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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 22:05:42 GMT -5
Speaking of baseball. This was an interesting tweet from September 4th, talking about the goal of Brian Baptiste being "to build this program back to its glory". What a difference a month makes. An enormous slap in the face to not just the team, but anyone associated with the program. I wasn’t friends with anyone really on the team. Know a couple guys from my dads friends. But I hate how it was handled. This makes me even more furious.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Oct 5, 2020 5:58:25 GMT -5
What would you have done differently
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Post by hoopsguest on Oct 5, 2020 6:56:16 GMT -5
I have a feeling AD Baptiste wasn't really involved in the decision. This feels like a BOT decision. He might have had input but he has been here one year and this process feels longer than that. Just a hunch, I could be wrong
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 7:40:39 GMT -5
What would you have done differently Had a meeting with the teams and coaches. Let them know the situation the school/athletic department was in. Tell them they had to raise x dollars by x date for them to survive (even if it was 500k in 4 weeks) at least give some chance for players/parents/alum to try to come together and save the program. Even if there was a certain amount for each team based on costs, give them a chance. Donations were probably down big time, annual giving day not as successful because of covid and the uncertainty there. Stock market/economy has largely rebounded, people feel much more confident, their wallets might open up for something like this.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 7:45:32 GMT -5
I have a feeling AD Baptiste wasn't really involved in the decision. This feels like a BOT decision. He might have had input but he has been here one year and this process feels longer than that. Just a hunch, I could be wrong That could be true. And if it was longer than a year, it feels so disingenuous to post videos like that and let coaches/teams think they have a chance to compete when you're just going to take it all away. Again, if you gave them a year to try to get to 5 million, great. If it's more than that, it's more than that. But give them time to get creative and put some work in to saving their programs. I'm not faulting Baptiste here, but someone should be held accountable. They have been more or less radio silent since the announcement. Again, making it seem like it's not a "we want to save the teams but at this point it's financially nonviable" and more of a "the numbers don't add up. We don't want to hear any alternatives." College kids can get creative, there are some smart minds, why not give them a chance, the baseball team already sounds like they have some intriguing stuff coming (whether you love him or hate him, Dave Portnoy is a huge name with a ton of money and an enormous following, if he ignites the fundraising to save the programs, awesome. But why weren't they given a chance to fight for themselves).
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Post by 1801olney on Oct 5, 2020 10:00:19 GMT -5
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Post by 23won on Oct 5, 2020 12:40:44 GMT -5
It's just a ploy to drive eyeballs to Barstool. They will create negative chatter (something we don't need) in return for sending gear (but no $$$). But hey, call the guy out. He is flush with Penn National Gaming money so he can write a big check and the stadium name can be his ... or just shut up already.
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Post by gymrat67 on Oct 5, 2020 12:55:43 GMT -5
I personally do not subscribe to the theories espoused by some here that either or both former AD Bill Bradshaw and current AD Brian Baptiste were not involved in the University's ultimate decision to eliminate certain of the men's and women's sports teams. Rather, I believe that since Bill Bradshaw was retiring, he left these difficult decisions up to his successor, Baptiste. I feel certain that a a significant part of the vetting process for the new AD candidates was hiring someone with (1) development / fund raising experience, (2) experience in overseeing large Athletics construction Projects on the University's ( Owner's ) behalf ; and (3) hiring someone who was prepared and willing to make difficult / sure to be controversial and unpopular decisions, like eliminating certain of the men's and women's sports teams, which all parties concerned in the vetting process knew going-in probably were going to have to be made. I believe that the only unknowns at the outset of the process were how many in total and which teams would need to be discontinued. My reading of Colleen's recent Announcement suggests that AD Baptiste spent the past year conducting an internal review / audit of all of the University's mens and womens sports in order to be in a position to make informed recommendations to the President and BOT in this regard.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 13:16:08 GMT -5
It's just a ploy to drive eyeballs to Barstool. They will create negative chatter (something we don't need) in return for sending gear (but no $$$). But hey, call the guy out. He is flush with Penn National Gaming money so he can write a big check and the stadium name can be his ... or just shut up already. I don't think Barstool/Portnoy would do something with La Salle just for "eyeballs" in the sense of talking about La Salle/responding to tweets. He has Millions of followers. He doesnt care about the 1500 eyeballs he'd pick up just by talking about La Salle. Giving some sort of money/naming rights would give some actual long term publicity and another item in the portfolio (I dont believe they have naming rights to any stadium yet) and hopefully he does something in that regard, it'd be good for the program and (like it or not) good for the school.
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 5, 2020 14:10:38 GMT -5
I have a feeling AD Baptiste wasn't really involved in the decision. This feels like a BOT decision. He might have had input but he has been here one year and this process feels longer than that. Just a hunch, I could be wrong If this decision was handed down from on high without his involvement, then we have bigger problems. Why bother having an AD then?
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Post by hykos1045 on Oct 5, 2020 14:12:11 GMT -5
What would you have done differently Had a meeting with the teams and coaches. Let them know the situation the school/athletic department was in. Tell them they had to raise x dollars by x date for them to survive (even if it was 500k in 4 weeks) at least give some chance for players/parents/alum to try to come together and save the program. Even if there was a certain amount for each team based on costs, give them a chance. Donations were probably down big time, annual giving day not as successful because of covid and the uncertainty there. Stock market/economy has largely rebounded, people feel much more confident, their wallets might open up for something like this. The alums didn't respond with uncertainty. We had a rallying, budget shattering, record breaking annual giving day. I would classify this differently as you have, regardless it's apparently not enough to stop the bleeding.
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 5, 2020 14:24:50 GMT -5
Two things jumped out at me in the FAQ that seemed bizarre: goexplorers.com/sports/2020/9/29/la-salle-athletics-faq.aspx1) " Lasallian values" were used as a criteria in assessing all programs. How exactly did they determine that women's field hockey, for example, showed more Lasallian values as a program than baseball. 2) With the savings realized, we will look to enhance critical student-athlete support areas, reallocate athletic scholarship funds to our women’s programs to better equip them for regional and national competition, and invest in other underfunded Olympic sport programs. So...reading that...we are cutting baseball to reallocate funds to women's programs...AND...cutting men's swimming and water polo, both Olympic sports, to better fund other Olympic sports. Makes perfect sense.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 14:45:37 GMT -5
Had a meeting with the teams and coaches. Let them know the situation the school/athletic department was in. Tell them they had to raise x dollars by x date for them to survive (even if it was 500k in 4 weeks) at least give some chance for players/parents/alum to try to come together and save the program. Even if there was a certain amount for each team based on costs, give them a chance. Donations were probably down big time, annual giving day not as successful because of covid and the uncertainty there. Stock market/economy has largely rebounded, people feel much more confident, their wallets might open up for something like this. The alums didn't respond with uncertainty. We had a rallying, budget shattering, record breaking annual giving day. I would classify this differently as you have, regardless it's apparently not enough to stop the bleeding. If I recall correctly, the numbers were pretty low and then a massive donation came in that almost doubled the amount. Because When I had talked to my dad, it was really low. He went on and it had jumped significantly. The average comes out to $460 per donor. I would be willing to bet the median is probably about $100-$200.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Oct 5, 2020 17:55:19 GMT -5
I have a feeling AD Baptiste wasn't really involved in the decision. This feels like a BOT decision. He might have had input but he has been here one year and this process feels longer than that. Just a hunch, I could be wrong If this decision was handed down from on high without his involvement, then we have bigger problems. Why bother having an AD then? BOT steamrolled Giannini raise post sweet 16 run.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Oct 5, 2020 17:58:02 GMT -5
Two things jumped out at me in the FAQ that seemed bizarre: goexplorers.com/sports/2020/9/29/la-salle-athletics-faq.aspx1) " Lasallian values" were used as a criteria in assessing all programs. How exactly did they determine that women's field hockey, for example, showed more Lasallian values as a program than baseball. In 2004-2008 this was the case but I bet that wasn’t why they cut the team.
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 5, 2020 19:26:58 GMT -5
If this decision was handed down from on high without his involvement, then we have bigger problems. Why bother having an AD then? BOT steamrolled Giannini raise post sweet 16 run. and that worked out PERFECTLY.
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LaSallePal
Mop-Up Time
Formerly FjordExplorer, currently handsome
Posts: 117
Likes: 95
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Post by LaSallePal on Oct 6, 2020 5:03:40 GMT -5
Very Explorertown of you guys to start arguing over Dave Portnoy over here, lol. I don't know why a Jewish guy from Massachusetts who went to UMichigan would seriously consider donating a penny to La Salle so the entire thing seems like a silly PR thing to me, but who knows man. Kudos to Glitter as well for getting in his contractually obligated art museum dig, he really raises the level of conversation around these parts.
Real questions remain: Did the admins ever seriously suggest they were at least "examining the athletic department" in a way that would suggest sports were on the chopping block? I don't recall this, and I ask because it seems like every time something like this comes up, it's just rammed through with a "deal with it" attitude. And people do deal with it. By withholding money. For all the esteem this board holds the comms department in, the university is often just absolutely terrible at communicating.
To the money question, why would anyone donate when the prevailing attitude seems to be "we have no plan, please fund this plan"? Surely all these consultants could have formulated one.
A few years ago the university did some things that I felt were really impressive, like they were finally ready to triage the wounds and move on to build, at least metaphorically. The years since then, it's been all piecemeal triage. If there must be pain, let it be swift and sharp… this steady stream of bad news is killing the university slowly, because every time someone forgets about the last shit sandwich, like clockwork a new one appears.
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Post by 23won on Oct 6, 2020 7:11:02 GMT -5
Real questions remain: Did the admins ever seriously suggest they were at least "examining the athletic department" in a way that would suggest sports were on the chopping block? I don't recall this, and I ask because it seems like every time something like this comes up, it's just rammed through with a "deal with it" attitude. I have made the same point a number of times. Totally agree. Nice avatar btw
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 6, 2020 7:32:27 GMT -5
Does anyone else find it disturbing that Hank DeVincent passed away in April and within 6 months, baseball is eliminated?
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 6, 2020 8:05:56 GMT -5
Kudos to Glitter as well for getting in his contractually obligated art museum dig, he really raises the level of conversation around these parts. Real questions remain: Did the admins ever seriously suggest they were at least "examining the athletic department" in a way that would suggest sports were on the chopping block? Glad I didn't disappoint you. Baptiste came to the Alumni Board meeting in January. He was asked if there were plans to cut any sports given the number in which La Salle competed versus other schools. He said "No". He was asked if La Salle was considering moving from the Atlantic 10 given we had only made the NCAA tournament once in basketball since joining it. He said "No". Looking at the meeting minutes he mentioned he was working on an "Athletic Facilities Master Plan" to be completed and communicated by end of summer 2020. I'm looking forward to that and whatever the consultants-de-jour came up with this time .
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Post by 23won on Oct 6, 2020 10:12:27 GMT -5
Looking at the meeting minutes he mentioned he was working on an "Athletic Facilities Master Plan" to be completed and communicated by end of summer 2020. Those could be the same minutes that existed at the BoT level every year since 1995... with the same non-communicative outcome. La Salle ... consistent regardless of who is at the helm. I guess that's the underlying meaning for the code "never lost". Well, if you don't have a compass and don't give a damn for who's in your ship, you're never lost. But then again, you are in a constant state of never arriving/nothing found.
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Post by explorer88 on Oct 6, 2020 11:48:34 GMT -5
La Salle will never upgrade the basketball facility. I have heard we are for years and nothing has come to fruition. I have finally accepted that fate for my basketball program over the past year. I really thought it was close two years ago but there is no way I can reconcile in my mind it will ever happen at this point.
I love La Salle and will always wish the best for the school and program but the facilities discussion is over. Would love to be wrong but I don't think I am.
Ash will need to find a way to appeal to better players who are willing to play in the current facility. Not an easy task for anyone but fingers crossed he can find a way to get it done.
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Post by theneumann64 on Oct 6, 2020 12:19:40 GMT -5
La Salle will never upgrade the basketball facility. I have heard we are for years and nothing has come to fruition. I have finally accepted that fate for my basketball program over the past year. I really thought it was close two years ago but there is no way I can reconcile in my mind it will ever happen at this point. I love La Salle and will always wish the best for the school and program but the facilities discussion is over. Would love to be wrong but I don't think I am. Ash will need to find a way to appeal to better players who are willing to play in the current facility. Not an easy task for anyone but fingers crossed he can find a way to get it done. I hope this is wrong, but it's hard to argue with. And coming from you, knowing this has been your main issue for years (not that you're the only one), is especially a downer, that you're resigned to nothing happening. Like I said, I have a hard time disagreeing with you, but it sucks.
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Post by sidclassof69 on Oct 6, 2020 13:19:08 GMT -5
As a long time alum+ rooter( Class of 69)- I Sadly have to agree with Explorer 88- I will always love La Salle+ I will always be rooting for the team, but I am now 75 years old, and have become resigned to the fact, that we will never do anything about the basketball facility. I am actually embarrassed by it!
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Post by Happy Fortune on Oct 6, 2020 14:38:39 GMT -5
William & Mary athletic director resigning after controversial decision to cut 7 sports: t.co/a4dPce9glD
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Post by gymrat67 on Oct 6, 2020 19:25:27 GMT -5
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Post by hykos1045 on Oct 6, 2020 19:55:09 GMT -5
I see that baseball alums and parents have been active on social media (replying #SaveLaSalleBASE to just about every single La Salle tweet or facebook post), and has a GoFundMe with 9k raised so far against a 500k goal. One of the higher GFM I've seen, very ambitious undertaking. Also a zoom call tomorrow at 7pm.
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Post by hykos1045 on Oct 6, 2020 20:42:10 GMT -5
Forget 500k, I'm now reading online that an endowment would cost 9 Million and so that's the actual all-in cost of sustaining this baseball program. Some suggested naming rights but considering CBP naming rights cost $95M in 2003, hard to imagine a college stadium netting any more than about 0.5M, if that.
Volleyball had a team 3.66 GPA. Devastating to be forgoing some of our best students over this.
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Post by explorerman on Oct 7, 2020 4:53:57 GMT -5
Forget 500k, I'm now reading online that an endowment would cost 9 Million and so that's the actual all-in cost of sustaining this baseball program. Some suggested naming rights but considering CBP naming rights cost $95M in 2003, hard to imagine a college stadium netting any more than about 0.5M, if that. Volleyball had a team 3.66 GPA. Devastating to be forgoing some of our best students over this. That is impressive re Volleyball.. I think you are going to see a continued wave with baseball programs though.. Whether Duquesne to Furham to Univ of California.. It is just a very expensive program to have around... This expense is magnified to tuition funded athletic departments, the largest “net money losers” will have to be considered first to fill in the deficit...
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Post by explorerman on Oct 7, 2020 4:56:57 GMT -5
La Salle will never upgrade the basketball facility. I have heard we are for years and nothing has come to fruition. I have finally accepted that fate for my basketball program over the past year. I really thought it was close two years ago but there is no way I can reconcile in my mind it will ever happen at this point. I love La Salle and will always wish the best for the school and program but the facilities discussion is over. Would love to be wrong but I don't think I am. Ash will need to find a way to appeal to better players who are willing to play in the current facility. Not an easy task for anyone but fingers crossed he can find a way to get it done. La Salle will upgrade the basketball facilities... The emphasis on the last word
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