Walvius denies feeling pressure

[morgan n' 7]

Posted on Thu, Feb. 21, 2008
Walvius denies feeling pressure

USC women’s team is next to last in SEC, but coach points to recruits as reason for optimism

By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com (jperson@thestate.com)
At most South Carolina women’s basketball games, fans at the Colonial Center can spot Eric Hyman in the first or second row of seats along the baseline or behind the scorer’s table.

The USC athletics director, who broke into college athletics by coaching North Greenville’s women’s team with his wife in the 1970s, has a genuine interest in the sport and tries to get to the Gamecocks’ games when he is in town.

So Hyman has had an up-close view this season as injuries and losses mounted for Susan Walvius’ team, leading some to question whether Hyman might have to hire two basketball coaches in the coming weeks.

The Gamecocks (13-12, 2-8 in the SEC) are tied for next to last in the conference entering tonight’s home game against Mississippi State. Barring a remarkable run through the conference tournament, USC will miss the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

But Walvius, who is 49-101 in SEC play in 11 seasons at USC, said she feels no extra scrutiny from Hyman, noting that former athletics director Mike McGee, the man who hired her, also was a fixture at games.

Walvius will meet with Hyman to discuss her future following the season.

“We’ll sit down at the end of the year, as we always do, and we’ll talk about where the program is and the future of the program — are we moving in the right direction?” Walvius said this week.

Does Walvius believe her program is headed the right way?

“Absolutely. I don’t think there’s any question about that. Recruiting is your direction and where you’re going.”

Walvius has signed back-to-back top-20 recruiting classes, including an incoming group ranked seventh nationally. The last time Walvius landed such highly regarded classes, those players became the nucleus of the 2002 squad that advanced to the Elite Eight in the best NCAA tournament showing in school history.

Walvius guided the Gamecocks back to the NCAAs the next year. But they have not returned since, settling for WNIT bids the past two seasons.

“In reality, we’ve been a game away, an official’s call away. You can’t argue with the seventh-ranked recruiting class. You can’t argue with the 15th-ranked recruiting class,” Walvius said. “If recruiting had fallen off, I think it would be an issue. But recruiting hasn’t fallen off. We’ve continued to grow in that area.”

Walvius has followed Hyman’s instructions to play a more challenging nonconference schedule. But with injuries forcing Walvius to start four freshmen, USC has been blown out against most of its tougher opponents.

The Gamecocks have dropped four games by 30 points or more, including a 97-39 defeat to No. 2 Connecticut that was the most lopsided loss in program history.

“It’s the most (injuries) I’ve ever seen anywhere in key positions,” Walvius said. “You have to have your horses in the race.”

USC has split its four games since senior forward Lakesha Tolliver returned to the lineup following a bout with headaches. If the Gamecocks remain above .500, they could earn a third consecutive WNIT bid.

But will it be enough for Walvius to keep her job?

Before last season, Hyman eliminated the rollover clause in Walvius’ contract and gave her two additional years, through the 2008-09 season. Walvius, who makes about $200,000 a year, would collect a $125,000 buyout if she were fired after this season.

Hyman would not comment specifically about Walvius but said he is “keenly interested” in women’s basketball.

“I’m probably the only AD in the country to have coached women’s basketball,” he said. “I’m good news, bad news. The good news is I really have a high level of interest for women’s basketball. The bad news is I know enough to be dangerous.”

Walvius’ teams traditionally have done well academically. The Gamecocks posted a 2.76 grade-point average in the fall after three consecutive semesters of 3.0 or higher.

She also helped establish a mentoring program that pairs team members with Columbia businesswomen. S.C. Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal, one of the Gamecocks’ mentors, praised Walvius for her program.

“She’s had some struggles with the W and L column. But she is a wonderful coach with a wonderful group of coaches around her,” Toal said. “Her kids do so well in school. ... They don’t just slide by. Almost all of her kids just do swell scholastically.”

Toal, who is friends with Walvius, denied an Internet report that she contacted members of USC’s board of trustees on Walvius’ behalf.
As for on-court success, Walvius is optimistic about the players in the two most recent recruiting classes. She just hopes she is around to coach them.

“I want to work with these kids. We brought these kids here. I believe in them. I love their chemistry,” she said. “I really like the people in the state of South Carolina. I’ve stayed here for a long time for a reason. And I believe in what we’re doing. I believe in where we’re going.”

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.


http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/323193.html

[hardcock2]

I say keep her. She's been here 11 years, what's a couple more and see how her last two recruiting classes pan out. If there is no improvement in 2 years then start looking for a replacement.

She did take our ladies to an elite 8 which is damn good. Hopefully she can get them back there.

[LollerCock]

Posted on Thu, Feb. 21, 2008
Walvius denies feeling pressure

USC women’s team is next to last in SEC, but coach points to recruits as reason for optimism

By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com (jperson@thestate.com)
At most South Carolina women’s basketball games, fans at the Colonial Center can spot Eric Hyman in the first or second row of seats along the baseline or behind the scorer’s table.

The USC athletics director, who broke into college athletics by coaching North Greenville’s women’s team with his wife in the 1970s, has a genuine interest in the sport and tries to get to the Gamecocks’ games when he is in town.

So Hyman has had an up-close view this season as injuries and losses mounted for Susan Walvius’ team, leading some to question whether Hyman might have to hire two basketball coaches in the coming weeks.

The Gamecocks (13-12, 2-8 in the SEC) are tied for next to last in the conference entering tonight’s home game against Mississippi State. Barring a remarkable run through the conference tournament, USC will miss the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

But Walvius, who is 49-101 in SEC play in 11 seasons at USC, said she feels no extra scrutiny from Hyman, noting that former athletics director Mike McGee, the man who hired her, also was a fixture at games.

Walvius will meet with Hyman to discuss her future following the season.

“We’ll sit down at the end of the year, as we always do, and we’ll talk about where the program is and the future of the program — are we moving in the right direction?” Walvius said this week.

Does Walvius believe her program is headed the right way?

“Absolutely. I don’t think there’s any question about that. Recruiting is your direction and where you’re going.”

Walvius has signed back-to-back top-20 recruiting classes, including an incoming group ranked seventh nationally. The last time Walvius landed such highly regarded classes, those players became the nucleus of the 2002 squad that advanced to the Elite Eight in the best NCAA tournament showing in school history.

Walvius guided the Gamecocks back to the NCAAs the next year. But they have not returned since, settling for WNIT bids the past two seasons.

“In reality, we’ve been a game away, an official’s call away. You can’t argue with the seventh-ranked recruiting class. You can’t argue with the 15th-ranked recruiting class,” Walvius said. “If recruiting had fallen off, I think it would be an issue. But recruiting hasn’t fallen off. We’ve continued to grow in that area.”

Walvius has followed Hyman’s instructions to play a more challenging nonconference schedule. But with injuries forcing Walvius to start four freshmen, USC has been blown out against most of its tougher opponents.

The Gamecocks have dropped four games by 30 points or more, including a 97-39 defeat to No. 2 Connecticut that was the most lopsided loss in program history.

“It’s the most (injuries) I’ve ever seen anywhere in key positions,” Walvius said. “You have to have your horses in the race.”

USC has split its four games since senior forward Lakesha Tolliver returned to the lineup following a bout with headaches. If the Gamecocks remain above .500, they could earn a third consecutive WNIT bid.

But will it be enough for Walvius to keep her job?

Before last season, Hyman eliminated the rollover clause in Walvius’ contract and gave her two additional years, through the 2008-09 season. Walvius, who makes about $200,000 a year, would collect a $125,000 buyout if she were fired after this season.

Hyman would not comment specifically about Walvius but said he is “keenly interested” in women’s basketball.

“I’m probably the only AD in the country to have coached women’s basketball,” he said. “I’m good news, bad news. The good news is I really have a high level of interest for women’s basketball. The bad news is I know enough to be dangerous.”

Walvius’ teams traditionally have done well academically. The Gamecocks posted a 2.76 grade-point average in the fall after three consecutive semesters of 3.0 or higher.

She also helped establish a mentoring program that pairs team members with Columbia businesswomen. S.C. Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal, one of the Gamecocks’ mentors, praised Walvius for her program.

“She’s had some struggles with the W and L column. But she is a wonderful coach with a wonderful group of coaches around her,” Toal said. “Her kids do so well in school. ... They don’t just slide by. Almost all of her kids just do swell scholastically.”

Toal, who is friends with Walvius, denied an Internet report that she contacted members of USC’s board of trustees on Walvius’ behalf.
As for on-court success, Walvius is optimistic about the players in the two most recent recruiting classes. She just hopes she is around to coach them.

“I want to work with these kids. We brought these kids here. I believe in them. I love their chemistry,” she said. “I really like the people in the state of South Carolina. I’ve stayed here for a long time for a reason. And I believe in what we’re doing. I believe in where we’re going.”

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.


http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/323193.html

Is it just me or is that a douchebag thing to say?

[Go Cocks]

I don't have a problem with his comment. It's true. He knows women's basketball. No big deal with his comment.

I say keep her. I'm not a big fan of Susan. I know her, but not well. She's ok. Not a great personality, but let her coach these couple of classes. They really have had a lot of injuries.

[FoghornLeghornCock]

I say don't spend a huge amount of money on a women's basketball when so few people buy tickets we need to save our money for a new men's basketball coach. Even TN has a hard time getting students to go to games which says to me the game is not really that popular with fans. Choices have to be made and Walvius may be a bargain at $200,000?

[USCbaseballguy]

Ugh i think number 7 class for recruting sounds good tho.

[sc455]

shed be gone long ago i it was mens basketball

[Cocky2001]

Is it just me or is that a douchebag thing to say?That usually means that you don't know much about the subject..."knowing just enough to be dangerous"...actually, it is probably one of the more honest comments we have heard him make.

And...I would be will to coach the girl's team for $125K...I don't know much about women's basketball...probably not enough to even be dangerous...but, I could coach us up enough to be at the bottom!!!

(and I do have some hope for the future with these two classes coming in...just trying to find the humor...)

[garnet4ever]

I never knew her record ... yikes ...

[CockandLock]

Tennessee doesnt have a fan turn out? They brought 8,000 to the Colonial Colliseum to watch their team and are sold out every home game with an average attendance of 11,000. What planet have you been living on to say that Tennessee has no attendance.

As for Susan Walvius and her recruiting class it means nothing. She doesnt recruit the positions we need which leads to a bottleneck of players at one or two positions neither of which are post players which we will only have one of next year that will be a freshman.

I am not sure what the solution is. The women's game is huge business except at South Carolina where the AD and everyone else seems happy to be losers.

[Cocky2001]

We actually used to be good at women's basketball...long before I was ever on campus...but then...:-o

[FoghornLeghornCock]

"Even TN has a hard time getting students to go to games which says to me the game is not really that popular with fans."


Tennessee doesnt have a fan turn out? They brought 8,000 to the Colonial Colliseum to watch their team and are sold out every home game with an average attendance of 11,000. What planet have you been living on to say that Tennessee has no attendance.

TN does have a problem attracting students to the one of the best womens college basketball teams in history. They have had to resort to offering a free college scholarship to kids who go to these games their goal is to fill up the student section of 500 student tickets which right now they can't seem to do as I have stated. There was an article I give you as my proof here http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=54046

I also stand by my other comments womens basketball as a whole has both horrible ticket sales and attendance to games. I would bet at over 95% or more of NCAA schools womens basketball is a huge drag on money spent and always deeply in the red as it is here at USC. I say as a whole it is just not that popular with that many fans. Here you go this is one of the best women's basketball conferences in the NCAA even few go to these games I can imagine how it is at conferences not as good as ours is. We are averaging 1892 fans does this justify even paying $200,000 for a coach? Maybe we need to find a coach who works cheaper. Reality is at best we may get up to 5000 fans if we get really good as some of the other teams in our conference are at. Basically there is only one sucessful team TN who draws 15,000 plus fans the others most people care very little.

ATTENDANCE
Team | HOME GAMES Avg | AWAY GAMES Avg | NEUT GAMES Avg | ALL GAMES Avg |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama | 15-30272 2018 | 10-20557 2056 | 2-549 274 | 27-51378 1903 |
Arkansas | 15-36352 2423 | 6-21377 3563 | 5-4287 857 | 26-62016 2385 |
Auburn | 10-17814 1781 | 13-40363 3105 | 3-6102 2034 | 26-64279 2472 |
Florida | 17-32958 1939 | 9-24626 2736 | 0-0 0 | 26-57584 2215 |
Georgia | 14-62019 4430 | 9-35302 3922 | 3-915 305 | 26-98236 3778 |
Kentucky | 14-74553 5325 | 9-39795 4422 | 3-5101 1700 | 26-119449 4594 |
LSU | 11-56131 5103 | 13-63420 4878 | 2-450 225 | 26-120001 4615 |
Mississippi State | 15-14549 970 | 10-20080 2008 | 2-672 336 | 27-35301 1307 |
Ole Miss | 12-14300 1192 | 11-40169 3652 | 2-821 410 | 25-55290 2212 |
South Carolina | 16-30278 1892 | 9-36420 4047 | 1-409 409 | 26-67107 2581 |
Tennessee | 13-200159 15397 | 12-84369 7031 | 1-6331 6331 | 26-290859 11187 |
Vanderbilt | 16-85740 5359 | 10-48558 4856 | 1-207 207 | 27-134505 4982 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals | 168-655125 3900 | 121-475036 3926 | 25-25844 1034 | 245-844460 3447 |

For those of you who need further proof you can go to the NCAA for stats on womens basketball attendance our goal should be to increase womens basketball attendance from 1892 fans to 5000 that would get us in the top 25 in attendance and yes we would still probably be losing money and be in the red. This is the link for womens basketball attendance in the NCAA http://www.ncaa.org/stats/w_basketball/attendance/index.html

[CockandLock]

You think that ticket sales alone drive profitability? What about Media/Television games? Do you have the stats from the top five SEC schools and revenues earned from ESPN, FSN, CSS, etc. South Carolina had only 2 television games at home this year. You can go back to SEC sports and quickly look at the SEC schedule to see how many schools that the networks were willing to sink their dollars. Do you also have the amount of money that the top programs make from endorsements?

Also, if you compare the avg attendance of the top five programs in the SEC womens basketball and the bottom five programs for men you will see that the top five program for womens tops the average attendance for the bottom five programs for mens.

Considering that USC averages 300% less than the top half of attendance in the SEC of womens basketball adding an additional 3 to 4K in attendance if we are only so narrow minded to consider the value of ticket sales that would be around $20K more per home game for ticket sales and estimate of $20K more in concessions at about $40K per home game. So 15 home games would yield an additional $600K not adding the extra $1,000,000 in television revenue and endorsements.

One more comment is that womens basketball generates on an averaged double the attendance of mens baseball nationally. At South Carolina as reported by NCAA.org the last history on record is 2006 the baseball team averaged only 3,800 in attendance per home game. What is the revenue loss considering wages for this team and the overall support of fans is not much more than the womens basketball team. I didnt see the overall avg attendance listed on SEC sports for baseball, but, I did see that the average for the top 20 programs in the nation is around 4,500 per home game while in womens basketball it is around 8,000 avg per home game.

Now if we want to compare mens basketball of course the womens game is far below in attendance. In the SEC the average attendance is around 12000 and around 5,800 so about half. But in sports in College Womens Basketball is considered a revenue sport so maybe that should be the final say. Football, Mens Basketball, Womens Basketball, Mens Baseball in that order.

[FoghornLeghornCock]

Also, if you compare the avg attendance of the top five programs in the SEC womens basketball and the bottom five programs for men you will see that the top five program for womens tops the average attendance for the bottom five programs for mens.
.
SEC MENS ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR
Team | HOME GAMES Avg | AWAY GAMES Avg | NEUT GAMES Avg | ALL GAMES Avg |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama | 15-156784 10452 | 6-74663 12444 | 3-14963 4988 | 24-246410 10267 |
Arkansas | 13-220609 16970 | 4-35338 8834 | 5-29354 5871 | 22-285301 12968 |
Auburn | 12-57977 4831 | 7-61254 8751 | 3-29297 9766 | 22-148528 6751 |
Florida | 15-166181 11079 | 6-92849 15475 | 3-34594 11531 | 24-293624 12234 |
Georgia | 12-91767 7647 | 6-76989 12832 | 3-24023 8008 | 21-192779 9180 |
Kentucky | 14-311735 22267 | 7-78001 11143 | 1-14241 14241 | 22-403977 18363 |
LSU | 11-92568 8415 | 8-79825 9978 | 3-7500 2500 | 22-179893 8177 |
Mississippi State | 12-110080 9173 | 7-54336 7762 | 4-8325 2081 | 23-172741 7510 |
Ole Miss | 12-86850 7238 | 5-63299 12660 | 5-12349 2470 | 22-162498 7386 |
South Carolina | 13-156881 12068 | 5-74594 14919 | 4-12405 3101 | 22-243880 11085 |
Tennessee | 12-240259 20022 | 8-108640 13580 | 3-24778 8259 | 23-373677 16247 |
Vanderbilt | 15-197669 13178 | 8-98156 12270 | 2-1600 800 | 25-297425 11897 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals | 156-188936012111 | 77-897944 11662 | 39-213429 5473 | 220-231870510540 |

I don't know how you can make this statement my figures tell an absolutely different story that what you claim. I have given you a site to see womens basketball attendance here is mens there is no comparison between the two games on any level no matter what you think figures don't lie http://www.ncaa.org/stats/m_basketball/attendance/index.html

Division one mens basketball had 27.7 million in attendance womens basketball had 7.88 million hardly a game that has much real attendance if you ask me. Carolina lost money on womens basketball.

[CockandLock]

In my response to your first post that womens basketball is basically a sport that is not valued or watched enough to a) be worth the effort to expend more money for a better coach and b) develop any type of fan base.

My data which was from www.ncaa.org (http://www.ncaa.org) and www.secsports.com (http://www.secsports.com) showed that womens basketball as a whole nationally generates the third most fans behind football and mens basketball and well ahead of mens baseball.

Next I pointed out that, as your first post implied the opposite, by adding an additional fan base of 3-4K like the top half of the SEC for womens basketball has it provides multiple ways to be in the black financially. A) 3-4K of additional ticket sales means approximately $40K more per home game through ticket sales and concessions- approximately 600k-700K and B) by improving to the top half of the SEC you then can reach seven figure ($1,000,000)deals through television rights.

I also attempted to show that while womens basketball certainly does not draw the fan base comparing Football and Mens Basketball it does top everyother scholarship sport offered including Mens Baseball in attendance.

Except of course at South Carolina where the boys baseball team is a top program it averages about two thousand additional fans per game. If South Carolina was even in the top half of the SEC for womens basketball it would about double the attendance of the mens baseball.

So with that being said there doesnt seem to be any arguments about trying to get the baseball team the best coaches, best facilities built, etc etc. and this is a sport that across the nation averages about half the attendance of womens basketball.

If womens basketball isnt worth the effort how is baseball? Also, do you not agree that by adding 3-4K fan base to womens basketball to put USC with the top half of the SEC, that profits increase exponentially not only from the ticket sales(smallest part of the equation) but television and endorsements?

I agree that Carolina loses money on womens basketball and every sport other than football and mens basketball. But, it does not have to be that way for womens basketball at South Carolina. The top half of teams in the SEC for womens basketball are not losing money. We should do what it takes to be competitive and not only stop the revenue losses but, represent USC as a program that can win.