Jan. 25, 2007

On the amount of savings to the budget:
"If we were to realize all of the financial savings from scholarships immediately, the elimination of these four sports would have an annual savings of $685,000 to our operating budget (not just scholarship dollars). There are about 50 student-athletes that are freshman, sophomores or juniors that are currently on financial aid that have the opportunity to stay at Ohio and complete their undergraduate degree.

On the types of scholarships for these sports:
"They are equivalency sports."

On why these sports were chosen:
"In 2006, our department was audited by the university internal audit. That happens once every five years. In that report, it was noted that we simply did not have the available resources to continue to operate and serve the number of programs and young people we were trying to serve. In May of 2006, we also brought in a consultant and expert in Title IX and gender equity, a gentleman who spent over 20 years in the office of civil rights, to review our program. It became obvious very quickly that we were not in compliance with Title IX."

"At the same time, we were conducting our own research internally with the office of university finance to better understand the history of the financial situation of this department and also look at projections and trends for the next five years. We also assembled an advisory group to assist us in reviewing this data and information. It was made up of a trustee, a former trustee, two former student-athletes, a faculty athletic representative, a dean from Ohio University, as well as the Vice President for University Finance. With those four steps and that process, it became obvious that change was going to happen."

"After that we looked at a number of different pieces of information. We looked at the financial position of each and every program. There are six programs that you are mandated to sponsor for membership in the Mid-American Conference -- football, men's and women's basketball, softball, baseball, and volleyball. Outside of those six programs we looked at each and every program. We looked at the financial position of each program. We looked at Title IX considerations for each program. We looked at competitive success for each program. We looked at the number of institutions in our conference that were sponsoring those particular sport programs. We looked at local and regional high school participation numbers and ultimately, what we believed was in the best interest of Ohio University.

On whether the current athletics budget is enough for what wants to be accomplished:
"This is the first step in a long-term recovery plan. We are working on that plan, and we have got a ways to go to put us in a position where we need to be. We have to continue to grow our department-generated revenue, and we're going to be very aggressive in that manner. At the same time, we will be going through the university budgeting process. It is our hopes that as we move forward, we will be in a much better financial position for this department. I am confident that we will."

On the timing of the decision:
"There is never a good time to make this decision. There is never a good time. Why today? Our deficit continues to grow. We have not met our goal of compliance with Title IX. That's why today. There is not a good time to make an announcement like this."

On any projections of being out of the current financial deficit:
"This is the first step in a long-term recovery plan, and we have a lot of work to do. We've got to continue to develop that plan and put it in place. I'm confident that we can have a plan in place so by 2011 that we can operate with a balanced budget."

On what alternatives were considered:
"We looked at ultimately what it was going to require for us to operate in a manner in which we currently operate. It was apparent very quickly that, financially, that was not feasible for us giving what we learned. Based on that fact it became obvious that elimination was the option we were going to have to strongly consider. We spent numerous months looking at different options and the best way to address the issues that we faced."

On why the student-athletes were not consulted before making the decision:
"Our accumulated operating deficit has built up over the past four years. We are focused on providing our student-athletes with the academic and athletic opportunities that you came here to receive. The finances and ultimate administration of this program is delegated to the athletics administration. That's the appropriate place that it belongs."

In response to a question posed about published reports that Ohio is ranked first or second in the nation in Title IX compliance:
"That's incorrect. As I said, at this time our department has not met compliance with Title IX and has not been in compliance for some time. This decision brings us into compliance with that federal law. The information that you're referring to was published in the Chronicle of Higher Education a number of years ago, and it discussed the percent of our athletics budget that was dedicated and devoted to women's athletics. That ranked us second in the country. That is not compliance with the federal law. When I arrived at Ohio University, I had read that article. I expected that we would be in compliance with Title IX. When I arrived and saw the facts and the situation, I knew there were issues which prompted us to bring in an outside expert and consultant to review our program."

On utilizing roster-size management techniques to also help Title IX compliance:
"Yes, we will implement an existing roster management system that we visited with our head coaches about this morning. Through these cuts, as well as the roster management program, we will be in compliance with Title IX."

On whether or not any other programs will be cut:
"We now sponsor 16 athletic programs. You are required to sponsor 16 athletic program to be Division I-A. That's where we are, so no, there will be no further cuts."

On whether other programs going to have to cut their budget:
"I'm committed to growing this athletics program and this athletics budget."

On Track & Field Head Coach Clay Calkins and Swimming & Diving Head Coach Greg Werner:
"I've asked Coach Calkins and his staff and Coach Werner and his staff to remain as our head coaches and their staffs as assistant coaches of our track and swimming programs. We talked about equality issues right? It's important to note that our men's and women's track & field program and our men's and women's swimming & diving program have each had three full-time coaches. Per NCAA rules, you're permitted to have as many as six coaches in each of those sports. So you could have three coaches for your women's track program and you could have three coaches for your men's track program. Our student-athlete to coach ratio has not been at the level that is permissible by the NCAA or at the level that is believed to provide the highest quality of experience for the young people in your program. So, I've asked them to remain on as our coaches and at their current salary level."

On how incoming student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to compete in 2007-08 will be handled:
"If a young person has signed a National Letter of Intent with Ohio University, we are prepared to honor that binding agreement."

On the amount of the financial deficit:
"At the end of this fiscal year, it is projected to be over $4 million."

On the current operating budget of the athletic department:
"This year our annual operating budget is $14.7 million, operating 20 sports and serving over 600 student-athletes."