Palmetto Proving Grounds

so potentially 100 years maybe more, at 1984 levels

to be clear MrBigAl, I respect your position, but we just see it in two different lights, and that is ok.

This just proves, once again, you have no idea what you're talking about.

To give this discussion some better focus, here's the part of the contract that outlines what original donor gets...

If you look at this, he gets "four season tickets (best available)"...what does that mean? Who decides what "best available" means? He gets "assigned reserved parking". OK, but that may not always mean the spot they have now/have had...it doesn't specify the spot, but that they will get "assigned reserved parking" somewhere. Then it says "the tickets may be assigned to one designated heir". It doesn't say the entire package, including the parking spot, is assigned, just the tickets. You could even make the argument, given the placement of this, that it only applies to the football tickets.

I think it's obvious to anyone (especially an attorney like Al) that this contract could be viewed/interpreted in different ways, as written. It is, frankly, poorly written. I can see how there could be dispute, but I also think Bubba is trying to hold on like grim death to "prestige" he did not pay for. If there is a legitimate dispute, there is a courthouse in every county for that purpose. Going on TV to try and call attention to yourself and shame the University you claim to support, well, that's not to my liking.

Al,
Does the contract say that the lifetime donor and his designated heirs will never be charged for parking?
My reading of the situation is that the contract promises only a guaranteed assigned space without any mention of fees.

I love the University and am all for the YES program even though it costs me a helluva lot more than it used to for the same seats.

That said, if a contract was written and agreement reached (which includes beneficiary rights), I can't blame folks for being upset if the university didn't live up to the contract. You can't promise something in writing to get someone to pay x amount and then decide later to violate the tenents of that contract. There are certainly ways to honor these contracts and still raise money.

Many of these lifetime members agreed to give extra money when approached by USC. Still, others should not feel obligated. Some of these lifetime members joined at a very young age. They bit the bullet at a time in their lives where they had to give up other things. They did so because of what was included in the offer. They sacrified a portion of their income that was a much larger percentage than what many pay now at higher giving levels. Some took out loans to cover the cost. I understand why they would feel wronged.

That said, if it all comes down to parking, they can KMA. Tickets and priority points, yes. Parking? Nope.

No, you are, and you keep trying to make your "point" without reference to the actual contract. Only the tickets transferred, and arguably just the football tickets, per the express terms of the contract. Why are Hyman/the University in the wrong for seeking to enforce the contract, especially if they're asking the transferee simply to pay for parking?

whats with the assumption that these people are lazy litigious freeloaders?

calling them lazy is just ugly and supported by nothing whatsoever

and re litigious, sure they are suing the university, but the fact that its reached that point

where people who presumably love the university and gamecock football feel so f-d over that they have to initiate a lawsuit against their own school? doesn't seem like something any gamecock fan would want to do unless stuff was really messed up ....

i actually do think your point is reasonable

i'd be interested to hear what a court says about interpreting the contract

i guess what has turned me off is how the university has handled this stuff over the past few years

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on a somewhat related note [ie ticket price increasings, seat taxes, etc]; its also frustrating to see so many empty seats when our team and program is better than ever

I'm going to be very disappointed if there are as many empty seats at the games this year as compared to last

as much money as they spend on advertising..................