So many complain but so few give.
That played out a few weeks ago with our matching donor day. The school reached out via email and phone calls to alums all over the country. And this site worked all day to make every readers we had aware of the event and even with a $50,000.00 matching gift from an anonymous donor and Kevin Willard matching donations at 30% we couldn't raise $200,000.00.
Makes me wonder how many who complain reached into their pockets that day (actually weekend as the event was extended) to help the cause?
I posted the following after the failed Donor Matching Day (and, yes, in my eyes this was a failure even though the minimum goals were met):
Not breaking last year's record for amount of money raised as well as donors is not a success but a failure. There is no reason both of those numbers were not increased and looks like poor planning and marketing. As soon as they said they were extending the donor matching I knew they didn't break any records. I spoke to a friend who dropped off their check in person. Instead of the usual setup in Walsh, which made it more of an event, they were setup in a conference room but no one seemed to even be manning that area. This year they seemed to sort of mail it in instead of giving more effort as in previous years which is sad. I spoke with another friend who had spoken to someone at SHU who said they'd just be happy to break 200k, it didn't seem there was even a goal to break last year's amount! Some here are big fans of the individual who said this (it was not Lyons). That attitude needs to change!
The 50 state challenge should remain, there is no reason why we can't do that. Still, they need to build on it. Call all of the donors from last year, ask them to up their donation by $10-25 bucks, ask them to each get one person who didn't donate last year to donate this year. Call your season ticket holders, there are a hell of a lot more than 350! Put the effort in and you'll get the donations and then some! Don't just coast by and be happy with less than status quo!
Ok, now back to today...another friend told me years ago that the person who would just be happy to break 2k told him 'we can't do too much because the more we do, the more people will expect'. Apparently this individual hasn't changed his thinking and is happy to sail along with status quo. That is inexcusable, especially since this guy is also an alum.
I sent in a donation on DMD, I do every year, but did it online. I received a postcard a few days before but never a phone call.
Thing is, Pirate Blue needs to do more outreach. People here stick their nose up to the idea of football but football gives you something other sports don't or gives it at a greater level. That thing is tailgating which is a huge networking opportunity, not just for students, alums and fans but also for senior administrators to get to know, educate and share their goals with students, fans and alums. We don't need 1A football, 1AA would be just fine.
The thing Pirate Blue and Athletics seems to miss the point on is that things like the Beefsteak and Hall of Fame Dinner are great but those people are already hooked and are giving, usually large amounts. You absolutely need those events because you have to keep those people happy and donating. The thing they miss is hooking the casual fan. What are they doing to engage them? Football would certainly help but until such time as that happens they need to think of something else. Why don't they allow and encourage tailgating for baseball, softball and men's and women's soccer? What about some sort of pre-game dining or sports bar type of set up before women's basketball games and maybe volleyball? Have social opportunities available to the common fan who maybe can't afford to donate thousands of dollars (or who knows, maybe they can?) but if they had the opportunity to learn about what was going on as well as the hopes and dreams for the future maybe they'd go from casual fan to season ticket holder or faithful fan who never misses a contest and starts adding Seton Hall Athletics to their list of places the annually make donations to? You need to grow your fanbase and donor base. You can't keep talking to the same people and expect them to spread your message!
Also, make games like softball, baseball, soccer events! Look at what the minor league teams do. Would it kill them to add bathrooms, concession stands and fan stands? That is bare bones minimum that should be done and is long overdue!
If continues to make me scratch my head when Seton Hall athletic admins say we should never reinstate football but then they leave for schools that sponsor it. Meanwhile the guy who is happy with status quo and minimum effort is the guy some would like to see one day become our AD. God help us.
Maybe in your year end interview with Pat Lyons you can bring up some of these points and ask him about them.
