The Event Experience

[ManAboutTown]

What part of I appreciate good teams did you not understand. What is ROI on an investment to an athletic foundation? In my view it is getting to the the conference championship 4 years in a row. It’s going 13-1 with a conference title. It is winning conference championships in baseball and going to regionals and winning. Like Deggs’ first stint here. It’s winning the conference tournament in hoops and making the dance. That is ROI.

I don’t need hats, shirts, a party at the casino, and for the university to stroke my ego and tell me how great I am for being a donor. Just win. Thats why we field a team and play the game. It is the whole reason for the RCAF’s existence, to build champions and win championships. Thats the only ROI I care about.

I'm making a macro-point here. I'm not talking specifically about you. I said as much at the beginning of my message. Nobody is looking to get stroked by the RCAF. Any good foundation or charitable organization knows they have to work just a little bit harder to keep growing a business model where gift giving is their primary revenue stream. You may not 'need' a hat, shirt or whatever... But how does that not help spread the word about RCAF? You make the donor feel appreciated and free advertising? It's basic business. I still to this day have people ask me what the RCAF is when they see my sticker.. in Lafayette. That's a shame.

[KajunKrazy]

I'm making a macro-point here. I'm not talking specifically about you. I said as much at the beginning of my message. Nobody is looking to get stroked by the RCAF. Any good foundation or charitable organization knows they have to work just a little bit harder to keep growing a business model where gift giving is their primary revenue stream. You may not 'need' a hat, shirt or whatever... But how does that not help spread the word about RCAF? You make the donor feel appreciated and free advertising? It's basic business. I still to this day have people ask me what the RCAF is when they see my sticker.. in Lafayette. That's a shame.

With you on the marketing standpoint. And definitely see how the bumper stickers and license plates… basically equal free marketing and advertisement. They have definitely done a less than stellar job of promoting the foundation. Probably because since Jim Harris and maybe someone before him that position has been a revolving door. Who is in that position now? Said thing is I have been a member since day one and couldn’t tell you.

[ManAboutTown]

With you on the marketing standpoint. And definitely see how the bumper stickers and license plates… basically equal free marketing and advertisement. They have definitely done a less than stellar job of promoting the foundation. Probably because since Jim Harris and maybe someone before him that position has been a revolving door. Who is in that position now? Said thing is I have been a member since day one and couldn’t tell you.

Technically, the new guy is Trey Frazier. But the responsibilities have changed. Maggard (and formerly Nico) have more input and control than previously. And I've been told there is a complete restructuring coming of RCAF. Whatever that means...

[ULvictory]

What part of I appreciate good teams did you not understand. What is ROI on an investment to an athletic foundation? In my view it is getting to the the conference championship 4 years in a row. It’s going 13-1 with a conference title. It is winning conference championships in baseball and going to regionals and winning. Like Deggs’ first stint here. It’s winning the conference tournament in hoops and making the dance. That is ROI.

I don’t need hats, shirts, a party at the casino, and for the university to stroke my ego and tell me how great I am for being a donor. Just win. Thats why we field a team and play the game. It is the whole reason for the RCAF’s existence, to build champions and win championships. Thats the only ROI I care about.

But what you're expecting in ROI does not make it a donation or charitable giving. You're investing in the success of our athletic programs on the field. Big difference there.

[KajunKrazy]

But what you're expecting in ROI does not make it a donation or charitable giving. You're investing in the success of our athletic programs on the field. Big difference there.

I said in my very first statement I give because I want good teams on the field not because I want a bunch of trinkets in return.

[ManAboutTown]

I said in my very first statement I give because I want good teams on the field not because I want a bunch of trinkets in return.

I think he's saying the good product on the field is the ROI.

[KajunKrazy]

I think he's saying the good product on the field is the ROI.

I get what he is saying. But for instance St Judes Hospital is a charity my wife and I give to every year. We expect nothing in return. We give because they do good work and produce a good product. I they didn't we wouldn't give. That is a charity with ROI also. Same for Tunnel to Towers. All charity's have some ROI or expectation attached to them or you wouldn't give.

[ManAboutTown]

I get what he is saying. But for instance St Judes Hospital is a charity my wife and I give to every year. We expect nothing in return. We give because they do good work and produce a good product. I they didn't we wouldn't give. That is a charity with ROI also. Same for Tunnel to Towers. All charity's have some ROI or expectation attached to them or you wouldn't give.

We'll just have to disagree on that. Giving to a cause is different than giving for a result. I don't need trinkets and stroking either. But I do expect my (and your) donations to produce good leadership, upward mobility for student-athletes, updated facilities, communal experiences for residents, better educational opportunities for regular students, academic advancement, world class research, healthier endowment, funding scholarships, etc etc etc.

Success in athletics is a unique catch-all to accomplish all of these goals. Which to me, is a result, not a cause.

[ULvictory]

I get what he is saying. But for instance St Judes Hospital is a charity my wife and I give to every year. We expect nothing in return. We give because they do good work and produce a good product. I they didn't we wouldn't give. That is a charity with ROI also. Same for Tunnel to Towers. All charity's have some ROI or expectation attached to them or you wouldn't give.

Like MAT said, my version of ROI is good play on the field like you mentioned when it comes to conference championships and competing at a high level. So technically, you are expecting something in return in that regard. You're expecting success.

If we treated UL athletics like a charity, the success on the field wouldn't matter. It wouldn't matter when a coach doesn't win even though part of your donation may go to his/her salary.

[KajunKrazy]

Like MAT said, my version of ROI is good play on the field like you mentioned when it comes to conference championships and competing at a high level. So technically, you are expecting something in return in that regard. You're expecting success.

If we treated UL athletics like a charity, the success on the field wouldn't matter.

St Jude is a 100% charitable organization are you suggesting their success does not matter? Their ROI is a hell of a lot more meaningful than sports. UL could only dream of running it's athletic department like that charitable organization.

Tunnel to Towers is another. The word charity isn't a bad word in this case and many are successful and put out a great product. UL should try and model themselves after these fundraisers.

[ManAboutTown]

St Jude is a 100% charitable organization are you suggesting their success does not matter? Their ROI is a hell of a lot more meaningful than sports.

Not even close to the same thing. Again, St. Jude = Cause. RCAF = Result.

[KajunKrazy]

Not even close to the same thing. Again, St. Jude = Cause. RCAF = Result.

Last I checked curing sick kids is getting results. If they weren't successful at getting those results, they wouldn't continue to get the donations they do.