Board of Trustees Athletics Committee Recap

One of TSG's most important responsibilities is to represent the 37,000 strong student body at several meetings throughout the year. Last week, Jon was the student representative at the Board of Trustees Athletics Committee meeting held in Sullivan Hall on May 27. At the meeting, Coach Al Golden presented a comprehensive review of the football program, focusing on academics and facilities. The football team's overall GPA has improved in six consecutive semesters and their Academic Progress Rate (APR) is now 960, up 158 points from 4 years ago. Coach Golden also pointed out that the Owls had the most wins (5) in 18 years in 2008 and a +4 overall point differential. Furthermore, the team ranked first in the NCAA in red-zone defense and the 2009 schedule is well suited for an even more successful year. The coach also stated that Temple's weight room is the smallest in the MAC and this could put the program at a competitive and recruiting disadvantage. Lastly, the coach said that attendance at home games is "the single most important thing" to the program this year.

After the coach spoke, students from the Cherry Crusade (Temple's die hard student fans) gave an update on their organization. They said that men's basketball and football are the most successful programs in drawing fans, but football struggled at the end of last year due to a series of away games and elimination from a potential bowl game. They presented some of their strategy for next year including more advertising to students living off campus, more "dorm raids," and marketing their growing reputation. They also announced a desire to get students out to sports beyond football and basketball and spoke about an idea to attend each sport's senior night.

After the student presentation, updates were given on all of the spring sports including men's and women's track, softball, men's and women's tennis, women's crew, women's lacrosse, men's golf, and baseball. The women's crew team had their best season in 4 years, while the men's and women's track team debuted a new coach. The softball team finished 1 game out of the championship, and the women's tennis team finished 2nd in the Atlantic 10 championship.