http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-blog/dp-teel-time-ballein-vt-ad,0,...
Two things that stood out to me:
- Hokie club doesn't even have 10k members? That's only two graduating classes....
- Our professional athlete alumni have made almost $48 million and haven't donated any (I assume/hope they haven't been targeted/asked, not that they don't want to donate).
We gotta step our fundraising game up.
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It would be great to have Ballein's experience and knowledge to help the new AD, but that's about the only positive I took away from this interview. Sounds like things are in pretty tenuous shape, honestly. It all starts with money, and we need to be utilizing our connections in the NFL as much as anything else. We've got some popular players that like to hang out on the sidelines at events (Spring game, etc) and I'm sure they would help if Beamer asked.
Saw on twitter that Babcock applied for the job. Ballein is a GREAT asset to Virginia Tech and I appreciate him very much and I think that Babcock is the answer for this program right now and I would be shocked if it will be anybody other than him.
Thanks for posting; that was a really interesting article.
I'm almost positive I read a while back that Michael Vick was one of the biggest donors to VT, but I really can't remember where I saw that now.
I was curious about the same thing. Maybe OP meant donor specifically to Hokie Club, not just VT as a whole?
I went back and reread the interview, and there were no donations from Hokies in the NFL last year, so maybe he has been in past years, but just not last year.
I believe Vick gave a million when he was a Falcon. That's how he got "Michael Vick Hall". There was a big bitch session about returning his gift and taking his name down when he got busted for doggy shenanigans...
That's spot on.
(Apologies this is SO LONG)
Comments that stood out to me:
I know this has been a very heated argument within VT for at least past few years. It's the Arms Race and while fiscally I agree with Ballein, I disagree that this is something that should be done at a later date. If schools like Vandy and LOLUVA have built these and we still have not even broke ground then that sets the program back. Not immediately but 2 - 3 years from now these schools will be funding the next new thing and it will be just the next thing on the list AFTER we finally build the field house. It's a difficult thing to do but if you want to compete at the highest level you have to have the foundation in place that allows you to do so.
This gives me the sads. Why is VT not able to even keep up personnel wise? I remember seeing that team picture of Bama and all those extra coaches (sorry couldn't find the image) and remembered laughing. It was a bit ridiculous but in reality we should be at minimum middle of the ACC pack here. Coaches have extremely limited time to actually "coach" individual players and these extra personnel are extremely helpful. We have graduate assistants and good ones, but that's like trying to run a company with all interns.
at the end he said while he was disappointed not to be considered further he was loyal to VT and planned to stay. That's extremely classy.
It's clear that HC and fundraising is the #1 issue for the new AD. It's also clear that VT has a lot of needs other than football. I personally have worked with projects that have required fundraising for events, construction of sports and entertainment facilities etc and generally the best way to get a stagnant base to energize is by offering them bait.
For example new facilities are generally sent out for design-build contracts. The advantage here is cost and efficiency. However, the disadvantage is that the design level is not as high. I don't mean to disparage the designers on TKP that work for these companies and I know some here bid for VT projects, but in this day an age world famous design companies are clamoring for work. It used to be I would do a competition and only compete against one company like Fosters or Herzog&DM. But these days these companies are pursuing EVERY legitimate project. VT should branch out and draw attention to the process. Fans would love it. Boosters would love it and could vote for their favorite. Money would come.
Pressure HC to find new management and I am going to add completely overhaul the School's alumni network as well. I live overseas and VT alumni association cannot even tell me a single other Hokie that lives in the same country as me. There is no coordination with either group and no crossover coordination. These two groups should be working hand-in-hand and for a TECH school have one of the most advanced online/social media networking capabilities of ANY school.
Bundle rewards. (This may already be happening. i really don't know) Most HC members are contributing for football but usually creating a personalized reward is something quite attractive for boosters. For example, how about if you contribute a certain level you get a name placard on a seat. That placard could be replaced every year. Your seat could be in Lane, Cassell, the softball field or really any sport depending upon how much you donate.
I realize there are lots of functions for boosters but I read somewhere once that Bama holds random lotteries to reward boosters. For example, a vacation for 2 to the Bahamas, a new car, etc. (Again, maybe HC/VT does this) If I remember correctly these prizes are given by the university and is open to ANY booster that puts money in. When I am doing fundraising I ALWAYS have a lottery. It generally increases yield over 30%.
What I read from this interview is that Weaver worked some magic to get the facilities and changes that happened, but the fiscal realities of the program and VT Athletics is really no better, and perhaps even worse off. An apple with a rotten core. That's tough to read and I hope it changes, but a lot of that also depends on you and me to offer financial support and demand change.
What a great, insightful article. So many men and women in our administration/coaching have shown such loyalty to this institution. For him to be passed on, yet still desire to help and do what's best for VT, says slot about his character. To see what role Stinespring was relegated to, and to see his commitment, is admirable. But the underlying theme here is the culture that has been bred at Virginia Tech. From the top down, our officials and leaders are living out the motto, "that I may serve". Go Hokies.
yes, it's great to see the dedication to the program. As I wrote above it's extremely classy of Ballein. But I think the underlying theme is that the program and VT athletics is at a crossroads financially whereby it is not receiving the same level of support as other schools, and not even the same level as a few years before.
That's obviously due to a lot of contributing factors. Down economy, poor Hokie Club management, an AD with health problems and on the way out, rebuilding years for football team, the yearly arms race and others we don't know about.