Dutch wrote: by definition, you are not a 'hard core fan' if a donation to support your school/athletic department scared you away.
As I said before, you can think what you want, I don't really care. I'll define "fan" the way I want to, you can do the same. I would not have had a problem with a raise in ticket prices, I would have gladly paid pretty much whatever they asked. But to ask me to donate (in a season ticket holder bidding war) in hopes that I would get to keep my seats, sorry, won't do that.
Those Emperor's clothes look pretty good? And we are only two recruiting classes away from a competitive program, right?