Facilities (ESPN Insider)

[T REX]

I haven't read every post in this thread so forgive me if somebody else already made this point.

In the Spurrier era, our facilities were better than FSU or Miami until FSU used taxpayer dollars to cement in that erector set and built Reynolds Hall (as in Burt Reynolds). We kept up with Springs and Keys. FSU didn't even have a hoops facility. They played at the Leon County Civic Center (still do). Miami doesn't have it's own football stadium (still don't).

We had a hiccup with the Zook era but then we got Urban. That's when the facilities arms race began. In many ways, we are a victim of Urban's (and Billy's) success.

Schools desperate to compete with us spent lavishly on jumbotrons, "athletic" dorms, dining facilities, locker rooms, training facilities, etc.

They were trying to compete with us. We didn't need to spend money on that stuff. We were FLORIDA. We had the weather, the stadium, the coeds, the best coachs in the country, the best teams in the country. Why blow cash on football Taj Mahal when we had Urban and Billy bringing in the best recruits and winning national championships? Gainesville was titletown. We were better than 'Bama at football and better than Kentucky at basketball. Oh, we did a few things. We remodeled the inside of the O-Dome a bit, built Urban a new "front door" for the stadium, little stuff.

Drunk with on-field and on-court success, we forgot how easy it was to fall from the top. Then we fell from the top. We plummeted. Oh, and something really bad happened to the economy in 2008.

We figured we'd be back right away. Just an off year or two. No need to panic and spend millions. We were still FLORIDA. Muschamp delivered a 12 win season and a BCS bowl. Donovan got some top recruits and made a Final Four run in 2014. Everything was going to be OK. No need to panic. Money was really tight all of a sudden so let's not do anything rash to compete with Mississippi State or South Carolina.

Then the damn bottom fell out.

'Bama is the team of the decade in football. Kentucky is the team of the decade in basketball. We're sniffing around the NIT and getting beat by GA Southern. And now FSU has better facilities. And the whole SEC has better facilities. And Clemson has better facilities. And those teams are playing for national championships.

We got too arrogant. Too complacent. We forgot the lessons Charley Pell taught us when he took over a Florida team with terrible facilities and upgraded them to make us competitive and (in part) usher in the success of the Spurrier era.

We rested on our laurels and figured we didn't have to compete. We were wrong. Now we need to shift this thing into high gear. I'd build a giant resort-style pool somewhere between Springs and Keys. Put in a damn lazy river and a couple of giant water slides, bunch of hot tubs, the whole bit. I'd build a new movie theater too. Forget matching what 'Bama did or Clemson did...we do them one better. **** them.

Alex.

 

[G 2]

Some espn moron named Hiney "blogs" the worst facilities so you can repeat the SOS about JF. Do you and Law ever think of anything else?

I don't care about what ESPN says. I don't really car about our facilities. But I do care about our recruits and the transitive property makes me care about what our recruits care about. If that is facilities is so be it. Things change quickly in college football coach. Maybe the facilities used to not be that important. It doesn't look that way anymore. Otherwise show me where I'm wrong.

 

[Jenny On The Railroad]

But most of their players get bulked up in the weight room at the Leon County Corrections Center.



Alex.

Should. But most of them that should will never see the inside of a courtroom.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

Sounds like what we need to do is partner with The Disney Company and MGM Resorts. Once the Swamp is demolished, the new air-conditioned bowl with retractable roof could incorporate the newest mid-rise luxury hotel suites with floor to ceiling windows, ala Aria Sky Suites. We should put the Gator Walk in the rear view mirror as no self-respecting 5 star should be expected to walk to the stadium having to shake hands with fans. Players of their stature should be taxied to the stadium via rotorcraft, escorted by none other than the white bengal tigers of Sigfried and Roy and a troupe of acrobats from Cirque de Soleil. They would also be in charge of half-time entertainment. I left out the part about the two new jumbotrons running constant twitter feeds and and instagram shots from all the players accounts so they could constantly be relevant..

 

[aka]

This is what we really need.

 

[Swamp Queen]

Sounds like what we need to do is partner with The Disney Company and MGM Resorts. Once the Swamp is demolished, the new air-conditioned bowl with retractible roof could incorporate the newest mid-rise luxury hotel suites with floor to ceiling windows, ala Aria Sky Suites. We should put the Gator Walk in the rear view mirror as no self-respecting 5 star should be expected to walk to the stadium having to shake hands with fans. Players of their stature should be taxied to the stadium via rotorcraft, escorted by none other than the white bengal tigers of Sigfried and Roy and a troupe of acrobats from Cirque de Soleil. They would also be in charge of half-time entertainment. I left out the part about the two new jumbotrons running constant twitter feeds and and instagram shots from all the players accounts so they could constantly be relevant..

 

[t-gator]

Let's play Athletic Director. Why don't you a few of you geniuses individually put together your line item list of facility improvements/changes or upgrades that you feel necessary to allow UF to recruit 5 star high school football players on a nationally championship level. year in and year out. Along with your list, be sure and include what you think the cost impact and construction timeline.should be. This is not a personnel search and keep in mind you will also need to get these facility changes or upgrades approved and financed.

I'm pretty sure i just hired alexdagator.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

I haven't read every post in this thread so forgive me if somebody else already made this point.

In the Spurrier era, our facilities were better than FSU or Miami until FSU used taxpayer dollars to cement in that erector set and built Reynolds Hall (as in Burt Reynolds). We kept up with Springs and Keys. FSU didn't even have a hoops facility. They played at the Leon County Civic Center (still do). Miami doesn't have it's own football stadium (still don't).

We had a hiccup with the Zook era but then we got Urban. That's when the facilities arms race began. In many ways, we are a victim of Urban's (and Billy's) success.

Schools desperate to compete with us spent lavishly on jumbotrons, "athletic" dorms, dining facilities, locker rooms, training facilities, etc.

They were trying to compete with us. Foley didn't need to spend money on that stuff. We were FLORIDA. We had the weather, the stadium, the coeds, the best coachs in the country, the best teams in the country. Why blow cash on football Taj Mahal when we had Urban and Billy bringing in the best recruits and winning national championships? Gainesville was titletown. We were better than 'Bama at football and better than Kentucky at basketball. Oh, Foley did a few things. Foley remodeled the inside of the O-Dome a bit, built Urban a new "front door" for the stadium, little stuff.

Drunk with on-field and on-court success, Foley forgot how easy it was to fall from the top. Then we fell from the top. We plummeted. Oh, and something really bad happened to the economy in 2008.

We figured we'd be back right away. Just an off year or two. No need to panic and spend millions. We were still FLORIDA. Muschamp delivered a 12 win season and a BCS bowl. Donovan got some top recruits and made a Final Four run in 2014. Everything was going to be OK. No need to panic. Money was really tight all of a sudden so let's not do anything rash to compete with Mississippi State or South Carolina.

Then the damn bottom fell out.

'Bama is the team of the decade in football. Kentucky is the team of the decade in basketball. We're sniffing around the NIT and getting beat by GA Southern. And now FSU has better facilities. And the whole SEC has better facilities. And Clemson has better facilities. And those teams are playing for national championships.

Foley got too arrogant. Too complacent. Foley forgot the lessons Charley Pell taught us when he took over a Florida team with terrible facilities and upgraded them to make us competitive and (in part) usher in the success of the Spurrier era.

Foley rested on our laurels and figured we didn't have to compete. Foley was wrong. Now we need to shift this thing into high gear. I'd build a giant resort-style pool somewhere between Springs and Keys. Put in a damn lazy river and a couple of giant water slides, bunch of hot tubs, the whole bit. I'd build a new movie theater too. Forget matching what 'Bama did or Clemson did...we do them one better. **** them.

Alex.

FIFY

 

[stephenPE]

Sounds like what we need to do is partner with The Disney Company and MGM Resorts. Once the Swamp is demolished, the new air-conditioned bowl with retractible roof could incorporate the newest mid-rise luxury hotel suites with floor to ceiling windows, ala Aria Sky Suites. We should put the Gator Walk in the rear view mirror as no self-respecting 5 star should be expected to walk to the stadium having to shake hands with fans. Players of their stature should be taxied to the stadium via rotorcraft, escorted by none other than the white bengal tigers of Sigfried and Roy and a troupe of acrobats from Cirque de Soleil. They would also be in charge of half-time entertainment. I left out the part about the two new jumbotrons running constant twitter feeds and and instagram shots from all the players accounts so they could constantly be relevant..

We think alike CCC.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

We think alike CCC.

Is that cooter's first serious post?

 

[stephenPE]

Is that cooter's first serious post?

I saw what you did there.........

 

[Chomper]

Some athletic facilities are basic and essential, obviously. Weight rooms and therapy facilities fall into that category. Many other athletic facilities fall into the category of luxuries, such as fancy athletic dorms and space age recreation rooms and the like. These "luxury" facilities are for little more than to coddle the so-called "student-athlete." Today's college jock wants to be treated like Roman nobility until they are called to the pros for the really big bucks. As a big college sports fan, UAA supporter, and ummmm taxpayer, I have to wonder where this Facilities Race is leading us. It is disturbing on many levels, partially for the cost, but also for the objectives.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

Is that cooter's first serious post?

My account was obviously hacked

 

[Jax Gator]

Amen!

 

[rogdochar]

My account was obviously hacked

.... and hackneyed Coot ?

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

South end zone locker room addition on the way. Mac is getting sh*t DONE!!!! #ChompChomp

 

[GatorJ]

South end zone locker room addition on the way. Mac is getting sh*t DONE!!!! #ChompChomp View attachment 2827

Why would he be getting that done? According to a bunch of people on here we don't need it...

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

Why would he be getting that done? According to a bunch of people on here we don't need it...

Lol....there's multiple things that need to be upgraded. Hopefully the Locker room is next and then the players lounge. If what I've been told is true those will be included in with this one.

 

[T REX]

Why would he be getting that done? According to a bunch of people on here we don't need it...

LOL. Great point. We don't need a bunch of debt. We're debt free and middle of the road SEC. Which would you rather be?

 

[ATXGator]

Apparently we are doing more upgrades... Dorms first.

http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/M...ng-for-UF-including-dorm-improvement-44394066