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The Right Measuring Stick

  • I have no idea what should be done for the program, but I am sure that much of the discussions I hear use the wrong measuring stick to evaluate the past, present and future.

    It is not all about wins and losses. It is all about money. Traditionally, are AD revenues meet or exceed that of Alabama. Last year, we brought in $17 million less. It will be worse this year and, if no change is made) even worse next year. So will be leaving $20-25 million a year on the table.

    It is not about being fair to the coaches, players, donors, fans or whomever. Thjose things are important, but the number one criterion is, "What is in the best interest of the program?". We are at the end of a lost decade. We cannot afford another. The program must be returned its premeire status.

    Finally,it is abouut re-branding. Even with our history, facilties, fan base and money, our program brand is badly damaged. We used to be Coca Cola. We are now RC Cola. There are two paths forward for improving the brand. One is to hire a coach who will slowly and steadily build our record, season by season, to 7 wins, then 8, then 9, maybe some day 10 ... yadda, yadda. Or we can buy a brand by hiring a coach with a premiere brand.

    Regardless, branding translates to recruiting to hiring assistant coaches to wins to money.

    So, if a $10 million a year investment gets you $20-25 million a yaer, that is pretty good deal. The wins, money and fairness will follow.

    UTSwamper

  • UTSwamper said...

    I have no idea what should be done for the program, but I am sure that much of the discussions I hear use the wrong measuring stick to evaluate the past, present and future.

    It is not all about wins and losses. It is all about money. Traditionally, are AD revenues meet or exceed that of Alabama. Last year, we brought in $17 million less. It will be worse this year and, if no change is made) even worse next year. So will be leaving $20-25 million a year on the table.

    It is not about being fair to the coaches, players, donors, fans or whomever. Thjose things are important, but the number one criterion is, "What is in the best interest of the program?". We are at the end of a lost decade. We cannot afford another. The program must be returned its premeire status.

    Finally,it is abouut re-branding. Even with our history, facilties, fan base and money, our program brand is badly damaged. We used to be Coca Cola. We are now RC Cola. There are two paths forward for improving the brand. One is to hire a coach who will slowly and steadily build our record, season by season, to 7 wins, then 8, then 9, maybe some day 10 ... yadda, yadda. Or we can buy a brand by hiring a coach with a premiere brand.

    Regardless, branding translates to recruiting to hiring assistant coaches to wins to money.

    So, if a $10 million a year investment gets you $20-25 million a yaer, that is pretty good deal. The wins, money and fairness will follow.

    Bingo!

    allwillbeorange

  • We have been a "premiere" program only a few short years under Fulmer in the past 60 years. The Fulmer years were the exception to the rule over that period. We are below our norm but we've been there before plenty of times and we always bounce back. Honestly, I think our expectations were skewed with Fulmer's teams in the late 90s. That also brought along a bunch of bandwagon fans who are here more for the wins than the school or our program.

    The mob mentality weve exhibited the past several weeks is alarming. WTH people?

    coonhound

  • UTSwamper said...

    I have no idea what should be done for the program, but I am sure that much of the discussions I hear use the wrong measuring stick to evaluate the past, present and future.

    It is not all about wins and losses. It is all about money. Traditionally, are AD revenues meet or exceed that of Alabama. Last year, we brought in $17 million less. It will be worse this year and, if no change is made) even worse next year. So will be leaving $20-25 million a year on the table.

    It is not about being fair to the coaches, players, donors, fans or whomever. Thjose things are important, but the number one criterion is, "What is in the best interest of the program?". We are at the end of a lost decade. We cannot afford another. The program must be returned its premeire status.

    Finally,it is abouut re-branding. Even with our history, facilties, fan base and money, our program brand is badly damaged. We used to be Coca Cola. We are now RC Cola. There are two paths forward for improving the brand. One is to hire a coach who will slowly and steadily build our record, season by season, to 7 wins, then 8, then 9, maybe some day 10 ... yadda, yadda. Or we can buy a brand by hiring a coach with a premiere brand.

    Regardless, branding translates to recruiting to hiring assistant coaches to wins to money.

    So, if a $10 million a year investment gets you $20-25 million a yaer, that is pretty good deal. The wins, money and fairness will follow.

    on target. the balance sheet is the primary reason I believe that Hart will make a change this year. The Akron game had tickets sold at 82,000 including the students. That was after the Fla game while we still had a winning record. Actual attendance probably 65-70,000. Troy, even as homecoming, will see no more than that and probably closer to 60,000. Everyone of the no shows is a potential non-renewal next year. Our season ticket sales are the lowest in years at just over 60,000. Another 5% decline in tickets cannot be sustained. Hart is not stupid. I think he sees the math the same way you and I do. More expensive to continue the futility parade than to step up and give us some hope. I will be at the Troy game to see just how down the ticket buyers are. The opinions of those on this site and others with no skin in the game concern me little and hope they influence Hart even less. Go Vols.

    nick danger

  • nick danger said...

    on target. the balance sheet is the primary reason I believe that Hart will make a change this year. The Akron game had tickets sold at 82,000 including the students. That was after the Fla game while we still had a winning record. Actual attendance probably 65-70,000. Troy, even as homecoming, will see no more than that and probably closer to 60,000. Everyone of the no shows is a potential non-renewal next year. Our season ticket sales are the lowest in years at just over 60,000. Another 5% decline in tickets cannot be sustained. Hart is not stupid. I think he sees the math the same way you and I do. More expensive to continue the futility parade than to step up and give us some hope. I will be at the Troy game to see just how down the ticket buyers are. The opinions of those on this site and others with no skin in the game concern me little and hope they influence Hart even less. Go Vols.

    It is even worse than you think. The $120 million versus $100 million differential is for the whole AD - including revenues for men and women's basketball. Our men's team is 5th in the nation for attendance (not sure about revenue), and our women make money So, we are talking about much more than a 15%-plus between the football programs..

    UTSwamper

  • coonhound said...

    We have been a "premiere" program only a few short years under Fulmer in the past 60 years. The Fulmer years were the exception to the rule over that period. We are below our norm but we've been there before plenty of times and we always bounce back. Honestly, I think our expectations were skewed with Fulmer's teams in the late 90s. That also brought along a bunch of bandwagon fans who are here more for the wins than the school or our program.

    The mob mentality weve exhibited the past several weeks is alarming. WTH people?

    That simply is not true. Dickey was very successful, as was Battle early on. Majors had a lot of success.

    Regardless, you are again using the wrong measuring stick. I think we are are one (even now) of 14 ADs running a profit. It is about the money. Our facilities and fanbase easily put us in the top 10.

    UTSwamper

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    dxhman ●

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    Rocklion2000

  • UTSwamper said...

    I have no idea what should be done for the program, but I am sure that much of the discussions I hear use the wrong measuring stick to evaluate the past, present and future.

    It is not all about wins and losses. It is all about money. Traditionally, are AD revenues meet or exceed that of Alabama. Last year, we brought in $17 million less. It will be worse this year and, if no change is made) even worse next year. So will be leaving $20-25 million a year on the table.

    It is not about being fair to the coaches, players, donors, fans or whomever. Thjose things are important, but the number one criterion is, "What is in the best interest of the program?". We are at the end of a lost decade. We cannot afford another. The program must be returned its premeire status.

    Finally,it is abouut re-branding. Even with our history, facilties, fan base and money, our program brand is badly damaged. We used to be Coca Cola. We are now RC Cola. There are two paths forward for improving the brand. One is to hire a coach who will slowly and steadily build our record, season by season, to 7 wins, then 8, then 9, maybe some day 10 ... yadda, yadda. Or we can buy a brand by hiring a coach with a premiere brand.

    Regardless, branding translates to recruiting to hiring assistant coaches to wins to money.

    So, if a $10 million a year investment gets you $20-25 million a yaer, that is pretty good deal. The wins, money and fairness will follow.

    I think you did an excellent job of summing up the situation. +1

    signature image signature image signature image

    RunThruThe T ●

  • Nice post op. I'm a Dooley fan, but I think you make an excellent case.

    I'm just not sure there is a coach available that changes that. I think we need wins. And I'm encouraged because we are better now than we were three years ago.

    bavw

  • Well said UTSwamper... +1

    utkdominic

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