Post by Athletic Department Monitor on Jul 6, 2004 6:48:04 GMT -5
fiuathletics.com -> The Coaches Corner
( The Coaches Corner Featuring Athletic Director Rick Mello )
Interview with Athletic Director Rick Mello - ( estimated interview date July, August, September 2001 )
1. Is the Golden Panther Club the official athletic booster club of FIU? If so, what have you have done recently to reenergize the ‘Boosters’ and what do you have planned for them over the next 6 months to a year? Also, when do you plan on having the initial 2001-2002 meeting for the Golden Panther Club members?
Answer: We are in the process of revitalizing the club now. We currently have over 100 new members signed up through an on-campus drive and will take it outside to members of the community very soon.
We’ll use this fall’s football scrimmages, basketball and other events of the year to bring the Golden Panthers Club members back on campus. Members will be receiving written correspondence from Eddie Hondal, our executive director, with more information on that. To help in our drive for new members, we’ve also put together a new Golden Panther Club brochure. I’d say things have been going very, very well.
Didn't follow through 0 pts [0]
2. One of the criteria for the new AD at FIU was his commitment to remain as our AD for a long period of time. After a year, is it still your resolve to remain at FIU for an extended period of time?
Answer: Absolutely. I would not have taken the job if I didn’t see it as a long- term commitment. Consistency is what FIU needs most at this time in my opinion. I plan on being at FIU a very long time.
He is still here. Hopefully he will learn, becomes a better AD, and we won't finish last in the conference this year. +5 pts [5]
3. Is FIU football looking to join a conference? A possibility would be the new Big South Football Conference that’s starting in 2002. That seems to be a good geographic fit for conference affiliation and us would probably make scheduling easier.
Answer: We are investigating conference affiliation, and we have looked into the Big South. But we are still weighing our options. There are a lot of intricacies that some times seem so obvious on the surface, but when you really look into it, the situation may not be as beneficial as one might think.
We also have to look at giving ourselves enough room to where, if our program does what we think it can do, we may end up looking at moving up to I-A more quickly than originally planned. But, a lot will have to be in place before we go I-A. Conference affiliation definitely has its benefits, but you should not join a conference just for the sake of getting into one. It’s got to be the right fit for many reasons.
Good answer, he has followed through and we are in the Sun Belt Conference +5 pts. [10]
4. Some have stated that the continuation of the FIU vs. University of Miami series in men’s basketball will be determined by attendance. Do you plan on any special promotions/marketing to ensure a high turnout by FIU fans?
Answer: Yes, most definitely. We are looking at a marketing effort on two fronts. We are really considering buses from campus and a big marketing campaign aimed at students, faculty, and staff in connection with that game. We also want to do a special event for friends of the University to attempt to attract them to the game. Obviously, a lot of people in the stands and a high level of energy will definitely help as we look to make this an annual event.
Basketball - what's that ? +0 pts. [10]
( The Coaches Corner Featuring Athletic Director Rick Mello )
Interview with Athletic Director Rick Mello - ( estimated interview date July, August, September 2001 )
1. Is the Golden Panther Club the official athletic booster club of FIU? If so, what have you have done recently to reenergize the ‘Boosters’ and what do you have planned for them over the next 6 months to a year? Also, when do you plan on having the initial 2001-2002 meeting for the Golden Panther Club members?
Answer: We are in the process of revitalizing the club now. We currently have over 100 new members signed up through an on-campus drive and will take it outside to members of the community very soon.
We’ll use this fall’s football scrimmages, basketball and other events of the year to bring the Golden Panthers Club members back on campus. Members will be receiving written correspondence from Eddie Hondal, our executive director, with more information on that. To help in our drive for new members, we’ve also put together a new Golden Panther Club brochure. I’d say things have been going very, very well.
Didn't follow through 0 pts [0]
2. One of the criteria for the new AD at FIU was his commitment to remain as our AD for a long period of time. After a year, is it still your resolve to remain at FIU for an extended period of time?
Answer: Absolutely. I would not have taken the job if I didn’t see it as a long- term commitment. Consistency is what FIU needs most at this time in my opinion. I plan on being at FIU a very long time.
He is still here. Hopefully he will learn, becomes a better AD, and we won't finish last in the conference this year. +5 pts [5]
3. Is FIU football looking to join a conference? A possibility would be the new Big South Football Conference that’s starting in 2002. That seems to be a good geographic fit for conference affiliation and us would probably make scheduling easier.
Answer: We are investigating conference affiliation, and we have looked into the Big South. But we are still weighing our options. There are a lot of intricacies that some times seem so obvious on the surface, but when you really look into it, the situation may not be as beneficial as one might think.
We also have to look at giving ourselves enough room to where, if our program does what we think it can do, we may end up looking at moving up to I-A more quickly than originally planned. But, a lot will have to be in place before we go I-A. Conference affiliation definitely has its benefits, but you should not join a conference just for the sake of getting into one. It’s got to be the right fit for many reasons.
Good answer, he has followed through and we are in the Sun Belt Conference +5 pts. [10]
4. Some have stated that the continuation of the FIU vs. University of Miami series in men’s basketball will be determined by attendance. Do you plan on any special promotions/marketing to ensure a high turnout by FIU fans?
Answer: Yes, most definitely. We are looking at a marketing effort on two fronts. We are really considering buses from campus and a big marketing campaign aimed at students, faculty, and staff in connection with that game. We also want to do a special event for friends of the University to attempt to attract them to the game. Obviously, a lot of people in the stands and a high level of energy will definitely help as we look to make this an annual event.
Basketball - what's that ? +0 pts. [10]