This news deserves a thread of its own since it is an actual AP story.
This is crushing. It feels a lot like the day in 2004 or so that I learned that Youngstown State would be invited to join the Horizon League. They were a horrible addition in comparison to Valpo.
The Horizon snub in favor of YSU seemed a quirk caused by old sores and family ties.
This time it looks like we dragged our feet too long on athletic facilities. It seemed like every building built at VU since 2000 was oversized except the athletic projects.
Not entirely surprising. As long as VU has the second-best facilities in town, behind Valpo High, this is what we can expect.
Quote from: crusadermoe on April 15, 2013, 09:59:42 AMThis news deserves a thread of its own since it is an actual AP story.
If ever a post demanded a link....
Here's one version.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/Report-Loyola-headed-to-Missouri-Valley-041413 (http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/Report-Loyola-headed-to-Missouri-Valley-041413)
I'm going to be the skeptic, and say I won't trust any sources. I want factual story from Loyola and the Missouri Valley Conference. Sources anymore are as good as the elementary school kid who started the rumor that so-and-so were caught making out in the tube slide at recess. Just don't trust them.
Quote from: valporun on April 15, 2013, 10:40:12 AM
I'm going to be the skeptic, and say I won't trust any sources. I want factual story from Loyola and the Missouri Valley Conference. Sources anymore are as good as the elementary school kid who started the rumor that so-and-so were caught making out in the tube slide at recess. Just don't trust them.
I agree until something is released from either the MVC or Loyola I will be skeptic. Just a week ago it was UIC to the MVC... now that's obviously not gonna happen. I'm gonna give it a few more days and if I hear nothing from either Loyola or MVC I wouldn't be surprised if it was all a bunch of malarkey.
For me it's frustrating to see comments on the Loyola board like 'Thank you for liberating us, Commissioner whomever (don't recall his name).' Liberating you from what? I could understand those comments a year ago from Butler fans who felt the HL was holding their bb program back, but Loyola? Who's been holding you back besides your own ineptitude? Comments like that are a slap in the face to the HL and every member.
Here's what Loyola fans should be saying:
"The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth", Lou Gehrig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qswig8dcEAY#)
As noted in the other thread, a short story in Sunday's Chicago Tribune said Loyola confirmed to the newspaper that it is moving to the MVC and would make an official announcement today.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-loyola-missouri-valley-conference-20130413,0,2427164.story (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-loyola-missouri-valley-conference-20130413,0,2427164.story)
I haven't ever seen ESPN run a story on a team switching conferences, that wasn't true. This one will be a fact. As I posted in the other thread:
http://espn.go.com/chicago/college-sports/story/_/id/9170325/loyola-leaving-horizon-missouri-valley-conference-report (http://espn.go.com/chicago/college-sports/story/_/id/9170325/loyola-leaving-horizon-missouri-valley-conference-report)
Also, it was the 2001-2002 season that YSU left the Mid-Con for the HL. It didn't make sense to me when I was in school, as they were easy for us to beat in baseball, and their basketball team was terrible as well.
shouldn't this be under "On the Horizon" rather than "Valpo Basketball"?
Or maybe "Off the Horizon"?
"Under the Horizon."
Quote from: crusadermoe on April 15, 2013, 09:59:42 AM
This is crushing. It feels a lot like the day in 2004 or so that I learned that Youngstown State would be invited to join the Horizon League. They were a horrible addition in comparison to Valpo.
2001, actually.
You mean facilities and market matter? Who knew? :-X
EDITING OF THE DOCUMENT
Horizon League: Raise Your Sights
Member institutions of the Horizon League:
Butler University
Cleveland State University
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Valparaiso University
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wright State University
Youngstown State University
Entering its 32nd season of operation in the 2010-11 academic year, the Horizon League continues to aspire toward its goal of being one of the nation's leading athletics conferences while being recognized as a leader in the development of student-athletes as leaders and role models.
The Horizon League membership features ten, nine, eight public and private institutions that have impressive academic reputations and a storied tradition of broad-based athletic programs. Current membership includes Butler University, Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, Valparaiso University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State University and Youngstown State University.
The Horizon League's primary focus is on adding value to the educational experience through its four platforms: athletic performance, academic achievement, community outreach, and personal responsibility and accountability. It is the League's belief that athletics is a powerful and visible resource tool that can be used to enhance student-athletes' collegiate experience. The Horizon League's goals are to enhance the holistic university experience for the student-athlete, to create an affiliation of institutions with similar athletic goals with varied budgets, and to adhere to the principals of integrity, diversity, excellence and growth. The Horizon League sponsors competition in 19 sports - nine for men ([glow=red]baseball[/glow](we'll probably have to add an associate member), basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and tennis) and ten for women (basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis and volleyball).
The League receives automatic bids to NCAA championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball, and for the first time in League history, women's golf. The Horizon League is headquartered in Indianapolis, the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World," with offices in the Pan American Plaza (201 S. Capitol Avenue), located a block from Lucas Oil Stadium and just minutes from Conseco Fieldhouse, the State Capitol Building, Victory Field (home of the Indianapolis Indians) and the NCAA national office.
A PROUD HISTORY
Founded on June 16, 1979, as the Midwestern City Conference with six charter members, the League changed its name to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1985 and added women's sports for the 1986-87 academic year. Charter members of the conference included current former members Butler and Loyola as well as the University of Evansville, Oklahoma City University, Oral Roberts University and Xavier University.
Among other current members, Detroit joined in 1980, and Cleveland State, UIC, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Wright State came aboard in 1994 (along with Northern Illinois University) in the largest non-merger conference expansion in history. Youngstown State joining in 2001 and Valparaiso in 2007.
On June 4, 2001, the Horizon League unveiled its current name and ushered in a new dynamic direction that has brought the League closer to its stated goal of being one of the nation's top ten collegiate athletic conferences with a focus on enhancing the student-athletes' experience by upgrading the League's market and competitive positions.
ATHLETIC SUCCESS
In the past few years, the Horizon League has enjoyed unprecedented success on the national stage, highlighted by Butler's 2010 NCAA men's basketball championship game appearance where the Bulldogs fell to Duke, 61-59. The Horizon League has compiled a 10-7 record in the past five years in the NCAA tournament, ranking sixth among all collegiate conferences for winning percentage.
Green Bay's women's basketball team became the league's first at-large bid to the NCAA Championship in 2010 with Cleveland State receiving the automatic nod. The Phoenix knocked off No. 5 seed Virginia in the first round before falling to Elite Eight participant Iowa State, 60-56.
Men's soccer has tasted victory in seven out of the last eight years (Milwaukee 2002-05, UIC 2006-08), with UIC just one win away from the College Cup in 2007. In softball, League teams won a game in the national tournament four straight years earlier in the decade (UIC 2002, 2004; Wright State 2003; Green Bay 2005) while advancing into the second round in women's soccer three of the last six seasons (Detroit 2004, Milwaukee 2005-06). Butler's Victoria Mitchell became the League's first NCAA individual champion when she won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Horizon League student-athletes also excel in the classroom as more than 500 have been named to the Academic Honor Roll each of the past seven semesters for carrying a grade-point average of 3.2 or better, including more than 600 for the last four semesters. Twenty-seven student-athletes were named to ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District teams in 2009-10, while 10 earned Academic All-America honors.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
In addition to its athletics success, the Horizon League has secured a well-earned reputation for its community service initiatives. Each January, member institutions partner with local elementary schools for an art, music and essay contest highlighting the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with winners recognized at League games on the weekend of MLK Day.
The Horizon League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also has continued a tradition of working with youth in Indianapolis during its annual summer meeting. In addition, several League men's basketball coaches coached barefoot to support Samaritan's Feet, and the League's schools and fans donate to Komen for the Cure for breast cancer awareness during its annual women's basketball championship.
On campus, student-athletes have raised money and awareness for such causes as breast cancer, diabetes and hurricane relief, while hosting blood drives, neighborhood clean-ups, Big Brother/Big Sister programs and more.
SPORTSMANSHIP
One of the Horizon League's points of emphasis is fostering collegial environments for competition among student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans in a pro-active approach. Among the vehicles is the Ethical Conduct Pledge, which is signed each season by student-athletes, coaches, officials, and campus and League administrators. Its purpose is to make all the involved groups aware of the Horizon League expectations of behavior during conference events.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Horizon League institutions boast a combined enrollment of more than 130,000 plus nearly a quarter-million living alumni centered in the League's Midwest footprint. League media markets include five of the nation's top 35 in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Milwaukee, covering more than ten million television households and encompassing more than nine percent of the nation's television audience.
GOVERNANCE
The Horizon League is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the ten member institutions' chief executive officers. Dr. Bobby Fong, President of Butler, serves as Board Chair through June 30, 2011. Barry Collier, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Butler, serves as chair of the Executive Council, and Elaine Jacobs, Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator at Youngstown State, is the Vice Chair and Joseph Kirsch of Butler serves as chair of the Faculty Athletics Representatives.
LEADERSHIP
Jonathan B. (Jon) LeCrone is in his 22nd year as Commissioner of the Horizon League, having been named to the position on May 11, 1992, and is the fifth-longest tenured commissioner among the 31 Division I conferences. He is the fifth commissioner in League history, succeeding Daniel B. "Tucker" DiEdwardo (1989-92), James W. Shaffer (1984-89), Cecil N. Coleman (1980-84) and James J. McCafferty (1979-80).
LeCrone is in the fourth year of a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council after completing a five-year term on the Division I Men's Basketball Committee.
VISIBILITY
The Horizon League has enhanced its media visibility with a number of initiatives. The League is in a three-year agreement with ESPN that includes selected regular-season men's basketball action (ESPN2) and the men's championship game (ESPN) and features increased exposures each year on ESPNU plus inclusion in the annual O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters, one of college basketball's premier in-season events.
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCmGsU0U20coCL62kCoTNqzv_GCrPv0vo8Y7GQvy3HmsVi_FGE2Q)
LeCrone: Our last 2 charter members are now gone. We had the national runner up 2 years in a row. What the h*ll just happened? And here I was preaching patience, Heckler said patience would work.
With Creighton out and Loyola in, ESPN's Jason King places the MVC in the list of losers in the latest edition of conference realignment:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9458520/winners-losers-latest-realignment-men-college-basketball (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9458520/winners-losers-latest-realignment-men-college-basketball)
Quote from: wh on July 09, 2013, 11:29:26 PM
With Creighton out and Loyola in, ESPN's Jason King places the MVC in the list of losers in the latest edition of conference realignment:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9458520/winners-losers-latest-realignment-men-college-basketball (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9458520/winners-losers-latest-realignment-men-college-basketball)
So is it better to be mentioned as a loser, or not worth mentioning at all?
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 11, 2013, 12:04:16 AM
Quote from: wh on July 09, 2013, 11:29:26 PM
With Creighton out and Loyola in, ESPN's Jason King places the MVC in the list of losers in the latest edition of conference realignment:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9458520/winners-losers-latest-realignment-men-college-basketball (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9458520/winners-losers-latest-realignment-men-college-basketball)
So is it better to be mentioned as a loser, or not worth mentioning at all?
If King had written the article a year earlier, he probably would have mentioned the Horizon League as losers with Butler leaving. There you are - something negative about the HL and positive about Butler all wrapped up in one. You're welcome!
ESPN has picked Loyola to finish 9th of 10 teams in the MVC. That's probably identical to where they would have been placed if still in the HL. With Loyola replacing Creighton and Oakland replacing Loyola, this may be the year that the HL passes the MVC.
Quote from: wh on October 20, 2013, 11:29:56 AMWith Loyola replacing Creighton and Oakland replacing Loyola, this may be the year that the HL passes the MVC.
not to quote myself, but your great point reminded me:
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on April 15, 2013, 07:46:54 AM
(http://www.easymemes.com/uploads/memes/87986_habG5l5uoBfQvqY.jpg)
(http://www.easymemes.com/uploads/memes/87989_mIfTDVBnvxmiBZ8.jpg)
from original post at: http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.msg32087#msg32087 (http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.msg32087#msg32087)
I see that the Ramblers lost to D-2 Lewis 82-70 last Saturday night at the Gentile Center. I wonder how long it's going to take MVC university presidents to realize that the shiny new sports car they bought has no motor.
Glad that they're out of our league. They'll be lucky to win a game in the MVC. Bravo MVC for making the move for the best program out of all the ones you had a choice of.
The tradeoff for Oakland is way better for us. Glad we have them and can kiss Loyola goodbye!
Quote from: wh on November 05, 2013, 08:49:03 AM
I see that the Ramblers lost to D-2 Lewis 82-70 last Saturday night at the Gentile Center. I wonder how long it's going to take MVC university presidents to realize that the shiny new sports car they bought has no motor.
but... but... CHICAGO MARKET! UPSIDE!
Quote from: wh on November 05, 2013, 08:49:03 AM
I see that the Ramblers lost to D-2 Lewis 82-70 last Saturday night at the Gentile Center. I wonder how long it's going to take MVC university presidents to realize that the shiny new sports car they bought has no motor.
You have to wonder how long Porter Moser will keep his job. In reality the Chicago area fans of SIU-C, Bradley, Illinois State, Indiana State and Northern Iowa will treat their annual games at Loyola like a homecoming because they will all be able to beat the Ramblers and enjoy the show. It's basically the way I saw Valpo's games at IUPUI. VU pretty much beat IUPUI every game at the Jungle. It was fun. When Valpo switched to the Horizon it was more exciting but losing against Butler wasn't as much fun. It only became fun again when Valpo beat Butler at Hinkle just before the Bulldogs bolted for the A-10.
Ho Hum....more stones being thrown at LUC by the usual suspects.
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/boxscore-print/2009-10/1323/indianapolis-vs-valpo-11-01-2009/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/boxscore-print/2009-10/1323/indianapolis-vs-valpo-11-01-2009/)
Quote from: crusaderjoe on November 05, 2013, 02:31:52 PM
Ho Hum....more stones being thrown at LUC by the usual suspects.
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/boxscore-print/2009-10/1323/indianapolis-vs-valpo-11-01-2009/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/boxscore-print/2009-10/1323/indianapolis-vs-valpo-11-01-2009/)
There's a big difference between U Indy and Lewis.
Indianapolis 73
Purdue 80
Lewis 74
DePaul 91 (and DePaul was awful last year, 11-21)
Many of the MVC coaches know Porter Moser's style from his time at Illinois State, but yes, Loyola is a new shiny car waiting for a lot of birds.
Quote from: valporun on November 05, 2013, 03:40:11 PMLoyola is a new shiny car waiting for a lot of birds.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8613633231_98222a8d8e_z.jpg)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdYIGsZ8dHg/TpPwRiDI2VI/AAAAAAAABVM/1MVvqN22iiE/s1600/meralcosucks+government+is+great+for+me+to+poop+on.jpg)
Just a thought... can it be a shiny new car? I thought they stopped making Ramblers years ago...
Quote from: talksalot on November 05, 2013, 09:28:37 PM
Just a thought... can it be a shiny new car? I thought they stopped making Ramblers years ago...
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1959-Rambler-2-door-Wagon-Rat-Rod-/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/z/TogAAOxyM89SbDQE/$T2eC16FHJGwFFZUK3ZYsBSbDP6u3iw~~60_12.JPG)
Taking the old Rambler out of the garage to see how it really looks!!!!! ;D
Our loss against Indy in 2009-2010 is just a tad bit different than their loss against Lewis. Indy is a better program overall, and we had just received two very high profile defections in Bouchie and Haanpaa, players that were going to be key to a solid season.
Nice warm welcome from Wichita (both clips are worth a look):
http://www.kwch.com/sports/valley-welcomes-newest-member/-/21054560/22727182/-/4afryl/-/index.html (http://www.kwch.com/sports/valley-welcomes-newest-member/-/21054560/22727182/-/4afryl/-/index.html)
http://www.kwch.com/sports/loyola-who/-/21054560/22726518/-/4tqv0p/-/index.html (http://www.kwch.com/sports/loyola-who/-/21054560/22726518/-/4tqv0p/-/index.html)
I don't think Butler people were even this condescending.
Quote from: wh on November 06, 2013, 09:16:59 AMI don't think Butler people were even this condescending.
sure weren't that blonde either
It was a bit harsh. Heck, Shelvin Mack didn't know Butler had a football team! The other side of this ego trip is the fact that they are located in WICHITA! Have you guys been there? I have, several times. It is flat, desolate, windy and NOT an hour away from anything!
Quote from: vu72 on November 06, 2013, 09:59:19 AMIt is flat, desolate, windy and NOT an hour away from anything!
shocker
Quote from: wh on November 06, 2013, 09:16:59 AM
Nice warm welcome from Wichita (both clips are worth a look):
http://www.kwch.com/sports/valley-welcomes-newest-member/-/21054560/22727182/-/4afryl/-/index.html (http://www.kwch.com/sports/valley-welcomes-newest-member/-/21054560/22727182/-/4afryl/-/index.html)
http://www.kwch.com/sports/loyola-who/-/21054560/22726518/-/4tqv0p/-/index.html (http://www.kwch.com/sports/loyola-who/-/21054560/22726518/-/4tqv0p/-/index.html)
I don't think Butler people were even this condescending.
Lol.
It seemed like the coaches and players (Ron Baker is cool) were going out of their way to find an upside in bringing Loyola in. Kind of like a postgame interview where you have to explain Josh Freeman as your starting quarterback.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on November 06, 2013, 10:27:33 AM
Quote from: vu72 on November 06, 2013, 09:59:19 AMIt is flat, desolate, windy and NOT an hour away from anything!
shocker
Well played.
The one girl is correct in saying that they are a D-3 team :)
Quote from: valpotx on November 06, 2013, 05:15:57 PM
The one girl is correct in saying that they are a D-3 team :)
Some Loyola people would say she was just rambling when caught off guard by the TV reporter. :)
A Rambling Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htTLWC1unMc#)
Quote from: wh on November 06, 2013, 09:16:59 AM
Nice warm welcome from Wichita (both clips are worth a look):
http://www.kwch.com/sports/valley-welcomes-newest-member/-/21054560/22727182/-/4afryl/-/index.html (http://www.kwch.com/sports/valley-welcomes-newest-member/-/21054560/22727182/-/4afryl/-/index.html)
http://www.kwch.com/sports/loyola-who/-/21054560/22726518/-/4tqv0p/-/index.html (http://www.kwch.com/sports/loyola-who/-/21054560/22726518/-/4tqv0p/-/index.html)
I don't think Butler people were even this condescending.
The comment that "Ramblers" came from playing home games at multiple locations is wrong, but isn't too far from the truth. When I was in school in the early '80's, Butler played them at four different locations ... Alumni Gym (former Loyola campus arena), McGaw Memorial Hall (Northwestern campus; renamed Welsh-Ryan Arena in '83), UIC Pavilion and Alumni Hall (on campus of DePaul). Later in the '80's, they also played games at the Amphitheatre in Chicago.
The multiple locations were driven by a Midwestern Cities Conference rule in '82 stating that conference games had to be in a venue seating at least 7,500. That moved Xavier from on campus to the Cincinnati Gardens, Oklahoma City to The Myriad Center (off campus arena seating 15,000 ... average attendance closer to 200) and Loyola to whatever arena that would have them.
FWIW, I think the Horizon has done the right thing by letting teams play in smaller venues. As many Valpo fans have pointed out, if you're going to draw 3,000 fans, it's better having them in a 5,000 seat gym versus a 10,000 seat arena.
since drawing fans is so important to team success, i think it important that i share what i've been working on this past offseason
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm91/fanx90/102_0170.jpg)
ok, that's pretty good. Hope it doesn't put a ceiling on the number of fans we have...
Well, we all know that being a Valpo fan is like being on a merri-go-round. Maybe this men's basketball team will blow us away.
I see not much has changed for the Ramblers:
http://www.mvcfans.com/wp/ (http://www.mvcfans.com/wp/)
and here we are a year and half later with no progress or even promise except a running track that makes the university a little closer to valpo high in regards to facilities. It's just a matter of time before valpo is fortunate to have the horizon league and not the other way around. Other schools are bettering themselves. Valpo is obviously okay being middle of the road or lower.
Laugh at the ramblers all you want but take a look around the athletic buildings in valpo to see why our best days are behind us. "The shot" was last century. Time for the crusaders to get a new attraction.
What do you truly expect in 1 1/2 years?? A completely new basketball arena to have been built? Such an uninformed comment, when considering how many new buildings have been built overall at Valpo in the last few years, including several renovations/new building announcements related to several sports (Football, tennis, field house, etc).
Quote from: Vinny on October 25, 2014, 12:59:05 AM
and here we are a year and half later with no progress or even promise except a running track that makes the university a little closer to valpo high in regards to facilities. It's just a matter of time before valpo is fortunate to have the horizon league and not the other way around. Other schools are bettering themselves. Valpo is obviously okay being middle of the road or lower.
Laugh at the ramblers all you want but take a look around the athletic buildings in valpo to see why our best days are behind us. "The shot" was last century. Time for the crusaders to get a new attraction.
I think most everyone associated with Valpo athletics understands that rehabbing or rebuilding the ARC is critical to Valpo's basketball future. I have said repeatedly that we are living on borrowed time. That said, Loyola certainly isn't doing anything to help make the case for new facilities. They were a bottom feeder in the HL before they transformed the Gentile Center, they were a bottom feeder when they left the HL 2 years after the rebuild, and they remain a bottom feeder in the MVC today in their 4th season with a rehabbed venue.
i was back on campus for homecoming and while the new weight room is a baby step in the right direction, it was needed years ago. Valpo has something like 20 sports and until this year used the one weight room in the arc? Brown field is still nothing more than a hs facility. I didn't notice anything different at the tennis courts except screens on the fences that finally have the new shield. I'd be happy to admit im wrong if I missed something there.
Speaking of the field house when is construction supposed to begin? these things look fancy on paper but can we expect it to be up and running in 10 years? what's the cost and will the university pitch in? I haven't heard much news on the field house/parking garage. I'm anxious but don't want to get disappointed. Athletics at valpo have taken a back seat for so long.
Keep the groundswell going. It's gonna take investors but just as the Christopher relative who donated in honor of his hs track coach there will be donors if they know enough people connected with VU want this to happen.
Keep talking so the investors/donators have to come through.
Quote from: Vinny on October 25, 2014, 12:59:05 AM
and here we are a year and half later with no progress or even promise except a running track that makes the university a little closer to valpo high in regards to facilities. It's just a matter of time before valpo is fortunate to have the horizon league and not the other way around. Other schools are bettering themselves. Valpo is obviously okay being middle of the road or lower.
Laugh at the ramblers all you want but take a look around the athletic buildings in valpo to see why our best days are behind us. "The shot" was last century. Time for the crusaders to get a new attraction.
I think Vinny needs a little refresher course in what has happened at Valpo since "the Shot". Oh, and by the way, before you belittle the new track, remember that Loyola's track team still needs one!
So let's go back to 1998 and see what has happened to the athletic facilities since then.
Football/Brown Field (affecting Men's and Women's Soccer as well)
1. 2008 New Artificial Turf installed
2. 2008 New Scoreboard
3. 2010 New Lights
4. 2014 New Weight Room for Football
5. 2014 New Track
Basketball1. Completion of renovated Hill Top as dedicated practice facility
2. 2010 New Floor
3. 2010 Mosiak Performance Center for Varsity Athletes
4. 2011 New Scoreboard
Baseball1. 2001 New Clubhouse/ offices/ hitting cages/team room/locker rooms
2. 2008 New wooden fence and flagpole
3. 2011 New visitor's dugout
4. 2014 additional seating added
Softball1. 2003 New Field on campus
2. 2011 New grandstand including chairback seating and concession stand
3. 2015 addition of restroom facilities
Tennis1. 2006 Entirely new 12 court facility
2. 2014 addition of new wind screens
3. 2015 Locker rooms and restrooms to be added
General Students1. 2010 New Fitness Center opens
Now, to attract not just athletes but quality students to cheer on those athletes, just a few changes have occurred on campus since "The Shot"
1. 2004 $33,000,000 Christopher Center
2. 2005 Kalley-Christopher Center for Meteorology and Geography
3. 2009 $74,000,000 Harre Union
4. 2013 Fites Addition to Engineering
5. 2013 Solar Energy Research Facility
6. 2013 New Arts and Sciences Building
7. 2014 New Welcome Center
8. 2014 Beacon Hall
9. 2015 Completion of $15,000,000 addition to the Chapel
10. Significant addition to the University's Endowment
I know I've missed some things. All this with a living alumni base of less than 50,000. Has Loyola built as much in the same time frame?
Quote from: vu72 on October 25, 2014, 10:31:09 AMHas Loyola built as much in the same time frame?
You really need to go see what has been added next to the lake in Rogers Park. There are no remodels up there. They are all brand new facilities with probably 10 times the money spent.
The library doesn't compare to Valpo's but all the other facilities are so much better. The only real remodel was the Gentile Center. You could never beat the views of the lake.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Richard_J._Klarchek_Information_Commons.JPG)
(http://luc.edu/undergrad/media/prospectivestudents/images/Loyola-University-Chicago-East-Quad.jpg)
Chapel, science building and library
(http://luc.edu/media/lucedu/online/images/homepage-images/Loyola-University-Chicago-Medical-Center-Campus.jpg)
Medical School
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Obviously a much greater number of people involved.
Quote from: bbtds on October 25, 2014, 11:21:52 AM
Quote from: vu72 on October 25, 2014, 10:31:09 AMHas Loyola built as much in the same time frame?
You really need to go see what has been added next to the lake in Rogers Park. There are no remodels up there. They are all brand new facilities with probably 10 times the money spent.
The library doesn't compare to Valpo's but all the other facilities are so much better. The only real remodel was the Gentile Center. You could never beat the views of the lake.
They also have an enrollment nearly 4X Valpo's with 3 times as many living alumni, 85,000 of whom live in Chicago. You'd think they could get a few thousand fans to fill their whopping 5200 seat Gentile Center. Maybe the players are too busy looking at the lake to make any baskets! ;D
Hmm, didn't even know that we added baseball seating! I am happy with our investments as a University, and think that they will pay off in regards to athletics soon.
Quote from: bbtds on October 25, 2014, 11:21:52 AM
Quote from: vu72 on October 25, 2014, 10:31:09 AMHas Loyola built as much in the same time frame?
You really need to go see what has been added next to the lake in Rogers Park. There are no remodels up there. They are all brand new facilities with probably 10 times the money spent.
Once upon a time a group of university presidents from the outer lands came upon a big city. To a man, they were bedazzled by all the pretty buildings, the sleek sail boats on the sparkly lake and the colorful lights resonating from the giant buildings to the south. In unison they cried, "Surely this place will carry us to the basketball promised land!" And they all lived happily thereafter. The end.
Are you serious????????? Comparing Valpo to Loyola? Get real!!
I hated to start this whole Loyola thread when the news broke. Now the RPI rank is rubbing a surprise dose of salt in the wounds.
Loyola RPI rank is #60 today. (Green Bay is #31).
This brings up my old frustration that I noted in my first post. When the MVC visited the VU campus, they could not have failed to note that EVERY ONE OF the numerous NEW VU BUILDINGS since 1999 was built on a scale far over-sized for its current rate of usage and our student population.
Was an "if you build it they will come" rationale employed? The MVC could not have missed that point. There is some consolation, though. We can be proud that we very well may lead the nation in building square footage, fireplaces, and couch space for capita FTE student. What has been the enrollment consequence of a new 30,000 square foot library a gazillion square foot union, an expensive weather building, and a big stone German House built to house 12-15 students. German and meteorology are doubtful draws of enrollment increases. Meanwhile the union never included a single fitness element inside that massive building. Yet, plenty of places to recline on a couch and read poetry.
Quote from: crusadermoe on December 29, 2014, 11:26:53 AM
I hated to start this whole Loyola thread when the news broke. Now the RPI rank is rubbing a surprise dose of salt in the wounds.
Loyola RPI rank is #60 today. (Green Bay is #31).
This brings up my old frustration that I noted in my first post. When the MVC visited the VU campus, they could not have failed to note that EVERY ONE OF the numerous NEW VU BUILDINGS since 1999 was built on a scale far over-sized for its current rate of usage and our student population.
Was an "if you build it they will come" rationale employed? The MVC could not have missed that point. There is some consolation, though. We can be proud that we very well may lead the nation in building square footage, fireplaces, and couch space for capita FTE student. What has been the enrollment consequence of a new 30,000 square foot library a gazillion square foot union, an expensive weather building, and a big stone German House built to house 12-15 students. German and meteorology are doubtful draws of enrollment increases. Meanwhile the union never included a single fitness element inside that massive building. Yet, plenty of places to recline on a couch and read poetry.
Not to change this to (yet another) facilities discussion, but how do you know that our facilities are "far over-sized" for our current student population? When those buildings were built, we were at about 3800 students.....now we are at 4500-4600 and still increasing. Our library, union, and meteorology facilities were woefully small and outdated, and as a recent grad I can say that while the new union and new library feel big, they certainly don't feel empty or under-utilized....on the contrary they felt very well-utilized. When I gave tours to families and prospective students, they were amazed at our facilities and I have no doubt that it helped convince some students to come here.
As far as the German building is concerned, I have a feeling that was built from a targeted donation (someone correct me if I'm wrong). In order for Valpo to flourish, it needs to build on niche programs to distinguish itself from peer institutions. German and meteorology are niche programs that have proven to be successful draws for students (meteorology the bigger draw of the two). Case in point: The meteorology program drew me to Valpo (even though I didn't stick with the program). If a program can draw me, a high school student from Japan with a 4.16 GPA and second in my class to Valpo, then I'm sure it's drawn others. Have the benefits outweighed the costs? I would argue yes.
Tough to do sour grapes here.
That 10-2 record shows a 25 pt loss to Michigan State @MSU and a 13 loss to Tulane @ Gentile. With the exception of a 13 and 10 point wins over D-II's Rockhurst and McKendrie respectively to open the season, all other games were against D-I opponents and include a pretty big 62-44 beat-down of Texas Tech. Their OOC record looks at face value to appear more credible overall than ours (i.e., no Goshens, IU-SBs) and they did beat a BCS school (TT). I'll leave the real comparisons to the RPI guys on our board.
This with a roster that has 3 seniors, 4 juniors, 6 freshman and 1 sophomore. Tallest player is 6'9 (F) and then they go 6'7 (J), 3 @ 6'6 (all F), and the rest 6'5 or shorter.
FWIW - in 6 home games at palatial Gentile Arena they have averaged 1193 fans per game over 6 contests and had their 2nd biggest crown against Tulane (1378). Rockhurst outdrew Tulane by 192 fans.
More FWIW -- They did draw 5449 at an away win @ UIC (77-67).
Quote from: crusadermoe on December 29, 2014, 11:26:53 AM
I hated to start this whole Loyola thread when the news broke. Now the RPI rank is rubbing a surprise dose of salt in the wounds.
Loyola RPI rank is #60 today. (Green Bay is #31).
This brings up my old frustration that I noted in my first post. When the MVC visited the VU campus, they could not have failed to note that EVERY ONE OF the numerous NEW VU BUILDINGS since 1999 was built on a scale far over-sized for its current rate of usage and our student population.
Was an "if you build it they will come" rationale employed? The MVC could not have missed that point. There is some consolation, though. We can be proud that we very well may lead the nation in building square footage, fireplaces, and couch space for capita FTE student. What has been the enrollment consequence of a new 30,000 square foot library a gazillion square foot union, an expensive weather building, and a big stone German House built to house 12-15 students. German and meteorology are doubtful draws of enrollment increases. Meanwhile the union never included a single fitness element inside that massive building. Yet, plenty of places to recline on a couch and read poetry.
Why would they put a fitness center in the union when they had recently completed a stand-alone fitness center? As pointed out, the average student, in today's world, is looking carefully at things like unions and libraries. The powers understood that to stay competitive these facilities needed to be top notch.
We on this board have reached a milestone of sorts ... someone complaining that the VU facilities are TOO LARGE.
Paul
These facility conversations :crazy:
Quote from: HC on December 29, 2014, 07:42:01 PMThese facility conversations :crazy:
That is no way to facilitate the conversation! ;)
Crusadermoe makes a point.
VU has a 3,000 seat chapel, which by chapel standards go I would imagine is enormous by a capacity standpoint. No one here cares.
In the Union, there are Ballrooms that can assist events as large as 1,000 participants (if you go by the renderings online). As far as Ballrooms go I would also imagine that 1K is enormous by a capacity standpoint. No one here cares.
But yet, when we talk about a hypothesized 7 – 8,000 seat arena, the "Division 3ers" on this board are immediately ready to slit their collective wrists. It's too large. We'll never fill it. Too much of an investment for athletics. Same old crapola.
Good for VU that they have large academic and religious facilities at their disposal. I just don't understand why we can't extend the same rationale into athletics and athletic building. Historically we have never done so. The current state of affairs at the ARC is a testament to this line of thinking. I am sure the MVC could have taken notice of that, at least.
Happy New Year.
The ARC shouldn't be expanded just renovated, 5000 is small but it fits the community we're in. We need a lower bowl of all chairbacks, and something that resembles more of an arena and less of a high-school gym.
Quote from: crusaderjoe on December 30, 2014, 09:56:18 AM
Crusadermoe makes a point.
VU has a 3,000 seat chapel, which by chapel standards go I would imagine is enormous by a capacity standpoint. No one here cares.
In the Union, there are Ballrooms that can assist events as large as 1,000 participants (if you go by the renderings online). As far as Ballrooms go I would also imagine that 1K is enormous by a capacity standpoint. No one here cares.
But yet, when we talk about a hypothesized 7 – 8,000 seat arena, the "Division 3ers" on this board are immediately ready to slit their collective wrists. It's too large. We'll never fill it. Too much of an investment for athletics. Same old crapola.
Good for VU that they have large academic and religious facilities at their disposal. I just don't understand why we can't extend the same rationale into athletics and athletic building. Historically we have never done so. The current state of affairs at the ARC is a testament to this line of thinking. I am sure the MVC could have taken notice of that, at least.
Happy New Year.
Because our big money donors aren't sports fans, and building a 7,000-8,000 seat arena would cost at least $50,000,000. Building an arena that big for a single tenant without tax money simply isn't realistic. It's not going to happen.
The biggest issue with the ARC is that it's a multipurpose facility, and not merely a stadium. Half of the ARC is the oldest building on campus, which houses all of campus recreation, as well as athletic practices, locker rooms, etc. There's essentially two gymnasiums inside the ARC footprint.
True, the new union didn't include a fitness center, rock climbing wall, racquet ball courts, etc, but following the master plan of a new rec center was a much better strategic move. The union centralized all of campus dining. Calling it oversized is silly. There's really only one lounge in the building not meant for dining (the one with the fish/piano). The ballroom can hold up to 1,000 but the room is typically divided and booked in sections. There's also not a large theater on campus, so having a room that expands to seat hundreds of people is important for events like Jazz Fest. It was much more important for the university to centralize dining and create a large gathering area before creating nicer racquetball courts and a rock climbing wall.
The next logical step for student life is a recreation center, not a new arena. Arenas are expensive due to their design. The university spending $50 million on something that doesn't address larger needs like student locker rooms and more indoor REC sport options is not feasible. The athletics department obviously would greatly benefit from a new rec center because it may include things like a pool bigger than the Super 8's. The new center would allow the existing ARC to be used as an actual arena. Renovations would be much cheaper than an actual new arena. Simply removing the track would be a massive improvement. A proper concourse could be built with the opened space and chair back seating could be added to the bench side. Permanent bleachers could be added under the home basket. Club/Suite style seating and a media box could be added behind existing chairbacks. These cheaper improvements aren't possible right now due to the multi-use nature of the building.
Also, as any student that studied in the library can tell you: it's still too small. It was virtually impossible to find a table if you came to late, and you had to perform a 3 hour stakeout to get a private room.
I was just at Northwestern to watch a basketball game. Their facility is a joke. Not as nice as the ARC. The ARC can be renovated to be expanded to, say, 6000 seats with more chairbacks and a bowl feel. The renovations need to include new and expanded lockers, coaches offices etc. It isn't just the arena.
This is where Northwestern plays:
Welsh-Ryan Arena is an 8,117-seat multi-purpose arena in Evanston, Illinois, United States. The arena opened in 1952 as McGaw Memorial Hall. It is home to the Northwestern University Wildcats basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams. Wikipedia
There are chairbacks on one side most of the way up but the other side and end areas are all old bleachers. No semblance of a bowl here and there is a track going around on the inside. Small scoreboard, bad sight lines and crummy bathrooms and concessions. Other then these facts the place is just great. This is the BIG guys.
Ok......it honestly is great to hear from Okinawa that the campus facilities are helping draw the students. I'm also glad to hear from another that the library is well populated. It definitely is a signature building.
And yes, I think a rec plex is the way to go rather than calling for a larger-capacity hoops arena. Go look at Butler's new student rec complex sometime. I just think the Union design went too big in the non-rec areas and gobbled up money that might have been saved to address the rec issues. Ballrooms are good to have, but they put a big room in the library for major gatherings too. Lots of gathering, lots of sleeping by a fire. Not as much knocking off the freshman 15 and getting fit and alert.
Quote from: crusadermoe on December 30, 2014, 03:58:08 PM
Ok......it honestly is great to hear from Okinawa that the campus facilities are helping draw the students. I'm also glad to hear from another that the library is well populated. It definitely is a signature building.
And yes, I think a rec plex is the way to go rather than calling for a larger-capacity hoops arena. Go look at Butler's new student rec complex sometime. I just think the Union design went too big in the non-rec areas and gobbled up money that might have been saved to address the rec issues. Ballrooms are good to have, but they put a big room in the library for major gatherings too. Lots of gathering, lots of sleeping by a fire. Not as much knocking off the freshman 15 and getting fit and alert.
But the university wanted to centralize athletic facilities, which is why they converted the old book store into a fitness center instead of the old dining hall. In the end, if a field house ends up getting built, it'll be better to have the rock wall, racquetball courts, open fields, etc all in one area instead of scattered around campus. And the meeting room in the library is good for some things, but terrible for others. The presence of adjacent classrooms make it a poor use for anything noisy (concerts like Jazz Fest, the various dance clubs, self defense training). The ballrooms were good for dinners, since dining services was right downstairs. I was there during the transition from the old and new union, and it was amazing how many events were held in the ballrooms instead of the smaller library area, a crammed classroom, or the makeshift old union hall. Anything athletic takes up a considerable amount of area.
And again, there's really only one lounge area in the new union, and it's not all that large. It's not like they'd be able to cheaply build a pool on the 2nd floor, or fit a court in the area where the piano is. They probably could have made the billiards/table tennis area a bit larger, but that area was never very packed. I wouldn't really consider that as a way to lose the freshman 15, considering I definitely used it a bunch and still gained at least 15 pounds.
Rec center? Fieldhouse? ARC renovations? I'm all for it. I'm just wondering why we are still having this discussion after three major capital campaigns and the MVC has already come and gone.
As I have said before, I am not suggesting that VU should spend $50M on a new 8K arena. Nor am I knocking the Chapel for being too big or the Union for being too cavernous. However, many here chastised (and continue to do so currently) the MVC for taking Loyola as some sort of anomaly. Yet, Loyola rolled out this: http://www.loyolaramblers.com/facilities/loyc-norville.html (http://www.loyolaramblers.com/facilities/loyc-norville.html) .
The point is that it would appear that at VU it is certainly appropriate to "go big" (see the Chapel, see the Ballroom, see the Library, see the Union, see the increase in student enrollment, etc.), but just not with athletics. Or at least that's my impression anyway. And perhaps, figuratively speaking, maybe that's why 7K is too large for an arena, but a 1K ballroom isn't.
Again, Happy New Year.
Fwiw, I heard president Heckler recently talking about the chapel addition and the planned new science building being the last buildings to be erected in the foreseeable future. He mentioned that the new campaign includes no new buildings and will focus on growing the university endowment funds.
He wisely said that the university facilities have grown a lot in the recent past and he wants to see the endowments grow accordingly to make sure that the university can keep up with the operation and maintenance costs of these new buildings.
That being said, if someone wants to donate $50M to build a rec center or arena, I'm sure president Heckler will be willing to listen ;D
With respect all the new stuff, I'm with those who advocate fixing and modernizing the "OLD" (i.e., overcrowded, out-of-date ARC) --- and fulfilling a commitment to a more complete campus experience for existing students and student athletes.
Unfortunately, this string has gotten hi-jacked to a degree with discussions of an arena and a rec center. That's totally off base. The 30 year plan discusses a Field House and modernization of the ARC (as we have so many times in the past). (1) In order to modernize the ARC, a field house needs to be built. (2) That field house would logically incorporate amenities for all students that would include recreational sports and intra-murals not just facilities for varsity athletics. (3) Its construction would be necessary to, subsequently, allow for sorely needed modernization and upgrades to the ARC. This has been rehashed so many times, but somehow, each time it re-emerges people bring in unsupported speculation in the face of what has already been confirmed (or at least discussed) by the administration. :deadhorse:
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 31, 2014, 11:32:34 AM
With respect all the new stuff, I'm with those who advocate fixing and modernizing the "OLD" (i.e., overcrowded, out-of-date ARC) --- and fulfilling a commitment to a more complete campus experience for existing students and student athletes.
Unfortunately, this string has gotten hi-jacked to a degree with discussions of an arena and a rec center. That's totally off base. The 30 year plan discusses a Field House and modernization of the ARC (as we have so many times in the past). (1) In order to modernize the ARC, a field house needs to be built. (2) That field house would logically incorporate amenities for all students that would include recreational sports and intra-murals not just facilities for varsity athletics. (3) Its construction would be necessary to, subsequently, allow for sorely needed modernization and upgrades to the ARC. This has been rehashed so many times, but somehow, each time it re-emerges people bring in unsupported speculation in the face of what has already been confirmed (or at least discussed) by the administration. :deadhorse:
I think the difference is that in the past, there wasn't really a "master plan" - or there was, and it essentially changed every year, or the administration would blatantly ignore it. I get the skepticism and mistrust of the administration to support D1 athletics, and the disappointment of getting passed over by the MVC for a historically terrible Loyola team due to Valpo's substandard athletic facilities. But I think the fact that since the master plan came out, they've pretty much stuck to it tells us they're serious about fulfilling it. Even something minor like building a pathway from the Porter Hospital parking garage shows they intend to stick with the plan.
And I think this administration has been much better about improving athletics, and no longer have to worry about making improvements to the ARC worrying that it's just in vain. In 2011 a new video board went up with a new sound system. The basketball team has gotten 2 new uniform sets in the past 5 years, and the entire athletics department was rebranded. The track was finally completed, Brown Field got new turf with a new scoreboard, a new football locker room was just built, and a new tennis building is going in soon. This may all be small potatoes, but it's still a step forward. I'm not sure what got done from the ARC addition in the 80's to 2011, but it seems like they've clearly ramped up in the past 5 years. So I'm cautiously optimistic that facilities will improve in the next 10 years.
Quote from: a3uge on December 31, 2014, 01:14:52 PMAnd I think this administration has been much better about improving athletics, and no longer have to worry about making improvements to the ARC worrying that it's just in vain. In 2011 a new video board went up with a new sound system. The basketball team has gotten 2 new uniform sets in the past 5 years, and the entire athletics department was rebranded. The track was finally completed, Brown Field got new turf with a new scoreboard, a new football locker room was just built, and a new tennis building is going in soon. This may all be small potatoes, but it's still a step forward. I'm not sure what got done from the ARC addition in the 80's to 2011, but it seems like they've clearly ramped up in the past 5 years. So I'm cautiously optimistic that facilities will improve in the next 10 years.
I have to say I still have some doubts as to when these athletic facilities will get done. Will it be way too late? Just because the plans are made doesn't mean that the money will be allocated for these athletic projects. What happens when President Heckler has retired around 2025 the ARC remodel hasn't been done yet and the people stuck in Neils Science Center are way overdue for a new building. Where will the money go?
Quote from: a3uge on December 31, 2014, 01:14:52 PM
So I'm cautiously optimistic that facilities will improve in the next 10 years.
I've got to concur. I believe they will build a multiple use field house in the near future followed by a renovation of the ARC. Why do I believe this?
The FB program's next big financial drive for 2015 will be to renovate the FB locker room in the ARC (not move it to the theater in Kroencke). That tells me that there is a plan that we are not privy to, but one that follows the concepts of the 30 year plan. A permanent upgrade to FB locker space in the ARC indicates that another facility will have to be built to accommodate the present overcrowding of locker and training/sports medicine space -- i.e., a new field house. It would be ludicrous to dump tons of money into the new FB locker room now only to demolish it later.
It is my understanding the Board decided within the last 12 to 18 months to embark on a campaign to increase the endowment from approximately $200 million to $400 million by 2021. That is of course an increase of $200 million over a time period of about 7 years. That is similar in scope to the campaign that was begun around 2004, ultimately raising approximately $239 million, before it was concluded in 2009.
The money to build the new dorm came, I think, from a bond issue of around $45 million. The dorm cost around $28 million so there is some money left over for the next capital project. We already know the sorority complex is starting this spring and a new science building is soon to follow. I had heard the science project was supposed to start this year but there was some feeling that sufficient funds had not been raised. I'm guessing this project will not begin until 2016.
Even though the endowment campaign would seem to leave little for further capital improvements, it is my feeling that President Heckler has a goal to get the fieldhouse built and the ARC renovated. I believe these things will happen, although I don't look for the first shovel to be turned on the fieldhouse until 2017 at the earliest, and probably not till 2018.
Of course, I could be wrong about all of this since I thought there was no way Mich St was going to beat Baylor this afternoon.
Paul
Quote from: 78crusader on January 01, 2015, 05:19:47 PM
It is my understanding the Board decided within the last 12 to 18 months to embark on a campaign to increase the endowment from approximately $200 million to $400 million by 2021. That is of course an increase of $200 million over a time period of about 7 years. That is similar in scope to the campaign that was begun around 2004, ultimately raising approximately $239 million, before it was concluded in 2009.
The money to build the new dorm came, I think, from a bond issue of around $45 million. The dorm cost around $28 million so there is some money left over for the next capital project. We already know the sorority complex is starting this spring and a new science building is soon to follow. I had heard the science project was supposed to start this year but there was some feeling that sufficient funds had not been raised. I'm guessing this project will not begin until 2016.
Even though the endowment campaign would seem to leave little for further capital improvements, it is my feeling that President Heckler has a goal to get the fieldhouse built and the ARC renovated. I believe these things will happen, although I don't look for the first shovel to be turned on the fieldhouse until 2017 at the earliest, and probably not till 2018.
Of course, I could be wrong about all of this since I thought there was no way Mich St was going to beat Baylor this afternoon.
Paul
Wouldn't a doubling (from 200 to 400) be in the normal range for most endowment funds in seven years? This would be just above 10% annual return, unless someone dips into the fund to pay for big ticket expansion items.
Quote from: 78crusader on January 01, 2015, 05:19:47 PMEven though the endowment campaign would seem to leave little for further capital improvements, it is my feeling that President Heckler has a goal to get the fieldhouse built and the ARC renovated. I believe these things will happen, although I don't look for the first shovel to be turned on the fieldhouse until 2017 at the earliest, and probably not till 2018.
Remember this post in 4 years. If the construction doesn't begin on a new fieldhouse by the beginning of 2019 I think we will see which direction this university has decided to head. Those of us who have been talking about the ARC facilities for 10-15 years if not more will remember when they unveiled the Schrage Basketball Wing and then nothing else happened. Placate and then run for cover.