Facility Upgrades Would Aid Coaches

[Fais do-do]

I continue to maintain that the Athletic Department absolutely doesn't know what they are doing. They don't know what it takes to get from point A to point B and as a result they don't know how long it takes to get from point A to point B. The sad part is they don't know that they don't know.

I think retaining Carter to oversee the project is a very good thing. They finally have somebody (working for them on their behalf) that knows what to do, when to do it and most importantly knows what it takes to do what needs to be done in order to get done what needs to be done. (They know how to "make it happen") I think the reason for bringing in Carter was that Lemoine was asking for information and guidance on the project and NOBODY had an answer or they did not know how "to make it happen".

All of the above is guessing on my part because I do not know anybody in the athletic department (I do not have any inside information). I have met Scott Farmer once, and have never met any of the coaches for any sport except Steph. Lotief ( I saw her once and said "you look familiar" and she introduced herself). Everything I have said in the past relative to this project on other threads is based on my observation of what has (or has not happened). Some of the statements they have made have been absolutely OUTRAGEOUS when it comes to time lines and costs. You may ask "How do I know this"? The answer is because I have been doing this since 1976 and my BS detector has been finely honed. I have been BS'ed by professionals I can detect an amateur a mile away.

I do know some people with Lemoine but I rarely interact with them. I do feel that with Lemoine on the project it will be executed in a timely manner and will be properly constructed according to design plans and specifications. However, one needs to keep in mine that they are professional BS'ers as they have been at it a very long time.

This is the most common sense & precise assessment (in my opinion) I have read about the upgrades,yet.
Thanks, HelmutVII.

[DaddyCajun]

I continue to maintain that the Athletic Department absolutely doesn't know what they are doing. They don't know what it takes to get from point A to point B and as a result they don't know how long it takes to get from point A to point B. The sad part is they don't know that they don't know.

I think retaining Carter to oversee the project is a very good thing. They finally have somebody (working for them on their behalf) that knows what to do, when to do it and most importantly knows what it takes to do what needs to be done in order to get done what needs to be done. (They know how to "make it happen") I think the reason for bringing in Carter was that Lemoine was asking for information and guidance on the project and NOBODY had an answer or they did not know how "to make it happen".

All of the above is guessing on my part because I do not know anybody in the athletic department (I do not have any inside information). I have met Scott Farmer once, and have never met any of the coaches for any sport except Steph. Lotief ( I saw her once and said "you look familiar" and she introduced herself). Everything I have said in the past relative to this project on other threads is based on my observation of what has (or has not happened). Some of the statements they have made have been absolutely OUTRAGEOUS when it comes to time lines and costs. You may ask "How do I know this"? The answer is because I have been doing this since 1976 and my BS detector has been finely honed. I have been BS'ed by professionals I can detect an amateur a mile away.

I do know some people with Lemoine but I rarely interact with them. I do feel that with Lemoine on the project it will be executed in a timely manner and will be properly constructed according to design plans and specifications. However, one needs to keep in mine that they are professional BS'ers as they have been at it a very long time.

I agree totally, I just think that they should NEVER give a date until the hired experts and all involved have worked out all the changes and come up with a start date. Saying it will be ready in the Fall is a 3 month swing!!! I hope like everyone the stadium portion is ready before the first home game in 2014!

[HelmutVII]

I agree totally, I just think that they should NEVER give a date until the hired experts and all involved have worked out all the changes and come up with a start date. Saying it will be ready in the Fall is a 3 month swing!!! I hope like everyone the stadium portion is ready before the first home game in 2014!

If they would be under construction now they would not be able to do much of anything because of the bad weather. Everybody would be freaking out because there would be no progress. I still feel comfortable with my guess that they would start in March. If they can do that they can finish in time for the first game. Lets hope we don't get a rash of tropical storms this summer. That could really mess up their schedule.

You point about them giving dates is valid and illustrates that they don't know that they don't know. Because, if they did, they would never say such things.

[Hammer58]

If they would be under construction now they would not be able to do much of anything because of the bad weather. Everybody would be freaking out because there would be no progress. I still feel comfortable with my guess that they would start in March. If they can do that they can finish in time for the first game. Lets hope we don't get a rash of tropical storms this summer. That could really mess up their schedule.

You point about them giving dates is valid and illustrates that they don't know that they don't know. Because, if they did, they would never say such things.

we might be freaking out because the weather delays would make it difficult to meet the completion deadline but we are smart enough to realize that weather cannot be controlled. (Having said that criticism of the delays in starting somuch later than their original proclamations would be legitimate criticisms.)

[Bandwagon King]

If they would be under construction now they would not be able to do much of anything because of the bad weather. Everybody would be freaking out because there would be no progress. I still feel comfortable with my guess that they would start in March. If they can do that they can finish in time for the first game. Lets hope we don't get a rash of tropical storms this summer. That could really mess up their schedule.

You point about them giving dates is valid and illustrates that they don't know that they don't know. Because, if they did, they would never say such things.

How much of this work can be done around the clock to amke opening day & what do you think the odds are of them doing it around the clock to make it happen? I mean it would be a huge monster shot in the arm to lhave the stadium ready by opening day & the place would certainly sell out. It would be like the Cajundome was the year the mitchell boy played for St. Martinville in the top 28. Everybody would be glad they had their tickets early.

[HelmutVII]

They can easily run two shifts. All they have to do is turn on the lights. Large concrete placements usually start between 2:00 A.M. and 4:00 A.M. Uninterrupted delivery of concrete is important with large placements. Starting early in the morning means less traffic for the transit trucks to fight. Temperatures for placement are much better in the early morning also. Concrete finishing starts after sun rise so the finishers can see better. If they start later in the day concrete finishing happens after sun set and they have to finish in artificial light which has more shadows than sun light. The finishers can't see as well in artificial light.

If they start in March they will have plenty of time to finish by the first game even without night time work. Plenty of work has been done already (off site) and I would bet there is plenty rebar bending happening now. Depending on the job, rebar bending needs to happen at least 6 to 8 weeks before it is needed on the project so they have enough ahead of them so they don't run out of rebar. Before rebar bending is detail drawing approval. Before detail drawing approval is detail drawing. Before detail drawing is final plan approval. Before final plan approval is final plan designing and drawing. Before before final plan designing and drawing is geotechnical investigation. Geotechnical investigation happened back in December (I think. There was a thread that mentioned Geotech equipment at the stadium).

[BhamCajuns]

Fantastic insight and info. Thanks

[Boomer]

Fantastic insight and info. Thanks

---HELMUT the man!!!

[Hammer58]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article...red-by-March-1

"Shovels still are not yet in the ground. ... UL athletic director Scott Farmer said through McCann on Monday that the program still does not have a specific date for when actual construction will begin, but that Cajun officials have been “given a deadline” of March 1 to clear areas where the work will be."

Seriously?!!!

[moorecajun]

But in this case that is not necessarily bad ... they have turned over the reins to construction management to the firm out of Atlanta ... they are the ones that will be getting the specific dates.

Now if they can't say ... that is bad news!

[CrazyCajun]

I wouldn't read too much into that, more than likely it's just the logistics of the construction company. Basically don't worry about when we start just make sure all your ____ is out of our way by March 1st

[HelmutVII]

I wouldn't read too much into that, more than likely it's just the logistics of the construction company. Basically don't worry about when we start just make sure all your ____ is out of our way by March 1st

Getting started depends on when the first sub in is finished with the job he is currently on. You know the old saying, "It's not how you start it's how you finish". Getting started is typically the hard part because of mobilization logistics. If the University has to get everything out by March 1, I would suspect that we should see things moving pretty good right after Mardi Gras (March 4).