Barnes angling for USU success

Fund-raising aficionado might be more appropriate — from previous stops at Iowa State and Eastern Washington, to name a few, Barnes has built athletic programs from the ground up, mostly through fundraising. He increased private gift support at every stop, got facilities fully privately funded and increased revenue in never-before-thought-of ways for the time, like television, radio and even soft-drink contracts.

Once at Utah State, in his introductory press conference, Barnes said he would need 90 days to fully evaluate the athletic department's status. Since then, Barnes has met alumni along the Wasatch Front and in neighboring states to help gain perspective of the culture in Cache Valley and at Utah State.

A few things Barnes sees as strengths are:

• The achievements of the basketball team
• Conference affiliation with the WAC
• 82 percent graduation rate
• 130 academic all-WAC selections — tops in the conference
• Academic accomplishments and reputation of the university

But the biggest strength is the passion of boosters and fans.

"The passion that the Aggies have in what we do is extraordinary," Barnes said. "We just have to take that energy and that passion and invest it in our program."

Barnes also sees the weaknesses at USU:

• Smallest budget in the WAC

• Less-than-stellar customer service
• Low revenue generated from ticket sales

Based on strengths and weaknesses, Barnes has come up with a plan in furthering Utah State athletics.

"We've got a football program enhancement plan, which is a three-legged stool," Barnes said. "It's scheduling for success, creating continuity in our program, and it's facilities development. I think we're making strides in all three areas."

Just like at other stops, he has many ideas to be implemented for revenue growth. The Big Blue Scholarship fund is going to get an overhaul and, for the first time ever they're going to be proactive with season-ticket sales instead of waiting for the phone to ring.

The yet-to-be-named student-athlete facility in Romney Stadium's north end zone, however, seems to be Barnes' pride and joy, though he didn't start the project. Set to open before kickoff weekend, the three-story complex is, according to Barnes, Pac-10-quality. It will feature an Aggie sports hall of fame, a physical fitness and rehab center, and a center for academics and tutoring. The athletic rehab area is complete with a full gym, numerous athletic training tables and underwater treadmills.