I think it's too light for GatorTalk. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:51:41 To: <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: 6/16 17:14 --- "THE CHALKBOARD" === UF athletic director jokes about FSU accusation [Crabbe]
THFGT -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: 6/16 17:14 --- "THE CHALKBOARD" === UF athletic director jokes about FSU accusation [Crabbe] From: John Vega <[email protected] <mailto://[email protected]> > Date: Thu, June 17, 2010 10:57 am To: [email protected] <mailto://[email protected]> On Jun 17, 2010, at 8:39 AM, Shane Ford wrote: The e-mail was apparently sent to state senators and is getting some attention online. It accuses UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley of preventing Florida State from getting into the SEC. Dear Senator: It has come to my attention that there have been recent activities by the University of Florida, particularly their Athletic Director, Jeremy Foley, to block the Florida State University from receiving an invitation to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Recently there was an opportunity regarding expansion where the SEC was considering adding more members. Potentially, it would have added a school from Texas and was likely to add one more team, very likely FSU. Upon learning this, members of the University of Florida made moves within the conference to ensure that if the conference expanded, FSU would not receive an invitation. If FSU were allowed to join the SEC it would garner an addition 7 million dollars per year for Florida State University. If the SEC had added teams this time, they would have instead invited Virginia Tech. Luckily this expansion of teams was postponed due to the team from Texas backing out of the offer. As things currently stand, the conference is continuing to consider expansion and may do so within the next year. I am absolutely outraged that Jeremy Foley and other employees of the University of Florida made moves to block FSU. These people are employees of a public university and thus the state of Florida. This move would have potentially lost FSU, another public institution, 7 million additional dollars of revenue per year. I humbly demand that action be taken to reverse the University of Florida’s stance of blocking FSU from joining the same conference. There is a chance that a state of Florida school could earn vastly more money per year, how dare another state of Florida school block that chance. I say “reverse”, because instead of moving along with other teams to block FSU’s invitation, the school could have garnered support within its conference to invite FSU. Much better for that 7 million to go to the state of Florida, than to another state, in this case Virginia. The window of consideration is very short and action must be swiftly taken to ensure that one of our state schools is not barred the chance for a vast increase in revenue per year. It may be mere months before the SEC decides to add additional members, and the University of Florida must be forced to change its harmful actions. I would be very disappointed if the people that represent my state did not do all they could to ensure that an additional increase of revenue was protected. As things stand now, I plan to write many other members of legislature. However, if no action is taken I plan on pursuing several means at my disposal to ensure that the current situation is brought to light in state publications. If my legislatures will not fight for my school against another school that I remind you, is a public institution, I most certainly will. There are many other constituents that feel the same, and many more that even though they may not care about FSU, will care that millions of dollars coming into the state of Florida were lost because legislators did not act, or did not act in a timely manner. I am including an excerpt below of a publication that brought some of these events to light, and I can produce the article in full by request. There are also documents implicating Foley and other members of the University that can be obtained via public records request should it come to that. Here is the most pertinent excerpt: “Had Texas A&M signed on with the SEC, the new 13-team SEC would have expanded by at least by one more to make it a 14-team conference (and 16 eventually). Florida State would have been a serious candidate to become No. 14 and as I mentioned in a blog weeks ago, it's likely that the 'Noles would have jumped on the offer. However as soon as it looked like a 14-team SEC might become a possibility, Florida began working hard behind the scenes within the conference to make sure that FSU wouldn't receive an invite. Along those same lines, South Carolina was doing the same to keep Clemson out and Georgia didn't want rival Georgia Tech in the conference either. As a result, all signs were pointing to the SEC targeting Virginia Tech to become the 14th member in its new Mega Conference. Whether or not the Virginia legislature, the same one the put pressure on UVA to bring the Hokies into the ACC not too long ago, would have allowed Virginia Tech to jump ship remains to be seen. But had this scenario played out with Va. Tech leaving for the SEC, it would have further weakened the ACC's football presence and been a blow to FSU who would be stuck in a weakened conference for the foreseeable future.” – Gene Williams of Warchant.com <http://rootzoo.com/threads/view/NCAA-Football/General/This-is-the-most-awesome-thing-Ive-ever-seen_319387> Lest you think this article is the lone testament to this occurrence, it is corroborated with several other articles online and in Florida newspapers. There Foley has been especially implicated. These articles too can be reproduced if necessary. I will endeavor to provide any of these additional materials you need by request. Also, any questions you may have regarding these outraging events I am more than willing to answer or connect you to people with hands on experience with this situation. Please do not let me, and more importantly one of our state’s great institutions, down. Endeavor to change the harmful stance by our state’s employees in the University of Florida. I do not look forward to having to go to the media if our state government does not act in the best interests swiftly. Our public institutions have to do whatever they can to get whatever funding they may. Seven million dollars a year would make all the difference to FSU. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you to know currently I have the greatest faith in my elected officials. -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us <http://www.gatornet.us> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
