chihuskie
Heisman
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I Root For: NIU Huskies
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RE: facility upgrades
(04-05-2022 01:27 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote: (04-05-2022 12:50 PM)chihuskie Wrote: (04-05-2022 10:43 AM)Big Red Wrote: (04-05-2022 10:35 AM)Schaefer Beer Wrote: (04-05-2022 10:10 AM)chihuskie Wrote: Read the "announcement" regarding the projects. Thank you to the Nelson's for their gifts and commitments.
That said.... STF -- you really need to funnel funds appropriately. The Chick Evans Fieldhouse, if you didn't know (and maybe you didn't because it's a big part of Huskie history, so why would you) is close to the dorms, and on most underclassmen's walk to the academic buildings daily. It is prime real estate on campus. It SHOULD HAVE BEEN the location of the new basketball arena when the convo was built instead. To use that building for 4 or 5 indoor tennis courts (which apparently are to be used by the tennis teams? not even available for the students at large, or the community?) to use that valuable real estate for such a restrictive use is just unfathomable. I am sure there are other adjectives as well.
STF, if I may offer some advice. Focus is necessary to accomplish anything of value. I believe you were given some title that reflects a high level position in the university. Not mere athletic director, but rather VP of something or other. So, one question: How does building 5 indoor tennis courts for use by a select handful of students a few days a year right in the middle of campus -- how does that benefit the university? Additionally, how else could that money have been invested? What return do you expect from that investment in 5 tennis courts? What alternative investments did you consider?
I assume STF will say that the courts were a result of a restricted gifts specifically for that purpose. That is no answer. Your job, as Sr. VP of whatever, with the accompanying paycheck, is to do what is best for the university. So, I ask, are 5 indoor tennis courts for restricted and limited use on prime campus real estate really the best for the university?
Your job is not to be an "order taker" who just accepts generous donors' money. Your job should be to envision great things and then find/ discover/ unearth/ or create individuals who you can get to see that vision with you and can invest in it.
NIU does not have, never has had, and likely never will have a bottomless pot of money to spend on anything, much less athletics. A FOCUSED approach to best allocating available scarce resources is what is required. I am afraid Mr. Frazier has never understood that.
So it was STF's fault that the Convo Center was built where it is now? That is almost as ludicrous as blaming Cary Groth for the engineering mistakes for the Convo Center.
The only thing thing the AD is responsible for is a wish list( New baseball stadium, amenities etc.)and fundraising money for that wishlist. That iis out outside of Atlectics Administration and being responsible for X number of student athletes and sport programs.
They are not responsible for location, feasibility studies, engineering specs, community planning etc.)
I understand that STF is not in a favored light on this board and some of the reasons why is his fault. But let's not blame his for situations that were clearly out of his control.
Can you imagine the bellyaching that would ensue had the university built the arena in the location of the fieldhouse and had no space for parking because there's no where to expand the footprint of that location?
1. The Rec center did not exist at the time. 2. "Remote parking" is always an option. Somehow in the 80's we got 6,000 people in there and there was no "belly aching" that I heard of.
To Shaefer--- where did I say the location of the convo was STF's fault? If that bothers you, take that sentence out of my post-- read the rest, and then respond. The post was about STF's leadership. You are correct that he did not site the convo. But he IS siting an indoor tennis facility at the field house. Maybe we can discuss the merits of that? Or should we just accept it as unquestionable? "Cuz if STF responds to no one, then NIU athletics is in a heap of trouble. I would prefer to opine and question rather than not question which is a short step from ignore.
BTW, I specifically said that STF is pulling down a salary as VP of someting or other. He is MORE THAN Athletic Director and is being paid to be more. So, your statement that the AD is only responsible for this or that also misses the point. HE IS NOT AD. He is VP and AD. So, he needs to fulfill his role. Do his full job.
77,
Reread your first paragraph which you are addressing to STF, it very much says that that the Fieldhouse is where the Convo should have been built. Am I interpreting your statement wrong? If you said that statement in general, what is STF supposed to do about it?
As far as the Fieldhouse/Tennis courts, what would have been a better option? The tennis team had to go to Rockford for home games because the Fieldhouse had 3 courts when you needed to have 4 per NCAA rules for matches.The cheapest way to solve the problem was to get a 4th court in the Fieldhouse.
Also, as VP, what is his job role outside of Athletics? Should he set the curriculum for the Business College? Should he make up the budget for all of NIU so he can submit it to the state? There are alot of people at NIU with the VP title as well as their "head of" job title, how come they are not called on the carpet for not doing their job?
I am not a STF fan, but I do think he has done some good also. You can put my vote as a "meh". All i am trying to say is criticize STF for what he has control of, but don't criticize him for issues that he has no control over...when in fact the other VP'S that are earning just as much as Fraser are probably the ones that have control over some of the issues that you are disappointed in.
Re: the bold above: It is the second, not the first paragraph. The comment about the Rec center and Convo and Field House was as background-- following a comment implying perhaps STF does not know all the background of the real estate occupied by the field house (as apparently many do not). So, that background was just leading to the point of questioning whether spending money to turn THAT REAL ESTATE into 5 indoor tennis courts was a wise investment. Most people find background helpful in understanding. In your case apparently you did not. Oh well. As to "What is STF supposed to do about It [the site of the convo]?" -- he is supposed to ALWAYS find the highest and best use for any real estate that is in his charge. That is what. And, IMHO, five or four indoor tennis courts is NOT the highest and best use of the real estate. If he studied the issue and a logical analysis says it is, then I yield to that. It would surprise me, but I am just going off my gut.
As for the rest of that post--- shrug. I don't have time to go point by point. I didn't attack Frazier. I pointed out what I pointed out. I also think soccer should (if at all possible) be played on natural grass. So there is that. And I don't think baseball is a viable sport at NIU due primarily to climate constraints. But I didn't scatter shot STF complaints with opinions that one could agree or disagree with. I merely questioned whether choosing to site 4 tennis courts for limited use right in the middle of campus was the best decision. Tell me you think it is. Better yet, tell me that you [u]know[/u] it is because of this,that, and this other reason. But all I hear is "don't complain about STF." To which I say, ah.... no. We should all question. It shows we care. To ask me not to question is to ask me not to care. I'll decide when not to care on my own. Thanks anyway.
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