Alden talks Missouri sports at SPJ event
Alden discussed Faurot Field expansion and Reactor, among other topics.
Published Sept. 25, 2009
The Society of Professional Journalists invited Missouri Athletics Director Mike Alden to answer questions from a group of students Sept. 23 at the Fred Smith Forum inside the Reynolds Journalism Institute.
Alden started the discussion with information on his background, family and his job as athletics director.
He described the athletics program as very open and accessible.
"I'm Mike and I'm here," Alden said.
Alden answered questions about how Missouri student athletes find a balance between being a student and an athlete. He described how Missouri was first in Academic Progress Rate among public NCAA schools in 2008-09, giving credit to 150-200 mentors and tutors.
"I don't want to sound like I'm prideful, but I'm really proud," Alden said.
Among the topics of discussion was the expansion of Faurot Field. Alden said if attendance in the next few years averaged out to around 65,000, the field would be expanded.
There would be more suites and club seats added on to the east side of the stadium. There is also the possibility of making Faurot Field a true horseshoe by making the end zone seats a prime location, thanks to the new high definition scoreboard installed across the field.
Alden addressed how Missouri prepares to keep its athletes healthy.
"We have an entire medical staff that addresses all the issues of the athletes," Alden said. "Nothing is foolproof but we do a pretty good job. When students come to Mizzou they go through a barrage of medical tests."
Alden also said the closing of Reactor Field was a joint decision with the administration, the police and the athletics department.
He said in addition to minor in possession citations and the image that was being conveyed to the community by the activities on the lot, people were not going to the games at all.
One of the bigger subjects was the Big 12 TV contract. Alden said the lack of a network was "tough, and it's hurting us significantly."
He said he hoped a network could pick the Big 12 up soon. He also explored the possibility of the Pac-10, Big 12 and the ACC teaming up to create one big network.
Associate journalism professor Charles Davis invited Alden because "kids find him and his job interesting," he said