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Wish I could be there. Pretty sick at the moment. It's not COVID, but feel like death warmed over. Watching at home.

This is Earnest's final year, I believe.  The extra COVID year was for 2019-2020, I believe, and she didn't start until 2020-2021. 

The extra COVID year was for 2020-21. She has an additional year of eligibility and I believe she will be taking it. She is the only senior without a banner up in the arena.

2020-21 was the season where players competed without fans. Valley schools played a strange schedule.

Only 5 minutes for Sepp? Did something happen?

Darnell Brodie happened.

 

Wow. The press release uses the term  "Latinx". 

I had the impression that the laugh out loud reaction to the term was even embarrassing to liberals by now who are major proponents.  It's being forced into the lexicon of the country without a lot of success.  How about just saying latinas and latinos?  Or is there a gender I am skipping? 

Now I am seeing the President of my alma mater use it.  One more concession to silliness in the identity olympics.

I lectured about something today in my Intro to Media course that I feel is apropos to this point. In 1968, Lyndon Johnson appointed the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. That commission partially dealt with media and television. What they found was that desensitization was one effect of long-term exposure to mass-media portrayals of violence. That we were so beaten down by the images that we saw on television that we became immune to them. As Aaron Sorkin has written in multiple shows, "wars are being broadcast with a logo and theme music."

Taking the opposite viewpoint of this, we're all so sensitive now. There are large groups that are sensitive to how they are referred to and there are large groups that are sensitive that they have to refer to people differently. I've always kind of shrugged my shoulders at it all. I don't understand why Latinos or Latinas want to be referred to as Latinx, but if that's their preference, fine, it doesn't cost me anything to change a letter. Are we to the point now that people are too sensitive about what they're called AND people are too sensitive about having to call people something else?

Just food for thought. I don't have the answers. I barely know the questions.

The level of interest in the Women's team has dropped off the cliff.  Attendance so far this season is averaging a little over 300 while Volleyball drew an average of a little over 500.  That's all about winning, or at least putting a competitive product on the floor.

Right now our "five out" strategy is getting out-rebounded by 10 a game and our 3 point shooting stands at 29%.  It's not going to work.

Hard to gauge attendance thus far. The team has played two regular-season home games. One of them came during Thanksgiving break and the other came on Reading Day. The team will have played 10 of their first 12 games away from home. Then four straight home games.

Re: Game #10 Valpo @ Virginia Tech 12/9 11 am CT
« Reply #14 on: Today at 11:26:55 AM »
Qu

He's been sick.

Other than an email, no marketing for this game. 

Why do we keep missing the boat here?  I wonder who is in charge of it?   Does someone own it at the university?

One of the previous post game interviews, you can tell Powell was frustrated with lack of attendance.   I hope the university is supporting him with the marketing.   

I think the issue here is all the different places where people can see marketing. Valpo is definitely hyping this game on social media. There have been numerous graphics made and they're all over Twitter and Instagram.

Love the post game press conferences this year. Much better than recent years. Fire me up. Who wouldn't want to play for Roger...

Great questions lead to great answers...

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/way-too-early-look-at-2024-valpo-f25

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/column-the-ending-is-the-hardest

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/tvb-thread-valparaiso-at-illinois/comments

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/thread-valparaiso-vs-green-bay/comments

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/column-retention-more-important-than

I know I've talked about this on the pod, but here are my thoughts on JFL.

If COVID never happens, JFL is back at Valpo. Here is my thinking. The team makes the Valley title game and comes up short. Players go home for spring break and are back on campus a week later. Offseason workouts begin with a focus on taking the next step. With Sackey and JFL as the experienced leaders, and Clay/Krikke as emerging talents along with Gordon and Robinson, the team has a real core of players. JFL sees that the team can grow together. Then you throw in Sheldon Edwards in the summer and here comes a freshman that will challenge JFL every day in practice. JFL is Preseason Valley First Team and is likely Player of the Year after AJ Green's injury.

What happens instead is everyone scatters after Valley title loss because of COVID. Players are stuck at home where JFL is around people who keep telling him to leave Valpo. He's not in the gym with his teammates. He's not meeting with the coaches. Instead, he decides to stay in the city and he transfers to DePaul. It's an up-and-down year and when the season ends, his coach gets fired. This has been alluded many times, but JFL was thisclose to coming back to Valpo. Conversations were had and I even went so far as to write a draft of a story that he was transferring back to Valpo. I had alerted my sports editor that such a story was coming "any day now." He wanted to come back, but was essentially (and incorrectly) blocked by DePaul. DePaul hires Stubblefield from Oregon and it becomes a moot point.

Point of all of it is, JFL maintained (and still has) a great relationship with Valpo and that coaching staff. He wanted to come back. If COVID never happens, I don't believe he ever leaves. It's just my opinion and it means nothing at the end of the day. JFL is a very private and quiet person, so I'm not sure that we'll ever get a public declaration of just how close he was to coming back. I'm thrilled that he's on the cusp of his NBA dream and I think the Bulls made a major error in letting him go.

Todd and I will definitely be doing an Over/Under podcast. We're set to record a week from today...after the exhibition game. This will easily be the most difficult year I've had to set categories.

pal - they need reporters being being a bit more critical on their performance. It sounds too much like a Bible study.

I think all of this gets even further complicated when you consider I'm the only reporter in there most of the time. The student newspaper typically has someone in the pressers, but it was Fall Break this weekend and the students were gone. In a press conference where there are a handful of reporters, you might get the chance to ask two or three questions, and you always have time to think about your questions while other reporters are asking theirs. As the only reporter in there, it's rapid fire. As soon as one answer is given, I'm on to asking the next question.

I agree, Paul. This is why I mentioned the awkward situation you find yourself as the only one to ask questions, even though you do a fine job. I thought of the fact that it was Fall Break, but you were the only questioner in the previous press conferences as well (plus any student paper of worth would guarantee a reporter at the university football game even during Fall Break), so that didn't seem a legitimate excuse for the lack of at least one student reporter to ask questions. Student sportswriters are missing the learning experience of participating in a press conference.

You're preaching to the choir.

pal - they need reporters being being a bit more critical on their performance. It sounds too much like a Bible study.

I'm going to respectfully disagree, and when I say respectfully, I truly mean it. Let me explain.

I absolutely, without question, believe that Valparaiso should've kicked the field goal to go up two scores. I was shocked they went for it on fourth down and I made that clear to anyone who was within earshot of me in the press box. I even went up to a former football player who was in the press box and asked him how a playcall like that gets made (Is it the OC who makes the call? Does Landon have veto power? Etc...)

I think if Valpo kicks the field goal there and goes up 17-7, the entire game plays out differently and Valparaiso probably wins. That's what I think.

I asked Landon about the decision in the press conference. It was an obvious question to ask, but still, I was mindful of how I asked it and here is why...Landon Fox is a Division I football coach. I am not. To pretend that I know more about football than Landon would be foolish. This is where the idea of being critical gets complicated. The job of the interviewer, in my opinion, is to 1) gain information 2) tap into someone's thoughts or emotions and 3) seek an expert's opinion. It is not my job to say "Landon, you screwed this one up."

I think all of this gets even further complicated when you consider I'm the only reporter in there most of the time. The student newspaper typically has someone in the pressers, but it was Fall Break this weekend and the students were gone. In a press conference where there are a handful of reporters, you might get the chance to ask two or three questions, and you always have time to think about your questions while other reporters are asking theirs. As the only reporter in there, it's rapid fire. As soon as one answer is given, I'm on to asking the next question.

There have been plenty of things I've disagreed with that Valpo coaches have done over the years. Substitution patterns, style of play, timeout usage etc. I also know they have far more expertise in those matters than I do.

So, when a decision happens that I disagree with, I'll continue to ask the question to gain information, to tap into their emotions and to get an expert's opinion. I probably won't criticize them while I'm at it.

I am not sure it was addressed in the press conference on the decision to go for it on fourth down instead of the sensible decision to kick the FG and be up by 10. Is the media soft? Are they concerned Cox will let out his inner Ditka?

Did you watch the press conference? Did you read the story? What are you not sure about?

https://www.thevictorybell.com/p/morning-madness

Jernegan out for the year.

https://www.flyingmango.com/  excellent bbq
https://luckyhorsedsm.com/   good pub and food
https://thelibrarydm.com/  fun place, old school pub
https://www.noahsarkdesmoines.com/   serious old school italian
https://drakediner.com/

these are all nearby. Let me know what you like and I can assist.

This may change Pgmado's mind. There are no Brewers' bars, just Cubs (mostly) and Cardinals' bars.

Oh, wait, no need to worry about that. The NLCentral division has totally flunked out of the MLB playoffs as usual.

Sadly my check engine light came on while driving near the Illinois/Iowa state line. Currently sitting at the dealership in Davenport having my car looked at. Certainly won't make the start of the football game, if getting to Des Moines at all.

Valpo 20
Drake 14

Gut feeling, big win in beautiful Des Moines and historic Drake Stadium. Fan base May be limited as Iowa and Iowa State have home games.

I cannot make it to the game this time, but If making the trip, feel free to ask about things to do and the restaurants. I would be more than happy to assist.

I'm hoping to make the trip for the first time. Football plays on Saturday and soccer plays on Sunday. It makes sense.

should Valpo bench Appel after that game. We are talking 5 INTs, which is simply unacceptable

Sometimes stats tell the true and sometimes stats lie. Looking forward to going deeper on the tape on this one.

The unreliable snaps were a problem, I agree, but Apple needs to move.  It was cringe worthy watching him get sacked 5 times.  And maybe bring an extra QB back up (have 3 instead of 2).  It was also hard to watch our WR, TE wide open but Apple getting sacked.  We were the better team. 

There were at least four quarterbacks on the travel roster yesterday. I saw Keefe and Tyler on the sideline in addition to Jackson.

Did anyone see the Facebook release image of the non-Conference schedule?   I don't know the names of the players anymore.   Was the featured guy a senior?   Just curious.  I think I might have chosen to feature brand new coach Powell in a blazer or something with a bit of pizzazz.

Leading returning scorer Connor Barrett.