Amidst the sadness of Don Coryell’s passing are some extraordinary reminiscences of this revered Aztec.
While iconic NFLers and esteemed scribes alike passionately speak to the abundance of Coach Coryell’s innovative expertise and beautiful human qualities, I can’t help but consider Don’s impact on the college-turned-university, San Diego State.
So let’s think back a bit. Don came to Montezuma Mesa in 1961 and left 11 years later with a record of 119, 24 and 2. It has always been difficult for me to fathom the enormity of that record. But what about State? How were we transformed in that era, and what did the football coach have to do with that transformation?
In 1961 enrollment had skyrocketed to 13,000! Freshmen women wore beanies. The homecoming game was played before 4,000 in Aztec Bowl. By 1969 the undefeated Aztecs had moved into San Diego Stadium (now Qualcomm) and drew 48,000 fans at the Pasadena Bowl. When Don left after the 1972 season for the NFL, we were on the verge of becoming a university and no one had played a higher-profile role in setting the stage for that designation than Coach Coryell.
Don Coryell provided us a platform of hope. In 25 years of talking with Aztec alums on a daily basis, I have seen no one come close to generating as many impassioned and reverent soliloquies as our beloved coach. I contend that Don gave us a confidence that transcended football. He gave us the foundation for excellence. He bolstered our self esteem to such enormous heights that State propelled itself into becoming a world-class academic institution.
Our alumni of the era and the subsequent generation, who never missed a Saturday night in San Diego Stadium as youths, had no chips on their shoulders. For example, Tom Helmantoler ('68) writes: “We could always look to Saturday night fun at the stadium and an Aztec win, after we all got off from our weekend jobs. We all knew, without thinking about it, that we had a good, decent, honest and friendly man in charge of the program, it made us proud to say that we were SDSU Aztecs. It still does.” And while many have been frustrated at the relative mediocrity of our football fortunes in the subsequent four decades, who can question that San Diego State University has become an elite institution whose desirability as measured by application rates is annually now in the top 10 in the country?
But what about the retired Coach Don Coryell? How did he continue to forge a legacy of excellence for SDSU? How did he convert a singularly driven compulsion for success on the football field to his life after football? As someone whose job it was to regularly invite Don to campus to attend big events, be the honorary homecoming chair, or simply to attend games and visit our coaches and teams, I was always struck by his humility. He was kind to everyone and completely unpretentious. He remembered your name. He was always genuinely interested in people. There was zero phoniness.
I came to really enjoy my phone calls with Coach Coryell. I would ask him about what his retired life was like while he was in Friday Harbor. He’d tell me this: “Well, today I am going to ride my bike downtown like I do most days and then my big decision is going to be whether to buy clams or fish for dinner.”
Then, on those delightfully special days when I would get to escort Don and Aliisa around the campus or the stadium, I began to realize that his driving passion for our university never faded. He loved San Diego State. He loved our alumni and he wanted nothing more than to optimistically and enthusiastically speak with any and all about how we were always getting better.
Speaking of Coach Don as the obsessively driven coach whose mental focus rarely strayed from strategies to get into the end zone, Vickie Idhe, 25-year Aztec ticket manager, shares this gem: “I was coming out of our offices at the stadium when Don was coaching the Chargers and I saw him exit onto the sidewalk. He stopped, put down his briefcase and fished for his car keys. Then he left without grabbing his briefcase. I ran to catch him but he got away so I took his briefcase back into my office. Not being able to resist the temptation to see what top secret game plan was in store that week, I peeked. It was empty!”
Thank Don’s family, including his daughter Mindy Lewis and her husband Mike and Don’s granddaughter Loni, for understanding and facilitating Don’s many interactions with us on campus. And thanks also to the scores of players including the household names like Sipe and Buchanon and Dryer, whose imitation of the Coach surely brought down the house at Bully’s a hundred times. All of these former Aztec football players universally loved their coach and their collective passion is a real part of our school’s excellence.
So thanks, Coach Coryell, for inspiring us and for inspiring San Diego State University to greatness. May your inspiration remain in the hearts of all Aztecs for all time.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Aztec Icons Remembered
Recently our family of Aztec titans lost two of its charter members: Bob Breitbard and Art Linkletter.
While sad days no doubt, given the fullness and longevity of these lives, their passing provides reasons to celebrate and remember.
These two gentlemen each possessed an extreme abundance of personal charisma. Whether it was genetic or learned is debatable, but what isn’t open to debate is that their futures were forged and nurtured at San Diego State College.
I consider it a phenomenal career perk to have been in a position to know these men, so here are some personal observations of each:
Like most 40-to-90 somethings, my 1960s suburban Massachusetts upbringing included Art Linkletter as a fixture. I fondly remember using the pliers to select the proper channel and fiddling with the hangar-supplemented rabbit ears to partake in Art’s charming interactions. As a lad, I marveled at how Art Linkletter could so live in the moment on live TV and react so entertainingly to the random utterances of children. He exuded warmth, empathy and humor. His show was fun and funny.
So, fast forward 30 years and I am in the car with now-Vice-President-but-then-development-officer, Mary Ruth Carleton, going to visit Art in his Los Angeles offices. Our intent was to get to know him better so that we could ask him for a million or so for athletics and our gerontology center. Art took us to lunch and regaled us with bawdy stories about John Wayne and the Rat Pack. He told us how his good friend, Walt Disney, asked him to emcee the grand opening of his modest amusement park in 1955. Art said that Walt asked him to do it for free because he was uncertain of the park’s financial survival. Art told Walt okay, but managed to extract the concession rights to camera film in perpetuity.
Art also shared with us his infatuation with theater and then radio while he attended SDSC. He was so determined and thrilled to get started here in San Diego. He left little doubt that the nurturing and encouragement he got at State propelled him into one of the longest-running careers in television history.
One smart Aztec.
So, now another:
As a rookie executive director of the Aztec Athletic Foundation in the late ’80s, I was well aware of the status and standing of Bob Breitbard. His resume of giving, support and involvement with San Diego State stretched all the way back to the ’40s when he had even coached the football team one year. The problem was that I didn’t know him. That problem was alleviated when he phoned me one day and most diplomatically suggested that we had under acknowledged his gift to the AAF. With false bravado I blurted out that our record keeping was consistently stellar but if that were not correct I would personally come downtown and mop the floors in his Hall of Champions. That began a long string of marvelous interactions with a most gracious, giving, elegant and engaging Aztec. I was honored to be in that large club of friends with whom Bob shared temporary custody of his Babe Ruth locker tag, his Ted Williams .406 bat and countless other treasures. Between various subsequent stints washing the Hall’s windows and detailing Bob’s car (it turns out our record-keeping was occasionally suspect), I visited with Bob countless times. I always marveled at his perpetually engaging manner as he “pinned,” and kissed all the ladies and regaled everyone with his heart-felt and driven quest to honor our community’s sports history.
Bob Breitbard loved this town, this community, and our university and he proved it every day.
One internationally-famed personality. One enormous community presence.
Two beloved Aztecs.
While sad days no doubt, given the fullness and longevity of these lives, their passing provides reasons to celebrate and remember.
These two gentlemen each possessed an extreme abundance of personal charisma. Whether it was genetic or learned is debatable, but what isn’t open to debate is that their futures were forged and nurtured at San Diego State College.
I consider it a phenomenal career perk to have been in a position to know these men, so here are some personal observations of each:
Like most 40-to-90 somethings, my 1960s suburban Massachusetts upbringing included Art Linkletter as a fixture. I fondly remember using the pliers to select the proper channel and fiddling with the hangar-supplemented rabbit ears to partake in Art’s charming interactions. As a lad, I marveled at how Art Linkletter could so live in the moment on live TV and react so entertainingly to the random utterances of children. He exuded warmth, empathy and humor. His show was fun and funny.
So, fast forward 30 years and I am in the car with now-Vice-President-but-then-development-officer, Mary Ruth Carleton, going to visit Art in his Los Angeles offices. Our intent was to get to know him better so that we could ask him for a million or so for athletics and our gerontology center. Art took us to lunch and regaled us with bawdy stories about John Wayne and the Rat Pack. He told us how his good friend, Walt Disney, asked him to emcee the grand opening of his modest amusement park in 1955. Art said that Walt asked him to do it for free because he was uncertain of the park’s financial survival. Art told Walt okay, but managed to extract the concession rights to camera film in perpetuity.
Art also shared with us his infatuation with theater and then radio while he attended SDSC. He was so determined and thrilled to get started here in San Diego. He left little doubt that the nurturing and encouragement he got at State propelled him into one of the longest-running careers in television history.
One smart Aztec.
So, now another:
As a rookie executive director of the Aztec Athletic Foundation in the late ’80s, I was well aware of the status and standing of Bob Breitbard. His resume of giving, support and involvement with San Diego State stretched all the way back to the ’40s when he had even coached the football team one year. The problem was that I didn’t know him. That problem was alleviated when he phoned me one day and most diplomatically suggested that we had under acknowledged his gift to the AAF. With false bravado I blurted out that our record keeping was consistently stellar but if that were not correct I would personally come downtown and mop the floors in his Hall of Champions. That began a long string of marvelous interactions with a most gracious, giving, elegant and engaging Aztec. I was honored to be in that large club of friends with whom Bob shared temporary custody of his Babe Ruth locker tag, his Ted Williams .406 bat and countless other treasures. Between various subsequent stints washing the Hall’s windows and detailing Bob’s car (it turns out our record-keeping was occasionally suspect), I visited with Bob countless times. I always marveled at his perpetually engaging manner as he “pinned,” and kissed all the ladies and regaled everyone with his heart-felt and driven quest to honor our community’s sports history.
Bob Breitbard loved this town, this community, and our university and he proved it every day.
One internationally-famed personality. One enormous community presence.
Two beloved Aztecs.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
BCS Rant
Saturday’s UT had a thorough treatise on the criteria the BCS uses to consider adding another conference to its cartel.
www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/may/08/can-mwc-trust-in-the-bcs-system
Previously I have noted the financial discrepancy between the haves and have not’s which would make any mathematically-oriented observer wonder if college football can survive with half of the teams being unable to compete financially.
So, here are the three criteria the Mountain West needs to conquer:
Average rank of highest ranked team
Average ranking of all teams in conference
Number and ranking of teams in top 25
For the first two, the MWC must be in the top 6, for the third in the top 50%. (There are 11 conferences, 6 are currently in)
Lets look at this a couple of ways:
First, and most blatantly, to have those standards be accompanied by qualifiers is like saying that in order to win the MVP, Adrian Gonzales has to be in the top 6 in batting average, RBIs and home runs. Obviously, his rank in those categories need only be measured against all the other sluggers in that particular year. Unless, of course, Major League Baseball only wanted to have an MVP on rare occasions. Hmmmmm.
When you compare the Mountain West to the other conferences in the cartel, over the first two years of this 4-year evaluation process, you get The SEC way ahead with the Big-12 solidly in second and then the MWC, Pac-10 and Big East tied for third, then the Big 10 and ACC.
The other thing is that all three of these criteria are based upon rankings. And while the science that goes into these is reasonably sophisticated, the BCS bias permeates by virtue of the fact that the richer teams begin the season with higher rankings and then they get more home games and thus a greater inherent advantage. When you factor in the actual head-to-head contests (see Utah’s bowl record the past 9 years) you get a truer result.
The cartel, however, knows how to keep its edge. That would explain why undefeated TCU played undefeated Boise State this past year in the Fiesta Bowl. The cartel cannot have the WAC or MWC conference knocking off any of its big boys!
But there really is one more kicker. And that relates to what might happen if they let us in. Is it really good enough for SDSU to cross over into the land of milk and honey because the Horned Frogs, Utes, Cougars and Falcons have great programs? Does the cartel become okay should we happen to be in it? Or is the inherent dysfunction associated with the fact that 40 to 50 of the 119 Division 1-A schools will still be attempting to compete with a twenty-million-dollar annual handicap mitigated if we aren’t one of them?
Maybe.
Stay tuned.
www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/may/08/can-mwc-trust-in-the-bcs-system
Previously I have noted the financial discrepancy between the haves and have not’s which would make any mathematically-oriented observer wonder if college football can survive with half of the teams being unable to compete financially.
So, here are the three criteria the Mountain West needs to conquer:
Average rank of highest ranked team
Average ranking of all teams in conference
Number and ranking of teams in top 25
For the first two, the MWC must be in the top 6, for the third in the top 50%. (There are 11 conferences, 6 are currently in)
Lets look at this a couple of ways:
First, and most blatantly, to have those standards be accompanied by qualifiers is like saying that in order to win the MVP, Adrian Gonzales has to be in the top 6 in batting average, RBIs and home runs. Obviously, his rank in those categories need only be measured against all the other sluggers in that particular year. Unless, of course, Major League Baseball only wanted to have an MVP on rare occasions. Hmmmmm.
When you compare the Mountain West to the other conferences in the cartel, over the first two years of this 4-year evaluation process, you get The SEC way ahead with the Big-12 solidly in second and then the MWC, Pac-10 and Big East tied for third, then the Big 10 and ACC.
The other thing is that all three of these criteria are based upon rankings. And while the science that goes into these is reasonably sophisticated, the BCS bias permeates by virtue of the fact that the richer teams begin the season with higher rankings and then they get more home games and thus a greater inherent advantage. When you factor in the actual head-to-head contests (see Utah’s bowl record the past 9 years) you get a truer result.
The cartel, however, knows how to keep its edge. That would explain why undefeated TCU played undefeated Boise State this past year in the Fiesta Bowl. The cartel cannot have the WAC or MWC conference knocking off any of its big boys!
But there really is one more kicker. And that relates to what might happen if they let us in. Is it really good enough for SDSU to cross over into the land of milk and honey because the Horned Frogs, Utes, Cougars and Falcons have great programs? Does the cartel become okay should we happen to be in it? Or is the inherent dysfunction associated with the fact that 40 to 50 of the 119 Division 1-A schools will still be attempting to compete with a twenty-million-dollar annual handicap mitigated if we aren’t one of them?
Maybe.
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Generous Alumni Leave Lasting Legacies
In this month’s newsletter there is a story about some extraordinary million-dollar donors to San Diego State and the increasing importance of private support for the university. Having known all of the individuals mentioned in the article for quite some time, what their recent donations illustrate for me is how persons with red and black loyalty actually comprise a much broader spectrum of commitment that can make a tremendous impact on the quality of education in this region in myriad ways.
Bob Payne has made hundreds of gifts to SDSU over 40 years. Twice they were over a million dollars and once almost a million. He has chaired the Campanile Foundation, advocated for athletics, and provided sage council to our SDSU presidents going back to Malcolm Love. He has had a profound influence in our community as a businessman, chair of the Super Bowl, owner of the Padres and perpetual community advocate and cheerleader. He is well known to our city’s cognoscenti. Despite his honors and achievements, Bob possesses disarming humility and projects genuine warmth which makes him beloved.
Our University is so lucky to claim Bob Payne as one of our alums. He is the kind of titan who, when he donates yet another $2.4 million, it doesn’t even surprise anyone. His recent gift will positively impact not only SDSU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, but the hospitality and tourism industry in San Diego and beyond as well.
Then there are Robin and Chuck Luby. Like Bob, they have been intimately involved with the university for more than four decades. Their public personas, however, have been more typical of the vast majority of our graduates. Education, science, business, volunteerism, leadership and pure love for the university have occupied their time since graduation. The Lubys are way low-key. They love books and theater and Shakespeare and the Aztecs. They participate in dozens of various university alumni committees and have attended thousands of events. Yes, thousands. Their financial donations over those four decades have garnered far less attention than their giving of time and talent.
Until now.
The Lubys gave our library $4 million last month by committing presumably their entire estate. This gift will profoundly affect the quality of offerings of our library and thus the quality of an SDSU education forever.
Bob Payne. Chuck Luby. Robin Luby: Truly Aztecs for Life.
Bob Payne has made hundreds of gifts to SDSU over 40 years. Twice they were over a million dollars and once almost a million. He has chaired the Campanile Foundation, advocated for athletics, and provided sage council to our SDSU presidents going back to Malcolm Love. He has had a profound influence in our community as a businessman, chair of the Super Bowl, owner of the Padres and perpetual community advocate and cheerleader. He is well known to our city’s cognoscenti. Despite his honors and achievements, Bob possesses disarming humility and projects genuine warmth which makes him beloved.
Our University is so lucky to claim Bob Payne as one of our alums. He is the kind of titan who, when he donates yet another $2.4 million, it doesn’t even surprise anyone. His recent gift will positively impact not only SDSU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, but the hospitality and tourism industry in San Diego and beyond as well.
Then there are Robin and Chuck Luby. Like Bob, they have been intimately involved with the university for more than four decades. Their public personas, however, have been more typical of the vast majority of our graduates. Education, science, business, volunteerism, leadership and pure love for the university have occupied their time since graduation. The Lubys are way low-key. They love books and theater and Shakespeare and the Aztecs. They participate in dozens of various university alumni committees and have attended thousands of events. Yes, thousands. Their financial donations over those four decades have garnered far less attention than their giving of time and talent.
Until now.
The Lubys gave our library $4 million last month by committing presumably their entire estate. This gift will profoundly affect the quality of offerings of our library and thus the quality of an SDSU education forever.
Bob Payne. Chuck Luby. Robin Luby: Truly Aztecs for Life.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
How did we ever live without this place?
All right Aztecs, listen up! April 17th marks exactly six months since the grand opening of the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, so I figure a report on our activities is in order.
People are asking, “Is the Parma Payne Goodall being utilized?”
You betcha!
131 events and 7,000 visitors in less than 6 months!
So what types of events have we been hosting here and how have they impacted our alumni and the campus? Let’s check out the highlight reel:
Our grand opening was fabulous as 600 people braved the 90-degree day and witnessed the dedication. A week later, we held our first business forum with the “Social Media Symposium” which drew 160 tweetering twitterers. November brought us some monster events including an alum’s retirement dinner for 200; a sold-out scholarship luncheon sponsored by Susan Weber’s BRIDGES group; a what-not-to-wear” seminar for students; the College Area Community Council; and our first sold-out event, the 5,000th Lifetime Member Celebration.
In December we just kept cranking up the heat with Alumni Chapter activities, Campanile Foundation events, a parade of Basketball pre-game receptions and dinners and luncheons with President Weber. January, February and March brought more of the same plus a high-tech, high-security community forum put on by our Homeland Security Department.
We’ve had highly-attended lectures by an Olympian and a mathematician. We’ve had retreats and seminars and corporate events and parties and celebrations of all kinds. Perhaps our biggest event was last month’s women’s basketball sweet 16 viewing party — our second such event in five days. These events showed how nimble and potent our alumni can be to quickly e-blast our constituents and produce satisfying, high-quality and fun events in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.
You know, during all those years we had to fine tune the articulation of the types of events we wanted to have in this building, we kept hearing similar refrains from the donors and the alumni community. The message was to keep this building dedicated and committed to serving the alumni public and the friends of SDSU. The theory is that when people who have a viable interest in the betterment of San Diego State come together from outside the campus and mix and mingle with those of us like-minded insiders, significant things accrue. So far, the mixing and mingling has occurred. In my next report I will tell you about the accruing of significant impacts!
People are asking, “Is the Parma Payne Goodall being utilized?”
You betcha!
131 events and 7,000 visitors in less than 6 months!
So what types of events have we been hosting here and how have they impacted our alumni and the campus? Let’s check out the highlight reel:
Our grand opening was fabulous as 600 people braved the 90-degree day and witnessed the dedication. A week later, we held our first business forum with the “Social Media Symposium” which drew 160 tweetering twitterers. November brought us some monster events including an alum’s retirement dinner for 200; a sold-out scholarship luncheon sponsored by Susan Weber’s BRIDGES group; a what-not-to-wear” seminar for students; the College Area Community Council; and our first sold-out event, the 5,000th Lifetime Member Celebration.
In December we just kept cranking up the heat with Alumni Chapter activities, Campanile Foundation events, a parade of Basketball pre-game receptions and dinners and luncheons with President Weber. January, February and March brought more of the same plus a high-tech, high-security community forum put on by our Homeland Security Department.
We’ve had highly-attended lectures by an Olympian and a mathematician. We’ve had retreats and seminars and corporate events and parties and celebrations of all kinds. Perhaps our biggest event was last month’s women’s basketball sweet 16 viewing party — our second such event in five days. These events showed how nimble and potent our alumni can be to quickly e-blast our constituents and produce satisfying, high-quality and fun events in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.
You know, during all those years we had to fine tune the articulation of the types of events we wanted to have in this building, we kept hearing similar refrains from the donors and the alumni community. The message was to keep this building dedicated and committed to serving the alumni public and the friends of SDSU. The theory is that when people who have a viable interest in the betterment of San Diego State come together from outside the campus and mix and mingle with those of us like-minded insiders, significant things accrue. So far, the mixing and mingling has occurred. In my next report I will tell you about the accruing of significant impacts!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Teaching the Math Teachers
At a recent conference of alumni directors, a point was made that promoting academic-based initiatives is a powerful way to connect alumni associations with both faculty and alums. Things have apparently changed in this business since one could forge a career around planning tailgates.
Actually, these alumni directors were issuing a wakeup call that those in our position have been rendered less relevant by Facebook. But the conference organizers are now demanding that in addition to continued attention to the traditional connecting tools like in-person meetings, telephone, snail-mail and email, we had now better become conversant in all forms of new media.
So, we are. Check here: http://twitter.com/sdsualumni
With regard to academia, last week the SDSU Alumni Association hosted an event entitled, A Showcase of Math education at SDSU. Two hundred thirty people showed up at our fabulous Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center to hear a lecture by a best-selling mathematician (is that an oxymoron?). Prior to the entertaining talk by John Allen Paulos, we got to see all of the incredible work we do at SDSU in the field of math education. Did you even know that we have more faculty committed to math education than any other school in the country?! Or that our joint doctoral program in math education is ranked second in the nation? Or that our Center for Research for Math and Science Education (CRMSE) is making an enormous difference in the quality of the teachers who inevitably enter the regional K-12’s?
Anyone can conclude how essential these programs are. And the 230 alumni and local educators came away understanding how vital a role San Diego State plays in preparing, encouraging and willing our next generation to fully comprehend the essential tools required for advancing our world.
Way to go, State!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Aztec Football: Future, Past and Present
The first Wednesday of February is National Letter of Intent signing day for prospective college football players and a day in which we revel optimistically in the efforts of Brady Hoke and his staff.
It appears that we are concentrating locally with players from wildly successful Oceanside High School, San Diego County the rest of the state. Today, I find myself dwelling on Hoke rule # 61: BELIEVE.
At the same time, we have the opportunity to assist in righting a wrong long overdue and that is to collectively will Coach Don Coryell into the hallowed National Football League Hall of Fame. It is a bit frustrating that the alleged voting media cognoscenti don’t yet understand what all Aztecs fans know: That Don Coryell was responsible for transforming football into the immensely watchable product it has become. While going on-line to cast your vote at www.fanschoice.com does not actually count in the official balloting, the karma couldn’t hurt.
And finally, it is comforting to know that regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl, one Aztec for Life will be crowned current champion. Congratulations to Freddy Keiaho of the Colts and Lynell Hamilton of the Saints.
GO AZTECS!
It appears that we are concentrating locally with players from wildly successful Oceanside High School, San Diego County the rest of the state. Today, I find myself dwelling on Hoke rule # 61: BELIEVE.
At the same time, we have the opportunity to assist in righting a wrong long overdue and that is to collectively will Coach Don Coryell into the hallowed National Football League Hall of Fame. It is a bit frustrating that the alleged voting media cognoscenti don’t yet understand what all Aztecs fans know: That Don Coryell was responsible for transforming football into the immensely watchable product it has become. While going on-line to cast your vote at www.fanschoice.com does not actually count in the official balloting, the karma couldn’t hurt.
And finally, it is comforting to know that regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl, one Aztec for Life will be crowned current champion. Congratulations to Freddy Keiaho of the Colts and Lynell Hamilton of the Saints.
GO AZTECS!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Aztecs for Life
Union Tribune
Thanks for you continual excellent coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open by Tod Leonard.
Regarding your sub headline concerning the Scott Piercy: "Ex-Aztec Piercy has the first-round lead"
FYI there are no Ex-Aztecs. We are all Aztecs for Life!
Thanks for you continual excellent coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open by Tod Leonard.
Regarding your sub headline concerning the Scott Piercy: "Ex-Aztec Piercy has the first-round lead"
FYI there are no Ex-Aztecs. We are all Aztecs for Life!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Count the toes
Ok listen up fine Aztec alumni. We need your help. There seems to be some controversy lurking regarding the number of toes on the left foot of our venerable iconic symbol: The Aztec. As you likely know the original Aztec was sculpted by Donal Hord and sits in the Prospective Student Center, while his grandson is the awesome centerpiece of the rotunda of the brand new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.You tell us: Is his left pinky toe hidden beneath his robe as is asserted by SDSU alum and architect Jeremy Blake, or does our beloved Montezuma suffer from a digital deficiency?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Today's UT
Today's UT reports that the "Big 6 BCS conferences expect pay outs from bowl games of either $22 or $17 million per school. Meanwhile the Mountain West and the WAC lead the have-nots with around one million per school. This payday due to the great seasons from Boise and TCU.
Eventually some powers that be will figure out that every game played requires one loser. And that long term, the schools with no chance of competing for victories with a 20 million dollar handicap will elect to invest their scarce dollars into educating students.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
About Ken Kramer
Ken Kramer, investigative optimist, is back on the airwaves with his genuinely uplifting and iconic “About San Diego.”
I know this because I like Ken Kramer and I have enjoyed his show ever since I moved to San Diego in 1984 and listened to it on the radio. Since then, of course, Ken moved to television and for many years and 600 episodes on NBC 7/39 we were regularly treated to truly powerfully positive heart-melting vignettes about San Diego and our eclectic denizens. These stories were always delivered with Ken’s great voice, comfortably paced presentations and, most importantly, his ability to cajole us towards a prideful place.
I know I am sounding like a media critic who has been wined and dined and wooed and bamboozled into drinking Ken’s Kool aid.
Yes, I have.
I think as we age we get the ability to truly know the things we appreciate. We actually understand what makes us feel good. For me, one of those things is Ken Kramer’s “About San Diego.”
And I understand why we regularly get bombarded with bad news, scandal, treachery, crime, disaster and malfeasance. But to get it occasionally punctuated with stories about goodness is essential to my well being. Perhaps yours, too.
So last night Ken Kramer announced his new partnership with KPBS. This only happened, he told us, because of the “underpinnings which define the character” of the principles from NBC 7/39 and KPBS which agreed to allow Ken and KPBS to use all of the material from his previous 600 shows aired on NBC 7/39. Wow. Hats off to NBC former general manager, Phyllis Schwartz, (SDSU ’77); current General manager, Jackie Bradford; KPBS GM Tom Karlo, (SDSU ’75) and, obviously, Ken himself (SDSU ’74, and current SDSU Alumni Association board member) for putting the public good ahead of the usual corporate agenda.
Here is when you can see Ken’s new show on KPBS. Enjoy some happy time!
www.kpbs.org/tv/schedule/
I know this because I like Ken Kramer and I have enjoyed his show ever since I moved to San Diego in 1984 and listened to it on the radio. Since then, of course, Ken moved to television and for many years and 600 episodes on NBC 7/39 we were regularly treated to truly powerfully positive heart-melting vignettes about San Diego and our eclectic denizens. These stories were always delivered with Ken’s great voice, comfortably paced presentations and, most importantly, his ability to cajole us towards a prideful place.
I know I am sounding like a media critic who has been wined and dined and wooed and bamboozled into drinking Ken’s Kool aid.
Yes, I have.
I think as we age we get the ability to truly know the things we appreciate. We actually understand what makes us feel good. For me, one of those things is Ken Kramer’s “About San Diego.”
And I understand why we regularly get bombarded with bad news, scandal, treachery, crime, disaster and malfeasance. But to get it occasionally punctuated with stories about goodness is essential to my well being. Perhaps yours, too.
So last night Ken Kramer announced his new partnership with KPBS. This only happened, he told us, because of the “underpinnings which define the character” of the principles from NBC 7/39 and KPBS which agreed to allow Ken and KPBS to use all of the material from his previous 600 shows aired on NBC 7/39. Wow. Hats off to NBC former general manager, Phyllis Schwartz, (SDSU ’77); current General manager, Jackie Bradford; KPBS GM Tom Karlo, (SDSU ’75) and, obviously, Ken himself (SDSU ’74, and current SDSU Alumni Association board member) for putting the public good ahead of the usual corporate agenda.
Here is when you can see Ken’s new show on KPBS. Enjoy some happy time!
www.kpbs.org/tv/schedule/
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Aztec Athletics
As we commence the process to hire a new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, I’d like to weigh in on some of the things we have going for us.
First of all, athletics at the Division One level is part of who we are at San Diego State University. We have incredible athletic history; lengthy and potent. And we have tens of thousands of graduates who claim to have attended games in the fog in Aztec Bowl, who met the train when the 1941 Basketball team triumphantly returned from Kansas City and who never missed a Marshall Faulk touchdown.
So our tradition of fielding Division One teams, despite the constantly increasing financial challenges, isn’t likely to go away. And it shouldn’t.
In 1985 we hired a visionary athletic director who was resolutely determined to upgrade our facilities. And lo and behold, here we are with first-class everything where 24 years ago we had nothing. Do you need a recount? Okay, Tony Gwynn Stadium, new Aztrack, new Softball Stadium, new Tennis complex, new Aquatics complex, colossal athletics administration complex with state-of-the-art weight room, a still-beautiful Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, a fantastic Rec Center and even a new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.
So we have an aging Qualcomm Stadium and some legitimate angst regarding the future of the Chargers and the stadium trickle down. We can only hope and work and will ourselves to collectively conquer this community challenge.
And let’s not forget our coaching staff. Plenty of sports have surged lately with some new and some veteran coaches who seem to share the mindset that winning games within the proper parameters of academic transcendence and NCAA regulations is doable at a place like San Diego State. Our “big three,” of course, - Burns, Hoke and Fisher - have our confidence like no previous triumvirate. Ever.
Finally, and most importantly, we have a great university. We have the brain power on our own campus to attack and conquer the challenges and opportunities presented by having Division One Athletics. So let’s get to it!
First of all, athletics at the Division One level is part of who we are at San Diego State University. We have incredible athletic history; lengthy and potent. And we have tens of thousands of graduates who claim to have attended games in the fog in Aztec Bowl, who met the train when the 1941 Basketball team triumphantly returned from Kansas City and who never missed a Marshall Faulk touchdown.
So our tradition of fielding Division One teams, despite the constantly increasing financial challenges, isn’t likely to go away. And it shouldn’t.
In 1985 we hired a visionary athletic director who was resolutely determined to upgrade our facilities. And lo and behold, here we are with first-class everything where 24 years ago we had nothing. Do you need a recount? Okay, Tony Gwynn Stadium, new Aztrack, new Softball Stadium, new Tennis complex, new Aquatics complex, colossal athletics administration complex with state-of-the-art weight room, a still-beautiful Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, a fantastic Rec Center and even a new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.
So we have an aging Qualcomm Stadium and some legitimate angst regarding the future of the Chargers and the stadium trickle down. We can only hope and work and will ourselves to collectively conquer this community challenge.
And let’s not forget our coaching staff. Plenty of sports have surged lately with some new and some veteran coaches who seem to share the mindset that winning games within the proper parameters of academic transcendence and NCAA regulations is doable at a place like San Diego State. Our “big three,” of course, - Burns, Hoke and Fisher - have our confidence like no previous triumvirate. Ever.
Finally, and most importantly, we have a great university. We have the brain power on our own campus to attack and conquer the challenges and opportunities presented by having Division One Athletics. So let’s get to it!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Brian Sipe
At 6:43 this morning I was pulling into PS 5 to go to work at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. I saw Aztecs Quarterbacks Coach Brian Sipe walking up 55th Street. Since I was stopped at the left turn light I had the chance to observe Brian and I took some pride in seeing that he was staring at our beautiful new alumni center and its exquisite rotunda.
After all, this was Brian Sipe, Little League World Series champion, Aztec superstar, NFL MVP, accomplished architect, and outstanding high school football coach, among many other accomplishments. Here was a man whose extraordinary tangible achievements have only been exceeded by his extreme humility and graciousness.
And just as I was thinking we have to start rallying our alumni around the Aztec team that Coach Hoke and his staff have begun to put together, what did I see?
Brian Sipe leaned over and plucked a piece of trash off of the sidewalk and deposited it into the next trash can.
Perhaps this is the time for all of us Aztec fans to start pitching in.
After all, this was Brian Sipe, Little League World Series champion, Aztec superstar, NFL MVP, accomplished architect, and outstanding high school football coach, among many other accomplishments. Here was a man whose extraordinary tangible achievements have only been exceeded by his extreme humility and graciousness.
And just as I was thinking we have to start rallying our alumni around the Aztec team that Coach Hoke and his staff have begun to put together, what did I see?
Brian Sipe leaned over and plucked a piece of trash off of the sidewalk and deposited it into the next trash can.
Perhaps this is the time for all of us Aztec fans to start pitching in.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Why We Need an Alumni Center
An Alumni Center for San Diego State. Why?
Having primarily focused my professional life for the past decade on this quest I thought I should be able to answer the question.
When we think about San Diego State what comes to mind? A university growing with the times and our region to produce the workforce we need in business, education and science? A massive State school which delivers quality education for bargain tuition? Perhaps an all grown up Cal State commuter school with a burgeoning research effort struggling for an identity in the shadow of the UCs? Or maybe a once proud football program attempting yet another return to glory with Brady Hoke as coach?
We have heard plenty of this and much more over here on the Mesa. Certainly there is much to be proud of in the product of SDSU. But there is much to be done to help elevate the university’s standing among institutions of higher learning and in the community we serve. A big part of that job is raising awareness of San Diego State and encouraging greater involvement among its alumni.
Increasing support for the university through strong alumni relations builds the foundation for a better institution. You can’t build a powerful organization without a strong base and at the Alumni Association, everything we do is directed toward strengthening the university’s base.
There are more than 200,000 SDSU alumni. Presently, fewer than 8,000 are Alumni Association members. Growing Alumni Association membership is the first step in a process that ultimately leads to enhancing the university’s prestige. The more engaged and involved the alumni are, the stronger the university becomes as a result.
So what, then, is the role of the new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center in helping to strengthen our base? First, it serves as a literal touchstone for Aztec alumni all over the world. If you want to reconnect with the university, this is the place to do it.
Want to come to campus, but you’re not quite sure where to go? Check in here. You’ll be welcome.
Do you have questions about university programs or events? This is the place to call if you don’t know exactly where to plug in. We’re happy to help you.
This is your home. It’s the one place on campus you will always belong no matter how the campus has changed or how long it’s been since your last visit.
The Alumni Center is also the physical location where our common experience as Aztecs may be shared and remembered. It’s where we’ll celebrate our collective triumphs and mourn our tragedies. Our traditions will be honored here.
And even as our rich history is revered in this place, so is our future planned and prepared for. Various boards and committees representing the university and its alumni will meet here. They will imagine, they’ll dream, and draw on their talents, educations and experiences for ideas to help make SDSU a stronger institution in the years to come.
In the end, what will this new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center mean for San Diego State? It’s hard to say exactly. We’ve never had anything quite like it before. But the possibilities are thrilling.
So we invite you to come check it out at 11:00 a.m. on October 17 or any time after that when you’re in the neighborhood. Ultimately, my fellow Aztecs, the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center is all about you.
Having primarily focused my professional life for the past decade on this quest I thought I should be able to answer the question.
When we think about San Diego State what comes to mind? A university growing with the times and our region to produce the workforce we need in business, education and science? A massive State school which delivers quality education for bargain tuition? Perhaps an all grown up Cal State commuter school with a burgeoning research effort struggling for an identity in the shadow of the UCs? Or maybe a once proud football program attempting yet another return to glory with Brady Hoke as coach?
We have heard plenty of this and much more over here on the Mesa. Certainly there is much to be proud of in the product of SDSU. But there is much to be done to help elevate the university’s standing among institutions of higher learning and in the community we serve. A big part of that job is raising awareness of San Diego State and encouraging greater involvement among its alumni.
Increasing support for the university through strong alumni relations builds the foundation for a better institution. You can’t build a powerful organization without a strong base and at the Alumni Association, everything we do is directed toward strengthening the university’s base.
There are more than 200,000 SDSU alumni. Presently, fewer than 8,000 are Alumni Association members. Growing Alumni Association membership is the first step in a process that ultimately leads to enhancing the university’s prestige. The more engaged and involved the alumni are, the stronger the university becomes as a result.
So what, then, is the role of the new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center in helping to strengthen our base? First, it serves as a literal touchstone for Aztec alumni all over the world. If you want to reconnect with the university, this is the place to do it.
Want to come to campus, but you’re not quite sure where to go? Check in here. You’ll be welcome.
Do you have questions about university programs or events? This is the place to call if you don’t know exactly where to plug in. We’re happy to help you.
This is your home. It’s the one place on campus you will always belong no matter how the campus has changed or how long it’s been since your last visit.
The Alumni Center is also the physical location where our common experience as Aztecs may be shared and remembered. It’s where we’ll celebrate our collective triumphs and mourn our tragedies. Our traditions will be honored here.
And even as our rich history is revered in this place, so is our future planned and prepared for. Various boards and committees representing the university and its alumni will meet here. They will imagine, they’ll dream, and draw on their talents, educations and experiences for ideas to help make SDSU a stronger institution in the years to come.
In the end, what will this new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center mean for San Diego State? It’s hard to say exactly. We’ve never had anything quite like it before. But the possibilities are thrilling.
So we invite you to come check it out at 11:00 a.m. on October 17 or any time after that when you’re in the neighborhood. Ultimately, my fellow Aztecs, the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center is all about you.
Friday, September 11, 2009
“Mr. San Diego” Also “Mr. SDSU”
Our own Bob Payne has been named the San Diego Rotary Club’s “Mr. San Diego” for 2009. Mayor Jerry Sanders will present the award next week recognizing Bob for his humanitarian achievements and civic contributions.
Here on the Mesa, where he graduated in 1955, we’ve thought of Bob as a sort of unofficial “Mr. SDSU” for some time. He’s a member of the President’s Council and Chairman of the Board of The Campanile Foundation, of which he is a charter member. In 1988 he was honored by our organization as SDSU Alumnus of the Year.
A colleague asked me recently how I felt about Bob winning the Rotary's prestigious award.
Asking an alumni director's attitude regarding Bob Payne winning an award is kind of like asking how Leo Durocher about having Willie Mays in the lineup.
Bob Payne is the poster child for model alumnus. If Wikipedia allowed me to contribute a definition, then Bob's Picture would grace the entry “Model Aztec Alumnus.”
You could take a bevy of robotics engineers and they would never in a million years create a greater representative for your university.
Allow me to count the ways:
Leadership
Generosity
Wisdom
Involvement
Passion
Congratulations, Bob.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Dynamite Web Site
As a 50 something, I am somewhat “username/password” challenged. So when I got the email suggesting I register for the severely upgraded SDSU Alumni Web site I took a deep breath and began to fill out the form.
To my infinite delight, it only took 30 seconds and I was rewarded with a computer ding acknowledging my hi-tech prowess.
These days, of course, an alumni association Web site needs to have dynamic content, user friendly formats and pragmatic applications such as on-line registration and collecting memberships and donations securely and efficiently. Most importantly, the look, feel and ease of maneuvering have to be stellar.
I am very proud to say that your sdsualumni.org is all of that and more. With real time RSS feeds from the campus, athletic department and the Daily Aztec, our Aztec for Life site is a great portal to all things SDSU. Please give us a look at sdsualumni.org.
To my infinite delight, it only took 30 seconds and I was rewarded with a computer ding acknowledging my hi-tech prowess.
These days, of course, an alumni association Web site needs to have dynamic content, user friendly formats and pragmatic applications such as on-line registration and collecting memberships and donations securely and efficiently. Most importantly, the look, feel and ease of maneuvering have to be stellar.
I am very proud to say that your sdsualumni.org is all of that and more. With real time RSS feeds from the campus, athletic department and the Daily Aztec, our Aztec for Life site is a great portal to all things SDSU. Please give us a look at sdsualumni.org.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Student Veterans Organization
Looking out my window from our temporary Manchester Hall digs I get to take in some of the daily happenings which make working on a college campus so rewarding. Whether it is the Associated Student Council politicians holding fort, students debating zealots, or Greeks hawking baked goods for charities, the scene is always dynamic.
Today I am witness to a video production of one of our more celebrated students, Nick Popaditch. I have to duck outside to see what this is all about and discover that our marketing and communications department is creating a video designed to encourage support for SDSU. At least that is what Nick seems to be trying to do take after take.
What I marvel at is how anything can be considered daunting or even challenging to him given what life has already thrown at him. Nick Popaditch, as you may know, lost an eye, most of his vision and very nearly his life in 2004 during combat in Fallujah when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to his head. For his innovative combat tactics and leadership even when wounded, Popaditch received the Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for valor. His subsequent book which describes his service and transition back into civilian life is absolutely a must read.
www.amazon.com/Once-Marine-Commanders-Inspirational-Recovery/dp/1932714472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240338475&sr=1-1
Now Nick is a student at San Diego State. He and some other dedicated veterans work with the Student Veterans Organization, which is an on-campus association dedicated to making the transition from soldier to college student more palatable. They do great work. Check them out at: http://universe.sdsu.edu/military President Steve Weber has fully embraced our “Troops to College” initiative and has recently returned from Washington where he was invited to share our veterans’ services as a national model. Our goal is to become the premiere university in the nation in providing services to our military students.
Just another way SDSU does what needs doing in the world.
Today I am witness to a video production of one of our more celebrated students, Nick Popaditch. I have to duck outside to see what this is all about and discover that our marketing and communications department is creating a video designed to encourage support for SDSU. At least that is what Nick seems to be trying to do take after take.
What I marvel at is how anything can be considered daunting or even challenging to him given what life has already thrown at him. Nick Popaditch, as you may know, lost an eye, most of his vision and very nearly his life in 2004 during combat in Fallujah when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to his head. For his innovative combat tactics and leadership even when wounded, Popaditch received the Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for valor. His subsequent book which describes his service and transition back into civilian life is absolutely a must read.
www.amazon.com/Once-Marine-Commanders-Inspirational-Recovery/dp/1932714472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240338475&sr=1-1
Now Nick is a student at San Diego State. He and some other dedicated veterans work with the Student Veterans Organization, which is an on-campus association dedicated to making the transition from soldier to college student more palatable. They do great work. Check them out at: http://universe.sdsu.edu/military President Steve Weber has fully embraced our “Troops to College” initiative and has recently returned from Washington where he was invited to share our veterans’ services as a national model. Our goal is to become the premiere university in the nation in providing services to our military students.
Just another way SDSU does what needs doing in the world.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Montys
If this were twitter I would have only 140 characters and already spent half. But it isn’t. This is about the Montys - one of those classic timeless traditions where humans actually eschew thumb communication and enjoy the grandest and most satisfactory of all interactive options: The one where you are actually face-to-face.
There are so many ways I could go about this. I could provide a post-game recap with facts and statistics. I could ramble from my insider’s perspective about event anxiety and relief. I could mention all the Aztec celebrities sitting courtside (so to speak). I could glowingly describe the fabulous body of work by the awardees, which would inevitably instill much pride. I could enthusiastically brag about the venue, the vignettes, the musical theater singers, the songs and lyrics, the production values, the food, the wine, the decorations, the joyousness of the presentations, the uplifting personas of so many Aztec alumni and the overall collective assessment that the event bespoke class.
But I won’t. You had to be there. Hopefully, next time you will join us.
There are so many ways I could go about this. I could provide a post-game recap with facts and statistics. I could ramble from my insider’s perspective about event anxiety and relief. I could mention all the Aztec celebrities sitting courtside (so to speak). I could glowingly describe the fabulous body of work by the awardees, which would inevitably instill much pride. I could enthusiastically brag about the venue, the vignettes, the musical theater singers, the songs and lyrics, the production values, the food, the wine, the decorations, the joyousness of the presentations, the uplifting personas of so many Aztec alumni and the overall collective assessment that the event bespoke class.
But I won’t. You had to be there. Hopefully, next time you will join us.
Friday, March 27, 2009
NIT
It is often claimed that we are a bit obsessed with athletics in the alumni business. But there is just so much you can accomplish with Facebook and Twitter (Although this u-Tube video paints a decent picture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRXHQ-fgwIM)
But in the aftermath of our basketball team’s dramatic conquest Wednesday night, it is impossible to not marvel at the power of athletics.
I saw grown men cry. I shared the exultation with people in their 30s, 40s 50s, 60s, and 70s. I saw 12,000 Aztec fans will Steve Fisher’s fine squad to Gotham for the NIT Final Four.
But most of all, we saw the culmination of ten years of student zaniness known as "The Show." Recently featured on the cover of 360 Magazine, our wild and crazy student section has been honing its we-can-make-you-miss-a-critical-free-throw act for many seasons. With 42 seconds left, St. Mary’s NBA-bound point guard, Patty Mills, and his 86% foul shooting rate stepped to the line in a tie game. He was faced with 500 demonstrative, big-head-wielding, jumping up and down, screaming, banana suit wearing, and certified crazy students. Clang.
The subsequent court storming by the young, witnessed by the old, was a convergence of monumental emotion. Twelve minutes later, Ritchie, Lo, and Kyle - our three mega stars - who all prevailed over significant challenges to forge our fantastic season, finally emerged from the mob scene love fest.
Can’t find that on Linked-In!
But in the aftermath of our basketball team’s dramatic conquest Wednesday night, it is impossible to not marvel at the power of athletics.
I saw grown men cry. I shared the exultation with people in their 30s, 40s 50s, 60s, and 70s. I saw 12,000 Aztec fans will Steve Fisher’s fine squad to Gotham for the NIT Final Four.
But most of all, we saw the culmination of ten years of student zaniness known as "The Show." Recently featured on the cover of 360 Magazine, our wild and crazy student section has been honing its we-can-make-you-miss-a-critical-free-throw act for many seasons. With 42 seconds left, St. Mary’s NBA-bound point guard, Patty Mills, and his 86% foul shooting rate stepped to the line in a tie game. He was faced with 500 demonstrative, big-head-wielding, jumping up and down, screaming, banana suit wearing, and certified crazy students. Clang.
The subsequent court storming by the young, witnessed by the old, was a convergence of monumental emotion. Twelve minutes later, Ritchie, Lo, and Kyle - our three mega stars - who all prevailed over significant challenges to forge our fantastic season, finally emerged from the mob scene love fest.
Can’t find that on Linked-In!
Friday, February 27, 2009
We Need Stuff
As you may know we are building an alumni center. The Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center will open this summer. We certainly hope you come and visit.
What is an alumni center? Well, it will be a building for you, our alumni. A place to meet old friends, and to access faculty and students. A place for history and memories. A place to check in with cutting edge knowledge. A place to remind you of the power of San Diego State, and to enjoy the burgeoning relevance of your alma mater.
So today I am asking for your historical artifacts. We need Del Sudoestes, blue book ball posters, theater and musical programs from decades past, ticket stubs from Bob Dylan in Peterson Gym, Oingo Boingo at the Backdoor, Jimmy Buffet at the OAT and X-Fest in Aztec Bowl. We need your intramural trophies and your letters from Dean Peterson. We need the tangible evidence of your memories. And we need your books; books relevant to San Diego State and books by our alumni are to be featured—if we only had them. We need your photographs. In short, we need alumni artifacts.
If you have been packing these things around for 10 or fifty years you might as well give them to us. We expect the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, like San Diego State itself, will be around for at least another 112 years. We will take good care of your donations and avail them to generations of Aztecs to come so if you are so inclined please let me know at herrick1@mail.sdsu.edu.
Oh, there is one more thing. We need a Grand Piano. Can’t hurt to ask.
What is an alumni center? Well, it will be a building for you, our alumni. A place to meet old friends, and to access faculty and students. A place for history and memories. A place to check in with cutting edge knowledge. A place to remind you of the power of San Diego State, and to enjoy the burgeoning relevance of your alma mater.
So today I am asking for your historical artifacts. We need Del Sudoestes, blue book ball posters, theater and musical programs from decades past, ticket stubs from Bob Dylan in Peterson Gym, Oingo Boingo at the Backdoor, Jimmy Buffet at the OAT and X-Fest in Aztec Bowl. We need your intramural trophies and your letters from Dean Peterson. We need the tangible evidence of your memories. And we need your books; books relevant to San Diego State and books by our alumni are to be featured—if we only had them. We need your photographs. In short, we need alumni artifacts.
If you have been packing these things around for 10 or fifty years you might as well give them to us. We expect the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, like San Diego State itself, will be around for at least another 112 years. We will take good care of your donations and avail them to generations of Aztecs to come so if you are so inclined please let me know at herrick1@mail.sdsu.edu.
Oh, there is one more thing. We need a Grand Piano. Can’t hurt to ask.
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