knight_rider

Hard rumor - if there is such a thing, had Jay Spoonhour as a top candidate for the job.

First of all, there are no rumors out there concerning this scenario! However, I see where Southeast Missouri State is looking for a new head coach! Isn't the bootheel close to where Coach Bean is from?

I believe Shimmy is the real deal! She has those kids playing with passion; something that was not here inthe previous regime.

SWIC clinched their conference championship last nigth as Stemmler puts up 16. Crean's name was mentioned as being in attendance.

Heard it from Harrington himself that Crean will be in attendance at SWIC's game tonight!

Announce ground-breaking now and you close the gap toward the 35 million mark because there are still quite a few donors who will not give unless they know this thing is going to happen. Side note: On 670AM out of Chicago last night they interviewed Jerry Wainwright, Depaul's Head Coach, and he explained his team's inability to hit free-throws vs. Villanova and their overall poor shooting. He attributes their lackluster shooting to the fact they practice in a small facility and play their games in All-State Arena, where they only get to shoot on game day. Does this sound familiar?

Honestly - In the four figure range. As much as my miniscule budget can allow!

I am all for education as our top priority. I also want every dept. in the University to be number one. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing right. Your tunnel vision does not allow you to see outside of the box.

Go to a game in West Pine and use the men's restroom, if you can get past the odor and the urine standing on the floor because the plumbing is backed-up. Ask some of the men's players about their lockerroom and shower facility - they have to step around the cockroaches when they change and shower. However, our statues are beautiful and we enjoy watching the physical plant workers plant flowers three times a year. These are all facts!

I would say that the arena is a huge factor when it comes to competing on a level playing field in the recruiting battles. This also is a prelude into the next point. "Several" years ago it was stated the a new arena was in the works. Any recruit with the right guidance can see that this project has been continually put on the back-burner, which I feel is very indicative to a lack of support, at the top, for a quality athletic program. I firmly believe in academcis being the number one priority. However, right, wrong, or otherwise, athletics teaches a kid how to compete and is a valuable asset in the overall educational experience. Everyday life is nothing but competition, unless you are a loser. So what is wrong with building an athletic program that competes among the nation's elite, instead of wallowing in mediocrity?

A friend of mine had his CYC team at the women's games last night when they played #19 Temple. He said there were over 1200 people in the gym and he, along with most of the other people in attendance, will never go back to see a women's game due to the facilities. He said this is very unfortunate because the women's team played very well and had a lead late in the game, making this an exciting event for everyone there. However, the bathrooms did not hold the amount of people there and they were filthy with a bad odor. No place for ample room at the concession stands - on and on. His last comment was, "An other wise fine institution has a blck eye because of what they put the women in; Father Biondi and the rest of his administration should be ashamed to put any Division 1 team in such a horrible facility."

I totally understand your stance. Now, do not place high expectations on our coach's shoulders and fire them when they do not win. They do not have the resources to compete against other institutions nor have the confidence from upper brass that they have any backing.

If you have the opportunity to be superior in education and athletics, what are we afraid of? Duke offers a great education, but their athletics allow them the opportunity for funding they might not otherwise receive. Duke's athletic success generates millions for their academic programs whether you want to admit it or not.

The Bears will more than likely be playing in a new arena before the Billikens will be, based on the fact that our Father does not place athletics on the list of priorities for a quality university.

Purina Pavillion - "Where The Billikens Chow!"

Let's have Billiken Madness at the site of the new arena!! Portable goals, cheerleaders, and a couple of kegs!

Good Call! Let's just hope this isn't a restrictor plate race!

Blah! Smoke and Mirrors people, just Smoke and Mirrors! Some should figure out not to make statements they can't back. Now their word means nothing!

No doubt, we all want the Arena. However, if this building does not meet the needs of the players, both coaching staffs, and the training room, it is a waste of time. Our present players and future recruits are smart. When they visit the new facility and see that corners have been cut (no coach's offices, etc.) they will quickly figure out that the higher-ups are not giving 100% to support the programs. Quite honestly, I don't think many of us realize just how good Brad and Shimmy are. I realize neither have "top 10" talent yet, but I don't think we can argue that the recruiting is getting better. This is amazing considering neither of the present locker rooms in West Pine have bathrooms, the women do not have a shower and the men shower with cockroaches! From what I have been hearing, it is an ongoing joke amongst our players about the deplorable conditions. What this all comes down to is PRIDE! We are asking our athletes to perform at a level with the top programs in the country. We are asking our coaches to recruits those "top 10" athletes. Yet, biondi and his cronies treat all of them like second-class citizens. What type of pride is being demonstrated from the top? I can't stand Mizzou and everyone on here would love for the Billikens to be at a higher level than them; but I don't think we want to compare facilities and the support of the athletic programs. I could only imagine what Brad and Shimmy could accomplish if given those resources. I hate this, but at this point in time we are the doormats in the state of Missouri. This will not change unless the vision at the top changes! Good father, let Cheryl perform the job you hired her to do!

Many have expressed their thoughts on the arena issue lately, so here's my two cents. If this arena is not built correctly; with complete coach's offices, training facilities, etc, both basketball staffs should begin looking to coach at another school. It would prove yet again that this institution does not want to provide the resources necessary to produce high caliber athletic programs. It would be as if you give Rusty Wallace a Pacer to run at Talledaga with all the big boys!

I am all for education being the number one priority. However, sitting in Psychology 101 does not teach the student-athlete the significance and IMPORTANCE of competition in today's society. Simply put, you win or lose in everyday life. Developing athletic programs that consistently produce championship seasons not only benefit the University financially, but develop individuals who succeed in the real world. (What better way to advertise the quality of the University's education?) This can be done in a first-class manner without breaking rules if you get people with the right vision!

We finally have two basketball coaching staffs in place who have the skills, knowledge, and work-ethic to bring the two programs to the top of the A-10 and make legit trips to the NCAA tourney, and we can't give them the resources necessary to get the talent they need. Why do some in this community maintain such high expectations for the coaching staffs and their programs when they are not on an even playing field with the competition in the recruiting wars? Recruits walk into West Pine, when they visit with the coaches in their offices, and laugh at the fact that they either practice or play in that facility. Regardless of the team, the majority of their basketball lives are spent in this relic. The budgets for our teams are overshadowed by the most common of teams in the Missouri Valley. Whoever is in charge of the University does not see the need to field competitive athletic teams. It starts at the top. It is not fair to expect our basketball teams to consistently compete with top-50 teams when they are given the resources comparable to teams with an rpi of 300.

I am assuming all of us expect each one of our athletic teams to be competing for A-10 championships in the near future. I am sure most of our coaches, if not all, have that same expectation. However, when the powers that be continue to drop the ball on small issues, it seems to handcuff our coaches. Supporters of the program wanting to donate their hard-earned money cannot even receive a call back for simple questions they may have. As Orlando previously stated, coaching staffs having to pay for their own cell phones and the bills associated with them. (I know this to be Fact!) Does Father understand the importance of recruiting? Our coaching staffs are one of a very few who are required to pay for parking at their work place. This fee is subtracted from a pay stub that already does not compare to similar schools our size. All of these little things add up.(The above three is just the tip of the iceberg) As fans, we take great pride in Billiken Athletics and are salivating to support a conference champion and NCAA tournament participant. But the big and realistic picture is this: If the people at the top do not understand the importance of an athletic program to the overall landscape of the collegiate institution, we will be mired in futility forever. (FATHER) One last note: Why do you think the athletic department lost three Asst. AD's who either moved on to other jobs or got out of the business completely? The average age of the administrative staff is probably around 30-33 with not much time served here at SLU. SLU is a stepping-stone for these young kids because that is all we can attract. We do not want to anty-up the dollars to attract experienced people. (Or maybe those type would threaten the existence of the people preventing athletics from achieving?) I hate being mediocre; it means you are as close to the bottom as you are the top!

The letter state this facility will hold a weight room; will it include anyhting else? I would hate to see Brad and Shimmy be stuck in West Pine while their players work out in the new place. This isn't conducive to establishing a first-class program. Of course, it seems some at the University couldn't distinguish a real sports program from a YMCA league.

I wish the answer was yes. However, Father will be making the final, "it's not about sports" business decision.