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Post by theneumann64 on Feb 24, 2020 9:50:34 GMT -5
We have been the laughing stock of the A10 since joining and it is all tied to the facility. Our performance hasn’t been great but overall of all the seasons we are probably middle of the pack but we are viewed poorly because of the facility. A real basketball program does not play in that type of gym. This is exactly it. Fordham catches its fair share of crap, but we get it much worse, and they've been exponentially more terrible than us for the 15 years I've been following the program. And its not like Duquesne has lit the world on fire either. We're the ones who get the lion's share of "throw them out of the A-10" stuff because of the arena. |
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Post by a10champion15 on Feb 24, 2020 11:05:49 GMT -5
I don't know if that's necessarily true. Legit, every post by A10 talk and 3 bid league there are comments "Fordham is too high" "Fordham moving to the patriot", etc.. They take a lot more heat than us.
We have this weird rivalry with Bona fans where they like to give us a lot of crap but it isn't us exclusively.Bonnie fans are basically the Bills fans of the A10. They throw around a lot of comments but there is no real meaning behind it. For whatever reason, URI fans hate us. No idea why that is, just what I've observed over the years.
While we catch a lot of heat from certain programs, VCU fans have a lot of respect for us. Maybe its cause they've only seen us since conference realignment but everytime I talk to a few of them they always say we're a midpack team and play tough more often than not. It's funny that comment comes from a Richmond fan because outside of this season they've had 2 over .500 A10 records since 2011. Yet, they have every resource available to them.
Our facility is an issue, been an issue for years. It'll happen eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later. Prez is working on a solution. She's made that pretty clear.
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 24, 2020 11:20:30 GMT -5
I don't know if that's necessarily true. Legit, every post by A10 talk and 3 bid league there are comments "Fordham is too high" "Fordham moving to the patriot", etc.. We have this weird rivalry with Bona fans where they like to give us a lot of crap but it isn't us exclusively.Bonnie fans are basically the Bills fans of the A10. They throw around a lot of comments but there is no real meaning behind it. For whatever reason, URI fans hate us. No idea why that is, just what I've observed over the years. While we catch a lot of heat from certain programs, VCU fans have a lot of respect for us. Maybe its cause they've only seen us since conference realignment but everytime I talk to a few of them they always say we're a midpack team and play tough more often than not. The facility is an issue, been an issue for years. It'll happen eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later. Prez is working on a solution. She's made that pretty clear. Interesting footnote to Rhode Island was they voted not to admit us to the A-10. Not sure if other schools did but they were one that did. La Salle got support from Temple and St. Joe's but Rhode Island has always been against us. |
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Post by a10champion15 on Feb 24, 2020 12:11:22 GMT -5
Also, La Salle is in the process of knocking down those 2 houses on the corner of Elkins. Not sure if its been completed yet.
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Post by calsufan on Feb 24, 2020 13:05:58 GMT -5
I don't know if that's necessarily true. Legit, every post by A10 talk and 3 bid league there are comments "Fordham is too high" "Fordham moving to the patriot", etc.. They take a lot more heat than us. We have this weird rivalry with Bona fans where they like to give us a lot of crap but it isn't us exclusively.Bonnie fans are basically the Bills fans of the A10. They throw around a lot of comments but there is no real meaning behind it. For whatever reason, URI fans hate us. No idea why that is, just what I've observed over the years. While we catch a lot of heat from certain programs, VCU fans have a lot of respect for us. Maybe its cause they've only seen us since conference realignment but everytime I talk to a few of them they always say we're a midpack team and play tough more often than not. It's funny that comment comes from a Richmond fan because outside of this season they've had 2 over .500 A10 records since 2011. Yet, they have every resource available to them. Our facility is an issue, been an issue for years. It'll happen eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later. Prez is working on a solution. She's made that pretty clear. This is incorrect. I've been a frequenter of the A10 boards since the late 90's. There were a handful of board changes over the years, but the consistent "Dump La Salle" proponents on the board were primarily Xavier fans followed by Dayton fans and a smattering of UMass, Rhode Island and GW. Fordham has taken their lumps but not nearly as bad as La Salle because they had the NYC market. Back then, we were the 3rd Philly team (Temple and St. Joe's were already in the league). The fact that we had a crappy gym, a mediocre team and we didn't expand the geographic footprint is what led to La Salle being the league whipping boy. |
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 24, 2020 13:15:15 GMT -5
The poster Snipe from the Xavier ground was relentless on La Salle. I’m mean brutal.
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Post by Fastchuck on Feb 24, 2020 14:24:19 GMT -5
The poster Snipe from the Xavier ground was relentless on La Salle. I’m mean brutal. Was he the "smell the glove" guy? You would think that Xavier fans would have an affinity for La Salle since our mascots are basically the same Frenchman. |
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 24, 2020 14:53:15 GMT -5
The poster Snipe from the Xavier ground was relentless on La Salle. I’m mean brutal. Was he the "smell the glove" guy? You would think that Xavier fans would have an affinity for La Salle since our mascots are basically the same Frenchman. That was him. |
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Post by coachd on Feb 27, 2020 9:31:35 GMT -5
Was he the "smell the glove" guy? You would think that Xavier fans would have an affinity for La Salle since our mascots are basically the same Frenchman. That was him. Our Sweet 16 team prolly still torments him to this day.  |
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Post by 23won on Feb 28, 2020 10:09:06 GMT -5
The facilities point is really a scapegoat excuse. If the admin got the students to fill their side of the stands, it would make a huge impact on outside perception and results at games (the 6th man etc). If we filled the stands and won more (there is a connection there) outiders wouldn't bitch about our 1,800 attendance figures. BTW Balto and DC Catholic HSs we recruit from have more than 1,800 fans at games. It was so bad that VCU's fans, Dayton's fans, SJU fans and Bucknell (!) fans on multiple occasions have been louder on the East side than our students.
Admin needs to improve this and drop the existing gimmicks like a cold pizza. Go to a Nova game at the Fin, a Rutgers game at the RAC or a psu game at BJC and take some notes. You don't have to have a NC ring to bring fun and excitement into a game. Hideaway, Beer at Goal and Federal donuts is a good start but you need to direct marketing efforts to get the kids to fill the seats.
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 28, 2020 10:55:33 GMT -5
The facilities point is really a scapegoat excuse. If the admin got the students to fill their side of the stands, it would make a huge impact on outside perception and results at games (the 6th man etc). If we filled the stands and won more (there is a connection there) outiders wouldn't bitch about our 1,800 attendance figures. BTW Balto and DC Catholic HSs we recruit from have more than 1,800 fans at games. It was so bad that VCU's fans, Dayton's fans, SJU fans and Bucknell (!) fans on multiple occasions have been louder on the East side than our students. Admin needs to improve this and drop the existing gimmicks like a cold pizza. Go to a Nova game at the Fin, a Rutgers game at the RAC or a psu game at BJC and take some notes. You don't have to have a NC ring to bring fun and excitement into a game. Hideaway, Beer at Goal and Federal donuts is a good start but you need to direct marketing efforts to get the kids to fill the seats. Totally incorrect. Sorry but that is not the issue. The goal is to attract better players which can’t be done at Gola. It just can’t be done and you can’t fill Gola consistently without a better program. |
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Post by 23won on Feb 28, 2020 13:07:49 GMT -5
The facilities point is really a scapegoat excuse. If the admin got the students to fill their side of the stands, it would make a huge impact on outside perception and results at games (the 6th man etc). If we filled the stands and won more (there is a connection there) outiders wouldn't bitch about our 1,800 attendance figures. BTW Balto and DC Catholic HSs we recruit from have more than 1,800 fans at games. It was so bad that VCU's fans, Dayton's fans, SJU fans and Bucknell (!) fans on multiple occasions have been louder on the East side than our students. Admin needs to improve this and drop the existing gimmicks like a cold pizza. Go to a Nova game at the Fin, a Rutgers game at the RAC or a psu game at BJC and take some notes. You don't have to have a NC ring to bring fun and excitement into a game. Hideaway, Beer at Goal and Federal donuts is a good start but you need to direct marketing efforts to get the kids to fill the seats. Totally incorrect. Sorry but that is not the issue. The goal is to attract better players which can’t be done at Gola. It just can’t be done and you can’t fill Gola consistently without a better program. Sorry, I disgree. You're buying into chicken and egg logic like there is no way to break the cycle. How can St Mary's, St Bonaventure, Colgate, Loyola Chicago and others make the tourney with their gyms, especially Loyola Chicago, which averaged like 2 wins a year when we were in the same conference with them and had a lot more ground to cover than us. Those programs had problems years ago and all have lousy gyms. Throwing money at things, especially money you can't afford to burn, does not solve things. There are plenty of expensive D1 arenas with crap teams, like Quinnipiac, Bryant and Monmouth. Getting students in seats and energized and supportive is the easiest way to build momentum and win swing games. Having a loud crowd also helps you to get ref calls; we now get screwed at HOME by the refs. You have a winning attitude starting with the students and you will win more and when you win more you attract better players over time. Yet there is a continued failure to do so. |
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 28, 2020 13:14:32 GMT -5
Don’t think so. Loyola got better when they improved their facility so that just helps my argument. Colgate? They play in the Patriot with like facilities. We are competing against schools with better facilities so I don’t understand your argument. St. Mary’s is across the country and Bonaventure still has a better facility than us and is no world beater.
There really are not many that buck the odds. Far more languish In mediocrity.
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Post by diehardexplorer on Feb 28, 2020 13:16:35 GMT -5
Totally incorrect. Sorry but that is not the issue. The goal is to attract better players which can’t be done at Gola. It just can’t be done and you can’t fill Gola consistently without a better program. Sorry, I disgree. You're buying into chicken and egg logic like there is no way to break the cycle. How can St Mary's, St Bonaventure, Colgate, Loyola Chicago and others make the tourney with their gyms, especially Loyola Chicago, which averaged like 2 wins a year when we were in the same conference with them and had a lot more ground to cover than us. Those programs had problems years ago and all have lousy gyms. Throwing money at things, especially money you can't afford to burn, does not solve things. There are plenty of expensive D1 arenas with crap teams, like Quinnipiac, Bryant and Monmouth. Getting students in seats and energized and supportive is the easiest way to build momentum and win swing games. Having a loud crowd also helps you to get ref calls; we now get screwed at HOME by the refs. You have a winning attitude starting with the students and you will win more and when you win more you attract better players over time. Yet there is a continued failure to do so. you might want to re-think the loyola statement  |
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 28, 2020 13:19:11 GMT -5
Did you see what they played in previously?
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big5vet
Mop-Up Time
Posts: 103 
Likes: 91
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Post by big5vet on Feb 28, 2020 16:37:24 GMT -5
Wish Colleen or Brian would post on the board with an update.
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Post by calsufan on Feb 28, 2020 18:22:43 GMT -5
Wish Colleen or Brian would post on the board with an update. That kind of is your update, isn't it? I think they speak to it when they have something lined up? |
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Post by 1801olney on Mar 4, 2020 22:09:15 GMT -5
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Mar 4, 2020 22:20:04 GMT -5
1.3 million huh
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Post by theneumann64 on Mar 4, 2020 22:40:14 GMT -5
I’ve always thought that if I somehow became independently wealthy, I would absolutely buy the old rowhouse on Woodstock Street I lived in during my Junior and Senior years and stay there when I was in town for games or other events. Now all that’s left to do is acquire said fortune. |
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Post by explorerman on Mar 5, 2020 20:54:19 GMT -5
The new housing rules make it tough for students to go off-campus. When talking to kids they want to be on north side of campus but not in North Dorms.
The school used to buy homes under Br Mike but I am sure with the tight budget that has stopped.
It would be nice to dream to buy the real estate and then give it to school.
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Post by 1801olney on Mar 6, 2020 9:53:23 GMT -5
The new housing rules make it tough for students to go off-campus. When talking to kids they want to be on north side of campus but not in North Dorms. The school used to buy homes under Br Mike but I am sure with the tight budget that has stopped. It would be nice to dream to buy the real estate and then give it to school. What are the new rules? Not sure what the school could do with 5 non-sequential row houses. They have a few along Olney that they use as offices and I think the off-campus center or whatever used to be on Uber, but not sure what they could use them for. Plus we all know that 1M+ would be better if it was put into the new arena  |
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Post by jellybean on Feb 15, 2021 11:01:31 GMT -5
I'm not a big Arena guy for posting but watching Loyola (Chicago) again made me revisit this thread. loyolaramblers.com/facilities/gentile-arena/4I'm SHOCKED after going to their website and reading about the Gentile Arena. Mr. Gentile donated $3.5 million which was HALF the cost of the renovation. Two other alums donated the other half. So for a total of SEVEN MILLION they transformed their old facility into this new one. Remember this is CHICAGO too. John Glaser died almost 8 years ago. I have my suspicions that he left more than $3.5 million to the school. The S&P 500 is +119% since he passed. If the trustee's were using 60/40 that's still roughly another 66% increase. We just hire more consultants. CRICKETS |
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Post by explorer88 on Feb 15, 2021 11:31:21 GMT -5
This will always be my empty space and dark void of La Salle fandom.
It is the program's downfall. As fan I know that we just can't complete with Gola Arena. It truly saddens me that La Salle just can't or is unwilling to get this fixed.
Making it worse is that on multiple occasions the administration had a chance to make it right and just made poor decisions.
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Post by gymrat67 on Feb 15, 2021 20:24:18 GMT -5
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Post by gymrat67 on Feb 16, 2021 13:18:46 GMT -5
jellybean : My understanding is that a detailed, comprehensive structural survey of Hayman Hall / TGA was conducted in conjunction with the latest set of Renovation drawings and cost estimates by Bogrette, et al., in order to determine whether the existing structural columns and floor beams were large enough and strong enough to take the additional anticipated loading that would be involved in constructing a Gentile Arena - like, multi-story structural steel Bowl above Kirk Pool. Apparently it has been determined that it is not economically feasible to attempt to retrofit / bolster the existing structural members in order to do so, and that for the added significant cost that would be involved, it would make more sense to raze / demolish Hayman altogether and start from scratch, at an estimated cost well north of $20 million. 1. The presence of Kirk Pool beneath TGA is the key differentiating factor in terms of both feasibility and cost between our situation and Loyola of Chicago's ;
2. The existing structural columns and floor beams in Hayman Hall apparently can't take the added load of superimposing the anticipated weight of a 2-story structural steel " Bowl - like " structure in whole or in part above Kirk Pool ; 3. For the cost of attempting to do so, it is a no brainer that you may as well raze Hayman altogether and start from scratch ; note that this would also entail several $million in added Demolition, debris removal and below-grade excavation costs ; 4. What La Salle is left with, then, as a retrofit design choice, is a largely cosmetic redesign, heavily influenced by Drexel University's Daskalakis Athletic Center ( DAC ) renovation design, where you actually lose a few seats rather than gain seats in the process ; 5. My understanding is that the John Glaser Insurance Trust Bequest has / had a time deadline to " commence actual construction " and that the money would only be paid out to La Salle on a " matching funds " / " dollar-for-dollar " basis. This would seem to require that La Salle would first have to get formal approval to commence construction ( i.e., a Construction Permit ) from the City of Phila. Dept of Licenses & Inspections, based upon a finalized, approved set of Project Drawings. I don't believe that, to date, La Salle has yet gotten this far along in the process ; 6. The question was raised on an earlier thread as to whether La Salle's recently obtaining City of Phila. Demolition Permits and then subsequently razing St. Francis and St. Edmond Halls ( adjacent to Hayman Hall / TGA ) satisfied the legal requirement to " break ground " or " commence construction " legally sufficient to preserve the University's entitlement to, and trigger the availability of, the matching funds from the John Glaser Insurance Trust Bequest. explorertown.proboards.com/thread/1952/presidents-action-agenda-priorities?page=13Scroll down to post / item # 2 - ( September 27, 2020 ). |
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Post by DE-LSU84 on Feb 16, 2021 13:33:11 GMT -5
Furthermore, it was my understanding that the Glazer money had to be spent on a new facility, not the renovation of the existing facility.
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Post by DE-LSU84 on Feb 16, 2021 13:50:25 GMT -5
Would it be possible, and potentially cheaper, to just build a new swimming facility and retrofit Kirk pool for basketball? Just a thought. Not sure if we could fit seats behind the baskets.
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Post by Happy Fortune on Feb 16, 2021 13:58:15 GMT -5
Would it be possible, and potentially cheaper, to just build a new swimming facility and retrofit Kirk pool for basketball? Just a thought. Not sure if we could fit seats behind the baskets. I have been thinking about this possibility for quite sometime. When they cut some of the swim teams I really thought they were considering it. Likely no correlation but replacing the pool with a court would be really interesting. |
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Post by theneumann64 on Feb 16, 2021 14:17:57 GMT -5
Freeze the pool. Invent ice basketball. Print money.
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