Rhody hires ex-UMASS player as AD

[Brad82]

http://www.projo.com/uri/content/sp_uri25_07-25-07_JV6GCAC.3674c96.html

Do any of you UMASS guys know him?
He looks good and heard good things about him.
FB suffice to say will be a priority for him.
Certianly looks like he has the background for it.

[Col Hogan]

I don't know him personally...I've seen the results of his work...

CONGRATS to URI...Hope he can lift up your football program...

[KAUMASS]

http://www.projo.com/uri/content/sp_uri25_07-25-07_JV6GCAC.3674c96.html

Do any of you UMASS guys know him?
He looks good and heard good things about him.
FB suffice to say will be a priority for him.
Certianly looks like he has the background for it.

Former teammate and roomate. One of the nicest people I have ever met..Good guy, should help your program.

[Cobblestone]

I'm disappointed that Burke didn't get the job but if this guy has a football background and can help our program then he has my support.

Anyone will be an improvement after Mcelroy.

[MplsBison]

Does this mean URI is going to have an FBS feasibility study?

[Cobblestone]

Does this mean URI is going to have an FBS feasibility study?

<study>

Q: Is it feasible for URI to go FBS in football?

A: No.

</study>

[Kymermosst]

Thorr is a great guy and I can't believe he's leaving.

He's the kind of guy who you can see on the sidelines at almost every event, and just walk up to him and say hello and chat a bit. He's done a TON of great thing for us.

Very sorry to see him leaving...

[dennisdent]

Very sad to see him go; but happy he's being groomed for a future job at UMass...

Rhody fans will be very happy with him as their AD.

Just hope he doesn't think Don Brown's going with him. xsmiley_wix

[dennisdent]

Very sad to see him go; but happy he's being groomed for a future job at UMass...:)

Rhody fans will be very happy with him as their AD.

Just hope he doesn't think Don Brown's going with him. xsmiley_wix

[umassfan]

I was kinda wishing he didnt get it because he was an asset to UMass Athletics... but I wish him well. He is a great guy who will talk to anyone and everyone. He always has a moment to listen and very rarely forgets a face. He will do a great job for URI Athletics.

[Cobblestone]

does this mean stowers is let go ?

Strong possiblity if this guy is a football person.

[rfeng]

Do any of you UMASS guys know him?
He looks good and heard good things about him.
FB suffice to say will be a priority for him.
Certianly looks like he has the background for it.

I believe the balance of power has slightly shifted as it always does when a great asset moves from one school to another within the same conference (yes for short)

He knows the kind of budget, facilities, and control he needs - so if you have given him enough $$$ to continue to upgrade your facilities and hire new coaches - he can help your program (if he can help your coaches recruit better athletes he will be considered a success)

You are in a population center and should have a 10-15K-seat football stadium. With half the grandstands from Meade Stadium removed what is the seating capacity today? You have enough room to build new stands in a 15K-seat U configuration if you don’t want to put stands between Meade and the Ryan Center.

The Ryan Center and SAC are nice facilities. You are on the right track.

[Dane96]

POPULATION CENTER?

[rfeng]

The whole state of RI is tiny. I thought it was closer to Providence. (30 miles) and Cranston (24 miles). There are no other schools in the state other than Providence (Basketball only) so they should get state funding and fan support.

[Dane96]

URI...is in the middle of nowhere. You travel through there to get to Casinos, Newport, Providence, or Warwick. No disrespect to URI fans...because I like the school...but it is the truth.

They get little, to any support from people in the state. Just not the "thing" to do.

[MplsBison]

RI also has some school called "Brown".



If Stowers is let go that'll be another triple option offense in the history books.

[Cobblestone]

URI...is in the middle of nowhere. You travel through there to get to Casinos, Newport, Providence, or Warwick. No disrespect to URI fans...because I like the school...but it is the truth.

They get little, to any support from people in the state. Just not the "thing" to do.

All true.

But, it IS very close to the beaches.

[Cobblestone]

I believe the balance of power has slightly shifted as it always does when a great asset moves from one school to another within the same conference (yes for short)

He knows the kind of budget, facilities, and control he needs - so if you have given him enough $$$ to continue to upgrade your facilities and hire new coaches - he can help your program (if he can help your coaches recruit better athletes he will be considered a success)

You are in a population center and should have a 10-15K-seat football stadium. With half the grandstands from Meade Stadium removed what is the seating capacity today? You have enough room to build new stands in a 15K-seat U configuration if you don’t want to put stands between Meade and the Ryan Center.
The Ryan Center and SAC are nice facilities. You are on the right track.

Those stands are already there and are very nice,


http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/uri/galleries/meade-073106/DSCF3024-lg.jpg

the future plan is to tear down the stands across from the Ryan Center and put new ones in. I think this will be a priority with our new A.D. since those stands are becoming a safety hazard.

[Dane96]

Cobble...haven't been on campus in about a year or so...but if need be, could you U-Shape it to make a 15k stadium. Not that I think it will happen...just curious.

And yes...very close the beaches...I will be down there next weekend!!!!!

Nothing like the good ol' Coast Guard Station when you are 23...miss those days.

[Brad82]

http://advance.uri.edu/giving/sadc/default.htm

Just an update on the fundraising for new SADC and stadium.
In the first pass "quiet phase" of the campaign I am getting donations from ex-players ranging from $2k,$5k,$7.5k and $10k!
The new weight room and training center are up and running and look great. Goal is $5M from alums and state/school will come up with the other $5M in loan form. New east side stadium ,synthetic field and lights are also in the plan. This should make the Stowers apologists on this board unhappy. This capital campaign was mentioned by Thor the other day as a reason he came on board.
As far as location of the school,I will put it up against the towns and surrounding attractions of Storrs,Amherst,Durham,Orono,Albany,Newark, ad infinitum any day.

[Ram Ball]

so if you have given him enough $$$ to continue to upgrade your facilities and hire new coaches - he can help your program

The real question, and every Rhody fan on this board knows what I'm talking about, is whether or not he can help our program without the money to upgrade facilities and hire new coaches.

[Cobblestone]

http://advance.uri.edu/giving/sadc/default.htm

Just an update on the fundraising for new SADC and stadium.
In the first pass "quiet phase" of the campaign I am getting donations from ex-players ranging from $2k,$5k,$7.5k and $10k!
The new weight room and training center are up and running and look great. Goal is $5M from alums and state/school will come up with the other $5M in loan form. New east side stadium ,synthetic field and lights are also in the plan. This should make the Stowers apologists on this board unhappy. This capital campaign was mentioned by Thor the other day as a reason he came on board.
As far as location of the school,I will put it up against the towns and surrounding attractions of Storrs,Amherst,Durham,Orono,Albany,Newark, ad infinitum any day.

Brad, I see your location is Florida so I don't know how much time you spend in R.I. If you think the voters of this state will approve this then you are sadly mistaken. This upgrade along with the upgraded stands which we now enjoy, were originally on a referendum the election before last and it was soundly defeated. For that reason the funding for the stands came from private donations (which I donated as well) and zero came from the state. Don't get me wrong I hope the SADC happens and if the URI community comes together then I'm sure it will, just don't expect the voters in this state to approve any state funding.

Please explain this quote: "This should make the Stowers apologists on this board unhappy." I'm not a Stowers apologist and I don't think I've ever seen one on this board but why would any supporter of URI football be unhappy about these upgrades?

[tribe_pride]

If Stowers is let go that'll be another triple option offense in the history books.

That'll be good to hear. Even when we were really good, we always had trouble with that triple option.

[Dane96]

Also, Brad, comparing the Albany area to Kingston...is just plain silly. ALBANY is the 56th largest media market in the country...and has a population of near 1.3mm people.

[Brad82]

Cobblestone,
The $$ already have been approved. 1/2 the money comes from alums and is rolling in and the other half comes from the state in loan form. The school pays it back. It is already posted on the web-site. Regardless of where I live,it is not the taxpers right to vote on how we and how much $$ alums donate. I am giving $7500 to this worthwhile project.
How much are you in for? I sit on the commitee and can get you signed up. You are not who I had in mind as a Stowers apolgist.

[Cobblestone]

Cobblestone,
The $$ already have been approved. 1/2 the money comes from alums and is rolling in and the other half comes from the state in loan form. The school pays it back. It is already posted on the web-site. Regardless of where I live,it is not the taxpers right to vote on how we and how much $$ alums donate. I am giving $7500 to this worthwhile project.
How much are you in for? I sit on the commitee and can get you signed up. You are not who I had in mind as a Stowers apolgist.

Brad,

You clearly are closer to this issue than I am. However, being a resident of this state I remember how badly that referendum was defeated. It failed in every town except Central Falls. Here again, the voters were voting on whether to spend tax money on these upgrades and they said "no" in a landslide proportion. Of course this was PUBLIC money they were voting on not PRIVATE donations. My point is that this showed little support for URI football in this state.

As for this project, I agree 100% that it is worthwhile and while I cannot afford a donation as generous as the one you are making, you can bet that I will make a donation (as I did for the stands) to this center. I'm glad to see you are on the board as is Truson Tarinelli, a guy I have always had good dealings with.

Another 4-7 season (or less) in 2007 and you can bet Stowers will be gone. I don't think out new A.D. will give him much room for comfort.