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What is the ETA on this proposed field house? Have blueprints been developed/released for it? Wasn't it in the 30 year phase of the University's strategic plan? It seems like there are a lot of questions, but no answers. If the field house is in fact in the 30 year phase, and the ARC renovations are due AFTER that, Bryce would be approaching 70 years old by the time he gets his improved digs! Can any of us honestly blame him if he goes to greener grass?

Valparaiso University has a commitment to the institution as a whole, but I always thought it was in very good financial shape. 

Said it before and I'll say it again - the team has done plenty to raise its profile to the level of the Missouri Valley. Bigger picture, though, the University hasn't done anything to improve the facility situation. The decision makers at the MVC office could not care less about a weight room for a football team that will go its grave in the PFL. That's the only facility enhancement that has taken place since the Missouri Valley last looked into expansion.

This basketball team deserves to be in a conference like the Missouri Valley. Unfortunately the support to push them over the edge just isn't there.

Big props!  I know I complain a lot about the conference and LeCrone.  Should be focused and enjoying the great season provided by the coaching staff and players.  I don't know how I would handle near the bottom or middle of the pack year after year.  We have it nice.

There are a number of examples outside of men's basketball, unfortunately. Football, cross country, swimming and diving, women's basketball, track, women's tennis. If a school is going to raise its profile, might as well do it with men's basketball or (scholarship) football.

Since the MVC lasted look into adding Valpo, the basketball team has gotten even better. Is that alone enough to offset our facilities shortcomings? This fieldhouse idea has been thrown around for a few years. What's the status on that? I recall around a $25 million price tag associated with it. Are we even halfway there yet? Until there are shovels in the ground, I don't see Valpo making a move up.

Tip to your cap to Billy Donlon, who was unquestionably the better coach last night, and move on. The season is not lost. Valpo wasn't getting an at-large bye anyway.

I'm also shocked to see Brown Field isn't last or 2nd to last. Hard to believe there are 12 worse facilities.

According to Brandon Vickery, Paliga is transferring to Purdue at semester. With the injury to Stokes, Valpo is left with one quarterback for the spring. Shaping up like last offseason all over again.

When you factor in total compensation (salary + benefits + earnings from camps), all but the third assistant at ND makes considerably more than Dorrow.

But back to the original point, yes, when you're 2-7, changes should be made - although Franklin's numbers are down quite a bit from last year.

Looks like the women's basketball program is in the same state as football. Young, inexperienced, a couple of playmakers, but not getting results. Yet, at least.   

A mom yelling at coaches at halftime??? Seriously??? What a joke. We're further from D1 than I ever thought. 

Great post usc.

I wasn't in Indianapolis last week, however, I was at the Butler Bowl for Dale's Last Stand in 2013. It sounds like the atmosphere was similar to what I experienced then - grilling, drinking ( ), cornhole playing, a good time had by all. Very well-attended I might add. The attendance listed for last week's game was impressive! Over 5,000!

I've made it out to only one home game this year (Stetson) and I couldn't have more disappointed/embarrassed by the gameday atmosphere. I could overlook bad football if the majority of the day is fun and lively: catching up with old buddies, having a few cold ones, etc. Even the band is atrocious. There just aren't a whole lot of positives about attending a football game at Brown Field. Tailgating would be a huge first leap. Time for VU to get with the times.

When I receive mailings asking to increase my annual donation to the Crusader Fund, then yes, I begin to look at the entity and wonder if my money is being spent well. Granted, my $500 is a tiny drop in the bucket, but I apply the same thought process to companies in which I own stock. God forbid I use a little critical thinking.   

Yep. I think the school needs to give the football program a long and thorough examination. It's one thing to have a bad few seasons, but outside of a handful of years, Valpo football has been a failure for the better part of three decades. According to the school's archives, the team even has a losing record all time AT HOME. How does that happen?


I'm not sure I buy the argument that football is a $$ maker for the school when you consider coaching salaries, equipment, recruiting, travel and everything else. And in the end what is the return on investment? A whole lot of losses. I have to think the money could be better spent elsewhere. Maybe the new field house?

I brought my dad out for the first half. 30 minutes was more than enough to see us get punished by a mediocre team.

It felt nothing like a college football game. The stands were so empty that you could make out the yelling and screaming from a few in the crowd. The cheerleaders didn't even bother to show up. Just another bad day all around at Brown Field. It has to make you wonder how much longer the failure that is this football team is acceptable.

I've been to a number of road games - both football and men's basketball. Cheerleaders don't travel. It's probably too expensive.

It's puzzling as to why cross country and swimming are both still around. Not only did cross country lose to every single other team this past weekend, but swimming got curbstomped by Lewis (??) as well. When you can't beat D2s and D3s as a D1, it's time to stop the charade. Plain and simple.

You're right 72. And the same goes for swimming. I have to think the department would be better served with those funds going to facility upgrades or the Bryce Drew salary fund or anything else really. The cross country athletes could still compete in the spring with the track team.

Does each coach decide if they're going to wear brown or not? I notice that the soccers are using the brown, but sports like men's tennis and volleyball use black. I don't necessarily care for the brown, but if teams have the option to go with brown or black, I would think they'd choose black. Just my opinion.

I do dig these gold unis though!

I made it out to campus this weekend. What beautiful weather for Homecoming! Had a few observations/thoughts:

1. The campus, overall, looks gorgeous. The Chapel addition is outstanding, the Welcome Center is beautiful, landscaping was well kept, etc. That side of campus is very attractive, however...

2. Athletics is more or less the run down, crappy house on the block. Very dull and uninviting. The atmosphere at Brown Field wasn't bad. A number of organizations set up tents between the ARC and the Fitness Center, but the venue itself is dingy. How there aren't bathrooms out there is still beyond me with five sports playing there. I didn't make it inside the tent near the endzone but it looked like all were having a good time. It's a shame tailgating isn't allowed at every home game. That's so much of what college football is about!

3. The game was disappointing, but that's the norm. We looked to be in it for the first half and then got trampled in the second. Offense was lousy after our starting QB got hurt.

4. I don't know if anyone else finds this funny/weird, but I walked through the ARC and noticed that one of the racketball courts is apparently an office?? There was a desk, chairs, and a bookcase set up like a professor or a staff member works out of it during the week. How can anybody possibly get any work done with racketball going on next door? Is athletics and the phys ed department that cramped for space? It seems insulting to have someone work in a racketball court.

5. My wife and I ventured downtown - how nice! We grabbed dinner at Lincoln and Main and while it wasn't cheap the food was delicious. Downtown Valparaiso has really developed into a destination.

The Brown Field complex needs bathrooms. It's unacceptable to have to use the ones in the ARC - which are so full during halftime that people AND players are lined around the door towards the arena.

If something as minor as that can't get accomplished, what makes anyone think Valpo can successfully pull off a) the construction of a new athletics facility b) a major renovation of its existing building?

It's a combination of not having any alumni who are/were superstars in their respective sports (like a Draymond Green at Michigan State), not receiving state money, and being a part of a University that is completely indifferent towards athletics.

Valpo went how long without a track, after it was in some sort of written "plan"?

The writing is on the wall - there's no money.

Thanks for posting the pictures. I agree. The statues are just creepy and disturbing. Hopefully they're gone soon. If I were a prospective student, I'd wonder why they're on campus. Also, I don't know how long they've been up, but I'm a little surprised a student/students has messed with them.

Can anyone post a picture of these statues? I haven't been on campus in a few weeks and am curious.

Davidson was a multi-sport athlete growing up so why not have swimming offer him a scholarship and he can maintain walk-on status with basketball? He'd probably be one of VU's best swimmers. Win-win situation.

You hit the nail on the head, 62. The athletics department, and in a way, VU is at a crossroads. Show some, heck ANY, commitment towards improving things for Bryce, and Valpo's profile could soar. Proceed as status quo and risk falling into irrelevance once he moves on.

As others have asked, why can't VU do its part to lift Bryce? His coaching tenure at Valpo will be his second, and last, golden ticket for the school. If VU can't cash in on this opportunity, the Horizon League will be as high as it will ever go. Which is really sad when you think about it.

First, the league moves to add Northern Kentucky, and now this? If this doesn't create some urgency to get our ducks in a row to make a move to a legitimate conference, I don't know what will. This is so moronic, it makes you wonder what's in the water in Indy.

On the bright side, this creates plenty of opportunities for the promotions department - all fans 21 and over receive a complimentary Glock, bulletproof vests for the first 200 fans through the door, Mace key chains for any fan wearing school apparel, etc.