Ask the AD -- April Edition
04/27/2007 | 12:00:00 | General
April 27, 2007
 "As long as I feel there is work to be done, that can be done, I will definitely stay motivated to be a Saluki as long as they will have me. I don't get hung up on size of schools and salaries, and at 39, I am relatively young in the business. Also, I still have a lot to learn as a first time AD. Also, I love a challenge, and with some naysayers about Saluki Way, I would really love to show everyone that it CAN and WILL be done."  | |
E-Mail a question to Mario Moccia
In the past, there have been numerous home games with early evening kick-offs. This year there is only one. Any particular reason for this?
The Thursday home opener obviously needs to be played at night, but the Homecoming and Parents Weekend games have traditionally been day games. With only five home games this year, that leaves just two other opportunities. I prefer an earlier start at the end of the year, so that when the sun sets, the fans aren't freezing. We want to take the weather out of the equation as much as possible. Another factors in setting game times is the possibility of television exposure. Night games are fine with me, but there are a number of factors that come into play when game times are determined.
What's your feeling on offering a major beer distributor to sell at our football as well as basketball games to create a major source of revenue that other schools have done?
At the present time, the University hasn't explored this possibility for a number of reasons. But I remain hopeful we will have a discussion about this again soon, as this can be a very big source of revenue, and many other universities have partnerships with beer companies.
What are the future plans for other successful SIU sports programs such as softball and swimming?
As of right now, I believe both coaches (Blaylock and Walker) are happy with their facilities and nothing new is presently being discussed. I always ask our coaches if there is anything more they need to be successful, and if they do need anything, it is our job to go out and obtain it.
The geographic location of Memphis would be perfect for competition in the MVC. Is there any possibility that Memphis would leave Conference USA and join the MVC?
With the University of Memphis participating in Division I football, I don't think they would ever leave their conference. As for just leaving Conference USA in the sport of men's basketball, I don't believe that would happen, either. I would like to play more contests in all sports in Memphis, as it is a great city.
Have we discussed a standing home/home basketball contract with Butler following 2008?
We have not at the present time, but we could. It is a close trip, and Indianapolis is a good city, and we do recruit there. Now that they have a new coach, we might discuss this possibility since our series with Western Kentucky, Murray State, Indiana and St. Mary's will be ending.
With the popularity that the Sweet 16 game brought nationally, could a rematch game with Kansas be possible given the story line that SIU could want revenge for the game?
I don't think KU will ever play us unless it is a "buy" game in Lawrence, Kansas. I, like every other Saluki fan, would like to see that match-up though!
I was reading the season ticket prices will go up for this coming season. The prices also increased last season. Do you know how much the increase will be?
Season ticket prices will increase next year for men's basketball, mainly due to the fact that we will have more home games than last year. We had 15 games last year, and this year it could be between 16 and 19. When I got here, there was a standard five-year increase plan on the books due to Saluki Way, but we are re-evaluating this. I'd like to price the tickets based on number and quality of games rather than a mandatory increase. As you can see, a home slate which includes Indiana, St. Mary's, Butler, Western Kentucky and Bracket Busters, as well as teams like Wichita Stat and Creighton -- this has the potential to be one of the best in a long time, which would seem to deserve an increased price. We will be determining the price once the final schedule is put together.
Would it be possible for honored guests at our home basketball games to be seated in chair seats rather than bleachers (i.e. Hall of Fame, former champion teams, etc.). I feel sorry for these people, some of who are elderly, and all who are usually dressed in suits and more formal attire to be crammed into bleacher seating.
I agree with you 100 percent, but at the present time, all chairback tickets are sold to season-ticket holders. When the renovations occur, we will make sure we have room to accommodate folks for special events. We will discuss some alternate possibilities for the short term, but as you know, there are not too many options in the arena.
Is there any chance of SIU moving up to Division I-A (Bowl Division) for Football in the foreseeable future? Any long range plan?
I don't believe this is on anyone's radar in the immediate future. The costs would be so exorbitant that the University would have to make a financial commitment to assist us, and I don't think that climate is favorable right now. In addition to the extra money needed for travel and scholarships (football would need another 22), we would also need to add at least 22 women's scholarships, which means creation of more women's sports or a reduction in current men's sports, which I am not prepared to do. Also, we would need a conference to compete in.
When you think that sketches of the facilities will be released to the general public?
I am hopeful within 60 to 90 days we should have something on paper. The current plan is in the design phase and will be shown to the upper administration and then vetted by several stakeholder groups (SASF donors, etc.).
As an alum and marketing guy, I've been disappointed in the current Saluki logo. The maroon and black dog profile just doesn't contrast and "pop" enough. It didn't look good on CBS. Any hope for a new rendering?
I just met with Phoenix Design Works, which produced the current logo and also the "bullet" verbiage "SIU" and "Salukis" that we use. I had asked them to play around with the mark to see what an animated Saluki would look like. Tweaking the current logo, while important, takes a bit of a back seat to the fundraising and revenue generation I must focus on this summer and fall. It is critical that I am out raising funds for Saluki Way and the SASF and visiting out-of-state alumni. With that said, I asked them in the short term to look at a kids' caricature of the Saluki, which is currently missing from our family of marks. This is primarily to put on children's clothing items for merchandise sales and for use when we do create a Saluki Kids Club down the road. I'd also like to get a new version of Brown and Gray Dog and model it after a more animated version. These concepts usually involve a ton of committees, but I am going to see if the process could be streamlined.
Does the current plan for Saluki Way eliminate the option of I-A football for the foreseeable future due to the limited seating capacity of the proposed stadium?
It will not. The stadium will be modular and will allow for additional seating to installed if the decision to go I-A (or should I say Football Bowl Subdivision) happens in the future.
The SASF brochure states that points are accumulated and will be used to distribute NCAA tickets, but I don't know a single donor who knows how many points they have? Do you know?
Give this person a prize for asking the question that has most frustrated me in my short time here. The answer is no, donors currently don't know their point total; yes, they will soon; and no, it isn't that hard. We are working with the University Foundation, our ticketing software company and our athletic development and ticketing staff to work this all out. I am very hopeful that going into the football season, each and every donor to the SASF will know their total. This is one of the big "to do list" items that Associate AD Chet Savage is working on.
Could we repaint the seat lines in the arena for 2007-size hips? This would accomplish two things: more comfortable seating and more ticket sales for each game. I have wondered many times this season why there were not sell out crowds at each ballgame. I truly believe it is because of the uncomfortable seating in the upper level.
We have discussed this and are going to have more analysis before we make a final decision. This would obviously reduce the capacity but quite frankly if there ever really was 9,600+ inside the arena, many would have to stand, as I am glad you recognize that the nation has gotten a little plumper in the last almost 50 years since those bleachers were built. I have taken all the architects and anyone whoever visits me and have them all sit around me in the upper deck just to show them the uncomfortable nature of the bleachers when there is a big crowd.
Why do we play Division II games at the beginning of the year (football)?
Just like any other team, when you begin the season, you want to test the new players and work all the wrinkles out. Playing a D-II opponent allows you to do this rather than playing an equal opponent right off the bat. Now, with saying this, anyone can lose to anyone on a given day. I assume that no one in Indiana really thought that we could beat them with 22 less scholarships and being on the road, but it can happen. I would like to see if we could get a SEMO or Murray State to start the year, as that would add a little bit of regional flair. We have had some beginning discussions on these topics.
Has SIUC ever considered a women's soccer program? Would it be feasible?
If we ever did add a sport, that would be the one to add. Most other MVC members have women's soccer, and it is played very competitively in St. Louis and Chicago, so recruiting would be a natural. The architects are looking at what cost and ramifications it would be to make the surface in the new football stadium compatible for a soccer pitch. If this could be done with not much added to the financial aspect of the project, we would strongly consider this, as we are going to build this for the future not just the present. I feel soccer is definitely going to be the future for a long time to come.
What are your plans? As we get moving on Saluki Way and the funding and expenditure of significant monies, I cannot help but be curious as to your plans. Everyone knows that SIU will not likely be a final stopping place for young Directors of Athletics.
I certainly get asked this question a lot, and I still don't have drapes in my current home, so I hope I am here for a while. I came to SIU in August with a three-year contract and certainly intend to honor that, but I hope I am around a lot longer than that. I was at the University of New Mexico for almost five years, and then Southwest Texas State for almost two, and then Mizzou for almost eight years. The only reason I left Mizzou was for a GREAT opportunity in SIU, and that I felt I couldn't make much more of an impact with my current duties at Mizzou. As long as I feel there is work to be done, that can be done, I will definitely stay motivated to be a Saluki as long as they will have me. I don't get hung up on size of schools and salaries, and at 39, I am relatively young in the business. Also, I still have a lot to learn as a first time AD. Also, I love a challenge, and with some naysayers about Saluki Way, I would really love to show everyone that it CAN and WILL be done.
I remember reading somewhere that even though the Carbondale campus is referred to as SIUC (instead of just SIU), the athletic department still gets to refer to sports teams as "SIU". Is this going to change with SIU-Edwardsville moving to Division I?
Let's hope I don't get in trouble with this one. I think all of us in the Department of Athletics are comfortable with us being called SIU. When SIUE does go to Division I, we will have to get with ESPN and the other national networks so they will make sure that we are referred to as WE want to be referred to, on the ticker crawls. I went through this same thing when Southwest Missouri State University changed their name to Missouri State and knew enough folks at ESPN to make sure we stayed on top of this.
