Time for a Dr. J Statue?

AlPatino · Post by **AlPatino** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:04 am

With all the publicity about the Doug Flutie statue at BC the idea of a Dr. J statue outside the Mullins seems appropriate. Doug is a good guy and there is no question that THE PLAY is significant in BC college football history. He and his wife deserve kudos for their work on behalf of people with autism. But Doug is not even close to being the athlete that Dr. J was. When you are voted in the top 50 of all time in your sport that is an accomplishment that is likely never to be matched by any UMASS athlete. Having such a statue would be a fitting tribute to Julius and a great symbol of UMASS athletic tradition. I know in these hard economic times a statue is low priority, but there are many wealthy alum who could get this done if the impetus was there. It would be a fitting finishing touch to this year's 100 years celebration. I know it is not likely to get done in such a short time, but throwing it out for discussion.

BostonBert · Post by **BostonBert** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:14 pm

Terrific idea, but just like you said it is probably a matter of who will pay for it.

Post by **MikeUMA** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:14 pm

Who has Jack Welch's number?

POLAND · Post by **POLAND** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:40 pm

see if theres something on a holy cross forum, they just put up a bob cousy statue this year

AlPatino · Post by **AlPatino** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:17 pm

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.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:54 pm

Let's make it happen.

DoctorJ · Post by **DoctorJ** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:17 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote:Let's make it happen.

I think that is an awesome idea. It might be a nice point of pride during recruiting visits.

So if it is 250k, that means we need to find 500 people willing to cough up $500 each.

Maybe the school would consider some kind of ticket surcharge. The orpheum used to do that for renovation. Maybe a 50 cent or one dollar fee. Of course that is only going to pay for a small chunk.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:24 pm

I'd be willing to have a small fundraiser at my next tailgate....... Just a thought.

Old Cage · Post by **Old Cage** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:38 pm

$1 a head. Then we would only be $249,075 short.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:39 pm

It is something, right?

DoctorJ · Post by **DoctorJ** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:12 pm

Old Cage wrote:$1 a head. Then we would only be $249,075 short.

per game over a few years

SignMan · Post by **SignMan** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:46 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote:I'd be willing to have a small fundraiser at my next tailgate....... Just a thought.

ask first...

remember my spare change bucket fundraising...
I collected $100+ in a game + outside the stadium and gave it to football...
seemed simple enough...
until the finicky complained to athletics and they asked me to stop...

some things are quite Liberal in the Valley...
historically, not as much when $$$ related...

Refuse2Lose83 · Post by **Refuse2Lose83** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:48 pm

I'm in for $100... $249,900 to go

Jackman · Post by **Jackman** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:20 pm

I've gotta be honest: I like Dr. J, but if we have an extra $250k lying around there's a whole lot of stuff the athletic department needs more than a statue.

AlPatino · Post by **AlPatino** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:36 pm

To put it in perspective, we probably saved more than $250K when Travis decided to bolt. This obviously must be privately funded. You're right about needing other things more perhaps, but we could make that case for all of our public statues and sculptures. At some level there is a need to make permanent parts of our history. Bronze statues are a way to immortalize important people in history. Julius is the most prominent athlete ever to come out of UMASS and most likely will be for the forseeable future. Having recruits walk by a life size statue of an NBA Hall of Famer could do no harm in recruiting.