GRAND ISLAND LANDS STATE VOLLEYBALL - WHERE ARE YOUR THUMBS POINTED?

[Bobby Mills Jr. (1000 Yard Guy)]

Oh Baby, is that a loaded question or what? An article in the Lincoln Journal-Star Friday roused around 150 comments, most of them strong and some not very pretty.
In fact, some were down right derogatory, mostly from the metro folks who claim Omaha people (especially) won’t travel to he end of the Earth………the place we call Grand Island. Too far. They don’t normally have to venture any further than across the city for a match and only 60 miles down the 4-Lane to the former State venue. I have a few thoughts on this deal, and then the stone throwing can begin from both ends. I have my old GICC football helmet at my side in case things get rough.

First of all, I offer my congratulations to the committee who put together such a fine presentation to lure the big show to GI. Lincoln offered to pay $60,000 to offset the $50,000 cost in annual facility costs. Grand Island threw out the deal of covering all the facility costs PLUS bringing the officials, and paying the medical and event staffs.
Also included in the bid was an extra 12,000 bucks (6,000 grand/year) as an added incentive to move it out here. When I first heard the news, my first reaction was disbelief, then joy, then questions, then back to being a proud GI resident. But questions still remain.

The committee still has to raise $125,000 to cover their promises. They have until next year to do this. This comes on the heals of a State Fair move that will demand $2.5 million be raised by JULY 1st of THIS year. All of this bread will come from private funding. Is this a prudent thing to do, you ask? Put together a bid with financial promises, and THEN go raise the bucks to cover it? This could be why this country is in the shape it’s in today. Smart money people tell you not to go out and buy something unless you have the bread to pay for it. OR, do you look at it this way:
125 grand is going to be a lot easier to raise than 2.5 Mil. For crying out loud, just ask 125 key people for a thousand bucks apiece. There are folks in this town that will throw a LOT more than a G-Note in the kitty to cover this baby just to say they were a part of it.. Pretty good bunch here in Grand Island when it comes to backing something like a State Volleyball Tournament…..yessiree, Bob!

Dr. Bob thinks the Omaha people won’t travel out here to see their teams play. They said it was a proven fact, pointing to the decrease in attendance at State Softball since the move to Hastings. Begging their pardon, and I don’t want any feelings hurt here, but Volleyball is a HUGE sport when compared to Softball. Not even close. I can’t imagine Metro people not coming to GI to watch their teams in a State VB venue. No doubt in my mind we have the playing facilities here and in Hastings. The Events Center had to seal the deal. Yes, we have the parking also. And it is not s stretch to say it wouldn’t take a ton longer to get from GI to Hastings then it does from Devaney to Pershing. When I used to play the Lincoln Legion Club years ago it took me an hour 20 to get to the “O” ST. exit and then another HALF HOUR to get to the Legion. The big “L” is not the most travel-friendly city, but I always just took that in stride and allowed for the extra time. Motels and restaurants do concern me a bit, but between Hastings and GI, we’ll see how it works out. Regarding another comment I overheard though, I seriously doubt if anyone would drive all the way to Kearney to stay. That would not seem to be an option….little bit of a stretch on that idea, in my opinion.

Here’s another thought….only a thought, not an opinion. It is within the realm of possibility a few of the voters awarded this deal to Grand Island just to get the Lincoln crew to get off their duffs and aggressively pursue this new Facility that would, for all practical purposes, keep the Volleyball deal in Lincoln forever? Pershing was a big issue, you know it, I know it. People have grumbled about the place for years. No Parking, terribly inconvenient food locations, not enough room to walk when people are waiting in line for food. Locker rooms are kind of dumpy and cramped. List goes on. The Star City is going to lose BIG TIME revenue on this move. They pride themselves in always having that tourism money that comes from State Football, Volleyball, and Basketball. Evidently they don’t subscribe to the phrase “Build it, and They Will Come”. They’ve always been there in the past. Times are a-changing though, and with the Heartland Events Center and the “middle-of-the-State” selling point, Lincoln has probably just learned a two year valuable lesson.

There have been some concerns from Coaches that not having the opportunity to play at the Coliseum will break some young VB hearts. I understand how they feel. They want to play where the “Big Girls” perform, that’s understandable, but a gig is a gig, a game is a game, and a State Championship is a State Championship is just that, no matter where it’s played. Think of it this way: “Same Gig, Different Hotel.”

I do marvel at what some folks have written about the people out here being hicks, how this town is dirty, nothing to do……..well, I firmly believe that kind of fodder is from a very small representation of our friends in Lincoln, and especially Omaha. I have always been treated like a king in both places. It’s not about a “what part of the State we are from” thing. We are all NEBRASKANS. When you travel out of state and return, you know how lucky you are to be from this area. People from Nebraska are the finest people in the country. If a car from Omaha was having trouble in GI, somebody wouldn’t help? Sure they would. Same goes for somebody from out-state Nebraska if they needed help in the Metro areas….some kind soul would ALWAYS offer assistance. We are all Nebraskans, we were raised the same way.
Yes, there are hard feelings right now from some and many are reluctant to change, but time will tell whether it’s going to be a functional process or not, but give it a shot. If I know this town, they will bend over backwards to make this dream-turned-into-reality work. Will they have trouble getting volunteers to man this huge project…..absolutely not. They’ll be turning people away, and good ones at that. You can count on this guy to do what I can to offer my services to work a venue.

Grand Island won’t be doing it this Fall, but in 2010, we can’t wait to host you folks in our city. Hastings echoes that same thought. I have heard that there may be conflicts in Lincoln the next two seasons anyway and the Finals would have to be played at Pershing. True or not, the beautiful Heartland Events Center would certainly beat the heck out of crusty old Pershing wouldn’t it? If it’s not true, just give it a shot anyway and take the trip out here to support your team. You may just like what you see. We’ll treat you well, that’s a promise. See you in 2,010!