VIEW THE MOBILE ALPHA VERSION OF THIS SITE

News Nuggets, 07.12.04
----------
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Previous Day Nuggets...             Next Day Nuggets...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

School 'volunteers' to get out of retail business

The University of Tennessee athletic department figures to turn a bigger profit by turning its merchandise sales over to the private sector.

According to an Associated Press report, the Volunteers program announced last week it has decided to get out of the retail business and hand over sales of apparel, souvenirs and other merchandise to an outside company.

A Dallas company, eSports Partners, has added the school to a client list that includes several NFL and college teams and will market and sell Tennessee and Lady Vols products under a five-year contract. The pact was expected to be signed within several days, UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said.

The men's and women's athletic departments will receive 20 percent of gross sales, with eSports Partners guaranteeing Tennessee a minimum return of $529,500 in the first year. The university's return last year was about $375,000, Hamilton said.

The company projects the the payback to the school to reach $4 million by the end of the contract, noted the report.

"It guarantees us a revenue stream that is higher than what we've been netting," Hamilton said. "I think they'll bring an element of professionalism to our operation and the fans."

The NFL Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys and the University of Arkansas and Texas A&M also have agreements with eSports Partners.

As part of the agreement, the athletic department's Tennessee Traditions store in Stokely Athletics Center will close and reopen Aug. 1 under eSports Partners management. Four full-time and six part-time employees will lose their jobs. They will be able to interview for the new store or possibly be placed in other jobs at UT, Hamilton said.

Merchandise will be sold from manned kiosks at football games with more items to replace existing vendors' locations.

The athletic department should save about $1.3 million a year in expenses related to retail and not have to worry about keeping the items in inventory, Hamilton said.

Former UCF defensive boss joins Tulane staff

NEW ORLEANS — Bill D'Ottavio, the defensive coordinator for the Central FLorida Golden Knights for the past two seasons, has joined the Tulane football staff as an assistant coach, Green Wave head coach Chris Scelfo announced last week.

"Bill is an excellent addition to our coaching staff," Scelfo said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on the defensive side of the ball which will benefit our players."

D'Ottavio, a native of Roxbury, N.J., will work with the Green Wave cornerbacks while defensive coordinator Eric Schumann will coach the Tulane safeties in 2004. Garret Chachere assumes responsibilities for all of the linebackers.

"This is a great opportunity and I'm excited to join an outstanding group of coaches at Tulane," D'Ottavio said. "I'm looking forward to getting to know the players and to helping this program in any way I can."

D'Ottavio spent five seasons on the UCF coaching staff, serving as linebackers' coach for the first three seasons in Orlando before adding coordinator duties in 2002. In his two seasons as coordinator, four players earned first team All Mid-American Conference recognition while in 2001, UCF linebacker Tito Rodriguez ranked second in the nation in tackles per game and earned honorable mention All-America recognition.

A 1986 graduate of Millersville, he began his career as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater and then at the University of Pittsburgh. He later served stints as an assistant coach at Millersville, Penn and Middle Tennessee State.

D'Ottavio began his duties at Tulane July 6.

Tulane kicks off its 2004 football season Sept. 4 at Mississippi State in a nationally-televised game.

The Wave visits East Carolina on Oct. 9.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007