to part with millions of dollars?
at most schools the answer is: school loyalty and a desire to win. at VU? school loyalty obviously; perhaps a desire to support an AD that does things the right way. But is winning really at the top of the list of motivations like it is at other schools?
at many big state schools the AD has to live with meddlesome major donors......boy what I would give for a few demanding major donors! But on second thought, Kirkland and BOT would just say take your money, we don't need it, we'll do it our way. So unlike many P5 schools, VU's few major donors don't have much if any leverage. I suspect they have to give money without exerting much influence over big decisions regarding athletics. that absence of leverage and lack of major donors means that no pressure is exerted on Kirkland relative to athletics. the Tennessean story earlier this year seemed to have a shaming or embarrassing effect, but appears it may have been temporary, unless the promised facilities master plan is ever unveiled.
at most schools the answer is: school loyalty and a desire to win. at VU? school loyalty obviously; perhaps a desire to support an AD that does things the right way. But is winning really at the top of the list of motivations like it is at other schools?
at many big state schools the AD has to live with meddlesome major donors......boy what I would give for a few demanding major donors! But on second thought, Kirkland and BOT would just say take your money, we don't need it, we'll do it our way. So unlike many P5 schools, VU's few major donors don't have much if any leverage. I suspect they have to give money without exerting much influence over big decisions regarding athletics. that absence of leverage and lack of major donors means that no pressure is exerted on Kirkland relative to athletics. the Tennessean story earlier this year seemed to have a shaming or embarrassing effect, but appears it may have been temporary, unless the promised facilities master plan is ever unveiled.
