Fresno State Athletics
Comments From Scott Johnson Regarding Sport Cuts
 |
April 15, 2003
- Budget Shortfall Forces Changes in Fresno State Sports
Following is a transcript of comments Athletics Director Scott Johnson made this afternoon at a press conference announcing sport cuts at Fresno State:
"This is a sad day for the Fresno State athletics department and this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do when I tell you that we are discontinuing sports programs. In consultation with President Welty, I am recommending to Athletics Corporation Board the elimination of the women's swimming and diving team, the men's soccer team and the men's cross country and indoor track and field teams. This is strictly a budget decision."
"The bottom line is that as a department, we can no longer afford to fund the 20 sports we have been offering. For the last seven years, the athletics department has failed to achieve a balanced operating budget. Over that time, millions of dollars in non-operating funds were spent to cover operating expenditures. That can no longer continue."
"As you may recall we addressed this in 1998, when a sports task force was formed to evaluate closing deficits and possibly recommend sports cuts. None were cut. It was felt student fees, additional university funding and increased revenue would help. Since then, the department has suffered operating losses totaling nearly $4 million."
"As you know, we are under a statewide economic crisis and the funding for the CSU system is being reduced by over $447 million dollars for next year a lone. Tuition and fees will increase 25% for next year. The combination of the past financial problems of the athletics department and the decreases in funding for 2003-04 leave us no other choice. From the President on down, there was a commitment to do what we could to save our sports. We have exhausted every option. I wish there were other options. There aren't."
"There isn't one single reason why these sports were selected. It was a combination of things. However, I think it's important to note that our administration did not make a quick or hasty decision. There was a tremendous amount of research, thought, deliberation and discussion with a wide variety of people, including the president and the members of university cabinet. There was a lot of time consumed and volumes of information devoured to try to find another way. We tried to come up with new ways to fund programs. The funding was not out there like we'd hoped. This decision is hard and very sad because it affects so many great young people."
"A lot of different factors played into the decision. We needed to have significant cuts that were going to affect the budget. We had gender equity issues that needed to be addressed with these cuts. With the decision, also comes the announcement that we will be adding women's golf as a varsity program beginning in 2004-05. There were WAC considerations in these decisions as well."
"Last year each sports and department was asked to make cuts. In addition, administrative costs were reduced nearly $350,000. Included in those cuts, three administrators were not replaced and their duties delegated to other staff members. Only the most essential staff positions were filled. Many were filled on an interim basis by current employees."
"There was a very slim margin for error last year and we didn't meet it. Our ticket revenue came in under projection and our insurance costs rose by more than $200,000. Security costs are up since 9/11. Travel costs are also up."
"To combat those things, we held-off filling open positions during the course of the year, which helped, but our cushion to achieve a balanced budget was so small that a couple of these transaction would not let us achieve a balance. It cost us in service lost in a lot of areas."
"We are projecting a loss of $650,000 for this year. We entered the year with hopes that we would salvage a small reserve but were unable to recover from the additional incurred expenses."
"We are making these cuts for the long-term financial security of the department. We can't keep watering down sports and expect them to be competitive."
"We are making the following commitments to the affected student-athletes: If they decide to stay at Fresno State, we will fund their scholarship at its present rate through the expiration of their eligibility. They will have to maintain WAC and NCAA eligibility requirements to receive a scholarship. Our goal is for them to stay and earn their degree. If they decide to leave, we expect you and the rest of administration to assist them in pursuing competition opportunities at an another school. We need to do what we can for them."
"We expect that this difficult decision will get us on track for a stable financial future so that future generations of Bulldog student-athletes will never face this situation."
"To reach this decision, we went through a tremendous amount of work. I ordered an extensive review with a recommendation to be forward to President Welty and the Athletic Corporation Board."
"We went about 20 different categories from Academic Success to WAC implications. We also are continuing our strong commitment to gender equity and that played a significant role in our decision. An outside Title IX expert was consulted. The person who wrote the NCAA Handbook for the implementation of Title IX evaluated the recommendations. The Title IX expert agreed that this decision would stand-up to Title IX scrutiny, satisfy proportionality and insure Fresno State maintains a positive track record."
"For over three months, the athletic department executive staff has met on the budget concerns, consulted with groups and experienced individuals as well as coaches. The department and coaching staffs were been informed of the ominous budget situation."
"I can't anticipate the budget situation will get appreciably better in the near future. This will be a long process."
"I'm not going to be totally pessimistic and not overly optimistic, but making difficult decisions will get us on a faster track to recovery. Painful short-term decisions are going to have to be made in order to strengthen our long-term stability."
"I am asking my staff to begin work on a three-year plan for economic recovery, development, equity and program growth. That plan will be announced when it's completed and we will begin implementation. Our future depends on it."
"In closing, I'd like to remind everyone that this was not a hastily made decision, but one that we have taken seriously and considered as many factors as we could. We believe it's the best plan that will insure financial security for the Fresno State athletics department for years to come."