My stance is if you get 3 months a year off, just STFU. There ya go.

(08-16-2013 11:26 AM)mistrhanky Wrote:  Quite true, but it does counter the notion that moving up, increasing the stadium, playing "better" teams,etc is suddenly going to lead to packed houses every Saturday. People also argue over our attendance numbers dropping, when in fact the reality is they are probably going to drop anyway with more TV exposure. Not an argument either way per se, but it is good food for thought. If the SEC can fill houses, nobody can.

To get back to page 1 of this thread (and on topic)... The real issue is that regardless of economy its kind of hard to find 70,000+ people to pay several thousand a year for 6-7 home games like you see at some of the big stadiums. Luckily for JMU I don't think we will have this problem. Even if we expand to 45,000 seats (reserving 7,000-10,000 for students and away tickets) we're still not fully tapping out our fan base both in terms of alumni and local county/city spectators (Harrisonburg is comparable to Blacksburg) with good marketing, a good game experience, solid scheduling and by putting a quality/winning team on the field.

I'm sure if we're in a CUSA, AAC, MAC level conference the 'legitimacy' of being I-A will help increase the tickets some, and if we have a smart ticket sales strategy (e.g. can only get Homecoming and Parent's weekend tickets which will sell out through season tickets or mini-season ticket packages - such as a three game package of Opening Day, Parent's weekend and conference opponent and another of Homecoming, marquee OOC or rival game and conference opponent), it will help drive more tickets purchased for some of those less than desirable games even if we don't always have the butts in seats.

If JMU is committed to putting a solid, top shelf product on the field, there is no reason to believe we can't be a draw at a level just slightly below the two ACC schools in our state, which honestly is probably where UVA and VT should be in the first place.

Professors, public school teachers and public employees working for the state of Virginia have every reason to take what BSK24 said “literally and emotionally”. They have seen their retirement program, VRS, underfunded by politicians of both parties during the good economic periods. The governor has used resources from the VRS to offset the shrinking tax revenue during the recession. It was the employee’s money that is used to fund the conservative managed retirement program. Now that county and state budgets are tight, I have heard politicians complain about this entitlement because they are now being held accountable for keeping the program solvent.

Also, the VEA and VGEA are non political organizations. They advocate for the benefits of employees which often times benefits the tax payer. Everyone, regardless of political affliction wants to get the most out of our resources.

(08-18-2013 06:07 PM)HMK Wrote:  Professors, public school teachers and public employees working for the state of Virginia have every reason to take what BSK24 said “literally and emotionally”. They have seen their retirement program, VRS, underfunded by politicians of both parties during the good economic periods. The governor has used resources from the VRS to offset the shrinking tax revenue during the recession. It was the employee’s money that is used to fund the conservative managed retirement program. Now that county and state budgets are tight, I have heard politicians complain about this entitlement because they are now being held accountable for keeping the program solvent.

Also, the VEA and VGEA are non political organizations. They advocate for the benefits of employees which often times benefits the tax payer. Everyone, regardless of political affliction wants to get the most out of our resources.

Bottom line is if you don't like it, get out. If you don't have a better option, shut up. There's no ears for that.

(08-18-2013 06:18 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  Bottom line is if you don't like it, get out. If you don't have a better option, shut up. There's no ears for that.

I liked it better when you were on your meds this morning.

Just to clarify, I imagine HMK's valid concern is more about dedicating his entire career to education under the pretense of receiving certain benefits, only to be told 25 years in that the game is changed. It's not quite as simple as "go find another job, you whiner". I can & probably will. He's already invested in one system & now it's gone with nothing but a big middle finger & no recourse.

(08-18-2013 01:04 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(08-18-2013 12:51 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Why are you saying NEA is "democrat"? Because democrats support the same issues as the NEA? I'm being serious. I'm actually not a member.

Because the hierarchy within always and only backs Democratic candidates.

I assume that this is also not meant to be taken literally. The VEA has endorsed republicans many times in state legislative races.

(08-18-2013 07:59 PM)POTUS#4 Wrote:  

(08-18-2013 01:04 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(08-18-2013 12:51 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Why are you saying NEA is "democrat"? Because democrats support the same issues as the NEA? I'm being serious. I'm actually not a member.

Because the hierarchy within always and only backs Democratic candidates.

I assume that this is also not meant to be taken literally. The VEA has endorsed republicans many times in state legislative races.

Never say never; never say always. Yes, the VEA has on a rare occasion endorsed a Republican. The count is probably at least 10 to 1 or greater.

(08-18-2013 04:20 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(08-16-2013 11:26 AM)mistrhanky Wrote:  Quite true, but it does counter the notion that moving up, increasing the stadium, playing "better" teams,etc is suddenly going to lead to packed houses every Saturday. People also argue over our attendance numbers dropping, when in fact the reality is they are probably going to drop anyway with more TV exposure. Not an argument either way per se, but it is good food for thought. If the SEC can fill houses, nobody can.

To get back to page 1 of this thread (and on topic)... The real issue is that regardless of economy its kind of hard to find 70,000+ people to pay several thousand a year for 6-7 home games like you see at some of the big stadiums. Luckily for JMU I don't think we will have this problem. Even if we expand to 45,000 seats (reserving 7,000-10,000 for students and away tickets) we're still not fully tapping out our fan base both in terms of alumni and local county/city spectators (Harrisonburg is comparable to Blacksburg) with good marketing, a good game experience, solid scheduling and by putting a quality/winning team on the field.

I'm sure if we're in a CUSA, AAC, MAC level conference the 'legitimacy' of being I-A will help increase the tickets some, and if we have a smart ticket sales strategy (e.g. can only get Homecoming and Parent's weekend tickets which will sell out through season tickets or mini-season ticket packages - such as a three game package of Opening Day, Parent's weekend and conference opponent and another of Homecoming, marquee OOC or rival game and conference opponent), it will help drive more tickets purchased for some of those less than desirable games even if we don't always have the butts in seats.

If JMU is committed to putting a solid, top shelf product on the field, there is no reason to believe we can't be a draw at a level just slightly below the two ACC schools in our state, which honestly is probably where UVA and VT should be in the first place.

I find their to be an interesting question too as to when schools reach a decision on whether they want two soft games on their schedule for fine tuning, or they want the dollars for full seats. It is no coincidence that Florida has open seats for 1-AA GSU and nobody-gives-a-damn Toledo.

I also thing game days are what you make of them. If I just want to watch a game in stunning detail, sure, HD is the best option. But I like being part of events, the roar of the crowd, the intensity of it. I also love the tailgate aspect. I roll into Landover early for games and have no traffic problems and the spot I get lets me roll out fast too(about 15 minutes to clear the lot) and I always stay till the end, no matter what. So, until they fully price me out, I will always prefer to keep going because football just seems lackluster any other way for me. Hockey too... nothing like live hockey.

(08-19-2013 11:17 AM)mistrhanky Wrote:  

(08-18-2013 04:20 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(08-16-2013 11:26 AM)mistrhanky Wrote:  Quite true, but it does counter the notion that moving up, increasing the stadium, playing "better" teams,etc is suddenly going to lead to packed houses every Saturday. People also argue over our attendance numbers dropping, when in fact the reality is they are probably going to drop anyway with more TV exposure. Not an argument either way per se, but it is good food for thought. If the SEC can fill houses, nobody can.

To get back to page 1 of this thread (and on topic)... The real issue is that regardless of economy its kind of hard to find 70,000+ people to pay several thousand a year for 6-7 home games like you see at some of the big stadiums. Luckily for JMU I don't think we will have this problem. Even if we expand to 45,000 seats (reserving 7,000-10,000 for students and away tickets) we're still not fully tapping out our fan base both in terms of alumni and local county/city spectators (Harrisonburg is comparable to Blacksburg) with good marketing, a good game experience, solid scheduling and by putting a quality/winning team on the field.

I'm sure if we're in a CUSA, AAC, MAC level conference the 'legitimacy' of being I-A will help increase the tickets some, and if we have a smart ticket sales strategy (e.g. can only get Homecoming and Parent's weekend tickets which will sell out through season tickets or mini-season ticket packages - such as a three game package of Opening Day, Parent's weekend and conference opponent and another of Homecoming, marquee OOC or rival game and conference opponent), it will help drive more tickets purchased for some of those less than desirable games even if we don't always have the butts in seats.

If JMU is committed to putting a solid, top shelf product on the field, there is no reason to believe we can't be a draw at a level just slightly below the two ACC schools in our state, which honestly is probably where UVA and VT should be in the first place.

I find their to be an interesting question too as to when schools reach a decision on whether they want two soft games on their schedule for fine tuning, or they want the dollars for full seats. It is no coincidence that Florida has open seats for 1-AA GSU and nobody-gives-a-damn Toledo.

I also thing game days are what you make of them. If I just want to watch a game in stunning detail, sure, HD is the best option. But I like being part of events, the roar of the crowd, the intensity of it. I also love the tailgate aspect. I roll into Landover early for games and have no traffic problems and the spot I get lets me roll out fast too(about 15 minutes to clear the lot) and I always stay till the end, no matter what. So, until they fully price me out, I will always prefer to keep going because football just seems lackluster any other way for me. Hockey too... nothing like live hockey.

I'm with you, I make a weekend or at least a full day out of a JMU game, meaning rolling out at 8:00AM to get to the lot by 10:00AM for a 6:00PM game and then either partying or drowning my sorrows on through the night downtown. The tailgating, the specticals of being on campus, hanging with friends, etc. is all part of the game day experience. We have a distinct advantage there, as some places tailgating just doesn't happen as much (or flat out not allowed *cough* Liberty sucks *cough*).

JMU would really have to significantly raise prices for most of the current & long time STH to stop coming as I feel that most would agree with me that there's no place I'd rather be on a September/October day than in the 'Burg watching football. I'm sure the more people we get to introduce to the live game day experience the more they'll want to keep coming back.

(08-18-2013 09:53 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I meant summer break. I get 1.5 weeks for "winter break" & a week for spring break, although I frequently have job responsibilities during the spring break.

Total for me (11 month employee) is 6.5 weeks for the year if I include the working spring break. No complaints from me on that. I know it's a sweet perk.

What about Thanksgiving? That would be a 1/2 week if it was 2-3 days.

Any other holidays- Columbus, Veterans, Presidents, MLK?

260 workdays a yr on a 5 day workweek.
180 day school year that is, or at least was, the standard in the US. If a teacher not teaching summer school was under contract for 190-200 days, that would leave 60-70 days off, equivalent to 12-14 weeks.

(08-19-2013 06:50 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(08-18-2013 09:53 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I meant summer break. I get 1.5 weeks for "winter break" & a week for spring break, although I frequently have job responsibilities during the spring break.

Total for me (11 month employee) is 6.5 weeks for the year if I include the working spring break. No complaints from me on that. I know it's a sweet perk.

What about Thanksgiving? That would be a 1/2 week if it was 2-3 days.

Any other holidays- Columbus, Veterans, Presidents, MLK?

260 workdays a yr on a 5 day workweek.
180 day school year that is, or at least was, the standard in the US. If a teacher not teaching summer school was under contract for 190-200 days, that would leave 60-70 days off, equivalent to 12-14 weeks.

That's nice, but what does it have to do with the thread?

If you haven't noticed, this thread had already strayed wildly off topic to the subject of teachers' work schedules...

(08-19-2013 08:54 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  If you haven't noticed, this thread had already strayed wildly off topic to the subject of teachers' work schedules...

Some of us were trying to get it back on track.