I don't disagree with this at all. If I were pouring ten grand or more
into a program, I damn well better be getting tickets - IF I WANTED THEM.

I understand, if you are a UMO grad, and asking "What about all the
money I spent to go there," and empathize with that. I think that's
something that needs to be addressed.

My gripe has been the unavailability of walk-up tickets during the
regular season. I work shift work nights and only have a three-week
notice on what nights I will be working. I also have other
responsibilities, so I may get only one or two days notice of being able
to go to a game.

Three times, a few years ago, I made the trip from Winslow to Orono,
only to listen to the game on the car radio on the way back home.

I believe that situation has been somewhat remedied under Nero and
appreciate that. I also appreciate, very much, the people who donate
large sums in a financially challenged state to keep this program alive,
and begrudge them absolutely nothing when it comes to playoff tickets.
Without them, we'd be looking for tickets for the championship game  at
Middlebury or Norwich.

Deron Treadwell wrote:

>Hi guys,
>
>I haven't weighed in on the whole donor thread, but I can't help
>myself!
>
>I've got no problem with what the university has done.  Hey, if they
>have only a limited number of tickets and want to reward the big
>rollers (so they keep rolling big!) -- it's pretty simple and
>straight-forward.
>
>So, you won't get any argument from me.  I hope that the donors enjoy
>the game and hope they continue to give to the program so we can
>continue to roll out top quality teams.  I am sure that most of us
>die-hard fans would take winning over going to the game and the ability
>to continue to win national championships over an all-inclusive,
>non-weighted ticket policy.  Winning is what we all want, so reward
>those who help us win.
>
>All that said.. it was an poorly worded release that was obviously
>hastily done, which is terribly unforunate to the point of being
>offensive.  As a poor guy who has only occasionally donated to the
>university (aside from the thousands of dollars I will be paying off
>for the prime of my life), I feel underappreciated to the point where I
>am going to hold off on future donations for the time being.
>
>I understand the "nature of the beast", but I don't see where my $50 or
>$100 is worth it when we have a couple hundred big rollers.  Would my
>money not be worth more to the journalism department or to another,
>non-revenue sport?  Probably.
>
>Heck, my money is probably better spent on DirectTV or something so
>that I can actually watch Maine play.
>
>This policy (or rather the way in which it was presented to the public)
>has made a poor man living away feel alienated and I'm not even a
>season ticket holder!  I can't imagine how I'd feel if that was the
>case!
>
>I wasn't going to buy tickets anyways, but that doesn't mean that I
>have the warm fuzzies about all of this.  Go Black Bear$ Beat BC!!
>
>-Deron
>
>
>
>