WBB Booster Clubs

[CYMAN]

I was looking at the thread about parking and noticed that a few folks reference membership in Fast Break Clubs etc. It got me wondering how many B12 schools have Women's Basketball specific booster clubs. Iowa State does not, but it seem a lot of other B12 schools do.

[BearLady]

The Lady Bears-specific booster club is the Tip Off Club.

[spooky]

I'm really surprised at that. I figured that booster clubs, at least for the "major" sports, were pretty much standard procedure at this stage of the game - especially for a program with as large and supportive a fan base as ISU. Here, we've got excellence funds, as they are called, for every program, even the smaller sports such as equestrian, golf, and tennis.

Does the administration fear that donations to a women's basketball booster club would take away dollars previously donated to the athletic program as a whole? I know Tech fans have had many internal discussions about how many of the Lady Raider fans supported only that program, and not the other Tech sports, but i didn't think that was an issue up in Ames. I'm also surprised that Bill hasn't pushed the issue himself.

[DblT81]

I know Tech fans have had many internal discussions about how many of the Lady Raider fans supported only that program, and not the other Tech sports, ...

There are two kinds of organized support... financial and spirit. Some fan clubs do both.

The internal discussions regarding Tech fans support of the Lady Raiders was about buying tickets and attending games, not financial donations. Past arguments have come up about why many fans who attend women's games do not also attend men's basketball games or other sports.

Tech generally does not have booster clubs for individual sports, with a couple of exceptions. Donors can become a member of the Marsha Sharp Leadership Circle which supports all women's athletics at Tech in a financial capacity. The MSLC is not a spirit organization that covers women's basketball. The Tech Hecklers are a spirit organization supporting the baseball team. Other than those, I can't think of any other Tech support organizations. Perhaps someone else can help here.

The Red Raider Club is the general support organization for all Tech sports. They sponsor a tip-off luncheon at the beginning of basketball season for men's and women's basketball to introduce the teams and coaches to the community. Parking lot assignment is part of donor levels to the Red Raider Club. When the arena was built, people who wanted season tickets in certain locations paid the Red Raider Club extra for Personal Seat Licences which last 10 years. The PSL owners have special parking lot assignments for men's and women's basketball.


Does the administration fear that donations to a women's basketball booster club would take away dollars previously donated to the athletic program as a whole?

IMO, yes. A Tech "booster" generally cannot make a financial donation of any size to an individual sport unless it is a scholarship endowment at certain levels or a major gift for specific facilities or equipment.


As far as I know, there is no booster club to support Lady Raider basketball.

[mred]

I'm really surprised at that. I figured that booster clubs, at least for the "major" sports, were pretty much standard procedure at this stage of the game - especially for a program with as large and supportive a fan base as ISU.

Tech generally does not have booster clubs for individual sports, with a couple of exceptions.

As far as I know, Iowa State is in the same category as Tech. With the possible exception of some minor sports, there aren't any sport-specific booster clubs.

[spooky]

Well, I guess that's a lesson for me showing that what I assume is normal isn't necessarily normal everywhere. I am curious whether it's the generallyathletic department's decision not to have one, or whether it's up to the coaches to make that call.

[CYMAN]

As far as I know, Iowa State is in the same category as Tech. With the possible exception of some minor sports, there aren't any sport-specific booster clubs.

The biggest and most active at ISU is the Cyclone Gridiron Club that was started when Dan Mac was there. I know they are very organized and raise a significant amount of money, a goo portion I believe goes to supplement asst coaches salaries. Wrestling also has there own booster club.

[mred]

The biggest and most active at ISU is the Cyclone Gridiron Club that was started when Dan Mac was there. I know they are very organized and raise a significant amount of money, a goo portion I believe goes to supplement asst coaches salaries. Wrestling also has there own booster club.

I stand corrected. :)

http://www.cyclonegridironclub.com/

From the website:

The Cyclone Gridiron Club (CGC) is an official support group recognized by the Iowa State University Department of Athletics. The CGC mission is to contribute to the advancement of Cyclone Football in a method consistent with the parameters set by the NCAA, The Big 12 Conference, and Iowa State University. CGC members work with the coaches and athletic administrative staff to achieve the following goals:

* Raise money for special projects and services for the football program and staff which are not provided for in the annual Athletic Department budget,
* Sponsor and conduct activities which foster a positive football family atmosphere and spirit,
* Ensure good communication and exchange of information between the football staff and it supporters.

Additionally, a link to the wrestling club: http://cyclonewrestlingclub.org/

[swok34]

OU has booster clubs for all the individual sports (I think)...

but, $100 donation to the WBB Fastbreak Club nets you 1 priority point.

$100 donation to the Sooner Club nets you 3 priority points.

And priority points matter for postseason tickets. I actually think it's better to be a Fastbreak Club member if you want to attend the post season banquet.

Every summer (for the past 2) OU "reserved seat" season ticket holders watch and see if they will have to join the Sooner Club in order to hold their seats. So far, I haven't had to join the Sooner Club for that purpose. And for that reason, I continue to support the Fastbreak Club rather than the Sooner Club. Don't know about this season yet. OU Men's BB do have to join (and have had to for some time) in order to get a lower level seat.

OU Booster Club
Baseball Homerun Club
M Basketball Tip In Club
W Basketball Fast Break Club
Football Touchdown Club
M Golf Chip In Club (PDF)
W Golf Caddie Club (PDF)
M Gymnastics Men's Gymnastics Assoc.
W Gymnastics Team 10
Soccer Booter Rooters
Softball Diamond Club
M Tennis Tie Breaker Club
W Tennis Tie Breaker Club
Track & Field Spike Club
Volleyball Ace Club
Wrestling Takedown Club

[Noah121]

At Nebraska, all of the major sports and some of the minor sports (soccer, gymnastics, others???) have booster clubs for their specific sports (financial whatchamacallits). I am a member of the WBB booster club at Nebraska.

[LadyBuff]

Women's basketball at CU has a club room. We get a meal and a chat from the coach. Not really much else. Not even a program last year.

During the WNIT, they started letting everybody in for free, so it got very crowded in that room and they were running out of food. Lots of freeloaders.:p

[TTU79]

Texas Tech had an organization for WBB called TTConnection. According to the powers that be, the Southern Regional Educational Accrediting people stated all such organizations had to be under the supervision of the university so the Double T Connection and the Red Raider Club were placed together as the Red Raider Club and became an arm of the AD for athletics. PSL holders do not get parking with their PSL (I am a PSL holder but have to pay extra for parking; however, the parking is located directly across the street from the arena). Parking immediately in front of the arena is reserved for coaches and persons with handicapped tags. Parking immediately north of the arena is reserved for handicapped tags, persons donating large amounts to the Red Raider Club, players and players families.