WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Wichita State athletic director Kevin Saal said Sunday night that the department will continue its basic seating plan for men’s basketball games following backlash over its impact on cheer and dance teams.

The new premium ticket option, introduced this season as a way to increase revenue, meant relocating members of the school’s spirit team. Although they would perform before the game, during timeouts, and during halftime, some members were moved to the student section during the game.

Saal released a statement to 12 News on the matter Sunday night.

“After proactively gathering the perspectives of critical constituents, we believe we have made a thoughtful decision in the best interests of our entire athletics program, including but not limited to the 16 NCAA-sponsored intercollegiate athletics sports, 273 student-athletes, and approximately 100 coaches and staff. However, we believe that the entire athletics department “We will maintain a similar analytical and thoughtful approach moving forward, continually evaluating, planning/preparing, and executing what we believe is in our best interests.”

Public concerns were conveyed to 12 News after the team’s first exhibition game at Charles Koch Arena last week.

“I don’t want to continue using the word ‘disrespectful,’ but I do want to disregard the hard work and dedication that these athletes put in, especially since many of them do not receive scholarships, the dance team does not receive scholarships. Wichita State Cheer alumna Faith Smith said, “They are expected to follow student-athlete rules But they do not receive the same treatment as other student-athletes,” he said.

Other WSU Cheer alumni expressed their disappointment with the change on social media.

Saal’s full statement is as follows:

Please accept our sincere thanks for your email, sincere thoughts and suggestions. After proactively gathering the perspectives of critical constituents, we believe we have made a thoughtful decision in the best interest of our entire athletics program, including but not limited to the 16 NCAA-sponsored intercollegiate athletics sports, 273 student-athletes, and approximately 100 coaches and staff.

However, we will maintain a similar analytical and thoughtful approach moving forward by continually evaluating, planning/preparing, and executing what we believe is in the best interest of the entire athletics department. Your feedback submitted below is important to this process and will be considered at the appropriate time to review this decision at the conclusion of the 2024-25 competitive season.

This decision does not affect spirit groups’ opportunities, availability, and/or ability to perform on the field as they always do, whether pre-game, during timeout, at halftime, or post-game.

The athletic dialogue requesting to deliver meals to these first class seat holders was either misquoted and/or misinterpreted. For many years, cheer/dance (along with many other campus and community nonprofit groups) have been compensated (and compensated for) by the contracted concessionaire for the privilege of operating concession stands in the main concourse at Koch Arena as additional fundraising opportunities. supporting national competition (i.e. travel, accommodation, etc.). This year, athletics paid third-party staff (not cheering/dancing) to serve as primary wait staff/servers/runners for season ticket holders in premium seats in the field.

Respectfully, my professional and/or personal considerations regarding the status of spirit groups in relation to other intercollegiate athletics sports/programs are irrelevant. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) does not classify spirit groups (i.e., cheer, dance, band, seniors) as sponsored intercollegiate athletic programs. The NCAA does not distribute “Grants” or “Sports Sponsorship” funds to organizations that sponsor spirit groups. Additionally, the NCAA does not certify eligibility/amateurship (via the NCAA Clearinghouse/Eligibility Center), legislate compliance with the rules, and/or enforce enforcement of those rules, and/or hold institutions accountable to “Academic Progress Rates” or “Graduate Success Rates.” it doesn’t work. as they are associated with soul groups. Each athletic department is charged with fulfilling these (and many more) NCAA requirements, mechanisms, and expectations with respect to Wichita State’s NCAA-sponsored intercollegiate athletics programs.

However, although spirit groups operate outside of the primary mission of the NCAA, Wichita State Athletics recognizes and supports the importance of spirit groups to participants and others…as reflected in Wichita State Athletics’ financial support. Compared to the 7 public institutions in the American Athletic Conference (ECU, FAU, Memphis, Charlotte, North Texas, South Florida and UTSA):

1. In four of the last five fiscal years, Wichita State has ranked in the top 3 in highest annual spirit group expenditures among its peers, despite having no football-related spirit group expenditures.

2. In FY19, 20, 21, and 23, excluding FY22, Wichita State financially supported spirit groups 64.73% above the comparable average (50.48% higher when FY22 is included).

3. Wichita State’s 5-year average financial support for soul groups ($220,020) ranks highest among these peers.

4. Wichita State Athletics increased its support of spirit groups by 61.1% from FY22 to FY23

Attached is a compilation of data on these four points, and it is noteworthy that Wichita State Athletics does not incur additional expenses or generate additional revenue in connection with sponsoring a football program as the same competitors do; The support currently provided to Wichita State University soul groups becomes even more important.

While we understand, appreciate, and empathize with the disagreements and frustrations with this decision, we also need to balance the responsibility of aligning our resources to meet championship-level expectations for our entire athletics program.

Take care of yourself and do my best.

Kevin Saal

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