New FAMU AD Bill Hayes, yesterday on Roosevelt Wilson's Against the Grain radio show, implored Rattler fans to quit hanging outside in the parking lot and come into the stadium.
"The game is inside," said Hayes. "People who have a tradition of watching footballs games from "the Hill" need to pay for their spots."
The effort is a part of Haye's plan to combat the athletic department's growing budget deficit. Last year the athletic department overspent its budget by $2.5 million.
This year, Hayes needs to raise almost $4 million to fully fund FAMU Athletic's 2008-09 $11 million budget. FAMU has already raised (through student fees, gurantees, etc.) $7.1 million of what it will need to run its 18 athletic programs for the upcoming seasons that begin in the fall.
For Hayes, the directive is clear --- "we need to put some butts in the seats! We need money and we need it now. We don't need pledges. We need cash. We need real Rattlers to step up!"
With that in mind, Hayes has instituted the 1,000 Strikes Annual Giving Campaign, where he hopes to get 1,000 Rattlers to contribute $1,000 to FAMU athletics on an annual basis. (Though there is no mention of the program on the FAMU athletics website, we were able to find an online link donate here )
"Right now we're in the red," he said. "My job is to get us in the black."
"The days of the free ride are over!, Hayes said. "We can't have a first class athletic program, if everyone watches the games for free."
Earlier, this year Hayes played with the idea of fencing in the Bragg Stadium parking lot to ensure that all tailgaters had actual game tickets. For now, he seems to have backed off that plan.
Also see: Townsend also launched giving program --- Rattler Sports Fund
engage them, don't run them away...
ReplyDeleteI agree with AD Hayes! Perhaps collecting FREE tickets from folks in the President's Office (i.e., GC office with 9 FREE tickets for family members)! Days of the FREE ride is over! How about stop FREE ride on meals plan for staff members, too!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hayes! Its time for FAMU to start regulating on those people.
ReplyDeleteDrunk ass HAyes doesn't have a glue. This athletic program is to big for him to handle.This is not Division II.Ammons has made a big mistake.
ReplyDeleteListen to the message; ignore the messenger if you want. We are (or can be again) a big time football school - it isn't a club sport with free admission. I agree that they need to be engaged, but let's don't give that too long to work. We need the funds that ticket sales bring to the program. If anyone has other ideas for bringing in funds, please share them. Just being critical of Hayes isn't part of the solution. It's clear that the author of that comment is looking for a reason NOT to be part of the solution, since he or she seems to be saying that so long as a solution is proposed by "drunk ass Hayes" he isn't going to help our football program. How is that a helpful attitude? If you're not going to pay to see the game, then please stay home. Don't make us point you out, at game time, to the ticket holders in the crowd. (P.S. Maybe the FAMU ticket office could sell tickets before the game by putting ticket booths throughout the parking lot. Those of us who have tickets can cajole those who don't to step up to the booth and buy a ticket. Marketing folks -- step up to the plate, here.)
ReplyDeleteIgnore 7:27p...If he/she had a "clue" to what their talking about...then they would know that it Hayes was responsible for elevating NCCU's athletic programs to Div. 1 status...so he indeed has experience at working on this level...
ReplyDeleteIf you're a tailgater/vendor...and you dont want to go into the game...that's cool...you can get your party on still...but just know that you'll be paying up one way or the other...voluntarily or TOW TRUCK...your free riding (thieving) days are over!
FAMU FOREVER!
Correction: Ignore 9:15AM...
ReplyDeletePreach on 7:27PM! LOL
the only way the non-paying folks on the Polkinghorne Village hill aren't going to be there watching the games on game day is if the entire area is fenced off, and I'm not sure that James Ammons wants to end that legendary tradition. It's as much a tradition as going to the game with ticket in hand. Were will all of the folks go? Well, they won't go to the game, for one, because the stadium can't hold all those Hill folks plus the legitimate ones who have tickets. So, then, maybe the non-tickets holders/Hill People will assemble in the street. No good. Cause the cops ain' having it: traffic/pedestrian conflict & safety issues. The people are going to be on Perry Street hanging out. The party is on the Hill as much as it is in the stadium. Hayes had better come up with something else, cause plenty folk come to the games, especially Homecoming, with the expressed intent of sitting on the hill and no intent of going inside the gates of the stadium. You can't regulate fun, and FAMU fans know how to have it and will continue to have it, no matter what Hayes says and/or does.
ReplyDelete4:00 pm,
ReplyDeleteif what you say is true, that the "hill crowd" comes with the "expressed intent" of never going into the game. Then maybe Mr. Hayes better start selling them concessions --- ice and chaser--- and making some money off of them.
Or he could place bleachers or a tall green fence in that endzone so that they won't be able to see they game but they will be able to have their fun.
ReplyDeleteif you don't want to pay for a ticket, take your "hill" arse out of here and go find yourself another D1 school that will let you watch their games for free. Good Luck. Let me know what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteNow that FAMU is a D-1 team, I would love to see a FSU/FAMU match every year. That would be awesome - for city bragging rights.
ReplyDeleteWould that game sell any tickets?
First of all, what I'm reading from you so call FAMU alumni or just football fans.Number 1. You do not hire a coach and pay him 225,000 thousand dollars a year when you're athletics department is in financial downfall. Number 2 Sprint made request to renovate Bragg stadium at no cost and close the End Zone section and make the stadium a bowl. But the athletic department did not want that , because Sprint wanted to put their name on the stadium. I think that is kinda stupid if you ask me.When are people going to wake up and act like you have some sense and Ask Ammons some questions, before being mislead. Hayes was not he right hire for the Athletic director job. Time will tell then you FAMU folks will be singing a differnt song.WAKE UP.
ReplyDeleteInstead of fencing people out on the Hill, why not fence them in, and charge a lesser price (or family rate) on a first come first served basis? If they're really "the faithful" then they'll pay their fare share. It's not a street party, it's a football game. Have the street parties on away-game days; show the game and half-time show in the stadium, and charge a nominal amount......
ReplyDeleteA FAMU/FSU game?? A lot of people have said that and I'm sure it would sell A LOT of tickets, but has anyone ever thought of the consequences? If FSU won (which they probably would) FAMUans may become a little unruly (which we are VERY famous for). If FAMU won, well, lets just say I'm not sure there would still be a FAMU left after that. Are the "bragging rights" associated with winning the game really worth all of that trouble? I think not.
ReplyDeleteAnywho, while I do agree with AD Hayes I see a flaw in his plan. Ticket prices. Due to the large deficits in the athletic department in recent years ticket prices have continued to rise. At this point it costs almost as much to attend a home game as one of the Classics. Even though I think the Rattler athletic programs are worth the cost (I personally attend almost every game, both home and away), it will be hard convincing others of the same. Especially when they still have the option of watching the games for free. Until AD Hayes comes up with a way to keep the tailgaters off "the hill" this is a problem he still does not have a solution to.
Please except this at face value, FAMU should receive the same respect as "WE" would give "PWC" quit being predictable and accept the changes that will someday benefit all of us. When all of the fun is over bills still have to be paid. make sugestions from a caring perspective and they may very well be honored
ReplyDelete6:26, when you work out the logistics of that ridiculous scheme, why don't you pass it on to the president. First of all, there are thousands of people who congregate on the Hill who are not fans; they are simply people who are searching for a good time -- i.e., a "free time -- compliments of the university. And how does a university regulate this family deal that you suggest? There are, for one thing, issues of liability, safety, etc., plus the good ol' issues of madness & mayhem. What's the deal with this game-day/away games/half-time scenario that you propose? Like I said: When you work out the
ReplyDelete(ill)logistical/rough-around-the-edges preps for this one, just drop James Ammons a note. I'm sure he'll endorse it.
The free tickets are being given to the folks that can afford to buy them. How about giving them out to the community folks who would love to see a game but just can't afford to pay for a ticket?
ReplyDeleteI think 6:26 was saying that the number of people on the Hill would be greatly reduced, if they had to buy a ticket and watch the game - not have a party unrelated to the football game. The away game idea would be a way to have more tail-gate parties, raise revenue, and celebrate the Rattlers football program, more than the 6 or so home games a year. We need to get back to football glory, financial responsibility, and watching football when its football time, and partying when its party time. There are 52 weeks in a year -- folk who want to have an outdoor party and don't care about football should pick weeks where there isn't a football game. They want a free ride and AD Hayes says that's not putting the best interests of the Rattlers first, before their own selfish selfs.....
ReplyDelete6:23, try "selves," not "selfs," but we get your drift.
ReplyDelete4:00 why would we want to continue a "tradition" that is detrimental to the university? Where is the logic in that?
ReplyDeleteWhere will all the folks go? Well since there won't be a game for them to freeload off of, I imagine many of them will stay home, some will buy a ticket, some will come to the hill just to hang out. I am sure the TPD will be more than willing to accept fines for loitering, public intoxication, tresspassing etc.
As far as being "faithful" what good are faithful and consistent freeloaders to us? I just wanna know.
6:l7 is so right. Some traditions are good but some need to be replaced with traditions that are more in keeping with a major research university with an outstanding athletic program, and graduates and alumni who are willing to support the program with their donations and ticket purchases. Can't "the faithful" realize that they are not helping FAMU and that they have no right to harm us, just so they can party and carry on, on their own terms? We're high class, let's make sure everyone who associates themselves with us on football Saturday at Bragg Stadium acts high class. Folk looking for a place to get drunk and act the fool must find another place to do it. Or better yet, sober up and buy a ticket.
ReplyDeleteTo 6:17--who said anything about "logic"? The "tradition" will certainly continue if nothing is done about its continuance. People, as you very well know, will continue to do things that are detrimental to the good of anything as long as it benefits them, and people who sit on the Hill and not pay will continue to do so until something happens that prevents them from doing so. I mean, what's so difficult about understanding this? No one said anything about being logical. Having common sense and exercising logic are two separate entities. One doesn't necessarily translate into the other. And 9:13, I'm not certain what "high class" folk you've seen roaming around the games, but from where I sat, there are plenty folk who might desire to enter that class structure but from their looks -- and behavior -- I don't think the doors will be open anytime soon. Goodness.
ReplyDelete