Wednesday, January 30, 2019

FSU booster notes & FSU's culture impacts AD hires

Some concern about AD hires the last decade or so. The last 3 were weak AD hires. Mostly because many outside of athletics (ie presidents, trustees, etc) want to control it. The last pro who was a fit was Dave Hart and the insiders were pissed they couldn't control things. FSU has to start hiring professionals. Too many want the power to move games to Jax, etc. Hire an experienced AD. FSU refuses to do so. Perhaps this is part of FSU's issue?

Below (directly below) you can read the FSU booster justification for hiring an AD with zero college athletic experience. FSU often prefers the insider hire which allows those in power behind the scenes to maintain that power. It has hurt FSU greatly.

https://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/booster-decline-trends.250065/page-3

Happy to do so.
Short answer is yes. The stars have aligned with President Thrasher, David Coburn, Willie Taggart and the Boosters.

We now have an AD who has institutional knowledge, who has a great relationship with the president, the CEO of the university and Seminole Boosters executives (including me). There's financial expertise, institutional knowledge and most-importantly respecet and trust. What that allows is a willingness to listen, to debate, to argue and to find solutions. There's still financial tension for sure and always will be but I think the President's choice of Coburn was brilliant for the next couple of years.

As for relationships in the past, present and future, its really no different than in any business or family... there is always financial stress. When you have ambitious people, who want whatever the Jones' have, you have stress. If you have really deep pockets, the stress is less than if you don't have a big enough budget.

The relationship between athletics and Boosters, the president and the head coach -- and frankly our donors who we are always asking to fund this stuff -- is constantly under strain because of ambition. Life in the champions lane. it can get personal if you choose for it to - and it does in fits and spurts - but at the end of the day it's about money.

All of college athletics is under financial strain, even the SEC. If consumers force the cable industry to unbundle by unplugging, watch out! A lot of these schools have borrowed to build based on permanent streams of network revenue that could dry up quick. If that ever happens - and it is predictable possibility - you could see the landscape shift.

If the ACC Network doesn't generate additional revenues for its members, the financial strain is going to intensify. That's where the president's appointment of Coburn is especially important.

Besides being very credentialed in budgets and institutional knowledge, the president can rely upon David's word and will act on it. Same goes for Boosters. He has our ultimate respect. A new AD would have to earn that from the President and the Boosters and the employees therein . Coburn earned that years and years ago.

In addition, David is a Seminole who attends a lot of games and has a feel for all things garnet and gold. He is passionate about things that matter to you and me in terms of home and home and the color of the numbers. He's heard all the logo debate and has his own opinions on all of those things. They are real to him as he is a Seminole.

He is totally a stand up guy. He met with Ira and Jim Henry early on to disclose what he knew about the budget issues and will be do more of that at the appropriate times.

I think everything you wrote is relevant and important. The sense of "belonging" is real and a part of the equation as you noted. The risk you run when you hire an AD who is not an alum is you can stray to far from home. You get an important frame of reference on other things and a greater national presence, which are also important, but frequently there is an insensitivity to those "belonging" kind of decisions.

There are numerous FSU alumni in senior management positions at othere places -- including Alabama and Georgia -- who will be ready to come home when the time is right for Coburn to exit stage right and turn the program over.

As you may know, virtually every employee at Seminole Boosters is a Seminole alum. And most of the athletic department - the middle managers and some senior -- are too. If you know them as I do, they care deeply and probably have many of the same ideas you have.

The relationship between the Boosters and Athletics is much more functional than you would imagine from the outside but is largely shaped by the public's perception of the top guy.

Hope this addresses your request. Feel free to call me anytime. Its easier to talk than type.

Andy Miller has been pursuing this for 20 years. It was part of the original University Center Club he conceived, tied in with the Club and Hospitality school, but state politics deleted it from the project. Recently the hotel project made it right to the finish line before being set aside again by the university who has plans for a hotel complex connected to the Civic Center (1 mile from stadium). It would serve the same purpose as described in this thread but be closer to the state office complex which has year round revenue benefits. Its viable. There's also a hotel project planned in College Town that would be very close to the stadium and a year round RVPark under consideration.

Contributions to University Sports in 2017 TOP 10

TEXAS A@M $75.5m
Oklahoma $46.6m
Florida $43.1m
Texas $42.2m
Michigan $37.6m
Auburn $35.7m
Clemson $35.6m
Tennessee $34.1m
LSU $33.5m
West Virginia $33.5m

https://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/i-have-an-honest-question-regarding-fsu%E2%80%99s-financial-situation.243995/page-2

1. If the ACC Network does not generate the projected revenue, it will be very difficult to field 20 competitive men's and women's teams. Right now that gap between the ACC and others is $10 million a year. If new network revenues don't close that gap there will be pressure across the conference to drop sports to NCAA Div. 1 minimum of 16. Or to come up with creative ways to fund those sports.
2. FSU has never been on a par financially with Texas or Florida. We've done more with less for generations. We've been able to do that because we have a very talent-rich state, an attractive community (state capitol, HBC, woods/water, weather). But the university must hire the right people to do it. You can't hire an SEC raised coach who believes you have to have gold plated weight room to recruit. You have to find coaches who love this place, prioritize what is needed and can sell what we have.

I prefer that the ACC generates the revenue we need to close the gap.

Sorry, it took me so long to respond. I just saw this.
1. Other revenue generators in the short term could include adding beer sales, concerts, special events, variable pricing models for seating, renegotiated contracts, College Town, Champions Club, University Center Club, fundraising, etc.
In the mid term or longer term, renovation of the stadium is the major revenue generating opportunity. It would include mid-level skyboxes, better seating (wider seats and more space between rows), better concourses, concessions and restrooms. We've had Legends run numbers and a rebuilt Doak would generate a good bit more with about 70,000 seats than the existing structure with 80k providing multiple price points for seats from high to low.
2. I think the ACC Network picture will come into focus by launch in August. We have very little information right now about market penetration. There should be announcements over the coming 6 months.Until then you have to have a conservative estimate.
3. I think scheduling is a key issue. FSU needs to scheudule one home and away each year with an interesting P5 opponent. Willie is on board with it. As you know we can't control time of kickoff. That is controlled by TV.
4. As for the football issues... FSU has been willing to spend money to skin the football cat. FSU's football operations budget was second in the nation in 2016, its coaches were the 6th highest paid in the nation, and we built over $150 million in facilities within a seven year period. We started to slip in football a several years ago and are in a transition. WT has a very large budget to hire coaches, recruit players and build the program. The university is committed to being succesful in football so I have confidence we will turn the corner sooner than later.
5. I understand your concern but I remain optimistic. FSU hired WT because they think he has a high ceiling. I think Cristobol not coming forced him to hire an OC and quarterback coach and a new offensive line coach on very short notice. Those critical hires did not work. So now he has an opportunity to do a reset. Time will tell but I know FSU is committed to having an elite program. Not only does our leadership WANT to have a great football program, they are convinced we HAVE to have a great program to fund athletics. I am not a rainbows and lollypops kind of guy, this sport is unforgiving even under the best of conditions (see Alabama this season) and FSU is being tested again.

If FSU were a stock, I'd buy it and hold. It will come back.

https://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/booster-numbers-are-declining.250191/#post-4266584

100 percent agree with you about the need for home and home schedule as it is one thing - and the most important thing - we can control.

Andy Miller and I have been arguing for this for as long as we have known each other (1982). And I know you know that. I know you are old enough to remember we haven't had but a handful of good home and homes since the 1970s. You older guys will remember getting a KY or Ga a few tymes before they went home with upset loses and sworn statements they'd never come here again. Auburn dropped the home and home in the 1980s.

Jimbo didn't want them. I know that. We discussed it. Monk was my friend and told me he worked hard to find games but really struggled to do so. They would play neutral sites but not come to Tallahassee.

I don't get it but Jimbo and Monk showed Andy and I the history, with press guides all laid out as proof. You all help me. But these are the only non ACC schools I can remember playing in Doak since 1980: Auburn (1 or 2), Pitt (with Marino), USC (1), ND (2 or 3), LSU (1), Michigan State (1), Oklahoma (8). In 40 years we've had 10 of the kind of games we are talking about plus 20 against Florida.

We believe we need to replace one of the Directional State games with an interesting team. Oklahoma would be great or Ohio State. But if a W is important, then go for a more beatable team with an interesting location for a nice home and away. It could be an Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, TCU or Baylor. Something different at home and a road trip to look forward to.

I think Taggart and Coburn agree. We'll see if they can do what others have not been able to do very often.

I do know we have ND coming in at least 3 times in the next 10 years, so that solves 3 of the 10 slots.

Attendance at live events has been trending down on a nationwide basis across college and pro ball. Most everyone in the SEC has felt the pinch including Alabama, Tenn and Fla who lost 9,000 season ticket holders in 2018. I'm sure some have come back but each of these schools is looking to reduce stadium capacity (take out bleacher seats) and add fewer club seats which we did four years ago.

What is important to note is that the loss of members is highest in each of our lowest level categories. Of the members lost, the vast majority are at the lowest levels ($70-135). Meanwhile our membership is growing at our four highest levels which is why we are still raising more money but from fewer people. We want both.

Some of the "loss" in the lower level is not failure. It is success because many donors start at the lowest level to test the water, like it, and move up to one of the highest levels. So you "lost" a lower level member and "gained" a higher level member. That's a good thing.
The ones we worry over are the ones who fall out completely. Those are the ones we need to know why.

https://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/who-is-a-booster-but-does-not-go-to-games-updated-with-jerry-kutz-responses.250239/page-3#post-4265600

To your point about Major Gift fundraising - the one $100,000 gift -- versus 35,000 100 members, let me make several points:
1. A fundraising organization has to have both focuses. You can't be one or the other. I was a major gift fundraiser at one time AND in charge of the annual fund. Now we have an annual fund manager (the 13,000 being discussed) which must generate $17 million each year to balance the athletics budget. It is a major cash flow issue. But, don't forget, we also have to generate another $10 million each year to pay the bond issue on existing facilities. And we must also raise money for the favorite facility (IPF, Football opps, etc) to the tune of another $25 to 30 million a year. You simply can't process and please 35,000 new $100 donors while raising $100 million for a football opps building, golf course, basketball, softball,scholarships, etc.

2. People are talking about these numbers but no one has called to interview me or ask me to clarify them. So I'll do it here. Like most numbers there's usually a back story and I haven't seen it mentioned yet.
A.) Our numbers have always vacillated between 11,000 and 19,000. Up, down, up, back down and up again. We've been trending down lately. Football has been trending down for several years. The national trend most everywhere is in a downward trend because live events are trending down and stadiums are reducing capacity in favor of premium seats. That trend has changed rapidly many times before. We get a great quarterback, a Sunshine type kid, and our numbers will jump quickly.
B.) No one has asked this: Compared to who? How do we compare to other Power 5 schools. I don't know of anyone who has 35,000 members. I think your IPTAY boys at Clemson are about the biggest and they are usually have around 20-25 every year. Most major programs have 10,000 to 15,000 and some 20,000. It is all relative. Why doesn't Florida have more? Why doesn't Alabama or Auburn?
Same reasons... even though they have a larger alumni and fan base closer to their campus.
3. You have to understand the numbers. The brochure Corey and Aslan were talking about - and this thread is arguing over - is an ANNUAL fund brochure. We reported 1000 fewer Boosters in the ANNUAL fund each of the last few years to where we now have 13,331. That's the transparency we posters accuse us of not reporting. But that number is NOT total Boosters.
We have a couple of thousand Boosters who give to Coaches Clubs and hundreds of Boosters who make endowment gifts, estate gifts and major facility gifts ranging from $25,000 to $20 million just this year.
Those Boosters don't count in that 13,331 number. And our Student Seminole Boosters aren't counted in those numbers.

I think it's relevant to talk about the fall in ANNUAL fund numbers - I learn what we do good and bad and what our fans don't understand - which is all important to us.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Major FSU donors pass & Major Gift History

https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2019/01/04/longtime-fsu-supporter-george-langford-dies/

Longtime FSU supporter George Langford dies

BY: BROWNING BROOKS | PUBLISHED: JANUARY 4, 2019 | 2:38 PM | SHARE:

The Florida State University community expressed sadness Friday at the passing of civic leader George Langford and deep appreciation for his untiring leadership and loyal support of FSU for more than five decades.

“George earned admiration and respect not only for the countless ways he served FSU but also for his integrity and great love for this institution,” said President John Thrasher. “He has passed on that love to his family, and they also are very active with Florida State. We could not be more grateful for their friendship.”

Calling Langford a pillar of the community, FSU Vice President for University Advancement Tom Jennings said, “It is difficult to overstate his positive influence on so many aspects of FSU’s athletic and academic programs.”

Langford earned nearly every honor a volunteer can receive from FSU, including the Alumni Association’s highest honor, the Bernard Sliger Award, and the Circle of Gold. Additionally, he received the Athletics Hall of Fame Moore-Stone Award, an Honorary Doctor of Letters and the FSU faculty’s Torch Award. He was a founding member of the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors in the 1970s, and one of only two people given lifetime membership on the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees.

He was a member of the Seminole Boosters’ highest giving level, the Micco Society, and he created the George R. Langford Eminent Scholars Chair in Classics (Arts & Sciences), along with many other contributions through the years.

Langford served three terms as chairman of the Seminole Boosters Board, and he is credited with resurrecting the Boosters organization and the Seminole Athletics Program.

Following a three-year stretch in the mid-1970s when FSU won a total of three football games and found its athletics program heavily in debt, a search was launched to find a dynamic leader who could turn fundraising around. Without exception, Langford was recommended by alumni and friends of the university.

“The decision of the Boosters to recruit George Langford and his decision to accept the opportunity to lead our organization was one of the most important events that has occurred in our 64-year history,” said Seminole Boosters President Andy Miller. “It was indeed a defining moment.”

Miller was hired by Langford and a group of mostly Tallahassee board members to serve as executive director of the Boosters in 1975.

“Coach Bowden was hired in 1976 and challenged by George to resurrect the football program, promising Bobby that he would take care of the money,” Miller said. “George mentored me and taught me about business, fundraising and life. I owe him so much for those valuable lessons and inspiring me and a legion of volunteers, donors and future leaders.”

Those leaders included Langford’s son, Lawton, who became a dynamic Chairman of the Seminole Boosters.

To recognize Langford’s many achievements along with his giving spirit, the Boosters board created the George Langford Award to recognize leadership and lifetime achievement serving the best interests of FSU.

And in 2000, the Seminole Boosters named an esplanade outside Doak Campbell Stadium where Seminole football fans and their families gather and celebrate the “George R. Langford Green.”

In addition to his leadership on the Boosters board, Langford served six terms as the FSU Foundation Chair and co-chaired the university’s first capital campaign. He also helped found the Springtime Tallahassee festival and served with distinction on virtually every board in the capital city.

https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2019/01/26/prominent-fsu-supporter-al-dunlap-passes-away/

Prominent FSU supporter Al Dunlap passes away

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 26, 2019 | 12:13 PM | SHARE:

Albert J. Dunlap, a former corporate executive and one of Florida State University’s most generous supporters, passed away Friday, Jan. 25, at his home in Ocala after a brief illness. He was 81.

Dunlap will be remembered for his boisterous enthusiasm, his grand gestures of generosity and his popularity among Florida State student-athletes.

“Al Dunlap was undeniably passionate about investing in the potential of future leaders,” said FSU President John Thrasher. “We are incredibly fortunate that two decades ago Al and his wife, Judy, chose to share that passion with FSU, fostering the achievements of our students and successes of this university. Their journey of generosity at Florida State is evident, from the Student Success Center in the center of campus to the athletic training facility at the stadium. Al’s legacy will live on to benefit future generations of Seminoles.”

Dunlap’s relationship with Florida State began in 1995 when he was invited to campus to speak. He and Judy quickly fell in love with FSU because of its great academic programs, championship athletics and beautiful campus, and they wanted to make a difference in the lives of its students.

“We are fortunate that Al Dunlap fell in love with Florida State University,” said Ed Burr, chair of the FSU Board of Trustees. “The generosity of Al and Judy have benefited thousands of our students and student-athletes. They have changed the lives of many graduates and future generations for the better.”

The Dunlaps’ generosity produced a number of significant gifts to Florida State over the years. They established the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Student Success Center, where the Career Center is located. Their gifts also supported outdoor football practice fields (Al Dunlap Practice Fields) and a state-of-the-art indoor practice field, the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility. Their generosity was recognized with the naming of the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Champions Club at Doak Campbell Stadium.

In October, the Dunlaps announced a $20 million lead gift to the Seminole Boosters’ Unconquered Campaign, the centerpiece of which is a new, football-only facility to be built adjacent to FSU’s current practice fields.

Florida State University recognizes the Dunlaps as having contributed in excess of $40 million.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Judy and her family,” said FSU football coach Willie Taggart. “When I first met Al and Judy, there was an instant connection because of their genuine love for Florida State and commitment to the value of hard work. All of us fortunate enough to have spent time with Al are better for those experiences. I will miss Al, especially his enthusiasm and passion for bettering the lives of students at Florida State. Our football program and university have been forever changed due to his generosity, and he will be sincerely missed.”

Andy Miller, president and CEO of Seminole Boosters, Inc., said he has many fond memories of Dunlap.

“Just recently Al and Judy were featured speakers for our Seminole Student Boosters’ Champions Forum,” he said. “Not only did the Dunlaps take their time to share their inspirational story of overcoming adversity to achieve success in business and marriage, but I was impressed with how much time the couple spent with our students afterward, engaging with each of them and signing hundreds of copies of his book. Al Dunlap will always be remembered as one of the true game-changers in FSU history. He made an immeasurable impact on our students, our student-athletes and our university and will be missed dearly.”

FSU Interim Athletics Director David Coburn agreed.

“Al and Judy generously provided so many opportunities for our student-athletes that would not have been available without their support,” Coburn said. “We are very grateful to them both, and we offer our deepest sympathies to Judy and her family.”

FSU Vice President for University Advancement Tom Jennings said Dunlap was committed to excellence.

“FSU was his and Judy’s adopted university, and their generosity is promoting and sustaining athletic and academic excellence here every day,” Jennings said. “They are among the university’s most generous donors, and we are grateful for all they have done for Florida State University.”

Dunlap also enjoyed interacting with students and frequently spoke to business classes.

“Al was a great storyteller whose life experiences in business and world events were fascinating,” Jennings said. “He shared his business experience and advice with groups of FSU students many times, and they enjoyed and learned much from these encounters.”

In addition, thousands of students have benefited from the services offered at the Dunlap Success Center, according to Career Center Director Myrna P. Hoover.

“The Career Center and the Center for Leadership and Social Change housed in this state-of-the-art building supports students to find civic purpose, social action and career identity,” she said.

Dunlap’s generosity was not limited to FSU. He and Judy focused their philanthropic efforts on their passions — education, medicine and animals — and they made significant gifts to a Mayo Cancer Center in Judy’s hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in honor of Judy’s parents. In Marion County where Dunlap lived, he and Judy supported the Sheriff’s K-9 Department and sponsored an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children.

Dunlap was highly motivated by his impoverished roots. He graduated from West Point in 1960, the first in his family to graduate from college. He spent three years in the military as a paratrooper and an executive officer of a nuclear missile site before embarking on a 37-year career in business. He met Judy in 1966 while working in Wisconsin.

In all, Dunlap served as chairman and chief executive officer of nine major corporations on three continents, including Lily-Tulip, Kimberly-Clark and Scott Paper.

In those positions, he oversaw operations that created the first plastic ketchup bottle and the Big Gulp cup. He did a five-city international speaking tour with General Norman Schwarzkopf and Mikhail Gorbachev.

He was the author of a bestselling book, “Mean Business,” and was featured on Dateline, Nightline and many other television shows. Florida Trend named him a Florida Icon.

Dunlap was the recipient of three honorary doctoral degrees, including one from FSU.

Dunlap and Judy received the 2015 George Langford Award from the Seminole Boosters in recognition of their extraordinary philanthropic leadership. Dunlap also received the Godfrey Smith Award from Seminole Boosters in 2017 for outstanding leadership and contribution to the Boosters Board of Directors.

http://allthingsfsu.blogspot.com/2018/10/fsu-gets-20-million-gift-for-football.html

Dunlap Gifts to Florida State University

Project	Gift	Date
Student Success Center	$10 million	2008
Indoor Practice Facility	$5 million	2012
Champions Club	$5 million	2017
Standalone Football Facility	$20 million	2018

http://allthingsfsu.blogspot.com/2018/07/raise-torch-campaign-for-florida-state.html

Top six fundraising years in FSU history:

FY 16 $225 million

FY 08 $129 million

FY 17 $128 million

FY 18 $107 million (through May)*

FY 15 $115 million

FY 14 $108 million

https://allthingsfsu.blogspot.com/2018/02/fsu-major-gift-history.html

$100 Million

Jim and Jan Moran

http://allthingsfsu.blogspot.com/2015/12/more-on-fsu-100-million-donation.html

"The $100 million pledge includes $80 million over 20 years, or $4 million a year, and a $20 million charitable bequest, administrators said.

FSU officials said that they think it's the largest private donation ever to a public university in Florida and that it matches the largest ever to any university in the state. "

"Moran first gave nearly $2 million to FSU in 1995 toward what is now The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship.

Jan Moran (and deceased husband Jim) gave multiple six and seven figure gifts

As an example: https://www.fsu.edu/news/2008/08/06/moran.gift/

$25 Million

DeVoe Moore

$25 Million (but heard varying amounts on this) mixed donation on academics and athletics

http://tacm.com/2012-07-08-22-04-55/about-devoe-moore.html

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...oak-campbell-stadium-seminole-central-florida

"For perspective, consider that DeVoe Moore, an entrepreneur, gave a $25 million gift

that will support academics and athletics."

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/...known_gifts_of_over_1_million_in_1996/_4.html

"14. DeVOE MOORE--$5 million to the FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY from this Tallahassee businessman and alumnus to create the DeVoe Moore Center for the Study of Critical Issues in Government. The gift will pay for two professorships, an endowed chair, and student scholarships. Moore said, "It is my wish that this endowment be used to educate students in the area of government regulations and how these regulations affect private enterprise. It is very difficult for young people to start their own businesses as I have done because of the intrusion of government, particularly at the local level.""

"DeVoe gave what was announced as $25 million to fund scholarships (primarily athletic) in 2005, plus at least one other major gift of $5 million to endow the DeVoe Moore Center in Social Sciences."

$20 Million

Al Dunlap

$5 Million for practice facility and Student Success Center

http://www.ocala.com/article/20120131/ARTICLES/120139944?p=2&tc=pg

"The Dunlaps, who gave FSU a $10 million gift in 2007 to build a student success center and $5 million in 2012 as the lead donors for the football team’s Indoor Practice Facility, were recently considering a proposal to make another $5 million donation to Seminole Boosters, Inc.

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/01/17/fsu-trustees-name-champions-club-al-and-judith-dunlap/96655162/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

"The approval of the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Champions Club follows the couple’s $5 million pledge toward the project to Seminole Boosters last November. It will be paid out in five years.

That gift means the Dunlaps have been credited with contributing $20 million to the FSU since 2007."

"In 2008, FSU named its new Student Success Center in honor of the Dunlaps, who contributed $5 million toward the project. That money was matched by the state, so FSU credits the couple with a $10 million donation.

The indoor athletic facility on campus was named the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility, following another $5 million donation. His name also is on the Al Dunlap Football Practice Fields."

DONATION RETURNED BY FSU (UNDER TK WETHERELL)

$11 Million

Robert Holton

Robert Holton donated $11 million to FSU Chemistry.

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State University plans to return gifts totaling $11 million, plus interest, to a professor acclaimed for developing a lifesaving synthetic cancer drug in a bid to end a dispute over a new chemistry building, school officials said Wednesday.
Robert Holton’s MDS Research Foundation donated the money with conditions that the building focus heavily on his specialty: synthetic organic chemistry.
The foundation sued the university last year after Florida State President T.K. Wetherell decided instead to construct a general chemistry building costing in excess of $55 million. University officials say Holton’s vision was too expensive, costing about twice that amount including endowed faculty chairs and research expenses.
“No professor has the right to create a shrine to his own research area with public funds,” Wetherell said in the university’s statement.
The offer to return MDS donations of $6 million given in 1999 and $5 million in 2002 will not be excepted nor will it end the lawsuit that seeks to enforce requirements attached to the gifts, said foundation president Mike Devine.
“Returning half a loaf is not good enough,” Holton said in a statement. “Our goal was to do something world class, and it turned into something mediocre.”
MDS and Holton contend if Florida State is allowed to ignore the donor agreements it also must return $18.5 million earmarked for the building to a laboratory fund established from $210 million in royalties the school has received from the cancer drug Holton developed, synthetic Taxol.
“That’s university money,” said Brooks Keel, Florida State’s associate vice president for research. “It’s under the control of the president.”
Holton personally earned $140 million from his innovation and used part of that sum to set up the research foundation.
A judge last month sent the lawsuit into mediation that is scheduled for Jan. 26-27. Wetherell said in his statement, however, that efforts to reach a compromise have failed because Holton’s “demands remain onerous.”
Until Wednesday’s announcement, Florida State officials had argued that Holton was entitled at best to return of the $5 million 2002 contribution because the 1999 agreement accompanying the $6 million donation lacks specific requirements.
Kirby Kemper, Florida State’s vice president for research, said synthetic organic chemistry had been dominant in the battle against cancer 10 years ago but no longer.
“Science changes at the speed of light, and today other fields of chemistry now offer a much broader range of approaches to fighting cancer and other diseases,” he said in the university’s statement.
Devine responded that the nation’s top chemistry departments are strong in synthetic organic chemistry while Florida State remains weak in the field with only four faculty members including Holton. Florida State, however, cannot attract top-notch synthetic organic chemists because it lacks proper facilities, he said.

http://www.gainesville.com/news/20060112/fsu-to-return-gifts-totaling-11-million

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/01/09/daily21.html

$10 Million

Ghazvini Family

$7 Million

Nancy and Bob Dedman

Nancy Dedman (and deceased husband, Bob) gave $7 million to COB

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-10-18/business/9910160321_1_dedman-florida-global-travel

DONATION REVOKED BY TK WETHERELL

$7 Million

TK Wetherell

Donation of his farm valued at $7 Million. Went to 'scholarships.'

At the time of the 2003 announcement, it was reported that upon receipt, the gift would provide for:

the construction of a scholarship house at the Southern Scholarship Foundation to be named The Wetherell Family House and endowed scholarships that will support eligible students for that house by providing their tuition and fees;
support for the construction of the Alumni Center;
endowment of a new, innovative Westcott Scholars Program;
support for FSU graduate fellowships;
and endowment of a Wetherell Family Scholarship Fund, which will provide athletic scholarships to be split equally between male and female students.

$5 Million

William Hold and Anne Hamilton

$5 million to the COB.

http://www.fsu.edu/news/2012/02/28/risk.initiative/

$3 Million

Charlotte Maguire,

an FSU Foundation Board of Trustees member, gave $3 million to the FSU College of Medicine

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2007-08-24/features/FSUFANSGUIDE24_1_doak-campbell-stadium-seminole-central-florida#

$2 Million

George Langford

He and his wife, Marian, also have donated a million dollars to FSU's classics department, another million to the law school and more money to the school's World War II institute

Aside from donating some of his own money, Langford helped the department get out of debt by raising money for Seminole Boosters Inc., and helped turn the booster club into a modern

nonprofit organization.

a Tallahassee businessman, accepted FSU President Stanley Marshall's fund-raising challenge in 1974. He became a founding father of the current Seminole Boosters and one of the university's most prominent benefactors.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...02040291_1_george-langford-athletic-seminoles

http://classics.fsu.edu/Research-and-Resources/Langford-Endowment/The-Langford-Family-Chair

http://www.seminoles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209573706

Others

Yet there are several deceased (like Godfrey Smith and Pat Smith: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tallahassee/obituary.aspx?pid=125334575) and anonymous donors (see example: http://coss.fsu.edu/inaprog/content/fsu-center-advancement-human-rights

) who have given generously to Florida State academics that were not mention in this thread. Also, planned gifts (realized upon death) are very popular. You will likely hear less PR about these gifts, but many are huge and will make a major impact.

Lastly, I know off the top of my head of three still living individual academic donors (not to bother mentioning corps), who have given at least $5 million to academic programs at Florida State, who I believe went unmentioned. (At least one has also given a lot through the Boosters). Existing donors are often an institution's best prospects so here's a quick shout of thanks to some not earlier mentioned...

Nancy Dedman (and deceased husband, Bob) gave $7 million to COB

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-10-18/business/9910160321_1_dedman-florida-global-travel

William Hold and Anne Hamilton gave $5 million to the COB.

http://www.fsu.edu/news/2012/02/28/risk.initiative/

Jan Moran (and deceased husband Jim) gave multiple six and seven figure gifts

As an example: https://www.fsu.edu/news/2008/08/06/moran.gift/

Then you have a large group of still living people who have given a total of somewhere between $1 and $5 million to FSU academics. Many have also given a lot through the Boosters:

Tillie Allen (and deceased spouse, EC) fall into this category

http://med.fsu.edu/index.cfm?page=donorstories.allen

Maggie and Robert Allesee

http://www.mancc.org/about/maggie/

Lou Bender

Mary Champion (and deceased husband, John)

Carl Desantis

http://business.fsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/centers/carl-desantis-center

David Ford

http://raisethetorch.fsu.edu/new-face-landis-green

John and Terry Frost

http://news.fsu.edu/More-FSU-News/2...Law-school-alumnus-gives-1-million-to-college

Priscilla Greenfield (and deceased husband, Arnold).

http://coss.fsu.edu/alumni/distinguished-alumni

Mart Hill (and deceased husband, Louis).

http://www.tallahasseemagazine.com/July-August-2006/Historicity/

Mark and Nan Hillis.

http://business.fsu.edu/aboutus/news/2015/10/28/mark-and-nan-hillis-continue-their-support

Wayne and Pat Hogan.

http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBPu...99844F7B421D73148525781E004C3542?OpenDocument

Reid Hughes.

Erwin and Stefanie Jackson

http://foundation.fsu.edu/our-impact/erwin-jackson-family-gives-1-million-gift-center-brain-repair

Joy Jinks

http://spark.fsu.edu/Projects/117/Applying-Arts-in-Community-Building---Arts-and-Social-Work

Terri Jo Kennedy (and deceased former husband, Dempsey Barron).

http://raisethetorch.fsu.edu/new-face-landis-green

Bob and Sharon Kerrigan

http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBPu...99844F7B421D73148525781E004C3542?OpenDocument

Payne Midyette

http://www.law.fsu.edu/our-faculty/profiles/born

Russ and Genie Morcom

https://psy.fsu.edu/history/honors/morcomchair.html

Jim and Linda Owens

http://business.fsu.edu/aboutus/new...ive-of-seven-department-suites-in-legacy-hall

Tom and Elizabeth Petway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petway

Marjorie Rendina (and deceased husband, Bruce).

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2006/12/11/daily42.html

Jim and Betty Ann Rodgers

http://med.fsu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=directory.full&usemenu=&directoryID=16242

Bob and Pam Sasser

http://news.fsu.edu/More-FSU-News/2...siness-65-million-campaign-for-a-new-building

Geraldine Schuler (and deceased spouse, John).

Sandra Schultz

Cynthia Jo Schumacher

Gus and Frances Stavros

http://coss.fsu.edu/stavros/Home

Jeff and Agnes Stoops

http://law.fsu.edu/news-and-events/...01/jeff-and-aggie-stoops-endow-professorships

http://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/anyone-know-of-any-big-fsu-request-for-upcoming-state-leg-session.87143/#post-1369907

Some of note potential BIG money (say north of $5 Million...truly, in higher ed, 'big' should be more like north of $10-$25...but):

BILLIONAIRES

Sarah Blakely (billionaire)

http://jezebel.com/5891579/inventor-of-spanx-is-worlds-youngest-female-self-made-billionaire

Harry Sargeant (billionaire)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Sargeant_III

EXECUTIVES

CEO Bob Sasser

Dollar Tree Inc. President and

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Florida_State_University_College_of_Business__160048975.html

Net sales, however, more than doubled to $4.95 billion

http://people.equilar.com/bio/bob-sasser-dollar-tree/salary/40601#.VmRULeSFPIU

John Culver

group president, Starbucks Coffee China and Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands

From 2009 to 2011, he served as president of Starbucks Coffee International (SCI),

http://business.fsu.edu/legacy-hall...mes-hospitality-research-suite-in-legacy-hall

Todd Combs

a potential successor of Warren Buffett as the chief investment officer of Berkshire Hathaway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Combs

http://www.gurufocus.com/news/110631/what-do-you-look-like-mr-todd-combs

"and Florida State University even managed to insult him by saying they would only have a picture “if he’d done something important.” You’ve got to laugh at that."

http://dealbreaker.com/2014/03/how-...rren-buffett-to-prove-they-can-run-berkshire/

http://www.gurufocus.com/news/37524...rs-having-mostly-positive-performance-in-2015

FSU ATHLETES WHO MADE APPROX $50-$100 Million:

*Derrick Brooks (sat on FSU's BOT)

*Charlie Ward

*Deion Sanders

*Sam Cassell

*Jamies Winston (on the way to)

*Buster Posey (on the way to)

General

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/25/Columns/Billionaire_club_stil.shtml

27 Number of billionaires residing in Florida

31,000 Size in acres of Avalon plantation near Tallahassee owned by Ted Turner, CNN founder, whose net worth is $1.9-billion.

UF Large donations

$50 Million in 2015 for College of Engineering

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150928/ARTICLES/150929709

$75 Million in 2014 for UF research

http://www.floridatrend.com/article/17032/university-of-florida-lands-a-75-million-endowment

$12.5 Million in 2014

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...25-million-academic-center-20141219-post.html

$20 Million in 1991 for library system

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...e-smathers-university-of-florida-million-gift

$5 Million in 2014 for child education

http://www.postandcourier.com/artic...ons-anita-zucker-donates-5m-to-her-alma-mater

$10 Million (plus) in 1999 for law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Levin

$30 Million in 2007 for COB

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/venturebiz/content/hough-name-gains-clout-uf-business-school

Miami Large donations

$55 Million for Med School

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflo...sity-of-miami-receives-55m-donation-from.html

$100 Million for Med School

http://jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/120604/D86QBJ8G0.shtml

RANDOM THOUGHTS

*I am sure I am missing some, let me know, I'll edit

*I note athletes, but if they donate, it seems more often for athletics and not academics and usually not major (as defined above...no insult intended)

*I don't note this to facilitate 'shaming'. I really hate when folks shame those with money on this topic not my intention. I try to just limit to appreciating those who do give.

*"General" is noted above because, while not highly likely, living in a state with so many billionaires, there is a chance you could land one or two as an unconnected champion ala George Langford/Al Dunlap. IMHO, an untapped source FSU hasn't capitalized on.

*I generally believe FSU has failed to land major donors (until recently) to the point it is almost not statistically possible. If you look at other schools....big names and small, just by chance you are likely to land a big fish. It has been a perfect storm of bad luck almost for FSU.

That said, I believe FSU has rarely hired the leadership that can compete at this level. I am hopeful Tom Jennings is about to change that....but FSu leadership has been weak in the past demanding accountability and expect results/production.

*I have long felt FSU has failed to be wise with many of these donors. For example. Sarah Blakely is very generous and spefic to her causes (women's issues). Establish something like a women's entrepreneurship program in her name WITHOUT a donation from her.......her name alone is worth a TON and perhaps some day, she will donate to it. But either way, a win for FSU and it shows here FSU shares some of her values.

I think something similar to Todd Combs would be worth while. His name tied to FSU and it's tie to Warren Buffett has to be worth something.

FSU has not had success with past methods....perhaps more out of the box ones would work? Either way, I think FSU HAS to question it's past methods and leadership in these areas.

*Sadly, it seems FSU is WAY too focused on athletics when it comes to these large donors. I love athletics, but without high quality academic programs, you don't produce donors who can give to athletics. It is a win for everybody if you have academic colleges back by transformational gifts.

*Looking at FSU gifts to say UF/UM......there is a massive difference (until recent $100 million gift). The good news is, FSU does well with a broader, smaller gift, base.

*Perhaps biggest issue is not enough 'transformational gift'....something that sets a college up at an elite level. A single college getting a $10-$100 million gift (honestly, in today's dollar, I think the amount is more like $25-$100) which sets that college up as a player.

All things FSU

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

FSU booster notes & FSU's culture impacts AD hires

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Major FSU donors pass & Major Gift History

Longtime FSU supporter George Langford dies

Prominent FSU supporter Al Dunlap passes away

Top six fundraising years in FSU history:

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