[How is this possible???]

Illinois, one of the most dire states in the union financially, has an AD (former Wash U AD) able to raise money for a hockey program. When are people going to seriously realize SLU deserves better across the whole university? How do the higher ups at SLU, BoT or long time donors think this is impossible. Hockey is so big in STL, AD that’s been at SLU over 10 years hasn’t figured that out, especially with no football, then again he watched as soccer declined. So I guess no surprises there, he is consistent. I don’t get it. One thing is for sure you will never hear the words SLU AD and savvy in same sentence or article. 

[Baseball]

1 hour ago, Billiken Rich said:

In my opinion, your point would be better made by calling for us to imagine a big beautiful home with a nicely maintained, though perhaps dated, carport instead of the three car garage with chauffeur's quarters above that you want us to have .   

I just want what Maryville and Chaminade already have!!!! A local D2 college and a local high school. Not a three car garage with living quarters. But, you know what, that's what the AD should be shooting for. He should have been banging that drum loudly for last ten years. AD couldn't sell a life jacket on the Titanic. 

[Baseball]

Imagine a big beautiful home, with a crappy lawn, a carport instead of a garage and the sidewalks and driveway broken up and patched up. That's the best analogy of Chaifetz next to baseball, softball and soccer. Whether or not people want to realize it or not. Everything matters. What is wrong with having nice facilities? How do other schools do it? Again just because that's the way SLU has always done it, or it is better than the West Pine days doesn't make it right or any better. The bar has been set so low, people don't know any better. Nothing wrong with thinking bigger and wanting to do better. Unless it's fear of failure by administration or they don't have a vision. Just my two cents. But, to community and recruits it all matters and all connected whether you agree or disagree. 

[Baseball]

3 hours ago, Spoon-Balls said:

This is similar to what has been spinning around the rumor mill. I have heard from people within SLU hospital/Glennon that Behrns is already getting pushed out. I have no other knowledge about that other than what I have heard from a few higher up MD's... Apparently he had proposed a new structure for how different specialties within the hospital interact and collaborate but it got rejected. 

Here is an email that Pestello sent to the medical school community in March: 

Dear Members of the School of Medicine and SLUCare Communities,

I write to inform you of organizational changes within the School of Medicine and SLUCare. These changes will allow us to strategically focus additional attention on our academic and clinical areas, which are essential to the University’s long-term success and the health of our region.

Progress continues on our medical enterprise priorities:

• The LCME remediation; 
• Attracting stellar students, clinicians, and chairs; Retaining our best faculty in a highly competitive environment; 
• Enhancing regional and national perceptions of our school and practice;
• Attracting patients through quality care and ease of access; 
• Increasing donations; 
• Strengthening our partnership with SSM Health and contributing to its success, which is closely linked to ours; 
• Forging additional essential relationships for the future

One of the most critically important issues is the upcoming site visit by the LCME. Substantial work has already been done to remediate the issues on which we were cited. We must do everything possible to ensure that this has a successful outcome. Our students deserve that effort. Also of utmost importance is fundraising and closing major gifts for the School of Medicine.

Because of these and other important external relations initiatives, I have asked Dean Kevin Behrns to focus his attention primarily on the upcoming LCME visit, external relations, and fundraising. This will be the case for the remainder of 2018. To allow Dean Behrns to focus on these areas, a new position – Vice Dean for Medical Affairs – has been created. It will have oversight of the functions, structures, and operations of SLUCare and medical research. After consulting with the clinical and basic science chairs, I am announcing that Dr. Robert Wilmott has been selected to assume this temporary position, effective April 1. Dr. Wilmott is currently chair of the Department of Pediatrics. He is a successful, highly respected, and long-time leader within SLUCare. Dr. Robert Heaney will continue as chief executive officer of SLUCare.

Dr. Wilmott will also be responsible for the successful completion of all of the Transformative Excellence in Academic Medicine (TEAM) initiatives, with the exception of the LCME remediation (led by Dr. Behrns); and the institute model, which will not move forward. To be clear, we will not structure our medical practice as institutes.

Because it is vital that the completion of the remaining 21 TEAM initiatives move forward expeditiously, I have asked Drs. Behrns and Wilmott to provide me with regular progress reports. Further, I intend to meet monthly with the clinical and basic science chairs to discuss our progress. The initiative implementations are critical for the future of SLUCare and its success in terms of the quality of the care we provide; the hiring, development and retention of first-rate physicians who are devoted to our mission; our partnerships--specifically working with SSM Health to contribute to its success; and meeting our financial targets. 

I know that each of you will support these initiatives, and I thank you for your commitment to our students, residents, fellows, and patients.

 

Sincerely,

Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.            

President

From what I've heard, Wilmott is essentially running things right now and they're preparing him to be the new dean. It was surprising to me as well when I learned about all of this, as I had assumed that Behrns was an extremely bright and capable leader for the medical school. Again, nothing is set in stone, just what I've heard from people within SLUcare.

And as to your second point, I largely disagree. The medical student classes have consistently gotten better in terms of academic credentials over the past 5-10 years and that shows no signs of changing, even with all of the lack of leadership starting at the very top with the BoT and Pestello. 

When the med school went on probation that's when the level of student dramatically changed. I agree last 5-10 years it was good. But last couple, it's changed. Med school is in bad shape across the board. The dean was "fired" and is only kept on to get SLU accreditation back on track, then he is toast. Pestello is in way over his head with med school. Way in over his head. Hospital is a whole other animal just as messed up, if not even more. SSM would walk away yesterday if they could from what I've heard. It's sad.

[Baseball]

26 minutes ago, Littlebill said:

So when anyone on this board has a complaint they’re supposed to act on it themselves? We can’t just have complaints?

No you can't. You'll get this is the way it's always been, AD does great job, you don't get it, facilities don't matter, tell baseball coach win more, SLU isn't going to be like Xavier or Creighton and that's fine, wrote a check (my favorite), blah, blah, blah, blah....insiders to AD repeat like parrots what AD tells them and can't think for themselves or realize with their own eyes how messed up it really is. All I know is if I was a local high school kid being recruited by soccer, softball or baseball why would I go to play 4 years on worse facilities than my high school? You can't answer that. That falls on President totally.

[Baseball]

1 hour ago, billiken_roy said:

please keep us updated on the success of your meeting with the BoT and getting their perception of the overall athletic department and in particular the baseball team.  Good luck.  We are all counting on you.

 

It's good to know the BoT and the AD can count on people like you who defend decades of missteps and poor management. You have as much vision as current AD and BoT. Fans sure are crazy wanting the same facilities as some local high schools and a local D2 school, at the very least. Plus I would not care one bit what the BoT at SLU think, they have helped drive the place into the ground and a majority of them do not belong on a board like SLU's. If you think the BoT are doing good, then that explains why you don't see a problem with facilities. Keep raising the bar....just enough to stumble over it. Geesh. 

 

[Baseball]

Maryville. Enough said.

[Baseball]

Baseball won tonight. One more win and coach is all time wins leader at SLU. Took him only 11 years, took over bad program,  guy he is passing, I think coached almost 20 years? 7 years it says of 35 wins or more. That's impressive. But, he better win more according to Roy. That's funniest thing in entire thread. Hope he wins and gets that record!  Maybe he will get Roy off his back too! 

[Baseball]

4 minutes ago, brianstl said:

You obviously are unaware of the recent history at SLU.  When Chaifetz was under cronstruction a group of alumni raised the funds to commission and install an Easy Ed statue for outside the Arena, Biondi told them no thank you.  Said the school would gladly take the money to apply to the arena construction cost or for the school in general.

The President and the BoT determine what SLU will fundraise for.  The people below them or from the outside don’t  to get to freelance.

100%. You nailed it. I'm old and know it, have no idea what kids would want today. Why have a sixty something sociology professor run a school like SLU? Also, look at his history at LeMoyne! He was getting run out of there. And you think he knows basic business skills??? Ok. And Judge Smails, another guy with vision for 2018. He eats dinner at 4 pm everyday probably. Ok. That's why AD is sad and truthfully just a stuffed suit. Great post. 

[Baseball]

The biggest problem with powers that be at SLU is that they live in an alternate reality, a bubble if you will. They think it's 1990 before AL Gore supposedly invented the Internet. Very out of touch and frozen in time. Maybe certain posters have a sister or a brother or whatever who is a doctor, nurse, researcher, admin, whatever at SLU and they know "stuff" and if anyone says med school is fine, just ask how the dean is doing? Ask about the type of students they are admitting that has them saying enrollment is great! The next Dr. Nick, from the Simpsons will one day graduate from SLU. So probably something like new facilities IS too much to ask from the leadership. I'll leave it at that. As far as the previous poster talking about AD culture, no shock there...and in other breaking news water is wet. 

[Baseball]

4 hours ago, TheChosenOne said:

I guess now we are getting into who is to blame for the lack of athletic facilities beyond Chaifetz Arena (which was really well done), but I think those of us saying the facilities should be better or that the programs (specifically soccer and baseball in my opinion) need to find some way to generate interest and connect with the community don't overly care who is to blame. I would just like to see it change. And what we are talking about is just making our facilities competitive with the lower level college facilities in the area and even high school facilities in the area. I don't think that is a crazy expectation to have. SLU loves to point to the endowment, yet it can't fund athletic scholarships? It's like having a massive cock and being so unattractive and repulsive that no female would ever bang you, congrats on the cock, but at least I am getting laid.

Great post. What's Wash U's endowment? Too big to mention, make SLU look like Little Flower Catholic Grade School. But you are right, they throw that number out real quick don't they. It's just the same old, same old. I just want a change too. Everything is stale, and that's my frustration. Plus leadership is bad, look at the place. Honestly, is it better than it was before Father left? I know all education is struggling especially private. But, it's not breaking news and other catholic private schools are doing much better. It's sad. Love the place but it needs a heart and brain transplant top to bottom. Again, very good post.

[Baseball]

Forget about baseball stadium just for one second and soccer and softball facilities...the whole arguement is area high schools are better than a D1 program! They all matter, it's the whole package. I love how people think an organization especially people at SLU think you can't do more than one thing at a time! In real world, companies and other schools can actually multi-task. I know crazy! Not at SLU. The chairman of the board is Judge Smails from Caddyshack, but real! He's literally said SLU will never be like Creighton or Xavier, he's a moron and has ZERO business being on a board of trustees at any university, muchless the chair. SLU is in such financial turmoil and has been keeping a lid on it, it's not even funny and if anyone tells you otherwise they either are lying or honestly don't know. The med school is a trainwreck and they don't want that getting out because that will sink the whole ship. It's so sad. Pestello isn't able enough to run a catholic grade school. Add all that together and it's the compounding of stupidity at its finest. 

Back to facilities, Roy, who says anything about SEC??? How about MCC level, and to expect more from baseball coach???? Are you serious and do you know where the program was before he took over? He raises all his own money too I heard as well! He goes, that whole program goes. Expect more out of leadership first. And the AD...why is he still at SLU? Because he loves it? Loves St. Louis? Loves the Arch? The record breaking success has had over last ten years? All this winning we are doing? Or because he's got no where else to go and is stuck? But, with morons as bosses and no expectations or being held accountable, he's luckiest guy on earth. Has them snowed. I wouldn't hire him to dry cars off at waterway. 

[Baseball]

Really all you can do is laugh. Everytime I walk up from garage to games in winter and see tires, sheds or field equipment spread out behind outfield it's not a good look. I guess AD doesn't walk down there much over last ten years. He is what he is, I keep expecting a donkey to run races like a race horse and it's just not there. SLU can do better and should. After sleeping on it, SLU won't move forward until you get a new President and that person hires right people to run athletics, and private and university money are pushed majorly to that program. The President can't handle protestors, faculty/staff raises or the med school. So, athletics is not a priority. It looks like some of the players mom's decorated softball and baseball with banners. Lipstick on a pig. That's about what we should expect and just wait and hope the right people are put in place. It just too much to expect a division one AD to be able to raise money like every other area high school and university that isn't D1. What was I thinking, can't do that at SLU. I know write a check, AD gets it, AD is great, I'm an idiot. Oh I get all of it I think. 

[Baseball]

16 minutes ago, billiken_roy said:

So where's the money going to come from then if not donations targeted for athletic facilities?

Again. How does Chaminade raise money or SIUE? Why can't SLU and superstar AD? He's been there 10 years and only thing he can maybe take credit for is that overpriced storage shed and bad rebrand of the Billiken everyone hates. Maybe Travis Ford can go get money for baseball field for the AD. Then AD can take credit. AD couldn't sell cleaning supplies to a maid.

[Baseball]

I'm done even trying to argue the point. The people in charge of running the baseball program at SLU, minus the coaching staff, couldn't run Affton Athletic Association. That's the truth. 

[Baseball]

Funny I just talked to my buddy we go to basketball games with and he said Maryville, minus Chaifetz is nicer than SLU. It's laughable! What timing. And yes I'm sure SLU wants donations, what school doesn't....why don't they have them is the question? Everyone but them seems to have it figured out. Not SLU and anyone on this board that says write a check, donate the money, good for you, you've done more than AD has!

[Baseball]

Bottom line is all stadiums have private matching. But SLU has never tried to move the needle ever historically for baseball program. Outside of this SLU bubble we live in, even the basketball team is barely relevant in county. That's a fact. How many Billiken shirts do you guys see Day in and day out. Expecting the athletic department to be able to market anything or sell anything is like expecting South County Telegraph McDonalds crew to cook a five star meal for your wedding or birthday party and when it's terrible you are shocked. OK product, way overpriced, and over hyped! See women's basketball on the menu. They are the Gang that couldn't shoot straight. 

[Baseball]

I bet Simmons just had millions to burn and Fairmount Park was closed that day and figured hey let's call SIUE and build a field? AD couldn't sell snow cones in Death Valley. Keep bar low, stumble across, repeat over 10 years. That's the master plan at SLU. The Mecca of "Can't do that" in college athletics and the Michael Jordan of Mediocre ADs. Winning! 

[Baseball]

http://www.siuecougars.com/facilities/simmonsbaseballcomplex.html

Illinois is the most broke state in the union and look at SIUE's set up. Can't wait for excuses from diehard apologist for AD. Defend him like he's gonna bolt for Alabama or Ohio State one day and we are so lucky to still have him around. He couldn't run a snow cone stand in Death Valley. Get SLUH, Vianney or Chaminade AD, they actually know how to raise money and build facilities. 

[Baseball]

https://www.google.com/amp/wtvr.com/2016/10/17/flying-squirrels-vcu-agree-to-new-deal-that-moves-city-closer-to-new-ballpark/amp/

But SLU baseball is in top end of A10! Keep drinking that blue kool aid fellas. 

[Baseball]

Can local private catholic high schools be compared? SLU needs to get to that level first. Amazing how SLUH, Vianney and now Chaminade have figured out how to do the impossible. Have an AD that's been there 10 years and can't figure out how to crack that code so to speak. They should name field they have after that AD, it's fitting. Sums everything up. 

[Baseball]

One more this as Colombo would say...that indoor hitting garage...whoever designed or approved that should be fired. It's a dump and should be given to grounds crew to store equipment like mowers, snow blowers and salt for winter. I saw it recently and it looked so cheap. I heard no ac and no water? Honestly looks like an old batting cage in Festus business park! Division 1 though...

[Baseball]

What about all the club teams in the area that would pay to rent it out for tournaments? How many more kids and families would it bring to the campus that normally wouldn't set foot otherwise? Isn't St Louis a baseball town still? This is why slu is where it is and will continue to be because no one down there has any business acumen, awareness or vision. First, this a division one program and when local high schools blow any of your facilities out of the water, it's an embarrassment. Second, how does the coach get kids to come play there? Seriously? If I was at Vianney or Chaminade or hell Bayless, why would I want to play college ball at a crappier field than my high school? He's a miracle worker and deserves better. SLU and blue kool aid drinking friends of AD are so use to mediocre that they defend it to the death. Forgive them for they don't know, what they don't know. And to say your a top A10 baseball facility is like saying you are one of the smartest dumb kids in your class. Keep that bar low enough to walk right over it SLU. Take a drive fellas and see what lies outside the SLU bubble and you might be shocked. I don't think they need a minor league park, Lindenwood, Edwardsville, Chaminade is so much better, but what's sitting next to beautiful Chaifetz is trash. So is softball and soccer too. Oh and D3 wash u is getting ready to build a $12 million baseball softball complex. In 3,2,1 someone say write or check or repeat same stale excuses they heard from AD. 

[Baseball]

1 hour ago, slu72 fan said:

They see it, they just don't have the money. It's not complicated, if you want to help, write a check. They'd like to build a stadium, just need a few million. Unfortunately, this isn't the only project on the drawing board. By the way, the new infield cost half a million. Only another half million plus and they can finish the outfield.

I'm also told, although I have no way to prove it, that our baseball facilities are among the best in the A-10. Have no idea if it is true.

That's problem at SLU, they can't figure out what local area high schools can already have done and still do. Drive to Chaminade and then post about how hard it is to raise money. If that isn't good enough I'll give 10 more example just in high school, we can leave Maryville and Lindenwood out for now. Baseball coach is winningest coach in program and has performed miracles with that crappy set up, even with turf field is a dump. 

[Maybe one day we can get where Loyola has gotten]

I've talked to enough people who were a lot closer to me to the program and inner workings when Coach Majerus had to step down and before that. Chris May is apparently so insecure that he wouldn't have been able to control Porter Moser and is scared of anyone he couldn't control. Coach Majerus would not allow May to just pop in his office I've heard and many people have confirmed that as fact over the years. Majerus treated him like a pest. Weak leader, insecure and afraid is what we settle for, this whole Loyola run, situation 1 and 2, not getting into Big East and giving Crews that contract is the results we own after 10 years. Go Ramblers! And Go Bills!