“This is a special moment in time and we are proud of this multi-year agreement (with FSG Bank) which will help UTC continue to bring to campus the best and the brightest student-athletes.”
-- UTC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics David Blackburn
UTC classes don't start until Monday but UTC Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director David
Blackburn already has an A+ in human relationships/economics/marketing.
As Thursday was move-in day for UTC students, it all marked
an important day for the university as UTC made a major move forward with the
announcement of a multi-year, multi-faceted partnership with FSG Bank.
The partnership entails a co-branded debit card naming FSG
Bank the “Official Bank of UTC Athletics”, along with FSG Bank set to earmark
funds to help underwrite student-athlete scholarships and additional monies for
the UTC athletics operational budget.
“This is a landmark day for us (UTC) as the entire FSG Bank
family and Learfield Sports’ Mocs Sports Properties have been great as we have
worked on the details the last few months,” said Blackburn.
So while Vice Chancellor Blackburn receives many handshakes
and pats on the back for a job well done as leader of the athletics department,
he is quick to attest that without the hard work by the coaching and
administrative staffs and the success stories of student-athletes none of this
would be possible.
“Our teams and individual athletes are winning championships
and receiving academic awards which bring positive national attention to our
university and our coaches continue to stress success in the classroom as our
overall athletics department grade point average continues to improve,” said
Blackburn.
He noted several months ago that his first year on campus
(hired April 2013) was spent in part in building relationships with people on
the Chattanooga community and the alums across the nation.
“I knew it was important to get to know folks inside and
outside the UTC family that first 12 months and share our vision and then
follow-up in year two with a plan on how people can help us reach out goals in
several ways, including financially,” Blackburn stated. “This partnership with
FSG Bank is a vital step in helping us not just co-exist, but advance and
succeed.”
FSG Bank President and CEO Mike Kramer said “We are two
organizations on the rise.
“We have wanted to rebuild our brand for some time and partnering with UTC I believe shows our
bank is one which genuinely cares for this
community and the clients’ needs and not just a bank hocking a product.”
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net