Mike, people make time and make room in their budgets for the things they really enjoy or can't live without. It's is the responsibility of our leadership/fundraiser team to make this program and it's value so appealing to supporters and alumni that it's a constant line item on the yearly budget.
I'm not going to rehash Farmer, but it is a matter of fact that Farmer slowed and in some cases crippled our growth as a program. These are facts: the guy mislead donors, mislead his superiors, bred distrust amongst his staff, mishandled money, hindered fundraisers, EMBARRASSED private donors that took him to meet other administrations for relationship building (so inherently embarrassed all of us), alienated coaches, all but destroyed media and exposure for our brand's success, and failed to connect with the donor base in a worthwhile way.
Yes, he did suggest certain things that made sense. So has anyone that has ever worked in any office, any where in the world. It doesn't take much skill to suggest things, especially when you figure the time will never come when you personally have to drive the bus on said suggestions (Repubkicans and Obamacare anyone?).
The fact of the matter is, Farmer's time here was linked to the most successful years of FB we've ever seen in Lafayette and that my friends, is why we built a more solid foundation for where we are today. Money and exposure was a direct result of Football's success.
We are now in good hands, and this new direction will manifest itself in untold success as an athletic program.