PSU Magazine Winter 1995

findings to PSU's Intercollegiate Athletics Board and to Ramaley by mid-February. "So many questions need answer– ing," says Big Sky Option committee co-chai r Jack Garrison, co-owner of Nautilus Plus fitness centers. "First we need to determine what's best for the community, PSU, and PSU's athletes and students." The committee's first task, says Garrison, is to come up with a series of options on which direction PSU's athletics program shou ld go-up, down, or at the status quo. "Then we need to come up with an option that everyone agrees we can work with ." That option is likely to be decided by finances. The comm ittee is researching budgets of other Big Sky school , making comparisons, and learn ing if financial backing for a higher level of P U ath letics exist in the Portland community. "Many influential people in the Portland community have aid to us that they'd upport us if we went to Division I or I-AA and stopped playing 6 PSU Magaz ine all those schools with hyphens in them," Nordlof says. "They sa id they'd support us, and we'll sure find out." While the committee explores PSU's options, behind-the-scenes efforts are being made to seek long– term financial support for a new and improved PSU athlet ics budget. Sue Remy, president of the 500-plus-member Viking C lub and a Big Sky Option committee member, says the booster club is already busy helping secure financial commitments throughout the community. Ideally, the committee would like to have a lump sum of money committed by mid-February, so that Ramaley is assured community support is behind PSU's move, and that it is there for the long run. "I ee money coming from three source : large corporations, Viking C lub member hip and fundrai ing ' efforts, and gra s-root fundraising," says Remy. The Viking C lub already has launched a Big ky fundraising committee that includes professional markete r and others who have amp le experience in raising money for athletics, art , and other cause . "We want to be ready so that if we get the green light [to join the Big Sky] we can tart a fundraising campaign the very next day," Remy says. "We're willing to put out brochures, conduct challenge funding campaigns, phone-a– thons...whatever it takes. It's important that once the word gets out, we hit the ground running." ordlof believes PSU could save 150,000 annually on football team trave l costs if the Vikings joi ned the Big Sky. Al o, add itional revenues from increased fan attendance, new radio and televi ion contracts, increased conce ions, and new sponsorships could total another $450,000 a yea r. "You'd see football season ticket go up from the current 4,500 to about 6,500," he says. " ow we're averagi ng ju t under 13,000 in attendance. We'd have been second in attendance in the Big Sky the past three or four year . If Boise tate left the conference, we'd step in as the conference leader in attendance." • t