Travel plans

[CA Mustang]

So did anyone hear what the team's final travel plans were? When the radio broadcast signed off, it sounded like one option was to take a charter to IA today while another was to fly to Chicago last night and bus over (about four hours) today. I know it isn't good karma to do TOO much planning before yesterday's game, but figured they'd have the best option chosen already since time was going to be at a premium.

[RGV Pony]

Doh said in the postgame interview they had a 30 passenger charter leaving at 4pm today. He pointed out the ppl who put up the $ for it..sounded like they told him in the hallway, because he mentioned the university staff in the room and said "you don't know it yet, buy they've pd for..." All the flights to Iowa were full, which is why Chicago + 4 hour bus ride was the other option.

[2ndandlong]

So did anyone hear what the team's final travel plans were? When the radio broadcast signed off, it sounded like one option was to take a charter to IA today while another was to fly to Chicago last night and bus over (about four hours) today. I know it isn't good karma to do TOO much planning before yesterday's game, but figured they'd have the best option chosen already since time was going to be at a premium.

charter.

[Hoop Fan]

seriously, has orsini just turned the basketball program over to Miller? There is something very uncomfortable about special boosters being invited out on the floor celebrating wins with the team. I am getting the distinct impression that SMU did not support this *postseason* appearance, they allowed someone who apparently needs public credit to underwrite it.

[RGV Pony]

seriously, has orsini just turned the basketball program over to Miller? There is something very uncomfortable about special boosters being invited out on the floor celebrating wins with the team. I am getting the distinct impression that SMU did not support this *postseason* appearance, they allowed someone who apparently needs public credit to underwrite it.

Well, if by that you mean if private funds had not been put up, then SMU would not have even gone down that road, I guess you could infer the same damn thing about the hiring of June.

[ALEX LIFESON]

seriously, has orsini just turned the basketball program over to Miller? There is something very uncomfortable about special boosters being invited out on the floor celebrating wins with the team. I am getting the distinct impression that SMU did not support this *postseason* appearance, they allowed someone who apparently needs public credit to underwrite it.

Well, if by that you mean if private funds had not been put up, then SMU would not have even gone down that road, I guess you could infer the same damn thing about the hiring of June.

A+

[Hoop Fan]

seriously, has orsini just turned the basketball program over to Miller? There is something very uncomfortable about special boosters being invited out on the floor celebrating wins with the team. I am getting the distinct impression that SMU did not support this *postseason* appearance, they allowed someone who apparently needs public credit to underwrite it.

Well, if by that you mean if private funds had not been put up, then SMU would not have even gone down that road, I guess you could infer the same damn thing about the hiring of June.

well, boosters are very important and should be appreciated, but there is always a fine line that has to be walked as far as influence and the appearance of influence. To me, a coach inviting his favorite booster onto the floor to celebrate with the team is at very least, very uncomfortable. If it doesn't bother you, so be it. Where's ole Max these days? Thats who Doh owes his job to.

[RGV Pony]

well, boosters are very important and should be appreciated, but there is always a fine line that has to be walked as far as influence and the appearance of influence. To me, a coach inviting his favorite booster onto the floor to celebrate with the team is at very least, very uncomfortable. If it doesn't bother you, so be it. Where's ole Max these days? Thats who Doh owes his job to.

Good question..I've wondered that myself. Have we even heard his name mentioned since Tubbs was let go ?

[Hoop Fan]

seriously, has orsini just turned the basketball program over to Miller? There is something very uncomfortable about special boosters being invited out on the floor celebrating wins with the team. I am getting the distinct impression that SMU did not support this *postseason* appearance, they allowed someone who apparently needs public credit to underwrite it.

Well, if by that you mean if private funds had not been put up, then SMU would not have even gone down that road, I guess you could infer the same damn thing about the hiring of June.

A+

Not exactly. Oversimplify as much as you want, but booster support has and always will be a fine line. Would it cross a line for you if the team put a booster on its shoulders and celebrated on the court? Maybe not. What if a booster sat on the bench during games? If questions like this really bother people, that is a sure sign of a program headed for issues. Think about it.

[Real Talk]

There is inherently no problem with boosters. I dont speak for HoopFan...but it sounds like he's saying be careful...we've been down this road before.

It starts off 'innocent'...then boosters accumulate more power...slowly/covertly buying up all the company stock. Then you wake up one day and they privately own 51% of the company.

[CalallenStang]

I'm all for doing everything within the rules to fund this program and win games. Can a booster celebrate with the team? Sure, just like the students can join the team in the locker room. Can a booster provide cash or gifts to players? Absolutely not.

The rules are clear-cut, and it's not a slippery slope. One level of booster involvement does not lead to another.

[hoopmanx]

LOL, listen to you guys. At Maryland, the interest group that gets everything done, not in the ADs budget, is called FOG or Friends of Gary. You know them by their limited edition FOG sweaters. Miller deserves shine, as does anyone that invested their blood, sweat & tears into this turnaround, whether it be financial or otherwise. I get treated pretty well too, but I'm not exactly donating charters. It takes a village to ascend the ranks in college basketball, all hands on deck.

Question for you guys: Across the country, how many committed programs do think stay w/in the ADs allotted recruiting budget? Zero. Boosters fund overages at every level. It's not a black & white, do or don't pay. They pay for everything

[Hoop Fan]

There is inherently no problem with boosters. I dont speak for HoopFan...but it sounds like he's saying be careful...we've been down this road before.

It starts off 'innocent'...then boosters accumulate more power...slowly/covertly buying up all the company stock. Then you wake up one day and they privately own 51% of the company.

well put. Like i said, people who donate their hard earned money should be appreciated no doubt. but there are lines that should not be crossed and control that should not be ceded by the AD.

[RGV Pony]

Piggybacking on what hoopmanx said about Maryland, something similar to the CofC exists at Duke, and was created specifically to endow positions, fund projects etc outside of the AD budget. I think they have like 30 members of the "Legacy Fund", who each donate $1M, which buys them into the fund for a finite time, and if they want to re-up, its more $. These guys fly w the team etc

[hoopmanx]

Piggybacking on what hoopmanx said about Maryland, something similar to the CofC exists at Duke, and was created specifically to endow positions, fund projects etc outside of the AD budget. I think they have like 30 members of the "Legacy Fund", who each donate $1M, which buys them into the fund for a finite time, and if they want to re-up, its more $. These guys fly w the team etc

LOL, Gary's best friend and biggest supporter/booster, is Steve Biscotti owner of the Ravens. The Terps use the Ravens private jet all the time to recruit, when they aren't using Kevin Planks(Under Armour). What's funny is that many are unhappy w/Gary, but big money will never move. It's been cited time & again that Biscotti isn't a Terp, just a Gary guy, so IF the AD cuts ties poorly, Biscotti will walk. All this stuff is slippery slope. Miller deserves a standing O.