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Southeastern
Louisiana University
Football Players
Association
Hammond, LA
Southeastern President
Randy Moffett
made the big annoucement Tuesday, 5/21/02
...football is
back at Southeastern!!
Southeastern Louisiana University's football
program will return
to the gridiron in the 2003
season, university
officials announced.
(news story below)
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5/21/02
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA ANNOUNCES RETURN OF FOOTBALL
HAMMOND, La. -- Southeastern Louisiana University's football
program will return to the gridiron in the 2003 season, university
officials announced Tuesday (May 21).
At a ceremony in Strawberry Stadium, Southeastern President Randy
Moffett and others unveiled an oversized, football-shaped fund raising
gauge showing that the university had surpassed its $5 million fund raising
goal.
The campaign was initiated last year to enhance Southeastern's
overall athletics program, address gender equity issues, and - if
successful - reinstate football, which was the victim of cost-cutting
measures in 1986.
"We did it! I am pleased to report that our efforts have been
successful," Moffett told a cheering group of former football players and
coaches, faculty, staff, students and community leaders. "We not only met
our $5 million goal, we exceeded it; and more money continues to come in.
With the 2003 season the Southeastern Lions will be back on this field,
and
our students and the north shore community will once again enjoy collegiate
football."
Moffett said the university had raised $5.025 million, with much of
the money coming from new donors. This support, he said, will allow the
university to launch its football program without the use of state dollars.
The fund raising plans call for the primary portion to go for
football operations and stadium renovations. Funds will also be used to
improve other athletic facilities and address gender equity issues with
$1
million being held in reserve as a "rainy day" endowment fund.
"We pledged that we would not reduce our efforts to raise money for
academic support and cultural programs," he said. "In the last 12 months,
we have raised funds for four new professorships, $500,000 for the
performing arts, and another $500,000 for student scholarships. That brings
our capital campaign to more than $17 million raised since 1995, far
exceeding our $10 million goal."
In his comments, Moffett recognized his predecessor Sally Clausen,
now the president of the University of Louisiana System. "Her energy and
vision were the backbone of this campaign," he said.
"She had the courage to stand by her priorities of first improving
the physical plant of this campus. Through her leadership and through the
support of our legislative delegation, Southeastern is enjoying an overdue
construction boom that totals approximately $70 million. Once those
priorities were met, she threw her enthusiastic support and considerable
persuasive sales skills into this athletics campaign."
"Southeastern has taken the right approach in launching this
venture without state funds," Clausen said. "I especially want to
congratulate the university on surpassing its fund raising target for men's
and women's sports, yet not diluting its efforts to raise funds for
academic and cultural activities. This is an exciting time for
Southeastern, and the return of football sends a strong message about the
support of the university's alumni and extended community."
Two alumni - one requesting to be anonymous, another being Denham
Springs attorney Calvin Fayard - made initial $1 million gifts, Moffett
said.
"No campaign can be successful without substantial lead gifts," he
said. "Mr. Fayard believed in our plan, and his and other contributions
got
us off to a strong start. When we first announced this initiative last
year, we already had $2.5 million in solid pledges. We successfully
obtained another $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, and more than
70
other donors contributed $10,000 or more.
"Much of the credit for this successful effort must also go to our
late former head coaches Stan Galloway and Pat Kenelly, their families
and
the members of the Southeastern Football Players Association," Moffett
added. "They would not let the dream of Southeastern football die, and
when
we were ready to embark on this campaign, they showed their support. They
made their own contributions and helped to identify and recruit other
contributors."
"This is the happiest day of my life," said Football Players Association
President and retired coach T.C. Calmes. "Many people have worked hard
for
many years to bring football back to this stadium. There are going to be
a
lot of happy people in these seats in 2003."
Southeastern Athletic Director Frank Pergolizzi explained that the
Lions would play as an independent for two years, with plans to enter the
Southland Conference in the 2005 season. The conference is made up mostly
of Texas and Louisiana teams, including McNeese State in Lake Charles,
Northwestern State in Natchitoches and Nicholls State in Thibodaux. He
said
Southeastern had already contacted a number of teams that are being
penciled in for the first two seasons and will soon be launching a season
ticket campaign.
"The search for a head coach has also been initiated," he added.
"The search committee has been formed and we've outlined the qualities
and
experience we are seeking in a head coach. A number of potential candidates
have already contacted us."
Pergolizzi said the university hopes to have the head coach
contracted by July 1. "We're obviously operating on a very fast time
schedule," he said, "but 2003 is not that far away when you're building
a
program from the ground up." He said he has had good feedback from area
high school coaches who see Southeastern as a natural choice for many young
athletes in south Louisiana.
"The caliber of high school competition, just in this immediate
area alone, is very high," he added. "We anticipate recruiting heavily
in
our own backyard. We want to recruit good student athletes who are highly
competitive and who want to succeed on the field and in the classroom.
We
have a strong 82 percent graduation rate among our athletes and we expect
to at least maintain that level with the addition of football."
Greg Sankey, commissioner of the Southland Conference of which
Southeastern is a member, welcomed the news of football's return at
Southeastern. "For the Southland Conference, this is one of the most
positive steps for all of us in the last 10 years," he said. "I'm excited
for the university and the entire community. They will have the chance
to
be part of college football in the near future, and I look forward to
attending many games in Strawberry Stadium."
Southeastern's athletic program competes at the Division I level of
the NCAA. Approximately 200 student athletes compete in 15 varsity sports,
including eight women's teams and seven men's teams.
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