class and team next season.
Softball had a weird up and down season. They've been very competitive and they play a pretty tough schedule and actually bring in big time schools to play at UP. They will be ok. The recruits coming in for them look solid and they will bounce back. UL and FIU will be 1 and 2 in the league next season and we'll be a 2 bid league.
Football will go at least a strong .500 next season.
Tennis was a nice surprise this year. Dunno if they could improve next year. Truthfully, i don't follow them much so I can't say one way or another.
Men's soccer had a good run and they should have the talent to go back to the NCAA's next season as well (maybe another sweet 16 run?).

It looks like I'm being rather optomistic, and I am. The next two seasons will put FIU on the athletic map.

[The OC Panther]

I also think its a combination of all the above. Though I think the departments administration could be more active. I see companies with 1 part-time PR person get more coverage than our entire university. I do think our future has never been brighter in 5 years (by which time I hope to be living in Miami again) I would like to see....

Football: Div 1 status, powerhouse of the sunbelt (do-able with S. Fla's talent) 10-3 record (OOC losses to top teams) averaging 19,000 peeps with help of several big draw games) in nice art deco stadium.

basketball: consistent RPI in the top hundred, NCAA bid every 3 years or so maybe drawing 1,500 to 2000 (winning and increased on campus housing will help)

Baseball: already mostly there, op ten finish every year would be cool.

Soccer: another championship appearance and title and consistent national Top 10 ranking

Track: benefits from time and footall players who run track

Womens:
Softball: I really think it can be a national power on the east coast, I know Cali's teams are unstoppable.

WBB- Russo will have them back in the tournament soon. Not worried at all.

I dont know enough about the other womens sports to have a wish list.
But a Dazzlers Gone Wild video would be great

NY Panther

[Mike]

Leadership - easy question - It is the leadership - The Athletic Director's responsibility - to allocate resources (Money) to the appropriate sports. It is his responsibility to hire the athletic department staff and coaches.

The number of scholarships we are awarding for each sport should be on the web. Do you have the link?

Are we allocating the maximum number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA (ncaa.org) for each sport? If the AD is not allocating sufficient resources, we can't expect to achieve success in that sport. When our teams are not demonstrating success commensurate with their support, then it is the AD's responsibility to explain why both to the FIU board of directors, the fans, and the alumni.


Mike

[Mike]

I will reiterate what I said two months ago. The responsibility for the performance and the type of student athlete who is brought to Miami and UP is the responsibility of the AD, Athletic Department, and Coaches. Collectively, they recruit the player, give them a financial package to come here, and may even ask them to attend classes.

We are taught from a very young age to be responsible for our actions. That applies to the President, AD, The Athletic Department, and the Coaches ( whom I consider part of the Athletic Department). Has anybody said anything meaningful, or has everything sounded like political statement?

[ARod]

Gotta go with B) ; let's look forward to next year and visit this subject on an as needed basis to measure the change