The Search Is On...

[Bird Friend]

This blurb from Randy's Pantagraph article linked above caught my eye about the current planning for the IPF:

You mean we've never had a design to show people when asking for money??!! Seriously?? Good lord, that's worse than vaporware in my opinion. And why would we have ever thought a bricks/mortar option was the way to go? Yeah, if we had plans to join and be immediately competitive in B10 or B12 with loads of cash coming in . . . but that wasn't/isn't happening. That really shows where Lyons was out of his depth.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

They might have to come over to Pekin and rent the Avanti’s Dome.

 

[ISUBU]

They might have to come over to Pekin and rent the Avanti’s Dome.

I would hope they've checked out the availability of the Avantis dome, the Louisville Slugger facility, maybe even the Illini's indoor facility for some January practice. We have an immediate need which might be tackled with some travel, and then a long term need requiring cash.

 

[Total Red]

You mean we've never had a design to show people when asking for money??!! Seriously?? Good lord, that's worse than vaporware in my opinion. And why would we have ever thought a bricks/mortar option was the way to go? Yeah, if we had plans to join and be immediately competitive in B10 or B12 with loads of cash coming in . . . but that wasn't/isn't happening. That really shows where Lyons was out of his depth.

We did have a nice brick and mortar design and it has appeared on this site among other places. Why did they think that was the way to go? Because MVFC rivals like South Dakota St. and Youngstown St. have one. It soon became clear that that was going to be way more than our fanbase was going to support so some ideas on a soft sided building were kicked around. Those would cost a lot less.

 

[TheTruth]

You mean we've never had a design to show people when asking for money??!! Seriously?? Good lord, that's worse than vaporware in my opinion. And why would we have ever thought a bricks/mortar option was the way to go? Yeah, if we had plans to join and be immediately competitive in B10 or B12 with loads of cash coming in . . . but that wasn't/isn't happening. That really shows where Lyons was out of his depth.

If the Dakotas can do it, if NIU, YSU, Akron & WMU can build brick and mortar IPFs, there is no reason to believe that Illinois State can’t do it. It’s bad enough that Illinois State has had a history of half assing it when it comes to athletics, at a certain point people have to stop accepting it.

 

[redbirdfan04]

I have mixed thoughts on Dr Z. He always talked about the vision etc and talked a good game. Left too early to see if he could execute.

But my biggest recollection is the last discussion I had with him. One on one. We were talking basketball and it was Jank’s first or second year. We were talking about what a great job he had done making us relevant again.

He then made a comment that I will always remember, especially now about 10 years later. He talked about what a mess Wichita State’s basketball program was. Marshall has come in and the program had bottomed out. Aweful. Dr Z talked very negatively about where they were vs where we were at the time.

10 years later they have a final 4, an undefeated season, and multiple conference championships and at large selections, and a larger conference invite.

We have 1 trip to FCS football final and no NCAA tourney hoops games.

Well sounds like Dr. Z was spot on. 10 years final four, undefeated season, conference champs multiple times, at large bids, moving on, and oh wait, physically abusing his players. Walking away with millions of dollars on top of it. In ten years from now you were to tell me we had all these great achievements but at the end the coach was worse than Bobby Knight, no thanks. It is easy now to look back I get it but as fast as that s**t bag ran out of town you know if the reports ever fully come out it will be worse than what has been reported.

Saying we have one trip tp the FCS is not a fair or reasonable argument. It should be playoff apperances and wins in the playoffs.

As for no tourney games played it is very hard to live with it but beating players and cheating to get to it no thanks.

 

[StLRedbird]

We did have a nice brick and mortar design and it has appeared on this site among other places. Why did they think that was the way to go? Because MVFC rivals like South Dakota St. and Youngstown St. have one. It soon became clear that that was going to be way more than our fanbase was going to support so some ideas on a soft sided building were kicked around. Those would cost a lot less.

I recall those, TR. If memory serves, they were re-purposed conceptual drawings of planned or existing facilities. YSUs building, in particular, comes to mind. For some reason, I recollect a $18MM price tag as what was being suggested. Would be happy to see someone with a better memory correct any of that.

 

[Total Red]

I recall those, TR. If memory serves, they were re-purposed conceptual drawings of planned or existing facilities. YSUs building, in particular, comes to mind. For some reason, I recollect a $18MM price tag as what was being suggested. Would be happy to see someone with a better memory correct any of that.

True, it was the same design used at Youngstown St. The athletic dept. caught some flak for that but I'm not sure why. You save some money by going with an existing design rather than starting from scratch and having one designed just for you. In the end it's still a big rectangle with your logo on it.

The price for a quality brick and mortar was around 25 million when proposed. A frame and fabric structure is more likely. The AD choice will defintely be a factor in determining what we get and when.

 

[StLRedbird]

True, it was the same design used at Youngstown St. The athletic dept. caught some flak for that but I'm not sure why. You save some money by going with an existing design rather than starting from scratch and having one designed just for you. In the end it's still a big rectangle with your logo on it.

The price for a quality brick and mortar was around 25 million when proposed. A frame and fabric structure is more likely. The AD choice will defintely be a factor in determining what we get and when.

So do you have an opinion about how fit Zenger would be to come back and lead this IPF effort? It's still our #1 priority, I think. I have a favorable opinion of him, but, as they say, you can never go home again.

 

[Total Red]

So do you have an opinion about how fit Zenger would be to come back and lead this IPF effort? It's still our #1 priority, I think. I have a favorable opinion of him, but, as they say, you can never go home again.

He's real. Things would happen.

 

[ISUBU]

Redbird Athletics and ISU have evolved since Zenger was here. There will soon be a new president with unknown priorities. The budgets for athletics, the university, and the state are likely to be terrible. The department seems to have a significant number of staff early in their careers. Simply stated, it is not the same job it was - I think it will be harder.

We are looking for an athletic director. I would absolutely be interested in a candidate who has been an FCS AD, and a Power 5 AD, and who can demonstrate a genuine interest in academics and has a history of working effectively with his/her administration. Any search process that didn't identify a candidate with his credentials as a contender, is flawed.

 

[Total Red]

I'll agree with everything ISUBU just said but I'll also toss in some postive developments. You get fees from students. Fundraising is done with businesses and alumni. Mostly older alumni. When I started on this board about 20 years ago most of our older alumni were old lady school teachers. This was ISNU (Illinois State Normal University) until 1967 when it became Illinois State University. That means it was a university for teachers. Teaching is a highly noble profession but you don't retire with homes on both coasts so they weren't big athletic donors. The university has grown since then and added a lot of majors. We've been graduating larger classes for a many years now with a wide variety of majors like business, accounting, computer science etc. Sure some older grads are desperately saving for retirement or stuggling to get by in retirement but most are in a position to give something and a few are in a position to give a lot. The ISU baby boomer grads are out there. It's a good-sized mass of human capital and a strong demographic. Much better than it was 20, 40, 60 years ago. It's a tall task due to everything ISUBU talked about and more but there's potential here too.

 

[Bird Friend]

Learned some more info about the IPF. The original push for funding was approaching major corps with the brick/mortar design, like State Farm or Country, to foot the bill and then have their name attached to building. Major flaws with that thinking: 1) there's little, if any, ROI to those corps . . . no major media presence, no major "drive by" population center to see the building, etc.; 2) None of these companies have significant ties to ISU athletics which compel them to even consider it; 3) The university didn't present alternatives that might show a willingness to be flexible.

As to the AD search, whomever we bring in MUST be a fundraiser. Lyons never was. Even if the new AD is a step in and quickly step up AD, he/she must garner some serious funding during his/her tenure. He/she must build excitement about Redbird athletics. Lyons offered comfort, but not excitement. And FWIW, phone interviews with an initial set of candidates are under way (or at least starting this week). I don't know names, but do know interviews are happening.

Finally, who else is sick of receiving emails and texts asking for $ for they can send me a set of Redbird socks?? Geezuz, stop. I don't want Redbird socks. If that's your selling point to back side of middle-age alums, you're an effing idiot.

 

[ISUBU]

...

Finally, who else is sick of receiving emails and texts asking for $ for they can send me a set of Redbird socks?? Geezuz, stop. I don't want Redbird socks. If that's your selling point to back side of middle-age alums, you're an effing idiot.

Fair enough, it's not your thing. But idiots? Enough people have donated for socks that they've continued the promotion for a couple of years.

I know for a fact that a university with a multi Billion endowment is doing exactly the same thing - I get their email too.

 

[Bird Friend]

Fair enough, it's not your thing. But idiots? Enough people have donated for socks that they've continued the promotion for a couple of years.

I know for a fact that a university with a multi Billion endowment is doing exactly the same thing - I get their email too.

It's their participation trophy.

 

[GratefulRed]

This blurb from Randy's Pantagraph article linked above caught my eye about the current planning for the IPF:

Sounds like plans are finalized for the IPF. Going to be a fabric structure located on the practice field between G83 and the track.
Hopefully this is a temporary solution that can be replaced with a nice brick and mortar facility down the road.

 

[Adunk33]

Interviews started on Monday. They're interviewing 6 candidates. Rumor has it "on campus" visits will be next week.

 

[MadBird]

Interviews started on Monday. They're interviewing 6 candidates. Rumor has it "on campus" visits will be next week.

Sure wish "someone" could leak some names. Would be nice to know how we're doing, so to speak.

 

[Bird Friend]

Sure wish "someone" could leak some names. Would be nice to know how we're doing, so to speak.

Don't tell anyone, but this comes from my brother's sister's brother's cousin. Names include Fred, Thelma, Wanda, Megara, Albert, and one more I can't remember.

 

[Bird Friend]

Did some digging . . .

Illinois State University Director of Athletics Search | Illinois State

illinoisstate.edu

I’m really disappointed in the lack of diversity. Not terribly impressed, but I’m not sure what more I could want. Other than more diversity.