STrib: University of Minnesota's athletic department investigation will be public Tue

[zman]

Need to find something to grab people's attention.

 

[MGGopher]

Need to find something to grab people's attention.

View attachment 4017

LMAO...unreal. So perhaps $200k mishandled by one jackas$ AD over the course of a few years. On a $100 million budget, that's 0.2%...but spread over what, 3 years, it's like 0.067%. How much did they spend on the investigation again?

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_29217800/umns-norwood-teague-mlb-swapped-stadium-use-perks

"Former University of Minnesota athletics director Norwood Teague granted Major League Baseball free access to TCF Bank Stadium for a 2014 concert in exchange for a suite and tickets to that summer's All-Star Game, according to a financial audit released Tuesday.

The U typically charges a $125,000 fee for use of a football stadium, but MLB was allowed to use it at no cost for an Imagine Dragons concert the league held there three days before the baseball game at Target Field in Minneapolis."

All I can say is a BIG F' U to the U's new season ticket pricing for football! Aside from the forced donation for season tickets, anyone who donates a dime to U athletics is a dope.

Why is this a big deal. This didn't "cost" the U $125,000. They let MLB use the stadium for an event. The concert was free, so it isn't as if MLB was turning a profit on it. In fact, as a Gopher football season ticket holder, I was able to get tickets, so they generated some goodwill. If they hadn't let MLB use the stadium, it would have almost certainly sat empty so it isn't as if they were giving up other revenue. In exchange for the use of TCF Bank Stadium they got a suite and something like 50 tickets to the Allstar game which they could then use to entertain donors. Maybe they did not use "enough" of those tickets for people outside the department, but an event like that which comes to town once a generation can be very attractive to donors. If they can make a similar deal when the Super Bowl is in town, I think that they should do it.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Why is this a big deal. This didn't "cost" the U $125,000. They let MLB use the stadium for an event. The concert was free, so it isn't as if MLB was turning a profit on it. In fact, as a Gopher football season ticket holder, I was able to get tickets, so they generated some goodwill. If they hadn't let MLB use the stadium, it would have almost certainly sat empty so it isn't as if they were giving up other revenue. In exchange for the use of TCF Bank Stadium they got a suite and something like 50 tickets to the Allstar game which they could then use to entertain donors. Maybe they did not use "enough" of those tickets for people outside the department, but an event like that which comes to town once a generation can be very attractive to donors. If they can make a similar deal when the Super Bowl is in town, I think that they should do it.

Agree or disagree, donations and government employees don't go over well and there are often rules involved.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Why is this a big deal. This didn't "cost" the U $125,000. They let MLB use the stadium for an event. The concert was free, so it isn't as if MLB was turning a profit on it. In fact, as a Gopher football season ticket holder, I was able to get tickets, so they generated some goodwill.

The Audit granted that unusual agreements are common. Thee issue was that Teague and Real Estate Management made the agreement without senior university leadership being informed. The University billed MLB for $187,000 for direct expenses for the concert. The deal itself could be made again with presumably more transparency.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

So you'd prefer we never win in anything ever again?

Nothing personal but when have won anything? Sorry, but I only started watching and attending gopher football games since the 70's. But not really my point.

Who was the total dumbazz that came up with the new increased season ticket "donation" policy with the precious tax write-off? That's right, Woody and no doubt his right jerking hand man Ellie. Well, the interim and hopefully soon to be replaced athletics administration seems to think it was a good idea to continue it. So why should any season ticket holder be expected to donate more to win again, whatever that means.

Not that this is really applicable but what confuses me a bit is why we would have to donate anything at all when we receive those ridiculous TV revenues especially after adding those beloved Rutgers and Maryland markets? And let's not forget the bowl sharing revenues which must be huge now that deserving 5-7 teams get to play in them.

Of course, and I'm actually sincere when I say this, all the generous big time donations to the new practice facilities. I realize that the Regents, in their infinite wisdom, approved the issuance of bonds to begin construction when they had raised only slightly less the U's policy that requires securing 80% of the total funding. If I'm not mistaken, they cobbled together somewhere in the neighborhood of 40%. But no need to worry about this biting us in the azz because the administration convinced the regents that additional big time donors are waiting in the wings to cover the difference. I'm sure this will happen any day now so one more reason I'm confused they need additional donations from the rest of us?

Despite the generally positive results of this report, the U's administration is still a major fluster cuck and the primary reason our football program is a cruel joke in the world of major college football. Until a new and competent administration is in place, I'll be damned if I pour any more money down this rat hole called gopher football. But hey, knock yourself out.

 

[disco]

For the benefit of people who haven't read the updated Strib article - the main focus is now on Teague's spending practices. Examples - hired limos instead of taking a cab to give people rides to airport; took a bunch of his friends out to dinner at JD Hoyt's and billed it to the U as "entertaining donors;" stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York during some conference, spending more than the U's guidelines allow for travel; lots of cases of dinner and drinks being billed to the U as fundraising expenses, with little or no documentation to prove who those "donors" were.

The report also goes after Ellis for spending U time and expenses on his Villa 7 activities. Teague and Ellis hired some consulting firm they worked with at VCU. Report notes that the U has severed all ties with that firm and with Villa 7.

Bottom line, from what I read - Teague basically charged everything he did to the U and tried to justify it as part of his job. Teague also hired some woman as a consultant, and paid her more money than he was supposed to under U guidelines. Beth Goetz said the U is making appropriate changes to how it handles expenses to prevent this from happening again.

Report also notes there were other allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct against Teague, but apparently nothing was substantiated.

Did Teague abuse his expense account? Most definitely, but I fear that this is going to lead to some micromanaging crackdown that is going to put the U at a disadvantage when it comes to fundraising and courting donors. We don't have a whale like Phil Knight or T. Boone Pickens, or any number of big money people that a lot of schools have. Our AD, whomever it may be, has to spend a lot of time courting smaller donors to raise money to keep up with the funds that are floating around college athletics. That costs money to wine and dine people, and I hope that they don't pull the reins so tight that the new AD can't do their job.

 

[GopherHomer]

The Audit granted that unusual agreements are common. Thee issue was that Teague and Real Estate Management made the agreement without senior university leadership being informed. The University billed MLB for $187,000 for direct expenses for the concert. The deal itself could be made again with presumably more transparency.

I get what you're saying, but I found the two bolded words as a funny juxtaposition.

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

The Audit granted that unusual agreements are common. Thee issue was that Teague and Real Estate Management made the agreement without senior university leadership being informed. The University billed MLB for $187,000 for direct expenses for the concert. The deal itself could be made again with presumably more transparency.

Ok, thanks for the clarification. The Strib reporting makes it sound like they traded $125,000+ in foregone revenue to MLB for some tickets. Unless they had someone else lined up to rent the Bank, and if the other expenses related to the concert were reimbursed by MLB, then they really didn't give up anything and got some institutional benefit from it.

 

[Maximus]

Not that this is really applicable but what confuses me a bit is why we would have to donate anything at all when we receive those ridiculous TV revenues especially after adding those beloved Rutgers and Maryland markets? And let's not forget the bowl sharing revenues which must be huge now that deserving 5-7 teams get to play in them.

Big Ten schools received 28 million from the items you mentioned above in 2014.

Now let's compare stadium capacities, apparel contracts, radio rights, sponsorships, etc., etc.

Nothing personal but when have won anything?

Do you think revenue impacts winning?

Until a new and competent administration is in place, I'll be damned if I pour any more money down this rat hole called gopher football. But hey, knock yourself out.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Winnipegopher]

How much did a suite to the All-Star game cost? Were they even available for purchase or did MLB only parcel them out to major partners? Getting a suite allows the University to offer a special perk to big time donors. This is how fundraising works and there is nothing inappropriate with a quid pro quo trade.

The only way this is inappropriate is if Mega-tongue kept the suite for himself and his buddies.

The fact that this rankles anyone shows how backwards Minnesota is to the concept of fundraising.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

The way I read it, it was not the exchange of stadium for suite that was the problem, it was that it didn't go through proper channels.

The odds are it probably would have been approved, given the amount of people hosted and the odds of getting some good donations out of it.

 

[vagopher]

Well, the Star Tribune managed to glean a negative front page headline from the AD audit report, but I found nothing in the article itself that was particularly egregious, especially given the ongoing capital campaign. The few concerns mentioned look like relatively easy fixes.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Well, the Star Tribune managed to glean a negative front page headline from the AD audit report, but I found nothing in the article itself that was particularly egregious, especially given the ongoing capital campaign. The few concerns mentioned look like relatively easy fixes.

Well, if this all amounts to nothing, then I have a suggestion. Take a bunch of your buddies out to dinner at a nice restaurant, and charge the whole thing to your business. or, the next time you go on a business trip, stay at a ritzy hotel and rack up loads of room service charges. I'm sure your place of employment will pick up the bill - especially if you don't document anything.

In the great scheme of things, what Teague did may seem penny-ante, but what he did is enough to get a lot of people fired from their job.

As far as hampering future fund-raising, future AD's and fund-raisers will have to document their expenses and be able to show that the money was spent for valid fund-raising purposes - not for personal use. I see nothing wrong with that.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Well, if this all amounts to nothing, then I have a suggestion. Take a bunch of your buddies out to dinner at a nice restaurant, and charge the whole thing to your business. or, the next time you go on a business trip, stay at a ritzy hotel and rack up loads of room service charges. I'm sure your place of employment will pick up the bill - especially if you don't document anything.

In the great scheme of things, what Teague did may seem penny-ante, but what he did is enough to get a lot of people fired from their job.

As far as hampering future fund-raising, future AD's and fund-raisers will have to document their expenses and be able to show that the money was spent for valid fund-raising purposes - not for personal use. I see nothing wrong with that.

Bingo!!!

One of NT's biggest sins was taking non-donors out and trying to hide it as fundraising.

 

[dpodoll68]

As far as hampering future fund-raising, future AD's and fund-raisers will have to document their expenses and be able to show that the money was spent for valid fund-raising purposes - not for personal use. I see nothing wrong with that.

They already have to do this anyway.

 

[vagopher]

Well, if this all amounts to nothing, then I have a suggestion. Take a bunch of your buddies out to dinner at a nice restaurant, and charge the whole thing to your business. or, the next time you go on a business trip, stay at a ritzy hotel and rack up loads of room service charges. I'm sure your place of employment will pick up the bill - especially if you don't document anything.

In the great scheme of things, what Teague did may seem penny-ante, but what he did is enough to get a lot of people fired from their job.

As far as hampering future fund-raising, future AD's and fund-raisers will have to document their expenses and be able to show that the money was spent for valid fund-raising purposes - not for personal use. I see nothing wrong with that.

Norwood’s handling of some of his expenses and his expenditures deserve criticism, but much of this appears to have been related to legitimate fundraising activities, with perhaps some beyond the guidelines expenses including his hotel accommodations. The dollars involved when compared to the total AD budget and the capital campaign goal, are not shocking. I practiced law for 40 years and am very familiar with expenses accounts. When courting a multi-million-dollar contribution, too much frugality can be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Whether you agree or not, the main point is that nothing was uncovered that can’t be fixed going forward or is likely to cause long term damage to either the University or its Athletic Department. And that, in my opinion, is good news. Norwood is gone. It’s time to move on.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Some of the non-expense report items were too cute or plain clumsy-take your pick. These were the backdoor raises run through Learfield Sports and the hiring of a consultant Teague used at VCU and then using purchasing department discretion to increase the contract. Even a rookie auditor would flag the process. Work arounds are fun and sometimes necessary; but, as a long time corporate guy, I’d prefer a little sophistication please.

 

[vagopher]

Some of the non-expense report items were too cute or plain clumsy-take your pick. These were the backdoor raises run through Learfield Sports and the hiring of a consultant Teague used at VCU and then using purchasing department discretion to increase the contract. Even a rookie auditor would flag the process. Work arounds are fun and sometimes necessary; but, as a long time corporate guy, I’d prefer a little sophistication please.

I agree. The non-expense report items are a little troublesome.

 

[GopherHomer]

Sounds like we should fire Teague.

 

[Spoofin]

In the great scheme of things, what Teague did may seem penny-ante, but what he did is enough to get a lot of people fired from their job.

Psssssst, he was fired.