Panel discusses athletic, academic balance

In a department that is trying to balance both winning athletics and success in the classroom, a panel of IU athletics administrators -- both student and professional -- found out there are no simple answers.\nIU football coach Terry Hoeppner knew only one way to describe the future of the Athletics Department.\n"We're all in this together," he said.\nThe topic that garnered the most attention was the difficult task the Athletics Department faces in trying to pay equal attention to both athletics and academics.\nThe panel, including Hoeppner, Faculty Athletics Representative Bruce Jaffee, women's cross country coach Judy Wilson, Associate Athletics Director of External Affairs Tim Fitzpatrick and Student Athletic Board President Elizabeth Roush, discussed attendance in all 24 varsity sports, the athletics fee and advertising in Assembly Hall.\n"Our first goal is 100 percent graduation," Hoeppner said, about his football program.\nJaffee stressed that trying to balance the two is the most important issue plaguing the department. He said this was especially true in regard to some Big Ten schools that have a larger athletics budget and focus less on academics.\nBut the Athletics Department could still benefit from more revenue. As a part of increasing the amount of money that IU has in its budget, the marketing of all events is important, Fitzpatrick said.\n"When I came here I was amazed at the untapped potential," he said. "With coach Hoeppner here it is a marketers' dream."\nThe $30 athletics fee, up for possible renewal at the May 6 board of trustees meeting, has brought a lot of attention to the financial situation of the Athletics Department in the last 12 to 14 months, Jaffee said. But the fee could help the department out of its deficit.\nCreating and improving a better game-day atmosphere was one of the other issues discussed at the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union.\nSince Hoeppner's arrival in Bloomington in December, he has made plans for "The Walk," an opportunity for players to interact with fans on their way to Memorial Stadium, in addition to other activities to enhance the enjoyment level of fans during the games.\nGetting the backing for athletic teams, beyond the revenue-making sports, will be important in the end for IU, Roush said.\n"What the University needs is support and loyalty of the students now, to be the future donors of IU athletics," she said. \nFor the future of IU athletics, marketing looks to play a key role in keeping the Hoosiers among the top programs in the country. \nTo do this, Fitzpatrick cited three issues that will be important in improving IU in the years to come.\nOne item is to improve the department's poor job of keeping in touch with consumers, Fitzpatrick said. Consumers were finding it hard to find information and tickets, he said.\nOthers included finding the answers to the problems plaguing IU by asking students and fans for their suggestions regularly.\nEven though the challenge might be complex in moving the athletics department forward, at least one goal was simple, Fitzpatrick said.\n"Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for student athletes," Fitzpatrick said. -- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.