Spend the Dang Money

[WiseOlVol]

Vol fans are among the most rabid, long-suffering and hungry fans in FBS.
We live and die from year to year, from week to week, from play to play.
Lowly Michigan (1 NC (shared) since 1948, a B10 team, and finished 3rd in division back-to-back under $9mm Harbaugh) has a staff full of ex-NFL coaches. They're recruiting way above their station.

Top recruits want to develop NFL skills.

Why don't we have the resources to hire at this level?

 

[jakez4ut]

Vol fans are among the most rabid, long-suffering and hungry fans in FBS.
We live and die from year to year, from week to week, from play to play.
Lowly Michigan (1 NC (shared) since 1948, a B10 team, and finished 3rd in division back-to-back under $9mm Harbaugh) has a staff full of ex-NFL coaches. They're recruiting way above their station.

Top recruits want to develop NFL skills.

Why don't we have the resources to hire at this level?

we do. what we don't have is adequate leadership administratively to set the priorities.

there's a giant vacuum of leadership on the hill right now, and as much as i'm not a fan of Butch Jones at the moment, he's being left to flap in the wind while our new chancellor, lame duck AD and president sit on their hands and do nothing but collect paychecks.

 

[Biopsyman]

Vol fans are among the most rabid, long-suffering and hungry fans in FBS.
We live and die from year to year, from week to week, from play to play.
Lowly Michigan (1 NC (shared) since 1948, a B10 team, and finished 3rd in division back-to-back under $9mm Harbaugh) has a staff full of ex-NFL coaches. They're recruiting way above their station.

Top recruits want to develop NFL skills.




Why don't we have the resources to hire at this level?

You can send in as much as you want to the athletic department on donations, there's no limit and feel free to send all your paycheck in to help the cause

 

[m1al]

When one has an option, it's not wise to give your money to an inept administration..

Wish I had this option when it comes to our government...

 

[volfan102455]

we do. what we don't have is adequate leadership administratively to set the priorities.

there's a giant vacuum of leadership on the hill right now, and as much as i'm not a fan of Butch Jones at the moment, he's being left to flap in the wind while our new chancellor, lame duck AD and president sit on their hands and do nothing but collect paychecks.

Seriously this time 4 years ago the UTAD was in serious trouble. Things are better now financially but this article clearly shows how bad it was.

Tennessee athletic department mired in $200 million debt | NCAA Football | Sporting News

Some of you seem to think there is money just lying around to pay buyouts of coaches and spend twice as much as that (... which it would take ...) to secure your so called flavor of the day "elite coach".

Unless all who support the department plan to donate their entire salary for several years - UTAD can't continue to support the cycle (fire, pay buyout, hire new coach, fire, pay buyout, hire new coach ..... ).

 

[jakez4ut]

Seriously this time 4 years ago the UTAD was in serious trouble. Things are better now financially but this article clearly shows how bad it was.

Tennessee athletic department mired in $200 million debt | NCAA Football | Sporting News

Some of you seem to think there is money just lying around to pay buyouts of coaches and spend twice as much as that (... which it would take ...) to secure your so called flavor of the day "elite coach".

Unless all who support the department plan to donate their entire salary for several years - UTAD can't continue to support the cycle (fire, pay buyout, hire new coach, fire, pay buyout, hire new coach ..... ).

there's money. there's zero leadership around to pool resources and get all the money on the same page.

and i didn't call for anyone to be fired or pay buyouts etc...it's just a fact that the leadership from the president on down, just don't have it as a priority for UT athletics to be elite presently.

when and if we do, it'll be miraculous how much money is suddenly "laying around".

 

[25801VOL]

Again we spend money on brick and mortar. The university doesn't invest in people.

 

[jakez4ut]

and when i talk about money, i'm speaking about the big time boosters that will be funding anything of significance. there's a divide there, and until we have some leadership that can get everyone on the same page, pool those resources, and move forward with a clear purpose....then nothing will change.

so, as i see it, the single biggest issue UT has is it's inability, or plain indifference, to get everyone moving in a clear direction with a singular purpose. too many people wanting different things, for different reasons, and no one at the helm.

and in the meantime, a whole lot of nothing getting done.

 

[ReaderVol]

and when i talk about money, i'm speaking about the big time boosters that will be funding anything of significance. there's a divide there, and until we have some leadership that can get everyone on the same page, pool those resources, and move forward with a clear purpose....then nothing will change.

so, as i see it, the single biggest issue UT has is it's inability, or plain indifference, to get everyone moving in a clear direction with a singular purpose. too many people wanting different things, for different reasons, and no one at the helm.

and in the meantime, a whole lot of nothing getting done.

While there is some truth in your statement, absolutely so. The reality is that these "Big Time" boosters are businessmen and damn good at it. One of the top things they look at is fiscal responsibility with assets. They want to see stability and "seed" money before they hand the kind of money you're talking about over. And thus that's just one of many reasons firing Jones would be a monumental mistake.

 

[volfan102455]

Again we spend money on brick and mortar. The university doesn't invest in people.

If you read the article you will see that the money was spent in the years when cash was flowing as a result of the success during the Peyton years and the 5 to 6 years following. UT was selling the tickets and filling Neyland so there was absolutely no problem with enhancements to Neyland - and quite honestly more is needed in parts of the Stadium. I sit in the renovated side. Ask folks that don't what they think about Neyland.

Right after they went in debt is when the seasons started tanking. Fulmer was fired. Kiffin was hired and left in the middle of the night. Dooley was hired and the team progressively got worse. The impact was that the program that needs to make the most money didn't. Then Dooley was fired and the buyout had to be covered as well as the contracts for the incoming coaches.

The last two years has seen attendance, donations and ticket sales return to what they were before. Financially the UTAD is getting back on solid ground.

I'm glad some of you do NOT get to make decisions for the UTAD. If you did the department would be broke and out of business and there would be NO sports whatsoever played in Knoxville.

 

[Biopsyman]

Cancel the program

 

[BeecherVol]

and when i talk about money, i'm speaking about the big time boosters that will be funding anything of significance. there's a divide there, and until we have some leadership that can get everyone on the same page, pool those resources, and move forward with a clear purpose....then nothing will change.

so, as i see it, the single biggest issue UT has is it's inability, or plain indifference, to get everyone moving in a clear direction with a singular purpose. too many people wanting different things, for different reasons, and no one at the helm.

and in the meantime, a whole lot of nothing getting done.

Yep. Too many people pulling in several different directions.

 

[jakez4ut]

While there is some truth in your statement, absolutely so. The reality is that these "Big Time" boosters are businessmen and damn good at it. One of the top things they look at is fiscal responsibility with assets. They want to see stability and "seed" money before they hand the kind of money you're talking about over. And thus that's just one of many reasons firing Jones would be a monumental mistake.

don't disagree. and for all the reasons you described, that's the single biggest difference strong leadership could make.

 

[jakez4ut]

If you read the article you will see that the money was spent in the years when cash was flowing as a result of the success during the Peyton years and the 5 to 6 years following. UT was selling the tickets and filling Neyland so there was absolutely no problem with enhancements to Neyland - and quite honestly more is needed in parts of the Stadium. I sit in the renovated side. Ask folks that don't what they think about Neyland.

Right after they went in debt is when the seasons started tanking. Fulmer was fired. Kiffin was hired and left in the middle of the night. Dooley was hired and the team progressively got worse. The impact was that the program that needs to make the most money didn't. Then Dooley was fired and the buyout had to be covered as well as the contracts for the incoming coaches.

The last two years has seen attendance, donations and ticket sales return to what they were before. Financially the UTAD is getting back on solid ground.

I'm glad some of you do NOT get to make decisions for the UTAD. If you did the department would be broke and out of business and there would be NO sports whatsoever played in Knoxville.

not sure what you're getting at. recognizing that there's absolutely no leadership administratively right now, and acknowledging that one of the primary responsibilities of that leadership would be to define purpose, direction and clarity for the program (whatever that might be, that could include keeping jones mind you), so as to align boosters, UT financials and any other outside resources to the accomplishment of "the goal", or to achieve a standard for UT athletics, isn't exactly going out on a limb or taking a flyer as to what are some of the bigger issues facing the UTAD.

that doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out, nor is it irresponsible to comment on it.

bottom line, it's not like we're on here "fahr butch, why won't they just spend $6-7 million on so and so?" as you'd apparently have some believe.

 

[RollerVol]

and when i talk about money, i'm speaking about the big time boosters that will be funding anything of significance. there's a divide there, and until we have some leadership that can get everyone on the same page, pool those resources, and move forward with a clear purpose....then nothing will change.

so, as i see it, the single biggest issue UT has is it's inability, or plain indifference, to get everyone moving in a clear direction with a singular purpose. too many people wanting different things, for different reasons, and no one at the helm.

and in the meantime, a whole lot of nothing getting done.

yep, sounds like the Federal government to me...
PS. UTAD just on a smaller scale...hmy:

GO VOLS!

 

[LWSVOL]

and when i talk about money, i'm speaking about the big time boosters that will be funding anything of significance. there's a divide there, and until we have some leadership that can get everyone on the same page, pool those resources, and move forward with a clear purpose....then nothing will change.

so, as i see it, the single biggest issue UT has is it's inability, or plain indifference, to get everyone moving in a clear direction with a singular purpose. too many people wanting different things, for different reasons, and no one at the helm.

and in the meantime, a whole lot of nothing getting done.

if they screw up this athletic director hire it is very likely some of the big booster funding will go on the shelf for a while. They are getting pretty tired of the constant lack of leadership.

they better escalate the AD hire. people want it done and think it is ridiculous that we are almost 6 months out without an AD

 

[volfan102455]

While there is some truth in your statement, absolutely so. The reality is that these "Big Time" boosters are businessmen and damn good at it. One of the top things they look at is fiscal responsibility with assets. They want to see stability and "seed" money before they hand the kind of money you're talking about over. And thus that's just one of many reasons firing Jones would be a monumental mistake.

Agree - UTAD has just recently come out of the darkness caused by the sequence of fire, hire, left, hire, fire, hire ... pattern. To dive back into that when there have been successive 9-4 seasons and 100K+ attendance averages doesn't show good financial responsibility.

If you are a good business person you don't react because of feelings or unrealistic opinions on where a team should or shouldn't be or where the team may end up in a season that has not been played yet.

 

[BeecherVol]

if they screw up this athletic director hire it is very likely some of the big booster funding will go on the shelf for a while. They are getting pretty tired of the constant lack of leadership.

they better escalate the AD hire. people want it done and think it is ridiculous that we are almost 6 months out without an AD

Hoping they get it right is scary.

 

[volfan102455]

if they screw up this athletic director hire it is very likely some of the big booster funding will go on the shelf for a while. They are getting pretty tired of the constant lack of leadership.

they better escalate the AD hire. people want it done and think it is ridiculous that we are almost 6 months out without an AD

I do agree that the AD hire is the more important hire at this point. And hopefully that new AD will be financially responsible and not make decisions on a whim - or UT is screwed.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Seriously this time 4 years ago the UTAD was in serious trouble. Things are better now financially but this article clearly shows how bad it was.

Tennessee athletic department mired in $200 million debt | NCAA Football | Sporting News

Some of you seem to think there is money just lying around to pay buyouts of coaches and spend twice as much as that (... which it would take ...) to secure your so called flavor of the day "elite coach".

Unless all who support the department plan to donate their entire salary for several years - UTAD can't continue to support the cycle (fire, pay buyout, hire new coach, fire, pay buyout, hire new coach ..... ).

Jesus just stop it aready. Tennessee is not some mid tier school that struggles financially. Tennessee has one of the biggest recruiting budgets in the country and has had for quite some time. UT has plenty of money to get whatever coach they want. The administration is just too dumb to spend the necessary cash. Getting big time, proven winning coaches, equates to big wins on the field. Which in turn increases revenue through ticket sales and product merchandise. Which in turn helps the university finances out, big time.

I wish some of you would stop thinking so damn small time and mediocre. UT had the money to get Harbaugh. I am not saying he was interested in us but UT had that kind of money. It has that kind of money now. What we dont have is an administration with a set of functioning balls that would step up to make a big tome hire.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

if they screw up this athletic director hire it is very likely some of the big booster funding will go on the shelf for a while. They are getting pretty tired of the constant lack of leadership.

they better escalate the AD hire. people want it done and think it is ridiculous that we are almost 6 months out without an AD

I dont understand whst is taking so long. By most accounts, it seems like Blackburn wants to be at UT. Yet he is not hired yet. The longer this goes on , the more I believe he will not be hired and Gilbert or some other scrub will be hired.

 

[Aavoxx]

Who, exactly, do you expect us to "spend the dang money" on?

There is not an established football coach available that's a good fit at Tennessee. If Butch is fired after 2017, the best coaches are going to be mid-major coaches looking for a step up unless something changes. You don't "spend the dang money" on someone that hasn't earned it.

If a change is made and the new coach proves to be the correct fit, then the money should be spent in retention.

 

[orangeluvr]

we do. what we don't have is adequate leadership administratively to set the priorities.

there's a giant vacuum of leadership on the hill right now, and as much as i'm not a fan of Butch Jones at the moment, he's being left to flap in the wind while our new chancellor, lame duck AD and president sit on their hands and do nothing but collect paychecks.

Unfortunately Tennessee continues to hire people for admin positions with no prior connections to the university or our state, very bad mistake That's been the problem all along.:sad:

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Seriously this time 4 years ago the UTAD was in serious trouble. Things are better now financially but this article clearly shows how bad it was.

Tennessee athletic department mired in $200 million debt | NCAA Football | Sporting News

Some of you seem to think there is money just lying around to pay buyouts of coaches and spend twice as much as that (... which it would take ...) to secure your so called flavor of the day "elite coach".

Unless all who support the department plan to donate their entire salary for several years - UTAD can't continue to support the cycle (fire, pay buyout, hire new coach, fire, pay buyout, hire new coach ..... ).

This is something that most people with an IQ as low as 80-90 can understand. It is amazing that some posters don’t understand economics.

 

[ReaderVol]

Jesus just stop it aready. Tennessee is not some mid tier school that struggles financially. Tennessee has one of the biggest recruiting budgets in the country and has had for quite some time. UT has plenty of money to get whatever coach they want. The administration is just too dumb to spend the necessary cash. Getting big time, proven winning coaches, equates to big wins on the field. Which in turn increases revenue through ticket sales and product merchandise. Which in turn helps the university finances out, big time.

I wish some of you would stop thinking so damn small time and mediocre. UT had the money to get Harbaugh. I am not saying he was interested in us but UT had that kind of money. It has that kind of money now. What we dont have is an administration with a set of functioning balls that would step up to make a big tome hire.

We were $200 million in debt. UT WAS in a serious financial situation. People (boosters) who have the kind of $ to make these kinds of donations want to see a proven stable track record.
You can say we're UT blah blah blah all you want but that doesn't make smart people part with their $.
And it's not acting like a mid tier team or accepting mediocrity (so over played) it's living in reality.