Fellow Tigers:
I have great news to share: We’ve done what many thought wasn’t possible. Thanks to your efforts, Oxy Football is officially back for the 2018 season and beyond!
President Veitch updated the trustees earlier today with some impressive numbers. On the recruiting front, Coach Cushman and his staff have done an amazing job recruiting in the wake of the canceled season. They project an incoming class of 25-30 and a fall roster of around 55-58 players. On the fundraising side, Jeff and I and the rest of the Football Action Team are so proud of how you all rallied. We exceeded our first-year goal of $285,000 and have raised 85% of the four-year, $1.14-million target, giving President Veitch full confidence to go forward.
When I walked out of the task force meeting three months ago, I knew that this community would come together, but I never could have imagined just how strongly and positively so many of you would respond to the call. This has been a true partnership with the College. For the more than 250 of you who have already donated or pledged, we thank you, as does the College. If you haven’t given yet, we still need your support! It’s vital to keep this momentum going, not only to meet but exceed our four-year goal and to continue to build for the future.
Go Tigers!
Vance
You can find more information about Oxy's efforts to continue our football tradition here.
Here's how you can support football right now
1) Click the button below and make your gift online today - select "recurring" and "yearly" to make a four-year gift commitment. All giving is tax-deductible.
2) Call (323) 259-2602 to make your gift and four-year pledge over the phone.
3) Mail a check to Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, M-34, Los Angeles, CA 90041. Please make your check payable to Occidental College and write "Football" in the memo line.
4) Contact Casey Landry, associate director of the Oxy Fund and assistant football coach, for more information about four-year pledges, gifts of stock, matching gifts, or planned giving opportunities in support of football: (323) 259-2602.
The Football Action Team thanks you for your support.
On March 10, Oxy Football legends and supporters came to campus to raise money and build momentum for this crucial football initiative. Here are some photos from the event.
You can view videos from the event featuring Oxy Football legends Jim Mora '57, Vance Mueller '86, Head Coach Rob Cushman and David Meltzer '90 here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will my gift help Oxy football? What's the plan?
Your gifts and pledges will address key needs that Coach Cushman and his staff identified as crucial to restoring Oxy football and competing with the best in the SCIAC. That includes improving our recruiting capacity by bringing the current assistant football coach position to full time and hiring a dedicated recruiting intern. Your gifts will also make it possible to add a new offensive coordinator, adding new equipment and expanding pre-conference travel.
How was the $285,000 fundraising target calculated?
Oxy football requires a significant increase in resources to be safe, competitive and sustainable over the long-term. The task force reached that same conclusion, and subsequent analysis concluded that an incremental $456,000 per year is needed to get the program where we want it to be. President Veitch and the task force agreed that alumni fundraising would be the source of half of this increase (or $228,000), with the College committing to an incremental $228,000 - on top of its existing annual football budget. Consistent with the College's approach for other sports (and recognizing that the success of Oxy football is intertwined with athletics overall), an additional 25% was included in the goal to address the athletic department's greatest needs.
Is all the money going directly to football?
Every dollar of this fundraising effort will benefit Oxy Football and Oxy athletics. As has been the case with other major sport-specific fundraising efforts at Oxy, 25% of the total funds raised (approx. $57,000) will address the athletic department’s greatest needs. The rest (about $228,000) will be dedicated to the football program. The Football Action Team sees this is an important opportunity to not only elevate football at Oxy, but all athletic programs.
What was the March 10 event I've heard about?
On March 10, over 80 football alumni, coaches and friends came together to rally around this important football initiative. Attendees toasted to our renewed partnership with the College, heard updates about recruiting and fundraising, and shared stories with legends like Jim Mora '57, Bill Redell '64 and Vance Mueller '64. In one day, football alumni were able to raise $30,000 in cash and an additional $65,000 in pledges - a huge accomplishment! Keep an eye out for a podcast created by David Meltzer '90 featuring Jim Mora, Vance Mueller, and Coach Cushman, along with the photos from the event, all coming soon.
We look forward to talking about Oxy Football with you! Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us if you have questions, or would like to discuss how you can support this important effort.
Vance Mueller '86, Chair of the Football Action Team –
vmueller42@att.net
Phil Anton '67
John Castner '81
Jeffrey Goldstein '86
Casey Landry –
landryc@oxy.edu
Larry Layne '71 –
larrylaynenova@gmail.com
David Meltzer '90
Bill Redell '64
Michael Tromello '05 M'06
