(11-25-2015 12:28 PM)EdmondTiger Wrote:  I'll play - 23,650.

I wouldn't be surprised, but those who don't come should keep their mouths shut about what conference we are in.

I won't be there Saturday.

I was at the Temple game this past Saturday.

I probably won't keep my mouth shut about our conference affiliation.

(11-25-2015 05:24 PM)Gray Avenger Wrote:  

(11-25-2015 12:28 PM)EdmondTiger Wrote:  I'll play - 23,650.

I wouldn't be surprised, but those who don't come should keep their mouths shut about what conference we are in.

I'm just being open eyed about it. The Fuente move puts a real damper on the recent excitement. Couple that with holiday travel and students being gone and the recipe is for a small crowd. I'm hopeful one day sellouts will be the norm no matter the circumstance.

(11-24-2015 10:07 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  I thought they kept saying that construction will start after the football season is over. I don't remember how much the IPF costs but it seems like they would direct all funds to pay for it first before they pay for the basketball facility. When they announced it was happening, they already had $24 million raised and needed another $16 million. Surely they would make sure they could fund the IPF completely before they would fund the basketball facility

Somewhere in the pregame interview last week (don't remember if it was Fuente or Wolo) it was mentioned that in the offer to keep Fuente they were saying construction would start in May. It was implied that it was part of the offer and perhaps would even be in the contract. Later in the pregame it January was mentioned.

I think the initial goal was to raise 60% of the money needed and then bond against that for the remainder so construction could begin while they raised the rest of the funds. Somewhere along the way the state changed courses and is now requiring that all the money be raised before construction can start.

The issue with the basketball facility is likely that certain donors would only donate to the basketball facility. Wasn't $10 million of the $24 million from the Laurie's? Surely that was earmarked for basketball.

Then the university needs to finance the difference then. Whatever it takes to get this mfer built. This is too damn important. Something is a little off seeing how we are pushing for a p5 invite and this facility is one of the key components that shows our commitment to football. Surely someone could pledge a few more million dollars to fund the whole thing since the big 12 would be paying attention to that

(11-25-2015 06:43 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Then the university needs to finance the difference then. Whatever it takes to get this mfer built. This is too damn important. Something is a little off seeing how we are pushing for a p5 invite and this facility is one of the key components that shows our commitment to football. Surely someone could pledge a few more million dollars to fund the whole thing since the big 12 would be paying attention to that

That's where the bonds were going to come in once they raised 60% of the total cost. Apparently the state won't allow this anymore.

Surely Haslam would help us in this. Contrary to popular belief, he is an ally to the university and to the city. Especially when you compare him to his predecessors

(11-25-2015 10:00 AM)memphomike Wrote:  I'm not a fan of a def coord as the head coach either, just me.

So you're saying Rob Ryan is a nonstarter?

(11-25-2015 06:43 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Then the university needs to finance the difference then. Whatever it takes to get this mfer built. This is too damn important. Something is a little off seeing how we are pushing for a p5 invite and this facility is one of the key components that shows our commitment to football. Surely someone could pledge a few more million dollars to fund the whole thing since the big 12 would be paying attention to that

How much of a donation will you pledge; since you are so passionate about the mfer.

(11-25-2015 07:14 PM)pkptigers07 Wrote:  

(11-25-2015 06:43 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Then the university needs to finance the difference then. Whatever it takes to get this mfer built. This is too damn important. Something is a little off seeing how we are pushing for a p5 invite and this facility is one of the key components that shows our commitment to football. Surely someone could pledge a few more million dollars to fund the whole thing since the big 12 would be paying attention to that

That's where the bonds were going to come in once they raised 60% of the total cost. Apparently the state won't allow this anymore.

Yes, Wolo stated this morning the reason they haven't broken ground yet is b/c TBORejects won't allow anything to happen until ALL funds for the project have been raised. Wish we could get out from under this bullsh!t.

Good lord so how long did he say it would take to raise the rest to get construction started? Damn this could take 5 years

(11-25-2015 07:36 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  Surely Haslam would help us in this. Contrary to popular belief, he is an ally to the university and to the city. Especially when you compare him to his predecessors

Is that so?

I honestly have no idea. That's not a snide question, I'd like to be informed here.

Are you referring to the actual University or just TBR as a whole?

Bottom line, if the planned training facilities construction start fell through, that could have been all that was necessary to have JF look elsewhere for a job. He always said the university's commitment to the program was very important. This turn of events especially after the big announcement is a big deal. Sounds like the university attempting to promote the program with smoke & mirrors. I don't think JF is a smoke & mirrors kind of guy & he feels like the university pulled the rug out from under the program. Tired of the promises & struggle, he's moving on.

I don't think that is the case with this administration but would be totally plausible under the past administration. Rudd and Bowen will do anything to make sure we excel in football, to the point where they are redistributing funds from basketball to football. I think fuente just saw an opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up.

(11-25-2015 10:16 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  I don't think that is the case with this administration but would be totally plausible under the past administration. Rudd and Bowen will do anything to make sure we excel in football, to the point where they are redistributing funds from basketball to football. I think fuente just saw an opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up.

This isn't a case of redistributing basketball operations funds. We're talking about capital construction funds. The funds are either there or they aren't. And apparently they are not if the announced construction start has been delayed. IMO, this is a bigger problem potentially than JF leaving (which such a situation could have precipitated). It speaks to the level of commitment our university has to the program, that it can't meet commitments announced even in the midst of the most successful period in it's history. What does this tell the coach, the B12, the recruits?

I think once CJF found out that construction was going to be delayed and no one could give him a definite start date, was when the VT conversations started and led to an offer.

Once we (the administration) found out we hastily put together an offer and he refused because he saw a lack of financial commitment to build the IPF and has stayed on course with going to VT.

Sounds like to me we SCREWED UP with not living up to our commitment of building the IPF ontime! This cost us our coach. WOW!

(11-25-2015 10:52 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(11-25-2015 10:16 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  I don't think that is the case with this administration but would be totally plausible under the past administration. Rudd and Bowen will do anything to make sure we excel in football, to the point where they are redistributing funds from basketball to football. I think fuente just saw an opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up.

This isn't a case of redistributing basketball operations funds. We're talking about capital construction funds. The funds are either there or they aren't. And apparently they are not if the announced construction start has been delayed. IMO, this is a bigger problem potentially than JF leaving (which such a situation could have precipitated). It speaks to the level of commitment our university has to the program, that it can't meet commitments announced even in the midst of the most successful period in it's history. What does this tell the coach, the B12, the recruits?

(11-26-2015 12:55 AM)FranklinTNTiger Wrote:  I think once CJF found out that construction was going to be delayed and no one could give him a definite start date, was when the VT conversations started and led to an offer.

Once we (the administration) found out we hastily put together an offer and he refused because he saw a lack of financial commitment to build the IPF and has stayed on course with going to VT.

Sounds like to me we SCREWED UP with not living up to our commitment of building the IPF ontime! This cost us our coach. WOW!

(11-25-2015 10:52 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(11-25-2015 10:16 PM)Bathtub Gin Wrote:  I don't think that is the case with this administration but would be totally plausible under the past administration. Rudd and Bowen will do anything to make sure we excel in football, to the point where they are redistributing funds from basketball to football. I think fuente just saw an opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up.

This isn't a case of redistributing basketball operations funds. We're talking about capital construction funds. The funds are either there or they aren't. And apparently they are not if the announced construction start has been delayed. IMO, this is a bigger problem potentially than JF leaving (which such a situation could have precipitated). It speaks to the level of commitment our university has to the program, that it can't meet commitments announced even in the midst of the most successful period in it's history. What does this tell the coach, the B12, the recruits?

Agree, if this delay is true, the VT deal seems logical. No IPF commitment, no B12, no Lynch. Why not have your agent explore other offers & begin the next chapter with a good opportunity where the support is real? Surprised the media isn't on the IPF problem, this is big disappointing news.

It makes no sense for the boosters to offer Fuente 3M per year but not come up with the additional money for the IPF. The IPF will help coaches for decades to come. I live in OK but purchased two season tickets to help the program and I've never been asked to donate specifically to the project.

$26 Million or $30 Million or whatever of the $40 Million has been raised. At any other school they could go ahead and start building with extra funds coming on the backend. Since we are under TBORejects, they are denying us even to break the first bit of ground on this project until the complete $40 Million has been raised. So this is a TBORejects issue plain and simple.

This is the way I understand it anyway.

(11-26-2015 09:39 AM)EdmondTiger Wrote:  It makes no sense for the boosters to offer Fuente 3M per year but not come up with the additional money for the IPF. The IPF will help coaches for decades to come. I live in OK but purchased two season tickets to help the program and I've never been asked to donate specifically to the project.

Yeah, I've never understood the university approach to raising money. It has always had a behind the scenes, backdoor feel & I never recall an opportunity to give to a specific project. Mystifying really. I'm no insider for sure but have been a season ticket holder for a long time & every appeal for money has always been very general with no idea how the money would be used, no way to designate. I support the university &, would love the opportunity to give specifically to things, projects I support. But never trusted RC or Calipari & the FB program has historically been an afterthought. And I don't like this smoke & mirrors routine we're getting now on the IPF & it seems the coach doesn't appreciate it either.