Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Sunday's Omah
Mar 13, 2011 | General
Read the Alden & Associates Report
Who made these recommendations to change UNO Athletics? Was it a committee? How long did it take to put together the recommendation?
The ongoing strategic planning process started more than 12 months ago. The recommendations came from this effort which included a working group of civic and community leaders, representatives of the athletic department, leadership on campus as well as leadership within the entire university system. The recommendations have contemplated the long term strategies for UNO and UNO athletics.
Are the proposed changes for UNO Athletics a done deal at this point? Who can I call to express my opinion about these changes?
The Board of Regents will vote on the change in conference alignment. Beginning Sunday at 10 a.m., you may call 402-554-2305 to speak with someone about the information in the newspaper article.
I am a student-athlete or the parent of a student-athlete in football or wrestling. Who do I speak with about transfer options? Will there be eligibility issues if I transfer to another institution?
UNO's primary interest is supporting and assisting football and wrestling student athletes and their parents and we have support resources at hand. Team members impacted by discontinuing a program will want to carefully evaluate options for the future. UNO Athletics has mobilized efforts to minimize any NCAA complications, especially with other programs in Nebraska. We understand that these changes may cause some uncertainty about what is and is not allowable according to NCAA regulations. UNO Athletics will continue to work with other programs or conferences to assure compliance with applicable NCAA rules which permit unrestricted transfers where the institution announces a sport will be discontinued.
Will UNO honor the scholarships it offered student-athletes in football and wrestling if they stay at UNO?
UNO will honor the scholarships for every scholarship student-athlete in the sports of football and wrestling. We hope that student-athletes will decide to complete their studies here. But if they would like to transfer, we will have advisors ready to help them communicate with other institutions and make their transition as easy as possible.
What is next for the coaches of discontinued sports?
The head football coach has a contract with liquidated damages mitigated if he finds new employment before June 2013. The other affected head coach and assistant coaches will be offered a separation agreement with similar terms based on their current salary for a one year period.
Why weren't the student-athletes and coaches given more notice?
We had to move quickly to take advantage of the opportunity presented to UNO by The Summit League. We did not want to put our student-athletes and coaches in limbo during the process in the event that an offer from The Summit League was not extended.
Why do this now?
A number of issues came together at almost the same time to help drive this decision. There is a very short window on the invitation to join The Summit League and there are a number of schools that are looking at reclassifying to Division I, so we felt the need to act quickly. The Director of Athletics and Chancellor have been working on strategies over the last several years to bring long-term financial stability to UNO athletics.The growing pressures of limited public funds have heightened that focus. At the same time, we had the opportunity to apply for membership with The Summit League. Finally, we felt if we were going to take this action, we should do so immediately rather than leave student-athletes and coaches in limbo. While there is never a good time to make difficult decision such as this, it is the right time for UNO.
Why not find a conference in which football and wrestling are offered?
The expiration of the NCAA's moratorium on schools moving to Division I was a driving factor that could not be ignored. The Summit League was interested in adding UNO, something that could not be guaranteed if we were to wait for another Division I conference that also offered both sports. Moreover, it is Midwest based and competitive. We also had to consider whether it was in the long-term interest of UNO athletics to invest the resources and time to make football and wrestling Division I competitive.
Is UNO ready for D-I status?
UNO is certainly competitive in hockey and we believe we can be competitive within a short time in basketball and all other sports. We have a great campus and our move to Division I should help us attract the right student-athletes to make us competitive.
Why are you adding programs while looking to eliminate others?
Part of our decision is based on the sports offered by The Summit League schools. We also had to consider the financial resources required for each sport, especially football. We also weighed future opportunities to recruit student-athletes to sports such as soccer, which is growing in popularity at the high school and college levels, and certainly in Omaha.
What is The Summit League and how stable is it?
UNO would be the 10th team in The Summit League, and we believe it offers stability and a great home for our teams. The Summit League consists of schools located throughout our geographic footprint as well as institutions that align closely with our academic and overall university goals and objectives.
For more information of The Summit League, please visit its official web site.
Can UNO compete in Division I basketball? What happens to the student-athletes in the D-II sports which will be D-I next fall? Will there be other coaching changes as UNO moves up to D-I?
We intend to build competitive Division I men's and women's basketball programs competing in The Summit League, and we expect to be competitive in all of our other sports. Much like our experience in hockey, we understand that this will take some time. Decisions regarding individual student-athletes are left to the respective coaching staffs and athletic administration. Should this process move forward, we will be working closely with all of our coaches regarding staffing needs and expectations.
Are these changes being driven by financial concerns alone? If not, explain what the other issues are.
These changes are being recommended because of athletic opportunities, as well as academic and financial challenges. We are excited about a potential move to Division I and UNO's fit within The Summit League. We believe it aligns with our focus on UNO Centers of Excellence.
Was the decision to discontinue UNO football in any way connected to UNL's football program?
No. UNL had no involvement in the decision.
How does this affect the UNO academic enterprise or other aspects of institutional operations?
A move like this obviously entails a great deal of complexity with campus-wide implications that are yet to be completely determined. However, we believe that this move is consistent with the growth of our campus and is a logical progression that will contribute to the overall quality of education for our students. This move will allow UNO to align itself with other universities that are similar in size, mission and scope, which will allow for expanded relationships outside of athletics. Such relationships will enhance UNO's academic programs and allow the institution to serve its students more effectively.
Further questions can be directed to 402-554-2305.
