(06-19-2014 09:13 AM)easterneagles79 Wrote:  Identity is never a bad thing. Obviously we are who we are, and to tell you the truth... we are already the laughing stock of the MAC. If it brings attention to our program I think that's a good thing, because we sure aren't getting any right now.

I disagree with this. Timing is key.

This gimmick worked for Boise because they were (at the time) a relative unknown, newish to FBS, from an underpopulated area of the country, so they needed to "grab eyeballs" in a major way. The key difference being that once they had those eyeballs, what is it that those eyes were seeing? A pretty good program on the rise, etc. No offense, but maybe this isn't the right time to ask people to intensely focus on your football program. Start building something, then once that has been accomplished and you have righted the train, call everyone over for a look-see.

Just my opinion.

First reaction, I don't like the gimmick. But I will hold final judgement until after I see the field. It may look really sharp. Of course, that wouldn't really alleviate any of my above concerns.

I hope I'm not over hyping this, but Heather Lyke is all in. Check out her Tweet last night. She set the bar pretty high herself:

https://twitter.com/LykeEMUAD

https://twitter.com/LykeEMUAD/status/479470830930251776

With all of this fanfare I hope she is prepared to announce a multi-year plan to make our FB stadium a really fine football stadium.

I'll be truthful, I've never liked the grey uniforms so you can understand why I'm very doubtful about a grey turf too. As I would talk with my dad about EMU wearing the grey uniforms we both had one consensus. "The uniforms just add to the dreariness of how the team has performed." Last I knew our school colors were GREEN and WHITE.

Now how about a white field with our green numbering. Maybe we can make everyone think we're playing on Snow. I always liked our black uniforms too.. How about a Black field with green numbering? :0

I guess we'll see what they have to say here in about 15 minutes.

(06-19-2014 02:12 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-19-2014 12:23 AM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  http://www.freep.com/article/20140619/SP...gray-field

Well, gray turf it is.

Can we expect more at the press conference tomorrow? Is all that's being announced is the changing color of our field?

I hope this has been really, really checked out. Like doing a computer simulation or even buying a gray tarp and gauging it.

I'm having a hard time visualizing it. Gray grass and a red track might think we're at OSU. Green track???

Yep, I hope they have done a computer simulation.

Of course, another question: replacing the Field Turf with new Field Turf? Assume our Field Turf still has life expectancy left.

Yes, gray is historic. New lights, scoreboard, press box, etc. are not.

My big dream is that some day EMU will announce say a 10M deal (say borrow funds pledging future road game guarantees over say 10 years or funds to be received from the College FB Playoff series which could be $1M/team/year) and spend 1M (?; don't know if that is the amount) for new lights, 2M for a new scoreboard and 7M for a new press box.

Got to admit this thread is more interesting than a thread on EMU's basketball camp. Hell I can't sleep with anticipation.

I really think the AD thinks this is O$U...

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Here are the YouTube event that someone sent me.

http://youtu.be/wUaiVPWhhrE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wUaiVPWhhrE

I was disappointed EMU did not announce more than simply new FieldTurf.

That said, there seems to be two rules (I think) in fund raising:

1). Best (and easiest) to raise funds after a team has been very successful (e.g., a turnaround or championship season).

2). Best to raise funds when wealth is being created be it when the stock market has risen dramatically or times when housing values are increasing significantly.

#1, obviously, isn't applicable here. Two wins is a low, not a turnaround.

#2 certainly is applicable with the stock market being at an all-time high.

I'd suggest: IF the FB team shows promise this season, then proceed with a Rynearson Stadium Campaign to raise say 4M for a new score board and new lights.

The press box would have to come from EMU's funds say paid off over 10 years using say funds received from the College Football Playoff payouts or a big $ guarantee game (e.g., our games vs. MSU, LSU, Florida, etc. etc.) as collateral.

I see no reason why some boosters who have seen their net worth increase significantly in recent years not be willing do their part.

My parish wants to rebuild our church and has pledges of 3.5M garnered in a campaign which began in February and could end up with say 5M. About 900-1000 families. Our average gift (over five years) is roughly 10K.

Heck give Quicken Loans some significant signage on the top of the scoreboard for a 500K donation. Doesn't have to have "The Factory at Quicken Loans Stadium" (unless Quicken Loans wants to do 10M) but it can look like the "Quicken Loans Scoreboard."

P.S. Put the scoreboard on top of the football building. I believe that is the way CMU has done it.

Here is a nice write up with solid perspective on the turf announcement

http://fb.me/6TmdrBNWu