Guest Author
Kellen Winslow is a man on a mission.
He wants to right what’s wrong with the athletic situation at Florida A&M University.
As athletic director, Winslow understands something essential: athletics can attract students and fans to a university.
His ambitions parallel those of Gonzaga and Appalachian State universities during their pivotal building years.
He wants a minor program to attract national notice, but understands that takes strategic rebuilding and reshaping.
Winslow, though, fails to understand that he needs to show respect for those whose help he needs and that he needs some patience.
Recently, Winslow fired Florida A&M football Coach Earl Holmes, who has legendary status among Rattlers for his high-achieving years as a player for the school.
Holmes assumed command over a football program in decline. The program had not attained a Division 1-AA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) berth since 2001 and hadn’t lived up to the gaudy expectations of Rattler alumni and fans.
(Rattlers, by the way, whose memories are long: FAMU has several NCAA Division I-AA football national championships.)
Only recently has it begun to rack up wins to erase that embarrassing season opening of 0-5. Yet the resurgence did not stop Winslow from firing Holmes during FAMU’s Homecoming week.
Yet for Florida A&M, homecoming — like any other school — is not merely another game on the calendar. Homecoming is a time of pride and fellowship, and this year, it was to be one of closure, renewal and new beginnings.
For FAMU, after years of turmoil, an air of calm was to be a rare part of the Homecoming atmosphere.
Alas, Winslow decided that decisiveness — or the appearance thereof — should triumph over the calm.
Admittedly, decisiveness has its place. It can be the sign of genuine leadership, or it can be hubris.
In the end, that Winslow made this horrible PR decision reflects a tin ear that could undermine his efforts.
Apart from the PR fumbles, Winslow has a genuine problem: how to eliminate Florida A&M’s athletic department’s debt of $6 million.
Several months ago, the Florida A&M Board of Trustees was presented with a dismal picture: its athletic budget runs $14 million in expenses, but only draws in $8 million in revenue.
Winslow’s initial response was to eliminate both the track and golf programs, which on the whole, hardly count as money-making programs.
Winslow is trying to focus on the long term. By firing both Holmes and basketball Coach Chadrick Jackson, he has signaled that he is ready to impose order on these behemoth programs.
As with most schools, football and basketball count as the “franchise programs” and draw the largest crowds, attention and money.
With a comparatively large budget ($11 million), FAMU still relies on “guaranteed-money” games against football powerhouses such as Ohio State (FAMU made $900,000 last year) to avoid even greater deficits.
The football program has several chronic problems. One is its low-attendance. The Rattlers rank 16th in NCAA game-day attendance, averaging a crowd of 11,170 per game even thought the stadium can seat up to 25,000 people. Also, the program’s travel expenses are high because of the wide distance between MEAC schools. Also, FAMU’s facilities are horrible. The football stadium hasn’t been refurbished since the 1980s.
Finally, alumni don’t contribute much money to the FAMU Boosters organization. Even within HBCUs, Florida A&M has a low giving rate.
What Winslow’s efforts amount to is a miniature reform that could change the way of doings things at FAMU — an institution widely known for its complacency.
That is why President Elmira Mangum, if not so publicly, has supported his brusque approach.
But Winslow could do more with less self-righteousness, and a bold attempt at diplomacy.
By doing so, maybe he’ll end up with the support of the whole Rattler team.
Or, if he chooses otherwise, will see this result: a long losing streak, and then, an inglorious end.
Chris Timmons is a writer living in Tallahassee. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
