An Idea Worth Exploring

The Saturday edition (10-18-2008) of The Cleveland Plain Dealer sports section featured two articles, ‘Tough to Tackle and ‘Football at CSU?  Wrong Idea,’ that dealt with CSU’s president Michael Schwartz’s recent announcement that he would like to see the school develop a football program. President Schwartz is one of the brightest and clear thinking people in Northeast Ohio. His opinions and ideas merit full debate.

A doable initiative? Maybe not and maybe yes.  Predictably “Buzz Kill Gazette” aka the PD shot the idea down out of hand.

I believe for the reasons described in my letter to the PD’s writers that the idea is worth exploring. I thought my Cleveland readers might be interested. I would also invite anyone who has any thoughts on the subject (supportive or otherwise) to email me.  Below is a copy of my letter to the PD:

"Good morning Terry/Bill.  (Bill, I hope you remember me from your business column days and when I was running the Colliers O/M Company)

Regarding your respective columns this morning:

A CSU Football program is worth exploring if you look at it from more than just another athletic program perspective. Consider the following:

1-Schloraships/Jobs/Careers. CSU can partner with local and regional business to create a program where a local business provides all or part of the scholarship funds for a specific athlete. In return the student/athlete interns at the company during the summers. The company and student create a true relationship in which the student is ready to enter the company’s workforce when he graduates.  Upon graduation the student goes to work for the company, the company gains a trained and “ready to contribute”
employee, Cleveland gets to keep our most needed assets (young, educated citizen), and we combat ‘Brain Drain”.

 I would be willing to commit my firm to an annual “scholarship chair” and I am very confident there are other companies who would jump at this time of partnership investment opportunity.

Also, see the Kalamazoo Promise as a template for this type of business, institution, and civic partnership

2-Economic Development. Contrary to what is generally believed there are land sites available and close to CSU. The Midtown Corridor would be a perfect, close to campus alternative if there is not an on campus solution.
Driving to work on Chester Avenue I have many times envisioned a sports complex of some sort that would be an indication of vitality, growth, energy and gateway to the Campus and the City.

Imagine thousands of people on the Euclid Silver Line on five to six Saturdays in the fall. The impact on the development of the Corridor would be significant. My guess is that the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the business and entertainment venues on and around Euclid Avenue would love to see the increased activity. (The hospitals have sports medicine programs that might create partnership opportunities i.e. see the Cavaliers and Clinic practice facility in Independence)

More student equals more dorm rooms, more meals, more jobs, more professors who need to buy more homes, ……….Higher Education is a recession proof industry that can be counted on to support the economy year in and year out.

3-Imnproving Cleveland Schools. Imagine if we can incent 15-20 high school student/athletes to stay in school, achieve academic success, and graduate because we demonstrate the benefits of graduating and participating in the Scholarship/Career concept outlined above.

4-Basketball is King. Yes it is and that can only help. The emergence of the Basketball Program lends credibility and momentum to the idea of a football program at CSU. Leverage its success.

5- Northeast Ohio is rich with good athletes. My guess is that CSU would be able to put a competitive team on the field within a short period of time due to the deep pool of talent that lives within 100 miles of the CSU Campus.

6. Civic Pride and creating something special. CSU is a miracle that is developing right before our very eyes. Drive (or better yet, walk) around the campus. CSU is an economic engine for the City. Also, there is something special about the college campus atmosphere that feels wonderfully exhilarating. We have that in part with CSU. If a football program attracts more students( residential and commuter), increases a sense ownership and pride, drives economic development, and most importantly attracts and retains our young people we are making a huge mistake by dismissing the concept out of hand. It just might be a great idea.

Remember, this is not only about a football program. The objective is creating a stronger, sustainable  community and an  economic and educational asset that is vital to Cleveland.

I would love to lend my support in whatever way I can."

Regards.

Dennis R. Burnside
President and CEO
www.BurnsideAnalytics.com