Tommy Bell monthly Newsletter — July Edition
07/31/2017 | 5:00:00 | General
Greetings, Saluki Nation!
If you were out driving around Carbondale early yesterday morning, you might have seen the Paw Painting Crew, a group of volunteers who re-painted the Saluki paws on the streets and highways. They'll be back out again next Sunday. This is the 10th anniversary of the debut of the paws on our roads in town. A special "thank you" goes out to the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, Murdale True Value, ET Simonds, and our own Athletics volunteers. If you are a Carbondale resident and would like to support this cause, the paws cost $100 and can be purchased through the Chamber.
I have some exciting news to pass along about a brand-new initiative we've started called "Brown Dawg's Kids Club." We're eager to get reach out to the next generation of Salukis, so we're offering free membership in the club! The first 500 members who sign up will receive a free t-shirt. Other benefits include a Kids Club laminate membership pass, which will automatically enter your child into a drawing to be the Kid Captain of the Game at a Saluki football or men's basketball game. Kids Club members will also be invited onto the field on Nov. 4 to help line the pregame tunnel. Here's a complete list of perks. You can sign up for the club and pick up your freebies at Fanfest (Aug. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Saluki Stadium), at the first home football game, or at any of our home events throughout the year. A special thanks to 710 and Southern Illinois Healthcare for sponsoring the club.
The fall seasons are fast approaching with football starting practice at the end of the week. We have good season tickets still available, including an outstanding bargain when you buy a Family Pack of five tickets for $50 apiece. If you can't make it to every game, we have a flexible mini-plan of three games for $55. When you consider all the fun involved on a football gameday, including pre-game activities on Saluki Row, this is a tremendous bargain for your entertainment dollar. And, yes, we will be selling beer at Saluki Stadium this year!
We are also selling the popular Paw Passes again this year, which allows you to attend all home volleyball, women's basketball and softball games for one low price of $90. That's almost 60 percent off the price you'd pay at the door. New volleyball head coach Kari Thompson has had a whirlwind couple of months since being hired in late May. She's filled out her staff, added some promising recruits, and has a solid nucleus of returnees to work with this year. The volleyball team plays its first two home matches at SIU Arena on Aug. 29 and Sept. 12.
An interesting side note about football practice. The NCAA recently passed legislation that eliminates two-a-day practices. It used to be a right of passage in football that you'd have two weeks or more of grueling, two-a-day sessions in the summer heat. As a former trainer, I applaud the NCAA's decision, which is based on research that shows the majority of concussion-related injuries take place during August. Players' health and safety is paramount, and this measure should reduce some of the wear and tear that takes place during preseason.
Now that the state of Illinois has passed a budget, we're starting to get more clarity on the financial situation in Athletics. To put it simply, we need to enhance our key external income streams. We generate about $7 million annually from gifts and donations, ticket sales, NCAA and MVC disbursements, corporate sponsorships and concessions. As our product on the field improves, and I'm convinced it will, I expect to see a significant jump in revenue. Don't wait to get on board, though. Please join the SASF and purchase tickets.
Speaking of corporate partners, Kroger in Carbondale is holding a grand-opening ceremony on Friday morning to roll out their new on-line ordering system. If you haven't visited the remodeled Kroger on Giant City Road recently, you need to check it out. The grand opening starts at 8 a.m. on Friday. I'll be there, along with other department staff, plus Grey Dawg and members of our spirit squad.
We released our basketball schedules late last week, and several fans wrote in with questions about our strength of schedule on the men's side. In a perfect world, I'd like to have a sampling of BCS programs on our schedule, including 1-2 on neutral sites, a handful of games against high-quality opponents from similar conferences, plus our traditional regional opponents that help us reduce travel expenses. Our best opportunity to play BCS opponents is at Multi-Team Events (MTEs). Coach Hinson has tried to get us into several ESPN-sponsored events the last two years, but we were turned down. We are redoubling our efforts to add quality, non-BCS opponents to our schedule. There are good teams in similar conferences (Atlantic 10, Mountain West, Colonial, Sun Belt, Mid-American) who we should target for home-and-home series. I understand the response to our non-conference schedule and appreciate those who have expressed their opinion.
With Saluki Pride,
