LION ATHLETIC FUND SUPPORTING ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS

Transcription

1 LION ATHLETIC FUND SUPPORTING ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS

2 UNA Athletics by the Numbers...3 UNA Facilities...5 The UNA Sportsman s Club...7 UNA Sportsman s Club Membership Benefits & Privileges...9 UNA Ticket Prices...11 Corporate Partner Opportunities...13 UNA Athletics Special Events...15 Athletics Department Endowed Scholarships...17 Greetings Lion Fans! What an exciting year for the UNA Athletics Department. From a Softball National Championship, to a record breaking 4 th GSC Football Championship in a row, to back-to-back GSC Volleyball Championships, a National Championship run with our football team, and an invitation to join the ASUN and enter the ranks of Division I. It was an unforgettable year for UNA Athletics! Baseball Crosscountry Basketball Football As we enter the world of Division I Athletics, we want to invite each of you to join us on this historical journey. It s a great time to be a UNA Lion! As you look through this booklet, you will see that there are many ways to get involved. Our Sportsman s Club is the primary booster club for athletics. By becoming a member, you will be provided access to parking and the best seats in the house at our venues. If you have a business or organization that would be interested in advertising during our events, we invite you to check out our corporate packages. If special events or season tickets are your interest, we have information included on these, as well. Golf Soccer As we approach the athletic season, we hope that you will financially support our program. If you are currently giving, we encourage you to consider upping your annual donation. In collegiate athletics, competing at an elite level has become very costly. We appreciate your consideration in helping us represent the University of North Alabama and the Shoals area at the highest level. Your support helps our coaches recruit the best and the brightest, while making our student-athletes experience first-class. Roar Lions! Mark D. Linder, Director of Athletics Softball Track Tennis Volleyball 1 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 2

3 UNA ATHLETICS BY THE NUMBERS 4 UNA is one of just four schools in NCAA history on all levels to have won at least two National Championships in football and men s basketball. The others are Florida, Michigan State and Wisconsin- Whitewater. 1 UNA WAS THE FIRST... UNA was the first school from the state of Alabama to win a collegiate basketball national championship (1979). UNA was the first, and is still the only, school from the state of Alabama to win a collegiate volleyball national championship (2003). UNA was the first collegiate football program in NCAA history to win as many as 40 games in just three seasons (41-1 from ). UNA was the first program in the history of NCAA scholarship football to win three consecutive national championships ( ). UNA became the first school on any level of NCAA competition to win as many as two football national championships (1993, 1994, 1995) and two men s basketball national championships (1979, 1991). UNA was the first, and is still the only, NCAA Division II program to have won at least two national championships in both football and men s basketball. Former DII member Jacksonville State is the only other school to have at least one of each. UNA became the first NCAA Division II National Champion to visit the White House. The 1995 University of North Alabama football team was invited to the White House in March of 1996 to meet with President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and members of Congress, in honor of the team s unprecedented success. 7 UNA has claimed seven NCAA Division II National Championships with three in football (1993, 1994, 1995), two in men s basketball (1979, 1991), one in volleyball (2003), and one in softball (2016). 15 The UNA women s volleyball program has competed in the NCAA Tournament 15 times, winning five regional championships and one national title. 14 UNA competes in 14 sports with the addition of women s indoor and outdoor track in UNA s 20 trips to the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs is tied for the most in the history of the division. 22 Since 1980, the UNA football program has been ranked in the final AFCA Division II Top times - including 15 final Top 10 rankings. 28 UNA hosted the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game for 28 consecutive years (from ) and has also hosted other NCAA regional or national championship events in football, men s basketball, women s basketball, baseball, volleyball and golf. 10 Ten UNA student-athletes have earned All-American and Academic All-America honors. 12 UNA athletic teams have competed in NCAA post-season competition in 12 different sports, including as many as nine in one year. Alabama Alabama A&M Alabama State Auburn Birmingham Southern Faulkner Huntingdon Jacksonville State Miles Troy Tuskegee Samford South Alabama Stillman UAB West Alabama 10,000 Since 2008, UNA has averaged almost 10,000 fans at its 46 regular- season home football games The UNA baseball program had a streak of 30 consecutive cu winning seasons that included 12 NCAA Tournament nt appearances from The Division II National Player of the With 233 wins since The UNA men s golf Year Awards in two sports are named for 1990, UNA has the program has competed in former UNA student-athletes: The Josh highest winning the NCAA Tournament Willingham Award in baseball and the percentage of any 18 times, winning Harlon Hill Trophy in football. otball. collegiate football four regional program in the state of championships. GRADUATING CHAMPIONS Alabama. (72.3%) 3 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 4

4 FACILITIES BRALY MUNICIPAL STADIUM Braly Stadium, located approximately ½ mile from campus and seating over 14,000, was the host of the NCAA Division II National Championship from SOFTBALL COMPLEX The UNA Softball team opened a new softball complex in the spring of A $630,000 renovation of the school s old home field was completed, giving the Lions one of the top facilities in the conference. Following the National Championship win in 2016, a generous donation allowed the program to make over $100,000 in enhancements to the facility including more grandstand seating behind the outfield fence, a new scoreboard, new outfield decks, and turf on a portion of the field. FLOWERS HALL Flowers Hall is the venue for Men s and Women s Basketball, as well as Volleyball. Located on campus and seating approximately 3,300 people, Flowers Hall is the Home of Champions and has a rich tradition. It is the home of the UNA Athletics Hall of Fame and the UNA Hall of Champions. BILL JONES PLAZA Bill Jones Plaza was completed in 2012 in memory of the late Athletic Director. This plaza provides an area for an outdoor classroom, as well as pregame activities for Flowers Hall. SOCCER FIELD Following a $1.25 million renovation to the UNA Athletic Complex in 2008, the UNA women s soccer program moved to an on-campus facility with a ProGrass field. The turf has been good to the Lions as UNA has posted a record at home since ATHLETICS WEIGHT ROOM The Athletics Department opened a brand new 4,800 square-foot workout facility in August The facility is equipped with new weight equipment, electronics, and four big screen monitors. MIKE D. LANE BASEBALL FIELD On March 11, 2008, the home of the University of North Alabama baseball team was renamed Mike D. Lane Field in honor of the Lions longtime baseball coach. As part of our facility enhancement for the Division I transition, our Baseball Press box was renovated in HENRY HAROLD SELF FIELD HOUSE Built in 1984, Self Field House is named after the late Hal Self who was a longtime football coach and Athletic Director at UNA. Administrative offices, football, baseball, softball, tennis, and golf are housed in this facility, as well as the training room and football locker rooms and meeting rooms. UNA GOLF PRACTICE FACILITY The UNA Golf Team was proud to unveil a brand new practice facility at Cypress Lakes Golf Course in It includes two hitting bays for the team to practice from. GRADUATING CHAMPIONS 5 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 6

5 Megan Lovelace Director of Development For more information on the following areas please contact Megan Lovelace: UNA Sportsman s Club UNA Athletic Special Events Athletic Endowed Scholarships 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS THE UNA SPORTSMAN S CLUB The UNA Sportsman s Club, founded in 1966, is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and serves as the primary booster club for the UNA Athletics Department. Support from the Sportsman s Club provides increased scholarship opportunities, facility improvements, and operational expense support. Members of the UNA Sportsman s Club are eligible for priority seating at football and basketball events and access to hospitality areas at select sporting events. HOW DOES MY CONTRIBUTION AND INVOLVEMENT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? The annual operating budget of the UNA Athletics Department is $8 million. Of that figure, approximately, $1.8 million is dedicated to scholarships for our student-athletes. The Sportsman s Club provides monies to increase scholarship aid. Over the past 10 years, approximately 50 student-athletes have been assisted with the Sportsman s Club 5 th year scholarship fund. The University of North Alabama enthusiastically and loyally supports the Lion Athletics program. However, additional funding is needed due to the uncertainty of state funding for institutions of higher education. The UNA Athletics program requires external funds to continue to successfully compete at its present national level, as well as to increase opportunities for outstanding student-athletes to attend the University, participate in athletics, and earn a degree. The University is prohibited by state law to purchase any championship rings or awards. Because of the UNA Sportsman s Club, we are able to purchase championship rings for our student-athletes and coaches year after year. UNA and the Sportsman s Club has given me more than just an opportunity. They have given me a blessing that I will forever be grateful for. To play college football at UNA will always be a highlight in my life, and for this, I want to thank UNA and the Sportsman s Club for making it happen. Being a Lion has taught me more than just winning. It has taught me humility, hard work, perseverance and responsibility. The championship rings we earned have been generously paid for by our donors, and I am truly appreciative for that. UNA has not only given me the opportunity to strive for my dreams, but also the opportunity to better myself as a man academically, athletically, but most importantly, in life. Dorsey Norris UNA Football Safety I will forever be in debt to UNA and the Sportsman s Club for the privileges they have provided me in my four years here at UNA. As I refl ect back on my collegiate experience, I have grown so much as a student, athlete, and person, and I genuinely want to say thank you to each person that has helped me in any way along this unforgettable journey. I have been blessed beyond compare to be a part of a National Championship team, and I am amazed daily at the generosity and support I have received from this community. UNA and the Sportsman s Club will always hold a special place in my heart because the entire organization consists of people willing to turn studentathletes dreams into realities! Thanks to this organization, I am graduating from a University that I know has prepared me to be the best version of myself I could possibly be. Amy Carden UNA Softball Outfielder The UNA Sportsman s Club has made my dream of playing college volleyball a reality. It has given me the opportunity to play at the next level of volleyball (locally and internationally), further my education into my dream career, and make lifelong friends. As a native of Florence, I am forever grateful they have allowed me to represent UNA and this great community. Lexie Bradley UNA Volleyball Outside Hitter 7 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 8

6 N SPORTSMAN S CLUB MEMBERSHIP Mane Level...$ 300 Roar Level... $ 600 Lion Level... $ 1,200 Pride Level...$ 2,500 Leo Level... $ 5,000 Champion Level... $ 10,000 Grady Liles Leadership Level...$ 25,000 YES, I want to Join the Sportsman s Club New Member Renewal Full Name Spouse s Name if Applicable Business Name if Applicable Home Phone ( ) Business Phone ( ) Cell Phone ( ) Address City State Zip Are you a UNA Alumnus? Yes No Year Signature Date METHOD OF PAYMENT Check Credit Card Direct Debit Enrollment PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: UNA SPORTSMAN S CLUB PLEASE CHARGE MY: VISA MasterCard AMEX Discover Name on Card: Enter card number below (all digits) Expiration date (MM/YY) / Security Code Signature DIRECT DEBIT ENROLLMENT INCLUDING VOIDED CHECK Financial Institution Address City State Zip Routing Number Account Number Amount to be Drafted Signature Date Your UNA Sportsman s Club membership entitles you to certain benefits which include parking passes, the right to buy tickets, and UNA Sportsman s Club merchandise. The value of these benefits will reduce the tax credit of your UNA Sportsman s Club gift, in accordance with federal tax regulations. If you wish to receive full tax credit for your gift, please indicate below that you are declining benefits (and please note that by declining, you will not receive parking passes, the right to by tickets, or UNA Sportsman s Club merchandise). I decline all Sportsman s Club benefits. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM AND PAYMENT TO: UNA Sportsman s Club UNA Box Florence, AL UNA SPORTSMAN S CLUB MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS & PRIVILEGES Benefits Ticket Purchase Opportunities FOOTBALL (FB) BASKETBALL (BB) COURTSIDE (CS) BASEBALL (BA) Tax Deduction** Program Recognition Electronic Updates Sportsman s Club Gift Opportunity to Tailgate Football Hospitality Room FB/BB Lot C Parking *** FB/BB Lot B Parking *** 306 BBQ Deck Access at Braly Spring Event Luncheon Adidas Sideline Apparel National Signing Day Event Opportunity to Purchase Skybox Seats**** FB/BB Lot A VIP Parking VIP Trip FB Sideline Passes FB Game Day Experience All Sport General Admission Pass Dinner with President/Lion Habitat Tour * May not exceed total number permitted at designated level. ** To the extent the donation exceeds any benefit received in return. *** Lots marked on maps below. **** Members have access to purchase seats in the skybox at $500 per seat **** for the regular season. Meals included at each event. Mane Level Roar Level Lion Level Pride Level Leo Level Champion Level Grady Liles Leadership Level $300 $600 $1,200 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000 $25,000 & up UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO FB 4 FB 6 FB 8 FB 10 FB 12 FB 14 FB 16 BB 4 BB/CS 6* BB/CS 8* BB/CS 10* BB/CS 12* BB/CS 14* BB/CS 16* BA 4 BA 6 BA 8 BA 10 BA 12 BA 14 BA UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 10 LOT B LOT C LOT A FLOWERS HALL BASKETBALL PARKING LOT C LOT A WEST DRESSING ROOM EAST DRESSING ROOM SCOREBOARD CONSTRUCTION PRESS BOX LOT B FOOTBALL PARKING

7 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET PRICES Sportsman s Club Seatback Chairs...$ 90 Prime Bench Seating...$ 75 Outer Bench Seating...$ 60 FOOTBALL SINGLE GAME PRICES Seatback Chairs...$ 25 Prime Bench Seat...$ 20 Outer Bench Seat...$ 15 General Admission...$ 10 N FOOTBALL SEATING Benjamin Ray Director of Tickets & Marketing baray@una.edu Football & Basketball season tickets are not included in membership contributions. Season ticket renewal forms will be mailed. TO SECURE YOUR SEASON TICKET SEATS FROM 2016, MEMBERSHIP AND TICKET RENEWALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 2, 2017 BASKETBALL SEASON TICKET PRICES Sportsman s Club Courtside Chairs...$ 150 Sportsman s Club Seatback Chairs...$ 125 Upper Level Reserved Seatback...$ 100 BASKETBALL SINGLE GAME PRICES Courtside Chair...$ 25 Sportsman s Club Seatback Chair...$ 15 Upper Level Reserved Seatback...$ 10 General Admission...$ 7 BASEBALL SEASON TICKET PRICING Reserved Sportsman s Club Seatback Chairs...$ 85 General Admission...$ 55 BASEBALL SINGLE GAME PRICES General Admission...$ 7 OTHER TICKET PRICING Volleyball Season Tickets...$ 35 Volleyball Single Game Ticket...$ 5 Soccer Season Tickets...$ 35 Soccer Single Game Ticket...$ 5 Softball Season Tickets...$ 35 Softball Single Game Tickets...$ 7 ATTENDANCE BY SPORT Football...53,693 total attendance/7,670 average per game (Led Division II) Men s Basketball... 13,344 total attendance/785 average per game Women s Basketball... 10,648 total attendance/710 average per game Volleyball...5,082 total attendance/339 average per match Soccer...1,490 total attendance/186 average per game Baseball...3,787 total attendance/210 average per game Softball...10,520 total attendance/457 average per game (Led Division II) Sportsman s Club Seatback Reserved Prime Bench General Admission 11 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 12 Students N UNA Band BASKETBALL SEATING Courtside Reserved B Reserved Outer Bench Accessible Seating Sportsman s Club Seatback General Admission

8 Brock Beck Director of Corporate Relations CORPORATE PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES Our goal is for our corporate partners to receive valuable exposure while providing crucial funding for UNA Athletics. Our Corporate Partnership Program offers a wide-range of opportunities to help our partners reach their advertising goals and objectives while supporting our athletic teams. The investment of our corporate partners positively affects the academic and competitive experience that our student-athletes receive while at UNA. We are proud to team up with business supporters of UNA Athletics, forming A Partnership in Graduating Champions! ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES FOOTBALL SIGNAGE Braly Scoreboard Endzone Deck Railing Banners Giant Stadium Seat Cover Helmet Tunnel Locker Room Wrap Play Clock Ticket Gate Field Level Tri-fold Spirit Hill BASEBALL SIGNAGE Outfield Pole Outfield Fence Scoreboard Championship Board Windscreens BASKETBALL SIGNAGE Athletic Complex Marquee Flowers Hall Entrance Concession Stand Baseline Digital Video Boards Main Scoreboards Stairway Stickers Bench Seat Kick Plates Media Row Scorer s Table Wall Padding SOFTBALL SIGNAGE Outfield Fence Roof of dugout/locker room Scoreboard Bleachers Windscreens OTHER ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES Halftime Sponsorships Game Day Sponsorships Website VARIOUS PACKAGES Radio Broadcast Lion Vision Broadcast Social Media Program Ads Team Schedule Posters OTHER SIGNAGE Bus Window Wrap Residence Hall Elevator Wrap Little Lions T-shirts 13 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 14

9 UNA ATHLETICS SPECIAL EVENTS UNA Color Run The UNA Color Run is one of the department s most anticipated events each spring. With over 400 participants, this family-friendly event provides a 5K and 1 Mile course where runners and walkers are showered with purple and gold color along the way. This event has raised over $30,000 for the department. UNA Athletics Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament The Athletics Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament is a fun filled event for alumni and friends of the department. Hosted each summer at Cypress Lakes Golf Course, the tournament is a great opportunity for former student-athletes and fans to mix and mingle while enjoying a morning of golf. The 2016 event included more than 30 teams and helped raise over $15,000 for the UNA Athletic Department. The 2017 event is scheduled for June 9, Lion Pride Dinner & Silent Auction The UNA Sportsman s Club s annual fundraising event is the Lion Pride Dinner and Silent Auction. Held each August, this exclusive event is an opportunity for supporters, fans, and parents to celebrate the kick-off of our athletics season, as well as raise funds for the department. The 2015 and 2016 Lion Pride Dinner and Auctions raised more than $30,000. The 2017 event is scheduled for Saturday, August 12, UNA Color Run UNA Athletics Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament UNA Player s Choice Awards The UNA Athletics Department is proud to recognize the achievements and successes of our student-athletes. Each spring, student-athletes nominate their teammates for awards such as Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, Most Inspiring, and Rookie of the Year. At the awards ceremony, the winners are announced and the department s Lion King & Queen are crowned. Our student-athletes also nominate their coaches for awards such as, Most Historical, Most Talkative, and Most Spirited. With a red-carpet, photographer, and videographer, this event is growing to be one of our student-athletes most anticipated events to close out the athletics season. The 2017 event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, lion Pride Dinner & Silent Auction You can become a sponsor at each of these events for $1,500. BENEFITS INCLUDE: 1. Logo on over 400 Color Run t-shirts, plus 20 shirts for your business 2. A 3-man team and hole sponsorship in the Athletics Alumni & Friends Tournament 3. A table of 8 at the Lion Pride Dinner & Auction 4. Tickets to the Player s Choice Awards along with your logo on an event banner UNA Player s Choice Awards 15 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 16

10 ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS What is an endowed scholarship? The gift of an endowed scholarship provides the University of North Alabama Athletics Department with a permanent asset from which students can receive support. The gift becomes a fund managed by the UNA Foundation, whose investment objective is to achieve growth that is sufficient to preserve the value of the gift so the annual award is not diminished by inflation. The minimum principal balance required to establish an endowed scholarship is $25,000. Initial contributions may be made in lesser amounts with no awards made to students until the minimum of $25,000 is reached. Donors may continue to donate to an endowment even after the $25,000 minimum is reached. How does it work? Awards are made annually to deserving students according to the donor wishes and current financial aid policies of the University. While it is preferred that scholarships be unrestricted, occasionally it can be appropriate to specify that the scholarship be awarded to students from a specific sport or geographic area. The donor may not, however, actually name the individual student to receive the award. Donors are given information annually about the students who receive their award and will be included in an annual Endowed Scholarship Dinner where they will have the opportunity to meet their scholarship recipient. CURRENT ATHLETIC ENDOWMENTS Harlon Hill Endowment Jim Tanner Endowment Ted Treece Endowment Jack Karnes Endowment Phillip B. Logan Football Program Endowment Chris Burns & Alex Sloan Golf Program Endowment Bill Jones Family Endowment Frank Hughes Condon, JR. Memorial Endowment William G. Cale, SR. Memorial Endowment John T. Women s Athletics Endowment Grady Liles Endowment Caroline Morgan Neisler Endowment Coach Hal Self Student-Athlete Endowment Harold C. & Peggy Nan Sisson Football Program Endowment Johnny O. Long Student Athletic Trainer Endowment Why give an endowed scholarship? The endowed scholarship program has grown because of our donor s interest in encouraging and empowering our student-athletes. Naming the endowed scholarship is an opportunity to perpetuate your own interest in UNA Athletics or to recognize or remember a loved one, friend, or classmate. All students who receive a named scholarship are made aware that others share a commitment to their education. As higher education costs continue to climb, today s student-athletes have a greater need for financial assistance. With the generosity of donors such as you, we can ease the burden on these student-athletes so that they have the opportunity to graduate as champions on their field of play, as well as in the classroom. UNA Endowment Dinner 17 UNA Athletics UNA Athletics 18

11 UNA Athletics UNA Box 5071 Florence, Alabama 35632