Florida Gators
Rolex Championships (Day 2)
Booster education remains at forefront for Gators amid turbulent NCAA climate
Monday, September 19, 2011 | Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Cross Country, Scott Carter
On Saturday morning as thousands of Florida football fans began to line University Avenue for the Gator Walk, another group of Gators assembled inside the Gene Ellenson Board Room.
The group of approximately 80 men and women gathered around a large table for a Gator Boosters Board of Directors Meeting in the offices of Gator Boosters, Inc. As they got off an elevator to enter the board room, they could look through large glass windows and take in the scene outside as fans waited to greet the Gator football team as it entered Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Saturday's game against Tennessee.
The slogan for Gator Boosters, Inc. is “The Team Behind The Teams.”
These are the men and women who donate millions of dollars to the University Athletic Association for the betterment of the Gators.
They met Saturday for their first official board meeting of the 2011-12 sports calendar. UF President Bernie Machen and Athletic Director Jeremy Foley spoke to the group about topics ranging from conference expansion to the latest renovations being made on campus.
Gators women's golf coach Jan Dowling and senior Evan Jensen also spoke to the group about their sport and how booster donations help the program succeed.
“We have such wonderful resources,'' Dowling said. “We couldn't do some of the things we do without your help, and that's what makes the University of Florida such a special place. We have the kind of resources here that some coaches can only dream about.''
But perhaps the most important person to address the group on Saturday was Jamie McCloskey, UF's senior associate athletic director for compliance. McCloskey addresses the group during its annual meetings to update them on NCAA rules and to reinforce the importance of running a clean athletic department.
If you follow college sports, you know that in recent months several major NCAA rules violations have cast a dark cloud over a number of athletic departments, including Ohio State, Miami, North Carolina and Auburn.
The most recent case to garner national headlines is Miami booster Nevin Shapiro's claims that he provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit benefits to University of Miami football players.
McCloskey's message to the high-ranking boosters was to avoid personal contact with potential student-athletes and to continue working with Gator Boosters, Inc. to help the UF athletic programs succeed.
“We are very fortunate that we have the resources and more to provide our student-athletes with what they need to be successful,'' McCloskey said. “We are doing it the right way and it's very important we continue to do it that way.''
Former Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel attended the meeting as well and thanked the group for their support. Wuerffel said when he was younger and played for the Gators he was unaware of how important booster support is for a program.
As he has gotten older, he knew that what was about to take place in The Swamp on Saturday was enhanced by the financial support of people like those in the room.
“I've begun to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes that make that moment possible,'' Wuerffel said. “Thank you for creating this opportunity for me and all these other folks.''
