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Unless there has been a recent change, the Pep Band is controlled by the athletics department.  The music department has wanted nothing to do with it.  Not even sure they suggest talented vocalists to sing our national anthem.  I believe the athletics department tried paying musicians to be in the band this year but attendance was still sporadic.

There seems to be a lot of discussion about the "Harvard of the Midwest" description.  Without looking up the history of the phrase, my recollection is that the term was used by one of the New York dailies during the days under Brown's leadership.  As I recall, this was the period when enrollment, boosted by a calendar featuring 7-week terms, hit 5,000 and the comment may have related as much to the size of the school as the quality although it probably was a combination of both.  Regardless, the University attracted attention of the New York press. I have seen the newspaper quote but don't recall if it is one of the histories published about Valpo or elsewhere.

Noted at the bottom of Part I.  Let's honor the request:

Part II of Humanity on the Hot Seat will run on Friday morning and will only be available to paid subscribers.

Welcome back, WH.

A grad is on the staff:  Jack "Jarnigan was a four-year starter at center for Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana from. In the 2019 season, Jarnigan earned the honor of being the Crusaders' captain. Jarnigan also helped oversee the Valparaiso community service efforts from the spring of 2017 until he graduated with his master's degree in the fall of 2019."

THE "SCRIMMAGE" IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 

valpo tundra, My comments also are based on observations over his years at Valpo.  Clearly there will be conflicts that prevent him from being two places at once but it's my observation that he makes it to most home events, although perhaps not staying for the entire event.

Replying to valpo tundra: MLB is often seen at many home events in all sports.  Probably makes all home football and basketball games, but he's also been to cross country, swimming, volleyball, softball, baseball, etc.  I haven't seen him with poms, though.

Have gun will travel reads the card of a man. Have gun will travel...Paladin! 

Could it be that Loyola underclassmen entering the transfer portal means they see limited playing time because two seniors will elect to stay for another year?

I don't believe they made it into a regular season NBA game, but both Lubos Barton and Ron Howard played in the summer league, clearly getting the chance for a good look from NBA personnel.  Further support for vuny's comments.  Not sure if Raitis played in the summer league although he may have received an invitation.  And, of course, among those who didn't stay, Brandon Wood played in the G League where Ron was a fixture. 

Better than the combination that yields Grown (as in Groan) although...

As someone pointed out after the Loyola mess, we have not been moving without the ball.  Tonight that was much better and Clay got several shots under the basket when he kept moving and someone (often Sackey) found him.  Loved the movement most of the game.

I agree with WH.  I also watched the Butler-Creighton game and Butler's defensive intensity made them the dominant team the first half, a letdown early in the second half coupled with better defense by Creighton let Creighton back in the game before Butler regained some of its defensive mindset.  Good defense set up the offense, something we were doing by tournament time last year, aided by the seniors who provided the leadership if not the steals (of JFL).  Until we have the continuity of practices to improve our defense, we will struggle against good teams.

How about Trappers?

For the cynic  - program is trapped in a dark hole
For the optimist - coming to the ARC to play Valpo is a trap
For the generalist - The Kankakee Valley area once was fertile ground for trappers/traders.

For the critics of these thoughts - lighten up 

Darius' 6-9 teammate headed to Southern Illinois.  Other teammates to Oklahoma State and Seton Hall.  Numerous other signees off his team including to Fort Wayne, Youngstown and Northeastern.

Some thoughts about the last two questions:
1.  I believe Heckler was to serve until Sept. 1, but Irwin-Knott was selected as interim president prior to that, beginning her service after Heckler leaves, hence interim president elect.
2.  The pandemic has made recruitment of many executives difficult, both for medical reasons and for the uncertainties about the economy.  It's my understanding that the three finalists invited to visit campus in the spring did not sufficiently impress the faculty.  Thus, the restart with a different search firm.  Actually it might be a good time to have an alumna with a background in finance and debt management at the helm.  She also might be more effective in giving an honest overview of the University's finances to presidential candidates.
3.  Not a time to panic.

Sam Vinson may be a point guard from Highland High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.  It appears he is one of the leading scorers in the state.

Not sure who played drums with the band at the last home game, but a frequent drummer with the band is Chuck Garber, assistant chief of the campus police.

Thanks for your input 2010 and for the explanation why the band looks so large in the photos posted.  I may overstated the fact about the music faculty discouraging participation in the Pep Band, but the department clearly doesn't promote it.  Our fans need to understand that at many schools, if not most, the Pep Band is staffed by the music department and probably offers ensemble credit for participation.  This is true at schools our size (e.g. Butler) as well as the larger tax-supported universities where the marching bands also are department promoted.

I believe it's been stated before, but the music department has nothing to do with the Pep Band and may, in fact, discourage participation in by students in other music ensembles.  The director is hired by the athletics department (or at least used to be) and the members are volunteers.  Unless the music department gets behind it, I think we need to be happy if we get 25 students in the band.

Northern Idaho listed him as a red shirt freshman during the season he played there and our media profile of him says he redshirted a year at Northern Idaho and played a year.

Chicago Tribune takes note of the Tuesday game.  No way is it under the radar.  I suspect Loyola feels this is the game that they reestablish themselves as the league's best.

http://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/html5/desktop/production/default.aspx?pubid=3e7227b1-e3b7-4fac-aa07-5f943e58b4c5

UIC also was University of Illinois - Chicago Circle, I believe.

Per the NCAA web site, the D II tournament will be in Evansville 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 while the D III tournament will be in Fort Wayne those years.