Any information on cajun field renovation

[cajunhawk]

My point is not every large money donor is some evil sneaky a-hole that just wants control of the athletic department. There are people that will donate large sums of money and do just that...donate it. They aren't gonna try to take t-Jose's house on campus or Scott's office. You just have to give them a reason. You are and have always made it sound like rich people are evil. Just as you or I don't expect to be able to control athletics with our donation there are wealthy people that see their donations the same.

I agree...but there are more stories about out of control donors and athletic foundations getting way too involved in the day to day dealings of athletic departments at the major college level. There is an exception to every rule. I don't make it sound like rich people are evil...hell I work for one that is as good a human being as I have ever met. I just know what is going on all around college football right now is not an isolated incident. Giving them a reason is a given, but what if the reason we give isn't good enough? It's not that easy. If it was...everyone would be doing it. It's not ridiculously hard by any stretch, and that's why 501-C's are popping up like mushrooms after a rain storm. But still...donations are not a given. Ask Southern Miss fans. They have done everything we couldn't...and they still lack big donors.

[moorecajun]

What if the United Way takes your money and uses it for the exact opposite reason that you donated it for? That's an even better argument for withdrawing funds. To a lot of people this is what the RCAF and the administration is doing. You can't ask for your money back but you can cease donations. The difference is...the United Way will be alright...they survived the scandal of the 80's. The RCAF...might not be alright. That effects more than just the administration...it affects coaches, players, and athletic department staff that to us are doing far better jobs than the administration is. Why punish those people who have done nothing wrong?

I agree 100% with your idea that threatening someone is not the right way to get things done. Makes matters worse more often than not.

I really think that with the people we have here on RP (we are a gaggle of intelligent, stubborn, and passionate cajun men and women), we can get this done and really give the administration something to thing about.

It is much easier for you to be part of a "gaggle" HAWK!

I'm in this thing along with the rest of you AND I want to see a new and improved stadium, great facilities for everyone and a partrdige (back to the gaggle) in a pear tree!

I just hope we do this in a manner that unites people, not divide them. But I guess we have been down so long that whatever GOOD happens it will create a new legion of CAJUN NATION.

But, I can guarantee you, I am ready for something to happen!

[CrazyCajun]

I agree...but there are more stories about out of control donors and athletic foundations getting way too involved in the day to day dealings of athletic departments at the major college level. There is an exception to every rule. I don't make it sound like rich people are evil...hell I work for one that is as good a human being as I have ever met. I just know what is going on all around college football right now is not an isolated incident. Giving them a reason is a given, but what if the reason we give isn't good enough? It's not that easy. If it was...everyone would be doing it. It's not ridiculously hard by any stretch, and that's why 501-C's are popping up like mushrooms after a rain storm. But still...donations are not a given. Ask Southern Miss fans. They have done everything we couldn't...and they still lack big donors.

You don't ever hear about big donors that stay quiet, that's why there are more stories about the control freaks. The others donate large sums and stay out of the way. If the reason isn't good enough then they probably weren't ever gonna donate but how about crossing that bridge when we get there, currently we still don't even know where we are gonna even build the bridge.

[cajunhawk]

Well I am stunned. One guy says after thirty plus years of being fed bs he is near giving up, but will hang on as long as Hud is here, OR the administration actually do now what they say they will in the fuzzy future. So he is saying if you do none of the above I give up and will do other things with my money and time that I have left. That does not reek of lack or patience, or a threat.

Others say they are true believers. Well like they say a fool and his money are quickly parted.

Hawk, seems to say a lot of things, but mostly don't give up. I believe wants a mass petition signed.

I will sign said petition but that approach is really a form of being gullible. The protestors of the sixties did not sign petitions, they participated in marches, flop ins, sit downs, civil disobedience. I would love to see 16k students start having sit ins in front of Martin Hall, then I could tell T Joe my money will come when the sit ins are satisfied with the results.

Both my current options are non starters. Starve the program or fund lies and incompetence.

All I ask of the true believes is to trust after verification. Right now you are going to end up with a lot of promises and then the eventual excuses. I know, I know you want to believe them just ask what exactly have they done to garner such trust?

We are all working individuals, students, parents...we have lives. We can't just drop everything and stage a sit in on the Martin Hall steps. Students could but...I don't think the majority of the student body cares. We care. But what can we do. You are right petitions aren't worth the paper they are printed on. But what is worth the paper...the media attention and constant pressure it can put on the administration. Imagine the ammo Buckley would have to really push Savoie and Farmer for answers. KATC, KLFY, KPEL (maybe not KPEL...they have a contract to worry about), the new sports station in town, surrounding newspapers, hell even the Advocate would take this story and have a field day with it. It's not about what just we can do by signing...it's what our signatures can do for our message and how it can be conveyed to pressure the administration to give us results.

[cajunhawk]

You don't ever hear about big donors that stay quiet, that's why there are more stories about the control freaks. The others donate large sums and stay out of the way. If the reason isn't good enough then they probably weren't ever gonna donate but how about crossing that bridge when we get there, currently we still don't even know where we are gonna even build the bridge.

You are insinuating that there are rich people who give their money away and don't care one iota what happens with it. That is not the case, that's why they are millionaires to begin with for the most part. They give, but they give wisely. How does one give wisely? Well they have to see the fruits of their donation's labor. If someone gives money to a church, after giving so much money and not seeing any results, they would being to ask questions. Just like most of us are now. Most of the really large donations come from inheritances...people die and outlay a portion of their estate to the cause. Those are the best...the guy is dead...can't make trouble. Best of both worlds, money, and no problems.

This is my point I have tried to make in the past...I don't think anything we put out is going to bring in the big donors. We are counting our chickens before they are hatched so to speak. If you think our cup will runneth over just because we made it super simple for big donors to see what they are donating to...I personally think you are fooling yourself. Lafayette has shown to be a hard egg to crack...giving them a road map isn't going to make them want to visit the Grand Canyon. If you make enough noise about how awesome the Grand Canyon is...maybe they take that road map...and pay a visit. It's all about timing, and I think now is as good a time as any...but...who's to say it will be enough to sway the big donors to crack open their wallets? No one knows until it happens. I think we as fans need to push the issue, and get it out there ASAP.

[cajunhawk]

It is much easier for you to be part of a "gaggle" HAWK!

I'm in this thing along with the rest of you AND I want to see a new and improved stadium, great facilities for everyone and a partrdige (back to the gaggle) in a pear tree!

I just hope we do this in a manner that unites people, not divide them. But I guess we have been down so long that whatever GOOD happens it will create a new legion of CAJUN NATION.

But, I can guarantee you, I am ready for something to happen!

Amen brother...amen.

[CrazyCajun]

You are insinuating that there are rich people who give their money away and don't care one iota what happens with it. That is not the case, that's why they are millionaires to begin with for the most part. They give, but they give wisely. How does one give wisely? Well they have to see the fruits of their donation's labor. If someone gives money to a church, after giving so much money and not seeing any results, they would being to ask questions. Just like most of us are now. Most of the really large donations come from inheritances...people die and outlay a portion of their estate to the cause. Those are the best...the guy is dead...can't make trouble. Best of both worlds, money, and no problems.

This is my point I have tried to make in the past...I don't think anything we put out is going to bring in the big donors. We are counting our chickens before they are hatched so to speak. If you think our cup will runneth over just because we made it super simple for big donors to see what they are donating to...I personally think you are fooling yourself. Lafayette has shown to be a hard egg to crack...giving them a road map isn't going to make them want to visit the Grand Canyon. If you make enough noise about how awesome the Grand Canyon is...maybe they take that road map...and pay a visit. It's all about timing, and I think now is as good a time as any...but...who's to say it will be enough to sway the big donors to crack open their wallets? No one knows until it happens. I think we as fans need to push the issue, and get it out there ASAP.

You are trying to put words in my mouth for the sake of your argument as usual. Caring and asking questions and trying to be the athletic director are 2 different things. You are trying to make them one in the same. I care where my money goes but I don't wanna run the athletic department, I just wish the man who gets paid 6 figures to run the athletic dept had a F'n clue what that means.

[Policarp]

Safe to say that we've reached a point of no return with patience with Savioe/Farmer on these undefined delays.

Will these same two these guys delay indefinitely without explanation any known deadlines for any State reporting requirements? No chance. You flat out meet deadlines that are high priority to you. Setting priorities is a choice.

There inactions tells me Master Plan on the priority scale no matter what they or their apologist say is not nearly as high as we believe it needs to be. Nothing at all to advise the broader stakeholders why months of delay/inaction......literally nothing. Not even a forward date they are committed to in future for release. Items of low priority get nothing and that's what we have seen.

Policarp

[Just1More]

How am I against people who give money? I give money. In fact, there aren't many people I hang around with who give as much as me. So that blows a massive hole in your argument on that one. I am pessimistic about the big boys just unloading the cash once the Master Plan is ready to go. Give me one instance that would show me and the world that the money people of Lafayette are just frothing at the mouth to unload huge donations into the RCAF?

What else am I doing? The same most people are doing around here..._____ing and moaning and making idle promises because they are all too chicken ____ to do anything of substance about the problem. Is that what you want to hear? I have given several ideas that are off the beaten path. What's so hard about trying to tap our stagnant alumni pool for donations? There are literally thousands that just graduated. A small percentage of that each year just fills up the coffers, and is way more stable than any large donation from a power hunger money backer who wants things done their way or no way at all. An increase in small donors would actually be a catalyst for big donors to jump on board. And with a large enough base of small donors, we could insure ourselves against any donor deciding we aren't meeting his level of excellence and withdrawing his donation. This is not rocket science. This university employs intelligent people at many levels. This should not be that hard to undertake. If I came to you with a petition that demanded the administration finish and carry out a Master Plan for the advancement of athletics...would you sign it?

This is more of your bloviating nonsense. You have routinely dismissed big money. So, just can that BS. The actual Master Plan results will... give Hud and other coaches something to recruit with it... to give future success speeches to Lafayette/Acadian civic groups and other organizations... just as he did when he took over... and it will bring in small, medium and large donors. It will give UL people that are already in the fold something to convince others less convinced the evidence to get involved. Once we have the suites... we will have some big money people from Acadiana included in that. Once we have 40,000 plus fans, we will get their attention to be inclusive of our mission. It absolutely does work that way. What evidence do you have to the contrary?

You don't just go and say, "tap into the alumni base". How so? You've spent so much time with an obsession with BandwagonKing, you didn't even read any other posts. We've explained, with clarity, how you bring in the small, medium and large money. You think they should have just started giving money on the announcement of Ray not being at UL anymore. Do you have a clue how many disinfranchised Acadiana UL people have been for decades with "UL athletics"?

We are not going to get them into the process any other way but by proving that we take this stuff seriously. Gee... a young coach that they've never heard of comes in and finally takes us to a bowl. Do you really think that makes Acadiana business and private people with money... all of the sudden... backing of a UL management group that has proven 800 times prior that when the going gets tough... they abandon athletics?

And this talk about "small donors"... just coming out of school. The exact same things that get little, medium and big donors are exactly what this primary board of core people have been explaining. Of course we want them all. Why would you even make a distinction? Is $100 a year too large to start? And guess what... you can give RCAF $5 any time you want. You don't get a membership card. But, is that what it's all about? I think $100 is a fair entry point.

If you thought a petition was so incredible... why haven't you already got one going? Petitions don't demand things unless they are associated with the threat of a vote or money. We don't vote for these guys... so guess what we have to threaten with? Money. Yes... if you circulate a petition that says that I will withdraw any and all financial support from UL if they do not begin providing timely information regarding the Master Plan and all other athletic system matters... and if the Master Plan does not explicitly state the timeline for construction of the Cajun Field renovations... I will withdraw my participation and future support of UL athletics."

[Turbine]

I will try to answer as many of these questions as I can. I have not seen any piece of paper that says "...Master Plan." The information I'm about to give came from conversations I had with Dr. Savoie. There is an athletics master plan that addresses all facilities, with the exception of the Cajundome, and the funding thereof.

I enjoyed this post.


Adjusted timeline aside, why would the CajunDome automatically be excluded and off the table?

I know UL owns it, and I know there is a deal in place with the city to run it, but master plans take years and sometimes decades to execute.


So in light of long term, if the CajunDome is automatically excluded and off the table, we will never know whether or not this national firm had a blueprint for making the CajunDome a cash cow.

At the very least it would allow UL to explore leverage options next time the deal with the City is on the table.