This was a facebook post that was brought unto my attention. The original post was made by the Abominable Gorilla in reference to a Tech Talk article in last weeks edition and the subsequent replies to the post were made be "T":
AG: It is an interesting experience to see a University in such turmoil. It seems a large number of people would like to see Louisiana Tech with a new Athletic Director and have resorted to arm bands, banners, and even a website. These people are taking advantage of their freedom of speech to voice what they believe. Until now, I've done my best to stay out of the situation.
The major complaints against our athletic director are the schedules we play in football, the condition of our facilities, and the records of our teams. In summary, it seems that money is the root of the problem.
In several occassions, Mom has reminded me that "money doesn't grow on trees (not even "Oak" trees)." I was recently informed that only 9% of university athletics operate within their own means. This leads to an overwhelming question. Where does the rest of the money come from? Donations! Maybe we would be able to schedule easier teams in football if the attendance was higher and alumni were donating more money. But, since we are constrained to work within our own means and since we aren't very large alumni support, our response is to schedule money games. Personally, I don't want to see easier teams on the schedule. I would rather beat the teams we play now. Perhaps we could recruit easier and better condition our athletes with some upgrades to the facilities? Once again, the problem is money. But unless our new AD owns a money tree, getting rid of our athletic director isn't going to fix the perceived problems.
Fortunately, the situation is backwards. As it turns out, the joke IS on you. The teams are going to continue to build whether we have your support or not. My advice is to join in before the work is completed.
And in continuing, I don't care what Matt Dearman says, the football team hasn't given up. If our football team had given up, they wouldn't have bothered to come back on North Texas. I believe the situation is quite the opposite. Matt Dearman can count himself as one of the fans who gave up on the Tech baseball team that found itself down to #3 MSU. He can also count himself as one of the fans that works at the Tiger Rag. Maybe he's more suited to be a bandwagon fan, I dunno.
Don't be a hater. Leave the banners at home and dedicate game time to supporting the players. Don't be a Matt Dearman. No one likes the smell of corn dogs.
I love Louisiana Tech University. I don't love this school because of JO or any other person, I love this school because it is my school and because of what this school has done for me. I encourage you to do the same.
Go to the games (not just football, all of them). These players aren't the professional athletes that are separated by a television screen. They are our fellow students, our classmates, and our friends. Support them, and while you're there...
GO APE FOR TECH!
"T": First, anybody who calls Matt Dearman a "bandwaggon fan" really has no idea what they are talking about. I'm not sure if the team is giving up (although it is totally possible) but the coaches sure seem to have. Plus any time you have 4 players quit just after mid season, something is wrong internally. (football issue) As far as money goes, you are totally right. Money does not grow on trees. It does however get spent on $80,000 board room tables or $10,000 drinking fountains by big business cooperations. It is rather easy in many cases to come up with alot of money for cooperator sponsorships. Heck West Monroe HIGH SCHOOL got ... Coke I believe it was... to build them a brand new Jumbotron for their HIGH SCHOOL stadium. Heck we cant even hear the PA system on the East side of the stadium, let alone see a replay on a big screen. The TAC floor is definitely in much worse shape than my High School's court. (Denham Springs Baby!) We can't even host track meets because our "bleachers"....
...are condemned. And the tennis courts? Yeah.. I'm not even sure I need to go there. The lanes in the Kennel that our bowlers use are pathetic. [I know, I took bowling twice ] And our poor softball players have to play on that excuse of a field that we have. You ever see them crossing Tech drive? They have to use the Baseball field facilities to change clothes in! Not to mention that you pretty much need night vision goggles to play on that field. -- Old football lights should have gone to the track field, track lights to the baseball field, baseball lights to the softball field, and softball lights to the intramural fields no?-- Money doesn't grow on trees, it takes work to get it. AD doesn't just get paid to schedule games.. they get paid to bring in revenue from cooperate AND private sponsors, not just one or the other. As for Tech fans, I'm not sure you can use "we" (in references to you, the Tech Admin, and our athletic teams) and "you" (in reference to every body who doesn't
share in your opinion). If McDonald's hires a manager, and over their years at the helm that McD's goes to crap, is it cooperate McDonald's fault? Mmm.. Pretty sure not. Cooperate is going to make a regime change without hesitation. Joe this hasn't been going on just since you've gotten here. There are alot of Alumni out there young and old alike that have sat through these past years sitting on their hands and holding their tongues; they are the main proponents of this... revolution if you will. That is what makes America what it is.. the freedom of choice to change those in positions of authority. The day the government fails to serve it's people is the day the people shall rise up and reestablish a working government that will fulfill the needs of it's people. Louisiana Tech is a government institution just like any other. The people that have been loyal to Louisiana Tech for 40, 50, and 60 years seem to think that they are being ill heeded, overlooked, and under served. That seems
to me that it would bee reason enough to DO SOMETHING. What we have done in the past years.. has done nothing but negatively impact the proud tradition of athletic excellence upheld by so many generations of Bulldogs and Techsters prior. I do, and will always continue to support all of Louisiana Tech's athletics, no matter how good or how bad and no matter who is the assistant coach, coach, AD, University President, Governor of Louisiana, or President of the United States of America. And in that Loyalty to Louisiana Tech, I will do and promote what I feel is in the best interest of the University itself! I personally have gained alot from Jim Oakes being the Athletic Director, but I have seen our University suffer much greater losses. In risk of losing any benefits by being supportive of Jim Oakes, he is not the answer. How many more years do we need to figure that out. For instance, of the 11,250ish students enrolled each year at tech, each student pays 10 per quarter as a fee
going strictly to Louisiana Tech athletics. That is roughly $337,500 per year. This money of the past few years as been sitting... doing absolutely nothing! Sounds like good financial management to me. It must be nice to receive a very substantial bonus every year for coming in under budget as well. It sounds like a good way to deter any sort of facility improvement. Louisiana Tech is making some improvements. (Field Turf and New Lights) Both of which were covered by an anonymous 1 million dollar donor. Jim Oakes had nearly no involvement in these projects getting pushed through, merely money passing through his hands. Do I hate Jim Oakes? No. I see him more of a father who treats my mother poorly. Not malicious or spiteful, but unattached and under involved. It hurts to see my Alma Matter suffer in the pain of neglect, yearning to be treated like the Queen that she is. I will be graduating in March (Winter Quarter) and I was thinking as I walked by the Lady of the Mist of
The Lady's significance: To welcome in new Bulldogs and Techsters to their new home for the years to come and to usher out and bid farewell to those of us who are leaving and going on our various paths into the world. As I felt a tear in my eye, I noticed that The Lady no longer looked the same as She did four years ago; my Alma Matter looked tired and weathered.. as if in need of her Children to join together in a time of happiness and joy. As our Academic Program has grown, we have lost sight of the very thing that attracts students as well as others to a college town like Ruston. The magic in the air. The school spirit and school pride that come with having a successful athletic program. Many countries are very intellectual (Japan) but lack what truly makes a country great- creativity, the production of fun. That's why the U.S. is different from most other countries. Tech has lost it's ability to generate fun. Watching your team who you love and adore.. idolize if I dare..
watching them loose, is not fun. Especially not in facilities that are unfit for the caliber players that for some reason have not given up on Louisiana Tech University. I personally will not give up either, especially when it means doing nothing and accepting the things that are already in place.