Built around a light pole...but the rendering is spot-on with the ugly turf.

(09-14-2015 07:50 AM)grol Wrote:  

Built around a light pole...but the rendering is spot-on with the ugly turf.

We'll have something similar down the RF line. UH looks further ahead if they have renderings. Wonder how much this will cost the students in additional fees ??

Classic "Tier One" planning to put facility behind a massive light stanchion instead of closer down the left field line nearer the existing stands. I presume they envision a significant enlargement of the grandstands when they get into the BIG XII, SEC or some other P5 ......

I would have thought that the recent publicity regarding excessive spending on athletics would have dampened the Administration's enthusiasm for such publicity at least for a month or two.... but you just can't slow down that TIER ONE>P5 athletic mentality which appears to permeate the UH Admin. from the President on down....

They're still moving ahead of us and we're still happy to poke fun at them while they do it. I'm glad to hear we'll have something similar soon. Although I believe one of the RBI threads had a post about that some time ago. Question: how far along are we in our plans for a much better building than they can build? And are we going to fundraise for it or is the university going to help? I love the movement of university support so if they can just do it after the soccer stadium that'd be awesome.

(09-14-2015 11:38 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  They're still moving ahead of us and we're still happy to poke fun at them while they do it. I'm glad to hear we'll have something similar soon. Although I believe one of the RBI threads had a post about that some time ago. Question: how far along are we in our plans for a much better building than they can build? And are we going to fundraise for it or is the university going to help? I love the movement of university support so if they can just do it after the soccer stadium that'd be awesome.

There's an RBI meeting Thursday night, so there might be some news coming out of that.

(09-14-2015 12:59 PM)Owlmaha Wrote:  Rice does things differently and with more architectural style. Last year, the Athletic Department and the RBI Club commissioned a master plan for Reckling Park. That plan is complete and includes a similar baseball facility that looks nothing like the Athenian Tara depicted in that photo. Those renderings are complete and the process to bring it home is well underway. I can assure you all that no student fees are involved.

Sir ... I was referring to how much the UH students would be assessed for the latest facilities improvements. Sorry for the confusion !! . me --> <-- Owlmaha

(09-14-2015 12:59 PM)Owlmaha Wrote:  Rice does things differently and with more architectural style. Last year, the Athletic Department and the RBI Club commissioned a master plan for Reckling Park. That plan is complete and includes a similar baseball facility that looks nothing like the Athenian Tara depicted in that photo. Those renderings are complete and the process to bring it home is well underway. I can assure you all that no student fees are involved.

"Athenian Tara" may be my favorite description of a building ever.

Wow...the instant I saw those drawings I knew where UH got their inspiration. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud Minnesota. Home to the Class 2A State High School Playoffs.





Now if UH includes the bridge from the stadium they will really have something.

nm

(09-14-2015 12:38 PM)Old Sammy Wrote:  

(09-14-2015 11:38 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  They're still moving ahead of us and we're still happy to poke fun at them while they do it. I'm glad to hear we'll have something similar soon. Although I believe one of the RBI threads had a post about that some time ago. Question: how far along are we in our plans for a much better building than they can build? And are we going to fundraise for it or is the university going to help? I love the movement of university support so if they can just do it after the soccer stadium that'd be awesome.

There's an RBI meeting Thursday night, so there might be some news coming out of that.

Nice! It does seem a meeting like that would be a good place to make an announcement of that variety. I'm glad to hear there's still RBI Club meetings. Are these regularly scheduled like the Owl Club Board meetings appear to be? I look forward to seeing the renderings.

(09-14-2015 04:25 PM)Owlmaha Wrote:  

(09-14-2015 01:30 PM)Da.Owl Wrote:  

(09-14-2015 12:59 PM)Owlmaha Wrote:  Rice does things differently and with more architectural style. Last year, the Athletic Department and the RBI Club commissioned a master plan for Reckling Park. That plan is complete and includes a similar baseball facility that looks nothing like the Athenian Tara depicted in that photo. Those renderings are complete and the process to bring it home is well underway. I can assure you all that no student fees are involved.

Sir ... I was referring to how much the UH students would be assessed for the latest facilities improvements. Sorry for the confusion !! . me --> <-- Owlmaha

I knew that. It was a bit of sarcasm that failed.

Fearless Leader ... I figured as much but other readers might not understand so clarification was in order.

(09-14-2015 05:46 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2015 12:38 PM)Old Sammy Wrote:  

(09-14-2015 11:38 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  They're still moving ahead of us and we're still happy to poke fun at them while they do it. I'm glad to hear we'll have something similar soon. Although I believe one of the RBI threads had a post about that some time ago. Question: how far along are we in our plans for a much better building than they can build? And are we going to fundraise for it or is the university going to help? I love the movement of university support so if they can just do it after the soccer stadium that'd be awesome.

There's an RBI meeting Thursday night, so there might be some news coming out of that.

Nice! It does seem a meeting like that would be a good place to make an announcement of that variety. I'm glad to hear there's still RBI Club meetings. Are these regularly scheduled like the Owl Club Board meetings appear to be? I look forward to seeing the renderings.

Any idea when the renderings/meeting notes will be available to non-RBI club members?

Didn't the board of trustees just meet and recognize Rick Mello? He is doing the RBI forum tonight and is the baseball administrator. Maybe he was intrustumental in getting the Reckling Park upgrades passed and funded. I remember that being tricky with the football project. I can't wait for the update from tonight. I bet it was a packed Owl Club Room.

http://news.rice.edu/2015/09/14/athletic...-trustees/

For all the hype leading up to it...it's been pretty quiet the day after the big forum.

(09-18-2015 01:02 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  For all the hype leading up to it...it's been pretty quiet the day after the big forum.

We had to sign to a confidentiality agreement.

Well then...there goes the value of most of this board. Can't say I'm an expert at this but I feel like donors being put contractually under a confidentiality agreement pretty much ensures all comments made from this point forward will be unquestionably biased in favor of the administration. It'd be hard to say anything negative without infringing upon something you heard in that room.

Glad I'm not an RBI Club member. That would make me really uncomfortable. I guess these threads are now dead. Well played Mello.

(09-18-2015 09:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  Well then...there goes the value of most of this board. Can't say I'm an expert at this but I feel like donors being put contractually under a confidentiality agreement pretty much ensures all comments made from this point forward will be unquestionably biased in favor of the administration. It'd be hard to say anything negative without infringing upon something you heard in that room.

Glad I'm not an RBI Club member. That would make me really uncomfortable. I guess these threads are now dead. Well played Mello.

1. Rick Mello was in attendance representing the Athletic Department, but he does not run or set the rules for the RBI Club.

2. This was a special meeting held for RBI Club members specifically to discuss the challenges we are currently facing in baseball recruiting, and what we can do about it. I wasn't there, but given the subject matter I can understand the need for confidentiality if, in fact, that's what they requested.

3. Why aren't you an RBI Club member? The Club is not set up to meet; in fact, this is the first meeting of the RBI Club I can remember in several years. The purpose of the Club is to support the student-athletes and enhance their experience at Reckling and on the road.

I'm not one cuz I was told to give the funds I could to the Owl Club. This stuff is still confusing to people who only have a rice undergrad degree and not the wealth of Waltgreenburg or Owlmaha.

I still think a confidentiality agreement is beyond silly. But what really irks me is why would you bother promoting this meeting and all that will be talked about during it in advance and then force people to sign an agreement saying so they can't talk about it to anyone after? The only reason for that is for these RBI people to boost their own ego and effectively bias any words that come from the mouths of anyone who participated in that event. Those are my thoughts only and you can disagree but I'll stand by it.

Rick Mello was the athletic department rep at the event and is the baseball administrator so he better have some "say so" in the RBI Club even though you claim he doesn't set the rules.

I wonder if any publily promoted RBI forums that had confidentiality agreements took place in advance of or during the run of 7 Omaha trips in 12 years. Probably not. I'm getting more and more sure that this program has a lot more problems than infield defense. I'm going back to all my just win comments from last baseball season that seem to have escaped the mindset of everyone affiliated with that program. Including RBI club members.

Thoughts from afar.

(09-14-2015 02:44 PM)baker-13 Wrote:  

(09-14-2015 12:59 PM)Owlmaha Wrote:  Rice does things differently and with more architectural style. Last year, the Athletic Department and the RBI Club commissioned a master plan for Reckling Park. That plan is complete and includes a similar baseball facility that looks nothing like the Athenian Tara depicted in that photo. Those renderings are complete and the process to bring it home is well underway. I can assure you all that no student fees are involved.

"Athenian Tara" may be my favorite description of a building ever.

The poster comparing Rice's style to "Taco Bell" architecture was a nadir, IMHO.

(09-19-2015 09:05 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  I'm not one cuz I was told to give the funds I could to the Owl Club. This stuff is still confusing to people who only have a rice undergrad degree and not the wealth of Waltgreenburg or Owlmaha.

I still think a confidentiality agreement is beyond silly. But what really irks me is why would you bother promoting this meeting and all that will be talked about during it in advance and then force people to sign an agreement saying so they can't talk about it to anyone after? The only reason for that is for these RBI people to boost their own ego and effectively bias any words that come from the mouths of anyone who participated in that event. Those are my thoughts only and you can disagree but I'll stand by it.

Rick Mello was the athletic department rep at the event and is the baseball administrator so he better have some "say so" in the RBI Club even though you claim he doesn't set the rules.

I wonder if any publily promoted RBI forums that had confidentiality agreements took place in advance of or during the run of 7 Omaha trips in 12 years. Probably not. I'm getting more and more sure that this program has a lot more problems than infield defense. I'm going back to all my just win comments from last baseball season that seem to have escaped the mindset of everyone affiliated with that program. Including RBI club members.

Thoughts from afar.

1. I'm fairly certain that if a confidentiality agreement was, in fact, requested, that is was because the information discussed was considered highly confidential. And since the subject matter was recruiting challenges and what options we had to address the problem facing us uniquely I can understand the desire to keep the discussion out of the public domain. This was not a more public forum such as comments made at the annual baseball banquet or at the old RBI Club dinners held in the R Room prior to Greenspan putting an end to them.

2. Rick Mello is NOT the "baseball administrator"; Daniel Watson (who works for Coach Graham) is Head of Baseball Operations. The RBI Club is run by a Board of Directors (which includes former players and parents of former players) with it's sole purpose to collect funds to support and enhance the student-athlete experience....with all funds to be used under the discretion of Coach Graham (not the Athletic Department in general).

3. Again, as I mentioned in a previous post, there is no such thing-- and never has been-- of RBI Club "forums". The Thursday meeting was a one-of-a-kind type affair to advise those donating to the baseball program why we've lost several recent recruits and to discuss the recruiting challenges we face in the current environment. (I cannot remember the last time a meeting was held for RBI Club members, but certainly not since I first joined 7 or 8 years ago.)

Is this really that difficult to understand?