WBBFAN, Thank you for going even though you didn't totally agree with the concept... I completely agree with your take on it!WBBFAN wrote: However…..
I am very opposed, and have been very vocal about the decision to eliminate all the other golf outings/fundraisers in leu of this one outing. I have been participating in the women’s basketball outing since Jaci Clark was coach. I helped build it when Curt first came to BGSU, and it has become a date many of us mark off on our calendars as soon as Brandi sets the date each year. I also have played in Falcon Ladies Day for many years, and last year I played in the football outing at Toledo CC and in the women’s golf outing.
I played in the Falcon Bash for two reasons. 1 – Because a coach asked me to play on her team and 2 – because you can’t complain if you haven’t experienced it first hand. For the record……I have NO complaints about the Falcon Bash itself.
I strongly disagree with Mr. Christopher’s decision to throw away tradition. Since I don’t know who any of you are, I will ask, have any of you ever played in the women’s basketball outing, or in Falcon Ladies day? If so, how many of the people who faithfully play in those other outings did you see at the Falcon Bash? I think I might have seen 10 familiar faces from those outing.
The door has been slammed on the “little guy”……people who play because of the friendship they feel at the individual outings. People who have no relationship to BGSU except these outings (women’s bball in particular). People who support BGSU athletics, but can’t justify the cost of even $175 on the low end. All that money is gone, but more importantly, so is the support, the tradition, the camaraderie and being able to interact with the coaches and the players. If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. And all that translates into money….not only at the outing, but when these participants turn into fans and pay to come to a game, or participate in another function or outing. You have to have money to run a great athletic program.....but a strong fan base is important too. Big money might give you a great facility, but it doesn't put fans in the seats....unless you have a winning program all the time.
The Falcon Bash caters to the “big money” guys. “Just give us a ton of money, and we won’t bother you anymore”. We need big money and I’m not opposed to change. Greg Christopher was not hired to continue doing everything just as it has always been done. His forte' is fundraising, and I don't doubt he will be successful. I’ll play in the Falcon Bash again because I think is serves a purpose in raising a lot of money. But, in the end, I think as much good was lost, as gained.
I embrace the concept that GC is working towards 18 sports 1 Team. And I will back the dept on this as long as the funds can get distributed accordingly. I too played for a non-revenue team at BG and I would have loved to have got 1/2 of what the revenue teams got when it came to clothing, support, meals, etc. (This was pre-Addias sponsorship). However as you said "The door has been slammed on the “little guy”……people play because of the friendship they feel at the individual outings." is lost. I looked forward each year to going to the WBB, Falcon Club Women's, MBB & BB outings.
"The Falcon Bash caters to the “big money” guys." and if someone is to convince me otherwise they would have a hard time doing so. The AD dept needs to remember that all fan support is needed regardless of their income status. They may not be able to give $$, but they sure can offer time. And if you have the $$ by all means give it.
Fans is what it takes and a great experience will get them coming back for more. I look at it from the perspective of an educators salary. I support the falcons and promote BGSU everywhere I go and b/c I choose not give up $205 to play that should not be held against me or anyone else. Let's be honest I would have loved to participated and play at Stone Ridge last weekend, however my budget and previous plans got in the way.
MACMAN: I too can't stand the "New/retail" Logo
and you will not find me purchasing anything that has the UGLY falcon on it! It will have to be given to me as a gift or something and even then it will sit in my dresser...Thank God SBX recognizes that their are Alums out there who do not like it and will continue to keep the "original".
I still say it looks like the Miami Redhawk and all of you who say otherwise kiss off 
Oh, and there's no need to bring up the comparison pictures of the two...
