Texas State A D Dr. Larry Teis On Student Fees

ADLER · July 28, 2008

On the Road to Success

College Athletics

By Tyler Mayforth

San Marcos Daily Record Sports

San Marcos — If you walk through the Darren B. Casey Athletic Administration Complex, you will get the feeling something big is about to happen. There’s a certain excitement flowing through the air.

Boxes are piled high with packets containing information about “The Drive” and 2,600 more are scheduled to be mailed next week. Smiles grace the employees’ faces like laughing gas is pumped through the air-conditioning ducts. The talk is palpable to a university seeped in tradition, ready for another winning year.

The fervor is high because there is a feeling of anticipation. It’s centered around one two-syllable word, not before uttered within the athletic department until Dr. Larry Teis took over in 2004 — progress.

Before Teis gained control, even though the End Zone Complex was built, it was one step forward, two steps back. Athletically, the programs were advancing, but academically, Texas State was collected numerous violations.

While the football team emerged on to the national radar with its 2005 season, the men’s basketball team crumpled while Greg LaFluer was in charge. Former head coach Dennis Nutt drove the program into the ground. The Bobcats’ wins dropped, as did their grades.

So Teis came in and immediately went to work. He allowed Nutt one more season, then went on the prowl for a new coach. He hired Doug Davalos and said the two saw eye-to-eye at the start. Both knew what needed to be done.

“We let the men's basketball team slide too far,” Teis said. “When I hired Coach Davalos, we had a mutual understanding of had to be changed. We’ve quadrupled our win total, but most importantly, we cleaned up the academics.”

As he cleaned up the academic mess, Teis looked toward the future like a progressive visionary. He knew the department need more money to do what they wanted, so he teamed with Denise M. Trauth, university president, to push the issue.

Slowly, the operating budget for the athletic department rose. In 2004, Teis’ first year as Director of Athletics, the budget was $8.3 million. The next year, they had $8.7 million, the following, $9.9 million and in 2007, $10.4 million. The budget for 2008 is $11.2 million.

“We’ve been able to add $5 million to the budget since I arrived, so we are making things happen,” Teis said. “We are looking at a projected budget of $13 million in 2009. We know what we need to do to make the next move and we’re putting the pieces in order.”

The pieces are beginning to fall in place for the next move — a trip into the Football Bowl Subdivision. Texas State added brand new scoreboards to the baseball, football and softball fields, as well as a jumbotron inside Strahan Coliseum.

If the school is to move into the FBS, other improvements need to be made and Teis is working toward rectifying those issues. Demolition of the baseball and softball complexes begins in August and by February, the fields should be presentable to the public and playable.

Should Texas State move up in five years, it needs a collective idea of where it wants to go. Not necessarily the conference in which it ends up, but from what team to model its move. For every Marshall, there is a Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas, wallowing in the cellar.

“You need to pick out things you see with every team you want to follow,” Teis said. “But, I really don’t know if we want to model ourselves after somebody from the past, since times have changed. We just want to get ourselves in a position to look like a University of Houston, a UTEP. I say look like because they are state schools and that's what our budgets will look like. We want to be able to compete in that arena.”

Under his watch, not only have budgets increased, but so have charitable donations. Most recently, Jerry and Linda Field gave Texas State $100,000 to go toward “The Drive.” Only three months removed from the single-largest donation in the history of the athletic department, Darren B. Casey’s $1 million gift.

Teis knows the importance of collecting these donations as Texas State needs as much help as it can get with the upcoming move. He’s not a stranger to success, as he was named 2005-06 General Sports TURF Systems AD of the Year Division I-AA West Region winner.

“We are going to do our part,” Teis said. “We need others to help us do the same. Us doing our part is winning and getting people in the stands and letting others see it. We need people to come at the start and help us move to that level. There are schools right now that don’t win, but still sell out their stadium. We just need a passion and a belief in it to keep moving forward.”

Teis believes in progress, do you?

Click HERE for story - San Marcos Record-Sentinel

Edited July 28, 2008 by ADLER

emmitt01 · July 28, 2008

Isn't it telling that they mention North Texas (a school with an enrollment of over 30,000) as one of those that they don't want to be like, one that is "willowing in the cellar."

Gee Dr. Bataille, I wonder why that is.

NT80 · July 28, 2008

Should Texas State move up in five years, it needs a collective idea of where it wants to go. Not necessarily the conference in which it ends up, but from what team to model its move. For every Marshall, there is a Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas, willowing in the cellar.

Not exactly a compliment. :no:

Edited July 28, 2008 by NT80

ADLER · July 28, 2008

Isn't it telling that they mention North Texas (a school with an enrollment of over 30,000) as one of those that they don't want to be like, one that is "wallowing in the cellar."
Gee Dr. Bataille, I wonder why that is.

That is exactly what I have been trying to illustrate for people. But they keep telling me that "We're going to keep the athletics fee incredibly low, but we intend to scrape enough together to start paying for a stadium".

Meanwhile Athletic Directors at other schools are talking about their intentions to "kick your ass and then leave you behind". Sure that's paraphrasing, but's it's exactly what he meant by not wanting to be like the those perpetually "wallowing in the cellar."

OK, North Texas is THE example of "wallowing in the cellar". The example of what NOT to do.

Who is prepared to meet this challenge?

Does the Student Government at North Texas enjoy "wallowing"? With what is that word usually associated?

VideoEagle · July 28, 2008

I would guess that would be two "NO" votes if Texas State tried to get into the Sunbelt. Certainly not be best way to start out.

Quoner · July 28, 2008

Why would Teis take a shot at RV? They should be good buddies from their time at TCU together. How odd?

LongJim · July 28, 2008

Why would Teis take a shot at RV? They should be good buddies from their time at TCU together. How odd?

Looks like the author made the observation--not Teis. Although I agree wholeheartedly with the article, Teis is not throwing UNT under the bus in this article.

Edited July 28, 2008 by LongJim

Green Mean · July 28, 2008

Why would Teis take a shot at RV? They should be good buddies from their time at TCU together. How odd?

Maybe RV himself told Teis that North Texas is willowing in the cellar.

ADLER · July 28, 2008

In a referendum held Feb. 12 and 13, Texas State students voted to increase their athletics fee by $10 per semester credit hour in $2 per year increments over five years. The increased fee will be $20 per semester credit hour in 2013
“I am very proud of our students for their support of this initiative,” said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth. “The Associated Student Government did an excellent job of promoting this measure and we are thankful for that organization’s effort and their pride in the university.”
The five-year increase in the student athletic fee will eventually double the fall 2008 fee of $10 per semester credit hour. By 2013, students will be paying more than $10 million a year to support athletics.
Reagan Pugh, president of Texas State’s Associated Student Government, said, “While it might seem that we voted on an athletic fee increase, what we really did was make one more step in the direction of bettering our university as a whole."

"We just want to get ourselves in a position to look like a University of Houston, a UTEP. I say look like because they are state schools and that's what our budgets will look like" said Larry Teis, Texas State director of athletics. “We know what needs to be done, and now it is time to take the next steps."
"We want to be able to compete. For every Marshall, there is a Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas, wallowing in the cellar."

I think the message certainly becomes clearer when excerpts from the two articles are placed together.

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

Does somebody need to drive up from San Marcos and start slapping Gretchen Bataille, Rick Villarreal, and Jeff Kline with a cold fish before they will accept the challenge?

filmerj · July 28, 2008

There are somedays when I am convinced we will be at the bottom of he cellar forever. I guess this is how it starts, I want to be proud of My University and Athletics program, but it's starting to make me think twice about where my money is going. I think I know why donorship is so low. Hm.. Just Sad... But I will Keep trucking and keep supporting the University. I just wish the changes would come already.

KRAM1 · July 28, 2008

Sad to be mentioned in this way.....BUT, the Mean Green faithful cannot stop supporting the program because someone points out the obvious "hole" in UNT's athletic funding program. Student Fees need to rise....it's just a fact...the sooner the better. I, for one, think Dr. B (she who must be obeyed) is well aware of this situation and is already "working on it". Remember, the stadium will be built by 2010...count on it!

DallasGreen · July 28, 2008

There are somedays when I am convinced we will be at the bottom of he cellar forever. I guess this is how it starts, I want to be proud of My University and Athletics program, but it's starting to make me think twice about where my money is going. I think I know why donorship is so low. Hm.. Just Sad... But I will Keep trucking and keep supporting the University. I just wish the changes would come already.

For change to come, you must have leadership and think outside the box. Your program can not be dictated by faculty, who support nothing but more pay for them for less hours taught, and 18 to 21 year old students to whom a long term plan is next weekend's party. This issue and the magnitude of any increase will say a lot about our President. If she supports a watered down version and continues to sit on the sidelines content to be "the Cheapest instead of the Best" all this graduate research university, national recognition,etc. is just so much hot air. WITHOUT A COMPETITIVE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AND THE BUDGET TO OPERATE IT-- YOU ARE JUST A BIG ENROLLMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND NOTHING MORE-- UNT WILL PERPETUATE THIS PERCEPTION UNTIL LEADERSHIP SAYS WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE !!!

KRAM1 · July 28, 2008

YOU GO DALLAS GREEN!

DeepGreen · July 28, 2008

Maybe UNT should use Texas State as a model ( I can't believe I just typed that :blink: ) for increasing student fees to support athletics. Students should vote this fall on the same fee structure as Texas State, not some watered down fee that will only keep us above the water line for a few years. If it passes, great! If it fails, then I say North Texas does not want to compete in the FBS arena and should just give it up. I'll go further and say we should eliminate football alltogether (can't believe I typed that too :blink: ). Sorry guys, but when the writer says, "We want to be able to compete. For every Marshall, there is a Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas, wallowing in the cellar", it makes me realize NT has been at this thing since 1995 and we are still wallowing. I got all over Scotty several years ago for making the same statements that I am making now. North Texas needs to sh!t or get off the pot!

Let the students vote on increasing the fees so we can move on. What did Lee Iacocca once say as head of Chrysler, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way". If leadership can't move this university to bigger and better things, I say let Texas State, UTSA, and Lamar take up the cause.

What a sham our University can't see the forest for the trees. Makes me sick.

Edited July 28, 2008 by DeepGreen

ADLER · July 28, 2008

Sad to be mentioned in this way.....BUT, the Mean Green faithful cannot stop supporting the program because someone points out the obvious "hole" in UNT's athletic funding program.

Unfortunately the hole in the ship needs to be fixed first. For decades North Texas has seen very few bail water and the overwhelming majority bail out. Asking what few remain to bail faster hasn't made any progress.

I, for one, think Dr. B (she who must be obeyed) is well aware of this situation and is already "working on it".

Hopefully. This year a wake-up coffee was served when the Dallas Morning News ran the story that North Texas had a total of ZERO points in this years Director's Cup standings which compares how well all 300 Division 1 schools compete on a national level.

And if that didn't get her attention, then certainly the cold herring with which Texas State just slapped her should have done the trick.

Remember, the stadium will be built by 2010...count on it!

But even if built by 2010 a new stadium is not the panacea, it's just masking a symptom of a much larger problem. Has the "Fabulous' Super Pit been able to keep North Texas Basketball from only having 5 seasons of winning records against Division 1 teams in the last 25 years?

There has to be a real commitment along with the facility improvements. Otherwise you're just flushing the money away.

Oh, and then North Texas can blame the 'bad' alumni, the 'bad' fans, and the 'bad' community support.

GrandGreen · July 28, 2008

NT has a lot of issues that have been discussed ad nauseum on this board, and I guess this article about TSU stirs the pot. This is the same Texas State that currently has to ask for donations to equip its teams and has yet to even scratch the surface in college athletics. NT is used as an example of futility because NT is losing; if this article were written five years ago, the references would have been entirely different.

NT IMO is at a crossroads in college athletics, it can move forward and compete or remain at the bottom tier of college sports. All these football upgrades planned or in progress at other schools can only provide impetus to NT. I wish all these universities well with their plans, but I don't envy many. FAU and FIU who seem to have everything but fans, TSU who wants to be a BC team but must compete with the Juggernaut of juggernauts next door, Lamar who has once dropped football and now is scrambling to get back to the Southland level.

ADLER · July 28, 2008

NT has a lot of issues that have been discussed ad nauseum on this board, and I guess this article about TSU stirs the pot. This is the same Texas State that currently has to ask for donations to equip its teams and has yet to even scratch the surface in college athletics. NT is used as an example of futility because NT is losing; if this article were written five years ago, the references would have been entirely different.
NT IMO is at a crossroads in college athletics, it can move forward and compete or remain at the bottom tier of college sports. All these football upgrades planned or in progress at other schools can only provide impetus to NT. I wish all these universities well with their plans, but I don't envy many. FAU and FIU who seem to have everything but fans, TSU who wants to be a BC team but must compete with the Juggernaut of juggernauts next door, Lamar who has once dropped football and now is scrambling to get back to the Southland level.

You can mock their commitment to improve themselves.

But many people did the same to Florida State, Eastern Carolina, Central Florida, and South Florida who did the same thing.

Where has North Texas gotten by not making a commitment? Are North Texas graduates that much wealthier because they didn't pay a competitive athletics fee?

GrandGreen · July 28, 2008

You can mock their commitment to improve themselves.
But many people did the same to Florida State, Eastern Carolina, Central Florida, and South Florida who did the same thing.
Where has North Texas gotten by not making a commitment? Are North Texas graduates that much wealthier because they didn't pay a competitive athletics fee?

I guess it's mocking an institution to make reference to the fact that their athletic department has problems funding current operations while planning on much bigger things. Never mind the article cited NT as an example of something that TSU does not want to be. I guess you read between the lines to come up with your synopsis of that post as somehow being against improvement for NT athletics and a student fee increase.

Were you can rest your Houdini like perception, I will state my position on funding for the stadium. If NT cannot raise at least a large percentage of the construction cost for a new stadium from outside sources such as sponsorships and donations, than it should not be build. NT, as most know, is operating athletics at a huge deficit in most years. Yes, it is reported as balanced or even a surplus but this is after the transfer of funds usually on the order of $4m from other university sources. This generally ties with the numbers you have provided. My assumption is because this amount of approximately $120 per student is depicted as coming from general institutional funds it does not include the title IX assessment of approximately another $120 a year. Thus students are already averaging about $240 a year to athletics. This IMO is not an unreasonable amount and can be raised, but the question is by how much and what effect an increased dedicated athletic fee would have on the withdrawal of general funds. For example, would raising the athletic fee only reduce the amount transferred from general funds, changing nothing to the bottom line athletic funding.

To my mind, there is an equatable limit to the portion of student financing of the athletic function. I am aware of and agree there is a perception value that a successful athletic program benefits all graduates of an university. However, I do think there has to be a reasonable more tangible basis to fees. Medical, Library, Recreation facilities, parking, etc. are based to a large degree on the estimated value to the average student not just the cost of providing those services. When it gets to a point that the cost of athletic support per student is more than outsider ticket prices to the events, then it is very difficult to support those fees. At the current contribution rates, students are getting close to the cost of good season tickets to both football and basketball games.

It appears that an upper limit of a annual maximum increase of about $120 per student would be equable, which gets close to the original RV proposal that was voted down. Any amount significantly above this in fees, in my view would be very difficult to pass and defend. Assuming a $60m stadium and outside funding of $30M (donations, naming, etc.) the new fees should just about pay the debt service. The downside is that student fee funding is being used for a stadium and not to directly upgrade other athletic functions.

UNTflyer · July 28, 2008

NT, as most know, is operating athletics at a huge deficit in most years. Yes, it is reported as balanced or even a surplus but this is after the transfer of funds usually on the order of $4m from other university sources. This generally ties with the numbers you have provided. My assumption is because this amount of approximately $120 per student is depicted as coming from general institutional funds it does not include the title IX assessment of approximately another $120 a year. Thus students are already averaging about $240 a year to athletics.

I'd really like to know where you get this information, because I think it is completely bogus.

A little over $4 million comes from student fees at $4 an hour.

$2.6 million come from contributions (MGC).

$1.2 million comes from body bag games

$1.2 million comes from the NCAA/Sun Belt

A little less than a million comes from concessions, sponsorships, etc.

Where is this $4 million you claim comes from other student fees???? This is EXACTLY the kind of disinformation that will kill any student referendum. So what is your source that students pay $240 a year in athletics, cause we sure as hell don't have an extra $4 million laying around anywhere.

Chrisattsu · July 28, 2008

To be fair,

Many of the folks in San Marcos consider this to be a fluff piece on Larry Teis.

to quote some of our fans-

Well that's as close to a public fellating as you can get without going to jail or ending up on youtube.

Then again others have said,

When you look at the list, and the timeline, LT has been quite effective with the limited resources he was handed.

We have had fans calling for Dr. Teis' removal for the past few years, but if you what has happened since he took over you see the following good things--

1. A million dollar donation to the department

2. $100K donation for season tickets

3. Work starting on the new BB/SB complex in three weeks

4. Increase in Athletic fees/revenue

5. Campaign to move up to FBS in full swing

6. Brand new defensive coaches (our achilles heel last year), which goes back to hiring Wright, which goes back to Teis.

7. Competent hire in our Basketball coach three years ago

8. New scoreboards in the football, Basketball, and now Baseball and Softball complexes

http://www.bobcatfans.com/forums/viewtopic...asc&start=0

Overall, I do not think Texas State has any problems with North Texas. We face many of the same problems you do, one of which is apathetic fans and alumni (although that is changing).

Edited July 28, 2008 by Chrisattsu

Quoner · July 28, 2008

To be fair,
Many of the folks in San Marcos consider this to be a fluff piece on Larry Teis.
to quote some of our fans-
Then again others have said,
We have had fans calling for Dr. Teis' removal for the past few years, but if you what has happened since he took over you see the following good things--
1. A million dollar donation to the department
2. $100K donation for season tickets
3. Work starting on the new BB/SB complex in three weeks
4. Increase in Athletic fees/revenue
5. Campaign to move up to FBS in full swing
6. Brand new defensive coaches (our achilles heel last year), which goes back to hiring Wright, which goes back to Teis.
7. Competent hire in our Basketball coach three years ago
8. New scoreboards in the football, Basketball, and now Baseball and Softball complexes
http://www.bobcatfans.com/forums/viewtopic...asc&start=0
Overall, I do not think Texas State has any problems with North Texas. We face many of the same problems you do, one of which is apathetic fans and alumni (although that is changing).

Yeah - but how's the Bobcat Club director? Hot?

Legend500 · July 28, 2008

Warning - Sarcasm included!

I think the real measure of futility would be of a titanic, profound sort.

I'm talking the third largest school in a huge state that's been playing football practically since before its largest rivals and competitors in a given area even existed as colleges but yet is still behind the curve. Or maybe a school that size also renowned for its fine & liberal arts programs that can get sidelined from being a tier 1 school because of some imaginary 100 million dollar research requirement where, for some reason, only the hard sciences qualify. Any administration or school so incompetent at self-promotion deserves to have the same administration, alumni and donors drug out into the street and.... severely lectured.

You know who I'm talking about.

So how to fix it?

1. Get a Board willing to shove fee increases down the student's throats (they can pay for SMU or go to Tech if they don't like it).

2. Get a Board willing to threaten and cajole the state into tier one status.

3. Pay off, donate to, influence and outright force friendly or unfriendly legislators to assist us.

4. Get an administration willing to be clear about our university's benefits and historical strengths (the separate Journalism program is a great step, the Engineering program not so).

5. Get an administration interested in supporting and building up the main campus - without unnecessary distracting forays into social engineering by building a new campus.

6. Get alumni support. With notable exceptions of the people on this board, the alumni has now failed to support this university's potential (mainly in sports - alumni giving to academic programs are pretty good) for 118 years.

7. Resurrect the Domingo Garcia early-2000s plan to realign the university systems into some sort of rational regional set-up. UTA, UTD, UT-Tyler and TAMU-Commerce should rationally be UNTA, UNTR, UNTT and UNTC. You can get Tech on this plan by making UTPB, UTEP and West TAMU into TTUPB, TTUEP & TTUW. Houston by making SFA and SHSU into UHN and UHH. Texas and TAMU probably wouldn't mind this if we let them keep the funds they get now to run those schools in their budget - giving them more money to focus on their traditional campuses. It would be near impossible to do, but if UNT managed to talk or cajole even one of the other systems into supporting this - we could get somewhere. UNT, Texas Tech and Houston should not have to compete with out-of-area UT-Wherevers, and all three would probably be interested in protecting themselves through such a re-organization.

We must get tough - between our DFW delegation and any allies we could get from the non-UT/TAMU delegations (Houston and Lubbock) we need to start shoving fee increases and reorganizations down the State's throat both to improve our football and our academic programs. If not, UTEP, UTD and UTSA are the future - not UNT,TTU or UH.

Chrisattsu · July 28, 2008

Yeah - but how's the Bobcat Club director? Hot?

Not to my taste, but to each their own.

http://txstatebobcats.cstv.com/ot/bobcat-club-staff.html

Quoner · July 28, 2008

Not to my taste, but to each their own.
http://txstatebobcats.cstv.com/ot/bobcat-club-staff.html

Ha - I know Chris Park. Good times.

The other girl looks new.

ADLER · July 28, 2008

Overall, I do not think Texas State has any problems with North Texas.

I too don't think Texas State has any problems with North Texas althouth I do believe they use UNT as a model of ineptitude.

We face many of the same problems you do, one of which is apathetic fans and alumni (although that is changing).

It's not changing at Texas State by sheer luck, an aggressive agenda from the very top is making change happen. I wish the same could be said for North Texas.

Here is a link to the Texas State University: Poised For Greatness The Rising Star of Texas Bobcat Club fundraising video.