Messages

I'm wondering whether or not the Valley is respected enough to give Drake an at-large bid.

I'll answer my own question:  No.  Latest RPI had Missouri State ranked 101, Drake 105, UNI 137 and Valpo 146

I'm wondering whether or not the Valley is respected enough to give Drake an at-large bid.

Great win against #1 seed Drake and their huge crowd!  Very cool also that President Padilla was on the sidelines!

ABC Chicago report:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EndFt-QPQ0

I wasn't at the game nor heard it on the radio.  Some folks here selectively pick on certain stats but overlook others.  How about 17 assists and only 9 turnovers?  Or instead of pointing out that Darius can't score, how about 8 assists and zero turnovers?  I have no idea how these guys will perform over a whole season, but my guess is a lot of deer in the headlights moments for the freshman. 

We played short handed with Connor obviously limited and missing Mangang entirely.  I think that guy could be the rim protector we have been looking for, while see.

I was just pleased to see a Roger Powell news conference versus memories of Matt Lottich ones from last year. Seeing Cooper starting in his first game brought back memories of guys like Lubus and Alec.  Bigs things to come!

Eugene Parker needs to be properly honored at Valpo. It is an outrage that this had not been. A great person and leader. He was a pioneer in American minority athletics and did more for sport than Jon Steinbrecher, who is in the Hall of Fame, ever did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Parker_(sports_agent)

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2016/04/longtime-agent-eugene-parker-dead-at-age-60/


asking politely--why don't you just nominate him yourself!!

https://www.valpoathletics.com/athletics/halloffame/

This sort of attack will only spread bad publicity for foreign students thinking of attending Valpo.

https://www.greatandhra.com/articles/special-articles/family-of-telugu-student-stabbed-in-us-seeks-help-133305

I just saw this.  This sort of announcement, particularly after a decent start to the season, would indicate some sort of impropriety.  We'll probably never know.

I think we played Milwaukee.  I heard it from one of the announcers on the volleyball game.

I just saw an interview with Powell and Harry Schroeder.  Harry asked Roger about his freshman and he indicated that three stood out and will play a significant role this season. They are Sherman Witherspoon, Cooper Schwieger and Jahari Williamson.

Beacon Up!!  Light the light!!

Not finding much on this kid. Tell us more!

Just get the Helmet back from that team down south and the season will at least have a meaningful, memorable win.

On a personal note, I am disappointed that VU does not put more effort into recruiting the Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana market for more students.  Concordia Lutheran High in FW gets bombarded by all the "mid-west" Concordias...AnnArbor, Chicago, Wisconsin(Milwaukee) and Seward , Nebraska.  Last year was really disappointing in that there were no Valpo selections but a good number of Concordia recruits for that senior class. 

I really think Valpo is sometimes a hidden gem and the great facts and attributes of our School are not being conveyed to the junior and senior classes of high schools in this area.

I have had communications with the VP of enrollment who assured me that a concerted effort to reach out to Lutheran high schools, particularly in the Midwest, is underway.

John Davidson 44, Light Enablers 17

So you're saying Davidson is just one touchdown worse than YSU and we are one touchdown better than we were against YSU?  I don't think so.

Davidson is averaging 308 yards rushing and we (ex YSU) are giving up 60.  Their passing games is averaging 184 but all the season stats are out of whack because of a 84-6 beatdown of someone named St. Andrews. (Here I thought there was a max 75 point mercy rule!)

I can't possibly compare these guys to other players until I've seen them play some games.  What I do expect is that scoring will increase dramatically.  Over the last five years we have averaged scoring as low as 65.0 and as high as 72.3.  At the same time our 3 point shooting has been as low as 29.6%.  I think this run and gun offense will hopefully free up guys for better shots and a lot more scoring. Whether or not we will be able to also keep our opponents to lower scoring--than us--remains to be seen. 

I would also expect more shot blocking with some of the size and athleticism brought in.

We need a report!!!!

How did the WBB program not get addressed? Apathy? they have been brutal.

This will be her fifth year out of probably a five year contract.  Given the costs surrounding the firing of Matt and the hiring of Roger, buying out a woman's coach probably didn't make sense financially.  The women's program has historically been awful except during the coaching of Keith Freeman.  Letting him go was probably one of the biggest mistakes Mark LaBarbera made while AD.

excellent idea, but don't you think they would have considered that?

The idea has never been discussed in faculty meetings I have attended with the president, so I am assuming not. I would hope that if the legal avenue to stop the sale does not prevail, as I expect would be the case, and the looming specter of bad public relations continues, then this would be a good fallback position for those who wish to retain the painting as an asset in the museum and those who wish to sell the painting but retain respect. Maybe it is all part of the art of the deal: neither side offers a compromise until other paths are exhausted. In any case, it appears a compromise would be a win-win solution.

This may be a wild suggestion, but, have you proposed this compromise to the President and/or Board?  Just asking for a University.

Baseball has to be a D. We finished tied for 7th of 10 last year but have finished last or second last every year in the Valley.  maybe D-.

Without clear enrollment strategy and tactics you can't succeed because you can't recruit each of the 1 million or more 12th graders every year. Somewhere in the "strategic plan" internal details there must be a target number of students from Lutheran high schools. If that target is absent, then it speaks more loudly about Lutheran identity than a conservative target.

VU72, despite his numerous efforts, has never heard assurance of this priority or seen evidence that it gets carried out.

Yes, ValpoTX is absolutely right that Lutherans as a church body are decreasing and that it can't become a dominant strategy. But is logical to start there in defining your targets since it can be rapidly identified. I think there may be several Lutheran high schools who graduate half or more of their classes as non-Lutherans. If those parents and students were open to Lutheran influence, then they are certainly higher than the vague pools of kids with no family or school affinity.

To put some numbers to it, LCMS records from 2021-2022, show 17,388 high school kids attending their schools.  Assuming 25% are seniors, that's 4,347 target kids to begin with. BTW, that is a total enrollment gain of over 1000 from the year before.  While ELCA statistics are more difficult to find, they do count 1400 schools under their denomination but most are elementary and pre-school.  Surprisingly, WELS has a number of Lutheran High Schools as well. 

It will take an entire change of direction driven by money--no doubt, but it is doable. As an example of a change of direction, witness the following: A couple of Sundays ago, my little Lutheran Church (maybe 350 members with weekly attendance of about 175) located in suburban Dallas, was visited by the President of Texas Lutheran University where she delivered the sermon. Now, we might have 5 kids graduating this year at the most, yet she showed up to promote her University.  THAT, is a concerted effort. Lord, let it be done.

At many points the Board and Pres  has made it pretty clear that they detest faculty, students, and alumni.

Because many of the Board are alumni, and further, because alumni giving is the life blood of the university, that I consider the above quote as totally out of touch with reality.  As a member of the faculty who feels mistreated by this Board and Administration, I understand your feelings, it just run counterintuitive with reality.

College golf scoring (for men and women). For each round, you count the four best 18 hole scores out of five players designated as playing for the team. In some tournaments, teams will have additional players compete individually and their scores cannot count in calculating the team score (though they are included in the individual competition).

Exactly. Nonetheless, those women competing as individuals are still part of the team and their scores are an indication of the depth or lack there of of the team talent.

I'm guessing that's  the case with WG. They've got to recruit better and deeper.

I wish it were so.  This tournament:  Our players:  Tied 21st; Tied  41st; Tied 46st ; 76th, Tied 78th and 80th.  As a team we are last by 11 strokes.  It isn't even close.