Did someone drop the ball?

[jellybean]

Wichita State Alumni Association chartered a plane to fly over 250 fans to the game. Did our Alumni Association even think of doing that for the Philadelphia area?

[big5vet]

Some one mentioned to me that she thought the Alumni Association should have hired a travel agency to take care of everything. Sounded like a pretty good idea. I gues we might lack current day expertise in NCAA event planning.

[explorer88]

Thank God G is not getting players at the same level as the school has for administrators.

[coqui900]

Please stop. This thing came completely out of nowhere. Wichita State is a fairly regular tournament team. It's a also a state school and has a gigantic local following. And they've also got money from the Koch Brothers coming in.

Our staff is doing to absolute best they can do. They are overwhelmed.

[crayzeeguy]

A chartered flight would cost significantly more than the sum of 250 coach class seats. WSU probably has significant boosters and coffers built up from previous NCAA appearances.

[MisterD]

Mar 27, 2013 16:24:42 GMT -5 coqui900 said:

And they've also got money from the Koch Brothers coming in.

Ugh, really? Now I double want to win.

[1stflooredwards]

Certain posters (you know who you are) just can't resist any chance to bury the administration.

The charter was arranged by the Alumni Association, not the school.

I assume the majority of posters here belong to La Salle's Alumni association. You want a charter, organize it through the alumni.

Also, as an aside, it was wrong when Exp Steve brought up politics and it's wrong with others do, despite how indirectly they do it (Mister D).

[lasalle89]

I was told that we will 500 fans in our section so there!!!!!!!

[alwayslasalle1]

Mar 27, 2013 15:54:13 GMT -5 jellybean said:

Wichita State Alumni Association chartered a plane to fly over 250 fans to the game. Did our Alumni Association even think of doing that for the Philadelphia area



?very expensive to charter large aircraft on spur of moment. Cheaper to,fly commercial out of Philly due to availability of carriers flying to west coast.  Wichita is a different story . No direct flights to l. A. And commercial scheduled service is expensive

[Deleted]

I disagree with the complainer. The people who are taking the initiative to get there are doing it at a fraction of the cost of a charter flight and on our own terms of timing. some staying with family and friends. I shared flight info for anyone interested. Five people on my flight today are going to the game because there were no cheaper flights.

A charter is not ideal for phl to lax. Of course it may have paid for itself in Wichita. Apples to apples not really. We had other options.

The alumni association has been a good resource for me including getting the hotel to block some rooms at a steep discount. The development team has been commendable.

[durenduren]

Mar 27, 2013 16:24:42 GMT -5 coqui900 said:

Please stop. This thing came completely out of nowhere. Wichita State is a fairly regular tournament team. It's a also a state school and has a gigantic local following. And they've also got money from the Koch Brothers coming in.

Our staff is doing to absolute best they can do. They are overwhelmed.

This times a million. You guys are comparing apples to oranges here. Tourney Regular, State School, Huge Student body (14k) and pretty much the polar opposite of what we are. I heard there was talk of trying to arraign a charter, but by the time the staff plane to Philadelphia got in, it was 5am Monday morning. That leaves you two days to set this up, find funding, and get all seat filled. That's no small endeavor.

Keep this in perspective - There's still fees passed onto students for buses to the Palestra and Brooklyn. You're talking a charter to Los Angeles here.

[durenduren]

I know I'm getting torqued up here. But seriously.

Couple of years ago it was our playing that was abysmal, but now that's not an issue, some of us are expecting La Salle to change overnight. We all complain that our facilities are the laughing stock of the A10, and everything is "Build a new arena at Germantown" or "We just took a huge loan out for the business school, what poor vision."

Hell, be grateful they're looking toward the future with a business school. I'm sorry they're not financing your plane ride to LA. And I want that new arena as bad as you. But do you really think the school's budget would allow them to send the band/cheerleaders/all this extra support staff to Dayton, Kansas City, LA, and eventually Atlanta if it wasn't for charters provided by the NCAA? I don't to a certain extent. We're small, and those are the facts. We aren't Wichita State, K-State, or Boise State. But what we are is the pride of Philadelphia right now, and I know you all have been floored when someone's recognized the La Salle gear you've worn lately.

Things aren't going to change overnight, but change is coming. A new leaf has been turned.

[20thandolney]

Amen. That being said, the school needs to view a new arena as an investment that will pay off times over if they do it right.

[calsufan]

I've got no issues with the Alumni Association as far as a chartered flight. The school and the alumni association is what it is. We're small, don't have the resources of a state school and all in all they're doing a decent job, all things considered. The way I look at it is we're in the Sweet 16 and I don't give a damn about anything else with the exception of 1.) a bump in pay for G and 2.) capitalizing on this run to help raise funds for a new arena. I could give two craps if we organized a charter flight. I can figure out how to get to LA all by myself.

[durenduren]

Thanks, calsufan. Those should be the only two concerns we should have, with exception to opening a can of whoop ass on Wichita State.

[Gnocchi]

Mar 27, 2013 20:09:42 GMT -5 1stflooredwards said:

Also, as an aside, it was wrong when Exp Steve brought up politics and it's wrong with others do, despite how indirectly they do it (Mister D).

Nice piece of analysis.

[MisterD]

Oh stop, this is supposed to function as a conversation. There was no promotion of political ideals, it was on-topic and it wasn't confrontational or a hijack.

[coachd]

"Hey Ramon, what is that orange ball you got there?"

www.philly.com/philly/sports/cartoon-contest/?er4t

[jellybean]

What resources are we talking about? We are talking about making an announcement that IF we can fill a airplane the school will look into getting a charter. The booster club or school is not paying for it. Everyone foots their own bill.

This is not rocket science. I received a PM from someone who went to Nashville during the Lionel Simmons days who told me that he flew on a school arranged charter.

I am not a basher of the Administration. I have been Pro-Bro. Mike. Neutral on BOT. Con with regard to Brennan and Development. There are a lot of good people at La Salle. Especially the young blood but I feel the Alumni Association could and should have looked into a charter. I will give them the benefit of doubt. We haven't been in this position for a generation.

[lasallescreamer]

I was on the Nashville charter. But, I would have been thrilled to fly to L.A. on a regular old plane( or even with Sky King for those who can remember) and I would have but for fact that Mrs Screamer is tied to house caring for 9 animals and it is hard form me to travel because of my somewhat limited mobility. No complaining now!. Lets just all be thrilled to be cheering on our team and School from whatever vantage point we assume. No matter where we are tonite, we are all one and all together.

[expfan95]

Jellybean, Here's an article on the economic realities of tournament run for a team that doesn't make regular appearances:

espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9108559/ken-kavanagh-hoping-travel-costly-florida-gulf-coast

[jellybean]

Mar 28, 2013 17:11:17 GMT -5 expfan95 said:

Jellybean, Here's an article on the economic realities of tournament run for a team that doesn't make regular appearances:

espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9108559/ken-kavanagh-hoping-travel-costly-florida-gulf-coast

Okay and your point is?

A charter for fans, paid by those fans and organized by the school is my point.

Interesting that FL GC has sent out emails asking for donations for $16, $160 or $1600 by their alumni base. Hum. What an interesting idea. They also are pitching tickets for next year. Another Hum moment. Seems like I mentioned that in another thread. Has La Salle done either?

On the positive side (seriously) they did sell 1000 Sweet 16 t-shirts.

[lasallescreamer]

No more bad karma on board tonite.Just good thoughts and cheering!