Sense of urgency missing from UNO Athletics

UNO News

I have agreed to buy season tickets but have yet to hear from anyone soliciting my cash.

I have yet to hear about any significant money being raised by the committee that was to save UNO athletics.

Despite state budget cuts, UNO athletics will survive for several years because of the expected windfall (as much as $50 million) from the estate of the late Wick Carey.

But, cash can be spent quickly. And UNO needs to have a plan moving forward.

Here's my roadmap for future UNO athletic success.

Spend up to $6 million to renovate Maestri Field. That $6 million should include a new grandstand, chairbacked seats, suites, and a new press box. The parking lot outside Maestri Field should be paved.

And, at least $1 million of that cash should be spent on a facility that can be used by all athletes.

That facility would have a academic support for athletes, an athletes lounge, and food service year around. A building such as this, tells your student/athletes that you are a player in college sports.

Additional money should be spent on a feasibility study for football. To be relevant in Louisiana today, you must play football.

Football gets UNO what it doesn't get now: year round athletic exposure. Division 1 football also gets the University of New Orleans what it doesn't have now.

Pigskin payday games.

The University of New Orleans could play two of these games every year and raise almost $2 million for its athletic department annually.

The rest of the cash should be banked. If UNO made 5 percent on let say $25 million each year, $1.25 million in annual cash would be generated for athletics.

UNO also needs this: someone selling tickets and raising cash.

I didn't know Wick Carey. But Ken Trahan, president of New Orleans.Com/Sports, called him a terrific man. He would come to the ballpark with his Cubs hat and his scorecard and be engrossed in the action.

The worst thing would be to squander an incredible opportunity given by Mr. Carey.

In the meantime, I have a dream.

In a few short years, the University of New Orleans is playing at least FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) football at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Football has 5,000 season ticket holders. Baseball and basketball each have 2,000 season ticket holders.

And, in the planning stages is "Wick Carey Field" , a football facility overlooking Lake Ponchartrain.

Call me a dreamer or a kook. I don't really care. All of the above is more than possible.

In the meantime, I am still waiting for my call from the UNO ticket office.

Comments (11)

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written by Seriously, July 13, 2009

getreal. If you get real, you will note the international athletes are performing better on field of play and in classroom compared to the rest.

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written by getreal, July 10, 2009

Why dont you get rid of most of the international athletes
that earn sporting scholarships for the sake of having a good expereience...its certainly not because they excel at their sport....start cutting some of the tennis players for a start

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written by Ed D, July 02, 2009

To all .. thanks for the comments..

1) UNO may not have the money for another year. But, a plan to use the cash should be done soon.

2) I would ask you? How much easier would it be for athletics to thrive with a season ticket base of 2,500 for hoops and 1,000 for baseball? This would pump cash in every year. I think those are reasonable numbers.

3) I want UNO to succeed. And, to do that football is in my opinion, a must.

Thanks, Ed

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written by Johnny Marchese, July 02, 2009

First, this is one of a few media members that thought out loud a few times that Jim Miller was brought there to at least explore the option of football, and even if the extended family members of football players were the only fans other than students going to the games at Gormley, it would still make a profit in FCS. Ed, you are still right on this one.

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written by UNO '96, July 01, 2009

Definitely plan on football. How in the hell are we the only ones in Louisiana without a team or plan? It is the only way we move forward and get attention in athletics. Otherwise, help baseball. That's what Mr. Cary seemed to love.

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written by insideUNO, July 01, 2009

Good reporting ED but I guess your insight to the University isn't as good as some. UNO is looking only for the next big check. They don't care about the small amounts that could add up to a big pay day. Jim Miller is a lazy bum who only cares about himself and his 134,000 a year salary. That man prides himself on taking credit on other peoples work. He does nothing to show support for his staff, athletes, or his UNIVERSITY. Yet people go out of their way to support that program it is sad he doesn't give a *%&# about it. In a meeting he told his staff he doesn't care what the University thinks of him and he is going to do what he wants. So you say all the right things, ED, in what the University "SHOULD DO" to support its program to better it. But that money is going to be managed all wrong as long as JIM MILLER is in control. So it is screw the little man, it is only the BIG POCKET books that Jim Miller is after.

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written by Student, July 01, 2009

Why not field a football team? Football is king in the south, especially in the New Orleans Metro area. To not field a football team is stupidity at its finest.

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written by Seriously, July 01, 2009

Mr. Wick left money supposedly, but when does it arrive? And who does it go to?

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written by Rickey, July 01, 2009

Mr. Wick left them a nice amount to help them out. They should be heavily planning to get the most out of the money to move the athletic program forward and more self standing. That would be the responsible thing to do.

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written by Seriously, July 01, 2009

Ed, does UNO even have the $$$? You make wills sound like they are executed immediately.

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written by CHARLES BECKER, July 01, 2009

do not agree on fielding a football team, but think they should and can move into big time basketball. hire tim floyd and get it moving.
agree with the baseball improvements

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