Below are the most recent answers to questions that have been submitted on-line to UDM Associate Vice President and Athletic Director
Keri Gaither by Titan fans. If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the A.D., you are invited to e-mail her at
keri.gaither@udmercy.edu with your questions about the Titans or college athletics in general. Some of the most pertinent questions and replies will be posted at this location.
Go Titans!
Question: How can this be considered a serious program when I can't even hear UDM games on the radio and I live 15 minutes from campus? - Layne H.
Response: Hello Layne, thank you for your e-mail and your question.
The decision to discontinue radio was made for a number of reasons. First, radio is extremely expensive and reaches very few casual listeners or recruits and costs the department over $100,000 a year. It is extremely difficult to find sponsors willing to invest in radio when technology has made advertising in other ways much more attractive. We took the radio money and reinvested it into our television package which consisted of a minimum of eight games nationally broadcast on the ESPN platform, four games on FOX Sports Detroit and another game on WADL. In addition, we have also added a new TV show on FSN Detroit which airs nationally as well, "Detroit Titan Court Report". These changes have brought national recognition to the program and has enhanced recruiting opportunities.
Second, advances in technology have made it possible to video stream all Horizon League games not only to your computer but to smart phones as well. This is very exciting as smart phones are saturating the cell market. In fact, in a three-month period, smart phone users increased 10-percent to 82.2 million users in the US. As this trend continues, traditional methods of communication and media outlets will also continue to change. Although many newspapers made an unpopular choice with older readers to cut down the number of daily issues and pages, it is a reality that more people are getting their entertainment and news content via Internet.
Although UDM was the first in the League to be ahead of the trend to reallocate radio funds to a more efficient use, several other athletic directors are currently considering this move as well.
The feedback from fans and alumni has been mostly positive regarding our efforts to expand the Detroit Titan brand to a broader national audience and increase the exposure of our teams. Our television package and streaming initiatives of the Horizon League Network have expanded our footprint to a much larger area than radio would have offered.
I understand this is not the answer you hoped for, but I also hope you will understand better my commitment to use our limited resources in the most responsible and appropriate manner to reach our goals.
Since you are so close to campus, I also hope you will take me up on my offer to provide you and your family some complimentary tickets for one of our upcoming Titan home games. That way you can watch the team live instead of on your computer.
Please let me know which game you'd like to attend and I'll have them sent to you. I'd also welcome the opportunity to discuss this more in person when you come to the game in case you have any questions.
Question: I will be a freshman this year and I heard at one time that UDM students (with ID) get free tickets to athletic events and do not need to order season tickets. Thanks for your time.
-Caitlyn G.
Response: First, let me say welcome to UDM! As an alum myself, I am excited that you will be attending school here this Fall and that you will be part of our Detroit Titan Family.
As far as UDM student admission to Detroit Titan home athletic events (including basketball games), YES, you are provided complimentary admission so the purchase of season tickets is not necessary. For men's basketball games, you can receive up to four (4) student tickets, for you and your family or friends to attend, by simply showing your valid UDM Student ID at the entrance gate of the sporting event.
As a heads up, we do have a very special evening coming up this basketball season as we dedicate the new wood playing floor as Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall. For that game, the St. John's Red Storm will be coming to Detroit as part of the dedication celebration and game on December 5. Dick Vitale will be back in Calihan Hall as we honor him for his time spent coaching at the University of Detroit as well as his accomplishments in promoting college basketball. UDM complimentary student tickets for that game will be limited to two (2) seats. Please make sure to mark that game on your calendar as it will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and the student section will be rocking.
Additionally, we have a new student initiative this year, "Section 313" which is a student group formed to support all Titan sport teams. There is a nominal cost for this optional membership but the benefits are huge!
http://www.facebook.com/Section313
We hope you will consider joining Section 313 separate from receiving complimentary game tickets. More information will be available on complimentary student tickets and Section 313 during Freshman Move-In Day. Several of our Titan student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff members will be there that day helping the students move in as well as providing complimentary refreshments. They will also have printed materials on the various upcoming events. I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities as attending sporting events is a great way to show pride in your school, enhance your campus life experience, and most importantly build friendships that will last a lifetime.
Good luck with your studies as you begin your college experience. I hope you will stop into the main athletic office and introduce yourself next time you are in Calihan Hall.
Question: What radio station carries the Titan basketball games?
-Tom R., Beverly Hills, Mich.
Response: Thank you for your e-mail and interest in Detroit Titan athletics. We appreciate your support and I am happy to hear you want to follow the basketball team. Unfortunately, over the past couple years, I have had to make some tough decision on allocation of resources and one area that I decided to take funding and reallocate it to others, is radio. Although broadcasting games on the radio was a terrific service, the listenership was extremely low and the cost was substantial so I dropped radio coverage last year, in conjunction with expanding our internet streaming and television package. This change has paid off with an even larger television package this year including six nationally broadcast games on the ESPN platform, four games on FSN Detroit and three more locally on WADL - Channel 38, as part of the Horizon League's Game of the Week. Additionally, we debuted the Detroit Titan Court Report this year, a series of all-access behind the scenes basketball shows which are produced on a monthly basis.
Also as mentioned, all home games (non-nationally televised) and league road games are streamed via the internet with links on DetroitTitans.com. As technology improves, we expect that in the near future, all mobile phones will have the capability that iPhones have already in watching the HL streamed games on your phone.
These new initiatives have created national exposure to our fans, alumni and recruits - much more so than radio was able to do so I plan to maintain this approach.
Question: Some of my friends and I have heard there might be a chance to re-introduce Titan football by joining the Pioneer Football League. Is this true? Will we be bringing back football to UDM sometime in the future? (9/29/09)
-John R., Harper Woods, MI
Response: Although the University is seriously considering the start an NCAA Division I non-scholarship football program (now called NCAA Football Championship Subdivision or FCS), currently there is no approved plan to move forward with the implementation of officially adding the sport. However, I'd like to give you a quick overview of what has happened so far.
From the research and internal feasibility study that has already been completed, I believe FCS football makes sense for UDM in many ways. It would increase the University's enrollment with an additional 90-110 male students. It would also add to the campus life experience and create additional exciting campus activities on Saturday afternoons as well as allow for a traditional Fall homecoming event in conjunction with a football game. We would also welcome the opportunity to host local Catholic High School games. However, there are a few challenges that need to be addressed before we can move forward with an official announcement.
First, the NCAA moratorium on adding new programs is in effect until 2011-12. I’m not sure if the NCAA moratorium will be extended after 2011-2012 but, even if it is, having an official plan to announce a program should be enough to be granted an exemption. Another challenge is not having a stadium or building to house the football program. Without an official commitment to build a stadium and the required additional facilities to house the program, it would be impossible to make such an announcement. Lastly, we would need a conference affiliation. I believe the Pioneer League is a terrific fit, especially since fellow Horizon League members Butler and Valparaiso are already in that League. Of course, we would have to be invited to join the Pioneer League.
An ambitious timeline for adding football requires a three-year process. The first summer would be spent hiring a coach and staff, and allowing the staff to recruit and schedule. The following summer/fall, the first football student-athletes would be on campus and enrolled in school, but the small team would not compete that year at the varsity level. The following summer/fall (year three), the second group of student-athletes would arrive on campus and varsity competition would commence. So, if we were able to make an announcement this coming summer, the Titans would take the field for varsity competition in 2012-2013 but there would be plenty of football activity each year leading up to that.
The University is currently exploring fundraising/sponsorship opportunities to fund the building of new football facilities. If we are able to secure funding for the project, I believe there will be great news coming out regarding Detroit Titan football.
Question: As a non-alumni Titan fan who attends 4 to 5 home games a season, can you tell me what the advantages are of joining the Titan Club? Thanks. (11/19/08)
-Bob G., Bloomfield Hills, MI
Response: Thank you for your e-mail. I am excited to hear that you usually attend 4 or 5 games a year. I am hopeful that when you see this year's team play, you'll want to attend even more.
A Titan Club Membership is a great opportunity to support the entire athletics program or one specific sport if you prefer to designate the donation that way. In addition to the membership being a tax deductible donation, as a member, it affords you the opportunity to access the Titan Club Room before the men's basketball games, at half-time and after the games. Inside the TC Room at every men's game, complimentary snacks and pop are available along with beer and wine for member only purchase. The TC Room also has a coat closet for you to store your coat during the games and also has an additional private rest room area.
As far as the advantages of a Titan Club Membership from a social aspect, you will meet and mingle with many other club members. You will also be invited to special receptions featuring former players. Examples of such events include the recent Titan Tip-Off and Alumni Basketball Game and last season's 1977 Titan Team Reunion. The current coaching staffs will also be stopping in after the games to socialize with the TC Members. As a member, you will also be invited to the annual summer TC Meeting/Reception and you will be eligible to run for the TC Board and serve on TC committees if you so chose.
All in all, it is a great value starting at the $100 level. Of course, though, I would be remiss if I didn't invite you to partner with the Athletic Department and make an even bigger difference in the future of Titan Athletics by joining the CAL Club at the $1,000 level. With that level membership, season tickets (fair market value of tickets not tax deductible) and VIP parking is also included and the positive impact your donation will have on the department is substantially greater.
I'd welcome the opportunity to share more information with you if you are interested. Hope to hear from you soon!
