Dear Owls Fan,

What would you guess is the fastest-rising expense athletics departments nationwide face?

Good guesses might be coaching salaries, team transportation, facilities upkeep and recruiting costs, but the quickest-growing expense today is perhaps our most basic: the cost of educating our student-athletes.

At most other universities, the department of athletics is essentially handed an invoice each year for the tuition, room and board of its student-athletes. Temple Athletics has been blessed to have a university adminstration that has for years subsidized every penny of our financial aid budget -- this year approximately $9 million -- so that we may help ensure the access to educational excellence Temple is known for. Because of this, our Owl Club has been able to focus exclusively on fundraising for operational dollars.

But the times are changing and the costs are rising. We must respond.

In particular, summer school funding has never been more crucial. As part of the new 12-month cycle of collegiate athletics, summer school is the fastest-growing trend at both Temple and our peer schools. Many student-athletes must put so much time into practice, preparation and competition throughout the traditional academic year, they rely upon a "third semester" -- summer school -- to make up that extra class or two, ensure a chance to graduate in four years and meet NCAA academic requirements.

This year alone, providing summer school access to each Temple student-athlete who needs it or whose coach has requested it would cost a record $1 million. Being an athletics director has plenty of highs, but there is no lower low than telling one of your well-intentioned coaches that resources are not available for summer school education.

Here's what you can do:
As an Owl Club donor, choose for your gift to be "Unrestricted" to support the area(s) of greatest need within Athletics. Beginning July 1, Owl Club benefits will prioritize and reward unrestricted giving (as opposed to "Restricted" giving to a specific team). Unrestricted gifts will largely support summer school funding for student-athletes. We must generate an additional $200,000 in unrestricted giving each year to keep pace with our summer school need -- and we must begin now.

Temple is a school of promise and opportunity. Take away the lights, crowds, television, bowl games, slam dunks, and our mission is simple: to provide opportunities for talented student-athletes to access higher education. If we cannot provide that access, if we cannot "do right" by the student-athletes who do right by us, then what is the rest of this really about?

As always, we are thankful for the broad participation of our alumni, fans and friends. With your continued loyalty, we shall achieve.

Go Owls!


This is an abridged version of "From the AD's Desk," the monthly column from Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw. To read the full version, visit www.owlsports.com.


Congratulations to Temple Track & Field!
Temple Athletics is incredibly proud of Head Coach Eric Mobley, his staff, and our Temple track and field teams! On Sunday, May 2, the Temple women captured their first-ever Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship, while the men finished second in the conference meet. In just his second season on North Broad Street, Coach Mobley has revitalized all six cross country, indoor and outdoor track programs. Temple's student-athletes have a work ethic and determination –- now coupled by a talent level -– that is simply impressive. We look forward to watching the Owls in regional and national competition later this month!