Facilities

[Finwad32]

There's been much debate over our facilities in the past and how it relates to recruiting. I was at a function with an old SU staff member tonight. He was mainly a pasqualoni guy with 1 year under GRob. He said he would go to Texas High Schools and they would have comparable to better facilities at the high school level. There were many years where we had more than an uphill battle according to him. Just throwing this out there from what I heard.

 

[Finwad32]

There's been much debate over our facilities in the past and how it relates to recruiting. I was at a function with an old SU staff member tonight. He was mainly a pasqualoni guy with 1 year under GRob. He said he would go to Texas High Schools and they would have comparable to better facilities at the high school level. There were many years where we had more than an uphill battle according to him. Just throwing this out there from what I heard.

Obviously much better now, just thought it was interesting.

 

[Scooch]

There's been much debate over our facilities in the past and how it relates to recruiting. I was at a function with an old SU staff member tonight. He was mainly a pasqualoni guy with 1 year under GRob. He said he would go to Texas High Schools and they would have comparable to better facilities at the high school level. There were many years where we had more than an uphill battle according to him. Just throwing this out there from what I heard.

I'm not sure if that illustrates how SU's facilities were lousy, or how totally insane Texas is.

Both, I think.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I'm not sure if that illustrates how SU's facilities were lousy, or how totally insane Texas is.

Both, I think.

Exactly. It's both but at the same time, if you are going to play BCS football you at least need to have facilities comparable your peer programs, I think after the IPF and the dome locker rooms are renovated we will be close enough FOR NOW. Like I said, it's like selling Gordon Gecko's cell phone versus an I Phone 5S. I don't care how good your relationships are or how great a salesman you are but if I was recruiting for SU 7-8 years ago I would have kept the car running when I went into these schools because you ain't going to be there long.

Selling an inferior product and knowing that it is.. nothing more frustrating. Tough to go to work everyday. I am sure they hated recruiting

 

[oldpinepoint]

Are the done locker rooms being redone?

 

[TexanMark]

I'm not sure if that illustrates how SU's facilities were lousy, or how totally insane Texas is.

Both, I think.

There are some high schools in TX with enclosed practice facilities...most are half fields but still, insane.

 

[FAL]

There are some high schools in TX with enclosed practice facilities...most are half fields but still, insane.

I wonder how many Federal tax dollars were spent in building some of those facilities? Better use of Fed money than feeding/helping the poor, I guess.

 

[Moontan]

There are some high schools in TX with enclosed practice facilities...most are half fields but still, insane.

I remember when I lived in TX that the Cowboys had to practice at Southlake's facility.

 

[GoSU96]

I wonder how many Federal tax dollars were spent in building some of those facilities? Better use of Fed money than feeding/helping the poor, I guess.

My guess would be Zero.

 

[Crusty]

My guess would be Zero.

Money is fungible so my guess is that a lot of fed $ indirectly wound up there.

 

[Moontan]

Money is fungible so my guess is that a lot of fed $ indirectly wound up there.

The football upgrades are paid for by way of temporary property tax increases.

 

[sufandu]

I wonder how many Federal tax dollars were spent in building some of those facilities? Better use of Fed money than feeding/helping the poor, I guess.

Probably boosters. In Tennessee we're nowhere near as insane as Texas, but adults still talk about high school football, and donate to it like it's college.

 

[Crusty]

The football upgrades are paid for by way of temporary property tax increases.

That is the point, communities can get fed funds for academic buildings which allows them to use property tax funds for football facilities and the like instead of academic facilities.

 

[GoSU96]

That is the point, communities can get fed funds for academic buildings which allows them to use property tax funds for football facilities and the like instead of academic facilities.

That assumes they need to build academic buildings, why make that assumption.

The original post made an assumption that federal dollars were going to build football facilities in Texas than feeding the poor.

That's just not the case.

 

[Crusty]

That assumes they need to build academic buildings, why make that assumption.

The original post made an assumption that federal dollars were going to build football facilities in Texas than feeding the poor.

That's just not the case.

I think the point that was being made is that resources are finite and that building football facilities is a poor choice compared to many other community needs. Money is fungible so all resources and expenditures should be viewed in their totality. Communities have only so many tax dollars available and so many federal grants available.

If local tax dollars/resources are squandered on frivolous things like unnecessary football facilities that says a lot about the community.

 

[cuseinchina]

I think the point that was being made is that resources are finite and that building football facilities is a poor choice compared to many other community needs. Money is fungible so all resources and expenditures should be viewed in their totality. Communities have only so many tax dollars available and so many federal grants available.

If local tax dollars/resources are squandered on frivolous things like unnecessary football facilities that says a lot about the community.

All it says about the community is that they like, take pride in, and want to support local football and view it as something that brings the town together. Texas is not like syracuse with its shrinking tax base, departing businesses, and high unemployment. It is exactly The opposite dynamic at play there.

 

[Crusty]

All it says about the community is that they like, take pride in, and want to support local football and view it as something that brings the town together. Texas is not like syracuse with its shrinking tax base, departing businesses, and high unemployment. It is exactly The opposite dynamic at play there.

Sorry, but it says what the communities priorities are - just no escaping that.

 

[Moontan]

Sorry, but it says what the communities priorities are - just no escaping that.

Yup.

It says that they enjoy HS football and are willing to support that financially.

Nothing wrong with that.

You make it sound like it's "wrong" to do so. It's their discretionary income. They still donate to charities, etc..

I suspect there are others who might think that you're not making the best choices in how you spend your money. But, you know what? It's none of their business.

If people aren't into HS football they could choose to live in another town/city/state or they could choose to lead the opposition come ballot time, etc..

Similarly, if I don't like crowds, noise or loud music then I wouldn't choose to live near an amphitheater nor a shopping mall or airport.

 

[Crusty]

Yup.

It says that they enjoy HS football and are willing to support that financially.

Nothing wrong with that.

You make it sound like it's "wrong" to do so. It's their discretionary income. They still donate to charities, etc..

I suspect there are others who might think that you're not making the best choices in how you spend your money. But, you know what? It's none of their business.

If people aren't into HS football they could choose to live in another town/city/state or they could choose to lead the opposition come ballot time, etc..

Similarly, if I don't like crowds, noise or loud music then I wouldn't choose to live near an amphitheater nor a shopping mall or airport.

Actually, I agree with most of that. I just think it is important to make it clear that it is a decision that community leaders make that reflects their priorities. It is not surprising that many Texas communities chose football as one of their top priorities.