The Corporate Approach

#1
TheVolunteer002

TheVolunteer002

I was just foolin' about
Joined
Dec 6, 2020
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#1
Raise ticket prices, add a talent fee, charge an arm and a leg for a tepid hot dog that was boiled 48 hours before game day, another dollar here, another dollar there, so on and so on, etc.

Those are things I expect to see at Disney World. Those are things I expect to see from a powerhouse program that consistently wins something meaningful at the end of the season every few years.

We haven't won the conference in 30 years. Same with the national title. When we still had divisions, our last at the top of that pecking order reduction was 15+ years ago.
They're out here charging people like they're the 98-00 Yankees, 2010-2020 Alabama, or some other prestigious organization that rakes in titles without a problem.
Now, we can't even keep players here. It's about money. It's always about money. In their eyes, if we win, cool. But it's about money first. It wasn't always the case, but it certainly is now.
 
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#4
#4
TheVolunteer002 said:
Raise ticket prices, add a talent fee, charge an arm and a leg for a tepid hot dog that was boiled 48 hours before game day, another dollar here, another dollar there, so on and so on, etc.

Those are things I expect to see at Disney World. Those are things I expect to see from a powerhouse program that consistently wins something meaningful at the end of the season every few years.

We haven't won the conference in 30 years. Same with the national title. When we still had divisions, our last at the top of that pecking order reduction was 15+ years ago.
They're out here charging people like they're the 98-00 Yankees, 2010-2020 Alabama, or some other prestigious organization that rakes in titles without a problem.
Now, we can't even keep players here. It's about money. It's always about money. In their eyes, if we win, cool. But it's about money first. It wasn't always the case, but it certainly is now.
Click to expand...

I hear you, but here's the thing. If it's just about money now - and it certainly seems to be - how much more are we supposed to spend on guys who don't even want to be at Tennessee anyway? Why do the least loyal get everything we've got? Why willingly submit to that kind of hustle?

I understand from an argument of "well we want to win" why you'd pay those mercenaries, but I'm really bothered by this idea that the players with the least investment or pride in our program are the ones who could get the biggest paydays from us. I don't want to support people who have no loyalty to me (as a fan, not as a person) or to Tennessee. That's just how it is. I don't want to do it. And yes I realize what that means competitively, but I'm just being honest about the situation.

And bear in mind, this isn't "I HATE PAYING PLAYERS." If a guy played for Tennessee for four years, if that's who we're talking about, real Vols who were dedicated, I think my sentiments would be different. I think I'd feel differently about that than I would squeezing down Vol Nation every transfer window. Because this crap is stupid. It was obvious five years ago. It's obvious now. It's stupid.
 
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#5
#5
MemphisVolFan1978 said:
I wish you were wrong.

We, the fans, are the only ones getting the shaft. Everybody else has their stacks of cash, win or lose.
Click to expand...
That's my biggest issue. The fans show up and show out to every sporting event, scream their heads, buy all the stuff, and the university wheels around and sticks their hand out and asks for more.
Doesn't even account for all the off-season fundraisers and nonsense where they roll out a Vol legend and have them tell old war stories to drive ticket sales to the event.
 
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#6
#6
It all feels like extortion at this point. Part of it is from the greedy players, but I’m not certain that the athletics department is not intentionally creating this panic before demanding more. True or not, it shows that what little trust the UT Athletics administration had built has quickly eroded.
 
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#8
#8
We are all susceptible of placing our earnings on the altar of college football. If you wish to place yourself before an ever growing list of idols who give you nothing and take as much as you'll give...then continue on the path laid before you...if not, then withhold your gifts from false idols.
 
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#9
#9
TheVolunteer002 said:
Raise ticket prices, add a talent fee, charge an arm and a leg for a tepid hot dog that was boiled 48 hours before game day, another dollar here, another dollar there, so on and so on, etc.

Those are things I expect to see at Disney World. Those are things I expect to see from a powerhouse program that consistently wins something meaningful at the end of the season every few years.

We haven't won the conference in 30 years. Same with the national title. When we still had divisions, our last at the top of that pecking order reduction was 15+ years ago.
They're out here charging people like they're the 98-00 Yankees, 2010-2020 Alabama, or some other prestigious organization that rakes in titles without a problem.
Now, we can't even keep players here. It's about money. It's always about money. In their eyes, if we win, cool. But it's about money first. It wasn't always the case, but it certainly is now.
Click to expand...

Only thing that will change any of it will be letting your voice be heard through your wallet. If enough people stop going to games, and start tuning out and become apathetic, their bottom line will force them to make changes
 
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#11
#11
Don't worry they are killing college sports. It may even have to die before something is done. The NCAA is a crap run operation but winning these victories in court has made it insignificant to the overall spectrum of college sports. Giving colleges and players free reign will be the death of it. How long before team jerseys have corporate sponsors on the jerseys and helmet as part of the NIL giving package. Players giving interviews will sound like NASCAR drivers listing off the NIL corporate sponsors.
 
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#12
#12
Voltopia said:
I hear you, but here's the thing. If it's just about money now - and it certainly seems to be - how much more are we supposed to spend on guys who don't even want to be at Tennessee anyway? Why do the least loyal get everything we've got? Why willingly submit to that kind of hustle?

I understand from an argument of "well we want to win" why you'd pay those mercenaries, but I'm really bothered by this idea that the players with the least investment or pride in our program are the ones who could get the biggest paydays from us. I don't want to support people who have no loyalty to me (as a fan, not as a person) or to Tennessee. That's just how it is. I don't want to do it. And yes I realize what that means competitively, but I'm just being honest about the situation.

And bear in mind, this isn't "I HATE PAYING PLAYERS." If a guy played for Tennessee for four years, if that's who we're talking about, real Vols who were dedicated, I think my sentiments would be different. I think I'd feel differently about that than I would squeezing down Vol Nation every transfer window. Because this crap is stupid. It was obvious five years ago. It's obvious now. It's stupid.
Click to expand...
I hear ya. I think what this is going to become or maybe already has is that we are cheering for a jersey only. These guys are all mercenaries, at least many are. These days of campus legends wearing the OW for three or four years will become fewer and fewer
 
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#13
#13
Do you want nice things? Nice things cost money.

People complain about narrow concourses in Neyland, the bathrooms, the concessions, the WiFi. People can’t attend baseball games because there are not enough seats. We want player facilities that are on par with our peers. All of those things take money.

Cost of most things in this world have went up.

Football team made the playoffs, Baseball team are National Champions, Basketball team currently #1 and making runs in the tourney every year.
 
#14
#14
TheVolunteer002 said:
Raise ticket prices, add a talent fee, charge an arm and a leg for a tepid hot dog that was boiled 48 hours before game day, another dollar here, another dollar there, so on and so on, etc.

Those are things I expect to see at Disney World. Those are things I expect to see from a powerhouse program that consistently wins something meaningful at the end of the season every few years.

We haven't won the conference in 30 years. Same with the national title. When we still had divisions, our last at the top of that pecking order reduction was 15+ years ago.
They're out here charging people like they're the 98-00 Yankees, 2010-2020 Alabama, or some other prestigious organization that rakes in titles without a problem.
Now, we can't even keep players here. It's about money. It's always about money. In their eyes, if we win, cool. But it's about money first. It wasn't always the case, but it certainly is now.
Click to expand...
Not a spectacle for the common folk anymore for sure. I feel for the people that will never get to take their family to a game. It’s now 1-2K for a family of four to attend and spend the day eating, travel, etc. It’s out of reach for many people now.
 
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#15
#15
EastTNVol6240 said:
Not a spectacle for the common folk anymore for sure. I feel for the people that will never get to take their family to a game. It’s now 1-2K for a family of four to attend and spend the day eating, travel, etc. It’s out of reach for many people now.
Click to expand...
That's why I was so glad when we went to the Music City Bowl. It was much cheaper in every way than a home game. It was special because that was the game when my wife came over to the Orange Side. She couldn't scream Rocky Top all afternoon with all our fans and not fall in love with the Vols.
 
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#16
#16
TheVolunteer002 said:
Raise ticket prices, add a talent fee, charge an arm and a leg for a tepid hot dog that was boiled 48 hours before game day, another dollar here, another dollar there, so on and so on, etc.

Those are things I expect to see at Disney World. Those are things I expect to see from a powerhouse program that consistently wins something meaningful at the end of the season every few years.

We haven't won the conference in 30 years. Same with the national title. When we still had divisions, our last at the top of that pecking order reduction was 15+ years ago.
They're out here charging people like they're the 98-00 Yankees, 2010-2020 Alabama, or some other prestigious organization that rakes in titles without a problem.
Now, we can't even keep players here. It's about money. It's always about money. In their eyes, if we win, cool. But it's about money first. It wasn't always the case, but it certainly is now.
Click to expand...

Thanks Karl!
 
#17
#17
UTFanForLife said:
Do you want nice things? Nice things cost money.

People complain about narrow concourses in Neyland, the bathrooms, the concessions, the WiFi. People can’t attend baseball games because there are not enough seats. We want player facilities that are on par with our peers. All of those things take money.

Cost of most things in this world have went up.

Football team made the playoffs, Baseball team are National Champions, Basketball team currently #1 and making runs in the tourney every year.
Click to expand...
I don't want to hear the nice things cost money bit. The university could buy every man and lady on this board a half a million dollar house without batting an eye. We pay our head football coach alone $10,000,000 per year.
We signed a 19 year old to an $8,000,000 NIL contract.
$18,000,000 on one coach and one player in one sport.
Tennessee isn't hurting for money.
 
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#18
#18
TheVolunteer002 said:
I don't want to hear the nice things cost money bit. The university could buy every man and lady on this board a half a million dollar house without batting an eye. We pay our head football coach alone $10,000,000 per year.
We signed a 19 year old to an $8,000,000 NIL contract.
$18,000,000 on one coach and one player in one sport.
Tennessee isn't hurting for money.
Click to expand...
Oh it’s not a bit, they don’t just do things for free in this world. Everything has an asking price, if you want it you will have to pay it. If the University is charging or paying early 2000’s prices they will soon be non-existent.
 
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#19
#19
The fees they charge are not enough to actually pay for it. They are sucking in a lot more money than that and they always have. The cost of good season tickets was going to be your “donation” plus whatever the ticket costs. But now of course whatever NIL money we have is outside this.

I imagine it’s not sustainable, but it’s really none of my business. I am not a booster and I also don’t pay NIL. I don’t have any intuition about fan fatigue because personally I am not trying.
 
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#20
#20
The Original Fade said:
Only thing that will change any of it will be letting your voice be heard through your wallet. If enough people stop going to games, and start tuning out and become apathetic, their bottom line will force them to make changes
Click to expand...
Go ahead and cut of you nose. Not machine can do when at least 15 schools are spending twice as much money for NIL than we do. It is now truly, your team will be the best you can pay for. If you can not pay more, you will not win championships. in football regardless if you of who is your coach.
 
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#22
#22
VOLINVONORE said:
Go ahead and cut of you nose. Not machine can do when at least 15 schools are spending twice as much money for NIL than we do. It is now truly, your team will be the best you can pay for. If you can not pay more, you will not win championships. in football regardless if you of who is your coach.
Click to expand...

That’s just it. There’s no more recruiting, winning over parents, players believing in what Heupel or the HC is doing, being apart of Vol culture, etc. It’s just writing checks now. Starting to not care
 
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