As an alum and fan at No IL University , I'm seeking the wisdom and knowledge stored in the minds of Hokie fans everywhere.

Here is my issue. Our AD recently resigned to take the same position at U Nevada. There are those at NIU who have fuzzy visions of duplicating what Va Poly left behind ten + yrs ago to become Va Tech.

At the heart of most advancements is money.
$ to improve facilities
$$ for better salaries to attract and keep better coaches
$$$ to market the programs
$$$$ to leave and join a stronger conference
__________________________

How was Va Poly able to raise the kind of serious money necessary to transition from a little know athletic program to one of considerable siccess at a much higher levl?

Who were the donors? Alums? Business? Did the state contribute dollars to athletic program as well? How much private $ was raised annually or in a decade? Who was most responsible for making that happen? How much a role did the AD play in major fundraising campaigns?

What were the "secrets" to your successul rise to the next level?

not even one nibble thus far - that's sad.
Come on Hokies !
Help out a fellow sports geek understand the mysteries to success.

I can refer you to some folks who maybe able to assist you :-

<a href='http://virginiatech.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=1020&fid=750&style=1' target='_blank'>Hokie Haven</a>

<a href='http://mb1.theinsiders.com/fvirginiatechfrm1' target='_blank'>Theinsiders</a>

<a href='http://www.techsideline.com/message_board/football/' target='_blank'>Techsideline</a>

thanx.
Let my research proceed on with help from the links you kindly provided.
Good luck Hokies!

Part of it was winning in the early 90's. Part of it was luck, plain and simple. Part of it is a huge alumni base that has contributed a great deal of money when called upon. As far as the AD goes, no, he did not have a lot to do with the fund raising.

For example, when it was first announced that BC, Syracuse, and Miami were going to be the invitees to the ACC, VT had just announced a $50M addition to the west side of Lane Stadium. The AD immediately put it on hold due to an unsure future, saying that committing to that kind of expenditure was risky then. The Hokies poured about 2 million dollars into the coffers in a couple of days literally and basically gave him no choice but to let the stadium expansion proceedas scheduled.

In response to state funds, it is illegal for state funds to be used in Va. for things like facility upgrades for football, basketball, etc, so it was almost entirely private funds.

That makes me proud to call myself a Hokie.