2200 days of Brad Edwards

[gmubrian]

Are you guys sure you are interpreting the graphic correctly? I interpret it that we are at $885k, not $1.3M. $1.3M appears to me to be the goal.

I see the difference. Pablo was quoting numbers (in the DP thread) from last year where it hit $1.26M.

Seeing that, and this year's goal of $1.3M (a differnce of $40k), does that seem like much of a stretch goal, especially when we have brought on Darrel Green, presumably, in a fund raising capacity?

 

[MasonSAE4]

I see the difference. Pablo was quoting numbers (in the DP thread) from last year where it hit $1.26M.

Seeing that, and this year's goal of $1.3M (a differnce of $40k), does that seem like much of a stretch goal, especially when we have brought on Darrel Green, presumably, in a fund raising capacity?

He's only focused on corporate sponsors right? I don't think what he's aiming for factors into that 1.3 goal. That being said still some pretty low numbers.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Do we wait to be top 4 then build, or build then become top 4? It's the whole chicken/egg argument.

I meant top 4 facilities. Obviously you can over/underachieve relative to your facilities. I don't think building a minimalist practice facility would help us much, but I also don't think we need to get into an arms race with vcu to be competitive at the top end. Having a top 4 facility in the conference (which this likely would be) coupled with Paulsen should be enough.

 

[EXpatriot13]

The Cage Gym and the addition that they are building onto the RAC will be the practice facility. I'm pretty confident students won't be allowed to use either, as they have the rest of the RAC to use. I would also think they aren't going to be walking players through the student entrance of the RAC to get to the basketball-only area. This thread has gone off the rails.

 

[MasonSAE4]

The Cage Gym and the addition that they are building onto the RAC will be the practice facility. I'm pretty confident students won't be allowed to use either, as they have the rest of the RAC to use. I would also think they aren't going to be walking players through the student entrance of the RAC to get to the basketball-only area. This thread has gone off the rails.

They're gonna have to have a player only entrance. They wouldn't have 24/7 access otherwise. It's not like Mason is gonna let them run through an unattended RAC.

 

[Vurbel]

I meant top 4 facilities. Obviously you can over/underachieve relative to your facilities. I don't think building a minimalist practice facility would help us much, but I also don't think we need to get into an arms race with vcu to be competitive at the top end. Having a top 4 facility in the conference (which this likely would be) coupled with Paulsen should be enough.

OK. The RAC is a wonderful facility. I'm confident the cage gym will be very nice, as well. My only reservation is is it enough to get recruits away from Dayton, UMass, vcu, or Richmond.

 

[EXpatriot13]

They're gonna have to have a player only entrance. They wouldn't have 24/7 access otherwise. It's not like Mason is gonna let them run through an unattended RAC.

Exactly. I would imagine players/coaches/staff/recruits will only go through an entrance at the back of the building (the addition). Also, with the Academic Support center back there as well, that entire area will probably only be frequented by student athletes (for the most part).

 

[MasonSAE4]

OK. The RAC is a wonderful facility. I'm confident the cage gym will be very nice, as well. My only reservation is is it enough to get recruits away from Dayton, UMass, vcu, or Richmond.

Haven't seen Dayton or Richmond's so I can't speak to those. Obviously vcu and UMass have the gold standard. I think that while ours may not overtake any of the ones you mentioned (maybe Richmond or Dayton I guess), it'll push the practice facility question in recruits mind way down the list of concerns for them. If they were 60/40 leaning our way over vcu but then saw vcu's palace and our complete lack of a facility I could see them switching. But with this new RAC extension I think those concerns become much less.

Call me crazy but I always thought the game day experience would factor in way more. I'd be more inclined to think a new or massively renovated EBA would be more of a draw than a practice facility.

 

[Vurbel]

Haven't seen Dayton or Richmond's so I can't speak to those. Obviously vcu and UMass have the gold standard. I think that while ours may not overtake any of the ones you mentioned (maybe Richmond or Dayton I guess), it'll push the practice facility question in recruits mind way down the list of concerns for them. If they were 60/40 leaning our way over vcu but then saw vcu's palace and our complete lack of a facility I could see them switching. But with this new RAC extension I think those concerns become much less.

Call me crazy but I always thought the game day experience would factor in way more. I'd be more inclined to think a new or massively renovated EBA would be more of a draw than a practice facility.

I misspoke on Richmond. My fault. Dayton's is more for all sports, but is very nice.

 

[Falco]

Are you guys sure you are interpreting the graphic correctly? I interpret it that we are at $885k, not $1.3M. $1.3M appears to me to be the goal.

I interpret that we are at 885k as well.

 

[Falco]

OK. The RAC is a wonderful facility. I'm confident the cage gym will be very nice, as well. My only reservation is is it enough to get recruits away from Dayton, UMass, vcu, or Richmond.

Are we competing with those schools anyway for the same players. Paulsen has said on numerous occasions that he looking for players Mason's backyard as well as players across the country.

 

[99 Patriot]

Fundraising year ends 6/30. So where they are to the goal makes sense.

I don't know whether donations for the facility are part of this $885k or if that's a separate pot.

 

[Pablo]

I see the difference. Pablo was quoting numbers (in the DP thread) from last year where it hit $1.26M.

Seeing that, and this year's goal of $1.3M (a differnce of $40k), does that seem like much of a stretch goal, especially when we have brought on Darrel Green, presumably, in a fund raising capacity?

You are correct! While I believe that the renovation of the Cage Gym and the RAC addition as planned will provide an excellent basketball practice facility, there is still the funding issue that must be appropriately addressed. One poster has said that Edwards has indicated the renovation of the Cage Gym will commence this summer. So, I'm assuming that he is confident he will have the required $1 million for Phase 1 and a viable plan to fund Phase 2.

But, what happens if the requisite fundraising is unsuccessful? IMO, he must be held accountable for the success of this project.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Paulsen has said on numerous occasions that he looking for players Mason's backyard as well as players across the country.

So literally everywhere? Not that far from here to Richmond. A player can easily be in both of our "back yards" so to speak.

Not saying everyone looking into one school in the A10 will look into all of them but I bet a lot look into multiple schools. I think at the end of the day a lot plays into these kids minds. I think most know they won't go into the NBA so the campus itself plays a large roll. Mason improving in other areas will also be a boost.

 

[GSII]

When do we find out what Darrel Green has raised?

 

[MasonFanatic]

Probably my biggest fear, and I hope I am wrong on this, is that after a year or two, Mason does another Mason like thing and decides it is too hard/costly/risky/unfair to let the players have 24/7 access to a shared facility. Then they start scaling back the access, little by little.

I don't think this will happen, because almost the first thing Edwards and Paulsen say when discussing facilities is the need for 24/7 access to a gym. I've heard it maybe half a dozen times in the last year+.

 

[MasonFanatic]

In hindsight, I guess we should have built the basketball practice facility instead of a hotel years ago.

THIS! So much this. I think we can all agree on this one.

 

[gmujim92]

If we add up all the money we have spent on academic buildings just since the first mention of a basketball practice facility, I'm pretty sure I will want to vomit.

It has never been about whether Mason has the funds to do this or that. Walk around campus and all you see is money. It's about priorities and basketball has always been way down the list.

As much as I loathe vcu, I can at least respect that they know what they're good at -- arts, medicine and basketball -- and they're not ashamed to play to those strengths.

vcu used about $10M in student fees to complete the funding for their basketball facility. If Edwards had that luxury, he would already be at least 2/3 of the way home to funding ours.

But we all know that would never fly at Mason.

 

[MasonSAE4]

If we add up all the money we have spent on academic buildings just since the first mention of a basketball practice facility, I'm pretty sure I will want to vomit.

The state funds academic buildings. We've gotten a few million from private donors for a few specific ones but 90% of new academic construction is state funding.

Student fee's I'm with you on though. Cut tennis, golf, cross country and use that money on the basketball program. I'm not sure if the new VA law prohibits using more money on athletics, or simply using a higher percentage. I'm assuming as Mason's debt service payments lower from the construction boom that we could shift some of that over. Helpful chart here:

http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/AuxiliaryStudentFee.pdf

 

[GSII]

Why does EBA get a cut of the auxiliary service fee? That place makes enough.