Football fee plan adjusted to benefit students

[Guest abovetherim]

12/4/2007

If Lamar University students approve a referendum in January to start a football program at Lamar University, and the Texas State University System Board of Regents approves the measure in February, it will start the clock running toward the first conference games in Fall 2010.

These actions would immediately create the need for money to hire a coach, to begin renovations and construction on a football complex and to support other activities related to bringing the sport to Lamar.  To secure the funds, the university would issue revenue bonds against the anticipated revenue generated by the student fee.

Originally, the university administration had planned to begin charging the student fee in Fall 2008, collecting the fees during the two years before the beginning of conference play in order to have funds available for construction.  The revised plan is to defer the student fee until Fall 2009. The university will meet the needs during the first year from other revenue sources.

Football scrimmage games would begin in Fall 2009. To make the proposal better for students, the administration plans to provide non-transferable four-year season passes to all students who pay the fee during 2009.  Under the new plan, all students will have opportunity to experience four years of conference football, said Billy Tubbs, director of athletics.

In the plan under consideration, all students who pay the football fees in 2009 will receive non-transferable season passes to all home games during the LU football seasons in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“We want to be certain that all students who help bring back football get as much opportunity to participate as others,†said James Simmons, president of Lamar University. “We believe this new plan will allow all students who pay the football fee in 2009 to be a part of excitement.â€

In the current “best case†timeline, a football coach would be hired in Spring 2008, after board approval is received, and begin building the program by recruiting the first 30 players. Construction on the football complex would begin and be completed by Fall 2009.

In the 2009 season, the team would play intra squad scrimmage games, with 30 players on scholarship.  An additional 30 players would be recruited, bringing the squad total to 60.  Conference play would begin in fall 2010.

http://lamar.edu/newsevents/news/207_5895.htm

[Guest coachacola]

12/4/2007

If Lamar University students approve a referendum in January to start a football program at Lamar University, and the Texas State University System Board of Regents approves the measure in February, it will start the clock running toward the first conference games in Fall 2010.

These actions would immediately create the need for money to hire a coach, to begin renovations and construction on a football complex and to support other activities related to bringing the sport to Lamar.  To secure the funds, the university would issue revenue bonds against the anticipated revenue generated by the student fee.

Originally, the university administration had planned to begin charging the student fee in Fall 2008, collecting the fees during the two years before the beginning of conference play in order to have funds available for construction.  The revised plan is to defer the student fee until Fall 2009. The university will meet the needs during the first year from other revenue sources.

Football scrimmage games would begin in Fall 2009. To make the proposal better for students, the administration plans to provide non-transferable four-year season passes to all students who pay the fee during 2009.  Under the new plan, all students will have opportunity to experience four years of conference football, said Billy Tubbs, director of athletics.

In the plan under consideration, all students who pay the football fees in 2009 will receive non-transferable season passes to all home games during the LU football seasons in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“We want to be certain that all students who help bring back football get as much opportunity to participate as others,†said James Simmons, president of Lamar University. “We believe this new plan will allow all students who pay the football fee in 2009 to be a part of excitement.â€

In the current “best case†timeline, a football coach would be hired in Spring 2008, after board approval is received, and begin building the program by recruiting the first 30 players. Construction on the football complex would begin and be completed by Fall 2009.

In the 2009 season, the team would play intra squad scrimmage games, with 30 players on scholarship.  An additional 30 players would be recruited, bringing the squad total to 60.  Conference play would begin in fall 2010.

http://lamar.edu/newsevents/news/207_5895.htm

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it sounds like they already have some big donors lined up to pony up some money right away.  This is first time I've heard them mention a football complex, they've always talked about renovating Higgins field house.  Is it possible they already have some big $$$ lined up and they are ready to roll as soon as football gets approved?

[Guest abovetherim]

Coachacola, I was thinking the very same thing when I first read this.

[Guest coachacola]

I was looking at some images of what Tulsa University's stadium will look like after about $20-24 million of renovations.  They just spent $7 million on a football complex in one end zone.  Their stadium will hold about 27K, not much larger than Cardinal Stadium.  Lamar's looking to spend around $5 million on the football complex (or Higgins field house renovations, whatever you want to call it), and at least $12 million on the stadium.  They could end up with something similar to what Tulsa will have, which wouldn't be that bad at all.

Here's the images:  http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=267220

[KFDM COOP]

Sounding good!

[UNLV]

The economic growth has already started, I was expecting to see change in the mid-late 08, yet I am seeing things now.

LU needs to excite the new and current people of SETX. We need to make big changes to that 1960's stadium.

[WOS95]

im headed back to lamar in spring 08.  i haven't been to school in 10 years.  but i will be more than happy to pay the football fee to get football back at LU. 8)

[Guest abovetherim]

I'm headed back too. That is one vote I won't be missing.  8)