Jarhead
02-04-2010, 12:37 AM
Just a little while ago, I completed a survey conducted by PriceWaterhouseCooper on behalf of Duke athletics. I indicated that they should pass my response to the Administration. I was about as negative as I could get. I am not impressed with the survey, but that may be my negativity against such organizations as SWC and KPMG, particularly when they function as consultants instead of auditors.
As to the survey, they were asking if I approved plans for luxury suites and club seats with capital contributions required for as much as $20 grand on down to $500. I indicated that I was opposed, but only because such a move would detract from the existing stadiums. What I really objected to was the idea of asking for contributions for seat 20 year seat rights in certain sections in the West stands, and lesser contributions in the East stands. If any of this happens before the next season, then I will have seen my last football game in Wallace Wade Stadium... Unless, of course , someone makes the required donations for me. I'd advise against that, though. I am sure that, at my age, it won't be many more years that I will be able to sit in Wade for a whole game, or even a quarter.
A far as I am concerned, I have already paid my dues for my tiny little 3 or 4 feet of aluminum bench. When I retired from the Marine Corps at the end of the Viet Nam war I went to work at Duke. I was already an annual donor to the Annual Fund, and when the Iron Dukes was created, I was a charter member. While working there I tithed a good portion of my salary to that Annual Fund and the Iron Dukes. I have had my same seats in Wade for almost forty years, and have missed very few games. I had seats in Cameron up until about 1987, two years after I moved to the Washington, DC area. During that two years I was able to get to only about three games. Since I never expected to move back to North Carolina, and since most games were on TV, I decided to save the money, and gave up my seats. Too bad, because I retired to Southern Pines 16 years ago. Who knew?
This has made me a bit emotional. If I lose my Wade seats because of some grandiose plans to appease the big dogs, they will get not a penny from me in the future. I will still root for the Blue Devils, I will still brag on my degree from Duke, and I will hope that my grandchildren that are interested in going to Duke will be able to do so. The first is likely to enter with the Class of 2014.
As to the survey, they were asking if I approved plans for luxury suites and club seats with capital contributions required for as much as $20 grand on down to $500. I indicated that I was opposed, but only because such a move would detract from the existing stadiums. What I really objected to was the idea of asking for contributions for seat 20 year seat rights in certain sections in the West stands, and lesser contributions in the East stands. If any of this happens before the next season, then I will have seen my last football game in Wallace Wade Stadium... Unless, of course , someone makes the required donations for me. I'd advise against that, though. I am sure that, at my age, it won't be many more years that I will be able to sit in Wade for a whole game, or even a quarter.
A far as I am concerned, I have already paid my dues for my tiny little 3 or 4 feet of aluminum bench. When I retired from the Marine Corps at the end of the Viet Nam war I went to work at Duke. I was already an annual donor to the Annual Fund, and when the Iron Dukes was created, I was a charter member. While working there I tithed a good portion of my salary to that Annual Fund and the Iron Dukes. I have had my same seats in Wade for almost forty years, and have missed very few games. I had seats in Cameron up until about 1987, two years after I moved to the Washington, DC area. During that two years I was able to get to only about three games. Since I never expected to move back to North Carolina, and since most games were on TV, I decided to save the money, and gave up my seats. Too bad, because I retired to Southern Pines 16 years ago. Who knew?
This has made me a bit emotional. If I lose my Wade seats because of some grandiose plans to appease the big dogs, they will get not a penny from me in the future. I will still root for the Blue Devils, I will still brag on my degree from Duke, and I will hope that my grandchildren that are interested in going to Duke will be able to do so. The first is likely to enter with the Class of 2014.