Ross Bjork, Athletic Director for the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s August 28, 2018, meeting. He described the enthusiasm at the university about the coming sports seasons and the impact new coaches in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball is having on the university and on the student-athletes. He reported that in spite of the NCAA sanctions on the football program, the athletes are skilled and enthusiastic about the upcoming season. He reminded us that Ole Miss has appealed the sanctions handed down by the NCAA, that the appeal was heard July 18, 2018, and that the results of that appeal are expected 6 to 8 weeks after the appeal or about mid-September or within the next month.
Mr. Bjork discussed several issues facing college athletics, especially the legalization of sports betting. He said that the Athletic Department has two sports psychologists on staff and that student-athletes have been made aware of the problems associated with sports betting. Per Mr. Bjork, there have always been problems of sports betting people inducing student-athletes to affect the outcome of contests, but now the problem is expected to become more severe.
Mr. Bjork distributed a card containing the 2018-2019 Athletic Department budget and the Vision, Purpose and Core Values of the Department. Those are as follow:
VISION STATEMENT
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at The University of Mississippi will strive to be the number
one academic and athletics program through the strong emphasis of core values and the opportunity to
experience athletic pursuits at the highest level.
PURPOSE
The ultimate purpose of the Ole Miss Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to develop students to their
fullest potential through athletics.
CORE VALUES
Academic Excellence
Integrity
Social Responsibility
Student-Athlete Welfare
University Integration
Community Engagement
Competitive Excellence
The budget for the Athletic Department is $117 million, with the largest sources of revenues being what is called SEC Revenue at about $33.6 million, Annual Fund revenue of $20.6 million, Football Ticket sales of $19.3 million
We thank Mr. Bjork for his presentation, for his commitment and service to the University of Mississippi, and we wish him success in the athletic activities of the University. He is pictured below prior to his speech with Club member Matt Monsour who introduced him, while speaking, and following his talk with club president Anna Powers ( center), Club members Larry Anderson (left) and Jon Turner (second from left), and Ole Miss Deputy AD Keith Carter (right).
