Blue White Illustrated

Penn State reported a gross operating surplus of approximately $4.6 million for the 8scal year that ended on June 30 and an ending cash reserve of $7.5 million. Those numbers were among the topics of dicussion on Sept. 14 when athletic director Sandy Barbour and Rich Kaluza, senior associate athletic director for 8- nance and business operations, ad- dressed the board of trustees. At the conclusion of 8scal year 2011, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics had a reserve balance of approximately $20 mil- lion. Following the NCAA sanctions and loss of Big Ten bowl revenues, the reserve balance was approximately $150,000 at the end of 8scal year 2013. Through a combination of cost-cutting initiatives and the return of conference and bowl revenues and external loans, Penn State Athletics built its reserve balance to $7.5 million as 8scal year 2017 ended. Barbour concluded the presentation by acknowledging that al- though the 8ve-year budget projections are vastly improved over those presented in 2014, resources will re- main tight for the 31- sport, 800-student- athlete program. Penn State's ability to maintain the competi- tive levels of its most successful programs and improve the programs that aren't among the nation's most competitive will depend on the department's ability to identify and tap into new revenue streams while growing current revenues, Barbour said. She added that while in- vestment in many areas will be required for competitive improvement and rev- enue growth, it also will be important for the department to be cost-conscious. Barbour said that anticipated revenue growth from game attendance, confer- ence media rights, strengthened part- nership agreements and increased philanthropy will continue to improve ICA's operating budget picture. But Penn State's needs are also growing as it looks to fund the new and upgraded venues outlined in the facilities master plan that university o9cials announced in March. Barbour and Kaluza spoke to the board's Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning. Barbour noted that more than 72 percent of Penn State's student-athletes receive some type of grant-in-aid support (366 full grant-in-aid equivalencies). With its 31 varsity programs, Penn State has one of the 8ve highest totals of all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision insti- A D M I N I S T R A T I O N Fiscal outlook improving for Intercollegiate Athletics Penn State great Jack Ham was en- shrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, the 8rst year he was el- igible for the honor. Last month, he was honored again, this time as a "Hometown Hall of Famer." The award, presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Ford, hon- ors the hometown roots of the game's most celebrated players. Ham grew up in Johnstown, but it was at Penn State where he developed into one of the game's all-time greatest line- backers. He was the last player to join Joe Paterno's Class of 1967 and went on to become a team captain, an All- American and later an eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker and four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Saluted during Penn State's game against Indiana on Sept. 30 – a game for which he provided analysis as a longtime member of the Nittany Lions' radio broadcast team – Ham was one of several recent honorees. Others who've received the Home- town Hall of Fame award this year in- clude Merlin Olsen, Kenny Easley, Randy White and Dave Casper. ■ NO PLACE LIKE HOME Ham unveils his plaque during Penn State's game against Indiana last month. Photo by Patrick Mansell F O O T B A L L Ham lauded as 'Hometown Hall of Famer'

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