RED Rally Rags?

[Jeff Weintraub, \'91, \'95]

We obviously want to create as much of a home ice advantage as possible in Buffalo. A few alumni I have recently spoken to have proposed the idea to wave thousands of red "pep rags" or "rally rags" to help cheer on the Big Red and create a huge sea of red from most of the Cornell fans in the arena.  

I have looked into it preliminarily and as long as an order is placed by noon on Tuesday, we can have these pep rags in time for the game on Thursday. Would the fans out there on ELynah be interested in this?

As I'd rather not incur any further expense for current students, are there alumni out there that would make significant donations toward the purchase of these pep rags? They cost about $0.55 per rag, thus 5000 of them would cost ~$2700. I checked with the University as well as Athletics ... the donation would be considered part of your 'giving' history to the university and thus would be tax deductible.

If there is interest, we have very little time, so please respond quickly.

GO BIG RED!!!

Jeff Weintraub, '91, '95

[gtsully]

Awesome idea - count me in.

Let's Go Red!!!

[jtwcornell91]

Hey, why don't we get some Thunderstix while we're at it? ::rolleyes::

I vote for making the arena a sea of newsprint during the UNH lineups.

[gtsully]

[Q]Hey, why don't we get some Thunderstix while we're at it?[/Q]

Point taken, but any way to cover the place in Red is a good one, as far as I'm concerned.  Thunderstix themselves are the devil - I think everyone knows that - but I think the rags could work.  It's not like it'll be a first at a hockey game...

Let's Go Red!!!

[CUlater]

I still have my "Rowdy Red Rag" from the Vermont playoff series at Lynah in '86.

[Lowell '99]

I don't know, I think homer hankies are way cooler than thunderstix.  I like the idea.  You ever see Nebraska's football stadium?  Unbelievable.  It annoys the heck out of me that there are so many blue, yellow, turqoise, fuschia, etc. Cornell sweatshirts at games.  The more red, the better, especially since we're the only school there that's actually red.

[Tom Pasniewski 98]

Well, since time is short and the price is high, why not bring a red t-shirt to wave?  Or to wear?  Or to wear and wave?  Just a thought.

[gtsully]

[Q]It annoys the heck out of me that there are so many blue, yellow, turqoise, fuschia, etc. Cornell sweatshirts at games.[/Q]

Amen to that.  The place should be covered in Red.  Nebraska's a good example, and (minus the Thunderstix) the World Series games in Anaheim last year were inpressive, too.  It will be harder to "take over" a building like this with fan bases from all four schools prominently in attendance (in other words, it's not gonna be Bright Arena), but we need to make our presence known.

Let's Go Red!!!

Sully

[jbeaber1998]

As it may be tough to get $$$ together on short notice, just post here about red rags, everyone bring some extras for fans around you.  It may be easier and cheaper.  I like the idea, it will be fun to try to take over this arena.

-John

[Chris Moberg]

Strikes me that a trip to an  Auto Parts store would be a good option. Red shop rags should be just the ticket

Chris

[Greg Berge]

A red shirt has a helluva lot more surface area than a red rag.

Note: Judy is exempt from the above.

Colors to avoid at all costs: blue, yellow, maroon.



Post Edited (04-07-03 13:10)

[Greenberg]

Sully '00 wrote:

[Q]It annoys the heck out of me that there are so many blue, yellow, turqoise, fuschia, etc. Cornell sweatshirts at games.[/Q]

Amen to that.  The place should be covered in Red.  Nebraska's a good example, and (minus the Thunderstix) the World Series games in Anaheim last year were inpressive, too.  It will be harder to "take over" a building like this with fan bases from all four schools prominently in attendance (in other words, it's not gonna be Bright Arena), but we need to make our presence known.

Let's Go Red!!!

Sully

That being said, how freaky is it watching those "whiteout" playoff games in Phoenix?

[Beeeej]

Jeff Weintraub, '91, '95 wrote:
I checked with the University as well as Athletics ... the donation would be considered part of your 'giving' history to the university and thus would be tax deductible.

Leaving aside for a moment the question of whether we like the red rags idea, the above sounds absolutely ridiculous to me, unless we're giving the rags to the university when the tourney is over (or unless the university is buying the rags and we're reimbursing them, which I suppose is a vaguely more credible idea).

Showing your spirit in a way that doesn't directly benefit Cornell's bottom line has simply never been a tax-deductible activity before.  If it suddenly is now, I'm going to start asking for gift credit for my Cornell Hockey sweatshirt, my Cornell University banner, my Cornell tie-clip, my Cornell teddy bear, my Cornell window sticker, my gas to get to home games, my season tickets...

Beeeej

[Jeff Weintraub, \'91, \'95]

Beeeej:
Although it is too late to get this done, to clear up your logical issue/question, I presented your thoughts to Athletics. Here is their response:

It is considered tax deductible because it is in support of one of our programs, as determined by the university's development office.  Also, it is not benefiting the person directly that is making the gift.  It would be just as easy for someone to make a gift to athletics of cash, and we could go out and buy them.  It works the same way with merchandise.  In this situation, it is easier to donate the product because ordering through Cornell's purchasing department involves Big Red tape.  That would take time that we do not have now, so a gift in kind in support of a university program is acceptable.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in still trying to create a large 'sea of red', either bring red t-shirts or cloths to wave, or if you have the time, stop by a local fabric store (or Wal-Mart) and pick up an ~14" x 14" piece of cheap red fabric (or multiple pieces to distribute to other Big Red fans, as it would be cut out from a much larger piece of fabric).

GO BIG RED!!!

Jeff

[Tom Pasniewski 98]

Well, tickets, gas and clothing would be out but under those guidelines, but I'd say banners, bumper stickers, flags and the like are tax deductible under those guidelines because you derive no personal benefit but it is rather to show your support.  I would really like to see somebody deduct a teddy bear on their tax return.  Although if you dressed as a mascot....