A.D. Report -- Exciting Times
Aug. 31, 2010
Corvallis, Ore. -
It’s a great time to be a Beaver as we head into the 2010 football season and this weekend’s much-anticipated matchup with TCU at Cowboys Stadium. The buzz around our football program has reached an all-time high. The team is ranked in the Top 25 in all the major preseason polls. And we have players on nearly every award watch list—from the Heisman to the Outland and the Lombardi trophies.
Additionally, Beaver Nation’s response to our requests for support truly has been inspiring. Season ticket sales have reached a new record—nearing 27,000 and a 3,800 increase over last year—and our donor numbers are growing as well. I want to thank all of you who have contributed in any way—from buying season tickets to becoming new donors or continuing your financial support. It all adds up—so sincere thanks to all of you.
Here’s an overview of where we’re at with season ticket sales. We still have packages available in some of the higher donation areas such as the Club Level. We had an overwhelming response to the new lower priced Valley View section, which sold out quickly. Last year we sold 400 season tickets in this section compared to the 10X increase of 4,000 for the coming season. Some three-game packages are still available, but only a few hundred tickets still remain for the home opener against Louisville on Sept. 18. The only Civil War tickets left are in the Club. So if you’re interested in tickets this year, call 1-800-GOBEAVS or visit us online — the sooner the better.
We’re also continuing to make steady progress on our 12,000 strong by 2012 goal. You’ll recall that this goal centers on our effort to double our Beaver Athletic Scholarship Fund (BASF) donor base in the next few years. We currently have $10.5 million in commitments and an increase of $120,000 compared to this time last year. We now have 1,000 new BASF donors this year, but lost about 650 and are working diligently to bring these people back while continuing to gain new donors. At this time last year, we had 580 new donors, but lost 800, so you can see we’re trending in the right direction.
As part of this effort, we just announced a new partnership with Pursuant Sports, a leader in fund-raising and online media solutions, to help us reach our 12,000 by 2012 goal. Our plan is to reach more broadly into our current fan base and our alumni network to secure new donors who are interested in supporting the mission and values of our athletics program. We’re hopeful that all the buzz being generated around the Beavers and OSU will help us reach our goal.
Based on incoming media requests—from the likes of ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Jim Rome—the interest in OSU football has more than doubled from any other pre-season in recent memory. We already have a higher profile and lots of momentum heading into the season. Here’s some key points to note:
· Preseason polls have us ranked nationally at No. 15, Sporting News; No. 17, Sports Illustrated; No. 22, Coaches Poll; No. 24, Associated Press.
· The Beavers have three of the Pac-10’s top 10 players, according to ESPN.com—Jacquizz Rodgers, No. 1; Stephen Paea, No. 5; James Rodgers, No. 6.
· Mike Riley enters the year needing 11 wins to become OSU’s all-time winningest coach.
· Every senior on the team is on track to graduate this academic year.
As if that’s not enough, sports apparel icon Nike has chosen us as one of 10 top college football programs to wear a uniquely designed uniform for at least one game during the 2010 season. We’re the only Pac-10 school to be part of this program, and we’re in the company of Alabama, Florida, Miami and Ohio State among others. The game for our uniform will be announced at an event in New York on Wednesday. This is all part of the growing recognition for our program, and it bodes well for our future. To read the release on this program, click here.
Since interest in our football program and our profile—particularly on the national stage—are growing, we’re also launching a new microsite on osubeavers.com in September. Called “insidebeaverfootball.com,” this new website will be focused on OSU football. I’m anticipating it will be a very popular addition to our web offerings.
As you can see, it has been a busy summer. Much has happened since I signed off in June. I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the expansion of the Pac-10 with the addition of Colorado and Utah. I’ll write more about that in my next A.D. Report when more things shake out—such as the all-important TV contract.
For now, I want to thank you again for your support and helping us turn the corner in terms of ticket sales and BASF donations. There’s no doubt that 2008-2009 was a tough time, but we’re trending in a positive direction, and I’m bullish on our future. Just like you, I’m excited for the 2010 season to kick off at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.
Go Beavs!
Past A.D. Reports June 22, 2010 – Looking Back at a Strong Academic Year April 27, 2010 - Updating Ticket Sales Feb. 17, 2010 - "110 Percent Beavers" Feb. 1, 2010 - Season Ticket Pricing Dec. 3, 2009 --- "The Turn" - Part 1 Dec. 4, 2009 --- "The Turn" - Part 2 Dec. 5, 2009 --- "The Turn" - Part 3 Dec. 6, 2009 --- "The Turn" - Part 4 Dec. 7, 2009 --- "The Turn" - Part 5 Dec. 8, 2009 --- "The Turn" - Part 6
