Nice article on Bryce...
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8681978/can-valparaiso-coach-bryce-drew-put-crusaders-back-map-espn-magazine-interview-issue (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8681978/can-valparaiso-coach-bryce-drew-put-crusaders-back-map-espn-magazine-interview-issue)
Terrific article about a terrific guy and terrific family. Terrifically written as well. Other than that I liked it.
Definitely enjoyed reading this article. Very spot on of everything we've known about Bryce, his coaching ability, his faith, family life, and reasons for why he is who he is.
Here's a question: Why is Valpo generally referred to by writer's as "tiny"? Do you ever here about "tiny" Wake Forest (undergrad about 4500) or tiny Davidson or tiny Butler or many others with essentially the same or similar under student numbers. Not sure I like or dislike the reference, just find it a curiosity.
Is that typical? It struck me as unusual.
Quote from: vu72 on December 04, 2012, 09:02:34 AM
Here's a question: Why is Valpo generally referred to by writer's as "tiny"? Do you ever here about "tiny" Wake Forest (undergrad about 4500) or tiny Davidson or tiny Butler or many others with essentially the same or similar under student numbers. Not sure I like or dislike the reference, just find it a curiosity.
Valpo is refered to as tiny because of the university AND the community. Since you brought up Wake Forest, they are located in Winston Salem, NC pop about 220,000 whereas Valpo is located in Valparaiso, IN (stunning I know!) pop about 31,000. Valpo plays in a nondescript mid major conference with non-scholarship football while Wake Forest plays in the ACC and is a part of the the BCS.
Valpo is labled as "tiny", because it is. That doesn't make it better or worse, just true.
I understand, and perhaps it is the community size. A school like Davidson, which is smaller and also is in a small community I think, is never referred to as tiny, to my recollection. I suppose Butler or Detroit, being in major cities escape this label even though they played in a "nondescript mid major conference".
Quote from: vu72 on December 04, 2012, 10:46:00 AM
I understand, and perhaps it is the community size. A school like Davidson, which is smaller and also is in a small community I think, is never referred to as tiny, to my recollection. I suppose Butler or Detroit, being in major cities escape this label even though they played in a "nondescript mid major conference".
Yep, playing in a small market is something that Valpo will always struggle with, even being a part of Chicagoland and the region. If you look around the Horizon League, they are in the smallest market by far. Now, you can argue that by being in a big market you get lost among the trees and other things competing for attention, but the reality is Valpo is a tiny school in a tiny town. Again, not good or bad, just true.
LMGTFY:
"tiny valparaiso" = 324 hits, all of the 10 first-page articles somehow related to '98.
--to prove, "tiny valparaiso" - "Drew" = 199 hits.
"tiny valpo" = 127 more results, mostly related to NCAA-ness.
--"tiny valpo" - "Drew" = 7 hits
"tiny davidson" + basketball = 14,800 results
--"tiny davidson" - "Curry" = 7170 results
Davidson NC = 1/3 the size of "tiny" valpo
Davidson College=1/2 the size of "tiny VU"
tiny or not, it is still part of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. and i would rather be in valpo than north dakota in a heart beat.