GSA Letter

[WAGrizzlyFan]

GSA can suck it!

While the tone/timing in some parts of the letter is questionable that's quite the statement. Keep in mind what the GSA does to support over 300 student athletes on campus.

Exactly why they should hear opinions on both sides of this mess. Brint, them asking for what they are asking for now, would be like you asking for X amount of $$$ down, for a property, before you giving them reason to do with. Come on man, how many people do that kind of thing in blind, and good faith these days? I won't go off as extreme as Tokyo has on this, nor take a side. However, expecting answers before making a decision of how much $$$ to support GRIZ athletics, is actually a quite a reasonable expectation for GRIZNATION.

It is not time to add fuel to the fire, but making it sound like a money grab. Bad Decision, in my opinion. They were fine, until mentioning money. Our support, should only be about giving the team unquestioned moral support, at this stage, and nothing more than that.

Oh yeah, I'm with you. Saying "suck it" to the GSA seems a little ignorant to me, that's all.

Hardly ignorant, Brint. It was well thought out and it concisely summarizes how I feel without taking the low road like so many others or taking the highest of high roads like the self-appointed moral compass that rhymes with BWahlberg. Because I don't post 20 times a day, brag about who I rub elbows with, or discuss how much money I've given neither makes me ignorant nor prevents me from expressing how I feel about that all this $hit! Frankly, I'm fed up right now.

Oh, and think about this, all you "gotta support the team" folks that think it's just 10 or so bad eggs giving the rest a bad rap. As tight as a team is, don't you think that maybe more than a few knew what was going on and did nothing about it? True "team leaders" have their fingers on the team's collective pulse. Just sayin'...

 

[BWahlberg]

Hardly ignorant, Brint. It was well thought out and it concisely summarizes how I feel without taking the low road like so many others or taking the highest of high roads like the self-appointed moral compass that rhymes with BWahlberg. Because I don't post 20 times a day, brag about who I rub elbows with, or discuss how much money I've given neither makes me ignorant nor prevents me from expressing how I feel about that all this $hit! Frankly, I'm fed up right now.

It sure doesn't prevent you from sharing your opinion, even if I don't agree with it.

Also what "rhymes with BWahlberg" I'd be curious to hear.

 

[Grizzly4Life]

Maybe I am blind but I do not see in the letter where it is asking for more donations. It sounds to me like it is asking for current season ticket holders not to panic and non-renew their seats and GSA membership.

And since I was privy to the letter before it was sent out I can tell you the purpose had nothing to do with fundraising! It was all about trying to remind GRIZ NATION that all of our support should be for the STUDENT ATHELETES and not the administration.

The letter was written by well intentioned Griz fans with well intentioned motives, please do not read more into it than that.

UP WITH MONTANA!

 

[Grizzly4Life]

indeed playerrep.

if one could find a way to support the students and still give ZERO $$ support to UM administration it would be ideal.

QB Club?

Most of the money from the QB Club is spent on things that the head coach thinks are necessary to the job of coaching a football team. In years past the money has been used for new film equipment, new communication equipment for the sidelines and the coaches in the booth, etc.

There have been a few instances where a prior coach had used the money to help a fith year senior who was no longer on scholarship complete his degree.

 

[Griz90]

Wow! Talk about turning on your own. The GSA, of which I am a proud member and organizer, has one purpose and one purpose only - to raise money for athletic scholarships. That's it. That's our one and only job. GSA chapters across the state work hard to organize fundraisers to support our athletes and the Spring Tour is our main time to do so. The Spring Tour consists of a small group of UM officials, usually including a member of the GSA, the athletic department and several coaches from various sports, visiting small towns across the state in a variety of formats, such as banquets or golf tournaments. Local GSA members organize and advertise the events, try to drum up support and raise funds to support student athletes. If you can't support the GSA with a small donation that's fine, but at least support the organization's mission. You all talk about supporting the kids...that's what the GSA does! And at times like these it's more important than ever.

 

[RABIDAWG]

Wow! Talk about turning on your own. The GSA, of which I am a proud member and organizer, has one purpose and one purpose only - to raise money for athletic scholarships. That's it. That's our one and only job. GSA chapters across the state work hard to organize fundraisers to support our athletes and the Spring Tour is our main time to do so. The Spring Tour consists of a small group of UM officials, usually including a member of the GSA, the athletic department and several coaches from various sports, visiting small towns across the state in a variety of formats, such as banquets or golf tournaments. Local GSA members organize and advertise the events, try to drum up support and raise funds to support student athletes. If you can't support the GSA with a small donation that's fine, but at least support the organization's mission. You all talk about supporting the kids...that's what the GSA does! And at times like these it's more important than ever.

There you are! Seems like no matter what ya do, someone needs to bitch about it! I renewed the same day the crap hit the fan.

 

[PlayerRep]

indeed playerrep.

if one could find a way to support the students and still give ZERO $$ support to UM administration it would be ideal.

QB Club?

Most of the money from the QB Club is spent on things that the head coach thinks are necessary to the job of coaching a football team. In years past the money has been used for new film equipment, new communication equipment for the sidelines and the coaches in the booth, etc.

There have been a few instances where a prior coach had used the money to help a fith year senior who was no longer on scholarship complete his degree.

QB club funds have also been used for spring recruiting.

 

[tnt]

Wouldn't any shortfall in GSA funds have to be made up by the university, i.e. Engstrom? The scholarships are already promised. If GSA doesn't pay for schollies, won't the U have to pay for schollies, not charge for the schollie amounts? This seems like a good way to put some pressure on the U and Engstrom to do the right thing.

NO. What the boosters would learn very quickly (because they sure don't get it now) is just beyond the stadium and beyond the field house is this thing called a University. The athletic department exists ONLY to further the interests and goals of the university. Unlike Boise State where they turned a 2 year school into a College so the boosters could have a football team, the athletic department at the U of M doesn't drive the university. The scholarships would honored this year because the money is already there. Next year IF there were a huge shortfall simply put the programs would be cut, coaches laid off, sports eliminated etc etc.

Remeber how much of your opinion is listened too by anyone is directly proportional to the size of your check (not inversley) How much of your opinion is acted on is proportional to how it aligns with the decisions that have already been made and long term goals you probably aren't aware of.

The explanation anyone is waiting for has already been given. The situation in the athletic department gave a national exposure to the entire university that was not in the best interests of the university. A move had to be made to make it clear that at the University of Montana the athletic department and its booster don't drive the bus. They have no problem letting athletic department folks go to do that, nor do they have a problem letting boosters go who think they are more important than they are.

This might be a shock to some, but the home fan base is not near so important as is the perception Others (and now in the case of UM the nation) have of the university. That's where the out of state students come from along with research grants and development money come from all to enhance the EDUCATION from the university.

My cousin is one among many who have given 7 figure plus endowments to the University, and after his death a whole lot more. There isn't anything named after him (or his buddies) He isn't consulted about decisions made for the University (nor does he expect to be) I am reasonable sure that few if any in the departments he has funded even know his name.....

The money from GSS is used to help students. If you want to do that fine, if not, fine. But remember you aren't buying anything for yourself when you donate to ANY cause. If you think you are causing any angst to Mainhall when you cancel your season tickets or hold your GSS check think again. There is still a waiting list (well sorta - after it got to the thousands it became too hard to manage) for those tickets and folks willing to join the GSS at level necessary to get them.

When after kick off this fall and the changes are forgotten pretty quickly, you'll be on that list too, wondering how you got there and why you did it. Pflu and JOD can't help you and the new guys will be so busy pandering to the donors that write the checks now, they won't help you either.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

I'm so angry I refuse to buy a Diet Coke at the first home game. Take that, Mr. President!

 

[lotsa]

Concessions would probably be out of diet coke by halftime of the first game anyway.

 

[Grizzlies1982]

Concessions would probably be out of diet coke by halftime of the first game anyway.

What? You suggesting Griz fans are fat?

Personally, I'm with AllWeather and won't buy a diet coke at any Grizzly game this year!
How is that for stickin it to the man!





(of course I never buy diet soft drinks anyway)

 

[grizbrokebacker1]

My cousin is one among many who have given 7 figure plus endowments to the University, and after his death a whole lot more. There isn't anything named after him (or his buddies) He isn't consulted about decisions made for the University (nor does he expect to be) I am reasonable sure that few if any in the departments he has funded even know his name.....

:shock:

 

[yellowstone60]

even if I didn't want to support the GSA I would continue to do so simply because every time I license my vehicles (with GSA plates), buy my season seats (with GSA fee attached), attend the golf tourney, the poker tourney, I am supporting the GSA. I have no problem with this, without the GSA our student athletes scholarships would take a severe hit......

 

[maroonandsilver]

Wow! Talk about turning on your own. The GSA, of which I am a proud member and organizer, has one purpose and one purpose only - to raise money for athletic scholarships. That's it. That's our one and only job. GSA chapters across the state work hard to organize fundraisers to support our athletes and the Spring Tour is our main time to do so. The Spring Tour consists of a small group of UM officials, usually including a member of the GSA, the athletic department and several coaches from various sports, visiting small towns across the state in a variety of formats, such as banquets or golf tournaments. Local GSA members organize and advertise the events, try to drum up support and raise funds to support student athletes. If you can't support the GSA with a small donation that's fine, but at least support the organization's mission. You all talk about supporting the kids...that's what the GSA does! And at times like these it's more important than ever.

+1
without GSA there would probably be no athletics above the club level at UM, certainly no football.
(GSA member since 1977)

 

[BDizzle]

My cousin is one among many who have given 7 figure plus endowments to the University, and after his death a whole lot more. There isn't anything named after him (or his buddies) He isn't consulted about decisions made for the University (nor does he expect to be) I am reasonable sure that few if any in the departments he has funded even know his name.....

:shock:

He is talking about the future. Dude isn't dead now.

 

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Wouldn't any shortfall in GSA funds have to be made up by the university, i.e. Engstrom? The scholarships are already promised. If GSA doesn't pay for schollies, won't the U have to pay for schollies, not charge for the schollie amounts? This seems like a good way to put some pressure on the U and Engstrom to do the right thing.

Engstrom DID do the right thing pull your head out of whatever player or coaches ass its in..........

 

[Growler1]

indeed playerrep.

if one could find a way to support the students and still give ZERO $$ support to UM administration it would be ideal.

I just hope that you are not a UM grad. Please tell me that you are not!

 

[Growler1]

Wouldn't any shortfall in GSA funds have to be made up by the university, i.e. Engstrom? The scholarships are already promised. If GSA doesn't pay for schollies, won't the U have to pay for schollies, not charge for the schollie amounts? This seems like a good way to put some pressure on the U and Engstrom to do the right thing.

This coming from a self-described loyal supporter of UM, even though he did not attend UM, and only became a support after betraying his loyalty to the Bobcats. This post is exactly why this guy should be removed from any relationship he has to UM athletics. I just forwarded his post to Mr. Engstrom.

 

[putter]

Letter sounded fine to me. The GSA did what they were supposed to do. Try to keep people's eye on the goal, support the student-athlete's at Montana. Asking people to stay positive, like the football team, by continuing to renew your season tickets and attend the spring game is not a stretch nor reprehensible in any way.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Letter sounded fine to me. The GSA did what they were supposed to do. Try to keep people's eye on the goal, support the student-athlete's at Montana. Asking people to stay positive, like the football team, by continuing to renew your season tickets and attend the spring game is not a stretch nor reprehensible in any way.

You are likely right. I just hope they realize, in some people's minds there are consequences to pay for an action, we still don't have an answer for. My hope is those that have always given money, and have always bought season tickets, will continue as they always have. I already know, that has not been the case, and will not be the case, until some answers are given.

As for those who have yet to make that kind of commitment, I completely understand their thinking, and stand, to hold back, again, until answers are given. Also, a statement as to what the master plan is, and what/who the U of M is looking to fill the vacant positions.

To those who continue to support the U of M athletics as always, speaking for myself only, "Thank you". :thumb: