A few thoughts on President Curtis

[Jason Svoboda]

Also, since this thread is focused solely on football, I'm going to go back to what I say all the time.

It's time for the football alumni to put up or shut up. Start putting up REAL DONATIONS and get involved in building the program. There is not a single sport that has more alumni than the football program with its 80-120 players per season. Yet, like I point out every time when we start talking about money, very few alumni can be found on the Foundation's donation roster. Before one person tries to point the finger at the Foundation, SAF or whatever... DON'T. You shouldn't need someone to call, stroke your ego, and beg for money.

If the guys that put their blood, sweat and tears into the program as a player don't have enough pride to make contributions and get involved, why in the hell would regular alumni let alone fans that may not have allegiance to the University?

Until those football alumni step up and lead the charge, a new stadium is pure fantasy.

 

[niklz62]

Honestly, I don't.

I think the for the long term viability of the program, you need someone that wins just over .500 and has the occasional magic season. Personally, I'm resigned to the fact that it may be the program's ceiling. Going 5-6, 6-5 and then dropping a 9 win season in every 3rd year or being 7-4 but getting bounced in the first/second round of the playoffs. Do that for a decade and I think you may have enough of a base.

The constant turnover has to stop.

With the FCS landscape and our location in it I agree with that. I compare it to what I think my local U of Illinois fans should be happy with. some of our/their opponents are playing with different realities.

 

[bent20]

Honestly, I don't.

I think the for the long term viability of the program, you need someone that wins just over .500 and has the occasional magic season. Personally, I'm resigned to the fact that it may be the program's ceiling. Going 5-6, 6-5 and then dropping a 9 win season in every 3rd year or being 7-4 but getting bounced in the first/second round of the playoffs. Do that for a decade and I think you may have enough of a base.

The constant turnover has to stop.

What you're describing is what Illinois State has achieved. I'd be more than happy with that, and I think it's also the best we could ever hope for.

 

[#33]

Also, since this thread is focused solely on football, I'm going to go back to what I say all the time.

It's time for the football alumni to put up or shut up. Start putting up REAL DONATIONS and get involved in building the program. There is not a single sport that has more alumni than the football program with its 80-120 players per season. Yet, like I point out every time when we start talking about money, very few alumni can be found on the Foundation's donation roster. Before one person tries to point the finger at the Foundation, SAF or whatever... DON'T. You shouldn't need someone to call, stroke your ego, and beg for money.

If the guys that put their blood, sweat and tears into the program as a player don't have enough pride to make contributions and get involved, why in the hell would regular alumni let alone fans that may not have allegiance to the University?

Until those football alumni step up and lead the charge, a new stadium is pure fantasy.

Good posting!!! Isn't that something Tom James should be working on??? I suggest Tom or whoever should reach out to another FCS program that currently has an affective fund raising program with former football players for advice. Speaking of Tom James, Mark Golden and Luke Martin, it would be nice for them to participate on this website, I'm sure they could contribute quite well becasue of how they are connected.

 

[TreeTop]

Good posting!!! Isn't that something Tom James should be working on??? I suggest Tom or whoever should reach out to another FCS program that currently has an affective fund raising program with former football players for advice. Speaking of Tom James, Mark Golden and Luke Martin, it would be nice for them to participate on this website, I'm sure they could contribute quite well becasue of how they are connected.

Fun side note, Tom James recently became a Great Grandfather.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Good posting!!! Isn't that something Tom James should be working on??? I suggest Tom or whoever should reach out to another FCS program that currently has an affective fund raising program with former football players for advice. Speaking of Tom James, Mark Golden and Luke Martin, it would be nice for them to participate on this website, I'm sure they could contribute quite well becasue of how they are connected.

This kind of ties into my point... I don't think it will ever materialize.

Tom has been doing an email newsletter for years contacting football alumni with everything and anything program related trying to rally them. The fact that someone that absolutely bleeds Sycamore football and devotes endless amount of time to the cause can't stir feelings in those guys to open their wallets, I don't think it can be done. Tom is basically the living historian of Sycamore football.

On a side note, he used to post it here but Todd Golden forced him to quit. So reach out to Todd.

 

[Gotta Hav]

First time reader of this thread...it's got a lot of 60's Batman in it! WHAM! BIFF! POW! oH and one EAT SHIT! LOL!!!!!!

The real weird thing was the out-of-the-BLUE, blindside hit in just the 3rd post on ole Bankshot, and bringing Christianity into this. Okay, just kidding on the latter...

"Lord help us all if you end up a poor, sad BS who NEVER has a positive thing to say." Bally #50 2/7/18

I understand the discourse on here, it's fun, it can get smart alec, smart ass, and hard hitting.....but not letting them have some skin in the game first is probably breaking an unwritten SP Code of Conduct Rule...at least let poor, sad and negative Bank have a post in the topic first, then go. And probably the personal view of BS doesn't do a bit of service for his overall body-of-work on SP.

BS starts about as many threads on here as anyone. He keeps the conversation going, he provides data, information and hotlinks to topics...and if you didn't read his detailed write ups about last years baseball season, you were missing some really good reporting. BS may be annoying to some on here, but without him and some others, whatcha got... Bally World with Clark Griswold?

 

[Sycamorefan96]

Maybe I'm missing something, but Southern Illinois built their new stadium for 25 Million. I'm not sure why we couldn't do the same thing. I'd honestly rather see a new stadium on campus than a massive renovation of the Hulman Center.

 

[niklz62]

Maybe I'm missing something, but Southern Illinois built their new stadium for 25 Million. I'm not sure why we couldn't do the same thing. I'd honestly rather see a new stadium on campus than a massive renovation of the Hulman Center.

I think the main issue with Hulman Center is that it is about to fall down. As bad as Memorial Stadium is, I dont think its in that shape.

I think Illinois State just build the home side of their stadium which was a parking lot and wooden bleachers prior for $20M

 

[4Q_iu]

Aren't we the smallest market ( media-wise ) in the MVFC? Pretty sure we have one of the smallest football budgers in the conference as well.

I don't think ANY successful FCS football team has a Div II; Pioneer Football League budget.

Hopefully Dr Curtis has some magical fund-raising capabilities

 

[niklz62]

Aren't we the smallest market ( media-wise ) in the MVFC? Pretty sure we have one of the smallest football budgers in the conference as well.

I don't think ANY successful FCS football team has a Div II; Pioneer Football League budget.

Hopefully Dr Curtis has some magical fund-raising capabilities

I think the budget is now one of the larger in the conference. Im not sure how our budget actually compares to other schools. For example, doe our budget include replacing the lights and or turf. Are these included in the other teams in the conference.

 

[WOZ]

I think the budget is now one of the larger in the conference. Im not sure how our budget actually compares to other schools. For example, doe our budget include replacing the lights and or turf. Are these included in the other teams in the conference.

Not sure if you’re mixing oranges with apples. Usually you have a capital budget and an operating budget. Lights and turf should be coming out of a capital budget, as opposed ,for example, recruiting coming out of the operating budget.