Warszawski: AD Jim Bartko cares about concerns of Bulldogs fans.
No, really. He does.
Marek Warszawski
The Fresno Bee
May 2, 2015
This might take some getting used to, Bulldogs fans, but the guy in
charge cares what you think.
No, really. He does.
“Ask my wife,” Fresno State athletic director Jim Bartko says. “At
night I’m lying in bed thinking about what our fans are saying.”
Is this a new era, or what?
Last week Fresno State released the results of an extensive fan
survey that Bartko commissioned in March after unveiling his
blueprint for the future of Bulldogs sports.
More than 2,500 people responded online over a three-week period,
1,830 of whom completed every question. Of the respondents, 85%
ranked their loyalty to Fresno State athletics as either “extremely
high” (50%) or “high” (35%). Sixty-two percent indicated they’ve
been fans for at least 20 years, 59% are season-ticket holders and
44% are Bulldog Foundation donors.
So for the most part, these folks represent the reddest of the Red
Wave. But that didn’t seem to color their perspective.
For example, did you know 30% of the fan base thinks Bulldogs sports
has a less-than-favorable public image?
Or 29% believes Fresno State athletics aren’t being properly
managed?
Or 63% have little interest in donating money toward student-athlete
scholarships?
Or that 88% have no inclination to support women’s teams?
Now you do.
Really, though, this is about more than how 2,500 people answered.
It’s about Fresno State’s willingness to be questioned. How the new
boss volunteered to stand naked in a shower, without a curtain, and
put his department’s shortcomings on display.
“We need to hear what people say, and we need to listen and make
certain changes,” Bartko says.
“When you hear something one time, it’s one time. But when you hear
the same thing 10 times or more, it’s time to do something about
it.”
What I’m hearing from the new guy in charge on Bulldog Lane is a
humbleness and willingness to engage and seek input, qualities that
have been sorely missing.
Thinking back to how things used to operate, the word that comes to
mind is arrogance.
Through the 1980s and ’90s, Fresno State was the only show in town,
a town without the Internet or a million TV channels, and the people
in charge knew and took advantage of it. They were about as pliant
as cast iron.
Really, there was no need. The Bulldog Foundation kept churning out
money for scholarships. The stands were always packed.
Things began to shift during the regime of Thomas Boeh, who
inherited a Title IX mess and presided during a time of budget
tightening. The arrogance went away and was replaced by corporate
callousness.
Boeh’s sole concern (and he told me this more than once) was for the
welfare of student-athletes. When it came to the concerns of fans
and boosters, he was as indifferent as a statue.
During Barkto’s first four months on the job, a different tone has
sounded. The guy listens to everyone, and not with deaf ears.
“He gives you the feeling that he’s interested in what you have to
say,” says Nick Dvorak, a past Bulldog Foundation president. “I
can’t tell you how refreshing it is to have an AD who wants to grow
the program and is looking for help to do it.”
A survey question having to do with public engagement is a good
example of what I’m talking about.
By and large, Bulldogs fans said they were satisfied with the
emails, phone calls and mailings they get from the university. The
athletic department Web site ( www.gobulldogs.com) received mostly
favorable marks, as well.
But when it came to face-to-face interaction with athletic
department representatives, 41% of those surveyed indicated there
was too little.
“I’ve been hearing that for three months,” Bartko says. “That’s been
the one constant.”
Bartko responded by revamping the development staff and adding two
new assistant directors: Taylor Tedford and James Sewell.
Tedford, the Fresno-raised son of former Bulldogs quarterback Jeff
Tedford, will team with associate director of major gifts Adam
Brooks to cover the South Valley. Sewell, who has been on the BDF
staff for five years, will work with director of major gifts Jared
Coy in spanning Fresno and points north.
“Each one of those guys is going to have specific cities assigned to
them, and it’s going to be their responsibly to engage the community
on a daily basis,” Bartko says. “We want those face-to-face
connections.”
In addition, Fresno State will soon begin a nationwide search for a
new senior director of development, a person that will report
directly to the AD and oversee all athletics fundraising. Bartko
hopes to have the position filled by July 1.
No question this is still Bartko’s honeymoon period. He hasn’t had
to fire any coaches, cut any sports or punish any knuckleheaded
behavior by a football or basketball player.
But there’s no question things are different. The new boss wants
every Bulldogs fan to feel connected to the program, to feel like
their voice is being heard. Bartko does so much listening it keeps
him awake at night.
Just ask his wife.
URVEY SAYS …
More than 2,500 Bulldogs fans responded to a survey commissioned by
Athletic Director Jim Bartko regarding their connection to Fresno
State’s sports teams and motivations for supporting them. Here’s a
sampling of the results:
The public image of Fresno State Athletics is:
• Excellent, 13% (286 votes)
• Good, 57% (1,297)
• Average, 27% (603)
• Poor, 3% (73)
Do you believe the leadership of Fresno State Athletics provides
appropriate management of the image and legacy of the university’s
athletics program?
• Yes, 71% (1,596 votes)
• No, 29% (651)
Which areas are you most interested in supporting?
• Facility enhancements:
True, 31% (319 votes)
False, 69% (711)
• Student-athlete scholarships:
True, 37% (380 votes)
False, 63% (650)
• Women’s athletics:
True, 12% (126 votes)
False, 88% (904)
• Specific sports:
Football: 66% (306 votes)
Men’s basketball: 9% (41)
Women’s basketball: 5% (21)
Both basketball teams: 1% (5)
Baseball: 6% (29)
Softball: 4% (17)
Volleyball: 0% (2)
Other: 9% (43)
What might motivate you to give to Fresno State athletics? (Answer
on a 1-to-5 scale with 5 being the most valuable):
• I want to help the program win:
1, 9% (2 votes)
2, 5% (3 votes)
3, 20% (205 votes)
4, 26% (276 votes)
5, 41% (429 votes)
• I want to support the student-athletes and their education:
1, 10% (102 votes)
2, 10% (110)
3, 27% (278)
4, 28% (289)
5, 26% (270)
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