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Message: [QUOTE="Briggsky, post: 475082, member: 2863"] UL has built new facilities for all major sports in the last ten years. In total we have spent 1.2 million on buildings in ten years. Some 300 million went to athletic facilities. Our incoming class has 70% of the students living on campus. Our expansion story started some 15 years ago by a large fund raising drive for the university of 275 million which eventually took our endowment to around a billion dollars. We had the opportunity to play in Freedom Hall which the state built on our fairgrounds. We wern't out of the top five in attendance for some 50 years. Usually top three. Freedom Hall was upgraded by the State Fair Board. Because of large shows early in the year we always ended up having to play five of our last six or games on the road. This state government is run by KY fans and they really don't care what happens to UL. UK has always gotten more money per student in spite of the fact that UL leads in Science endowments, ACT scores and has had 35 Fulbright Scholars in the last three years. We have done it mostly on our own. Our expenditures on buildings have far more than doubled the school down the road. Our latest facility the YUM center was built with commitments from our Mayor, local businesses and especially UL fans and graduates. YUM put up the first 15 million for naming rights, while the city raised taxes on downtown businesses and the state backed a 200 million bond. The majority though was put up by fans buying suites and putting up front money for tickets. Our basketball tickets have always been the highest of all schools. We've sold out season tickets every year and now have 8,300 on the waiting list. We also have to put up $200.00 to a $1,000 just for the right to buy tickets for a great number of the seats. Consequently our basketball program has brought in over 40 million for the athletic program the last two years. As long as there are sufficient seats for students I can live with that. No other program in the US comes within 15 million of that. The University is over 230 years old and we simply got tired of waiting for the state to help us. It takes a great effort from the school, the Mayor and especially the fans to get this done. Like Syracuse we were blessed with a coach who never wanted to be anywhere else for 35 years. In over 40 years we have had only two coaches. Without Tom Jurich (AD) we would still be playing at our old facilities and not bringing in some 80 million dollars. We offer 527 scholarships which is in the top 5% in terms of student athletic aid. UL has won 56 conference championships in it's short stay in the Big East. Our coaches graduate their players and do things the right way. Rick has never had a one and done player and Charlie is already a Louisvillian and will be here from now on. Although the coaches pay is stupid, you have to pay the going rate if you have one who will do the job. We can like it or not, but money drives sports and to build a program you need lots of it, but we do love our Cards. [/QUOTE]

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