cgeldmacher

I doubt this will happen, but anyone think it was odd that the son (Andrew Luck) of the CEO of the XFL (Oliver Luck) just quit the NFL? There are a lot of players inside the NFL that are unhappy with how the league does things. Perhaps, but not likely, a behind the scenes player poaching is underway.

Yes, but the K-State and Auburn games will be practically like home games for our opponents.

The Athletic Department needs to be on this class to lead a resurgence of student support for the program. There should be a plan in place.

That may have ended up becoming the first Auburn game?

I certainly am not going to go all out for an XFL team, but I will probably go to a few games. The biggest reason for this is just to contribute to the idea that we're a good sports town. Also, I do like watching football. I would love for St. Louis to lead this league in attendance. Also, as a complete pipe dream, it would be great for the NFL's problems to continue and the XFL to start to gain some ground. Maybe after about 20 years, the NFL completely implodes and the XFL actually competes with them on their level. Don't respond with all the reasons why that won't happen. I get it. It's just fun to think about.

American demographics are trending toward a poorer, more diverse population. Graduation rates closely track income. Yes. More kids going to college than ever before, but the rate of students prepared to succeed in college is still the same.

Totally agree. That's the toughest part about having to try to combat this over optimism. I'm extremely excited about these guys. I just don't want to submarine them by saddling the team with expectations that are too high. But, my excitement for watching a group develop over a few seasons hasn't been higher.

Whenever you add seven new players, it’s obviously about figuring everything out. It’s going to take time. We put together a very tough schedule. But we think, physically and talent-wise, we’re going to be able to compete in what I think will be the best A-10 in the past 10 years. It’s going to be a lot for our team because we’re so young. But if we can get that leadership from those three core guys, then we have a chance. But again, it’s just going to take a while. It’s not going to happen overnight with this team, where last year we got out of the gates on fire. I agree. He must not read this board. He clearly should know that every player is going to play up to their four year potential on day one and mesh perfectly together. We're headed for a title baby. Don't be such a downer Ford.

The Missouri Athletic Club has a deep connection with the sport of soccer. It gives out the equivalent to the Heisman Trophy for college soccer every year. If Kavanaugh want to use this connection, he could call the team Missouri Athletic Club (with permission, obviously). The nickname could be the Macs. Symbol for the shield would already be there. No issue with the Kansas City team, since they play in Kansas. One issue would be no "St. Louis" in the title. I don't necessarily love it, but its an idea.

Even if he chooses someone else (other than Dayton, of course), I think he would escape the "tool" designation given his comments and putting us in the mix with so many P5 schools.

I like either Gateway St. Louis or the Spirit of St. Louis (resurrecting the old ABA team name). Please no St. Louis FC.

I totally agree. So, why aren't we applying the same standard to the present class. We believe that they have a lot of potential, but it has to be developed and they will have to do some growing up before they become the legends that we will remember.

That's fine. That team went 12-19. Let's say this group is five wins better. That would make them 17-14, which I would say is a reasonable expectation. Saying that they are going to contend in the A-10 is something we can hope for, but not expect. Also, the experienced guys you are counting on include Perkins, who's only played JUCO, Weaver, who's only success was in the Ohio Valley, and then Goodwin, Thatch, and French. I don't think its that different. Conklin and Ellis could shoot. Goodwin, Thatch, and French have not shown they can consistently. We're hopeful, but they haven't shown it. These guys have some skills that Conklin and Ellis didn't have, but the comparison isn't that bad.

A lot of folks keep citing the incredible talent we have as a reason why we will or should compete for the A-10 this year. Let's compare this year to 2010-2011. That team's freshmen class had Jordair Jett, Mike McCall, Rob Loe, and Dwayne Evans. In retrospect, you could call this freshman class one of the most talented freshmen classes we've had. They were complimented by a quality inside big, Brian Conklin, and a big-man, outside shooter in Sophomore Cody Ellis. I know that Kwamain was out that year, but otherwise, things on that team seem rather similar to the young talent that we are excited about this year. This bunch was coached by RickMa. That group went 12-19. There are guys like myself who want to be careful about the expectations this year. Being careful/realistic about the chances this season does not mean that we aren't excited about the guys coming in. I was very excited about the 2010-2011 freshmen class as well. My excitement was rewarded two to three years later. If we had expected that group to contend (whatever that means to whomever is using the term) we would have been doing a great disservice to those freshmen and to Rick. We all are happy with this class. Be patient and give them time to develop.

If you remember, Ford talked a lot before last season about how bad they looked and how much work they had to do. His comments seem different this year. I still think we have an uphill climb this season to keep up with the top of the A-10, but I like what Ford thinks of his team so far.

How often do you think Gus would call him Cody Ellis?

It'll be interesting to see if Hazelwood Central can keep both of these kids all four years.

I find it funny when you point out to millennials that have "cut the cord" that they are actually paying more for less service when you add up all of the different sites they send money to.

They look like pajama tops, if anyone actually wears those anymore.

I agree that Goodwin dominated the offense boards against the point guards that were guarding him. It's a huge advantage that he has. I don't agree that doing so is the equivalent of dominating in his overall game. He's showing signs that he could become that player. He just hasn't done it yet.

You're right. We agree on a lot more than it appeared. I think all of the things you are saying could happen. I am hopeful that all those things happen. However, all of them would need to happen to make us better this season than last season. That's asking a lot. Here's to hoping.

https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/depaul-men-s-basketball-associate-head-coach-violated-ncaa-ethical-conduct-rules From the NCAA website. Nothing specifically connecting the situation to Gordon. In fact, one of the repercussions was that they vacate wins that occurred while this player was playing for the Blue Devils, which would make one think it is not Gordon.

I want the Billikens to get 20 wins. I promise you that I do. I hope that everything comes together and they do. But what you are doing is an every year thing by guys on this board. Go back and look. Every year guys come on and start making wild predictions that the team, as constructed, can't meet. Look at last year, the year before, the year before. It's unfair to the team for these same guys to go overboard about the expectations and then ***** and moan when their unreasonably set expectations aren't met. Goodwin hasn't dominated the past two years. Why do you think he's going to suddenly dominate now? I expect him to get better. I expect him to shoot better this year, based upon improvement that I saw last year. He averaged 10.5 points per game. I expect him to average, maybe, 14 points per game next year. That's reasonable. Also, all that does is replace Bess. So, now we replace Bess. We then have to find someone to replace Goodwin's 10.5 per game just to have the same production as last year. Thatch averaged 4.3 points per game last year. If he triples that, which he certainly could do, but maybe its unlikely, then he averages 13 points per game and still doesn't replace the 13.7 points per game that Isabell scored last year. French averaged 9.3 per game last year. If he bumps that to 13 points per game, we've added 4 points per game to the 29 points we are missing from Bess and Isabell. Then we're down to counting on new guys to come up with the rest, and we know how that's gone for us, and other teams for that matter, historically. It's real easy to pound your chest and say that this guy or the other is going to "DOM-IN-ATE this year!!!" But these guys are who they are. Will they all improve - Yes. Will they have vastly different numbers next year than they did this past season - probably not. I hope it all comes together and we end up better than last year. It's just unfair to start saying that we expect that. Don't do that to the guys on the team, the coaching staff, and yourselves.

I agree. Let's give them time to develop. Their skills give them all high ceilings, but let be sure to be patient to allow them time to get there.

I agree with you about tempering expectations. I few guys do this every year. They set unreasonable standards for the team and they whine and moan when they're not met. This team was 6th in the A10 and then lost a lot of contributors. We replaced what we lost with unproven freshman, a JUCO that's never faced D1 competition, and a grad transfer. I like this team a lot, but expecting them to improve on last year's 6th place finish in the A10 is foolish.