That's the most unreasonable argument I have ever heard. Fundraisers without the schools backing means nothing. Which is why I will not support this mess by going to games, buying merchandise, signing checks for the Hurricane Club, or other things that the athletic department holds dear. I would suggest that others that read this do the same thing. I totally understand the banner as a voice for the voiceless. The reporter that has something to lose if he doesn't write certain things in the paper is no champion to the little guy. The TV reporter that reports what the execs say report on doesn't even care what the little guy has to say. The UM admin can care less what the average fan has to say, because if they did they would address line item by line item ALL of their concerns.
Total BS.
Again, I've repeated myself about a dozen times now; I'll go ahead and do it once more.
Here's what you do.
Step 1. Start a KickStarter or GoFundMe site. Get fans to donate 20, 50, 100 bucks. All it takes is a couple thousand fans donating an average of ~50 bucks each and you've got 100k in your pocket.
Step 2. Elect a spokesperson for the group, someone who's passionate and knowledgeable about football but also well-spoken and personable in general, probably an alum.
Step 3. With the ~100k pledged, either set a meeting with a BOT member (or a few BOT members). If they won't meet with you, go to the press. Tell them our concerns. That puts BIG-TIME pressure on the admin.
People will listen to a few thousand fans who've put up 100k. People won't listen to penny-ante dumbasses who fly banners.
It didn't have any effect when people flew banners to fire Butch; I don't understand why people think the same tactic will magically have an effect now.
I must be blogging with Stevie Wonder:
The banner is the tool of the little guy. SMH @ 100K...that **** won't even raise an eyebrow. Empty seats, banners, and other things will get the right attention though. In my business, 100K is a nice haul for 6 months to a year, but not nearly enough. But, for a university that is small peanuts.
Again, you're choosing not to hear what I'm laying down.
The banner is the tool of idiots.
43 people donated to the banner. 43. That's all.
The admin laughs at 43 people. The admin knows that those 43 people don't determine squat, have no money, and mean nothing to them.
Put together a couple thousand people who donate 40 or 50 bucks a pop on average and then you have a movement.
Of course it's small potatoes when you're talking about a 6 or 7 million dollar buyout...but that's hardly the point. The point is that the admin sees a ****load of angry fans who put up their hard-earned cash to get rid of Al.
And if the admin doesn't listen, that's when you go to the press. Bet your *** that an organized movement of 2,000 fans calling for the head of Golden on a platter, with 100k to back it up, will get some major press on your side. Unlike a banner, which the press has laughed off and/or disparaged UM fans for.