I posted this on themat.com but forgot to put it on here, so here goes:

I was talking today with Harold Jagerson former Kstate club coach and he informed me that KState actually has an endowment in the 6 digit range (can't remember exactly how much) that was set aside for wrestling specifically off the original endowment. However, the interest it creates while sitting in the bank can go toward anything thus funding the women's equistrian team at KSU. He told me that the club team got close to $5000 and they told him to keep his nose out of KSTATE business. Now that he's not coaching anymore, he informed me that he regrets not pursuing this deeper. We need to look in on this hidden endowment.

On a side note softball was overwhelmingly voted to be a new women's sport at KSU but equistrian got tabbed over it. Rumorville is that more $$$ from powerful parents who can afford horses and such give more to the college which also translates more into President Wehfald's beloved KSU football program!

I have made contact with a friend (K-STATE Alumni) with some real good connections to a few of the Kanas Board of Regents that is looking into this endowment/ecsrow account. We just need to do our homework on all three schools.
With wrestling ranking number 5 in participation in the state we should have a pretty large number of families that pay TAXES (State Property Tax [College, High School & Elementary Schools], Sales Tax, Business Tax, Income Tax, Etc. - Plus I am sure we have donors to these state institutions. Let's find out IF AND WHO the people are that continue holding these dollars hostage or for their own personal slush fund. It should being going to the kids it was designated for.

Actually all of the horses used in the K-State riding program are donated to the university, and there are very few that would fetch more than killer price at the sale barn. Parents have no say in the running of the program, just as they would not in wrestling. Standing back beating your chest,and preaching divisive (comments) will impress people,unfortunately it won't be a favorable impression

What about any specifics addressed in the initial post.

• Is there a hidden endowment?
• Can the interest from that be used to support other sports?
• Has it been used to support any sports?
• Was Equestrian sports picked over softball when softball was the favorite for inclusion?

I see these as viable questions, especially if money originally targeted for wrestling is at issue. Especially since this is a wrestling forum, and where wrestling supporters have not only been neglected over the years, but now possibly having the money donated on their behalf used for other things. Last note, I would be careful about the language used on the threads. Betcha that the moderator fixes that or removes it.

All good questions, and framed quite well, my main comment is we need to stick to the subject rather than perpetuating unsubstantiated rumors. I am interested to see what becomes of this "investigation" because I have a child on the riding team.

Equestrian is not a sport, and my kids have shown horses for years. I have also shown horses for 35 years. It is an acticity, and a good one, but it's all about title IX. It's the same reason we have scholarships going to the rowing team. If you have a daughter (and I do)it's a great angle to get a scholarship, but it's not a sport. (Don't get me wrong if equestrian is still there when my daughter gets old enough I will work to get her a equestrian scholarship. I will work the system like most would, but it's still not a sport) Yes, it's in the olympics but so is ping-pong. As for equestrian over softball...Add the fact that K-State is a AG college and you have your answer for that. Most of the big donors to K-state are AG background.

If there is money out there for wrestling as a public college someone should be able to find out about it. I like many others though would not know how. I can't wait to see additional information however.

SlamBam

Link to KSU Foundation:

KSU Foundation

Link to KSU Foundation Annual Reports:

KSU Foundation Annual Reports

Link to KSU Foundation Fast Facts:

KSU Foundation Fast Facts

I encourage anyone with any questions to review the documents at the links provided.

There are hundreds of endowments granted to the KSU Foundation, and each endowment may have a different set of by-laws which the foundation is bound by law to follow.

I am confident that the Foundation's Executive Committee and Trustees are not violating any of the by-laws in the granting of scholarship monies from any of the Endowment funds.

Does the endowment exist? I have heard several scenarios, one is that the benefactor did indeed fund the endowment, and the other is the benefactor's endowment by-laws provided a timeline for the University to establish a varsity wrestling program. In the event the University did not start the program, the partially funded endowment would not be fully funded.

It is common for an endowment funds interest earned to fund other activities, and is generally specified in the by-laws.

Regardless, the topic is based on rumor and innuendo, and was irresponsible of the initiator to post without performing a modicum of research.

I further strongly encourage the individuals involved with the initiative to establish a Division I wrestling program in Kansas to review each institutions annual EADA Gender Equity Survey.

These surveys will shed much light on the individual universities athletic budgets, and why there is NO wrestling programs in Kansas.

How do you find out about 2,200 different endowed funds of $10,000 or more that were managed in the 2001 Annual Report? Also - under assets they list restricted, permently restricted, and one other form of restricted assets what is the make up of those assets?

Well just as I expected, someone cant resist to knock someone else and the path they pursue. Before someone else starts rumors that all of the kids on the riding teams are getting full rides and their parents are sitting in the press box at football games, get the facts straight.
I have to agree that riding is not nearly as physically demanding as wrestling{ I know, my son was on Labettes team this year} it takes a high degree of discpline and skill.

But we get your message, horses are for pussies, so is ping pong and rowing and anything else not as macho as wrestling. We get it and we admit it. Now can we just stick to the subject? Is there any money available to fund wrestling at K-State?

If so could more of it be given to the club team?

Most "scolarships" are not what they are cracked up to be, admittedly everything helps, but if K-State did have a team, I believe many parents would gladly pay full price tuition just to have their kid wrestle. That is what many on the equestrian team do, as do wrestlers at other Kansas schools. Assuming everyone that is on a team has scolarship money , is foolish.

The topic is regarding a "Hidden Endowment" at Kansas State University, which is absolutely false.

Can the financial reports of our state universities be trusted for veracity? I believe so!

Will an outsider be able to obtain Profit and Loss Statements from individual sports within the Athletic Department? Highly unlikely!

The EADA report mandated by Congress, which the universities must file annually, will be the most accurate information available.

Generally, the Endowment Associations at all universities are seperate entities from the university, are organized as non-profit entities, and follow IRS 501(c)(3) regulations.

Every Endowment Association organized in this manner files an annual report.

There may be certain information which is confidential and for management eyes only, however, there is nothing hidden.