Back in 2002, the UVA athletics department drew up some lofty 10-year goals for its 25 intercollegiate sports teams. This year, top donors to the athletics program received an update on those goals. Said Athletic Director Craig Littlepage in the introduction: "We can recruit the best prospects and ensure that they achieve academically, we can generate funding in order to build outstanding facilities and reach our stated goals, AND we can win." Wa-hoo-wa!
Yet despite the spirited words from Littlepage, the midpoint update shows that the athletics department needs to keep working on its game plan. The problem with setting the bar high is that you actually have to jump over the bar. And UVA has to work on its ups.
The men’s lacrosse team lifted their sticks in triumph in 2006, winning the NCAA championship. But other UVA sports teams need to have similar moments if the athletics department is going to meet its goal of 12 championships in 10 years.
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Goal: Graduate 100 percent of student athletes
Midway: 93 percent
This is actually down from 2002, when the graduation rate was 95 percent.
Goal: Win 12 national championships
Midway: 3
Lacrosse has been carrying the weight here, with two men’s and one women’s title since 2002. Other teams are going to have to step up if the Cavs are going to get another nine championships in the next five years.
Goal: Win 70 conference championships
Midway: 23
Virginia nabbed three last year—rowing, men’s tennis and women’s lacrosse—but it’s going to have to get at least nine a year from now on to nail this goal.
Goal: Fully endow all scholarships (about $300 million)
Midway: $61 million in scholarship endowment
While UVA has come close to doubling the scholarship endowment since 2002, it’s still $239 million short.
Goal: Build and maintain the finest facilities in the country
Midway: Hey, the JPJ is pretty sweet
The point of this goal is to lure recruits with sweet fields and buildings, and just about every Division I school media guide in the country hawks one of the "world’s finest" facilities for something. Yet this is one goal that UVA is arguably on its way toward fulfilling. The John Paul Jones Arena has an admittedly awesome atmosphere, the McCue Center for the football team has been "enhanced" and renovations are in the works for Klockner Stadium and Davenport Field.
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