It's not a question of "if" but "when." And after that performance tonight, he should be let go immediately. Valpo needs to show that we're serious about athletics.
Valpo has a week before two games against Elon and Stonehill. Those are winnable games and might give an interim coach some confidence before heading into the meat grinder of conference play.
Lottich, by all accounts, is a decent person. But he's lost control of this program. We deserve better.
I have a feeling this thread will go nowhere
I support this thread. If there is anyone on this board that has faith in Matt as our head coach I would love to hear your reasoning.
Just concerned about the passive Valpo response
I wonder if those who were making excuses for him 2-3 years ago will speak up. Surely they finally see what many of us saw a long time ago.
Can I or we say "I told you so".
Really wish we didn't have to wait and continue to lose season after season in order to prove you guys wrong.
I 100% agree that it's time to move on, but Valpo will not fire him mid-season. That's just not how the school operates, unless the new President and AD wish to change the status quo.
Valpo has never been aggressive in making these type of decisions. Valpo also tends to be penny wise and dollar foolish in these decisions.
There was a time when Valpo was in the Horizon and lost to top 10 Kentucky by under 20 at UK. Where is Ole Miss ranked? Wait, isn't Samford at approximately the same latitude? Maybe, it's just a case of latitudinal (aka, I-22) dysplasia?
BTW, if anyone is looking for support for change, please go to the JM game string and the 2022-2023 string to read the posts by Valpopal, David81 and me. There is some, I belive, good rationale going on there.
Agreed. The performance of this season o date is the final straw. I disliked the hire from the start. Did not trust his experience.
Hope he grows into a solid coach. Just don't see it happening here.
It would be the classy thing for Coach Lottich to step down, with a fair buyout that covers his next season.
By all accounts a good man, it would be great if he retooled, someday got another chance as HC, and enjoyed greater success. From a character standpoint, he's the kind of person we want coaching young student-athletes.
The final quote from Matt in the Victory Bell coverage of the Ole Miss game:
"We have to get to a point where we're learning from this," Lottich said. "This is a hard game. We just have to be better. We're not going to burn this tape, we're going to learn from it."
Isn't this quote on a loop reel?
And who is the "we" he is addressing? The players? OR ........... was it really the coach who has had 6 years to learn?
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 10, 2022, 10:06:01 PM
The final quote from Matt in the Victory Bell coverage of the Ole Miss game:
"We have to get to a point where we're learning from this," Lottich said. "This is a hard game. We just have to be better. We're not going to burn this tape, we're going to learn from it."
Isn't this quote on a loop reel?
And who is the "we" he is addressing? The players? OR ........... was it really the coach who has had 6 years to learn?
(https://www.chicagotribune.com/resizer/iB24xHOPkdwCafjiL2d3buNp4Yg=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/OJL26SEZENFA3OHKDW7LK33XME.jpg)
(https://media.gettyimages.com/id/899416996/photo/dec-28-valparaiso-at-indiana-state.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=k2wMDUqp0Mw900CNt7vu-NBx8IXtPlseLpujpMC9duM=)
(https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1082443638/photo/valparaiso-v-george-washington.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=E-AyJfvZ-fI_XwbL8qgz3fTX3z_YX893ljyax-AOjd8=)
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fct-ptb-spt-mike-hutton-column-st-0429-story.html&psig=AOvVaw0dcLnoYPX6MAyJhM5lufJx&ust=1670818607138000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCJCF5L3a8PsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE)
Not only does ML not have it, our staff doesnt change either. Most coaches know to bring in new/fresh ideas and guys when things arent going well. A look at our coaches bios, we've been ho-humming along for 4/5 years at this point. We're not even trying to do anything different at this point.
A lot of higher on the Valpo leadership chain don't care about basketball. Some open serious debates from the higher ups is required.
The date was Sunday, November 10, 2013.
The previous afternoon the Valpo Crusader football team was thoroughly embarrassed by the team down south 72-12.
With one more game left that season, MLB announced that Dale Carlson was relieved of his HFBC duties.
While this was Carlson's final contract year, that act, nevertheless, was strongly symbolic. It showed that Valpo was not content with coaching incompetence, mediocrity and losing.
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 11, 2022, 08:11:19 AM
A lot of higher on the Valpo leadership chain don't care about basketball. Some open serious debates from the higher ups is required.
Your comment reflects an institutional ambivalence towards intercollegiate sports that goes way back. VU's elevation to Division I during the 70s was not met with universal enthusiasm, with doubts directed primarily at the MBB program as teams continually posted mediocre records. (In fairness to the early coaches, they didn't receive the resources helpful toward succeeding, either.)
And we should keep in mind that VU's campus culture, going back to the pre-Lutheran days when the university was the "Poor Man's Harvard" providing a basic, super-affordable, but door-opening classroom education, was always very frugal. And when the Lutherans entered the picture, they inherited a bare bones campus that would frame a modern version of the institution where aspirations always exceeded scarce resources. That reality would apply to athletics, as well.
It's remarkable how Bryce Drew's shot changed perceptions of how sports might shape the University.
The last five seasons, mixed in with VU's financial challenges and the pandemic, may have fueled a return to that ambivalence.
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 11, 2022, 08:51:12 AMThe date was Sunday, November 10, 2013. The previous afternoon the Valpo Crusader football team was thoroughly embarrassed by the team down south 72-12. With one more game left that season, MLB announced that Dale Carlson was relieved of his HFBC duties. While this was Carlson's final contract year, that act, nevertheless, was strongly symbolic. It showed that Valpo was not content with coaching incompetence, mediocrity and losing.
This instance was brought up earlier but there are some significant differences. It was the last year of the contract, final game of the season...the interim coach was so for a week of game preparation and then for the exit of seniors until the new hire came in and you could also say, in Valpo's case, in a sport lower down the food chain.
While those who remain fans will be out for blood until the inevitable happens at the end of the season, that is when it's going to happen, likely...at the end of the season.
I distinctly remember sending a letter (yes, it was still in the dark ages of 1988) to then AD Bill Steinbrecher, complaining about the 'embarrassing' situation concerning our basketball team. Shortly thereafter, Tom Smith was replaced by a guy named Drew. Now, to be sure, Dr. Steinbrecher's decision had nothing to do with my complaint, but apparently, there had been enough failure to make a change. I just looked back at Tom's last year at Valpo, and the results included two wins over Butler, a win against San Francisco, a five point loss to Texas A & M and a "humiliating" loss by 39 to Notre Dame, and an overall record of 12-16 and a last place conference standing.(Can you imagine losing by 39 to anybody?? Oh, wait, we only lost to Ole Miss by 37 thanks to a last second 3 by Connor!)
I would argue that Tom Smith's record was as good or better than Matt's particularly given the early state of Valpo's basketball experience at the D1 level. No doubt, Dr. Small and President Padilla are fully aware of the demise of our basketball program(s). I would expect changes, but not until the end of the season.
I'm not going to disagree. How many of you were like me yesterday? Instead of watching what should have been a great game against Ole Miss, I flipped back to World Cup Soccer.
62 - firing Carlson with one game left on his contract really wasn't a bold move. He should have been canned a year before after his robust 2-31 record and an embarrassing blowout loss to Morehead St.
Vu72 - Smith wasn't fired, in fact they gave him tenure and a lower salary in exchange for job security. He left on his own knowing that the program had apathy and insufficient support from the university.
Lottich has to know his days are numbered - this program is a complete mess. Nice person, perhaps he needs to learn, be an assistant under a competent coach and fine tune his skills.
David81,
I'd argue the frugal, bare-bones, do more with less idea has never left and is part of why Valpo is in the position it is. An over reliance on old methods that "worked" even if they weren't efficient or effective, a believe staff and faculty and students would "accept less" for the "mission". Someone once told me that many departments were still working in paper when our peers had long long ago moved onto a digital platform.
They mythos of Valpo that we have created around ourselves is partly why we are in the position. This idea that we will always "punch above our weight" or that it's just about finding the elusive "right people" to come and work or attend classes. This idea that we are special has held us in a place where issues were ignored. We ignored the endowment, we ignored facilities, we ignored basic standards of our peers. I'd argue even on this forum, this idea that we need to bring back someone from the drew years or an alum like Tonagel is part of it. There is no savior waiting int he wings, even good coaches are going to struggle when our peers are outmatching us, not just in coaches salaries or arenas but things like resources for athletes and training facilities
Quote from: usc4valpo on December 11, 2022, 08:11:19 AM
A lot of higher on the Valpo leadership chain don't care about basketball. Some open serious debates from the higher ups is required.
I m hoping the presence of Padilla, a vocal supporter of D-1 sports, and Small, a former D-1 basketball player, would guide the attitude of others toward athletics, which I acknowledge is sometimes lacking. Additionally, I would suggest apathy toward the basketball program among faculty and administrators has not always been the case. As I mentioned in a previous post, I used to have season tickets near Pres. Harre and his wife, who often attended and she always kept a scorecard. Heckler's presence at games admittedly was much more infrequent. From the 1980s until recently, chairback section G was noted for all the faculty with season tickets, including department chairs, deans and other staff, who filled it. Additional faculty regularly attended in section EE, which is always reserved for them. Unfortunately, speaking from experience, almost all of those individuals who were loyal fans since the 1980s have now retired, a few have passed away, and some have lost fervor during the past few years. My personal observation is that the recent arrivals of younger faculty and newer administrators seem to include many who have little or no interest in college sports, including basketball. This is where the influence of Padilla and Small is needed.
Quote from: crusader05 on December 11, 2022, 10:22:51 AM
David81,
I'd argue the frugal, bare-bones, do more with less idea has never left and is part of why Valpo is in the position it is. An over reliance on old methods that "worked" even if they weren't efficient or effective, a believe staff and faculty and students would "accept less" for the "mission". Someone once told me that many departments were still working in paper when our peers had long long ago moved onto a digital platform.
They mythos of Valpo that we have created around ourselves is partly why we are in the position. This idea that we will always "punch above our weight" or that it's just about finding the elusive "right people" to come and work or attend classes. This idea that we are special has held us in a place where issues were ignored. We ignored the endowment, we ignored facilities, we ignored basic standards of our peers. I'd argue even on this forum, this idea that we need to bring back someone from the drew years or an alum like Tonagel is part of it. There is no savior waiting int he wings, even good coaches are going to struggle when our peers are outmatching us, not just in coaches salaries or arenas but things like resources for athletes and training facilities
Crusader05, I'd agree that overall, VU has continued to lean on its core mission and the people committed to it as a way of trying to overcome its financial shortcomings. However, I think the harsh
degree of that lean is much less than during its earlier chapters.
Indeed, from the mid-to-late 80s onward, I don't think it's true that the school has neglected its endowment, facilities, and comparative standards
vis a vis its peers. The ARC (mid-80s), for example, was a huge upgrade over the Old Hilltop gymnasium. The new Wesemann Hall (late 80s) basically helped to save the Law School from losing its accreditation and was followed by a strong run, at least until the Great Recession and its harsh aftermath for legal education. Each of the past three VU presidents -- Schnabel, Harre, and Heckler -- led successful major fundraising campaigns at levels unthinkable under their predecessors (including the iconic O.P. Kretzmann). As a result, VU's endowment, though far from ideal, is comparable to that of many peer institutions. And although salaries have continued to lag, they've reached a point where the University has been able compete for faculty in a national market.
What does this mean for the MBB program? FWIW, I don't think that it has sunk back to where it was before the ARC and the Drews appeared on the scene. But the trajectory is heading that way. As this conversation on this board continues to add valuable thoughts and reflections, I'm starting to ask two questions:
First, can the program attract a really good HC who will stay and (re)build something here? (Or, will VU become yet another "starter school" for ambitious coaches who dream of NCAA glory at bigger places?)
Second, can the program, in the current competitive environment for mid-majors, attract and keep at least one star player around whom a tournament-quality team can be built, such as a Drew, Peters, or Broekhoff? (Or, is the Freeman-Liberty story merely a prelude to a new reality?)
Quote from: JD24 on December 11, 2022, 09:49:38 AM
This instance was brought up earlier but there are some significant differences. It was the last year of the contract, final game of the season...the interim coach was so for a week of game preparation and then for the exit of seniors until the new hire came in and you could also say, in Valpo's case, in a sport lower down the food chain.
While those who remain fans will be out for blood until the inevitable happens at the end of the season, that is when it's going to happen, likely...at the end of the season.
Yes, I acknowledged it was the final year of his contract and that only one game remained. My point was the symbolism of firing him, despite the fact it would soon be over anyway, was a statement regardless of its dynamics. I have been following Valpo athletics for decades and to my memory I cannot recall
any coach of any sport ever being fired in season for poor coaching. That is totally out of Valpo's character, but sets a precedent.
QuoteFirst, can the program attract a really good HC who will stay and (re)build something here? (Or, will VU become yet another "starter school" for ambitious coaches who dream of NCAA glory at bigger places?)
As I mentioned in another thread, Valpo should look to hire a coach with previous success at the end of their career. Like Saint Louis University did with Rick Majerus. Have them put out the fire and get the program back on the right track. You're also getting their coaching tree for their eventual successor.
Valpo is always going to be a stepping stone for most coaches. But that can be ok, if we set up a system to replace them.
Quote from: David81 on December 11, 2022, 11:34:29 AMSecond, can the program, in the current competitive environment for mid-majors, attract and keep at least one star player around whom a tournament-quality team can be built, such as a Drew, Peters, or Broekhoff? (Or, is the Freeman-Liberty story merely a prelude to a new reality?)
In this, relatively new, NCAA MBB environment I think this is a question to be asked of every mid major in the country. I don't think Valpo is going to be unique in this regard. The question will be which programs adapt to it best.
For instance, there may be coaches who were better fits where they could mold their own recruits into a system created and learned over multiple years who may struggle vs coaches who can quickly weld together a coherent unit or two.
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 11, 2022, 11:57:03 AM
Quote from: JD24 on December 11, 2022, 09:49:38 AM
This instance was brought up earlier but there are some significant differences. It was the last year of the contract, final game of the season...the interim coach was so for a week of game preparation and then for the exit of seniors until the new hire came in and you could also say, in Valpo's case, in a sport lower down the food chain.
While those who remain fans will be out for blood until the inevitable happens at the end of the season, that is when it's going to happen, likely...at the end of the season.
Yes, I acknowledged it was the final year of his contract and that only one game remained. My point was the symbolism of firing him, despite the fact it would soon be over anyway, was a statement regardless of its dynamics. I have been following Valpo athletics for decades and to my memory I cannot recall any coach of any sport ever being fired in season for poor coaching. That is totally out of Valpo's character, but sets a precedent.
I was paying less close attention to VU football during the Carlson years, but (1) his record was truly, remarkably dreadful; and (2) something struck me as being odd and out of touch about the guy, as if he was in so far over his head that he lived in a world of cliches. So...I don't put Coach Carlson and Coach Lottich in the same category, not even close.
In thinking over all of our comments on this board (including my own harsher ones), I'm becoming persuaded that if any mid-season change occurs, it should be via a resignation rather than a firing. Coach Lottich has not done anything that merits an action smacking of humiliation. VULB#62 used the phrase "totally out of Valpo's character," and while I'm about to twist his reference out of context (perhaps even to gently disagree with where he's going), to me it means that VU treats folks who have conducted themselves honorably with respect. And frankly, I don't think that an interim coaching change would, say, result in a miracle run through the MVC tourney or anything like that. I'm sure there's a lot of good young men on this team, but the overall talent level simply isn't there.
In any event, this off-season must be about commencing a rebuild of the program, to where it's relevant at Arch Madness time. I do agree that it involves a coaching change.
Guess it's time for me to weigh in on this discussion as someone who has been around the board/forum since Dick Harlan started this. I have attended games around the country, been close to the program and a contributor to the major ARC renovations since the 1980s. I know many of you all personally, and the past five years of Valpo have been extremely disappointing and disheartening. The basketball program and it's deteriorating state is just a microcosm of the University's overall deterioration.
I gave up on this season for a number of reasons, including apathy to the new "Beacon" University. The primary reason was my disgust after watching in person the Toledo game. I drove over to it because I know many of the coaches and wanted to say hey to them and to Todd. (Had never been to Toledo's facility and wanted to add it to I believe the 12th arena in Ohio I've watched college basketball games). While watching that terrible display of basketball, I determined that this squad is not nearly talented enough or coachable enough or is there enough good coaches on staff to save the season or Matt's job. AD Small was at that game, and he is a nice person, but as discussed below, a new or renovated facility is not going to save the program. As I watched, what was apparent (and in some discussions with some fans), is that before we do a coaching search, there needs to be a complete (in writing) assessment of what the expectations of the program are and how we would get there. Matt Lottich is not the only issue. Below are the areas that must be addressed before March/April.
1. Coaching — what type of coach can establish and build a program. There needs to be a high energy, youthful coach from a lesser conference or assistant from a big program (Jake Diebler is an example of the type, Pat Kelseyis a non-VU who also fits that model). And no, some coaching retread is not the answer, didn't work with Tubby Smith, the coach at Cleveland State, Wake Forest (2x), or many other examples.). But, the assessment has to analyze what is the cost, how to fund, responsibilities, goals, program type.
2. Assistant coaches — under the Drew Dynasty, the quality of assistants was very high. We had creative minds and people who might only be here a couple years but were contributors. Part of it was the continuity of having the Drews on staff, too. But their were consistent offense and defensive schemes were that were tweaked year to year. HCs fought for better salaries to attract and retain. There has to be a review of insuring successor candidates and retention of assistants, plus sufficient committed funding. An interim coach is a terrible idea for this year as there is no one on staff that could be expected to change things enough at this point to be meaningful. The year's a disaster, just play out the string.
3. Players — the MVC is not the Mid-Con or the Horizon, it is a major step up, and we are in it. We need players who want to prove themselves as a team. The landscape has changed and lots of programs are struggling with the new models. NIL is a critical element, transfers are the norm, 4 year players at one school are shrinking. The University needs to understand this, and it needs to hire a coach who knows this new market and has shown success with constantly evolving rosters. What does this University want in players? What coach will be good it's this model. The current rosters talent level is not good. It hasn't been for a few years now. They can't shoot. This is a fundamental flaw. One thing that was constant for decades was a roster with players who could knock down open Js. When a shot went up, you expected it to go in. Today, not one player instills confidence. I'd rather have the teams from 1992-1994 than this group.
4. Facility — there should be no discussion of facility until the program is defined and established. This isn't a build it and they will come situation. There are tweaked to the facility that could be done to look like some of the nice mid-majors. Toledo's has a nice "club" room looking over the floor. Davidson's is similar. But Toledo's was no special place. The investments need to be in a coach, assistants and NIl, not a building. There also needs to be a realistic review of community involvement in this. COVID taught us to be extremely cautious with facilities that can become drags on a university if not optimally used (see CSUs facility). Is building or massively renovating ARC really going to change the attendance if the other areas aren't fixed first. BTW, Toledos attendance was miserable for the game and they have a good team and purportedly a better facility.
5. Landscape — NIL is the most important thing in college sports today. How do we fund a this for the athletes? What is our program to help find and raise the dollars. Ho in the department is in charge of this? Again, investing here is more important than the facility. Transfers as mentioned is another evaluation point. Are we going to focus on less stars and more years, or less years and more stars, with a coach who can handle that type of roster.
There may be other topics for that evaluation, but for "the school that shall not be named" if this assessment isn't done first, and then a coaching search that relies on a model, then the 40 year wilderness will begin again. Frankly, I'm apathetic on this and the school because Padilla and Small have shown nothing to build confidence or build and repair relationships with the many critical alumni and supporters of both the "STSNBN" and its basketball program.
Peace and Merry Christmas to the friends and others on the Forum. Good luck to Matt and his staff on their futures.
Quote from: valpo84 on December 11, 2022, 03:15:24 PM
3. Players — the MVC is not the Mid-Con or the Horizon, it is a major step up, and we are in it. We need players who want to prove themselves as a team. The landscape has changed and lots of programs are struggling with the new models. NIL is a critical element, transfers are the norm, 4 year players at one school are shrinking. The University needs to understand this, and it needs to hire a coach who knows this new market and has shown success with constantly evolving rosters. What does this University want in players? What coach will be good it's this model. The current rosters talent level is not good. It hasn't been for a few years now. They can't shoot. This is a fundamental flaw. One thing that was constant for decades was a roster with players who could knock down open Js. When a shot went up, you expected it to go in. Today, not one player instills confidence. I'd rather have the teams from 1992-1994 than this group.
If I'm looking at the roster correctly, next year's team will inevitably look much different. King, Green, and Edwards are gone, yes? Is Krikke eligible for a COVID year? Palm has shown promise and has a year left. The rest of the roster is either unproven at this point or mainly depth support on a good team. I assume there will be transfer portal attrition as well.
So...in the glass-is-1/3-full mode of thinking, at least the next coach will have an "opportunity" to start a rebuild in terms of key players.
Quote from: David81 on December 11, 2022, 05:17:00 PMQuote from: valpo84 on December 11, 2022, 03:15:24 PM3. Players — the MVC is not the Mid-Con or the Horizon, it is a major step up, and we are in it. We need players who want to prove themselves as a team. The landscape has changed and lots of programs are struggling with the new models. NIL is a critical element, transfers are the norm, 4 year players at one school are shrinking. The University needs to understand this, and it needs to hire a coach who knows this new market and has shown success with constantly evolving rosters. What does this University want in players? What coach will be good it's this model. The current rosters talent level is not good. It hasn't been for a few years now. They can't shoot. This is a fundamental flaw. One thing that was constant for decades was a roster with players who could knock down open Js. When a shot went up, you expected it to go in. Today, not one player instills confidence. I'd rather have the teams from 1992-1994 than this group.
If I'm looking at the roster correctly, next year's team will inevitably look much different. King, Green, and Edwards are gone, yes? Is Krikke eligible for a COVID year? Palm has shown promise and has a year left. The rest of the roster is either unproven at this point or mainly depth support on a good team. I assume there will be transfer portal attrition as well. So...in the glass-is-1/3-full mode of thinking, at least the next coach will have an "opportunity" to start a rebuild in terms of key players.
If/when Lottich is fired, I am going to assume most future commits will decommit, and most players on roster will declare for the portal. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as past Lottich recruits and players have not exactly brought this program success. No reason to expect this next class is going to magically be good.
I've been in the Lottich didn't deserve to be let go camp, not because I thought he was a great coach, but because I had seen some small improvements over the years, not generally a fan of firing coaches after only a few years (hate the constant rebuild), and thought the recruits coming in were exciting and showed some hope of a good team. I also thought that this was definitely his last chance to put it all together. Well it has been ugly so far.
It's been enough, he needs to go. Like others have said, I doubt it happens mid-season. If this were a different school, or with an AD that was more experienced, maybe, but I don't see it happening unless 30+ point loses become the norm.
I still think this team can win some games this year, but I officially have zero hopes of this being a successful year.
While I would absolutely support a mid-season change, I don't necessarily care whether it happens now or in March after Valpo, inevitably, loses on Thursday of Arch Madness. What matters is that these conversations at the Padilla and Small level are taking place now and that Valpo is ready to move as soon as the season ends with a list of candidates that they think they can get.
As many posters have mentioned, the group of assistant coaches are tied closely with Lottich. It's not as if giving someone an "audition" for the rest of the season provides great promise of a brighter future. A complete overhaul is needed. This season is likely lost, but the path to a brighter future starts with legwork being done as early as now.
Another terrible hire by the former admin.Much of our dilemma across the board is due to these blunders.So even though he pulled the trigger during the season-what does it say about his ability to evaluate coaching talent? Carlson,Dorow etc
If they are certain that a change needs to be made, they should do it now and start the search. Keeping status quo of a cause going nowhere is insanity.
It will be very interesting to see where this goes. First, if a coach resigns during the season and, as part of that, gets a buyout, then it is the same as dismissal. Call it what you want, but anyone who would look to hire him in the future will view it as being fired by Valpo.
I am in favor of replacing Matt Lottich, but let's take a minute to consider the financials. It is safe to assume that Valpo would need to pay one year of severance to Matt Lottich. I don't exactly know what Matt Lottich is paid, but assume the severance is $350K when all is said and done. Then, let's assume that Valpo hires a search firm - my guess is that is another $25K. Then, Valpo will need to pay the new coach. Matt Lottich's salary was pre-inflation, but a new coach is likely to want what Matt Lottich was paid plus an adjustment for inflation - so assume another $60K per year for the new coach and another $20K per year for each of three assistants (assume all of the assistants are replaced). Many large universities have donors who would fund most or all of this, but Valpo likely does not. Thus, the athletic department is going to need to ask for ~$500K in 2023 and another ~$120K per year after that. And those numbers assume that Valpo takes a chance on a promising coach - not one with a proven track record at any level in D1.
The reality is (and I know some here will scream) that the university will likely target the windfall from the NMSU game to fund a lot of this. I have known a fair number of CFOs and other finance executives during my careers and I can safely say that none of them would agree to just write a check in this situation. The direction to the athletic department will be, "you can use that money to fund the football program and keep coach Lottich through his contract duration or you can dismiss Coach Lottich and use all of the margin dollars for his severance and replacement (in which case, the university will fund the balance)...but you cannot do both." You may say that President Padilla could override this, but my guess is that the senior finance person would demand this be taken up by the board (i.e. he/she would not let the University President just overrule him/her).
Quote from: Valpo17 on December 12, 2022, 08:52:36 AM
Another terrible hire by the former admin.Much of our dilemma across the board is due to these blunders.So even though he pulled the trigger during the season-what does it say about his ability to evaluate coaching talent? Carlson,Dorow etc
[/b]
Um. Have you been asleep for an extended period of time? I presume that when you write about "his ability to evaluate coaching talent", you are referring to Mark LaBarbera. NEWS FLASH: Mark LaBarbera retired from the University effective last June 30.
The financials at this stage are going to be the same whether he's dumped now or at the end of the season. The interim coach would be internal.
The bigger concern is how much autonomous power Padilla and Small are given to make the change and hire the right person. That's where I'm not sure of this moving forward.
relax dude
Agree that the financials will be the same. My guess is that they will have a lot of latitude - within financial constraints that are ultimately approved by the board.
I don't know Lottich but can say with confidence he wouldn't get arrested for assault and battery as the Texas coach just did.
Quote from: oklahomamick on December 13, 2022, 05:01:00 AM
I don't know Lottich but can say with confidence he wouldn't get arrested for assault and battery as the Texas coach just did.
Indeed. I've never known any of VU's head coaches personally, but from my more distant perch, they've all seemed to be decent human beings. I don't take that lightly in a vocation where bullies, rageaholics, and the ethically challenged sometimes snake their way into head coaching positions.
Dale Carlson quoting Joel Osteen was pretty creepy though.
This is pretty disappointing to see the screaming for Matt to be fired. No doubt that the embarrassing loss to Chicago State was very hard to swallow.
But while close only counts in horseshoes, they took Murray State into overtime. They have not given up. Murray State beat Tulsa and Texas A&M this year. As long as they rise up in that way every few games I think Matt deserves to finish out the year. Sadly they got blown out at Ole Miss just a few days later. But Homer and Scott used to get blown out by Purdue and P5 teams sometimes.
I know I am reaching in terms of performance. But firing just doesn't seem like a good look and would give pause to a new hire who is looking at the reality of expectations for the school. They are not going to land a big time hire at this point with a whole university on the skids. The drop in enrollment and bond ratings is glaring. The school has bigger concerns than the team.
"...bullies, rageaholics, and the ethically challenged..."
(https://i.imgflip.com/7461s0.jpg)
Quote from: crusadermoe on December 13, 2022, 09:16:57 AMut while close only counts in horseshoes, they took Murray State into overtime.
Remember that Murray State is a team that lost 10 players to transfer, now has a roster of 8 transfers and 5 freshman and has a brand new coach. Yet they beat us AT OUR PLACE. Somehow, as challenging as the current state of college basketball may be, Matt chose his transfers and the entire roster. Something is definitely wrong but I agree that a dismissal during the season would not be the right move.
My concern is that Valpo will win games over some ham and egger teams, have a record of a little below 0.500 and there will be sympathizers spinning a story on how they improved and they continue a commitment toward mediocrity. This team has a feeling of the early Tom Smith years, and those years really sucked.
I am presuming that Matt is on the hot seat which is never really hot at Valpo.
Mid-Season change? 100% No
End of Season Change? 100% YES
I have no regrets on giving Lottich ample time to prove himself. Was worth a shot to see if he could get some traction. He showed flashes of brilliance. I don't think Fazekas or Kiser were great talents or anything. Fazekas was a bit one domanial, graet shooter but not great at defense and Kiser was all guts. Lottich really maximized the talent on that team I believe. Since then he just hasn't found away to replicate that.
Maybe it's not all his fault. Lack of administrative commitment to the program over the last 30 years certainly didn't help. However, Lottich has not come around when it comes to building a balanced team that compliments each other, running an efficient offense, consistent defense, play calling, in game adjustments, consistent player motivation, etc. etc etc.
Maybe Valpo will never be great again, but we can put a better product on the floor then what we have now. This problem does go well beyond Lottich, but I think its safe to say Lottich is a part of the problem and a fresh start is required.
In terms of recruiting, VU has been able to bring in some quality talent. During the past three years, the challenge has been getting them to stay or stay healthy:
-JFL
-Kithier (injury)
-Jacob Ognacevic
-Donovan Clay
-Keyondre Young (I missed earlier news of his signing with DePaul for '23)
-Sheldon Edwards
That's one bonafide star, three starting-quality players, and the other two rotation-quality at least. I may have forgotten others.
I don't know how this compares to other mid-majors, but that's a lot of talent that could've made this and the past two seasons much different. Did coaching have something to do with the departures, or is it mostly about the new reality of the transfer portal?
Quote**UPDATED DECEMBER 13, 2022**
YOUR CHAIR IS ON FIRE, SIR
Coaches at the end of the line at their current school. You should be seeing them here soon enough.
Jeff Capel III (Pittsburgh)
Capel's deal runs through the 2026-27 season, but he's yet to have a winning record in four seasons at Pitt. It was a rebuilding job when he took it so the first couple years are excused, but now in year five he has done nothing to show he can win games with this program. Pitt finished tied for 11th in the ACC last year at 6-14 (11-21 overall), which was actually their best finish under Capel, and ended it by losing to Boston College by 20 points in the ACC Tournament. UPDATE: Pitt is a respectable 7-4 but missed all opportunities for good OOC wins.
Mark Fox (California)
This was kind of an odd hire for Cal, as Fox had just been fired after nine unremarkable seasons at Georgia. He had some experience out West (mostly at Nevada), but his name was not floating around much during the hiring process. The Bears are 35-58 overall under Fox (with a particular ugly double-digit home loss to UC San Diego last year). Fox's buyout dropped from $1.3M to $900k after he was retained this offseason. UPDATE: The Bears are in the running for worst Power Conference team ever amidst a putrid 0-11 (0-2) start.
Matt Lottich (Valparaiso)
Six years ago, Lottich became the first Valpo head coach from outside the Drew family since 1988. But after winning the 2017 Horizon title, the program moved to the MVC and have finished above .500 just once since. There are different standards for mid-majors but Valpo has a strong track record that includes nine NCAA Tournament bids since 1996. Last year's team started by losing two exhibition games to D-II's at home and finished in 7th at 6-12 (13-17 overall). That brings Lottich's record since joining the MVC to 72-77 (35-55). UPDATE: The Beacons are 4-7 (0-2) and all three of their D-I wins easily could have been losses.
https://www.coachesdatabase.com/college-basketball-hot-seat-report/
I think the sooner the move is made the better off we are. Some have said firing him now isn't a good look, we'll look at the turn out of the past home game. Nobody is looking at Valpo men's basketball. He has had his chance to win games. The talent had been on campus. The results were not there.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Knew this was coming 5 years ago. Doesn't make it any better.
Just wish the people in charge didn't make that contract extension. It was a knee jerk reaction just like hiring a young guy who had never been head coach (not even ymca or boy club) immediately after NCAAT apprearences and conference championship appearances.
Our stock was high. Now our stock is low.
Looking at the coaching staff since Lottich was named HC in 2016, the only assistant from Day 1 still there is Luke Gore, and Gore has been a part of the program since I was a student in 2003. He came as a grad assistant. Bowen was an assistant to Homer at the time, then left to be a D-II head coach down the line, before coming back, and Rob Holloway is on his second go-around with VU. I don't want a coaching change happening now, because I don't trust the three assistants to do anything good with interim attached to their name. I also don't feel that firing the coach now does any great change to how the team plays once we're fully MVC play. At this point, Lottich stays until the season is over, and once the season ends, AD Small will have his exit interviews, which most likely would result in going in a new direction.
The only reason why President Padilla and AD Small didn't make any change is because it wouldn't have improved the program, and it would have cost more to buyout Lottich than the University would have been wise to take on, when the finances are already being questioned, after students not returning since the pandemic started.
Do I want Coach Lottich replaced? Yes, but only when the season is over. Doing it now wouldn't improve alumni sending in money because the University couldn't hire whomever they wanted until after the season. The change wouldn't improve donations from alums, regardless of income level, until a new head coach could be named appropriately.
valporun - Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't see Valpo donors being the same as donors to schools like USC, Texas, Kansas, etc. I don't see Valpo donors, to any meaningful degree, donating lots of money to the basketball program unless it is winning.
Quote from: vu84v2 on December 23, 2022, 03:49:12 PM
valporun - Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't see Valpo donors being the same as donors to schools like USC, Texas, Kansas, etc. I don't see Valpo donors, to any meaningful degree, donating lots of money to the basketball program unless it is winning.
The schools you named have big business or oil names primarily backing their athletics. Valpo doesn't have that because they have never felt that they needed ONE specific name to pay for an entire department, like a USC, Texas, or Kansas does to survive in their POWER 5 settings.
Quote from: valporun on December 23, 2022, 03:56:14 PM
Quote from: vu84v2 on December 23, 2022, 03:49:12 PM
valporun - Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't see Valpo donors being the same as donors to schools like USC, Texas, Kansas, etc. I don't see Valpo donors, to any meaningful degree, donating lots of money to the basketball program unless it is winning.
The schools you named have big business or oil names primarily backing their athletics. Valpo doesn't have that because they have never felt that they needed ONE specific name to pay for an entire department, like a USC, Texas, or Kansas does to survive in their POWER 5 settings.
Not sure that I agree with your argument. I am sure that Valpo would welcome one of more "big names" to be the primary/lead donor for anything that increases Valpo's value (including athletics). An example of this is Donald Fites being the lead (and name) donor for the expanded engineering building. I just think that Valpo has far fewer major donors and that those donors are very judicious in their spending.
Quote from: valporun on December 23, 2022, 03:56:14 PM
Quote from: vu84v2 on December 23, 2022, 03:49:12 PM
valporun - Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't see Valpo donors being the same as donors to schools like USC, Texas, Kansas, etc. I don't see Valpo donors, to any meaningful degree, donating lots of money to the basketball program unless it is winning.
The schools you named have big business or oil names primarily backing their athletics. Valpo doesn't have that because they have never felt that they needed ONE specific name to pay for an entire department, like a USC, Texas, or Kansas does to survive in their POWER 5 settings.
Why would a bigger athletic department only need one person backing the department financially? P5 schools have a lot more than one booster. Look at Purdue, whose athletic department gets close to $15 million in donations alone each year.
I saw these tweets the last 24 hours. If we're having these great individual performances/achievements, why are we are still consistently a losing team? What does that say about the head coach?
It is blatantly obvious we as a school need to move on from the Coach Lottich era. He just is a high character man but not a great head coach. For the sake of the program, athletics department and the school please make a change. If it's a matter of $ considerations & not being able to afford a buyout, you owe it to the fans and alumni to communicate this. This can be done in an informal way by off the record speaking with Paul Oren and him telling the fans what the real issues are as to why we can't make a change yet.
Here's hoping 2023 brings the Valpo Basketball program new hope and new life. It's time for a new beginning.
https://twitter.com/toddickow/status/1605776918422470659?s=46&t=c2iIH7KaYFh6ItWVxizlJA
https://twitter.com/brandonvickrey/status/1608878273580113921?s=46&t=c2iIH7KaYFh6ItWVxizlJA
Just wait until Lottich gets his own players in here. He's a good recruiter. He's also unlucky with injuries. We are almost there.
Quote from: oklahomamick on January 01, 2023, 03:32:41 PM
Just wait until Lottich gets his own players in here. He's a good recruiter. He's also unlucky with injuries. We are almost there.
Mediocrity is right around the corner but it is staying pretty well hidden! ;)
Do you really think the Valpo leaders are not convinced that Lottich is their coach? Why not move so Valpo can get a start on a coaching search? Or, perhaps it is happening implicitly?
There is going to be a change, no way Valpo would consider keeping the flagship athletic program status quo.
Still shocked some of you thought Lottich was the right guy.
I think that's more unbelievable than an AD hiring the 4th assistant after a 4 straight HL championships and a NiT runner up championship.
Hasn't been said and I hate to be the one. Gore probably needs to go as well. Nice guy.
Will be interesting to see where he lands and in what capacity. The job he lands will tell you what the professionals in his business think of him.
Observing Lottich's frustrated expressions, he may be waiting or even hoping to be relieved of his role.
As a VU graduate and former season ticket holder, I was all-in as a Valpo B-ball fan for around 15 years. I remember the Butler v. Valpo games ... the big shot vs. Green Bay ... the Alec Peters era ... etc.
When Bryce was at the helm, I couldn't be prouder to be a VU graduate and a fan of this program. Understandably, Bryce's tenure came to a close. I supported the team under Matt's leadership for a few years and kept my season tickets. I even bought extra seats and would make a point of being hospitable in bringing family & friends with us. Each year, we heard the same remarks about it being a process: guys being young, the injury bug hitting folks, shots not falling, legs being weak, and the infamous comment about players needing to do their laundry. It was as it was ... take it or leave it. I felt invested enough to keep the course & renew anyhow. It felt like the "right" thing to do as a means of supporting my alma mater & the Valpo community, which I love.
Once COVID hit, my season tickets weren't an option as fans were limited, etc. - it provided me an opportunity to reevaluate. ESPN+ made it convenient to watch the games. Last year, I didn't make it to any games, but I watched most streamed games. I finally made it back to the ARC for a game this week.
Idk what to say other than ... I no longer felt connected to the program. As an outsider, it felt stale. No identity. That could be due to the students being gone for the break and my poor attitude. However, I no longer cared about the loss or the officiating. I didn't see most season ticket holders I'd talk with regularly (again, perhaps that was a coincidence, and they're usually there).
In short, I wish nothing but the best to Matt. He is such a good person and may be a great coach. Regardless of who coaches this team moving forward, I'm hopeful that the culture surrounding this program will shift again. I hope the new AD can make substantive changes in how this marquee program can reclaim its charm and luster. I'm optimistic that I will *want* to be there and respond to the mailings differently with a resounding "Yes."
Go VU!
I was at the game last night-true that there was no crowd but school still on break and most local schools are back in session
My kids enjoy going to the game so we attend
Paid for upstairs seats but moved down...it was a good game despite the loss
It is time.
Quote from: tiny707 on January 10, 2023, 07:01:29 PM
It is time.
(https://media4.giphy.com/media/eFxpuiAuG4nrPNCPEM/giphy.gif)
Ya know, everyone, a yet to be discussed element of many, if not all, coaching changes beyond the HC salary issues (and the obvious former coach severance/buyout), is what other contractual incenti$$$ives go into the final arrangement.
In today's coaching world, it is not unusual for the top candidate to squeeze promises out of the final negotiations — something, I'm sure MLB avoided by going with Matt. First up is usually new assistants and their usually increased salaries. Then there might be stuff like office redos, team/arena facility upgrades, additional support staff, (I'm not even gonna go into performance bonuses, cars, expanded recruiting travel budgets, yaddah, yaddah.). Coaches want commitment and evidence that the school is gonna back them. These are the unseen aspects of hiring a game-changing new coach.
Is Valpo prepared for this as well? Or might Valpo figure they can just go into this situation like it did with the change to the MVC - clueless about the real financial ramifications? Bigger school booster clubs usually are relied on to underwrite a lot of these ancillary things. Valpo has no such thing.
Just one more factor to consider about a coaching change. Yikes!
Quote from: VULB#62 on January 11, 2023, 09:53:08 PM
Coaches want commitment and evidence that the school is gonna back them.
This is one of the reasons I believe a prime candidate for this position would likely have to be someone with whom Charles Small already has developed a friendly connection and a history of trust, perhaps even an individual who already has worked with him.
I sincerely hope the tone of this statement is drenched in sarcasm.
https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/humanity-on-the-hot-seat
This is a very nice article from Paul on the situation with part two coming tomorrow.
Quote from: AlaskaCrusader19 on January 12, 2023, 01:17:46 PM
https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/humanity-on-the-hot-seat
This is a very nice article from Paul on the situation with part two coming tomorrow.
I don't you should be posting a subscription based article without Paul's permission.
Since Paul took the unusual step of placing this article in an open to the public status for all to read after sitting on it in his drafts for three weeks—and considering its content and tone—I think this is close to the metaphorical dam breaking.
Noted at the bottom of Part I. Let's honor the request:
Part II of Humanity on the Hot Seat will run on Friday morning and will only be available to paid subscribers.
Quote from: valpopal on January 12, 2023, 02:10:02 PM
Since Paul took the unusual step of placing this article in an open to the public status for all to read after sitting on it in his drafts for three weeks—and considering its content and tone—I think this is close to the metaphorical dam breaking.
To show respect for Paul, who would appreciate the comparison, in journalism this is known as "the Cronkite moment."
Quote from: vu72 on January 12, 2023, 01:24:45 PM
Quote from: AlaskaCrusader19 on January 12, 2023, 01:17:46 PM
https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/humanity-on-the-hot-seat
This is a very nice article from Paul on the situation with part two coming tomorrow.
I don't you should be posting a subscription based article without Paul's permission.
It's just the link. If it was behind a paywall, it would still make you sign in to read it. This one was free to anyone to read.
It's a great article. And it is sad when a good person and those around him lose their jobs. Unfortunately that is the harsh reality of coaching at the collegiate and professional levels. It is a hard life.
But you make a very decent income with all the transition.
What do we pay our assistants? Are they year to year contracts? A head coach wont come here if we wont invest in assistant coaches to make them successful. Better to build relationships now than when its free agent season after the season and highest bidders typically win. Sometimes i think this means itd be easier to hire from successful lower levels and "bump them up" rather than try to entice P5 assistant coaches with who knows what connections to fill the staff down a level.
As I just learned on the FB string, Valpo's potential for NIL rears its ugly head again.
Potential HC candidates, no doubt, will factor the potential for NIL incentives for players into their view of whether Valpo can be attractive to potential top level recruits/transfers. This might be critical as to whether they can be competitive in reconstructing the roster and this program.
Compared to the rest of the MVC (and the PFL for that matter)........ we got nuthin 😭
That'll severely narrow the candidate pool.
As I quietly, and in a controlled manner, stated on the football string: We Are SCREWED 😱!
NIL money for PFL players? What significant cash opportunities are there?
USC4Valpo, since d1 basketball has 300+ schools it honestly could be likely Valpo football has a higher ranking in division 1 athletics than the basketball team.
And they pay to represent the University. That being said. No one is paying any needle moving cash to either.
Just learned DEAN of business has a back ground in Human Resources. No business experience.
We don't profit or like dollars but man we are accepting and woke
Check the FB string. PFL schools like Dayton, USD, St. Thomas, Davidson have comparatively large and more affluent alumni networks that are into athletics - unlike the majority of Valpo alumni. These schools, with the exception of Davidson, are also located in metro areas. Their NIL environment is target rich.
ValpoFB16 is on the record on the PFL Fan Board as questioning why St Thomas, for instance, is sucking up all sorts of commits PRIOR to the official NLI day even before the financial packages for admission are announced . Maybe part of the recruiting might involve the promise of additional NIL funds that might separately turn a need-based financial package into a full ride.
Port this over to MBB and only 13 scholarships. It becomes the standard full ride PLUS additional income. And the greater the potential of extra income, the more attractive playing at a school becomes.
So maybe upgrading the ARC is foolhardy. Time to hire a director of NIL Funding instead?
This is such a mess 😪
fb16 Dean of cob does have the background as you stated but he is making things happen. So much better than the last one. He's younger and hungry and doing a lot for the students. He's always open to speaking with and meeting alumni.
Fb16 - my question is what are NIL opportunities for PFL players.
Cripe, our alumni base never fought back allowing those stupid mascots on campus. I just can't let it go gang.
Paul's article is solid. I will consider subscribing as Part 2 is years in the making. I appreciate his sentiments about the human side of things, and I respect his analogy to the GB Packers.
On the other hand, Matt does have a job to do. In part, that job is contingent on winning. From a business standpoint, Return on Investment (ROI) matters. As Paul points out, attendance and interest are (without a doubt) significantly down.
At what point does one opt to cut their losses? That's what we, as fans, are awaiting. As for salaries, it's all relative to an extent. Sure, we could compare Matt's reasonable salary to the John Calipari's of the world. But he's still likely in the top 10%. As of 2020, the average income for someone in the US within the Top 10% was $173,00. I have a feeling he makes substantially more than that. According to what I see other posters state on this messageboard and elsewhere, he may be in the Top 5% (~$342k) - or at least close to it. Either way, he's making more than 90-95% of adults in America. I'd assume the rest of us have expectations to keep our jobs, right? We're likely evaluated on an evaluative rubric that extends beyond being "nice" or "good" people. So, it's fair to raise the question when in the spotlight, especially when involved in a sports entertainment profession.
Quote from: Dr. T on January 12, 2023, 10:35:11 PM
Paul's article is solid. I will consider subscribing as Part 2 is years in the making. I appreciate his sentiments about the human side of things, and I respect his analogy to the GB Packers.
On the other hand, Matt does have a job to do. In part, that job is contingent on winning. From a business standpoint, Return on Investment (ROI) matters. As Paul points out, attendance and interest are (without a doubt) significantly down.
At what point does one opt to cut their losses? That's what we, as fans, are awaiting. As for salaries, it's all relative to an extent. Sure, we could compare Matt's reasonable salary to the John Calipari's of the world. But he's still likely in the top 10%. As of 2020, the average income for someone in the US within the Top 10% was $173,00. I have a feeling he makes substantially more than that. According to what I see other posters state on this messageboard and elsewhere, he may be in the Top 5% (~$342k) - or at least close to it. Either way, he's making more than 90-95% of adults in America. I'd assume the rest of us have expectations to keep our jobs, right? We're likely evaluated on an evaluative rubric that extends beyond being "nice" or "good" people. So, it's fair to raise the question when in the spotlight, especially when involved in a sports entertainment profession.
This is a very good post
Quote from: usc4valpo on January 12, 2023, 09:38:51 PM
Fb16 - my question is what are NIL opportunities for PFL players.
I'll chime in SC. It's over-simplified I admit. Think of NIL money as formerly illegal, under the table payments by mysterious boosters to a FB player, now being legal, above the table payments to that same player for merely having his picture on a banner at a local St. Paul (or Dayton, San Diego, whatever) Buick dealership owned by a distinguished, rich alum. Easy peasey.
Add my kudos to Paul Oren for his two-part commentary on the VU MBB situation and Coach Lottich. It goes deep and takes a humane perspective on what it means to be on the hot seat and to face the possibility of being terminated. Even if this is a well-paid position and a situation that most coaches will experience at some time in their careers, it helps to remember that they are a part of the University community and, as in the case of this head coach, often conduct themselves honorably.
Happy also to add my pitch for entering a paid sub to The Victory Bell. When the NWI Times basically dropped coverage of VU sports, Paul pivoted into a new style of niche journalism that includes newsletters (like the Substack platform he uses), podcasts, and the like. In an internet age when people expect news and commentary to be for free, I like supporting writers and journalists whose work I follow and value.
do you really think there is serious NIL money ramifications for participants in the PFL?
Quote from: David81 on January 13, 2023, 08:03:28 AM
Add my kudos to Paul Oren for his two-part commentary on the VU MBB situation and Coach Lottich. It goes deep and takes a humane perspective on what it means to be on the hot seat and to face the possibility of being terminated. Even if this is a well-paid position and a situation that most coaches will experience at some time in their careers, it helps to remember that they are a part of the University community and, as in the case of this head coach, often conduct themselves honorably.
Happy also to add my pitch for entering a paid sub to The Victory Bell. When the NWI Times basically dropped coverage of VU sports, Paul pivoted into a new style of niche journalism that includes newsletters (like the Substack platform he uses), podcasts, and the like. In an internet age when people expect news and commentary to be for free, I like supporting writers and journalists whose work I follow and value.
Paul's work is well-worth the $5 per month. I enjoyed Part II and am looking forward to his coverage throughout the rest of the season. Credit to him for asking about the situation, as well. I'm sure that's not the easiest interview to do.
Went to the ORU vs. Western Illinois game last night.
A friend's dad won $5,000 at the game because he made a put from one free throw line to the other during a timeout.
Also, glad we don't play Western Illinois any more. We have nothing in common with that school.
Oh yeah, and fire Lottich.
Quote from: usc4valpo on January 13, 2023, 09:03:19 AM
do you really think there is serious NIL money ramifications for participants in the PFL?
Serious money? If serious is defined as competitive with B1G or SEC NIL deals, obviously not even close. And probably the number of NIL deals even for a well-heeled PFL school pales in comparison to FCS or even FBS scholarship schools. But please consider the PFL context. Remember when USD and Jacksonville cheated their way to league dominance? The illegal use of additional funds, beyond need, was the culprit then. With NIL now a factor, and we are not talking 5 figures or brand new cars here for individual players, it still tips the recruiting scales toward certain PFL teams at the expense of others. It's all relative.
The same applies to Valpo Basketball. Just like VU's coaching salary is (was) 7th of 10, and our arena is (was) 10th of 10, our potential for competing in the new world of NIL is doomed to similar status. Valpo has, by both its own past decisions and fate, been put on a gerbil treadmill with few options for getting off.
I do not envy Lottich, Small and Padilla.
My point is I can't believe that the entire PFL as an entity has significant NIL opportunity - no players in the PFL will get a pay off except it it were unique outside of the sport (for example, Olivia Dunne) . Nor would I expect that - it's a D3 conference in practice.
Also, can we find a hero to put an end to those stupid mascot uniforms?
You're absolutely right, SC —- comparatively speaking. Still, purely within this little, non-scholarship "D-I" league, any difference maker, no matter how small, creates disparity and tilts the playing field.
BTW, SC, it's taken a while but my antennae are picking up very subtle vibrations that you may have misgivings over the choice of the breed of dogs chosen to represent Valpo as its duo-macots. But I'm probably mistaken 🤣😂😜😁🥸
I think it is hard to top the metaphor used by '62. We are on a "gerbil treadmill." ;D
One might also say the program has "gone to the dogs." Could we experiment with a gerbil based on the large head Hello Kitty mascot?
it's not about the dog, its about the stupidity and wokeness of the mascot selection. I am kind of a fan of the pug.
Give me the Stanford Tree over this.
I just think it's funny that during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, Valpo was like
"Lets get our smartest people in a room and hammer this mascot thing out"
Well, I won't go as far as to take the "TREE" over the dumb dogs. That is the most ludicrous mascot in modern history. I will take the "freakin beacons" or the "beamin' beacons" all day long over a freaking tree.
But yes, the wokeness is the foremost aggravation. And prioritizing the mascot the financial ship was sinking ? That was wokeness on steroids. Idiots.
Random thoughts from a lawyer tired of reading deposition transcripts -
*a stronger conference, the transfer portal, a facility that, due to aging, has moved from barely acceptable to below par status, and NIL have all combined to create stronger headwinds for Coach Lottich than those faced by his predecessors;
**at a meeting I attended during homecoming, President Padilla mentioned something about providing a summer school for some of the admitted freshman students. I'm not sure of the reasoning behind this, if, in fact, it is a program that will be offered. Does anyone know anything about this?
***the mascot IS terrible
Paul
Quote from: 78crusader on January 13, 2023, 03:55:48 PM
Random thoughts from a lawyer tired of reading deposition transcripts -
*a stronger conference, the transfer portal, a facility that, due to aging, has moved from barely acceptable to below par status, and NIL have all combined to create stronger headwinds for Coach Lottich than those faced by his predecessors;
**at a meeting I attended during homecoming, President Padilla mentioned something about providing a summer school for some of the admitted freshman students. I'm not sure of the reasoning behind this, if, in fact, it is a program that will be offered. Does anyone know anything about this?
***the mascot IS terrible
Paul
I can answer the question about the summer program, which began this past summer:
https://www.valpo.edu/summer-bloom-program/ (https://www.valpo.edu/summer-bloom-program/)
We know our home attendance is bad, last in the Valley for an average of 1,342/home game. UIC is just ahead of us at 1,578. Guess who is leading the MVC in all games home attendance...Evansville with the worst record is averaging 4,780.
Obviously not much to do in Evansville...but it has always been a great basketball town. It is amazing that basketball at UE has tanked. A lot of great tradition there.
I even heard they have a fan bus headed to the Murray State next month!!! O-7 in conference with only 4 wins and fans still following strong!
Vegas has us favored on the road.
Take valpo -1 first half. And fade second half.
Quote from: VULB#62 on January 13, 2023, 11:39:47 AM
You're absolutely right, SC —- comparatively speaking. Still, purely within this little, non-scholarship "D-I" league, any difference maker, no matter how small, creates disparity and tilts the playing field.
BTW, SC, it's taken a while but my antennae are picking up very subtle vibrations that you may have misgivings over the choice of the breed of dogs chosen to represent Valpo as its duo-macots. But I'm probably mistaken 🤣😂😜😁🥸
Beacon & Blaze barking is a bellicose behavior.
Easy money. Valpo -1 first half. Evansville plus 4 in second half.
Done.