George Mason Basketball: George Mason's new president is Dr. Angel Cabrera, no not the golfer who smokes

Thursday, December 15, 2011

George Mason's new president is Dr. Angel Cabrera, no not the golfer who smokes

The Board of Visitors selected Dr. Angel Cabrera as the sixth president of George Mason University, which will be effective July 1, 2012. When I first heard that name I immediately thought of the golfer, Angel Cabrera. Wait, so they didn't name the two-time golf major champion and on the course smoker, the next school president? Ok good. Now we can begin the "I sure hope he likes college football" talk. Go!

50 Comments:

Brian Patterson said...: My read on that guy is that he likes Futbol, not Futbol Americano.; 8:41 AM
Christopher Hirsch said...: I hope he practices his shirt shooting techniques. He has a lot to live up to.; 10:47 AM
ByGeorge06 said...: Not sure if this guy is the right guy for this job in terms of college sports.; 11:22 AM
Mason Students said...: Dr. Cabrera,
We would like a greek row and a football team!; 11:38 AM
seriously... said...: With what money?; 12:12 PM
Greifie said...: Word is that he is a Real Madrid fan.; 12:31 PM
bdgg said...: If you read up on this guy, he will not be the AD's friend. Don't expect much (any) support for the
sports programs; especially basketball. This hire was not good for the
basketball program.; 12:33 PM
Dan said...: What's the R.P.I. for the Thunderbird School of Global Management?; 5:09 PM
BoredInClass said...: Hopefully the guy has the desire to build a University rather than an industry. Later Merten.; 5:46 PM
Taylormade703 said...: Why do you say this?; 7:34 PM
BatMason said...: 345; 8:01 PM
Gio said...: Boo!! Barcelona baby!!; 10:27 PM
Coolbeans said...: Oh my god people are so ignorant that think football doesn't create money. I will agree if you are strictly looking at ticket sales then yes we will be in the red.

But you have to look at the larger picture. Sports creates money in other areas. Like bringing more attention to your school and more applicants. The book store will see an increase in sales every Saturday. The hotel will be renting more rooms. More people will be using the dinning facilities on game day. Most of all the money will come from increased applicants. The final 4 run put our school on the map.

Since 2006, the university’s overall student enrollment has climbed from
29,728 to 32,562. Along with this, the number of undergraduate student
applications went from 15,887 in 2006 to 19,991 for the current academic
year. Five years ago, Mason’s acceptance rate was 70 percent. In 2011,
the acceptance rate is 50 percent.

If we had a football team we would be a superior school then JMU.

More students = more money + school spirt.; 9:41 AM
gmuhoops said...: Here what he said when asked about football, it doesn't look good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Rg47PnOtg4w#!; 9:42 AM
seriously... said...: People are so ignorant as to not have a comprehension of what a D 1-AA program brings in terms of dollars. DO YOU REALIZE ONLY 10 NCAA SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY MAKE MONEY OFF OF THEIR FOOTBALL PROGRAM?

But your real ignorance isn't in this fact, it's in the fact all you are thinking about is the year to year. How much does Mason spend on athletics, less than $15 million. You know what it's going to cost to start a football program? No, probably not, because you didn't have the foresight to think about startup capital.

Also, your point on the current revenue for the school is on point yet off point. Funding for athletics has not dramatically increased since 2006. Yes the school has seen a spike in revenue, however, that money, instead of being allocated to invest in athletics, was directed in all those new buildings you have around campus, not to mention the development of a performing arts center at the Prince William Campus.

Please don't forget either this whole Title IX thing. You are likely going to have to start another 2 womens teams to match the money going to a football program, AFTER fully funding all current women's teams. Men's teams will suffer drastic cuts, including basketball, you know the reason you are visiting this sight. Several schools have cut their football program in recent years. It's not a random coincidence.

Only 2 men's sports at Mason are fully funded now, basketball and baseball. Baseball is not fully funded by the university; rather by outside sources. So for the purposes of this argument the only fully funded men's sport is basketball.

So while you students and ignorant alumni continue to run around and scream how cool it would be to have a football program; the adults will think about actual factors; IE money. Which on that argument alone, the idea of football at Mason does not currently make sense.; 10:16 AM
bdgg said...: His approach is basically that sports are just an activity not to get in the way with the school's academic efforts/reputation. So you can expect funds to be cut from sports down the road. Which is bad timing as the basketball program, despite the final four run and all the money they generated that was sucked up by the academic side of the ledger, still can't get the practice/training facilities it needs and has a 1970s era scoreboard.

And you can kiss any hope of a football team goodbye, this guy has ZERO interest in even entertaining that notion. Read his comments about football at some schools being "the tail wagging the dog." As a matter of face, you can replace football with "sports" and you will get his basic point. "SPORTS are the tail wagging the dog at many universities."

I'm not here to debate who is right/wrong in this age old argument, the point is Mason sports are likely on a path to becoming a bottom feeder in the next decade.; 1:28 PM
guest said...: could you please provide the source that shows only 10 schools in the entire country make money off of their football programs? I'd like to read that and see what numbers they used to calculate (and what numbers they left out as income) to arrive at that conclusion; 1:45 PM
gmuhoops said...: it's a true statement, you don't have to look far for the proof on that. Division I football is a money pit for most schools unless you're Ohio State or USC. I think over team it builds deeper alumni participation and donations that benefit all athletics. However they are a ton of reasons why it doesn't make sense for Mason right now. The sports fan in me wants it but I'm not surprised at all why we don't have it.; 1:53 PM
Coolbeans said...: Football will bring in more revenue then wrestling and cross country and golf. Cut them they do nothing for our school except those who compete in those sports. Only 10 D-1 A divsion schools makes a direct profit. But find a stud that proves D-1 AA looses money. I bet you cant. Yes some schools are cutting their programs. But many other schools make it work. Mason has one of the highest tuition in VA there is money we just need to stop spending it useless areas. Our speed limit through campus is 25mph. No need for our police to have brand new dodge chargers. Give them bikes.; 2:14 PM
Guest said...: I have no doubt. But I'm more curious in the numbers they use, which is
why I'd like to see the sources for something else I'm doing. With the
TV contracts, revenue, etc, there are all kinds of hidden revenue
streams in football feed to few parties. This isn't about pro-football
team; more of how shady the NCAA BCS system is that it generates
billions and billions of dollars that go to very few. Which is why we can't get a NCAA playoff.; 2:20 PM
BoredInClass said...: The only sport that makes money here is basketball. The current administration has been so fixed on turning this place into Manhattan and they have not listened to ANYTHING the current students want. Nor have they come close to addressing it. Merten thinks the students love him, but the only reason we clap for him at basketball games is to watch him jump up and down like the Lord of the RIngs hobbit looking douche bag that he is. The Redskins have offered to cover a lot of the start up costs and even build us a freakin stadium if they would be allowed to hold training camp here. The school claimed that this would ruin our fields so they could not come here, yet they worked their ass off to prepare our facilities to be possible practice fields for a DC Olympic bid. Merten won't address it. Instead he keeps popping up buildings and campuses left and right, thank god he is leaving before he took over all of NOVA. The point is that this school is not student friendly. There is a reason the student section is full only two times a year, and that this campus is bare every weekend because so many students go to other schools to PAY to watch football games or to go to parties. An athletic administrator once told me that Merten and O'Conner did not think there would be any interest in a football team from the community because of the lack of support for out club football team, who won the championship of their league this season.... with a losing record. It is a joke.; 3:45 PM
gmuhoops said...: Speaking of money put into athletics, here's ODU basketball practice facility, set for 2014. All with private funds.
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/odu-basketball-practice-facility-planned-2014

Must be nice.; 4:12 PM
Taylormade703 said...: 1) Is there really a cry for Mason football? I know there was interest 15 years ago, but does it still exist? I know it does in small circles here and there, but I've never heard anybody in the Patriot Club say "gee, wouldn't it be great if we had football!?!" I'm not saying we should or shouldn't, I'm just asking a question.

2) ODU has a new practice facility in the works. VCU paid their coach (and assistants) and made a tangible commitment to their basketball program. How come we as a larger school with larger enrollment haven't done the same?; 5:51 PM
Taylormade703 said...: But we will have a state of the art Biology Department! That will do wonders for school spirit!!! (note heavy sarcasm); 5:53 PM
Taylormade703 said...: And we haven't done that because???; 5:54 PM
seriously... said...: Instead of people bitching about funding on blogs they cut checks? That would be how you get a practice facility. Mason is paying their coaches. Hewitt is the top paid state employee.; 11:29 PM
seriously... said...: You don't think any current endowments are linked directly to specific teams?

You should probably back check your facts on tuition rates in Virginia.; 11:34 PM
Taylormade703 said...: It's just raising questions, that's all. Some would rather not question anything, I understand.; 7:25 AM
Guest Alumnus said...: If the numbers are to be believed (http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial_reports/expense_stat/show?school_id=62), GMU is already losing money on its athletics program (albeit a whopping $6k). JMU, Old (pre-football), and VCU all **LOSE** money on major sports.

Alumni giving is so bad that the Alumni Association can barely cover its own expenses. Anybody think the current state of the economy will help this?

As much as I'd love to see GMU field a football team, I don't think it is worth the effort until alumni are willing to lead by example with *several* millions of dollars.; 9:12 PM
BoredInClass said...: did you not read the part where most of that money is coming from GA Tech? Genius...; 2:20 AM
Yallarestupid said...: current economic state helps the wealthy. The top 5% of richest Americans are becoming weather. So those most likely donating any large amounts to begin with are still going to donate. read a book before you say this.; 5:28 AM
Coolbeans said...: because mason has no school spirit. no one wants to donate to this school. After viewing the video that basically shut down the idea of a football program, i vowed I will never donate a dollar. Out BOV is full of idiots and until they change they will see a lack of donations.; 5:34 AM
Jmckend1 said...: I don't think he will put any programs in jeopardy, but he may not add new sports to the list. I would think as a business man he sees the correlation between enrollment and athletic success. If an issue does pop up, does anyone think he may get a flaming bag of dog crap on his porch?; 9:57 AM
Chris S said...: A lot of people here read this hire in an incorrect manner. From the University's perspective - this is an excellent hire. Period. The man is well known in academic and business circles. He knows how to build the reputation of an academic institution. Now - there is some who take his comments on football or athletics in general as meaning athletics are in a down hill spiral resource wise. Negative. Dr, Cabrera is also a business strategist - he understands how athletics can enhance the overall environment for the University. He has stated as much. I think the AD will get along well with him especially if TOC can make a business case for any investments into our existing athletic programs. Football might be a tougher climb given the numbers will have to work before he would agree to it.

I have no problem with his comments about Mason being a University with an Athletics program instead of an athletics program with a University attached. I want that - we have all seen the negative impacts of when the Athletic Dept starts running a university.

I am excited about this hire - a young, intelligent, and ambitious man to lead Mason into the future.; 12:12 PM
Chris S said...: Actually, I spoke with TOD at the last home game and he said there has been serious progress on the new practice facitlity and baseball stadium - your are wrong. Patriot Club donations have gone up the past three consecutive years.; 12:16 PM
Chris S said...: nonesense - the attitude of the new President was the same as Merten's. There will be NO CUTS. Cabrera has stated in his interviews that he admired how Mason maintained an athletics program that was not a detriment to the University.; 1:53 PM
Taylormade703 said...: Chris, I can't tell you how much I hope you're right!; 5:52 PM
Taylormade703 said...: TOD?; 5:52 PM
seriously... said...: The money being paid to him by the Commonwealth of Virginia has nothing to do with the money he is receiving from Georgia Tech. I'm referencing an article by the Norfolk paper (which I believe Ryan posted on here) on the top 25 paid state employees. Hewitt is number one. It did not factor in his money from GA Tech, as that is no interest to people of Virginia outside of Mason basektball fans.... Genius....; 8:47 PM
seriously... said...: Wasn't aware the occupy crowd focused on college basketball blogs.... Glad to hear the top five percent are becoming weather.... I'm going to translate that to mean that they are sick of D.C.'s war on the "rich" and are heading to the Cayman Islands to avoid getting pounded in taxes.; 8:49 PM
seriously... said...: Like his brilliant op-ed run in AZ today on a lack of minorities on corporate boards.... Yeah this guy is going to be fantastic....; 8:51 PM
Neeker20 said...: Would that be becoming weather....
A. global warming
B. global change
C. Cyclical change; 9:55 PM
Caazone said...: do you just take all your ideas and comments from the caazone?; 8:06 AM
Ross_williams1 said...: Football at GMU is a dead issue for the near term anyway. TOC has been quoted that football will never come to GMU while he is the AD.; 8:49 AM
Student said...: For real though, I guess for the time being we're just going to have to live with no football, big surprise.. because of many of the reasons listed. But how about we focus on more funding for what we do have, which is a beast ass basketball team. I'd be happy with Cabrera if we can get some decent training facilities, some more upgrades to the patriot center "i.e. scoreboard etc.," and how about not turning down the Redskins for training camp next time? That'd be awesome, and if Cabrera is as much as a businessman as I'm hearing, let's hope he'd see the benefits in these few decisions. Anyone agree?; 10:31 PM
Taylormade703 said...: Agreed.; 6:54 PM
Taylormade703 said...: If Dr. Cabrera reads this (yeah right, but...): Dear Dr. Cabrera, It would be a good idea to be at the game tomorrow night sitting courtside next to Dr. Merten. Some could care less, but it would say a lot for the new president to attend arguably our most visible event. Just two cents from an alum...; 6:59 PM
Chris S said...: How does that impact anything? Look at what he did at Thunderbird MBA program - built up on hell of a reputation, did a lot of solid fundraising and managed investments into facilities and programs. One op-ed does not change all that. JMU just got a super-liberal President who has far more radical ideas on diversity than anything Dr. Cabrera has posited. I think you are making too much out of that. He has said nothing that has not come out of Dr. Merten's own office.; 11:31 AM
guest said...: Keep telling yourself that.; 11:34 AM
Timjquick said...: Football should definitely be a priority for Mason. Just look how successful it has been at ODU. I am a GMU alum from the 80's that lives in Tidewater and can tell you that it is a huge moneymaker and alumni draw down here.; 1:14 PM

George Mason's new president is Dr. Angel Cabrera, no not the golfer who smokes

George Mason Basketball

Thursday, December 15, 2011

George Mason's new president is Dr. Angel Cabrera, no not the golfer who smokes

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