(10-19-2011 01:38 PM)bucfan81 Wrote: I too cannot ever remember being asked for money for football. To say they "could not raise enough money for football" is probably their worst lie. Hopefully the first thing the new president will do is start an active and concerted fund raising specific for football. Start the football program back and start fund raising for it. 8 years has been too long.
There was a mandate from the 1998 Task Force to revamp the fundraising model. The responsibility in order was: Athletic Director, Pirate Club Director, and President.
Frank Pergolizzi and Matt Phillips devised a campaign that revolved around facilities and the need to have many upgrades and new facilities built. Never got off the ground because it relied on cooperation between the city and University. Frank got the door-knob-on-the-way-out because was the lynchman that had to go after Fred Warren and Dave Mullins' private money stash in order to address the budget cuts and Title IX. Restricted giving was a NO-NO, and it cost Frank his job because Stanton was spineless against Mullins and especially Fred. Rule #1, don't mess with Fred.
The Gridiron Club did a great job of generating support for football to supplement the budget and the give Coach Hamilton some discretionary funding. No different that what EddieD had with the Hoops Club and that Fred and Dave had with their Foundation Accounts. BUT, they were doing too good of a job and the Pirate Club folks found themselves looking at a level that they'd never attempted to do for football. Again, because of "concerns" the Gridiron was asked to absorb into the Pirate Club and that pretty much ended the enthusiasm.
Stansbury started the Letterman's Club with the purpose of reconnecting the Letter Winners, creating a "ritual" to have as part of a new tradition with the awarding of the letterman's jacket and ultimately the Letterman's Ring. It would have been a big deal. Pretty much the ONLY people who donated to the effort were football players. Maybe, people forget about that. They have a new version of it now, it's free to join. Don't know if the seniors get a ring or not, I hope they do.
Todd Stansbury also brought in a great concept in 2001-2002 that would have definitely redefined Athletics Advancement. The idea of "friendraising" and starting people on a donor level that would generate more interest while expanding the base. A series of breakfast's were planned across the TRI. The first was highly successful. None of the other's ever happend because Stansbury resigned for the job at Oregon State in Dec. 2002. Mullins was name "interim" and then given the job in the spring, football's death was announced, and the rest is history.
So, NO, there was NEVER a true effort designed or implemented to raise money to "save" football. I was on the Task Force, there was no "mandate to raise money to save football" and I worked there from 1998-2003. No effort other than what I've recalled above.
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"Ayers' hindsight doesn't need glasses" from the Bristol Herald Courier
