President Kaler was on the Sports Huddle at 9:35 a.m. today. He was the only guest during the first half-hour segment. His responses to questions by Sid Hartman and Dave Mona are as follows:
1) Sid opened with a comment saying rumors abound that the NCAA is in trouble because of the BCS: Kaler said, "It's a big question and there are discussions about the role of the NCAA . . . (people) frustrated with (NCAA) rules and difficulty in changing them . . . personally I don't see it going away." However, he went onto say he expects the NCAA to evolve.
2) The topic of the Big 10 deciding not to play FCS teams, i.e., NDSU, SDSU, etc.: President Kaler responded, "Efforts around the Big 10 to increase the level of play . . . We enjoy our regional rivalries, (however) fans will appreciate play (level of competition) on the field."
Mona asked about the rumor that Minnesota was behind the move, because they didn't want to play teams such as NDSU and South Dakota because they have lost games to the FCS schools in recent years. Kaler emphatically stated that Minnesota wasn't behind the recent move by the Big 10 and that the rumors were not factual.
3) Sid raised the topic of poor student turnouts for football games: "It's a challenge for us and a lot of other schools," said Kaler. "We're engaged in a couple strategies (to increase student particiaption at sporting events)." The season opener is on a Thursday night and is during Welcome Week for incoming freshmen. Kaler said they'll put forth a great effort to get the new students to the game.
President Kaler finished up saying being competitive is paramount for getting the students involved. He said times are different from the days that he and many of the Gopher fans were undergraduates. So fielding a good product is necessary to attract the students to the games.
4) Sid made a comment about Kill's contributions to the community and the long hours he puts in: Kaler replied, "I haven't met anyone that doesn't think he's the right guy for the job." He likes Kill's attitude and energy. He said Kill puts forth energy and effort in selling the school.
5) The topic of conference expansion was raised by Sid: "Nothing on the horizon . . . we have 14 members - not very good in math (referencing the conference title (Big 10) . . . we monitor the landscape as schools realign themselves."
President Kaler wasn't specific about Conference plans for future expansion. However, his responses seem to indicate that expansion of conferences is fluid and is something they're (Conference schools and its Commissioner) watching closely.
6) The discussion then turned to money via television and bowl games: Kaler said media contracts and the sharing of bowl revenues are important components in the school's athletic budget, especially in the funding of non-revenue sports.
7) Sid asked for Kaler's thoughts on the hiring of Richard Pitino: Kaler said he likes his energy and the excitement that he's brought to the basketball program, "I can see him recruiting the heck out of some players . . . I look for him to be a great hire for us."
8) Sid asked about the dismissal of Tubby Smith: "Norwood thought carefully. We needed to make the change to get to the next level." He also said he doesn't like paying out the contracts, but that's the cost of doing business. It's necessary when you need to make a change in personnel.
9) Sid asked about the number of people that have been replaced since Norwood Teague took over the reins of the athletic department: "I'm very pleased with Norwood," said Kaler. He went onto say he likes his approach, energy, and the changes that he's implemented. "Norwood has been able to bring in a good team from VCU," Kaler concluded.
Sid then asked how many people he (Kaler) had brought with him to Minnesota. "None," replied Kaler.
10) Sid wanted to know if President Kaler thinks there'll be more conference schools taking up men's hockey: "I'd like to see that happen." However, Kaler also said it takes big money to start a program like hockey. He cited Penn State being the beneficiary of wealthy benefactor, which led to the creation of Nittany Lion hockey program.
11) The topic of new and upgraded sports facilities at Minnesota was raised by Sid: Kaler said Minnesota had a very good year of fund raising; however, the sports facilities fundraising project is necessary and a plan needs to be completed, "People are interested in a plan, what will the footprint (athletic facilities) look like . . . we need to get it done."
12) Dave Mona then asked a question that he was confident President Kaler was tired of hearing - $800,000 payout to North Carolina so as to get out of the scheduled game with the Tarheels: Kaler responded, "A business decision blown out of proportion . . . people need to wait for all the pieces to fall together." He concluded saying the decision to drop North Carolina "struck a nerve with the people." He said he knows full well their displeasure with the decision.
13) A question of coaches salaries was discussed - coaches being paid more than the school presidents and administrators: Kaler didn't spend much time on the disparity in salaries, but, rather, he focused on the problems of funding and steps taken to control costs. He said the state legislature reduced funding to the state's largest school by 140 million dollars over four years. He's concerned about tuition hikes and knows that students question why they've paid so much for a college education and now they cannot find a job. (He cited the "biggest" recession since the Great Depression as being a factor.)
Kaler said he's working with the legislature and hopes to implement a tuition freeze. In a step to control costs, Kaler said they've reduced senior leadership positions. It's (administration team) more streamlined now.
He concluded the question by saying, "Need to tell what we're doing more agressively." (Cost cutting meaures that have been implemented.)
14) Sid acknowledged that the State Legislature contributed toward the construction of TCF Bank Stadium, but he said it seems that smaller state schools (St. Cloud and Mankato's hockey programs were cited) can ask and receive funding with little difficulty: President Kaler said they've received funding, too. He cited TCF Bank Stadium, as an example. But he also said the legislature probably looks at the U's football, basketball and hockey revenue streams, which the smaller schools don't enjoy. As a result, they probably assume the smaller schools need more assistance.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened with a comment saying rumors abound that the NCAA is in trouble because of the BCS: Kaler said, "It's a big question and there are discussions about the role of the NCAA . . . (people) frustrated with (NCAA) rules and difficulty in changing them . . . personally I don't see it going away." However, he went onto say he expects the NCAA to evolve.
2) The topic of the Big 10 deciding not to play FCS teams, i.e., NDSU, SDSU, etc.: President Kaler responded, "Efforts around the Big 10 to increase the level of play . . . We enjoy our regional rivalries, (however) fans will appreciate play (level of competition) on the field."
Mona asked about the rumor that Minnesota was behind the move, because they didn't want to play teams such as NDSU and South Dakota because they have lost games to the FCS schools in recent years. Kaler emphatically stated that Minnesota wasn't behind the recent move by the Big 10 and that the rumors were not factual.
3) Sid raised the topic of poor student turnouts for football games: "It's a challenge for us and a lot of other schools," said Kaler. "We're engaged in a couple strategies (to increase student particiaption at sporting events)." The season opener is on a Thursday night and is during Welcome Week for incoming freshmen. Kaler said they'll put forth a great effort to get the new students to the game.
President Kaler finished up saying being competitive is paramount for getting the students involved. He said times are different from the days that he and many of the Gopher fans were undergraduates. So fielding a good product is necessary to attract the students to the games.
4) Sid made a comment about Kill's contributions to the community and the long hours he puts in: Kaler replied, "I haven't met anyone that doesn't think he's the right guy for the job." He likes Kill's attitude and energy. He said Kill puts forth energy and effort in selling the school.
5) The topic of conference expansion was raised by Sid: "Nothing on the horizon . . . we have 14 members - not very good in math (referencing the conference title (Big 10) . . . we monitor the landscape as schools realign themselves."
President Kaler wasn't specific about Conference plans for future expansion. However, his responses seem to indicate that expansion of conferences is fluid and is something they're (Conference schools and its Commissioner) watching closely.
6) The discussion then turned to money via television and bowl games: Kaler said media contracts and the sharing of bowl revenues are important components in the school's athletic budget, especially in the funding of non-revenue sports.
7) Sid asked for Kaler's thoughts on the hiring of Richard Pitino: Kaler said he likes his energy and the excitement that he's brought to the basketball program, "I can see him recruiting the heck out of some players . . . I look for him to be a great hire for us."
8) Sid asked about the dismissal of Tubby Smith: "Norwood thought carefully. We needed to make the change to get to the next level." He also said he doesn't like paying out the contracts, but that's the cost of doing business. It's necessary when you need to make a change in personnel.
9) Sid asked about the number of people that have been replaced since Norwood Teague took over the reins of the athletic department: "I'm very pleased with Norwood," said Kaler. He went onto say he likes his approach, energy, and the changes that he's implemented. "Norwood has been able to bring in a good team from VCU," Kaler concluded.
Sid then asked how many people he (Kaler) had brought with him to Minnesota. "None," replied Kaler.
10) Sid wanted to know if President Kaler thinks there'll be more conference schools taking up men's hockey: "I'd like to see that happen." However, Kaler also said it takes big money to start a program like hockey. He cited Penn State being the beneficiary of wealthy benefactor, which led to the creation of Nittany Lion hockey program.
11) The topic of new and upgraded sports facilities at Minnesota was raised by Sid: Kaler said Minnesota had a very good year of fund raising; however, the sports facilities fundraising project is necessary and a plan needs to be completed, "People are interested in a plan, what will the footprint (athletic facilities) look like . . . we need to get it done."
12) Dave Mona then asked a question that he was confident President Kaler was tired of hearing - $800,000 payout to North Carolina so as to get out of the scheduled game with the Tarheels: Kaler responded, "A business decision blown out of proportion . . . people need to wait for all the pieces to fall together." He concluded saying the decision to drop North Carolina "struck a nerve with the people." He said he knows full well their displeasure with the decision.
13) A question of coaches salaries was discussed - coaches being paid more than the school presidents and administrators: Kaler didn't spend much time on the disparity in salaries, but, rather, he focused on the problems of funding and steps taken to control costs. He said the state legislature reduced funding to the state's largest school by 140 million dollars over four years. He's concerned about tuition hikes and knows that students question why they've paid so much for a college education and now they cannot find a job. (He cited the "biggest" recession since the Great Depression as being a factor.)
Kaler said he's working with the legislature and hopes to implement a tuition freeze. In a step to control costs, Kaler said they've reduced senior leadership positions. It's (administration team) more streamlined now.
He concluded the question by saying, "Need to tell what we're doing more agressively." (Cost cutting meaures that have been implemented.)
14) Sid acknowledged that the State Legislature contributed toward the construction of TCF Bank Stadium, but he said it seems that smaller state schools (St. Cloud and Mankato's hockey programs were cited) can ask and receive funding with little difficulty: President Kaler said they've received funding, too. He cited TCF Bank Stadium, as an example. But he also said the legislature probably looks at the U's football, basketball and hockey revenue streams, which the smaller schools don't enjoy. As a result, they probably assume the smaller schools need more assistance.
Go Gophers!!