So, another year and another "well, we could have..." We have huge problems that won't be solved over night. Short of one of us winning the lottery, there is a lot of hard work to be done.
I will be honest. I have no faith in the Administration. Bruno has done great things for academics but he doesn't care about athletics, IMO. He tolerates it and puts on a happy face. If he could dump it, I have no doubt he would do it in a heart beat. Why else have we not heard of any interviews for AD? I know that some folks last year refused to apply because of the reputation Bruno has but there are folks out there looking to prove themselves. I have no doubt that the intent was to move Scott into that position. Nothing against Scott or the job he has been doing but you have to have competition. Rumors I heard were that the Athletic Department wasn't allowed to push the vote for student fees. Not sure if that is true, but either they were stopped or the department did absolutely nothing in support of the fee increase. Either way, it was sheer negligence.
Now, we have lost the Grove and we are supposed to get a new and improved one. Well, the plan has been worked in secret. No rendering has been published. I know there is one that has been completed but apparently it is too hard to get it out to the people who have donated and purchased spots. If rumors are true, there is a lot of work to be done and we are 9 months away from our first game. People may think it is easy but there is a lot of prep work, laying of water pipes, electrical lines, making of roads (is it gravel, paved, dirt). You are tying into existing power grid and water lines. I bet those plans have to be approved by a gov't entity. Somehow, you have to get that approved, renditions out, and then get an event together so that existing spot holders can lay claim to their new spot.
L Club has lost their house and I doubt they have a new one before next season. Golf House is gone. Had this not been leaked to Hunsucker, Bruno would have kept it quiet.
Now, we come to us. Those of us on this board. Those folks that we know who donate. Those that we know who have given up. What are we going to do as an individual. Some folks complain about attendance at the grove yet sit at home and watch football and show up just before the game. Everyone on this board knows someone who has a spot in the grove. There is no one with a spot that would refuse you a place to sit, a cold beer, or some food. Yet, we didn't have people to support the team when they walked through the grove. What a let down for the team to walk through and see it half empty. But hey, so many folks found all sorts of reasons not to get out early.....honey dos, family, might rain, just a little more work.....it ain't like the schedule comes out in the summer. Basketball season is upon us. How many of you are going to try and come see this team? I got my season tickets. Schedule is out. They generally run 2 games a week, 2 weeks at home and 2 weeks on the road. Y'all can plan a Tuesday night and a Saturday afternoon. Want to know the quickest way to raise an extra $150,000? Get an extra 1000 people per game. And we still wouldn't fill up the lower section of seats. You know what? You might actually like watching this team play basketball and might actually make a difference with some noise. By the way, they are running a special on tickets for the next 4 home games. You can get GA tickets for each game for only $20. That is $5 a game.
So, I won't ask you to raise your donation. I will ask you to show up. Quite a few of you I know by face. I am at every game. How about you do the same? Come on by and say hi. We can have a beer or a coke. Grab a friend and bring them as well. For the next 4 games, you tell me where you are going to get a live sporting event for $5. What is $20 gonna hurt?
Time to demand better from Bruno. Time to demand better from Athletic Department. Time to demand better from the Warhawk Club. Time to demand better from ourselves.
I will be honest. I have no faith in the Administration. Bruno has done great things for academics but he doesn't care about athletics, IMO. He tolerates it and puts on a happy face. If he could dump it, I have no doubt he would do it in a heart beat. Why else have we not heard of any interviews for AD? I know that some folks last year refused to apply because of the reputation Bruno has but there are folks out there looking to prove themselves. I have no doubt that the intent was to move Scott into that position. Nothing against Scott or the job he has been doing but you have to have competition. Rumors I heard were that the Athletic Department wasn't allowed to push the vote for student fees. Not sure if that is true, but either they were stopped or the department did absolutely nothing in support of the fee increase. Either way, it was sheer negligence.
Now, we have lost the Grove and we are supposed to get a new and improved one. Well, the plan has been worked in secret. No rendering has been published. I know there is one that has been completed but apparently it is too hard to get it out to the people who have donated and purchased spots. If rumors are true, there is a lot of work to be done and we are 9 months away from our first game. People may think it is easy but there is a lot of prep work, laying of water pipes, electrical lines, making of roads (is it gravel, paved, dirt). You are tying into existing power grid and water lines. I bet those plans have to be approved by a gov't entity. Somehow, you have to get that approved, renditions out, and then get an event together so that existing spot holders can lay claim to their new spot.
L Club has lost their house and I doubt they have a new one before next season. Golf House is gone. Had this not been leaked to Hunsucker, Bruno would have kept it quiet.
Now, we come to us. Those of us on this board. Those folks that we know who donate. Those that we know who have given up. What are we going to do as an individual. Some folks complain about attendance at the grove yet sit at home and watch football and show up just before the game. Everyone on this board knows someone who has a spot in the grove. There is no one with a spot that would refuse you a place to sit, a cold beer, or some food. Yet, we didn't have people to support the team when they walked through the grove. What a let down for the team to walk through and see it half empty. But hey, so many folks found all sorts of reasons not to get out early.....honey dos, family, might rain, just a little more work.....it ain't like the schedule comes out in the summer. Basketball season is upon us. How many of you are going to try and come see this team? I got my season tickets. Schedule is out. They generally run 2 games a week, 2 weeks at home and 2 weeks on the road. Y'all can plan a Tuesday night and a Saturday afternoon. Want to know the quickest way to raise an extra $150,000? Get an extra 1000 people per game. And we still wouldn't fill up the lower section of seats. You know what? You might actually like watching this team play basketball and might actually make a difference with some noise. By the way, they are running a special on tickets for the next 4 home games. You can get GA tickets for each game for only $20. That is $5 a game.
So, I won't ask you to raise your donation. I will ask you to show up. Quite a few of you I know by face. I am at every game. How about you do the same? Come on by and say hi. We can have a beer or a coke. Grab a friend and bring them as well. For the next 4 games, you tell me where you are going to get a live sporting event for $5. What is $20 gonna hurt?
Time to demand better from Bruno. Time to demand better from Athletic Department. Time to demand better from the Warhawk Club. Time to demand better from ourselves.
