The Tub (UD) Expansion Drawings

[00bluehen]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... 07/6160332" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ho hum...more of the same. Kudos to KT for getting to the meat of the story--namely, is this pure BS or an actual move forward. Unfortunately for UD fans, we've seen this song-n-dance before.

Like I said--I'll believe it when I see something more tangible than watercolors released at an alumni function to encourage wallet opening.

[bluehenbillk]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... 07/6160332

Ho hum...more of the same. Kudos to KT for getting to the meat of the story--namely, is this pure BS or an actual move forward. Unfortunately for UD fans, we've seen this song-n-dance before.

Like I said--I'll believe it when I see something more tangible than watercolors released at an alumni function to encourage wallet opening.

KT must really miss gohens as the story is a week and a half old now. I agree though I'm disappointed with Muir's comments, not only backing off, but practically turning & running the other way, calling it "conceptual" and not changing their tune about being in the fundraising portion of the effort. You'd think they could at least say the fundraising is going well, going better or worse than expected, as expected, something. When they announce groundbreaking and/or completion dates I'll be very enthusiastic.

[HenZoneNation]

I got the same tone from the article...It really is ashame and I think it does more harm than good...here's what you could have...we can't do it...but you could have it some day.

[00bluehen]

To successfully explain "vision" in an interview with the UD BOTs, I'd imagine you don't have to do anything more than give the same answers Private Miller gives regarding "Item 9" at the beginning of Pineapple Express.

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They should just use that high hat/trumpet ditty in their responses to KT, as opposed to their incessant and embarrassing backpedaling.

[GannonFan]

Eh, I think you're being too pessimistic - they know what they want to do, they just need to raise the money to do it, and the football stadium is second in line to the improvements that they are making to the Bob (and the groundbreaking for that part is going to happen this year). Sure, it's the same message they said before about this, but I don't see that as a negative. They need to have the money to do this and they don't have it yet - no shame in that. I'm encouraged that they stated a vision for the Bob and they are indeed moving ahead with that. That's still something like $10M for that (not chump change) and they are getting it done, so I think this does represent a change from the inaction at the end of the prior President and AD. I think you guys are still too affected by the end of the Roselle/Edgar run to see that there's new energy and ambition in those roles now.

[93henfan]

GF is right. You guys are reading into this way too much. How many years under EJ did we wait for something, anything regarding facilities improvements? Now you have Muir, less than a year on the job, with ground being broken on BCC expansion, a new FieldTurf surface in the Tub, plans for an athletic performance center and stadium expansion. I understand the hangover of pessimism from the EJ days, but can't you see that things are starting to happen, and during a recession no less?

[HenZoneNation]

I hope you guys are right...I was super amped about this...was anyone at the presentation that Muir gave? Let's hope this happens.

[GannonFan]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... 07/6160332

Ho hum...more of the same. Kudos to KT for getting to the meat of the story--namely, is this pure BS or an actual move forward. Unfortunately for UD fans, we've seen this song-n-dance before.

Like I said--I'll believe it when I see something more tangible than watercolors released at an alumni function to encourage wallet opening.

KT must really miss gohens as the story is a week and a half old now. I agree though I'm disappointed with Muir's comments, not only backing off, but practically turning & running the other way, calling it "conceptual" and not changing their tune about being in the fundraising portion of the effort. You'd think they could at least say the fundraising is going well, going better or worse than expected, as expected, something. When they announce groundbreaking and/or completion dates I'll be very enthusiastic.

Yeah, poor KT - someone should point him to one of these messageboards so that he can stay on top of Hens-related news. Odd though, because I thought henfan knew KT and henfan was the one who found this story last week.

[bluehenbillk]

Yeah, poor KT - someone should point him to one of these messageboards so that he can stay on top of Hens-related news. Odd though, because I thought henfan knew KT and henfan was the one who found this story last week.

He must just call henfan when he needs some quotes for his stories.

[Bluehen05]

I was personally hoping for a reverse of the execution of these plans. Football (and performance center) before BBall - especially with the lack of production recently. Hell Lax would benefit from the football expansion by possibly getting a quarter final bid in the near future and let's be honest, they are our 2nd flagship program in recent years over BBall.

That said, the ground breaking on the BBall is promising that they are serious and much less complex that the other plans so it makes sense to start there. They actually seem to have moved quickly and quietly under the radar with those plans. Hopefully the Football renny's will be quick to follow and all hush-hush is just modesty on their part. To me, Muir seems to be chomping at the bit to help UD athletics. First the cosmetic improvements to the Tub, feeling out the fans at forums, new turf, bringing lax into the tub... its just a matter of time until he gets the 'golden egg' of the stadium so to speak.

[00bluehen]

Few retorts:

GF - Don't confuse pessimism and realism. I feel like I'm being realistic here. And I base that on the fact that the UD HAS led us down this road before. I'm at the point that I won't believe it until I see it, and justifiably so. Yes, there's new blood in the old roles, but the BOT still rules the roost...and until they approve this, it's same ol' to me.

93 - There are no plans for the stadium OR APC. Muir said as much in the article. Everything is a "conceptual" desire at this point. Yes, it's more than Roselle/EJ gave the public as far as stadia upgrades, but I remain convinced they're just doing this to up donations. I am not convinced that they're at all serious about bringing the stadium you see in the drawings to life.

To All - check out the comments now posted at the end of the article. You think I'm being overly pessimistic? Our favorite contrarian/AD grade reporter/spicy mustard seeker has weighed in with his thoughts!

[GannonFan]

Few retorts:

GF - Don't confuse pessimism and realism. I feel like I'm being realistic here. And I base that on the fact that the UD HAS led us down this road before. I'm at the point that I won't believe it until I see it, and justifiably so. Yes, there's new blood in the old roles, but the BOT still rules the roost...and until they approve this, it's same ol' to me.

93 - There are no plans for the stadium OR APC. Muir said as much in the article. Everything is a "conceptual" desire at this point. Yes, it's more than Roselle/EJ gave the public as far as stadia upgrades, but I remain convinced they're just doing this to up donations. I am not convinced that they're at all serious about bringing the stadium you see in the drawings to life.

To All - check out the comments now posted at the end of the article. You think I'm being overly pessimistic? Our favorite contrarian/AD grade reporter/spicy mustard seeker has weighed in with his thoughts!

I don't see the BOT angle in this - if Muir and Harker find the funding, the BOT will say yes. The BOT may get overly involved in hiring decisions, but I've yet to see an example of when they had money in hand and decided to turn it away. I mean, they're spending $10M or more on the renovations/expansion of the Bob - that's like the ugly stepchild to the football program - if they'll sign off on $10M for that then spending 4-5x (or more) that on the football part isn't unrealistic. If the funding materializes, this will get built.

Yes, I miss BHB - I love how he's nitpicking on the apparent dimensions of a conceptual drawing in his comments. No spicy mustard comments yet but give him time.

[bluehenbillk]

93 - There are no plans for the stadium OR APC. Muir said as much in the article. Everything is a "conceptual" desire at this point. Yes, it's more than Roselle/EJ gave the public as far as stadia upgrades, but I remain convinced they're just doing this to up donations. I am not convinced that they're at all serious about bringing the stadium you see in the drawings to life.

To All - check out the comments now posted at the end of the article. You think I'm being overly pessimistic? Our favorite contrarian/AD grade reporter/spicy mustard seeker has weighed in with his thoughts!

00- Good call on Mr. Spicy Mustard himself never missing a chance to throw his 2 cents in there, glass half-empty as usual. I still remember him religiously calling into the old Tubby show on WDEL every week, always the 1st caller.

In terms of there being no plans, I disagree. I talked to Muir personally at a town hall & I don't have any reason to doubt him saying there is a plan. In terms of throwing this out there to drum up donations, they've consistently said, whether it's a good or bad thing that regular UDAF contributions aren't for this kinda project. He's said that any capital projects, namely a stadium will come from "large donors". Of course, it would only help to put a carrot out there for the UDAF crowd to have drawings of a new or renovated FB stadium that say groundbreaking in 2011, 1st game in new stadium September of '13 or '14. But that would require marketing saavy.....

[State Line Liquors]

But Muir cautioned that Delaware is still in the fundraising stage of the project and no actual plans, costs or timetables have been formulated.
"We're not there yet," he said.

Period. Point blank. End of story.

Good work by Tresolini though, getting to the meat and potatoes.

[00bluehen]

Thanks, State Line. I knew I wasn't making it up...you always were my favorite liquor store.

I believe you spoke with him, Bill, but if he told you there were plans, the article says pretty clearly that there's not. So, here we go again--getting two different stories from the same people.

Maybe the BOT angle is more out of frustration than anything else, but the organization that is the UD has left me little recourse but to doubt their every move anymore...regardless of the faces that grace it.

[bluehenbillk]

Guess it could all matter how one defines "plans".

[Observer2]

But Muir cautioned that Delaware is still in the fundraising stage of the project and no actual plans, costs or timetables have been formulated.
"We're not there yet," he said.

Period. Point blank. End of story.

Good work by Tresolini though, getting to the meat and potatoes.

I like the title of the story: "UD unveils sketch of new stadium"

If JFK had ceremoniously unveiled a sketch of the rocket that would send men to the moon, but no actual plans, costs or timetables, do you think the world would have ever heard of Neal Armstrong?

Sorry, that was unfair, as that was rocket science.

[State Line Liquors]

Period. Point blank. End of story.

Good work by Tresolini though, getting to the meat and potatoes.

I like the title of the story: "UD unveils sketch of new stadium"

If JFK had ceremoniously unveiled a sketch of the rocket that would send men to the moon, but no actual plans, costs or timetables, do you think the world would have ever heard of Neal Armstrong?

Sorry, that was unfair, as that was rocket science.

I agree with your humor here. And you're right, there's no reason for us to be mean-spirited about it since it's the school we love, but the review article didn't pass the smell test, and thanks to KT's article, we can officially put this portion of the construction project plans to bed for now.

Good for Muir, etc for at least getting some things done for the basketball arena/volleyball facility improvements. It's just unfortunate that regardless of what we do with the basketball arena, we'll still have an incompetent men's coach who has a contract that financially binds us for too long a time (Thank you Mrs. Johnson).

Muir's still on the plus side in my book. I have faith that he'll eventually get things done, or at least has us headed on the right path, though the stadium additions I'm sure are alot further away than I'd like. He made a good decision this year with the new sports marketing and radio contract. ISP is going to be good for us. If not the football stadium addition, hopefully Monte's ouster will be the next spark to our athletics department.

[93henfan]

Would HensRock puhleeeeeze just open GoHens back up again?

[Observer2]

I like the title of the story: "UD unveils sketch of new stadium"

If JFK had ceremoniously unveiled a sketch of the rocket that would send men to the moon, but no actual plans, costs or timetables, do you think the world would have ever heard of Neal Armstrong?

Sorry, that was unfair, as that was rocket science.

I agree with your humor here. And you're right, there's no reason for us to be mean-spirited about it since it's the school we love, but the review article didn't pass the smell test, and thanks to KT's article, we can officially put this portion of the construction project plans to bed for now.

Good for Muir, etc for at least getting some things done for the basketball arena/volleyball facility improvements. It's just unfortunate that regardless of what we do with the basketball arena, we'll still have an incompetent men's coach who has a contract that financially binds us for too long a time (Thank you Mrs. Johnson).

Muir's still on the plus side in my book. I have faith that he'll eventually get things done, or at least has us headed on the right path, though the stadium additions I'm sure are alot further away than I'd like. He made a good decision this year with the new sports marketing and radio contract. ISP is going to be good for us. If not the football stadium addition, hopefully Monte's ouster will be the next spark to our athletics department.

Small correction here: The basketball coach's contract was extended by the current university president.

[GannonFan]

I like the title of the story: "UD unveils sketch of new stadium"

If JFK had ceremoniously unveiled a sketch of the rocket that would send men to the moon, but no actual plans, costs or timetables, do you think the world would have ever heard of Neal Armstrong?

Sorry, that was unfair, as that was rocket science.

I agree with your humor here. And you're right, there's no reason for us to be mean-spirited about it since it's the school we love, but the review article didn't pass the smell test, and thanks to KT's article, we can officially put this portion of the construction project plans to bed for now.

Good for Muir, etc for at least getting some things done for the basketball arena/volleyball facility improvements. It's just unfortunate that regardless of what we do with the basketball arena, we'll still have an incompetent men's coach who has a contract that financially binds us for too long a time (Thank you Mrs. Johnson).

Muir's still on the plus side in my book. I have faith that he'll eventually get things done, or at least has us headed on the right path, though the stadium additions I'm sure are alot further away than I'd like. He made a good decision this year with the new sports marketing and radio contract. ISP is going to be good for us. If not the football stadium addition, hopefully Monte's ouster will be the next spark to our athletics department.

I guess I just don't get it. You guys pooh-pooh the University spending more than $10M on the Bob renovations as not really noteworthy, simply because it's not the football stadium. Regardless of what you think about Harker, there's no denying that he's got an energetic AD in place who has so far done everything he said he was going to do. And this in the span of almost a year (I think Edgar officially left last June). I understand the frustration that was left over from a good decade or more of just stagnation coming from Edgar, but let's give some credit where credit is due.

Muir came in during the summer and he spruced up the Tub with all the different banners and signs - I know, not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but he only had a month or two to do it and it got done, and we had years and years before that to do the same and never did. Half a year into his tenure we put Field Turf down on the football field and got lacrosse into the stadium in time for their season. Still less than a year in he's got significant plans to renovate the Bob, helping both the the basketball programs as well as the volleyball team. They've managed to start the process of increasing the ridiculously low student activity fees and they're renovating Frasier Field over the summer to include Field Turf fields. Heck, I don't think anyone's improved anything there in decades.

As for the football field, yeah, it's a drawing, but what's the point of spending money on real engineering plans if you don't have the money yet. They've said what they wanted to do, they've shown us what they want the place to look like, and they're trying to find the deep pockets to pay for it. If Muir hadn't done anything since he came on board I'd be skeptical, but he's been a pretty busy and effective AD for less than a year. Until I see him not come through on something he's promised, I'll be giving him the benefit of the doubt. It's definitely not the same old same old at UD and the AD's office anymore and that can only be a positive thing going forward. Buck up, Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Bluehen05]

Another really great gesture and way to connect from Muir to the fans has been the FREE streaming of all sports with heavy interest. As an out of towner, this is probably my favorite aspect. Not to mention the production quality is best in class and I've watched my fair share of video streams from other 1AA and 1A schools.

[ChickenMan]

Few retorts:

GF - Don't confuse pessimism and realism. I feel like I'm being realistic here. And I base that on the fact that the UD HAS led us down this road before. I'm at the point that I won't believe it until I see it, and justifiably so. Yes, there's new blood in the old roles, but the BOT still rules the roost...and until they approve this, it's same ol' to me.

93 - There are no plans for the stadium OR APC. Muir said as much in the article. Everything is a "conceptual" desire at this point. Yes, it's more than Roselle/EJ gave the public as far as stadia upgrades, but I remain convinced they're just doing this to up donations. I am not convinced that they're at all serious about bringing the stadium you see in the drawings to life.

To All - check out the comments now posted at the end of the article. You think I'm being overly pessimistic? Our favorite contrarian/AD grade reporter/spicy mustard seeker has weighed in with his thoughts!

I totally agree.. until there are some FIRM plans and DATES in place to actually begin these proposed projects I will remain unimpressed.

[State Line Liquors]

Good for Muir, etc for at least getting some things done for the basketball arena/volleyball facility improvements...


I have faith that he'll eventually get things done, or at least has us headed on the right path, though the stadium additions I'm sure are alot further away than I'd like. He made a good decision this year with the new sports marketing and radio contract. ISP is going to be good for us. If not the football stadium addition, hopefully Monte's ouster will be the next spark to our athletics department.

I understand the frustration that was left over from a good decade or more of just stagnation coming from Edgar, but let's give some credit where credit is due.

Maybe I'm the one that's confused. No credit given by me? I'm pretty sure I identified 2 items he did and gave him credit for both of them. You identified the turf, which was a sensible move, the banners which are a nice touch up, and BlueHen05 mentioned the streaming video that I don't take advantage of.

Muir has done good things, which is why I said I have faith in him. I think the premise of my point about the football stadium renovations (and perhaps 00bh's as well) is that this press release and the drawings are not something we should be getting excited about at this time based upon the information Muir himself provided.

Additionally, I'd be a COMPLETE liar if I didn't say that I am far and away more interested in any proposed renovations/additions to the football stadium than any other facility enhancements that would take place on South Campus. Let's face it: Basketball and Volleyball are not the reason we spend too much time on college athletics messageboards. Football is reason #1, #1a, #1b, #2, #3, and so on... The volleyball ladies are fun to look at for several testoterone heavy reasons, and it looks like the women's bball program is on the rise, but men's basketball has a long way to go before I'll do anything other than pooh-pooh them.

[foghorn]

Chicken man:

I totally agree.. until there are some FIRM plans and DATES in place to actually begin these proposed projects I will remain unimpressed.

Don't understand the logic of this, Should UD then put the cart before the proverbial horse? How in the world can 'firm' dates be put in place if there aren't yet enough funds to pay for it. Man, if UD did this and wasn't able to realize the necessary funds, then the crap would really fly from all the skeptics. UD is taking the prudent and correct path with this. Delaware stadium and the majority of UD's athletic infrastructure was built via the philanthropic deeds of Robert Carpenter, Jr. There's a reason why his name is on several structures. Unfortunately, UD fans have been spoiled throughout the years, by not having to pay the burden of the then 'top of the class' facilities. Now, it's time to pay up or shut up.
Two months after Harker took over as president, he was the guest speaker at a 'huddle'. It was here that he shared some of his thoughts on football facility improvements. He told us that a new scoreboard would be installed and it was; he told us that field turf would be installed and that the Tub would also be used for soccer, and both happened; he mentioned basketball court expansion and ground has been broken. It should be mentioned that when he said this Muir was not yet hired, so I get a feeling that Harker's calling the shots. I didn't hear Harker, himself, say anything about stadium expansion but I'd assume Muir wouldn't say anything to contradict Harker.
Muir has made it a point to say that the drawings are, indeed, only conceptual and not a firm commitment, which, IMO, only makes sense. At least we know that the administration is more than just aware of what is needed and given Harker's record so far in making things happen, I see no reason to believe it won't. It's a matter of when. Ruly, we need a building with your name on it.