Q&A with Seminole Boosters, Inc. President/CEO Stephen Ponder

Ehsan Kassim
Tallahassee Democrat

Stephen Ponder and Seminole Boosters are on a quest.

Ponder, who was named the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer in June, has taken off where his predecessor, FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford, left off in building the organization.

Seminole Boosters is in the middle of a campaign to raise 20,000 donors to help across the 20 athletic teams that represent FSU.

The Democrat talked with Ponder for an exclusive interview that covered a wide array of topics, including an update on the campaign, demand for the Cheez-It Bowl game tickets and some of the renovations going on for FSU athletics.

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Stephen Ponder Q&A

What is the drive for 20,000 donors for Seminole Boosters?

Ponder: We've had new donors sign up since we just launched the campaign. So, we've got 4,000 people who have renewed for this year or joined. Our goal this year is 15,250. That is the stairstep goal to get us to 20,000. But obviously, at the end of the season with Florida, with soccer playing in the College Cup and then just the awareness around Florida State Athletics and the team's doing well. And the bowl game obviously all helped us just get awareness for some old boosters and the need for support.

How much have the returns of players, like Trey Benson, Tatum Bethune and the biggest one, Jordan Travis, helped the campaign?

Ponder: Absolutely. Yeah. As the NIL space continues to evolve, right now we're not involved with any collective relative to their sponsorship of student-athletes. But those are vital to us being able to retain current players and opportunities for new student-athletes. But there's no doubt when Jordan announced he was coming back, the announcement came right when we were talking about our renewals for next year, right after winning the ballgame. I mean, all of that obviously helps get people excited for the next football season.

How much did a close game with a rival like Florida help?

Ponder: Well, I don't know. I think the winning period is great. So whether it's close or not it's just awesome. But yeah, when it's a competitive game, I mean, it just increased the I think the feeling when we won the game because it was a close game, and what was going on and we just made everybody even more excited. And so yeah, it's the combination of all of it that is just huge for us, as we try to get to 20,000 members. Winning the Florida game and then Jordan announcing, the bowl game, I think it's all positive towards trying to get people to help support Seminole boosters, which obviously the donations aren't talking directly, just for football there for all teams, but football is is the one that draws the most attention.

You mentioned women's soccer. What are your thoughts on how Brian Pensky did in Year 1?

Ponder: I thought he did a great job. I saw him last night and the man told him to walk into that situation with the success that program had, it took a special person to walk in and take on that challenge. And I thought he did a great job. The team all year just kept getting better and better and better. Just to get to the Final Four, I mean, I thought they did a great job this year.

I just thought he did a great job managing that entire situation. And actually, I mean, at the end of the year, I mean, I thought we were playing right. I mean, obviously, if you get the Final Four, you got to be playing well. And we just came up short. I thought he did a great job and the entire team and staff did.

You mentioned the goal is 20,000 Where do you guys get that number?

Ponder: We were just talking when we have 20 teams and just 20,000 Booster supporting 20 teams is really where it came from. You look at what others are doing, and there's a drive for this or that. But for us, it just seemed like an attainable goal from where we were and where we've been in our history. And that's one thing we want to put a goal out there. That's a stretch goal, but that's also realistic. And so that's why this year the goal is 15,250. And then next year, it'll be a stair step to get to 20. And we keep going but that's where the number came up to 20,000. So we can say 20 for 20 is ultimately the tagline.

There are now two NIL collectives involved with FSU athletics. How important are those in today's game??

Ponder: I think it's great to have both to help because the more that we have from a support standpoint, it just helps in an area right now that we can't really affect. But having donors step up as they have with those collectives. Both of them have been awesome because they're helping every team. Most recently obviously with the newest one, Battle's End helping with football. Again, it helps when Jordan Travis comes back and several other players are coming back right now. It's just setting us up for the future of what next year can be like. And Rising Spear has been doing that and they continue to do it with all sports.

You mentioned earlier the bowl game what kind of interest have you guys seen for that since it's been announced?

Ponder: Well we had requests for over 13,000 tickets. And ultimately we got in our allotment of 4,800 from the bowl. We went back and got another 2,500. And then we got some more we actually bought from Oklahoma. And so we filled as many ticket requests as we could. And I think we got to where 77% of people who ordered tickets, were able to get some tickets from us, and we had to put some ticket allotments in based on donor level, just again, trying to get as many Seminole booster members a chance to buy tickets, and then we directed everyone that we could not feel back to the bowl, because they do have some tickets available. It's just a way that they were trying to sell them rather than selling them to us. They wanted the donors to come straight to the bowl. But they can also go to the bowl directly. So we've met great demand. And I think that we will start the season with a great atmosphere in New Orleans and we're going to finish the season with a great atmosphere in Orlando, which is where the next two football games we play will be in that stadium.

You mentioned the next two games. FSU opens the season against LSU, in what could be a top-10 matchup. How big of a game could that be for getting donors?

Ponder: I think for us to be able to be in the central part of the state and in Orlando, from a fan standpoint with some old booster members have an opportunity to see our next two home games in person. It is phenomenal and it's a launching pad next year for our season. So, again we're expecting to have a great atmosphere at the bowl game. And the same thing is true for next September when we play LSU in the same stadium.

For any interested donors, where does the money they donate go?

Ponder: When people donate, we use the money for scholarships for all student-athletes. Because the athletics department is self-generating, we don't receive state tax dollars, and that's where Seminole boosters comes in. We fund scholarships for all sports. We provide the money for nutrition, weight training, strength training, the training room and nutrition. So a lot of services that are for the student-athletes, Seminole boosters provides in addition to the scholarships, that's where the money goes when people donate.

As you mentioned earlier, football is the main driver but that's not the only sport that goes through it goes to like volleyball, it goes soccer, it goes to softball, baseball, and even the smaller sports like tennis and golf, right?

Ponder: That's exactly right, 20,000 members supporting 20 teams, the scholarship support is for all sports. We use from a marketing standpoint, we're going to use what's going to generate the most buzz, and right now with everything that's going on football, we want to attract as many members as possible, but all sports benefit when people join Seminole boosters.

Outside of scholarships, you guys also help out with renovations, correct?

Ponder: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, Seminole Boosters is working on two projects right now in softball. One is covering a bullpen area along the right field (wall) and there are some seating opportunities with that. And then on the left field side, we're creating some seating opportunities. Its general admission seating those traditionally prescribed, but now it's going to have some decking there that people can enjoy and come in with a lounge chair and watch the game. Obviously, everyone loves watching baseball and softball and both college baseball and softball Florida State is at the top and in terms of fan support and recognition.

Where can potential donors find ways to donate, find more information and get any other questions answered?

Ponder: They can go to https://boosters.fsu.edu/.

Important Dates and Notes

  • December 31 – Pay your membership in full by December 31 to earn TRIPLE PRIORITY POINTS
  • December 31 – Any payments made by December 31 will be included on your 2022 TAX RECEIPT
  • January 31 – Renew or join by January 31 to receive a special EARLY RENEWAL GIFT (TBA)
  • April 18 – Ticket and Parking priority renewal DEADLINE
  • Plus, sign-up for automatic renewal for your annual membership to help us reach our goal of 20,000 members and receive a special gift (TBA).

GAME INFORMATION

Who: No. 13 Florida State vs. Oklahoma

When/Where: Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m.; Camping World Stadium in Orlando

TV: ESPN

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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