Thursday, July 30, 2009

Interview with "I Pay Twenty Fiver a Year" advocate Gary Sweeney

In what I hope is a fixture on the Marshall Thundering Blog I got an interview with “I Pay Twenty Five a Year” advocate Gary W. Sweeney. If you are a frequenter of HerdNation.com you have seen the post from Gary (under Caroli…dizilla) about a new fundraising campaign for Marshall University baseball. Gary was kind enough to answer a few questions about the campaign for The Marshall Thundering Blog. Below is a exact transcript of Q&A interview with Mr. Sweeney.

Forward from Gary Sweeney:

Let me state CLEARLY I am NOT seeeking recognition for my participation [along with many others that are involved] to FINALLY build a baseball facility on or near campus of Marshall Univ. All the praise should be directed to the past & present baseball student athletes, Coach Jack Cook & current coach, Jeff Waggoner---that have represented The HERD past & present with PRIDE facing terrible playing conditions for far too long. That's my passion & mission! "I see things that others see & say why? I see things & say WHY NOT! Pres. John F. KennedyAnswers:

What is/has been your relationship with Marshall University,
graduate and post graduate?


(1) Graduated from MU with BS in Jrn./Adv. with a Minor: Poly Sci/Pre Law in 1969...Attended Grad School [1970] as a Graduate Assistant--Page Pitt School Of Journalism--Marshall Univ. 1970 Got drafted in June 1970...spent three years in US Army [1970-73] with a tour in Thailand/Viet Nam. Current $$$contributor to the MU Alumni Assoc.; Page Pitt School of Journalsim.; past season ticket holder to MU Football [during our glory years in the 1990's]; "ex-member" of The Big Green Foundation.

What is your relationship with Marshall University head baseball Coach Jeff Waggoner?

(2) Friendship grew out of respect for Coach Jeff Waggoner beginning in April, 2009...my mission & passion [past & present] for HERD Baseball caused me to get highly involved in raising $$$ to FINALLY help build a baseball [Field of Dreams] field/stadium on or near campus! My first impressions {Jeff Waggoner}...a man of honor with his players best interests as his motivation for coaching...a leader & developer of men; directing & guiding student athletes to perform in the classroom; helping his players become first class citizens; further developing their baseball skills.

What is Coach Wagoner’s involvement with the “I Pay Twenty-Five Dollars Annually” campaign? The I Pay Twenty-Five Dollars Annually campaign contains the word annually. How long do you envision this campaign lasting? What is your revenue goal?

(3) He has approved my initiation to generate funds for the baseball program through a fund raiser I am suggesting to anyone desiring to help---[IPTFAY] I Pledge $25 A Year. All checks should be mailed to Coach Jeff Waggoner, MU Baseball Dug Out Club, 1 John Marshall Drive,Marshall Univ.; Huntington, WV 25755-6200. These funds are an annual pledge to help purchase baseballs, bats, a batting cage, computers for baseball use & player study needs during road games; meal money for players when traveling; & other everyday baseball expenses. IPTFAY will be ongoing yearly!

Can you provide any details about a new baseball stadium at Marshall University such as location or stadium size?

(5) Not at liberty at this time!

In your opinion what type of baseball Stadium should Marshall build? Are there any schools you wish Marshall would emulate?

(6) One that our university would be proud of & compariable to venues around Conf. USA! If ECU & So. Miss can build stadiums to help their baseball programs be competitive in Div. 1 NCAA baseball & attain berths in "Road to Omaha"----Marshall Univ. should do the same! And we Will!

How can you reassure people the I Pay Twenty-Five Dollars Annually campaign is legitimate?

Contact Coach Jeff Waggoner at his office at Marshall Univ. I won't give out his phone numbers...you may contact the Baseball Office through the MU switchboard!

How can some one sigh up for the I Pay Twenty-Five Dollars Annually” campaign?

Forward all checks in "any amount" to Coach Jeff Waggoner @ MU Baseball Dug Out Club. See answer: No. 3

No comments:

Post a Comment