By Steven J. Gaither
The budget woes of the Florida A&M athletic department has been widely publicized for a while now, but a new report contains some interesting information. A report by Collegiate Consulting recommends that FAMU consider leaving the MEAC and joining the SWAC.
“On average, the report said, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schools are 700 miles from Tallahassee compared to the average of 518 miles for schools in the SWAC.
Further illustrating its point, the consulting group noted the difference in budgets between the 10-team SWAC programs and the 11 schools in the MEAC.
SWAC programs average an athletic budget of $6.96 million, compared to the average of $8.6 in the MEAC.
FAMU’s athletic budget at the time the report was being prepared was $11 million.”
The SWAC recommendation is just one of several that were made. The others include:
• Commence conversation with Division I conference such as the Southwestern Athletic Conference and other peer institutions.
• • Restructure the athletic organization to be more efficient and effective.
• Change marketing title to Associate Athletic Director for External Relations.
• Sports information deport reports to marking department.
• House grounds and transportation staff report to the senior-most maintenance position
• Volleyball operation report to Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing.
• Appoint head athletic advisor.
• Hire volleyball graduate assistant, transitioning to full-time assistant coach within three years
• Hire softball graduate assistant.
• Hire sports information graduate assistant, transitioning to full-time assistant sports information director in three years.
• Hire compliance coordinator.
• Hire athletic advisor graduate assistant.
Roughly a decade ago, FAMU attempted to join the FBS (then known as Division I-A). Now, this report says being in the MEAC is too expensive for the program.
Sound off: Should FAMU explore a move to the SWAC?