slufanskip

Can I be the Eagle

I agree with the tie's. Seems to me there ought to be a better way, You play until someone scores ... fitness will really become important at that point. I love Basketball ... but aren't many games decided in the lat 5 minutes .. why watch the first 35. Football ... sudden death .. what is that .. whoever wins the coin flip gets the ball .. has to move it 30-40 yards and then kicks a field goal ... again ... must be a better way. I really think that to be passionate about soccer, you have to grow up playing it ... as the intricacies sp? of the game are not learned by being passed down from fathers ... as is with baseball, basketball and football ... all american sports

I voted yes ... but after discussing the subject a little more ... I would also vote no

Rich ... Sorry I didn't get you at first ... I thought you were being serious and trying to disuade soccer talk on the board. Keep up the banter ... I enjoyed it.

Soccer is the worlds game Rich ... The beautiful game. With shorts that fit. Now comparing futbal to football. Real futbal players don't need a 30 second break every 10 to 15 seconds, they can think as they play without having to stop action to huddle up and decide what to do, they also don't need all those pads to be sure they don't get hurt ( though I have to admit they like basketball players like to roll around on the ground for a few minutes after minor contact ) and they can actually run for 45 minutes straight. Soccer fans don't need to see someone score every few minutes to remain interested ... we understand that it is the opportunity to score that creates the excitement. AND NO REALLY FAT GUYS WHOSE MAIN ATHLETIC TALLENT IS THE ABILITY TO CARRY THREE TRAYS FROM THE BUFFET LINE. This one is important as soccer fans like all the players to have some level of skill. Please Rich give us a chance

Taj... I agree something will probably happen ... but the discussion I was commenting mostly on was All of Cinci, Louisville, DePaul, and Louisville leaving and SLU being stuck in a watered down CUSA. Which left us stuck with the options of the MVC or the horizon. I think our allignment with Marquette and DePaul is strong. My point was there are so many scenarios ... it is all a big what if... I don't believe we will be left in a watered down CUSA ...and then be unable to recruit some other schools ... or that we will be left moving to the MVC ... and yes that is stepping down ... A large step down. A lot of money is being put int a new arena ... money that will not let us end up in the MVC or the ... as was suggested as a posibility .. the horizon.

I agree with your post as to the type of player BS is recruiting. I don't get the chance to watch much high school ball ... so I cannot give much of an opinion on the different recruits besides what I read on the internet. ( That's why I was looking for a clearer picture of Shaw's skills ) It sounds to me Like Lisch is a must have ... and Lidell would be a nice addition at the 3. I'm still not sold on Shaw due to his height. This year I need to make time to see more games

thanks for the info pdiddy. I take your post as saying that you would be a yes for shaw at SLU.

That was my original question ... as I've never seen Shaw play. You would have to be very strong and an outstanding leaper to play the 4 in CUSA at 6'6 ... but does he have the skills to play the 3. By the skills I mean can he create his own shot off the dribble. Can he take the ball to the basket and finish in a crowd. Can he shoot the trey. Can he guard the 6'4 ultra quick 3's for the teams with a 3 guard offense. If he can do those things ..or a majority of them ... Then sign him now. He could still play the 4 against smaller teams and we would be unbelievably quick Again ... my previous posts were not meant to knock Chris Sloan ... I've just heard Shaw compared to him.

First off ... this whole what if scenario is just that ... a what if. I don't think the powers at SLU will let that happen ... we are a school that is on the way up ... not on the way down and out. But since we are playing this what if game ... We are saying that the remnants of CUSA would not just remain as is. We would seek to replace the 4 teams with at least 2 others maybe even drop a couple of the current football bottom feeders and add 4 more. Say Xavier, Dayton, Creighton, and SIUC. That would be stronger than the current MVC with us added and would leave the MVC and A-10 scrambling. It would also be a pretty good Bball conference. But as I have said before ... I will be surprised if we split with Marquette and Depaul. People keep talking about the travel the big east would have to do to include SLU ... How about the travel that Marquette and DePaul would have to do to participate in the Big East. The better Scenario is the big east split into 2 leagues football and basketball ... with the basketball side having 2 divisions an east and a west. If that happens who would Depaul and Marquette rather have with them than us. Forget the Horizon ... it is not happening.

I think we believe you are who you say you are ... nevermind some of the sarcastic banter ... such as the suppossed Mr Ahearn gets. I think it is great to have the input from someone in the know, regarding recruiting. I've never seen Monroe Jr play or did I see Monroe Sr. play. The opinnion seems to be varied as to wether he has the skill to play at SLU. Though I disagree with the notion that it would be better for him not to follow in his Fathers footsteps. I say that yes .. it would be challenging ... but if he has the work ethic he will be loved at SLU. Look at how much everyone loved Troy Robertson, and love Sloan now. Local kids with out a tremendous amount of talent ..but who give you everything they have every time out. ..... Now if he has the talent and has the right work ethic he will be revered in St.Louis. Following in his Dad's footsteps will help to make the Douglasses one of St.Louis first families of Basketball. Now if SLU is not recruiting him ... I'm sure he will have better opportunities than to walk on at SLU, and should pursue them. Either way ... I for one would love to have your input on any subject ... whether it is something you have first hand knowledge of ...or just an opinion on the topic

I agree with Roy on this one ... I think we could salvage CUSA by adding a couple of teams, rather than go to the MVC. Likely if CUSA wanted to add a couple of teams the MVC may lose at least one of them. But ... I really think we will keep our affiliation with Marquette and Depaul

By big time ... I meant better than the average player in CUSA and I don't think Chris has any chance to be that. He has to work his tail off to maybe get to be the average player. My original point was not to put daown Chris Sloan ... but was wondering how Shaw compared to him, as he seems to be compared with Chris a lot. I still think that unless Shaw has far more athletic ability and can do the things that Chris cannot ... than I don't think he is who we should go after. If we had a full roster and we were looking for him to be a 7th or 8th man who could fill time and ignite a spark in the team with his hustle and grit ... then ok. But if we are looking for some one to play 25 min a game at a high level ... than we have to get more than Sloan Clones.

Sloan is a great kid who works verymhard, but lets not overestimate his talent level. He averaged 7.5 pts a game last year taking less than 6 shots a game on a team that badly needed offense. Yes he can run .. yes he can finish a break ... but he cannot create his own shot off the dribble or take it to the hole in a crowd as a 2 or a 3. As a 4 he cannot receive a pass down low and score consistently or get offensive rebounds and turn them into points. He averaged less than 4 boards a game and barely over 1 offensive rebound. Again ... I like Chris a lot ...but he is who he is and that is not a big time CUSA 4 or a 3

I like it as it is now also and really appreciate the work you do to enable us to have these discussions. I can't imagine why there would be consideration put to a second soccer board no matter how many posts there were. If someone doesn't want to participate in any soccer talk ... that's great than don't. Unless I am wrong in my understanding of this board.

I understood your statement to basically say if Cinci, Louisville, Marquette and Depaul left SLU would do well to join the MVC. My point was that joining the MVC is a very last option that I doubt will ever come to be. There are many other options to consider first. Secondly any talk of Marq. and Depaul going to the Big East usually includes us. We are building a very expensive new arena ... not so that we can step backwards. I don't pretend to know what is in the works or may come to be in the future but I'd be willing to give very good odds that we don't end up in the MVC

That's like saying the Big 12 isn't that strong because besides UT,OU,KU,OSU,AND MU they've only sent more than one other team so many times ... Sorry I appreciate that you are a Creighton fan and look favorably upon the MVC as do I, but there is no way it is not a huge step down for SLU. If the Cinci's and all leave ... we would be better off trying to stay with Marquette and Depaul and recruit acouple of A-10 schools such as Xavier and Dayton .... maybe even steal a couple of the stronger MVC schools ..such as Creighton and SIUC and form a new conference. That would be an upgrade over the current MVC. I just can't see us stepping back ... I'm sure we are being proactive and will move forward when and if the time comes. That would also be a good soccer conference

Thats very wishful thinking ... even if you add Tulsa and anyone else available, the MVC will not be at the level that Conference USA has been at since it's inception. You make it sound as if the MVC will be SLU's only option. What we are saying is that we hope to have better options and over the last 10 years have put ourselves in a position that we feel warrants inclusion in a better conference. What conference? With who? That is still to be played out depending on who else goes where. The MVC is a very good Mid major conference .. I don't know the answer to this question maybe a MVC fan does ... what were the seedings of the MVC tourney teams over the last few years as compared to Conference USA. What SLU fans want is to be in a conference at least equal to what we are in now

Is Taj Gray the only alternative? I'm not saying I don't think we should offer Shaw. I am saying that if he is not alot more athletic than Sloan ... do not offer him. If he is more athletic with more offensive talent than we probably should. I'm sorry but I think Sloan is an MVC quality player talent wise ... with great hustle and heart... IF we don't think we should be in the MVC .. than we can't sign that level of talent. As I said I have not seen Shaw play so ... It is impossible for me to say if we should or shouldn't sign him

How nice that we get your opinion about soccer shoved in our face. If you don't like the game and since you obviously know nothing about it just don't comment. But... please don't discourage those that do from using this Billiken.com not BillikenBasketball.com message board from talking about it. There are far more successful Billiken Soccer players than there are Basketball players. Any time SLU gets National exposure as it does right now with Brian McBride and will soon with Brad Davis it is a good thing. I LOVE Billiken Basketball and love the chat on the board and everyone's opinion's. But Soccer is SLU's game.

I'm not a big fan of Woolard's but I don't think this is a good time for an AD change, so I hope he stays.

Thicks .. I think that is a great post and very well said. I couldn't agree more.

I have not seen Shaw play so I don't know if I would offer him or not. Somebody made a reference as to would Brad have offerred Sloan a scholorship? I love Sloan's effort .... but to get to the level that we are a consistent NCAA tourney team we need to upgrade our talent level from the equal of Sloan. Sloan is an average player on a very average team. He cannot create his own shot doesn't rebound particularly well and hesitates to shoot when he is open. Without Marque last years team wouldn't have won 10 games. I am not trying to put down Chris as I think he gets the absolute most out of his talent. We just need more skilled and athletic players. So if Matt is a sloan equal in the talent level ... I say do not offer as he can't possibly work harder or give more effort, which would mean he can be no better than Sloan. We are not going to be a consistent NCaa tourney team with that talent level

Obviously you have a little time for the Lady Bills and the soccer team. What is wrong with some soccer talk ... As you stated they are the most successful Billiken Team. Go to a game and give it a shot.

Well said Roy .. I have never been on the Tiger Board ... but I'm sure if I was to go on and start a Bill's post and trash the tigers, the thread would continue as often and as long as I responded. I've been surprised since I've been reading here on the Bill's board, how many Tiger fan's post here