TheChosenOne

Yeah, I am really excited about adding Avila, but it does seem like adding him and Swope from their starting 5 was the minimum expectation. A lot of the connected folks on here were implying we’d be getting all of them. Ultimately I am pumped with the hire and Avila, so who cares, but what you point out is true. Now let’s see how Schertz builds out the rest of the roster.

This is becoming a great St. Louis thread! I do appreciate the line above “daddy’s would never be brave enough to come out of the stands and fight us” referring to adults fighting high school kids as bravery haha.

FedEx announced a 5 year $5 million per year NIL deal with Memphis athletics. That seemed like a logical next step in all of this. Again, we are still in the arms race phase of NIL. While I assume at some point this all slows/normalizes/formalizes, that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Happy to hear that for Corey Tate, congratulations.

Sounds like we will be getting that!

That is what is so shocking to me. The compensation went so quickly to essentially being right below the NBA and NFL. Paired with the free COVID year, why wouldn't you stay in college as long as possible if you are not a surefire draft pick in the NBA or NFL? Especially now that while not formally stated, the academic side of college athletics is an understood farce. Again, thanks to those who are funding the program and NIL at SLU.

Yet, boosters keep paying it and increasing the level needed to compete. It is wild to me how quickly NIL spun out of control and how it is yet to truly slow down. I completely agree with you (and I think it will basically need to include formalized contracts for a level of transparency and protection), but am starting to wonder when that will actually happen! None of it makes any sense. Is your d!ck that small and ego so big that you need to pay a star basketball player a million dollars to play for your school? I am glad we have some folks willing to pay, but if there is a bigger waste of money, I am not sure what it would be. SEC programs received $50+ million from their conference distribution, yet boosters are expected to pay the labor?!?! Someone explain to me how any of this makes sense? I guess it truly is playing rich people's egos against each other because there is no way to justify it.

Should we start a separate thread where folks can throw our food ideas and then we can establish the definitive Billikens.com list to forward along to Coach! I know Rick would have put Adriana’s on the list for lunch! You mentioned south city, what are your favorite spots there?

Excited to see Dr. Jimerson return! It is hard to imagine a better coach and system for him.

We should create a list for Schertz.

No doubt, I love big men with skill that you can run the offense through.

Love it! Glad we can all come together again! Congratulations to all of those involved in getting this done and thank you!

So pumped about this! Don’t care who takes credit, job well done!

Which is why I empathize with the Indiana State fans. While we can have a coach move up and feel comfortable that we will be able to find a quality replacement, what sort of replacement can a program like Indiana State land? They were so close with a core prepared to make an even bigger splash next season and instead they see the coach who got them there bolting and likely the core of their roster shipping out as well. I have no interest in crapping on them at this point. They are going from such a high to such a low, I don't have it in me to gloat.

Not everyone wants to hear propaganda which is what Frank pretty much is. I don't waste my time listening, so I don't consume any of it, but I suppose it is better than nothing for those who do.