what a travesty
September 21, 2017
Spending time this past weekend at an event we hosted to celebrate 125-years of Auburn Women, I was reminded once again what I have known for so long: Auburn is a place where dreams come true.
2017 Women’s Sport Reunion
It was wonderful to reconnect with former Auburn student-athletes, to see them enjoying each other’s company, and to hear how their time on campus prepared them for success after athletics.
Women like Tasha Hamilton. Tasha arrived at Auburn 20 years ago to play guard for Coach Joe Ciampi. She was our leading scorer as a sophomore, junior and senior. Tasha lives in Orlando, Fla., where she handles recruiting and account management for a medical staffing firm. At Auburn, Tasha says she learned life skills like how to be independent and how to get through tough situations. In her words, "I came out of it feeling like I can conquer the world."
In the same way Auburn women have given us so much to cheer about during their time as student-athletes, their accomplishments post-graduation in many ways are even more inspiring. From all over the world, young women come to Auburn. They thrill us with their athletic achievements. They fill us with pride when they walk across the stage at Commencement. Then they instill their Auburn values in their communities, corporations and families.
If you’ve been to an Auburn women’s basketball game, you’ve heard Susan Nunnelly’s voice. The Nun, as Susan is affectionately known on Auburn’s campus, has served as our public address announcer for more than 30 years.
Susan says when she enrolled at Auburn in the fall of 1966, the ratio of male students to female students was 6 to 1. Now, it’s 50-50.
As women’s athletics has grown, so too has the prominence of women in every aspect of student life.
Susan Nunnelly, Auburn women’s basketball public address announcer for more than 30 years
Susan says, "I have been fortunate to watch, not just women’s athletics grow by tremendous leaps and bounds, but have been able to watch the female student become more and more evident on campus in leadership roles and certainly in the last 25 years, it’s now common. Women in leadership positions, student leaders, SGA presidents, all the way across campus in all of the schools, the female student has stepped up and Auburn has helped that in a lot of ways."
As the father of three daughters, to that I say, "War Eagle!"
Capital Campaign Update
During my time as Athletics Director, we have invested over $220 million in facility improvements. Every sport has had either a new facility built or a major facility renovation. But, we need to do more. When you look around our league, every school is investing at the highest level to compete for championships. They are investing in their facilities. And thanks to your loyal support, we are doing that too. As has always been the case, when there is a need, the Auburn Family always steps up. And while we are still early in the fund-raising process for the Fearless & True capital campaign, I can see that once again our donors and fans are prepared to do whatever it takes to win on and off the field of play. As you may be aware, the five-year Fearless & True Capital Campaign Goal is $61.7 million dollars. At the end of last week, 32.3% of our goal has been raised which puts us ahead of what we expected at this time.
As you may be aware, the capital campaign includes plans for Jordan-Hare Stadium, Jane B. Moore Field, Equestrian, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, a state-of-the-art Sports Medicine Facility, and Plainsman Park. I think Coach Thompson sums it up nicely when he makes note of our commitment to ongoing investments in our sports.
Facility Improvements planned for Plainsman Park
"We’ve been blessed in the first two years with the field renovation, new lights, a new scoreboard and new seats," Auburn baseball coach Butch Thompson said. "This is our next big step, and it’s a step in the direction of player development. To improve our workspace, especially in inclement weather, to be able to hit inside. It’s a player development investment that will benefit every player in our program."
The baseball renovations are helping in recruiting where Coach Thompson’s 2017 class ranked No. 6 nationally.
"We already have this timeless ballpark and a great facility," Thompson said. "We couldn’t have a better real estate proposition on our campus than where we exist. Player development is one of those lasting pieces that when a guy comes here, not only can he play in the best league in America, at one of the best schools in America, he also has the best facilities in America. That really rounds us out."
Softball improvements will include a player development center featuring an indoor practice infield and batting cages, while adding additional seating.
Upgrades at Auburn Arena will include a new entry lobby, expanded locker room area, team meeting space and team lounge for men’s basketball. Women’s basketball will benefit with a new entry lobby, expanded team space and improved graphics.
"As we gain credibility and competitiveness, we’re attracting high level student-athletes and we need to provide the space and facilities to help train them. Improvements to the locker room, training room and weight room will go a long way toward that end", men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl said. "I’m grateful to the Board of Trustees, President Leath and Jay Jacobs for continuing to invest in our basketball program."
Everything we’re doing through the Fearless & True capital campaign is to enhance the overall experience for our student-athletes and the Auburn family. Our fund-raising success to-date is a great step in continuing to reach our goal of being the best school for the best athletes.
When it comes to winning, the bar will always be set higher. We must continue to invest in our facilities, our academic services, coaching, and the fan experience. Our fund-raising success and the sound management of our financial resources is what enables us to do so. To consistently compete for championships we must have an everyday mindset and the business discipline that is needed to be the best at everything we do.
God Bless and War Eagle!
Jay
Jay Jacobs
Director of Athletics
Auburn Athletics Department | AuburnTigers.com
(334) 844-9891 | athldir@auburn.edu |
@JayJacobsAUAD
Auburn University: The Best School for the Best Athletes
September 21, 2017
Spending time this past weekend at an event we hosted to celebrate 125-years of Auburn Women, I was reminded once again what I have known for so long: Auburn is a place where dreams come true.
2017 Women’s Sport Reunion
It was wonderful to reconnect with former Auburn student-athletes, to see them enjoying each other’s company, and to hear how their time on campus prepared them for success after athletics.
Women like Tasha Hamilton. Tasha arrived at Auburn 20 years ago to play guard for Coach Joe Ciampi. She was our leading scorer as a sophomore, junior and senior. Tasha lives in Orlando, Fla., where she handles recruiting and account management for a medical staffing firm. At Auburn, Tasha says she learned life skills like how to be independent and how to get through tough situations. In her words, "I came out of it feeling like I can conquer the world."
In the same way Auburn women have given us so much to cheer about during their time as student-athletes, their accomplishments post-graduation in many ways are even more inspiring. From all over the world, young women come to Auburn. They thrill us with their athletic achievements. They fill us with pride when they walk across the stage at Commencement. Then they instill their Auburn values in their communities, corporations and families.
If you’ve been to an Auburn women’s basketball game, you’ve heard Susan Nunnelly’s voice. The Nun, as Susan is affectionately known on Auburn’s campus, has served as our public address announcer for more than 30 years.
Susan says when she enrolled at Auburn in the fall of 1966, the ratio of male students to female students was 6 to 1. Now, it’s 50-50.
As women’s athletics has grown, so too has the prominence of women in every aspect of student life.
Susan Nunnelly, Auburn women’s basketball public address announcer for more than 30 years
Susan says, "I have been fortunate to watch, not just women’s athletics grow by tremendous leaps and bounds, but have been able to watch the female student become more and more evident on campus in leadership roles and certainly in the last 25 years, it’s now common. Women in leadership positions, student leaders, SGA presidents, all the way across campus in all of the schools, the female student has stepped up and Auburn has helped that in a lot of ways."
As the father of three daughters, to that I say, "War Eagle!"
Capital Campaign Update
During my time as Athletics Director, we have invested over $220 million in facility improvements. Every sport has had either a new facility built or a major facility renovation. But, we need to do more. When you look around our league, every school is investing at the highest level to compete for championships. They are investing in their facilities. And thanks to your loyal support, we are doing that too. As has always been the case, when there is a need, the Auburn Family always steps up. And while we are still early in the fund-raising process for the Fearless & True capital campaign, I can see that once again our donors and fans are prepared to do whatever it takes to win on and off the field of play. As you may be aware, the five-year Fearless & True Capital Campaign Goal is $61.7 million dollars. At the end of last week, 32.3% of our goal has been raised which puts us ahead of what we expected at this time.
As you may be aware, the capital campaign includes plans for Jordan-Hare Stadium, Jane B. Moore Field, Equestrian, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, a state-of-the-art Sports Medicine Facility, and Plainsman Park. I think Coach Thompson sums it up nicely when he makes note of our commitment to ongoing investments in our sports.
Facility Improvements planned for Plainsman Park
"We’ve been blessed in the first two years with the field renovation, new lights, a new scoreboard and new seats," Auburn baseball coach Butch Thompson said. "This is our next big step, and it’s a step in the direction of player development. To improve our workspace, especially in inclement weather, to be able to hit inside. It’s a player development investment that will benefit every player in our program."
The baseball renovations are helping in recruiting where Coach Thompson’s 2017 class ranked No. 6 nationally.
"We already have this timeless ballpark and a great facility," Thompson said. "We couldn’t have a better real estate proposition on our campus than where we exist. Player development is one of those lasting pieces that when a guy comes here, not only can he play in the best league in America, at one of the best schools in America, he also has the best facilities in America. That really rounds us out."
Softball improvements will include a player development center featuring an indoor practice infield and batting cages, while adding additional seating.
Upgrades at Auburn Arena will include a new entry lobby, expanded locker room area, team meeting space and team lounge for men’s basketball. Women’s basketball will benefit with a new entry lobby, expanded team space and improved graphics.
"As we gain credibility and competitiveness, we’re attracting high level student-athletes and we need to provide the space and facilities to help train them. Improvements to the locker room, training room and weight room will go a long way toward that end", men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl said. "I’m grateful to the Board of Trustees, President Leath and Jay Jacobs for continuing to invest in our basketball program."
Everything we’re doing through the Fearless & True capital campaign is to enhance the overall experience for our student-athletes and the Auburn family. Our fund-raising success to-date is a great step in continuing to reach our goal of being the best school for the best athletes.
When it comes to winning, the bar will always be set higher. We must continue to invest in our facilities, our academic services, coaching, and the fan experience. Our fund-raising success and the sound management of our financial resources is what enables us to do so. To consistently compete for championships we must have an everyday mindset and the business discipline that is needed to be the best at everything we do.
God Bless and War Eagle!
Jay
Jay Jacobs
Director of Athletics
Auburn Athletics Department | AuburnTigers.com
(334) 844-9891 | athldir@auburn.edu |
@JayJacobsAUADAuburn University: The Best School for the Best Athletes
