Time for a Dr. J Statue?

[InnervisionsUMASS]

No changes from previous updates. I haven't solicited donations in quite awhile.

[TruBluMaroon]

^

Like this...?

I would imagine that they will want it clothed!

[capezona]

^ The turtle?

[UMass'96]

Response from Ryan Bamford below.

Maybe we just raise the money and present it as a gift to the Athletic department on behalf of UMassHoops?

XXXXXX,

Thanks for your email and for your suggestion. Will take it under full consideration and speak to campus leadership to determine interest and funding sources – generally crowdsourcing isn’t well-received from a PR or giving perspective.

Appreciate your support of UMass Athletics.

All the best,
Ryan


Ryan Bamford
Director of Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Phone: 413.545.9652
Twitter: @UMassADBamford

[inthescoop]

^^^^^^^
Would be great, but I think a legitimate statue is a lot pricier than one would expect.

[xlgman]

generally crowdsourcing isn’t well-received from a PR or giving perspective.

what does that mean?

[MJatUM]

^ I interpreted it as people saying either

"Why should I give money to build a statue, the school has plenty of money."
or
"I already give the school 'X' dollars, why should I give 'Y' dollars to this crowdfunding site."
or
"Instead of giving my yearly $500 donation to 'XYZ' fund, I'm going to give it to the gofundme set up for a Dr J statue."

[KahunaK]

Or they could add 50 cents to the price of a basketball ticket for a statue.

I've spoken to the athletics department over the years and they just don't see it as a priority. Bamford's response echoes previous administrations. This should have been done during the Calipari era.

[UMass87]

Coach Cal might well pony up the money if he was approached. A good bronze sculpture will probably run about $50k

[UMass87]

Cousy statue cost about $250,000 according to Holy Cross Web Site. I also found a price of $253,000 for a Jerry West statue outside of WVU. Seems to be the going price.

It can be done well for a lot less.

[AlPatino]

^ I'm sure it can be done for less. Just amazing to see this topic resurrected as my original post was 8 years ago. If it ever happens I would like to be invited to the ceremony. But I and the good Doctor aren't getting any younger!

[SignMan]

Cost Comparison

Minuteman Statue
"The new statue cost approximately $100,000, raised in gifts ranging from $25 up to $1,000."

http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article ... ampus-pond

https://sites.google.com/site/steveehrf ... G_0714.JPG

[MikeUMA]

South Carolina wasted little time to put up a statue for their women's player A'ja Wilson. She finished her college career in 2018.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/stat ... 2194199552
https://www.thestate.com/sports/college ... 11310.html

When you have the will, and the resources, to get it done, you get it done.

I was hoping that we'd see movement on the effort for an Erving statue this year, as 2021 is the 50th anniversary of his final season in Amherst. Sadly, that's not gonna happen anytime soon. With COVID taking a wrecking ball to budgets, if this were to get done, it'd pretty much have to be entirely privately funded.

(There's also been statue chatter in this other Erving thread. Too lazy to try to combine it.)

[Floyd]

If they're not going to do any type of statue, how about a Mt Rushmore type thing on the front of the Bill? Coach Leaman, Julius, Camby, Cal, and make it so others can be added in the future

Or even on the inside at the entrances

[DoctorJ]

I like your idea. The program and university should pay som homage to the history of the program.

At Northeastern there was a Cy Young statue, he didn't even go to college there. Site of first World Series.

Dr. J was an athlete that transcended sports in his prime. We should honor him and the Calipari years. Both reflect well on our University. Jack Lehman too. They make UMass a special place.