Florida A&M Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes At SWAC Media Day
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00:00 >> Okay, and you said something else, a lot of news related to Florida A&M.
00:03 How do you see your staff and your course coaching is gonna handle all of this?
00:08 >> Yeah, really, we don't want any distractions headed into the season.
00:11 This has been a small distraction, but we're really back on track.
00:13 I had the opportunity to meet with the team yesterday morning and
00:16 talk about when I met with the team in January, the focus is the celebration bowl.
00:20 And that's what the focus continues to be.
00:22 As an athletic director, I know it's my responsibility to make sure that my
00:25 student athletes receive the necessary education in the classroom,
00:29 on the field and everywhere in between.
00:31 Some use this opportunity to get them the education in between, form branding,
00:34 name, image, and likeness and all things so that FAMU continues to rise to the top.
00:39 >> Absolutely, and I just talked to the executive director of the Orange Blossom
00:41 Classic, and she said the door was not closed on FAMU potentially returning
00:45 down the road.
00:46 What do you have to say about that?
00:47 >> Yeah, the Orange Blossom Classic is a phenomenal event.
00:49 I've actually attended it twice as a spectator.
00:52 Due to just some scheduling philosophy as the athletic director,
00:54 we weren't able to work it out for this year.
00:56 But I really look forward to continuing conversations.
00:58 Our fans love it, our student athletes love it, and I love the Orange Blossom
01:01 Classic.
01:02 So I look forward to it returning to our schedule or
01:04 discussions about it returning to our schedule in the future if it makes sense
01:06 for us.
01:07 >> Now, another goal is to maximize the potential champions package.
01:09 Now, what are some of the things you and
01:11 yourself have been working on over the course of the summer to improve that
01:13 package?
01:14 >> Yeah, so one of the things we wanted to do was our fans like to go to every game.
01:18 So we wanted to put as many games home and on the road in the package to make it
01:22 a really user-friendly experience for our fans throughout the season.
01:26 Our staff is continuing to work on incentives and
01:28 small gifts to acknowledge those people who have made that investment.
01:31 But really the goal of the package is to generate funds to pour back into our
01:35 student athletes.
01:36 >> Last question for me, of course,
01:37 it's the baseball team won the championship over the summer.
01:40 How do you feel about the overall direction of family athletics?
01:43 >> Yeah, it was really exciting.
01:44 Our baseball team won its first ever SWAG championship, but
01:46 our 23rd conference championship combined with the SIAV, BEMIAC, in the SWAG.
01:52 The goal that I've set for my athletic program is to win four SWAG championships
01:56 a year.
01:57 So if we do that consistently, there's opportunity for
02:00 every student athlete who attends FAMU to walk out with a degree and
02:03 walk out with a championship.
02:04 So our goal is to move up in the commissioning cup standing,
02:07 increase our number of championships, and make sure that we increase our
02:10 graduation success rate in APR so it's an all-around successful experience for
02:14 our student athletes.
02:15 >> Thank you so much.