Slu let the dogs out?

Didn't want to start a new topic on this but Davidson up 14 on Mizzou at half.

Yeah, I think Xavier ended up pulling away at the end but I remember a lot of lead changes throughout the game.

I believe Mizzou played them close last year as well. We all know how that season turned out. Also, I think X was missing their best player today. I could be wrong though...

I take it the blue font represents sarcasm? Sorry, it's been a crazy day...

Is there anything out there about what Jeremiah Tilmon may do now that he isn't signing with Illinois?

I've had similar experiences with 3 of my friends. None of them have any connections to SLU yet all 3 are interested in season tickets. I have several friends who don't necessarily care about the sport itself, they just love the atmosphere and socializing (and getting away from their wives and kids). Now that the Rams are gone, there isn't an opportunity to tailgate on Sundays. I think a few of them are considering turning to SLU basketball to fill that void, especially with Chaifetz being a wet arena! I know the overlap between the NFL and Men's BBALL is small, but my friends look for any excuse to get out of the house!

I wasn't suggesting there were any correlations. I'm not saying: "Now that the Rams are gone and the Cardinals are entering their demise (I kid KSHOE), It will have a direct impact on SLU and every game will be sold out!" If Ford continues to attract top recruits and it translates to not just winning basketball but entertaining basketball, Chaifetz will sell out and be rocking! That will take care of itself. What I'm asking, is if people think the there is an opportunity for SLU to take advantage of a few things: 1) the NFL leaving town - I'm not saying Rams fans will now all of a sudden attend SLU games. There is space in the sports section to fill now that the NFL is gone. 2) The possibility (not certainty) that the Cardinals have a few off years. Again, I'm not saying the Cardinals will or that it will have an impact on their attendance. Yes, the Cardinals will always be the media darlings of STL and their attendance won't suffer terribly if they have an off year or two. When I say take advantage, I mostly mean in terms of media coverage and general excitement in the STL metro, (especially with top area recruits staying home to play for the Billikens) not in terms of attendance. I'm asking if there is an opportunity for the Billikens to parlay this potentially exciting and successful style of basketball into more exposure with the local media and people. Instead of the top Post story in January being "Ranking the Cardinals Bullpen", it is "High-flying Bills top Dayton in match up of two top 15 teams", or something corny like that. It sounds like many don't see and connection, either direct or indirect, between SLU and the Cardinals and I get that. I was just looking for people's thoughts. Lesson learned!

Ha, funny enough, I started typing ISU but then decided to erase it for some reason.

Blackhawks fans are already the most insufferable fans on earth. It's unreal. None of them even knew what hockey was before 2009.

You honestly don't think the media's BFIB label has had any effect on how Cardinals fans act? I've seen it firsthand, especially at Dodger Stadium, Petco, whatever stadium the DBacks play in now, Kauffman, etc. Heck, I've heard fans yell it!

I'd say 3 years from now, the only certainties at SP are: Leake (unless someone wants his contract), Reyes, and Martinez. Of course they have an overabundance of SP options but as we know, you can never have too much SP and it doesn't always work out. Not sold on Gonzalez, Lynn (health), Garcia (health), Wacha (health) or Weaver yet.

Ha, I'm not panicking over the Cubs. I'm looking at their position players, their ages, their current contracts, and the numbers they produced this year and deduced that based on these numbers, the Cubs aren't going anywhere for a while. Now, I will say that injuries are a big part of the game and you are right....there certainly is no guarantee the Cubs will continue this type of play into the future.

I'm with you on that. I just think it will be interesting to see what happens if SLU can snag top 100 recruits over the next few years and how that will translate on the court. That's all! Let's just get this out of the way: SLU basketball will have zero effect on the Cardinals attendance or popularity! I know that

No I know that is what you assume. You've been doing a lot of that.

The Cardinals had over 130 different line ups this past year and only missed the wild card by 1 spot. You see, 3-5 years means 3 to 5 years. So, over the next 3-5 years, they will need to find: a CF, a LF, at least 2-3 SPs, a 1B and a closer. And if Wong continues his current trend, a 2B. That is almost half of their starting line up and at least 40% of their starting pitching. Pray tell, in what universe would this not be considered to be a rebuild? What is missing from that quote, is where I say the Cardinals will be bottom dwellers during this time. Also missing...where I say this will occur in 1 off season.

Similarly, jumping to the conclusion that I'm implying the Cardinals are now facing their demise because they are no longer the best team in the NL Central is a bit of an exaggeration.

I've been a Cardinals fan all of my life. Flew in from California in 2006 to attend WS-clinching game 5. I will admit that Cardinals fans get on my nerves, where this self-righteous attitude is merely a mask for the intense insecurity they possess (BFIB!). I'm not sure why you do so much assuming. I guess I'm not surprised that a thread that was intended to show excitement and gauge fellow SLU fan's hopes for the future has turned into an argument about the Cardinals. I've now stated several times that all I am saying is that the Cardinals run of NL Central dominance is over (for now). I've responded several times stating that I still think the Cardinals have a shot at the playoffs every year. I've also stated that this will not impact attendance at Busch. I've also stated that I don't believe that SLU will ever replace the Cardinals as the most popular team in St. Louis.

That is not what I'm suggesting and I think you know that.

I tend to agree with you here. I am a bit surprised at how easily many St. Louisans (including myself and several friends) were able to completely stop watching the NFL. I figured, and this is probably naive, that if you are able to turn it off for the NFL so quickly, you could turn it on just as easily for the NHL. The Blues did a tremendous job gathering civic support and harnessing civic pride shortly after the Rams left. I'm hoping that some people that weren't necessarily fans of the NHL before would give it a shot. At least in the interim, as support for the city but hopefully grow to love the sport. I know, a bit of a reach!

Well, if you're keeping tabs, this is the fist time in 26 years a team in the Cardinals division won the WS. What dominant teams were the Cardinals competing with in the NL Central in 2007? This isn't a 1 and done fluke for the Cubs. This is the beginning of a potential dynasty.

Again, I'm not sure why you keep bringing up attendance and support. The Cardinals, by the way, averaged in the 71-77% capacity in the early 2000s. My point, once again, is not about attendance or support. I have almost zero memories of attending Cardinals games between 1999-2003 (when I was my later teens/early 20s). I have dozens and dozens of distinct memories of going to Rams games and the Rams being a part of my life at that time.

Again, I'm not suggesting that Cardinals support will suddenly drop. I am also not suggesting that SLU will rival the Cardinals in popularity. Won't happen. What I am saying, is that Cardinals impressive run from 2004-2013 (where we saw multiple WS appearances, WS wins, playoff births, and absolute NL Central dominance) is likely over. Actually, I take that back...it IS over. Yes, fans will still file through the gates at Busch. Yes, the Cardinals will still compete for a playoff spot this year. Yes, the Cardinals will still receive most of the media attention this off season, BUT....Let's just keep in mind, from 1999-2003, the Rams were the hottest ticket in town, not the Cardinals.

Ha, I had a feeling I'd get this response I am not disappointed with their attendance thus far, just a bit surprised. For the first time in over 20 years, the Blues are not competing with the Rams and/or Cardinals playoff baseball for time and money from sports fans. This, in addition to the Blues best playoff push in 15 years, I just thought we'd see packed houses in the first 5 games. Again, I think these factors ultimately help the Blues this year and 98% is fantastic.

Great points. Although I'm very surprised at the attendance at Kiel/Savvis/Scottrade/TDAmeritrade Center thus far. I was certain that with the Blues making it to the 3rd round this past spring, the Rams departure, and the Cardinals unsuccessful playoff push, the impact on attendance would be immediate. The Blues currently rank 8th in attendance and have averaged a 98% capacity over their first 5 games. That's certainly nothing to laugh at, however, the NHL measures attendance by tickets sold and not butts through the turnstiles (at least that is what I have read - maybe that's not true?). With no football and no playoff baseball, I would have bet money on the first 5 games being completely sold out. Top 10 in attendance is still impressive and I think they will remain in the top 10 all year (which would be better than last year).

I think as many have pointed out in this thread, the Cardinals don't really have an off season in STL. Their coverage is year round. I also don't think anyone is implying that SLU will be competing for butts in the seats with the Cardinals. That won't happen (especially since, as you said, their seasons don't overlap). I guess the main point I was making and the question I was posing was this: Can SLU take a larger market share of not only the media's attention but also the metro's. I think there is an opportunity for SLU to create a buzzworthy product that people in St. Louis will talk about. Entertaining basketball is something that has been missing from STL for a long, long time. I was merely suggesting that with the NFL gone, the lack of excitement and hope surrounding the Cardinals over the next few years (at least that's my prediction), and a Blues team that can never get over the hump, SLU could be one of the few positive sports stories in the next few years. While the Cardinals will still be all over the front page of the Post during the winter, there's an opportunity for SLU to bump them down to the bottom corners of the front page. Only time will tell...