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145 at bats into the season and he's still hitting below .200.  Soon-to-be-corrected anamoly, or the beginning of an epic decline? Before you answer, consider his BA the last four years: .357, .327, .315, and .299. 

Interesting that someone noted today Pujols' slugging percentage is .275. Josh Hamilton could go 0 for his next 271 at bats and still have a higher slugging percentage than .275. That says a lot about how good Hamilton has been, but may say more about how bad Pujols has been.

Paul

President Heckler was interviewed on WVUR this afternoon. Highlights:

1. The next project after the Welcome Center will be a new dorm. Planning will begin this summer with the hope of presenting something to the Board this fall. After that, Brandt will be renovated;

2. In what he described as happening in the "medium term," VU will build a field house that will start where the old tennis courts are north to the old hospital site. VU will also plan on a 15 million renovation of the ARC, with an entirely new arena and locker rooms.

3. VU will continue to purchase all the property it can along LaPorte all the way west to Morgan St.

Exciting stuff!

Paul

The VU Construction web site says Miller and Huegli are coming down this summer.  I had thought these two buildings were slated for the wrecking ball next summer, not this summer.  Work on the Chapel will also begin this summer, according to the website.  So, I'm thinking the next construction projects will be the new dorm and a re-do of Meier Hall in order to accommodate the Education Department.

I won't miss the back side of Huegli -- the ancient window air conditioners are an eyesore -- but I will miss the cross that is part of the SE corner facade.  It is a nice touch and I hope VU will replicate that look in one of the newer buildings.  While I'm at it, the front part of the new academic building -- with the word art -- is not a good look, in my opinion.  Modern is ok, but that is TOO modern. 

Paul

Thought I'd start this game thread, though I am certainly not as knowledgeable as many of the other posters on this board.

On paper, a tilt between a team that is 1-14 in conference action, playing on the road against the first place team in the conference, should not even be close.

Unfortunately, we are not playing the game on paper.  I think this is going to be a tough, close contest.  Not sure why I think that.  I just do.  A less-than-healthy Van Wijk is a cause for concern.

No excuse for VU to come out flat or uninspired.  I suppose if we were to lose this game, a valid argument could be made that we don't deserve the championship.  Here's the prediction:

Valpo 68
Loyola 62

Paul

The annual NACUBO endowment report is out.  We stand at $163 million.  Here are the numbers for some of our competitors:

Gustavus $109 M
Luther $116 M
Augustana $118 M
Drake $153 M
Butler $157 M
Gettysburg $237 M
Bradley $241 M
Wheaton $322 M
Wabash $340 M

Here is the link:

www.nacubo.org/.../NACUBO...Study...Endowments/Public_NCSE_Tables_.html - Cached - Similar

Paul

Coach's latest blog entry is now up.  I think you all will find it informative.  I am glad he is our football coach.  Better -- much better -- things are on the horizon for VU football.  Paul

It's my understanding President Heckler gave his annual "State of the University" address on January 10.  Did anyone on this board attend, and if so, could you let us know what he said?  Thanks so much!  Paul

This has probably been discussed already on the board, but it looks like the Welcome Center is back on the drawing board, at least according to President Heckler's web page:

www.valpo.edu/president/ - Cached - Similar

Paul

If this has already been shared, I apologize, but the Mid-Major poll has us at #22.  CSU is #5 and Butler is #24.  Oakland is #18. The Missouri Valley leads the way with 4 teams; the West Coast and the Horizon each have three teams in the rankings.

Creighton is the top ranked team.  They are really good and there is a kid on that team, McDermott, who has a chance to be a lottery pick.  At least that's what the Des Moines Register says. 

Paul

I wanted to post this to counter the negative comments that keep getting made about our football program.  I get awful tired of these hurtful comments.

In the early 1990s we had a similar streak going on.  At the time, no one thought it would end and there were whispers that the entire football program would have to be scrapped.  Then VU played Indiana Central (now known at the University of Indianapolis).  IC led the entire way and another VU loss seemed inevitable, until, for some unknown reason, late in the fourth quarter the IC coach decided to go for it on 4th and 2 from his own 25.  VU stopped the play, went on to kick a field goal, and stop the streak.  The final, I think, was 23-22.  Perhaps some of you on this board recall that game.  Maybe you were even there to see it. 

Coach Carlson is a quality person and a good coach with a proven track record.  We knew he was facing a big challenge when he signed on, but I suspect none of us really realize how low the program was at that point.  He WILL win and we WILL have winning seasons.  It is just taking longer than any of us would like.  If you agree, please email Coach Carlson and let him know that you appreciate all of the countless hours he and his staff put into this program, and let him know that you believe in him.  Paul

I just have to post a thought or two on the current debt ceiling/budget talks going on in Washington right now.

Here is what I simply do not understand:  First, do the Republicans not understand that we can no longer afford the Bush tax increases?  I lived through the 1980s and 1990s, before the tax cuts, and you know what?  I did OK. And, secondly, do the Democrats not understand that no nation can withstand annual 1.7 trillion deficits?  It should be clear to everyone that such a monstrous figure poses a real and current danger to our nation and is patently unsustainable.

Neither side is willing to set aside its ideology and do what needs to be done for this country.  I say, eliminate the Bush tax cuts  -- we will survive -- immediately cut annual spending by $300 billion -- it can be done, trust me -- raise the Social Security and Medicare eligibility age by two years for everyone, agree to limit federal spending to no more than 18.5% of GDP, which is still more than it was under President Clinton, and eliminate several tax loopholes, including the home mortage interest deduction, and call it good.  

Paul

I realize this is a basketball-dominated board, but I just thought I'd share several of the many reasons why MLB is the best sport, hands down  Here they are:

(1) Records matter. Everyone knows that Aaron hit 755 home runs.  Nobody knows how many points Jordan scored or how many TDs Rice scored.  And no one particularly cares, either.  (No, I don't recognize the guy who hit 762 home runs.)

(2) The 7th inning stretch.

(3) The stats today can be compared with the stats, say, of 1940.  It is a timeless game.  And the rules today are basically the same as they were back then. 

(4) Singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at the ballgame.

(5) Hot dogs/brats/polish eaten at a ballpark taste great.  The same hot dog/brat/polish eaten at, say, The United Center or Assembly Hall tastes like one of Charles Barkley's practice socks.

(6) No interruption of play due to endless TV time outs.  Actual experience from last year when I was watching a pro football game: running play, time out and commercials; pass play, end of quarter, commercials; running play, injury, time out and commercials; touchdown, extra point; tv timeout and commercials; kickoff, tv timeout, commercials.  Totals: 6 plays, 15 minutes of watching.  And about 18 car commercials. 

(7) It doesn't take 15 minutes to play the last 2:30 of the game like it does in basketball.  Fouls and yes, those pesky timeouts again -- ruin a lot of basketball games.

(8) When MLB drafts or signs a high school kid, he's already graduated from school, instead of signing him before he's old enough to drive his date to the school dance.  And, by the way: the kids who sign an MLB contract haven't been to multiple high schools, either. 

(9) No Rick Pitino in MLB!

(10) No pressure to "upgrade" facilities in order to impress a 17-year old kid.

(11) Indoor stadiums are on their way out in MLB; ever watch an NFL game on TV played at, say, Ford Field in Detroit or the Georgia Dome?  Snoozeville. (Why build an indoor stadium in GEORGIA?  Oh, yeah...it's those November snowstorms that plague the Atlanta area every year.)

(12) Don't have to listen to "bracketologists" prattle on about who will make the 68-team (soon to be 96 or 128 team, you can count on it) field.

(13) Frosty Malts!

I'm sure there are HUNDREDS more reasons why MLB rules!

Paul

The Valpo Crusader says on Facebook that something new will be unveiled for VU athletics in the next month.

My guess is it will be a revised mascot.  I would prefer the announcement that VU will build a new track around Brown Field, however.

Paul

Wheaton College announced today it is going to drop football. Keep in mind this is a school whose teams are routinely ranked in the Div III top 20 poll and, I believe, played in the D3 title game just a few years ago. Paul