Topic: Just got back from the Big Green meeting at Sleepy Hollow

[GoGreen]

It was a great experience.  I am now officially a Big Green member.  It was a great informational meeting.  The on-campus baseball stadium as well as the IPF will quickly become a reality.  Farrell said that the IPF will only take 7 weeks to construct and will be complete within the year.  The administation is stepping up just like they are asking the fans to do.

On the subject of building the new addition to the stadium, Farrell stated that we need to fill the stadium consistently as it stands before even thinking about additions.  Hopefully, the stadium will be full of kelly green fans to give them a reason to add on.

[HerdZone]

the IPF will only take 7 weeks to construct and will be complete within the year.  The administation is stepping up just like they are asking the fans to do.

Did he say when, because they say the weight room will not be ready until next season. I would love to have a tentative date if possible.

That also seems like a pretty fast building, now if he would have said 13-15 weeks that would seem more like it. That would be 3-almost 4 months then.

[gtrman4herd]

It was stated that the IPF would take 7 weeks to construct and that it would be done by next year. Optimistic?  I don't know, sounded rather definite to me though.They also showed the planned layout of the IPF/Soccer Field/weight room facility/outdoor field. The IPF will be at the far east edge on the existing practice field with the width running along 3rd Ave. It will be the kind like the Patriots and the Cowboys have, someone had posted pics a while back of one. The weight room will then run its length, starting at the edge of the IPF , along 3rd ave. There will still be a small outdoor practice field as well. And the Soccer Field will remain where it is at the opposite end of the complex.

Sounds as if a private firm is very close to pulling the trigger on 67 million in funding for the student rec center/baseball facility/new dorm/softball facility upgrade. It was stated that the deal could be reached within the next several weeks.

Some exciting stuff!  If you aren't already a member, JOIN THE BIG GREEN *_+!!!!    :x

[2xBison]

they put the pressure on pretty good, i think they said they got 50 new BG members last year and 18 or so this year...Snyder joined as well.

pres F said the property (inferno i guess) price tag kept going up and there were questions about the industrial clean up or whatever....price started at $750 a few years ago and kept going up...not in our plans now.  more attractive property elsewhere.

weight room to go on the northwest corner of the current practice field.  it and the IPF will be along 3rd avenue.

UL still scheduled but CUSA was not happy.  we saw the opportunity and booked the series.  negotiating now. may go away.  Kayo joked that Jirsa wouldn't mind so much.

Pres F said there were 3 unhappy people in the room when the contract with wvu signed.  Gov told them to put on a happy face.  He told the story about if they can't come to Htn, every other year we'll paint mountaineer field green and white and it will be a Herd home game.  said Manchin has been a great friend to MU no matter where he comes from.

talked about the new state law allowing wvu and MU to make there own deals.  no longer will someone in Charleston with loyalties to another school decide what degrees, programs, investments...etc we make.  this is a great deal for MU.  wvu has wanted it for years and manchin said, MU is on this train too.  President F said, the arms race is on.

much talk about wvu's overall budget sqashing ours.  i think he said 1 or 2 Billion to $200 million.  he didn't mention the annual 3-1 state funding.

he said wvu relies on like 20 - 23% of it's budget from state funding while ours is more like (memory now) 35% to 40%.  however, we have like 83% in state students and they have like 51% or something to that effect

can't recall much more.  alot of rah rah and stepping up from Jirsa, Chadwick, Kayo and Snyder.

they mentioned being welcomed with open arms by cusa...something that hasn't happened before in the MAC.  they then went on to discuss men's ncaa and nit opps with cusa, womens ncaa and nit opps with cusa, rice and tulane playing to get into the bball world series, and 5 bowl games with  cusa.  this place is a class act....(they didn't say it but, i'm taking it compared to the mac...hell yeah)

said kanawha and putnam county commisioners are ready to work with us to help the area and university grow together....and cabell county is "stuck in the mud"  we all need to work together.  if hungtington and/or charleston cities drop under 50,000 (which both are nearing) they will be off the map...and lose alot...some fed monies as well.

we need to work and think regionally...huntington to charley west.

that's all i recall.

great event.  great turnout.

Go Herd

2x. over. out.

[Blade]

Thanks for the info guys!  Sounds like a great turnout.  Did Marcum or Ferrell release any of the plans for the new facilities?

[Mako]

Great report Bison.  The 50k population thingie is a huge deal when it comes to federal funding.  The feds classify cities into categories and if you drop below 50k, you drop in category.  

Glad to see they are actively trying to market the Herd in Putnam and Kanawha Counties.  USPAM has been the college to root for by default for many, many years.  With some good marketing, we can maybe start to get some of the casual fans to drive 45 minutes to Huntington rather than driving 2 1/2 hours to Morganhole.

[billybob]

I am honestly surprised that more people aren't talking about these subjects.  I have read on this board a hundred times "we need a indoor pratice facility" - "we need an on campus bb field" - lastnight they tell us it is on the way and nobody seems excited. These are alot of major changes to the program in a very short period of time. There won't be any excuses - now it is up to coach to take care of things on the field. New coach, new turf, new weight room, new indoor practice facility, new conference. Things are a changing at marshall - I think it is great. I just wish some of this could have happened under BP's watch.

[W0lfman]

UL still scheduled but CUSA was not happy

. I dont understand what that means.  Why would the conference be upset that we still have UL scheduled?  That doesnt make sense.
Also, billybob, I agree with your comments about wishing some of this stuff could have happened under Pruett watch.  God knows if it wasnt for him and what he did for the program and U this would all be a pipedream.

[billybob]

These are all things that he fought for and I think a portion of the reason I think he left. I hope he sticks around the program. He is a great spokes person for marshall and west virginia.

[Blade]

UL initially wanted to use the contract with Marshall as part of their buyout of CUSA.  CUSA said that they would decide who UL would schedule and that Memphis was supposed to continue the series with UL.  UL then elected to buy out the CUSA exit fee and keep the contract with us.

[W0lfman]

I still dont understand why the conference would be upset.  They CUSA gets to keep earn credits and MU gets to keep a sheduled game with UL.  It seem to me like everyone wins.

[pokey]

I still dont understand why the conference would be upset.  They CUSA gets to keep earn credits and MU gets to keep a sheduled game with UL.  It seem to me like everyone wins.

everyone wins but jirsa on this one.   :x

Great tidbits by all.  I hadn't heard anything about a private firm....does anyone know who it might be?

I agree with 2x that we need to think regionally.....that includes a regional airport, and the outer beltway for those of us who live in OH.....that would open up a freeway from Ohio right into Huntington.  For some reason Felinton will not open up his ears to the Lawrence Co. commissioners.  This would be great for all parties/towns involved.

[HerdZone]

I still dont understand why the conference would be upset.  They CUSA gets to keep earn credits and MU gets to keep a sheduled game with UL.  It seem to me like everyone wins.

Its more like Memphis and UAB that are upset, not the conf., Memphis is upset beccause they tried to sign us as part of the CUSA contrat and are still upset that we are still playing since they paied their buy-out. Piteno said some disparaging remarks about Mempis and the program when they got the BE invite.

[Anonymous]

Sounds as if a private firm is very close to pulling the trigger on 67 million in funding for the student rec center/baseball facility/new dorm/softball facility upgrade. It was stated that the deal could be reached within the next several weeks.

Anyone know who this private firm may be?