Q&A with Coach Hewitt?

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

They are getting done...slowly but they are getting down: field house, RAC, aquatics facility, Pat Dome, Soccer stadium/track (2016), etc. How much do you want them to invest in athletics? By my count they've done about 50 to 60 million since 2007 with plans for about 15 million more planned in the next two years (not counting the baseball stadium).

Those academic and residential building upgrades were also long outstanding it's not like they just turned around and designed and built those things in a matter of a few months, they were years in the making and in many cases like Volgenau and the telescope, were financed by large private donations. If a baseball alumnus wants to come and fund a sweet new stadium, I'm sure we'd find a way to accommodate them.

Where is Kong and President Hammer when you need them? You take PH's beer tab the last year and donate that and you're halfway there. Meanwhile Kong drives around in a sweet new McKay SUV while the program suffers...

 

[Cool Disco Dan]

Here is a comparison of athletic expenses for 2006 vs 2013 - based on what the state Auditor of Public Accounts reported http://www.apa.virginia.gov/APA_Reports/Reports.aspx

Athletic Student Aid: $2.8M to $4.8M
Coaching Salaries: $2.5M to $3.9M
Support/Admin Salaries: $2.7M to $4.1M
Recruiting: $215K to $305K
Travel: $1.5M to $2.3M
Equipment: $437K to $787K
Game Expenses: $524K to $745K
Fundraising/Marketing: $592K to $1.4M
Indirect facilities and admin support: $615K to $1.4M
Medical: $126K to $153K
Membership and Dues: $90K to $1.4M (I assume this includes the $1M exit fee from the CAA)

On the revenue side, contributions and sponsorships/ads, when taken together, has steadily climbed by about $200K per year.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Legit question here: Do we own the Pat Dome? I recall someone saying it might be owned by Monumental? If we do own it, I don't understand why we should have to pay the full bill for redoing it. Seeing as all the events that are held there that benefit the Fairfax and surrounding communities, I would think those municipalities should be force to chip in. No way the school should have to pay for all of that considering the majority of the wear and tear on the place is due to outside events.

 

[masonjoe]

GMU owns its, monumental manages it

 

[Patriotfan49]

They are getting done...slowly but they are getting down: field house, RAC, aquatics facility, Pat Dome, Soccer stadium/track (2016), etc. How much do you want them to invest in athletics? By my count they've done about 50 to 60 million since 2007 with plans for about 15 million more planned in the next two years (not counting the baseball stadium).

Those academic and residential building upgrades were also long outstanding it's not like they just turned around and designed and built those things in a matter of a few months, they were years in the making and in many cases like Volgenau and the telescope, were financed by large private donations. If a baseball alumnus wants to come and fund a sweet new stadium, I'm sure we'd find a way to accommodate them.

Yes, Im aware that projects such as the RAC etc are being done. Thats wonderful.

But again, strictly athletic based why are those the ones that never seem to get started and finished? They are always a few years out...but never quite get there. Why are the projects that are specifically sports related it seems, always underwhelming? So since the final four, almost a decade ago....the biggest thing we have to tout in the Pat Dome is hand rails some spoof ups in the concourse and toilets.

50-60 million sounds like a lot, and it is....but when compared to the school campus that blows through 900 million, does it really seem like much? Its not soo much the actual amount that is being spent, its what its being spent on.

 

[GMUgemini]

Yes, Im aware that projects such as the RAC etc are being done. Thats wonderful.

But again, strictly athletic based why are those the ones that never seem to get started and finished? They are always a few years out...but never quite get there. Why are the projects that are specifically sports related it seems, always underwhelming? So since the final four, almost a decade ago....the biggest thing we have to tout in the Pat Dome is hand rails some spoof ups in the concourse and toilets.

Go look at the project again, there was more to it than that.

Also if you ever spent any time in the bathrooms pre-renovation I think you would agree those new toilets were a must.

I also think your expectations might be a little high. Outsiders don't think the Pat Center is nearly as bad as we do.

 

[Patriotfan49]

Go look at the project again, there was more to it than that.

Also if you ever spent any time in the bathrooms pre-renovation I think you would agree those new toilets were a must.

I also think your expectations might be a little high. Outsiders don't think the Pat Center is nearly as bad as we do.

LOL....I get it, we are on two opposite ends here. You clearly are comfortable with whats going on and the status quo, thats wonderful.

Why are my expectations high? Because I expect them to complete what they tell me they will, when soliciting my money? Also, no I dont think the Patriot Center is bad or terrible at all. I just think it can use some well needed spruce ups that could directly enhance the experience, and potentially the product on the court. Is that out of line or unreasonable?

 

[masonjoe]

I agree that the Patriot Center isn't terrible and maybe some of us are more harsh towards than outsiders but I think in NoVA an upgraded facility goes a long way to grab the occasional fan.

 

[MasonFanatic]

If you look at the other arenas in the A10, we're middle of the pack - at worst.

Fans from schools like St. Joes were very impressed with what we have.

We don't need eye candy. We need wins.

 

[Pablo]

When your donations just now get up to barely 900K level it should be pretty self-explanatory why we don't have some of the things we have. Now can they do a better job getting donations? Absolutely. But at least they are making progress.

Per the Patriot Club E-Newsletter: 1,030 donors have contributed $1.09 million this fiscal year through April 30, 2014. The goal for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 is $1.15 million from 1,500 donors.

 

[Five Two]

The roof of the Pat Dome is slated to be replaced in 2016 and will cost roughly 8.6 million.

I've posted this elsewhere, but I wonder at what point do we look at either a complete gutting of the Patriot Center or building a brand new one. Towson spent $62M to build an entire new facility. Are we better off investing $62M in something brand new or $8M for a new roof on a 30+ year old building that will eventually need more work and additional funding soon after?

 

[GMUgemini]

I've posted this elsewhere, but I wonder at what point do we look at either a complete gutting of the Patriot Center or building a brand new one. Towson spent $62M to build an entire new facility. Are we better off investing $62M in something brand new or $8M for a new roof on a 30+ year old building that will eventually need more work and additional funding soon after?

If it was any architectural decade besides the 80s I'd say eventually the historic nature of the building should be preserved. But there isn't anything special about it. I think eventually we will have to build something new, preferably right next door.

I've got to think that's at least 10 or 15 years into the future though.

 

[wijg]

If it was any architectural decade besides the 80s I'd say eventually the historic nature of the building should be preserved. But there isn't anything special about it. I think eventually we will have to build something new, preferably right next door.

I've got to think that's at least 10 or 15 years into the future though.

I think there is a good chance that when the patriot center is rebuilt there is a good chance it is built on land the university owns further west on Braddock.

While it causes some minor logistic problems for students, it solves a host of traffic and parking related issues on campus.

As for at least 10 to 15 years in the future, I'd say that is about right. If they start talking about it today, it is probably 10 years away. Now; if a big donor comes along to fund it, that could speed it up, but I doubt we have that problem any time soon.

 

[Harry]

I think there is a good chance that when the patriot center is rebuilt there is a good chance it is built on land the university owns further west on Braddock.

While it causes some minor logistic problems for students, it solves a host of traffic and parking related issues on campus.

I sure hope they keep basketball on the campus proper. It's better for student life and better for recruiting. It's a great location now, within walking distance of Brion's for pre and post game get-togethers. And moving across Ox Rd would not be that much better traffic-wise. You still would have the bottleneck trying to get across Ox.

 

[GMUgemini]

I sure hope they keep basketball on the campus proper. It's better for student life and better for recruiting. It's a great location now, within walking distance of Brion's for pre and post game get-togethers. And moving across Ox Rd would not be that much better traffic-wise. You still would have the bottleneck trying to get across Ox.

Agreed. If they built a new arena adjacent to the PC now, they could demolish te current building and build a garage.

I know it's been a few years since I've driven there for a game, but I don't remember traffic being so catastrophically bad. Bad, yes, but it's going to be bad matter where it is.

 

[Walter]

We got 99 problems but the PC ain't one of them. Sure it could be improved, but it is a fine facility.

 

[gmujim92]

Given the events of this week, I'd really like to ask Hewitt how it feels to know that both he and his buddy Cliff Warren are going to get fired by the same guy in consecutive years.

I hope Edwards has a short list of guys he'd like to hire as head basketball coach. Barring a miracle of epic proportions, he's gonna need to be consulting it in less than a year.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

I already know that Edwards is highly thought of in Basketball circles. People know he's dying to win.

 

[gmutom]

Given the events of this week, I'd really like to ask Hewitt how it feels to know that both he and his buddy Cliff Warren are going to get fired by the same guy in consecutive years.

If Edwards has already made up his mind about firing Hewitt, I hope he does it this summer after the new recruits are already acclimated. That will hopefully lessen the chance that they will want to transfer, and it would give our new coach the time and opportunity to not only get this year's team ready but also shape the future roster with the three open scholarships.

What I fear the most is Edwards waffling for a year and then letting him go, because then it means Hewitt could be recruiting for the next coach. Waiting another year if he knows Hewitt is not the long-terms solution will only set us back another few years.

 

[psyclone]

If Edwards has already made up his mind about firing Hewitt, I hope he does it this summer after the new recruits are already acclimated. That will hopefully lessen the chance that they will want to transfer, and it would give our new coach the time and opportunity to not only get this year's team ready but also shape the future roster with the three open scholarships.

What I fear the most is Edwards waffling for a year and then letting him go, because then it means Hewitt could be recruiting for the next coach. Waiting another year if he knows Hewitt is not the long-terms solution will only set us back another few years.

Seems unlikely that any coach gets fired in the summer for anything short of a major NCAA violation. Besides I doubt if Edwards has even seen the team play a game.