For the sake of discussion, I'm focusing on the top 2 revenue generating sports - football and men's basketball. The Olympic sports are a nice to have as far as I'm concerned but they don't have enough top line potential to exhaust major energy on, IMHKO. Sorry if that's offensive but it's just me being real.
Let's define "Next Level" first - what are the realistic and/or stretch goals?
1. Football - Finish Top 3 in the conference standings every other year? 7+ wins every year, 9+ wins every other year? 10+ wins, Big 10 title and BCS bowl game every 7-10 years?
2. Basketball - Finish Top 3 in the conference standings every other year? Finish Top 5 in the conference standings every year? Big 10 Title every 3-5 years? NCAA Tournament every year? Sweet 16 every other year? Elite Eight every 3-5 years? Final Four every 5-10 years? Title game every 20 years? Banner once every 30 years?
What has to change when we have not hit these next level goals for too long?
1. University President and Trustees who believe in radically improving the top line revenue stream from our two majors?
2. Hiring a Chief Revenue Officer for Purdue Athletics who can rally our top Purdue alums/fans to make the fundraising investments that truly change the game (Phil Knight at Oregon), improve the winning percentages, and drive ticket sales through the roof
3. Hiring the difference maker head coaches (look at MSU with Dantonio and Izzo) who don't use the excuses that they have too much competition in state or play in a cold weather, non-desirable location
4. Lighten up somewhat on the academic qualifications and standards for student-athletes in football, maybe basketball too? (yes I went there, flame away)
Let's define "Next Level" first - what are the realistic and/or stretch goals?
1. Football - Finish Top 3 in the conference standings every other year? 7+ wins every year, 9+ wins every other year? 10+ wins, Big 10 title and BCS bowl game every 7-10 years?
2. Basketball - Finish Top 3 in the conference standings every other year? Finish Top 5 in the conference standings every year? Big 10 Title every 3-5 years? NCAA Tournament every year? Sweet 16 every other year? Elite Eight every 3-5 years? Final Four every 5-10 years? Title game every 20 years? Banner once every 30 years?
What has to change when we have not hit these next level goals for too long?
1. University President and Trustees who believe in radically improving the top line revenue stream from our two majors?
2. Hiring a Chief Revenue Officer for Purdue Athletics who can rally our top Purdue alums/fans to make the fundraising investments that truly change the game (Phil Knight at Oregon), improve the winning percentages, and drive ticket sales through the roof
3. Hiring the difference maker head coaches (look at MSU with Dantonio and Izzo) who don't use the excuses that they have too much competition in state or play in a cold weather, non-desirable location
4. Lighten up somewhat on the academic qualifications and standards for student-athletes in football, maybe basketball too? (yes I went there, flame away)
