Everybody knows where I stand on the new stadium, I won't rehash it. Please ignore the steam coming out of my head when I saw they were asking for more money for it.
Why should there be any need for these people to be accountable when there are no penalties, no consequences for their poor decisions? Maturi and Bruininks will be sipping margaritas in Florida when the results of their decisions come to roost.
My guru, Mr. Reusse, feels the Gophers need a big name the basketball program to rekindle interest and an energetic young go-getter for the football team. He likes Rick Majerus for basketball and feels the UCLA defensive coordinator, DeWayne Walker, should at least get an interview for the football job.
All I can say is that the AD needs to be decisive, which hasn't been his forte, he's treated every decision like a conundrum rivaling the New York Times crossword puzzle.
Hey, how 'bout doze Gophers
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Knowlze, I feel your pain but Minnesota is way behind everyone else in fiscal irresponsibility and it shows in the standings. Look what Alabama just spent for a coach.
We did bulldoze Memorial Stadium but the place needed tens of millions in renovation and moving to the built on the cheap Metrodome was the cheapest option at the time. See where being cheap gets you.
ChrisK, just why is it that you think the U of M should be the only flippin University in the entire flippin world without their own footbal stadium?
Why doesnt the hockey team have to play at Target Center? Why Mariucci? Was that a waiste of money?
If you want a major university with a major sports program you do the things that the U is finally doing. Part of the reason we have failed is because we are too gall darned Scandinavian in our approach to athletics. If that doesnt change, nothing will change.
Am I right? Yah sure,you betcha.
We did bulldoze Memorial Stadium but the place needed tens of millions in renovation and moving to the built on the cheap Metrodome was the cheapest option at the time. See where being cheap gets you.
ChrisK, just why is it that you think the U of M should be the only flippin University in the entire flippin world without their own footbal stadium?
Why doesnt the hockey team have to play at Target Center? Why Mariucci? Was that a waiste of money?
If you want a major university with a major sports program you do the things that the U is finally doing. Part of the reason we have failed is because we are too gall darned Scandinavian in our approach to athletics. If that doesnt change, nothing will change.
Am I right? Yah sure,you betcha.
"fiscal irresponsibility"
Minnesota LEADS in "fiscal irresponsibility"! Pretty sure we are top 5 in education spending in the nation. What do we have to show for it?
The metrodome is a "piece of crap" now. It was "state of the art" when built, and it was not cheap.
Yah, lets be the NY Yankees of college sports. Build stadiums,....pay new coaches top dollar,......pay unsuccessful coaches top dollar, NOT to coach for us,....pay unethical, but successful coaches, to ride tractors on the farm. Who needs a rich owner, TV and radio contract,......we have the people of the entire state of Minnesota to fund our "yankee" college teams. Uff da!
P.S. Please keep us Norwegians out of it, the way athletics/education at this university are being handled is more of a Swedish concept. You betcha!
The metrodome is a "piece of crap" now. It was "state of the art" when built, and it was not cheap.
Yah, lets be the NY Yankees of college sports. Build stadiums,....pay new coaches top dollar,......pay unsuccessful coaches top dollar, NOT to coach for us,....pay unethical, but successful coaches, to ride tractors on the farm. Who needs a rich owner, TV and radio contract,......we have the people of the entire state of Minnesota to fund our "yankee" college teams. Uff da!
P.S. Please keep us Norwegians out of it, the way athletics/education at this university are being handled is more of a Swedish concept. You betcha!
The Dome was never state of the art. Not even close. It was an 'on the cheap' project from day one. Very sensible and reasonably priced. Very Minnesotan.
The only facility we have had here ever that was/is state of the art is the Xcel. Walking in there is like going on vacation for a few hours. Ive been there probably 50 times and I notice something new that I like about the place almost everytime.
Why cant we have something like that for baseball and football? Dont we deserve it? Should we just put up with cheap crap like we put up with the weather? "Just bundle up a little more there, Olie"
The other thing Olie, er, I mean Knowlzee is the money for the coaches etc comes out of the athletic budget. The U, in spite of all of its problems, still makes money on its athletic programs. So, it isnt like we have fewer science labs because we have to pay the coaches.
Do you like Mariucci? Ridder? The Xcel?
Have you ever been to a real major league ballpark?
We do things so half axed around here sometimes but lately we have been getting it right. We need to keep it on that track.
The only facility we have had here ever that was/is state of the art is the Xcel. Walking in there is like going on vacation for a few hours. Ive been there probably 50 times and I notice something new that I like about the place almost everytime.
Why cant we have something like that for baseball and football? Dont we deserve it? Should we just put up with cheap crap like we put up with the weather? "Just bundle up a little more there, Olie"
The other thing Olie, er, I mean Knowlzee is the money for the coaches etc comes out of the athletic budget. The U, in spite of all of its problems, still makes money on its athletic programs. So, it isnt like we have fewer science labs because we have to pay the coaches.
Do you like Mariucci? Ridder? The Xcel?
Have you ever been to a real major league ballpark?
We do things so half axed around here sometimes but lately we have been getting it right. We need to keep it on that track.
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Irishmans Shanty
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Irishmans Shanty
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"Don't we deserve it?"
Yes, we deserve it!
Regarding the athletic budget, the most recent coach salary blunders may have reached the bottom of the athletic budget pocket. However, the AD cleared this with the Pres (general budget will cover costs) before announcing the firing.
The Science labs would be put on hold for the new football stadium. But, they probably would build a goofy looking sheet metal Art building before a Science lab, anyway.
Bottom line, you're right,....."we deserve it".
P.S.
By the way, isn't it Ole,.....wasn't Olie Hardy, Stan Luarel's sidekick?
And IS,....I think Knowlzee=American, as in Captain.
Regarding the athletic budget, the most recent coach salary blunders may have reached the bottom of the athletic budget pocket. However, the AD cleared this with the Pres (general budget will cover costs) before announcing the firing.
The Science labs would be put on hold for the new football stadium. But, they probably would build a goofy looking sheet metal Art building before a Science lab, anyway.
Bottom line, you're right,....."we deserve it".
P.S.
By the way, isn't it Ole,.....wasn't Olie Hardy, Stan Luarel's sidekick?
And IS,....I think Knowlzee=American, as in Captain.
Well, I guess that about does it.
Every nation and nationality is represened in IS's list.
Yup, everything you ever wanted to know about how Knowlzee could be spelled and pronounced in diferent languages and cultures is contained in that list.
There isnt anything that could possibly be left out.
You are wrong message board brain!
What, there is more?
A few:
Kowlzeehito=Japanese
Knowlzenevich=Croation
Mohamad Knowlzee=Muslim boxer
Knowlzeestien= Jewish lawyer
Sir Knowlzeeman = English gentlemen
Every nation and nationality is represened in IS's list.
Yup, everything you ever wanted to know about how Knowlzee could be spelled and pronounced in diferent languages and cultures is contained in that list.
There isnt anything that could possibly be left out.
You are wrong message board brain!
What, there is more?
A few:
Kowlzeehito=Japanese
Knowlzenevich=Croation
Mohamad Knowlzee=Muslim boxer
Knowlzeestien= Jewish lawyer
Sir Knowlzeeman = English gentlemen
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Neutron 14
- Posts: 5339
- Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:48 pm
Re: "Don't we deserve it?"
Ollie is English, short for Oliver. Different from Ole.Knowlzee wrote: P.S.
By the way, isn't it Ole,.....wasn't Olie Hardy, Stan Luarel's sidekick?
And IS,....I think Knowlzee=American, as in Captain.
PB, you forgot
Knowlzee, part of the chimpan tribe. The "zee" gives it away...
For the record packerboy, I never said the U shouldn't have their own stadium. I said they didn't need a new stadium. At the time that I said that it looked like the Vikings would be getting a new stadium out in Blaine so the dome was for the taking and made sounder fiscal sense. Right now Zygi has his eyes on the dome site so it's more of a conundrum but the U still could have taken the dome with the expectation that the Vikings would be getting their own stadium.
The money for this stadium is not coming entirely out of the athletic budget, student fees will also cover part of it. In addition, they have to raise $111 million separately and currently are about $40 million short. And to say that this only impacts the athletic department is incorrect. For example, the time and money that the administration spent lobbying the legislature for money for the stadium could have been used for other priorities, more relevant to the U's mission. Bruininks wants to turn the U into one of the top 3 public research institutions in the country, I don't see how building a new stadium will help accomplish that.
The money for this stadium is not coming entirely out of the athletic budget, student fees will also cover part of it. In addition, they have to raise $111 million separately and currently are about $40 million short. And to say that this only impacts the athletic department is incorrect. For example, the time and money that the administration spent lobbying the legislature for money for the stadium could have been used for other priorities, more relevant to the U's mission. Bruininks wants to turn the U into one of the top 3 public research institutions in the country, I don't see how building a new stadium will help accomplish that.
How can they have 'their own' stadium if its in downtown Mpls?
If they gave the dome to the U , I wouldnt take it. Id rather build a new one on campus.
As far as the budget goes , I am aware that the stadium cant be financed by the profits from athletics. I was referring to the coaches buy outs and salaries that Knowlzee was complaining about.
ChrisK, you use that same tired argument against spending money on a stadium that is really more rhetoric than argument.
" We have to spend the money on something else that is more important"
BS.
How much have we spent on football stadiums in the last 85 years at the U? (Memorial Stadium was built in the 1920s)
How much have we invested in education in that time?
Do we have to spend every flippin red cent on "the more important things"?
Cant we spend anything on a footbal stadium?
If your answer is always and every year "we need more for education first" , then discontinue sports.
If they gave the dome to the U , I wouldnt take it. Id rather build a new one on campus.
As far as the budget goes , I am aware that the stadium cant be financed by the profits from athletics. I was referring to the coaches buy outs and salaries that Knowlzee was complaining about.
ChrisK, you use that same tired argument against spending money on a stadium that is really more rhetoric than argument.
" We have to spend the money on something else that is more important"
BS.
How much have we spent on football stadiums in the last 85 years at the U? (Memorial Stadium was built in the 1920s)
How much have we invested in education in that time?
Do we have to spend every flippin red cent on "the more important things"?
Cant we spend anything on a footbal stadium?
If your answer is always and every year "we need more for education first" , then discontinue sports.
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Irishmans Shanty
- Posts: 3988
- Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:38 pm
When this Tedford guy took over at Cal, the season ticket base was 16,000. Nowadays, they have a contender and it is over 40,000. What kind of revenue has that coach brought to Cal?
What is the U's season ticket base now and what will it be in '09. The cost of that stadium will eventually be recouped. Remember, having Mich, OSU, and the occassional Wisc in those BCS games is also good for business. Big 10 schools get their share even if they get doubled up by their opponent.
What is the U's season ticket base now and what will it be in '09. The cost of that stadium will eventually be recouped. Remember, having Mich, OSU, and the occassional Wisc in those BCS games is also good for business. Big 10 schools get their share even if they get doubled up by their opponent.
Key point in IS's comment: "Nowadays, they have a contender and it is over 40,000." A new stadium will bring some publicity and interest for awhile, but the fundamental problem with the program is that they've stunk for 40 years. Hiring the right coach is much more important now than a stadium and the group that's in charge has treated every decision they've been faced with like a conundrum.
I think people under estimate the role that first class facilities play in getting to contender status.
If I were a player who was interested in the U and came to a game and saw the stupid looking Metrodome piece of crap, Id say thanks but no thanks.
Plus the atmosphere. I went to alot of games at Memorial Stadium. I was there when old Cal Stoll and Smokey Joe roamed the sidelines.
Those teams werent that good but it was fun to be there.
The Metrodome sucks.
It is a boat anchor to the U of M football program.
If I were a player who was interested in the U and came to a game and saw the stupid looking Metrodome piece of crap, Id say thanks but no thanks.
Plus the atmosphere. I went to alot of games at Memorial Stadium. I was there when old Cal Stoll and Smokey Joe roamed the sidelines.
Those teams werent that good but it was fun to be there.
The Metrodome sucks.
It is a boat anchor to the U of M football program.
"eventually" = about 50 years
24,000 fans x 5 games x $50 per ticket = $6 M additional revenue. Therefore, the principal on a $300 M stadium would "eventually" be recouped in about 50 years.
IS, Packerboy's argument that "we deserve it" may be a better one. Yah,...."we deserve it".
And was this Tedford Guy a multimillion dollars man when they hired him,....or was he just an effective coach/recruiter?
IS, Packerboy's argument that "we deserve it" may be a better one. Yah,...."we deserve it".
And was this Tedford Guy a multimillion dollars man when they hired him,....or was he just an effective coach/recruiter?
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Blue Breeze
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A first-rate facility builds atmosphere, which plays a vital role in building a program.
Wisconsin and Iowa, with similar budgets and demographics to us, have thrived with first-class stadiums that make people want to attend games. Recruits show up wanting to play for the program, and fans file in while others are banging down the door trying to get in.
It would create a home-field advantage the Gophers haven't seen in awhile. If you can protect home-field in the Big 10 and steal a couple on the road, you have a top-tier team right there.
New coach and a new building are going to play vital roles in the future of this program. Look at Miami of Ohio hockey. They hired a new, energetic coach, built interest, got a new arena, and now bring in top recruits after years of mediocrity in the hockey world.
Wisconsin and Iowa, with similar budgets and demographics to us, have thrived with first-class stadiums that make people want to attend games. Recruits show up wanting to play for the program, and fans file in while others are banging down the door trying to get in.
It would create a home-field advantage the Gophers haven't seen in awhile. If you can protect home-field in the Big 10 and steal a couple on the road, you have a top-tier team right there.
New coach and a new building are going to play vital roles in the future of this program. Look at Miami of Ohio hockey. They hired a new, energetic coach, built interest, got a new arena, and now bring in top recruits after years of mediocrity in the hockey world.
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Irishmans Shanty
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How many championship banners are hanging in the Xcel? What is this, year 6 or so of the Wild? Two playoff series wins in franchise history and you can't get a preseason ticket. The place is full and I don't see that changing this year, next year, or even the year to follow even if they go on to lose 140 of their next 200 games.ChrisK wrote:Key point in IS's comment: "Nowadays, they have a contender and it is over 40,000." A new stadium will bring some publicity and interest for awhile, but the fundamental problem with the program is that they've stunk for 40 years.
Build it and they will come every darn Saturday whether it is Akron, NDSU, or Michigan. And the difference is now, they will actually be Gopher fans, not Hawkeye, Badger, or Wolverine fans.
So, 30 years, not 50.
Ticket sales is not the only source of revenue, but certainly the primary. With concessions, parking, t-shirts,.....maybe only 30 years then to "recoup" the principal.
Not many professional teams to watch in Madison and Iowa City. Certianly us bandwagon fans in the Minnesota metro will support the Uof MN sports, but with the various entertainment options we have, it may not ever be the cult type following at many other colleges. They need to WIN here.
Lou Holtz did pretty well in a few years despite the "crap facility" metrodome. Is it the coach, or coincidence?
The stadium is a want, not a necessity, but build it,....."we deserve it".
Not many professional teams to watch in Madison and Iowa City. Certianly us bandwagon fans in the Minnesota metro will support the Uof MN sports, but with the various entertainment options we have, it may not ever be the cult type following at many other colleges. They need to WIN here.
Lou Holtz did pretty well in a few years despite the "crap facility" metrodome. Is it the coach, or coincidence?
The stadium is a want, not a necessity, but build it,....."we deserve it".
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Irishmans Shanty
- Posts: 3988
- Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:38 pm
Up until now, the Univ. of Minnesota football job has been either a career ender or something to pay the bills until the job you want opens up. In the future, if we're lucky, it will become a stepping stone to the Floridas, USC's, and TX's of the world. Being as though Minnesota will never be the destination for the Nick Sabans and John Grudens of the world, I guess we better have a great facility to attract some flies.
Luckily the people who pulled the trigger on the plan think as I do.
My we remember the Lou Holtz years, all two of them, to be better than they really were. 1986 they were 7-5, 1987 they were 6-6.
Luckily the people who pulled the trigger on the plan think as I do.
My we remember the Lou Holtz years, all two of them, to be better than they really were. 1986 they were 7-5, 1987 they were 6-6.
Even if takes 30 years to start turning a profit what's wrong with that? It's not like the Gophers are going anywhere. The new stadium will be the home for the Gophers much longer than 30 years and if they wait 10 more years to build how much more will it cost? The fact is eventually they'll turn a profit even if the Gophers never win another football game where as they paid to play in the Dome. They should have built the thing years ago, but a boathouse was way more important.
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Irishmans Shanty
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Here's the way I see it. If ChrisK, Knowlzoui Aziz (Saudi), Packerboy, and myself are the four best HS football players coming out of Minnesota this year, only two of them will be attending the UofMN.
Two of us have indicated that their stadium and the atmosphere it has is reason enough to go somewhere else. As a RB, I was confident Orin Mason could get me to the NFL because he has done it with others before me. But see, I'm greedy, I want an NFL contract and an atmosphere on home Saturdays.
Two of us have indicated that their stadium and the atmosphere it has is reason enough to go somewhere else. As a RB, I was confident Orin Mason could get me to the NFL because he has done it with others before me. But see, I'm greedy, I want an NFL contract and an atmosphere on home Saturdays.
Knowlzee, how many years before we recoup the principal on the new law school they built or the beautiful renovation of Coffman Union.
You guys should go out and see the U and what they have done to the place and how they have preserved the old and built the new. I went to school there back in the day. It was great but now its really great.
Its also many times harder to get into the U than when I was there. They turn away a lot of very qualified applicants.
Thats what happens when you invest in the infrastructure.
Is sports as important? No, but it is part of what is offered and its a part of the schools identitiy. Why then are we so cheap minded about building a decent facility for the football program? It will eventually pay for itself but why does it even have to?
ChrisK, when Mariucci Arena was proposed, what if people said "Aw heck, they have a place to play." or "let them play at the Civic Center"
You guys should go out and see the U and what they have done to the place and how they have preserved the old and built the new. I went to school there back in the day. It was great but now its really great.
Its also many times harder to get into the U than when I was there. They turn away a lot of very qualified applicants.
Thats what happens when you invest in the infrastructure.
Is sports as important? No, but it is part of what is offered and its a part of the schools identitiy. Why then are we so cheap minded about building a decent facility for the football program? It will eventually pay for itself but why does it even have to?
ChrisK, when Mariucci Arena was proposed, what if people said "Aw heck, they have a place to play." or "let them play at the Civic Center"
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Blue Breeze
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