courtside

Again, no solutions...typical billikens.com bitchfest without solutions. I really need to re-think my participation on this board. You are kidding me right. You said SLU had significant facility advantages over other programs. I said SLU has a comparable top 25 facility...they are in the game, nothing more. EVERYBODY here knows that the St. Louis Sports Commission is excellent at lobbying for and hosting events college and pro. Are the Dome and Savvis the best venues in the country? Must be all that NCAA wrestling tradition in STL and NCAA Hockey tradition that has those folks coming to town for their Championships. I know the Final Four was here in men's and women's hoops because of the tradition of SLU men's and womens hoops? right? Chris Roseman, Frank V will probably host the hot dog eating contest next. They are simply very good at what they do. Having a lot of seats doesn't make a venue the best...just an fyi...and to my knowledge ALU and the NCAA are not playing nice hosting this event either. SLU's faciltiies in some areas are advantageous, some areas similar, and some areas belwow par with the top schools. But I am sure you have been to those schools lately. SLU won their conference this year, and hosted and dominated and NCAA 2nd round game. Apparently that is unacceptable to you. Should formerly #1 SMU fire their for same result? How about New Mexico, last year's runner up? Same result. How about UNC or perhaps Bob Warming at Creighton who both couldn't escape the first round? Should they all be gone too? You said it was part of an unacceptable 3 year run. You didn't mention the 3 kids who turned pro early, one being the National Frosh of the Year. I hate to break it to ya, but St. Louis, which does have a lot of soccer talent and history, does not have the market cornered on great soccer. Why are teams gasp, winning without players from St. Louis. Unbelievable. How dare they? Who did they pay off? Solutions. You have none to provide. People called for Donigan's head last year. Where were you? Last year, I would have taken ONLY Zach Tierney out of the St. Louis area that Donigan didn't get. No one else. This year Roach is the only possible needed offensive player I would have taken, only one. And he has a lot of character issues. Would have taken Clendenny and a couple of future SLUH commits. I definitely would like to see Bruin in two years. Donigan has let a few good ones escape, Germanese, etc...but not a ton...Warming and Clarke missed some too. One would argue will John and Eric Sweeting were scooped up put of Warming's back yard in KC, short trek to Omaha. STL high school area has a lot of solid depth especially for the area's small size...but few superstars like anywhere else, some years more than others.

First, I did accidentally omit the 84 team that lost in round of 16. That is my bad my mistake. As people on here know I am far fro a Donigan Kool-Aid drinker. I merely said he should keep his job another year. What bothers me on these boards are people like you that don't provide a solution or solution suggestion to their misgivings with something. So who do you recommend? I never have lambasted Bob Warming. His success speaks for itself. But he didn't want to stay and coach SLU. He came and left going back to same school he came from. I merely pointed out to those who love Warming, his first season was a Final Four season, and unlike DD he didn't recruit those returning players. Can't have it both ways. I would even add that twiuce under Donigan SLU should have been given better quarterfinal draws or he would easily be in the College Cup from quartefinals. DD was Warming's assistant, recruiter, and recommended highly by Warming for the job. In fairness to DD, he wasn't a prior HC, and has had to learn on the job. That certainly goes into my objective evaluation of any coach. I will freely and readily admit that DD was ill-prepared for the early defection to the pros of some of his players, and that some more recent recruits have not developed well enough over four years. SLU was very strong his first 3 years. This season was a 2nd round club, and ANY top team has that kind ofr year in their resume, or worse. I do believe he needs to make the NCAA every year and be a sweet 16 caliber team, mixing in deeper runs. That is what I expect. And, I do expect dominateion of the A-10 reg season. Note, in the old days that you like to recall so much, the competition was far less, hundreds of teams now play D-1 soccer, and the tourney field has expanded. It isn't apples to apples. As for your other comments, maybe they were exaggertaed or in jest, but non-soccer people wouln't know, because you led them to believe to be fact. The womens soccer team never could win the old conference and I believe they wtill wouldn't today. The A-10 is cupcake city for them. They also pad their record with easy non-sonference foes. They are finally playing a couple of tough non-conference foes a year. I wish them well, and hope they can comntinue their slow, methodial improvement, and think they will. They have never made it past the 2nd round of NCAA's, so no they are not better than the men. And, they didn't win the reg season A-10, so no again , not better than the men. Also you mentioned the great facility advantage for SLU. Not vs top 25 teams in NCAA. Not sure the last time you headed to the ACC schools, IU, UConn and the like and so on, I don't see an advantage for SLU. I would argue also that SLU has ZERO student support until a very small but spunky Legion 1818 began this year. Try going to a few tough environment road games. As I stated, outdated scoreboard, prac field upgrade needed, locker rooms aren't the best. You also mentioned that SLU men's hoops were getting more of the top local talent than SLU men's soccer. Vedad Ibisevic, John DiRaimondo, Brian Grazier, Dipsy Selouwane, Brad Davis, Tim Ream, Josh Aranda, Dado Hemzagic, and so on, not to mention other parts of MO, Sweetin, Jewsbury and so on...all recruited by DD...not every kid pans out of cousre...I would argue this past season, ONLY Zach Tierney started as a Frosh at New Mexico. Thiago did come off bench for Stanford. No one else good enough to play at SLU. There have been some to get away as well, but that was same case under Warming and Clarke too. Klein, Noonan, Twellman and many others. I would argue that partly due to the huge uncreases in top quality national programs, kids have many many more options and choices to go to school to play soccer than in the past, especially the 1970's and 60's. It is entirely ignorant and incomplete to blanket statement compare 1960's and 1970's to now. Can SLU become a soccer power again, sure, if the University wants to commit to that. I see no reason why not. Again I would gladly hear your solutions in all of these areas. You do a lot of complaining but offer little in way of solutions. Difficult to respect that.

SLU has nice timing playing on a Sunday. All Rams for next few days and Alfonso Soriano going to Cubs. It will likely get lost in the shuffle for the paper, and possibly radio too. Pinkel's extension at Mizzou is a hot topic. Too old to be a "bit" for next Sat too. I don't think it will get much coverage from Bernie. Cusamano sure.

*

>The basketball team does not have same history and tradition >of the soccer program. The basketball team currently does >not have the facility advantage that the soccer team has. I would also like to add how often you get to opposing venues? It is a serious question. SLU's facility is fine. Lots of other comparable facilities out there. You are however aware that SLU's scoreboard, Pressbox, concessions, practice field, locker rooms, are below par with some of these same schools. I am willing to bet you don't get to a lot or even some of these opposing venues, or your post would have been different.

The anonymous donor is rumored to be the guy who founded and owns "Public Storage" across America. So now you can think of this story when you drive by a Public Storage.

Bump

I really am not locked in to what DD makes, and wouldn't want to guess wrong. It is obviously low six figures. Where? Not sure. I know of some other coaches coaching in very similar school environments to SLU, size type of school etc...making right at $100k, before bonuses or perks. And those schools do NOT, repeat not have SLU's level of team, not close. I know some coaches at tiny budget but traditionally good soccer schools...would be like a UNC Greensboro, but not them...don't wanna name the school or coach...making $60k before perks. Big ACC and Big Ten program coaches I would imagine do the best. much higher than these. It certainly can be done. John Trask at UIC...almost 10 year IU assistant, in his what 2nd or 3rd season, had good year. He did it in Chicago, big city with mostly local kids. SLU could field an NCAA team with mostly local kids, but I get concerned how many top quality kids want to stay home, because STL isn't that big of market. Chicago has so many solid players, no more solid than STL, they just have more of them. Soccer as you know is good everywhere now. If SLU ever did make a change, I would like to see a hungry coach that is doing what Trask is doing, assistant at top program, then does extremely well with previously nothing program, then gets a SLU gig. Or someone with local ties, who can bring in the local top players. Santa Clara, San Francisco, easier to recruit in big NoCal or Cal altogether...similar schools, smaller schools. BC should be better as should Georgetown based on location. SLU should be getting top local kids, top KC kids, and rest of state, AND dip into the region...then get natinal and international...should be a National Recruiting base, built from inside out. It isn't right now....well...yes and no...I want the out of towners to be top quality. They have never really recruited Chicago much except McBride. Some good players there too. Top local Chicago player picked a bad Marquette program(but they do have a new dynamic coach). DD isn't getting a free pass. The school and AD need to commit to the program. Then he needs to win on the field. There needs to be a total commitment to be a top program. I see no reason SLU as a program, can't be a sweet 16 program or better most years, no.

Yes it is the same green space, but it is rather inadequate for a top 5 program don't you think? Or a top 16 as Skip suggests annual program? Is a regulation size full length practice field too much to ask? I know "bad" programs with at least that. The reason I mentioned it was to point out SLU doesn't have the market corned on best soccer facilities. I at least can say with informed opinion what other programs are doing. I don't like posters, not Skip of couse but the random SLU has the best facilities in the country. Or the at SLU we should be top 5 program every year, with nothing to back it up. For Skip, what do I think? Well my answer would be I don't know. I would think NCAA would go to 64 teams soon, from 48, no more byes. Gotta win 2 in post-season every year is tough if that happens. Not a one word answer. I would be more comfortable had DD been a HC, but DD has 6 years in of learning. And he has Sorbs with him too. Sorbs' dad sure knows how to coach. I am hopeful, not 100% sold of yes definite he can and will, no. But I believe right now, only a superstar proven head coach could come in and make want to give the job to someone other than DD. DD would have to fail more for me. If he misses NCAA's next year I would relent. If SLU has one and done's next two years, I would relent. He is not getting free ride with me, and I have been very critical of him at times. If he fails I want a quicker hook, no question. But if next year and year after produces Viviano's and Ream's etc...I am hopeful. Best answer I got. Not many teams make sweet 16 most years. Even the great ones mix in shorter runs. Do I think DD can lead SLU to National title or Final Four, yes I do. Or I would want him gone. But, but, he could slide next year and be done. And I would be fine with that if warranted. The next 1-2 years will define him as a continuing a long time, or being done at SLU. He knows he's gotta get two deeper NCAA runs next two years to last. If he does it, fine, if not he is out, fine. But Skip, I do understand the want and desire to be an elite beast year in and year out. I would like that too. SLU needs to do their part for him too. This is the same school that finally allowed the first ever full time assistant coach not too long ago in DD for Warming. If the school steps it up too, then I am on board. I have heard from sports mkting friends that realtions between SLU and NCAA for College Cup have been icy to bad. I will try to find out more specifics and report, but a trusted friend told me that SLU is not putting itself in position from school AD Dept standpoint to host any time soon again. Do not have or know any more specifics and this may very well be nothing...but I trust my source, and I will seek specifics, as I know nothing. Unless I hear something more, I won't have anything to say about it. These are high dollar NCAA sports marketing guys. Hope it is nothing. Sorry for the long answer, which in short is cautiously yes reserving right to admit being wrong next year or year after. But gotta believe in something. I have no ties to Dan. I freakin know Brad S. But no ties to DD, other than club ball stuff and common friends, but don't know why but I have a feeling about DD. Goin with the gut.

Let me take the last thing first because I disagree. Plenty of times I would agree with you the past couple of seasons, but not yesterday. Speiss was in alone naked with the keeper. Johnny D was robbed on a sprawling save in first half. His reaction of frustration priceless. Matteson had two decent opportunities with the keeper. Many others weren't seriously challeneged...but those are a lot I mentioned in one game. I understand and agree with your frustrations. Problem is SLU doesn't have the personnel for one particular style in general. I do not mind playing the ball wide with overlap runs....problem is TARGET forward. SLU has none who can play with his back to the goal 18 yards out. First touches are not good enough at this level up front. Casey Speiss won head ball after head ball after head ball yesterday. But he is alone up there for that. SLU does not possess enough hold the ball midfielders moving forward offensively to play yet another intrical hybrid interior passing game, and obviously no high skilled dribblers with speed and precision, a few...for a more Brazilian style etc... There is a reason I pointed out SLU's record when falling behind. Sure SLU came back against St. Bonnies or Xavier both home games etc...but when they got down against SMU..they panicked it blew open on mistakes. SLU didn't panic yesterday...but did you notice how right before and right after NU's goal SLU had a barrage of high quality near misses...but late first half...you could feel them think about it...uh oh here we go again...the pressed hard in 2nd half, but many long balls were forced, as SLU under the pressure of a big game changed their style of play. Skip, I went to the SLUH Chaminde playoff game this year, two best teams in state...terrific first half...but both teams got tight in 2nd half, nerves, tired, etc...and it became long ball fest. It takes a team with superior finishers, guys who can hold the ball up top with no fear. Guys who get shots on goal, etc...SLU just needs a couple. SLU plays so much different when they score first, even against elite teams, knocking the ball around with confidence, flare, etc...this year's team struggled mightily in big games when playing from behind. Got away from their game, when chances don't go in due to inferior finishing of great plays. It gets into your head. If that game stays 0-0 til 2nd half or ot, 100% confidence SLU would win. They simply need a stud scorer who even if doesn't finish, eludes confidence in the team, makes the backline play more comfortably thinking, hey we don't have to be perfect, we can relax, take chances etc...and not play defensive. That is what I think.

Of course it is all in good fun, and it isn't apples to apples. Joey Clarke was fired for having a LOSING record in a season, hence missing the NCAA's, in the 90's. Just an fyi. So I will put it in order: NCAA Quarters NCAA 3rd Round NCAA Quarters Miss Miss NCAA 2nd Round In those missed years, 3 superstar players unexpectedly turned pro early, previous extremely uncommon in college soccer, dramatically hurting the team, including National Frosh of the year leaving team in late summer just before practice starts. Would I fire this coach? Nope. I might also add he has had his best recruiting class in a few years, a good one.

You may have to register, so... Bill Plaschke: Floored An anonymous donation will introduce generations of Trojans to Jim Sterkel, and comes as quite a surprise to Mrs. Sterkel November 5 2006 The name is in giant cardinal letters, stripped across two sides of the new basketball court in this city's new basketball treasure, the signature on USC's signature arena. It will be stepped upon by generations of Trojans basketball players. ADVERTISEMENTIt will be seen by millions of Galen Center fans. Yet it is cloaked in mystery. Jim Sterkel Court. "Are you sure?" asks his wife, Joanne Sterkel. "His name is on what?" It's on the hardwood, scripted there forever, officially scuffed for the first time on Nov. 16, when the Trojans open the season against South Carolina. It honors a former Trojan who played only two seasons in the mid-1950s. He never averaged more than 10 points a game. His teams never won more than 16 games. He never graduated. Jim Sterkel Court. "You're kidding me," asks his daughter Jill. "Are you sure you have the right man?" He spent a lifetime working as a Johnson Wax salesman. He died of cancer in 1997. He left behind a wife of 38 years and three children and a modest Hacienda Heights home. Outside that home today there hangs a college banner. A UCLA banner. He wasn't a Trojans donor, he never had Trojans season tickets, and if he had any Trojans memories, he kept them to himself. Jim Sterkel Court. "I have no idea who put his name on there," says his wife. "And I have no idea why." A most amazing story in this city of stars, a sports centerpiece decorated in average, laced in ordinary, painted in a nobody. Or was he? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This tale, like many Hollywood tales, starts quietly, in the suburbs, in adolescence. Two boys meet at Mark Keppel High in Alhambra. One likes to play sports, the other likes to watch sports, and together they become as one, chasing fun and fear and dreams. They attend separate junior colleges, but remain close. When they both enroll in USC in the fall of 1955, they become roommates. One is a 6-foot-7, 230-pound center named Jim Sterkel. The other, for reasons you will understand later, is Anonymous. Anonymous was the businessman, Sterkel was the jock, and it was through sports that Anonymous best understood his friend. "Jim came home from a game at USF one time with two black eyes," Anonymous said. "It took him a while to admit that he had taken just two shots, and that Bill Russell had blocked both of them right back in his face." It was then that Anonymous realized Sterkel's honesty and lack of ego, something his teammates already knew. "The thing everyone remembers most about Jim was, he was just a real good-natured guy," said former Trojans guard Ken Walker. "There was not a mean bone in his body." After scoring all of nine baskets in his junior year, Sterkel was voted the team's most improved player in his senior year, averaging 9.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. "He was never a great player, no," said Anonymous. "But he was the kind that kept showing up." After their senior years, the roommates set upon vastly different courses of life, but never strayed too far. Anonymous became a business tycoon, while Sterkel became a suburban salesman and church leader, yet they still met for family dinners, fishing trips and pep talks on the phone. Sterkel was the kind of guy who didn't smoke, didn't swear, and would lead his church in services and on its basketball courts. He was the kind of guy neighbors phoned if they needed a television fixed or pipe unclogged. Giant and bespectacled and always smiling, he was the kind of guy who hugged everyone. Anonymous was the kind of guy who, while leading a faster-paced life, gained strength from Sterkel's daily consistency. "It's hard to find friends who last a lifetime," Anonymous recalled. "For me, Jim was that guy." When Sterkel retired from Johnson Wax, Anonymous hired him for a job at his company. When Sterkel first noticed a lump in his testicles, he told Anonymous, who immediately drove him to the doctor for the beginning of his long and fatal relationship with cancer. While Sterkel was dying, Anonymous' young son also contracted cancer. Sterkel wrote Anonymous a poem, sealed it, and ordered it only to be read if Anonymous' son died. Less than two years after Sterkel's death, Anonymous' son died of leukemia. He unsealed and read the poem. He said he still feels its imprint today. "I'll never forget that he took the time out of his own life during his final days to do this for me, to try to inspire my life even when he was losing his own life," Anonymous said. It was this inspiration that Anonymous remembered when he was approached by USC with an offer to make a donation to put his name on the new court. He could have given the school his son's name. Most people would have given their own name. Instead, he wrote a check for about $5 million and gave the name of Jim Sterkel. "Some people don't deserve to be forgotten," Anonymous said. "Maybe this will keep him around a little longer." At first, USC officials were stunned. Then, they were moved. "A great example of the Trojan family," said Mike Garrett, athletic director. Anonymous had only one request, that the donation be forever nameless, so USC refused to provide me with his name. Even once I figured it out, Anonymous did not answer repeated interview requests for this story until he was finally promised that it would not include his name. "The joy I have in remembering Jim would be significantly reduced if people knew who I was,'' he said. When he finally agreed to the interview, my first question had been rolling around in my gut for a week. "So what exactly did Jim Sterkel do for you to warrant this incredible honor?" I asked. "Did he give you a kidney? Did he pull you out of a burning car?" Anonymous sighed. "He did much more than that," he said. "He was my friend." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some might think that Jim Sterkel's name was placed on the court not only for his memory, but for his family. Well, Anonymous still hasn't told the family. When I contacted them about the court, they had no idea. They had not read about it in the newspapers, or seen it on the USC website, or heard the buzz on the blogs. Jill, a former Olympic gold medal swimmer, began crying. She politely excused herself, hung up the phone, and we talked later. "My dad was never famous, he never cared about that," she said. "He was just a good guy and a great parent." Upon hearing the news, Joanne also wept in disbelief. After her initial shock, she figured out that there could be only one possible donor, and she correctly identified him, but she remained puzzled. "He was such a good husband, such a good man, but do people really notice those things anymore?" she said of Jim. Anonymous knew the family well — photos of him and Jim are on the several walls of the house — but he said he just didn't want to call attention to the gift. In fact, he hasn't even spoken to the family since Jim's death. Noting that Joanne attended UCLA, he said, "I thought it might be neat if she first saw the name when she was watching the Bruins play at Galen Center on television." Actually, the family has not yet made any plans to see the court. And USC, honoring the donor's anonymity, has no plans to contact them in this regard. "We're just happy that a good person like Jim Sterkel can be remembered on our campus in perpetuity," said Don Winston, the university's associate athletic director and fund-raising whiz. "We've heard a lot of folks saying, 'Who's Jim Sterkel?' Now they will know." Some folks are asking that question angrily. There is talk in some USC circles that the naming of the court should not have been sold, but rather given to a former Trojans basketball hero like Bill Sharman, Tex Winter or Paul Westphal. After all, John Wooden's name is on the UCLA court, and Lute Olson's name is on the Arizona court. To which Anonymous says, "If you have a friend for 50 years, isn't that big enough?" And it is. Of course it is. In a town where sidewalks are filled with the names of people famous for acting like someone else, what is wrong with celebrating the name of someone who was great at just being himself? In a town where five percent of the people are stars and the rest of them are like us, what's wrong with celebrating us? A most amazing story in this city of stars, a sports centerpiece decorated in average, laced in ordinary, painted in a nobody. Gosh, it's beautiful. * Bill Plaschke can be reached at [email protected]. To read previous columns by Plaschke, go to latimes.com/plaschke.

I thought the 11th seed was generous, and said so at the time. SLU was in serious competition for a top 16 seed. Maybe yes maybe no. on the bubble...so not too far off. If you take away the ACC, SLU can could play with a lot of teams out there, in a lot of leagues imo. We can talk style. It has been a hybrid imo. What is it that you don't like. Styles also change depending on personnel.

Some of you may have seen this, apologies if it has been posted. Was gonna just send it to Joe Bonwich, but thought every one would enjoy it. http://www.latimes.com/sports/columnists/l...ack=1&cset=true

>I only got to this thread a few minutes ago but I have to >add: That game summary was professional-quality and in a >style that's been missing from lots of sports pages for many >years now. Great stuff. Thanks Joe, made my day. I am in fact a closet writer...grew up wanting to be a pitcher and ss for the Cards, if not any pro athlete would do,.... to get to travel and play sports and get paid, ridiculous. When that didn't work out as planned, almost jumped into sports journalism, always regretted getting talked out of it a long time ago...so I write stuff 99% for myself for fun. Couldn't imagine getting paid to travel to cool places across the globe to write about stuff I would watch anyway, or even just write period. I know the grind etc..low pay etc..negatives... but I was a liberal arts kid. Everything else didn't interest me so much. Thanks again for the kind remarks. I guess we all are secretly looking for validation somehow. Cheers.

If you had a coach who coached 6 seasons at SLU, and made it to the elite 8 twice, sweet 16 once, 2nd round once, and missed tourney twice in that time, what would you think of that coach? To better answer just say your school since 1980, prior to that coaches arrival, the school in over 20 years total, made the elite 8 or better 4 times, what would you think of that coach? Pretend it is SLU basketball. a) Fire him, dude titles every year or bust. Son, did you say 1980, I can't remember that far back, but I get a coach in 6 years that does the above...I think we'll ****** him up thanks.

Brian STL feel free to go to the 1-0 soccer thread and use some cheat sheets if you need them. That is okay I will be kind and save you the trouble. Since 1980, almost 30 years, Joey Clarke made quarters or better twice, once in his first season. Bob Warming did so twice, once in his first season...hmm can't use that darn with the other guys players deal either...and oh ..yeah...Unlike DD, Warming was never an assistant prior at SLU who helped recruit the kids. DD has 2 quarters appearances, a 3rd round, a 2nd round, and two misses in 6 seasons. He deserves to keep his job at least for now. 1980 dude. 1980, you remember it well, Phillies over Royals, UCLA v Louisville in hoops. Derrell Griffith.

Brian is more valuable at D mid. He has been pretty much playing d mid only for years. I am not the coach. I don't know. I know I like Brian G there, makes me sleep well at night. I agree on Sweetin. He was MO state high school player and offensive player of year, sick numbers at Rockhurst. I am assuming you are talking about the small green space next to the school building. That isn't exactly a full length soccer field or anything of high quality. Fair enough on style. Skip I will be posting this in another thread too....but since 1980, SLU made the quarters or better in Joey Clarke's first of 14 seasons...everyone insert their obligatory with the other guy's players in coach's first year comments here. He also made the semis once. That is it in 14 years, two times as far as DD. Bob Warming made the Final Four in his first year at SLU with Joey's players...again insert same comment here, and he also made quarters one other time. Skip look at it, since 1980. WOW. That is almost 30 years. Old timers need to get past the 1970's. Philadelphia Textile is no longer a power. Most youngsters do not know what Bronze Boot means in their lifetimes. More than 32 teams actually play nationally now. These comments aren't meant for you as much as others reality challenged. During all of these decades, record number of schools are adding quality men's D-1 programs. It is tougher now than ever. DD went quarters, 3rd round, quarters, miss, miss, and 2nd round. So far based on that, and based on losing superb recruits to pros early...he bounced back from it and righted ship. Now he needs to show consitency and mix in years of deep runs imo....and that would be fair. Now playing style etc...that is entirely different. Objectively based on results....as Nick Bakay says, the numbers never lie. I am hoping you change your mind. SLU might have been making the NCAA's all those years, and decades, but they did squat in the dance, two times quarters or better til Warming arrived. He did it twice, once as first year coach, and DD has done it twice and threw in a 2nd and 3rd rounder. Not bad Skip, not bad. I am as disappointed as anyone on here over the loss, but I will be fair and objective both ways. I feel it is the movie Hoosiers and I am the old lady, mother of Barbara Hershey in the movie at the town meeting after Chitwood speaks, and she says "I think we should have a re-vote." Coach stays.

>Hey you can try to spin it anyway you want to. The women’s >team has won two straight A-10 tourneys. The men are 0 for >2. The women's team won a NCAA tournament game this year. >When was the last time the men's team won a NCAA game? > >Donigan's two final 8 teams were with Warming's players. >They have not come close since. The team is losing out on >local talent at a more alarming rate than the basketball >team. It is just sickening. > >The program under Donigan is no longer relevant on the >national level. The program strikes fear in no one. Hell >we don't even dominate one of the worst conferences in >soccer. The baseball team has had more success in the A-10 >tournament in one season than the soccer team has had. The >baseball team!!!!! Spin...lol...you are spinning like a top. What is tougher and more fair a judge of quality of a team, winning reg season title or conference tourney title? Seriously come on? The men's league is also tougher than the womens. In two seasons, SLU men tied for reg season title and won it the other year outright. They lost in conf tourney title game twice, once on pk's. Somehow this to you means the womens prgoram is better than the men's. How many of Tim Champion's girls left early to turn pro? How many quality wins this year for the SLU women? One, and that team then turned around and took em out behind the woodshed and whooped them in NCAA's. I am ALL FOR a successful womens program, but you come here make wild Metz like allegations, of facts you cannot support, and of course provide ZERO alternative or answer. How many SLU Men's soccer teams from 1980 to present made the NCAA quarterfinals or better? And how many were DD's teams? Give ya a little homework assignment.

Also, thx for the kind words from Skip and Balls. The reason I post on SLU soccer other than loving the game of soccer, is that it is a small little minority here where the need for it is greater than some other hoops post. I do post hoops and love hoops as well as I do other sports...but feel more of a need is there for me to discuss soccer here. Soccer is playing chess while standing on the table and running for 90 minutes straight. I also know what it is like for out of towners to not be present and want more descriptive info to better understand what happened. Like bad radio announcers for any sport. Nothing is more annoying. So I prefer to describe small little things as well that many take for granted. Who knows? Maybe I am the only one who is interested, don't know? But maybe there is someone out there interested.

Let me try look at your points Skip, and perhaps a few other opinions and personal observations. I think we agree far more than you think. Okay...let's see...let me start with the players, that is easiest for me. I have seen Brian G for SLU and outside of SLU, I know Brian has the vision, but he is content on playing his position which he does well. No one on the team played harder or more intelligently than him yesterday. He plays with controlled reckless abandon if there is such a thing. He marks tighter than tight and wins those balls. Excellent passer and distribuotr of the ball, calm but plays with pace. I am so happy for him after the horrible knee injury. He has gifted skills with ball, not just a grinder or d mid. He has elite skills on the ball, and those are not easy to come by. Timmy Ream I have been high on all year. Needs to fill out a bit and add more strength on the ball, he is so talented that he gets away with such a finess game. He routinely in high school and club ball played forward, attacking mid, d mid and left back...His versatility is uncommon and a big asset. Eric Sweetin, seriously how many of us can say they would be tht good for being so small? Terrific on ball skills, can finish and create, but his size does have challenges, he gets hurt easily and often, he is too soft on passes, dead on there. I would personally much prefer Dado in the middle. We do agree there. He is not a natural wing player. He was so highly touted, I had expected more from his first two years. I think though club ball is different...playing at Mehlville he was the whole team, no discipline etc...it makes a difference sometimes. SLU has had much better keepers in past, and they need a stud back there. Maybe he wouldn't have saved that ball, but he was caught out of position yet again, ...he did this later in game and almost burned him again. About DD. Skip I went to so many road and home games Johnny D's frosh year...that loaded group. That young team was as good as any in the country. DD brought in those kids. So I know he is capable of going to a Final Four. Too much first hand experience. He was caught with his pants down when the kids went pro. And hasn't fully recovered. This was a good class this year, his best since. He needs a class like it every year. As for local kids, I see a lot of kids play, not just in the Lou either. Louisville club teams were dominating some youth national titles...Freakin Louisville, and UK had a nice team this year...horses and hoops country. It is nowhere near as easy as even 10-15 years ago. SLU was the big boy and kids just went there....until all of these other schools started developing soccer too. Now you get kids wanting a different type campus environment, different life experience, etc..makes it tougher to keep all the locals. DD has gotten his share over the years. And some don't pan out, Gasporovic struggled. Dado underachieving. I would let DD come back next year. I think he and everyone knows the goal for SLU is to be a consistent contender, meaning making tourney every year and advancing deep at least some of the time. Any type of replacement needs substantial head coaching experience and success. Gotta have somebody in mind. While I am not pleased with just making the NCAA's....I also will not let uneducated people come on here and think it is still 1970. It isn't. Keeping top talent at home helps, and also getting finds elsewhere. I do think the problem is finishers. And it is tough to hide that weakness. It has been a few years since Will John and Vedad Ibisevic turned pro early, and people are getting restless. I have criticized and praised DD when each is warranted. Merely winning conference and not the A-10 tourney is not good enough. SLU beat IU, tied ND etc...and outplayed SMU. Those are top 10 teams this year. So I credit the positives too. I do think DD needed this year's results to save his job, and I think he did just enough to save his job. He will need BETTER results next year and signs of future promise too, to keep it again next year. He may very well get fired next week. I won't lose sleep over it. I just hope if that happened, there is a replacement in mind. DD had success recruiting, and in the NCAA's. He hasn't adjusted to early unexpected losses to pros, and he imo is running out of excuses and time for that. SLU doesn't even have a practice field for Men's soccer, for those who chime in about facilities. Yes you heard me correctly. I dare those people to do their homework and visit some schools, they'd be surprised. SLU needs a couple of forwards, fill in on back line, and keeper. I will wait to see what kind of class comes in for next year.

I posted this a couple of months ago, if you want to take a look. http://michaeltwhite.com/tocb/

>It is without a doubt it is now time for Donigan to go. He >needs to go before the damage he has caused the program >becomes permanent. This should be one of the top 5 programs >in the country. It is really sickening how for the program >has fallen. > >It is really sad that in only ten years our women’s program >is now more successful than the men's. The men's team >should be the UCLA of men’s soccer. We need a men's soccer >team are women's team can be proud of. > >It is interesting some of the people saying he shouldn't go >or will not go are the same people calling for Brad's head. >They must be Dan's drinking buddies. Donigan's first two teams made the Final 8, sorry just missing your top 5 cut-off. And this year's team was rated 11th by the NCAA, and lost on an upset in the 2nd round despite playing well. Bob Warming's Creighton team lost in the first round this year decisively 3-0 to the U of Washington. I missed it where the women's soccer program at SLU has ever made it past the NCAA 2nd round? Please enlighten me.

>I will admit that my knowledge of how these things play out >in college soccer is very limited, but on the surface Mike >Sorber appears to be a great candidate. He has played at the >highest levels and I would think that would be very >attractive to prospective recruits. I guess the big thing >thim holding him back would be that he is green. I believe >he has only been in coaching for this past season. Mike Sorber has been Danny Donigan's top assistant, close friend, and recruiter for your SLU Billikens these past 4 years. Donigan was the long time assistant and recruiter for Bob Warming, and received the SLU head job at Warming's endorsement.

On a cold and blustery, but sunny late Novemeber afternoon, winds gusting, the game would be played one half in light and the other in darkness under the lights....strolled in with the same confidence of the short sleeves of Brian Grazier and Alex Matteson on such a chilly day. Seemed a storybook kind of day, which it turned out to be in a way. Just before kickoff, that little hush and here we go...I leaned to the person seated next to me and whispered, "God Almighty, we better score first,...don't care if is in regulation, OT or PK's...We better score first." ...Because I knew going in, this year's team was 12-0 when scoring first. And 1-4-1 when they didn't. The only win over hapless St. Bonnies. I knew...And away we go... Less than 5 minutes into the freakin game, down goes 1st team all conference midfielder, speedy offensive, tiny dynamo, Eric Sweetin, down like he was shot by a sniper. Perhaps I jinxed him and his family at Vito's the night before. Should have stayed away from Eric. Seemed like a harmelss 50-50 ball...but if you don't go in balance forward 100%, you can break your leg. Even Donigan thought it was nothing, and didn't come out right away. Eric spent the rest of the game in a walking cast on the sidlines. Versatile Tim Ream filled in well at midfield, but it wasn't one of Timmy's best days, which is still solid. SLU came out well prepared, and played well. NU was fired up too behind their surprisingly boisterous cheering section and lots of purple and white pom pons. SLU seemingly was starting to control the action created opportunities. My one concern, which I vocalized out loud at the time, was SPACE....too much of it...for the team dressed in all black like they were the Grim Reaper or something. On counter attacks, Northwestern was given WAAAAY too much space in 1st half from SLU's 40 yd line to 25 yd line. This cost them dearly, on fluke counter...David Roth, yes a St. Louisan, yes first team all Big Ten junior, yes the best player by a lot on Northwestern's solid team had time to perhaps sit down and read a couple of pages of the famous soccer book "Fever Pitch" before being approached. In regular speed Timmy Ream gave too much space is what I am saying. And Roth in front of a gazillion family and friends chanting and cheering him on, hit a mythical laser, that dipped, no spin, going left to right on your tv screen visual, under the top left crossbar, 20 minutes in, and shocked everyone within miles of Hermann Stadium. It was like the movie Victory where Pele does the bicycle kick, and they replay it in slow motion until the German dude stand up and applauds. And regular time starts again. Immediately my first thought, was wow, it was a flat out THIRTY TWO yard bomb. Wow!. Shot of his college lifetime. But he is in fact a terrific player. My second thought was, why was SLU's keeper Kaufmann not more ready for it. He was caught off line, back pedaling, and did get a finger tip on it. Would have been a terrific save, but isn't that why we are here? And why he was off his line I don't know. Thought he could and should have done more on it, but make no mistake on the shot. He was nowhere near the box, it was far, 32 yards out. Uh oh...12-0 1-4-1, over and over in my head. Not this time. SLU poured on the pressure. I counted 4 high quality chances for Alex Matteson, two for John DiRaimondo and Casey Speiss, my goodness, alone in a room with the keeper ready to undress him, and shot right at him, ...anywhere else and it is 1-1. That one was disturbing. SLU DOMINATED with chances for about the next 15 minutes, then finished frustrated last 5 minutes of first half in ordinary fashion. Terrific passing and chances by Alex Matteson in 1st half. But he really had a lot of chances in this game, and he laid an egg, period. His 2nd half play was very disappointing an uninspriring. Perhaps if had jawed less with the officials and actually played a full 90, I wouldn't pick on him. NU had a few counters here and there to make it interesting, and to make me nervous about Kaufmann twice more, but that was it folks, the question was WHEN would SLU tie it. 2nd half. Brian Grazier. Let me just say I would take 11 Brain Graziers and play anybody anywhere and see how I'd do. Man of the match...if you aren't counting the sneaky, talented, smart David Roth of NU. Casey Speiss. nobody likes him more than me, Florissant kid fro DeSmet...he was all set 4 years ago to attend Quincy U, D-2 ball when he got the call last minute from SLU. He has played and played, left back, right back, left mid right mid, forward, everywhere, ...with 100% hustle, speed, and that Flo Town nastiness that only another kid from there understands. But Casey's first touch at forward, is not good enough for this stage. His speed and effort and ability to win head balls, and find loose change in the box and knock in are why he plays there. Many tremendous build ups, mostly wide, good spacing throughout from SLU. But never enough in the middle until some flashes later in 2nd half. Some terrific chances. Hemzagic's bicycle over the bar would have brought the non-existent roof down. I was hoping he would have slided deeper on the terrifc cross, and headed, or chested and volleyed. Matteson was flicking and tapping when SLU needed more shots on the keeper and non-pretty whacks on goal to force NU's shaky keeper to not give rebounds. The goal never came, looked up into the press box as seconds ticked down, and Levick's hands were holding up her face for about the last 20 min of the game, and they stood glued there til the end. Angus had a terrific game at right back. I have been hard on him for costing SLU the UIC and SMU goals and games. But he had terrific season and recovered well, really nice two way stuff. Viviano, solid, but his head needs to be in the game for full 90. Guffey has had better games. Benne's run with 8 minutes left where he tackled the NU midfelder was one to remember and one to think where was this physicality for SLU earlier. He was solid. Grazier was terrifc, but wished he moved up sooner and more often into the attack when SLU was desperate. Timmy Ream will be a good one at SLU. Filled in at d mid and did okay. Dado is the biggest enigma on team for me. Maybe my expectations are too high. Had some very good flashes, but he needs to make better decions after beating the first guy. Johnny D, wow, just didn't have it today...had flashes. Is it possible his first two years were better than his last two? SLU was the better team, make zero mistake about it. Northwestern packed it and held on. Early on some nice things from NU. But they flat out stole one, and they knew it. They celebrated as if they won the College Cup right there. Too many long balls for SLU for my taste, but when you are down and desperate, it happens. As has been discussed forever, SLU lacks a creative attacking midfielder...Matteson is a poor man's Jackie Jewsbury or Brad Davis. And more so, SLU needs a stud finisher or two. They have nothing in this dept. Yes what if Vedad Ibisevic, Will John and Tim Ward would not have gone pro early, with the other nices pieces...wow couldn't even imagine. And SLU has failed to overcome those unexpected losses....Took Donigan a few years to adjust. And SLU got back in the dance. They need a couple more return trips in a row to get DD off of the hot seat. They must make it next year. Winning the league outright is positive, winning those tough road games when you don't ahve your best players or stuff. That is what SLU did this year as opposed to last two years. And people please, look around, there is good soccer everywhere, long gone are the days where losing in 2nd round of NCAA is a bad year for SLU, or job worthy. The competition is waaaaay tougher now than even ten years ago. That is just the way it is. Much harder to win now, with all that parity. For next season, SLU will need a transfer or Frosh scorer or two. They must find someone. Only kid in STL area...let me repeat that the ONLY kid GOOD ENOUGH in all of St. Louis, that means there is just one imo good enough to play forward for SLU next year, is a questionable attitude at best player, a terrific talent, headed to IU. A shut down defender who would start immediately is headed to SMU. Other than that, very few kids good enough out of area to play for SLU next year, a few yes, but none at forward that I have seen, defenders and defensive midfielders sure. There is a junior however, and he is great and a beast of a forward. We shall see. If Grazier indeeds decides to come back, then that will help. SLU will be in decent shape. Need some folks who can score. No DD can't score for them, but he is responsible for who is recruited to play up top. Game plan etc...all fine. SLU just needs better forwards who have better first touches, who hold ball better, who can score, who can take pressure off of defense to not have to be perfect. DD will be back and should for next year, and SLU will be expected to dominate the A-10 reg season AND conf tourney. And to again get a few signature non-conference wins against nation's best. 1-2 players from a Final Four team, and that is good enough to keep your job. They lost, but they played hard, dominated the game with a gazillion chances. It was like a basketball game when your team is down 1 point, 2 minutes left, is in the front court and shoots and shoots and gets rebound after rebound and seconds tick down and last shot goes off the rim. A sick feeling. A long off-season of what ifs. Yep, a storybook kind of day, just for the wrong kid on the wrong team, Daid Roth returning home.