University Money

Long post- but I read a tweet that put me into research gear.

The tweet: "There's no way in hell Jimbo Fisher would leave FSU for A&M….they're just a bunch of country rednecks that couldn't even afford him."

Of course, the fact that this FSU fan tried to insult my favorite university in the world tiffed me a bit, but that wasn't my problem. My problem was that I was pretty sure that A&M (as a University and Athletic program) were pretty "loaded."

Let the Google begin! I'm running on a tight schedule today so I didn't triple check everything, but here is the info I got from businessInsider.com:

Texas A&M is the 9^th most wealthy University in the World.

These rednecks follow only Harvard, Yale, University of Texas System, Stanford, Princeton, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, M.I.T., and Penn.

Here is the wording from Business Insider.com's page:

"The wealthier the university, the better its facilities are likely to be, and better facilities mean more up-to-date technology and research opportunities. Moreover, richer schools tend to attract a world-class faculty, and usually have more scholarship moneys to distribute, sometimes even waiving tuition costs entirely for students in financial need.

Though a university’s wealth typically comes from donations of money, people and charitable foundations also donate such things as land, buildings, artwork, rare books and documents, and other things of high monetary value. We have ranked them by financial endowment, meaning the trust available to each university through cash and other assets."

Texas A&M University System ranks #9 on The 100 Richest Universities 2017!

Texas A&M has become one of the biggest tertiary systems in the United States. Though the system consists of 11 campuses throughout the state of Texas, its flagship is undoubtedly Texas A&M College Station, home of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The endowment is currently valued at $10.5 billion, increased in part by a wildly successful fundraising campaign in 2013 that raised $740 million. Notably, the system is heavily involved in research of various kinds, with projects funded by NASA and the National Institute of Health, among others. In each of the last four years, the system has spent upwards of $700 million on research.

•             Endowment: $10,539,526,000

•             Annual cost of tuition per undergraduate student: $27,745 (College Station)

•             Average salary of full professor: $137,956 (College Station)

•             Annual research budget: $866,678,000 (College Station) — Texas A — M ranks #15 for 

Largest Research Budgets" 

Business Insider listed the top 100 schools. Number 100 on the list was St. Louis University with 1.05 billion. Florida State was not in the top 100.

Sure, Erin, but you're comparing university and research endowment when we're talking coaching salaries. Well 1) in the context of refuting his "dumb redneck", it mattered to me. This school is 

loaded. They turn out successful graduates and you pretty much have to be in the top 7% of your graduating class to get in right now.

But fine. Let's talk athletic departments.  

From the same source: 

This was the three-year average from years 2014-16

NCAA athletic programs that profit-

10. Texas A&M- 119.5 mil/year

17. FSU 104.8 mil/year

Bottom line: FSU, if you can afford him, these country rednecks can afford him.

Thanks and Gig'em.

Howdy Coach, Welcome to Aggieland! 

The Culture of Social Media

I’ll admit, I’m one of those people who posts often on social media. 

I blame it on being a highly loquacious only child. I have many thoughts but no siblings to share them with. My husband works 60 hours a week and although my parents have been a good outlet, they are currently in the middle of a 4 mouth adventure in Yellowstone where they have less cell phone signal than a 1980s drug dealer in South Central Los Angeles.

If you need a little more background, my mother was an English and theater teacher and my dad Is an author and journalist. I honestly didn’t stand a chance when it came to writing. As early as 4^th grade I had to write persuasive essay’s to Santa for my Christmas presents.  (True Story)

It wasn’t until college graduation that social media made its appearance. Although it would have been entertaining at the time in my life, if it had made its appearance by then I might not be staring at a BS on my wall.

I love social media. I love being able to share what is going on in my life and see what is going on with others. Some people share too much. Others, I wish shared more. But that is also the great thing about it. You control what is out there. (With the exception of an occasional unwanted tagging)

Even as a frequent poster I believe many people abuse the privilege. I like to make people either think or smile. I veer off course from time to time but I stay mainly between the lines.

All this being said, I have figured out a few ways to know you are abusing Facebook.

1) Each day you share more e-card posts than you have friends.

2) None of your friends subscribe to George Takei or Grumpy Cat. It’s just not necessary for them to, because of you.

3) Everyone knows who you voted for in the last election, who you will vote for in the next election , what you had for breakfast every morning the past  49 months, where you found your cell phone this morning, how much gas is left in your tank, what color jellies you had as a kid and the lock pattern on your phone.

Like I said, social media is great and I use it often. 

However, as with all things,  Vio con Dios, use with Caution, and don’t run with scissors!

What MY Aggie Ring Means To Me.

This fall it will be ten years ago that I received my most prized possession. My Aggie Ring. I was counting down to the day before I sent in the check, before I even applied to A&M, before I got my drivers license, and quite possibly before I even took the training wheels off my pink Huffy.

Looking back over these almost 32 years I can’t remember a thing that ever mattered more to me.  When I moved to College Station at 18 years of age it wasn’t always easy to focus. After I learned that the phrase “D for Diploma” wasn’t an accurate representation of what the business school wanted,  I buckled down and began to keep my eyes on the prize. Over my college years I began to understand more and more what that gold ring was about.  

It was about E. King Gill and the 12^th Man. About me standing at every game for the 5 football seasons I was an undergrad ready to take the field if my team needed me.

It was about November 18^th, 1999. About The University of Texas. Who although we have always had and always will have our differences, they are our brothers and sisters who took a moment to share our loss.

It was about Silver Taps, Muster, and saying “Here” For you fallen comrade.

It was about saying, “Howdy!” to a stranger on campus. Helping a fan of an opponent on a Saturday in the fall. Offering directions and ending with a “Welcome to Aggieland!” It was about the Keepers of the Spirit, and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.  

As a graduate it’s about the Aggie Network. Recognizing a fellow Ag at a bar in Dallas, an airport terminal in New York, or a subway in Paris, France.

It’s about lending a hand and helping your fellow man, preparing for the future, learning from mistakes in the past and holding dear traditions of those that came from before, and most of all being part of a family.

The Aggie Spirit has always moved me.

May God continue to bless America. And may God continue to bless Texas A&M. 

Heads Carolina, Tails California

"Friend!!!! What city are you in?"

That was the official beginning to a phone call between my friend Katie and I during and shortly after college.

Keep in mind, there were no Facebook check-in's to stalk. That simply didn't exist. It was a lot more fun to take off when the mood struck without anyone knowing where you were going. (expect I usually called my parents shortly after one of my departures just so someone could worry about me.)

Sometimes, like my trip to Florida, it was a solo adventure. Other times I had partners in crime like my roommate, Jacque (if she didn't have to go to class or do her homework) or my trusty neighbor, Tintin, who I could usually count on to hop on the road in a moment's notice.

One Thursday night about 10:30, we decided it was a good weekend to go to Colorado Springs. We rushed home from the bar, packed our bags and jumped in the car. Sadly, our energy wore off before we were even to Waco. We turned around and headed back home. I do believe that was our only unsuccessful trip. More successful trips to Colorado followed, a New Years Eve in Nashville, countless trips around Texas and New Orleans. And then Spring Break in Paris. Gas and travel was less expensive and time more plentiful.

I smile when I think about these adventures. Something that fundamentally makes my soul smile. Part of it is the actual travel, but a larger part I've been convinced, is the freedom and ability to ride off into the sunset anytime the moment strikes me. I miss that.

Last week I wasn't able to fly to Paris, or even leave the state, but I did get the ability to remember a huge part of my life that had been missing. I woke up one day and decided to go to Waco to see some friends and do some dancing, and just did it. I went to Austin, alone, another day. Another couple days I just went wherever the wind blew me (in a very short radius) No, it wasn't as it was before, most likely will never be, but it was freedom. And from that point on I decided incorporating more of this is my life will keep my soul happy.

With myself and my old running buddies now having responsibilities like jobs and children life gets more complicated. That doesn't mean we can't all create opportunities to do what brings us joy.

Whadda say, Tintin, "Heads Carolina, Tails California?"

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

HOUSTON: YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

(Overused, yes. Appropriate, yes.)

As I read more and more about the financial aspects of MLB it appears that they might not care too much about my filling the stadium $24mil/year bonus plan. I understand this business, as any business, is about the bottom line, money and maximizing profits and it seems that ticket sales are a minimal variable in the MLB equation. TV money is now the big momma and the more research I do the less I hear organizations talk about fans bringing money to the ball parks. As a lifelong baseball fan this makes me more disappointed than I can express.

My goal in starting this research was to inform the Houston Astros of how to maximize profits by putting fans in seats and I will continue to protect that point although I may detour more than I had previously intended.

Every year I try to make it to as many Astros games as time and money allow. Lately, I’ve managed only two or three per season but win or lose I ALWAYS enjoy the experience. I love baseball at every level and ballparks have an amazing all American feel that is unparalleled to any other place on earth. My dad took me to games growing up and I hope my son continues enjoys them as much as I do.

Lately, I have watched the average game attendance decline year after year and game after game. I noticed it as a casual fan and had the numbers confirmed through research. In 2006, the season after the Astros made their first ever world series appearance the average game was 91.1% full….this has fallen every year to a horrible less than half (48.5%) in 2012. The Astros average attendance was 28^th in the league out of 30. Abysmal for a city the size of Houston.

FIELD OF DREAMS:

Now, let’s fix this. There are two good ways to get fans into the park to support a program. 1) Win and 2) Give them a good deal. If you don’t have 1, then 2 is a necessity. Finishing last in the MLB last year doesn’t really send fans running to pay your average $27 a ticket and drink a $10 beer to watch their extremely sub-par team.

The basic baby laws of supply and demand are easy to understand here.

Every game will be played regardless of the number of people in the stands. If you have to hire event staff, pay players and turn on the electricity for every game it only makes since to get every dollar you can. Empty seats make no money. Empty seats buy no t-shirts, ball caps, hot dogs, popcorn, or $10 beers. Get a person into that seat for a minimal price and no doubt concessions will be bought, their kids will want baseballs, mom will want a yardstick margarita and profits will be made. It really is that simple.

THE NUMBERS GAME:

Here’s my math and how at LEAST 24 million can appear per year:

40, 963. That is the total number of seats available per game.

19,848. That is the average attendance per game in 2012.

21,115. That is the average number of VACANT seats per game.

According to sportsfan.org the Astros have the 10^th highest average ticket price in MLB with the 3^rd lowest average attendance and worst team record in 2012.  I love my ‘Stros and consider myself a fan through thick and thin but I don’t have a lot of money to spend on extras, especially when there is a good chance I won’t be witnessing my team come out victorious.

Let’s say you charge $5 average per unsold ticket. (Maybe $7-10 for the better seats and only $1 or $2 for the nosebleeds.) That alone equals over $100k/game in ticket sales. Then the people are there. They are hungry, thirsty and they feel good because they got a great bargain on the ticket price. From there let’s pretend every ticket buyer spends $10 on food and/or drink (again, I feel this is a little low, but an easy number to multiply). That is over $200k in food and drink for those previous empty seats. Now you are looking at your per game ticket and concession total at over $300k just for filling these cheap seats. At 81 home games a year that puts you at a minimum of an additional 24.3 million, not even including any souvenirs. That, to me, looks like a very pretty penny.

IF YOU BUILD IT, WILL THEY COME?

Sure, math looks great, but is this feasible? Can we really expect to fill the stands just by lowering ticket prices? YES! Americans love baseball games and in Houston giving them a family friendly place an outdoorsy feel, with air conditioning in the summer for a good price they will come. It takes me an hour and a half to get to Minute Maid Park and I would squeeze in many more games if I wasn’t paying $17 for my 4^th level ticket. Drop ticket prices and I’m there more often, drop beer prices and I’m buying my beer at the stadium instead of trying to load up at the home plate and leaving early and heading downtown. I know you dropped beer prices last year, but going from 10.50 to 9.50, a ten dollar beer is still a ten dollar beer no matter what way you round that. I’m not sure what kind of profits you are making off that but I fell like the supply and demand curve would move a little if you could make it a little more affordable. I would rather buy three $6 beers than one $10 beer and look, you’ve magically made more money off me and I’m a happier fan and customer.

When you sell out tickets on a regular basis (consecutive years, not games) AND you win more games than you lose you may rethink prices and move them up. For now, Houston, you’ve made the city fall out of love with baseball. You’ve had four consecutive losing seasons, had to deal with franchise players retire and then trading all the ‘new’ big names, and then are charging those that continue to give you support way too much to see this debacle. Fans are fickle; they want a reason to fall in love again. Give them one.

Astros owner Jim Crane on his hard times trying to buy a MLB team, "I'm accustomed to winning. So we set our sights on winning and we never gave up." 

Tis the season?

The idea for this blog started on Thanksgiving....the day of giving thanks for all wonderful things we have been blessed with in our lives. To be thankful for our friends and family, or health and fortune  however small or large it might be. To come together with loved ones, enjoy the company of them all and appreciate the love and fondness we have for one another.

After feeling all nice and toasty with a full belly of the nourishment we were all thankful for the "stuff" starts. Christmas lists are brought out, shopping trips are planned and either pennies are pinched or credit cards are brought out to show each other how much we care with "stuff".

What I Love: Christmas. I love the songs, the decorations and the family traditions we have like playing cards on Christmas Eve and whiskey shots on the hour in memory of family we have lost through the years. I love the family all sleeping under the same roof to wake up to a half eaten cookie and note from Santa. I love the day in pajamas playing more cards and eating stocking candy for breakfast. Family.

What Drives Me Nuts: The "stuff".  Why do we feel the need to go into debt or spend every penny in our bank account showering our family and friends with gifts. Don't get me wrong, I don't have much money but I do it as best I can. I love getting people gifts but the pressure that you have to get everyone something at the same time of year is overwhelming. Especially noting the fact that most people don't even give gifts that people actually want.

Solution. Year Round Christmas. No, I'm not suggesting decorated trees, fake snow, elves, fat guys in red suits and jingle bells splitting time with the Easter Bunny. I'm saying forget the stress in December, and spread the joy year round. As far as gift giving, try to send notes or things to your friends whenever you get the urge. I have a few friends who I do that with already. And since we've had children we don't buy Christmas presents in December anyway. No, we don't love each other any less, we just understand that a forced gift is not necessary. When picking up a cup of coffee, get a gift card to send to your friend who you wish was joining you. If you see a sweater that would look amazing on your bestie at a clearance sale in April....get it for her. On a hot August day, sip a cold drink and write a letter, by hand, to a distant relative.  Trust me, these little things scattered throughout the year will do much more than an extra bottle of lotion from bath and body works on Christmas.

Although, if anyone can find a bottle of discontinued Butterfly Flower, I am all out ;-)

Why we love sports......

American interest in sports is apparent everywhere you look. T-shirts ranging from little league mommas up to XXXL NFL fans are on every corner. Coffee and water cooler conversations are known to often begin, whether good or bad, with  "How 'bout them Cowboys?" From the casual conversationalist to the statistical analyst, it seems like the $70 billion sports industry is highly visible in American culture.

Why has the sports industry been one of the fastest growing industries for decades? As one who currently has 4 different windows open with NCAAF rankings, Fantasy NFL football, NCAAF pick em's, and baseball trading news, this idea began to fascinate me so I opened window number 5 and began research.

Soccer Mom: This is both a beginning and a middle to the obsession. As soon as they're potty trained many children begin their journey into organized sports. Soccer, and tee-ball, then peewee and little league. My child is now 6 and I feel like we are already behind. Unfortunately, as much as I had hoped ever since I found out I had a boy in the womb, my child is not interested in playing organized sports....at least at this point in time. The children are sent out early spending a lot of their free time on a field of some sort connecting this to a way of life and moms (and dads) are eagerly cheering for their wee one to succeed. 

Friday Night Lights: Growing up in a small Texas town this was a way of life and the ONLY life as a high school student. The joke was that they closed the only two gas stations in town by 7pm because everyone was at the game. Honestly, I couldn't tell you if that was true or not becuase I was already at the stadium. The energy in the hallways on a Friday in the fall was electric. And homecoming week, you could forget everything else existed. The locker and hall decorating, the pep rallies, the secret gifts to football players. High school football is really many teens first love.

College Gameday Saturdays: As much fun as one has in high school with their school's football team it only grows exponentially in college. In a stadium with over 80k maroon clad fans, tailgates, weekend parties, bowl projections the excitement in the air is unparallelled.  This is also where one may begin to start paying attention to the statistics more. Pass percentage, QBR, point spreads, rankings. The numbers game is a fun way to get your math homework in!

The Business Man: And the money...from professional sport team revenues in ticket prices, merchandise and beer sales to both legal and illegal betting the business side is without a doubt impressive.

Check this out from www.americangaming.org :

• Overall, Nevada’s legal sports wagering represents less than 1 percent of all sports betting nationwide. In 2011, $2.88 billion was legally wagered in Nevada’s sports books; the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) estimated that illegal wagers are as much as $380 billion annually.

• Gross revenue for Nevada’s sports books was $140.7 million in 2011. While more than $2.88 billion was wagered in 2011, more than 95 percent of all bets placed were returned to patrons in winnings.

  According to Forbes, the most valuable team in the NFL is the Dallas Cowboys. Who despite not winning a playoff game in years still are valued at over 2.1 billion dollars. The least valuable team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, is still a nice 770mil. 

The Couch Potato: Hot grill. Cold beer. Comfy couch. Nuff said.


Putting it together: Even if you managed not to grow up going and playing sports as a child, and don't have the money, business or math sense to be interested in statistical analysis as an adult, causal sports watching on a Sunday afternoon is a great excuse to have a drink, good food, a great way unwind and relax...unless like me, you're a Cowboys Fan.