Rate the job Scott Farmer is doing as UL AD

[CajunRebel]

I think there are those that are perfectly happy sitting in the SBC until we are done with Phase II or III. I'm not one of those people, but you have to have someone that views the landscape differenty campaigning for this athletic program. Build from the SBC seems to have won out, regardless of what anyone thinks at this time.

What's the alternative?

It's not like we have the option to build in C-USA.

[California Cajun]

I think UL athletics is administration controlled and acts when brought to the brink of disaster (I.e. keeping Hud from quitting). The AD doesn't have the staffing or, I think the attributes to lead the department into the big time. He is paid accordingly and will be until UL can afford a$400-$500k athletic director.

[Turbine]

Maybe "Doing even more with more".

My thoughts exactly.

Always focus on doing more.

[Just1More]

What's the alternative?

It's not like we have the option to build in C-USA.

I don't think T needed to bring those semantics into his well explained reasons for a funding chairman. There's a belief that some of the funding drive mechanics are limited, acceptably so, for a healthy future lifestyle as a forever SBC member. Whereas, some believe we should specifically launch a more substantial funding reach that identifies the metrics thresholds required to achieve membership elsewhere.

I'm in the camp of others that we need to hire a great funding chairman. Talking about the yearly wages for this person is silly. They won't just pay their own salary by their own efforts, they'll create veins of financing and support that don't materialize by themselves (the attraction that winning generates). As T pointed out, this individual is tasked with going after the creation of business ties to the university that generate all kinds of benefits... including money. As it stands, we appear satisfied because we're "moving in the right direction".

[Turbine]

If he just pays for himself it is worth every penny.

What is the holdup?

If a fund raiser can't cover his own salary ... next.

[CrazyCajun]

If he just pays for himself it is worth every penny.

What is the holdup?

If a fund raiser can't cover his own salary ... next.

We can't afford to not have one

[Just1More]

Come on, take a shot. Give up a number, based on what you do know. I know what you mean, we don't and won't have the facts, so it's not accurate. It's fun to see what people think at this point.

I give him 9.42477 for not bungling up anything substantial in the past couple of years.

I give him 6.28318 for our current success and direction, athletically, in the capacities I believe he played a role.

I give him 3.14159 for communications faults, our conference situation, some of our branding debacles... all of which I cannot accurately assess his direct responsibility.

[Turbine]

We can't afford to not have one

+1

sHE's FREE

[CajunT]

What's the alternative?

It's not like we have the option to build in C-USA.

Until we actually try, we will never know.

[Hammer58]

If he just pays for himself it is worth every penny.

What is the holdup?

If a fund raiser can't cover his own salary ... next.

What's the rush? We're comfortable right where we are.

[Bandwagon King]

No, because the picture is much larger and more complicated than your think. Winning sells tickets as we have all recently witnessed hosting regionals and super regionals. Many of the people that wanted tickets to those events weren’t attending games while the softball and baseball programs were having great seasons, both being nationally ranked. Winning sells tickets and increases the value of your brand. Fundraising will require someone with the contacts and skills to go out and sell your brand to individuals, local businesses and corporations that essentially have no ties to this university or athletic program. This is the target group you must sell the athletic brand to moving forward and convince them there is something in it for them beyond just dumping money into a local university’s athletic fund. The LEDA presentation of the athletic programs economic impact on Lafayette and the surrounding area is a major spring board into approaching such business that have interest here in Lafayette. Approaching and selling these target businesses and corporations is going to take a person that has national connections and is versed in negotiations. The target investor is no longer just the local business man or woman that are vested in the success of this university, but those that have no ties to academics or athletics and convincing them of the benefits of investing into this athletic program.

We have fundraisers, but RCAF needs a full time professional to help raise the funds to complete the second and third phases of the Master Plan. This is not going to happen without moving forward and separating RCAF from the University Endowment. Coaches have to do too much fundraising at this university now; does anyone question how much Coach Hudspeth has done for football and what other coaches like Robichaux and Lotiefs have done for years? We need to move away from that model and allow coaches to run their programs. We are years away from that model, it will take time. Now is the time to push the envelope and get this going because we are just beginning to see what the benefits could be of a successful athletic program to this community.

But the reality is there is no business whether locally owned such as Olde time grocery, or internationally affiliated such as Baker Oil tools who doesn't have a very vested interest in the success of this university. I've been on this board now as long as Hud has been at this school & the one thing that has appalled me is the attitude of several posters on here about the oil industry. It reflects an overall mentality this university has had historically toward the main industry which is by far the number one employer in this whole area & is indirectly responsible for at least 80% of the business success in this community. Plus how much are we doing to target other industries in our community.

This university has had a we're better than you exclusive mentality where it has continually dug into the well of the same old pockets for so long, it didn't even have a relationship with many of the leading companies in this parish & the adjoining parishes in the Acadiana area until Hud came along & began to break down barriers that had been allowed to exist for far too long & couldn't be broken simply by a baseball or softball coach.

We need a fundraising person with a strong personality & a humble mindset who has the love of the school and a good understanding of the whole community as well as an open mind & go get it attitude. We need somebody like Troy Wingerter for the job. We need somebody who's bold & willing to try new things. I don't think there are enough fundraising events this school could put on right now, which would not be a success. But some of these fundraisers need to target more of the Baker, Weatherford, PHI, Knight Oil Tool, Superior Industries crowds. Plus more of the other industries in adjoining parishes.

Why are we in a relationship with just one casino? Why are we not in a relationship with all three casinos? Do we have representation at the local auto shows, the outdoor shows? When SLEMCO does their thing how big of am impact does the school have? Are they angling themselves into every single other event going on in this town? Those relationships Will Raise money. And continue to build community pride & involvement. Plus push forth the Louisiana name everywhere around us. We can't win the state if we won't fight for the area.

[zephyr]

And those obstacles have been removed. He has done some good things with the new resources he has. But he has also screwed some things up. When he got here he commented on the "That's not how we do thong here" attitude and said that needed to change. Instead, over time, he has gotten "comfortable". His biggest failure was to become comfortable with the Sun-Belt and declare it is the place for us to be, IMO.

Was this response in honor of J1M?? LOL.

I will say this Hammer. I don't think those obstacles have been removed. I don't think they ever will be removed. We will never have sufficient funding to be able to compete with the big boys. Hell, many of the programs in CUSA or AAC have budgets at least double ours. When you have teams like UCF and Memphis who have budgets hovering around $40million, its hard to say we have overcome these obstacles. Hell, as per Jay's response, we don't have enough money from the state to hire a full staff in the athletics department.

Now, while our budget is horrible and funding is trickling in, its much better than it was say 5-8 years ago. We now have a private financing source along with a slightly increased athletic budget to now increase our resources but we are not at a point and I don't see us at a point anytime soon where the coaches are not having to work alongside the administration in bringing in money.

I will not argue with you or Z about his role, or lack thereof, in the naming issue and the conference shuffle issues because if you are accurate in your feelings towards him about those, I think those are big dings against him. However, I guess what I'm saying is I truly don't know his role or non role in those issues so its hard for me to go bashing him without full knowledge. Perhaps Jay could enlighten us about that but I don't think he would.