UNT Light the Tower Collective Meeting

[Dannymacfan]

I got this and am planning on attending.  Hope to see some of you there!

[UNTLifer]

I have little faith in this initiative.  Only North Texas would hire a fired AD to run this program after he couldn't raise the money for a stadium, made terrible hires and was exposed as nothing more than a snake oil salesman.

[UNT Texas Hooligan]

1 minute ago, UNTLifer said:

I have little faith in this initiative.  Only North Texas would hire a fired AD to run this program after he couldn't raise the money for a stadium, made terrible hires and was exposed as nothing more than a snake oil salesman.

I also didn't understand why they brought Rick V in for this, of all people. 

[SteaminWillieBeamin]

RV is still very much great friends with the large donors of the university. He tailgates, dines and is generally just a good friend with them. If they were going to have someone close to the large donors, it would be him. Now - did he reach the layman donor? Not too well. But the collective isn't really going after the $100 a year donor. 

[UNTLifer]

RV was the puppy dog that those large donors led around.

[SteaminWillieBeamin]

6 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

RV was the puppy dog that those large donors led around.

I guess you and I see different purposes for NIL money. Of course they lead around a puppy - for their NIL money to have the influence they want. 

[UNTLifer]

Just on the surface, this hire looks lazy.  The optics are bad.

[MeanGreenTexan]

30 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Just on the surface, this hire looks lazy.  The optics are bad.

Again, this Collective has nothing to do with the University itself.   This is not a Wren Baker hire.

This is a group of large-monied donors who CHOSE Rick to lead the effort.   

What would you do?  Have Wren/Neal tell those donors, "No, not him"?

[Dannymacfan]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

I have little faith in this initiative.  Only North Texas would hire a fired AD to run this program after he couldn't raise the money for a stadium, made terrible hires and was exposed as nothing more than a snake oil salesman.

Sorry man but that's an unfair criticism of RV.  Was he perfect no but look at all the facilities that were built during his tenure!  The guy is a builder and knows a ton of our donors.  Many of us like him and I am sorry that you choose not to.

[Clinetort]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

I have little faith in this initiative.  Only North Texas would hire a fired AD to run this program after he couldn't raise the money for a stadium, made terrible hires and was exposed as nothing more than a snake oil salesman.

Wait.  Villareal did build the stadium.  No credibility in this statement.  

[DentonLurker]

Not to mention that the big name donors to this program were all cultivated when RV was the AD. If you look around, it's not like there are a lot of new big time donors since he left. I know the trend on this board has been that RV didn't do XYZ when he was AD, but the truth is that's just wrong. He did what he did without the same commitment from university leadership that has been seen the last few years.

[Cr1028]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

I have little faith in this initiative.  Only North Texas would hire a fired AD to run this program after he couldn't raise the money for a stadium, made terrible hires and was exposed as nothing more than a snake oil salesman.

Hey bud, feel free to start your own that you can have faith in. I don’t think there is a limit on the number since it isn’t affiliated with the school.

I’m gonna put my faith in the one started by the guys that paid for the indoor practice facility and most of our other athletic improvements. They probably picked RV because he knows them and knows NCAA compliance. 

Edited August 8, 2022 by Cr1028

[Jonnyeagle]

Seems to me all the big donors Wren has now we’re cultivated by RV so I think he’s the right guy for this job.

[9299]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

I have little faith in this initiative.  Only North Texas would hire a fired AD to run this program after he couldn't raise the money for a stadium, made terrible hires and was exposed as nothing more than a snake oil salesman.

As usual false statements. North Texas did not hire RV. He is working as a volunteer like all the others are. Yes he did raise a lot of money for the Stadium plus the other facilities. Try to get your facts straight if you must try to degrade someone!!!

[Wag Tag]

Rick, could of always said NO!

[UNTLifer]

58 minutes ago, Clinetort said:

Wait.  Villareal did build the stadium.  No credibility in this statement.  

The vote failed on the student fee, which was essential to getting the stadium built.  A poster on this board worked tirelessly to help get it pushed through.  I see this more of a victory for him and not so much RV.

Some others are correct in that RV did make do with what he could with little support from the university.  He did purchase the Liberty Christian property which started the development of the Eagle Point athletic area and Apogee was built, along with the AC and Victory Hall, under his watch.  

It is what it is, but considering how he left, I just think this looks bad, IMHO.

Edited August 8, 2022 by UNTLifer

[Tom McKrackin]

4 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

The vote failed.  A poster on this board worked tirelessly to help get it pushed through.  I see this more of a victory for him and not so much RV.

It is what it is, but considering how he left, I just think this looks bad, IMHO.

That's not what I understood to be the case but I never question your sources.  It would be nice to hear from the great @UNTflyer on this subject.

[meangreenfaninno]

[Cr1028]

16 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

The vote failed on the student fee, which was essential to getting the stadium built.  A poster on this board worked tirelessly to help get it pushed through.  I see this more of a victory for him and not so much RV.

Some others are correct in that RV did make do with what he could with little support from the university.  He did purchase the Liberty Christian property which started the development of the Eagle Point athletic area and Apogee was built, along with the AC and Victory Hall, under his watch.  

It is what it is, but considering how he left, I just think this looks bad, IMHO.

There were two votes on the student fee, one in the early 2000s that failed when Dickey was coaching and one in the late 2000s that passed when Dodge was the coach. I missed the first due to a university mandated break. I voted in the second on my own accord.  Maybe it was because I commuted but I didn’t have anyone tirelessly lobbying me to vote yes. I did notice plenty of the artsy types writing articles trying to get everyone to vote no.

Edited August 8, 2022 by Cr1028

[9299]

2 hours ago, SteaminWillieBeamin said:

RV is still very much great friends with the large donors of the university. He tailgates, dines and is generally just a good friend with them. If they were going to have someone close to the large donors, it would be him. Now - did he reach the layman donor? Not too well. But the collective isn't really going after the $100 a year donor. 

You are incorrect. The collective is loooking for ALL donors!!  $25 or 1,000 on an annual basis.  Need all the help available no matter the amount. 

[NT80]

3 hours ago, Dannymacfan said:

I got this and am planning on attending.  Hope to see some of you there!

 

"prioririty"?  Someone should have proof-read their invitation before sending it out.

Also, I disagree that "This (NIL) is by far today's biggest prioririty(sp) in attracting and retaining athletic talent..."

The biggest priority for these mega-donors should be finding a quality Head Football Coach that can attract and evaluate talent and properly utilize it on the field.  UNT has that in basketball with Grant McCasland.  

 

[untjim1995]

I will be glad to tell you that paying players is an ender for my wallet. I'm glad to contribute to the program, but I'm not paying players to come here to already get their education and housing funded. Absolutely won't do it...

[letsgiveacheer]

1 hour ago, NT80 said:

 

"prioririty"?  Someone should have proof-read their invitation before sending it out.

Also, I disagree that "This (NIL) is by far today's biggest prioririty(sp) in attracting and retaining athletic talent..."

The biggest priority for these mega-donors should be finding a quality Head Football Coach that can attract and evaluate talent and properly utilize it on the field.  UNT has that in basketball with Grant McCasland.  

 

I am usually reluctant to criticize things like this, but that is a poorly written announcement.  If we are going to competeat with other universities, we need to do more better.

[DeepGreen]

1 hour ago, letsgiveacheer said:

competeat

Say what???

[UNTLifer]

6 hours ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Again, this Collective has nothing to do with the University itself.   This is not a Wren Baker hire.

This is a group of large-monied donors who CHOSE Rick to lead the effort.   

What would you do?  Have Wren/Neal tell those donors, "No, not him"?

That is why I prefaced my comment with "On the surface".  The average Joe doesn't realize this is not a university hire.  I know alumni that have received numerous calls surprised that RV is involved.  Just passing along what I have heard and how people are perceiving this.