Billy Ken

I've heard new dean is very sharp and well respected. However, take Billichek and Brady and throw them on the Cleveland Browns and they won't succeed. That's his situation right now. He is fighting city hall and the old guard. Again how could a parent send their child to a school on probabtion with no clear plan on how they are restructuring? Oh and spend $100s of thousands of dollars on that experience. Again, lower bar get students who are just happy to get into a med school of lesser ability. I have one request please permently Mark or tattoo those students because I don't want them taking care of me when they graduate. I'll find a Wash u doc. It's systemic complicated problem and we have a sociology professor on the case to lead us to the solution. That's one hell of a paperwork mess up!

Well then maybe this boardmember should get on the same page as fellow boardmembers. The board is THE biggest problem! They allow Pestello to stay and allow AD to stay mediocre. I'm sorry but just because you are a boardmember doesn't make you smart. It's a title. I stand by what I said about med school and hospital. I stand by locker rooms and capital campaign lagging. I'm done posting in response to this person and if that's the attitude of the board, says all there is I need to know and it's not hard to see why SLU is where they are across the board. I will stop, please continue your race to the bottom uninterrupted Mr or Mrs Boardmember. I love the Billikens and always will. I'm done. Thanks

Ripping everyone? What like just calling someone a liar and that makes what you say a fact? The university paid the majority of the locker room bill. True. The capital campaign isn't going well. True. Go ahead and call me a liar. If you expect me to call you something back, keep waiting. By the way, when did you join the board Mr. May? Because only someone who is paranoid or afraid of the truth coming out would get so vicious. Also I thought you were done for a while. That was a lie!

Ok where to begin. 1. If your argument that the med school paperwork and curriculum issues aren't a big deal that's insane. They are the only program in country currently on probation! Who wants to fork out $100s k on student loans to go to a med school not accredited and the reason it's not accredited is because of paperwork? Again who wants to go to a school who can't pay attention to something 99.9% of all other med schools can and I think med schools are detailed in training, correct? It's an embarrassment and can't be defended. As far as there curriculum it's in complete chaos! There are rumors of the residency program being no more! SSM would bail today on that deal if they could! That hospital should be in the county, not on that campus where other places like Wash U and Mercy are. Ridiculous. Oh and current students are transferring at a record pace, you just got confused. 2. New locker rooms had some private donations for sure but the majority came from Ford going over AD head after waiting almost 18 months and no action. You are wrong about that. And if AD wants to say it was all raised privately fine. It wasn't and wouldn't of been in good taste to say university was anonymous donor after lay offs, but I'm lying about that too I guess. 3. Law school is getting better but that's because of smart alums guiding it because Pestello was floundering and begged for help. 4. Fine new dorms are full, then every other one is almost empty and in 3rd world condition from 1970's. You can have that one I guess. I'd love them too if I didn't have to go to another older dorm! 5. And the capital campaign that started as a billion, then $500 million....well they typically announce it when they have at least half. It's been three years! Very secret silence phase I guess. And if it's going so well why bring Biondi back???? FACT they aren't even close to half way. But, I guess I'm lying again. Heard that straight from a board members mouth. But I guess he's lying too. Liars usually all hang out together and just randomly make up lies because we are trolls and hate SLU! Please! And again all universities have good students and faculties that do good things! What does SLU Corner the market on "goodness" and "people that care?" Answer me this question. Please. How does Dayton, Villanova, Georgetown, Creighton, Duke, Vanderbilt, TCU, SMU, Pepperdine, Gonzaga, Boston College, Marquette....etc,etc do it and SLU can't? That attitude and excuse making by people like you to just take it or leave it is the problem. Nothing wrong with accountability, honesty, goals, vision and wanting to be better. But to just call someone a liar and rant like a "troll" mind you is not constructive. And to defend AD and President, I believe you are on wrong side sir. You aren't dumb or stupid, maybe just misinformed. But to try and discredit someone you don't know by calling them a liar is exactly what you say should not be "allowed" on this board. We can agree to disagree. whew! I'm done for a while too!

Very well said. It can be done and hasn't been at SLU. Very well said.

I agree, all I've ever wanted is for slu to be as good as it possibly can be. For the students, the university and the city. The whole place is sick. I know there are good things going on and students are doing amazing work, but so are the kids at Wash U and Fontbonne and Maryville and Lindenwood and SIUE. I truly believe athletics raises profile for whole university. You would not have a clue about Villanova if their athletic program, MBB wasn't as good as it is over time. Why is it wrong to want that? Why accept where we are at and always make excuses? Or get angry for wanting the bar raised to higher standards? Dayton, Creighton, Gonzaga....there students and faculty are doing great things and they have winning athletics, why can't SLU do both? That's my whole point, not that I hate SLU or want to ruin AD career, he's doing just fine in life and if it's that bad and he can't get anything done because of things out of his control, then he's either a Saint for staying or can't leave. Again, I don't understand why expectations are so low and mediocre is celebrated. We are talking about D1 athletics and millions of dollars spent each year! Not volunteer CYC operation.

Wow.

I've been accused of hating all things SLU, so I'm going to stop right there. I have nothing positive to add to this if true. Nothing.

This is making me very nervous the longer it takes to come to a decision for all parties involved. Can't see how Coach Ford would be involved but Arizona case is concerning.

I've never said I was an expert on Billiken athletics. I've been a season ticket holder since the old Kiel days sir. So to say I don't care about the program, that is not true, if anything I care more about it than I should! I will agree that the students are great and they are the customers of the university. In the case of the athletic department I've soured on leadership, read my post going back years, I was on board with AD longer than most. But if you are talking about "all the good things going on" like...med school in probation and possibly staying on probation and on meltdown, lay offs while spending millions on scoreboards and locker rooms, a law school which is getting better but a shell of its former self and two brand new dorms that sit half empty, oh and that big capital campaign that has been in the works for three years and can't raise a dime, a president that is indecisive and over his head running a university like slu, oh clocktower accords worked out great, where is the follow through there? Hey, our opinions differ but everything I just listed is a fact. Very easy to call someone a troll or that they hate something IF the other person disagrees. It's actually the opposite! If I'm wrong and don't know anything, please correct me. But if we can't have an honest conversation without disagreement then you sir are the "troll" or "hater." Defend your points and quit your "pontificating" on proper etiquette on a public board. If your child is out of control, you can be upset and angry at them, but you still always love them. That's how I feel about university and athletics right now. But if you want to believe what you want to believe and rag against anyone who disagrees with you and not be open to criticism then you must either work at SLU or you have problems forming original opinion for yourself. Go Bills!!!

Who got a raise???

All good, we both want same thing! I just want to throw facts and history out there and get some answers. When you make a list and talk to enough people, this is an alarming pattern over a long period of time. Where is the accountability by AD and who actually is in charge of keeping him accountable? President? Who fires a coach and doesn't have the replacement in hand waiting? It's insane. Then have an alumni turn you down! Something isn't right and these are good questions to be asking.

I took what you said out of context and apologize. I agree, but I feel for that coach and those players. Again, how does the school, AD, whoever is in charge honestly look at a coach and their players and expect results when not giving them the support needed. It's a shame and very disappointing that each year this program is set up to fail and be embarrassed and that's acceptable. A program is only as strong as its weakest link and if this is just a check the title ix box and whocares, what a slap in the face to that Coach, the players and the players families.

4-12 and people are excited? Really? This is what I'm talking about people! Then look at previous seasons? How is this to be taken seriously? 4-12? I guess in the land of the blind the man with one eye is king. Sorry not coach or girls fault but to be touting this as a successful year is sad, especially if you call yourself division 1!

NIT is as far as Stone will get the program. I like what she's done, need a coach now to take them to next level. Not to discount what's she's done, just again look at her history...she is what she is and nothing more.

Who is ultimately responsible for the men's soccer program???? The AD! He kept McGinty, he set the expectations, he decided to retain him when if you did a poll of most soccer alumni they would of gotten rid of him two years ago at least. 100% he sat back and put that program in the situation it is today. He loved McGinty because of his connection to Virginia, I'll bet he will try and do the same thing now and hire another "big time" program assistant and spin it off as the greatest thing since sliced bread. History will repeat itself, always does at SLU especially last ten years. Then don't complain about same results. How you can argue he has no accountability I find hard to believe, that's my opinion, not saying you are wrong, I just think his fingerprints are all over that soccer program, IF McGinty was successful don't you think he'd take all the credit? Absolutely he would. Take the good with the bad, that's the job he signed up for and it's a report card business. Can you imagine if a CEO of a Fortune 500 company had three straight bad years and made the defense to the stockholders , it wasn't my fault it was the management team I hired and oversaw! Think about that one.

The AD had 10 years over seeing the soccer program. He watched it burn for years and now he is in charge of fixing it. Think about that one.

I love the Billikens. I really do. If you stop and rationally think about where this program is, after ten years it's very mediocre. I think SLU can do better. For any of the big donor posters that say May has done a great job and his hands are tied, then use your influence to the board and president and get him what he needs. If an alumni turns you down for a job because of lack of commitment, not money, that means that candidate was the person who was the right man for the job. It's not always about the money. Plus how people are treated during the interview process is eye opening and that's all I'm going to say about that.

This post is spot on. Why spend millions of dollars on new scoreboards, locker rooms, charter flights, coaching salaries if you don't want to be as good as possible???? I'm just tired of always saying to my Mizzou and Kansas fan buddies, SLU has so much potential. Potential just means you haven't done anything yet and it's been almost 100 years in the making. I never thought about it but ADs from mid major schools that are good are usually poached, May has been at school 10 years and hasn't much to show for it, add that to list of things I posted earlier about his tenure. Hate to say this but look at the crowds at basketball games, it's all old people like me. In ten years, I hope I'm still here and going but a majority of us won't be. Something to think about.

I unsubscribe to the department emails when two years ago I called to complain to the marketing man about sending out wrong time for an event. He did say sorry and asked if I actually went. I said no, my wife caught the error before we crossed Boone Bridge, he said then I guess I don't need to say sorry and laughed. So, again due to personal experience, I agree with this statement.

I'm not going to say the last candidates name because he is a good friend of our family. But I will say he is a head coach currently and an alumni of SLU. AND he turned the job down. In all fairness he didn't want to leave his current job, he heard the AD out and even though he played for the Bills, that wasn't enough to convince him to leave. That is a concern.

I just hope we get lucky and can land a good coach.

I use to be a fan of the AD, I've heard a lot about him, my recent personal interaction, and his Butler meltdown. He's been there ten years or so correct? MBB was set up before him with Majerus, baseball was set up before him with current coach. So, he gets no credit there. He hired Crews, now I know people will argue he was great, coach of the year, etc. that was with Majerus players. He's George Siefert, Bill Callahan, etc. Everyone knew he could coach and the knock was he couldn't recruit. Both true. Plus nobody was clamoring for him after he won coach of the year, no one. I like Ford, but he's a good recruiter and so-so coach, that's his history. After a while you are what you are. I still think Ford is fine, but jury is out. Again, no one else was knocking down his door after OK State let him go, ask this question, if Villanova or Creighton job opened would Ford get an interview? Not sure. WBB he didn't hire last coach, so that's not on him, but Stone has peaked I fear. Plus she wasn't first choice I've heard, Coach Majerus told him to hire her, they had Wisconsin ties and maybe same agent? Volleyball is atrocious. WSOC ran off St Louis coach who recruited team they have now and he hired McGinty and fired him without a replacement in hand! We haven't even talked about the Big East, at height of program he couldn't get us in and I've heard it was Father B fault, I have my doubts because one thing that guy knew was money, getting into Big East meant a lot more money for university. My whole point is this whole experience trying to hire a soccer coach is alarming. I tried to support him, but again when I tried to talk to him, face to face he looked at me and walked right past me. I guess I don't donate enough to matter and that's fine. I love the Billikens and there was an AD before him and there will be another AD after him. If I'm way off on any statements please help fill in the blanks. This is what people who have worked the game tables have told me and a couple friends that are bigger donors. Happy New Year! Go Bills!

You couldn't pay me to go watch this team....oh wait I pay to go watch. Never mind.

When do pitchers and catchers report for spring training?