For Schaus:
How much effort has gone into asking the community for help in operations, as budgets get tighter and tighter? Is this even possible with liability and union employee issues at play? There are so many little, inexpensive fixes that could be done to Peden Stadium and the Convo that would help improve gameday experience, from a coat of paint to certain areas, to powerwashing concrete to simply sweeping up in corners of the stadium. Just little things that elevate the experience. And does he feel there are people who would be willing to volunteer to help with these things?
I've always wondered if we weren't under-utilizing a group of people who would like to take action rather than just complain about things. Then I've always wondered if there were reasons we didn't or if I'm overestimating the number of people who would like to help.
Schaus would tell you that he has no control over facilities maintenance, etc. I've been a strong advocate of painting areas of Peden and was told those decisions come from above.
Thanks. I figured there was something I was missing there.
Maybe not control, but I’m sure Schaus has input into facilities recommendations. If not that would be a pretty bad bureaucracy to not even listen to your athletic director.
Agreed. The things that were mentioned (or are always mentioned) aren't even budget busters or things that should require a vote at the Board of Directors. We're talking paint, more effective exterior lighting, power washing and some sweeping, and some better promotional banners inside and outside.
Schaus is correct. Facilities Management determines lights, painting and sweeping. Parking Services runs/owns the parking lots. OUPD does security - yellow jackets, bomb dogs, no cars under the convo during men's games and the reason we can't walk up to and around the outside/covered concourse level . And they will run their departments as they want - not interested in other ideas. It would take a presidential intervention to change that. Short of that Schaus's hands are tied. I retired from O.U. , been that way for many years.
Last Edited: 4/18/2019 9:31:22 PM by left lane, hammer down