Valpo: #246 again and again

[crusaderjoe]

Good Morning.  I FINALLY found a place to express my  regarding VU football.  As this is my first reply/post, please forgive the long windedness.

As a former Crusader from back in the Walt Reiner era and living half-way across the country low these many years I have watched the ups and downs of the football program from afar.  But I had not gone back to the campus in over 40 years, so I couldn't see how things were going for myself.... at least until the 2009 Marist game in Poughkeepsie that I finally was able to attend - a 0-24 loss.  I've been back to campus since and attended the Marist game again yesterday.  I got a chance to see things for myself, chat with some parents and draw some conclusions. It was a long drive home which gave me lots of time to organize my thoughts. Then, by accident, I found all of you guys. So here are my thoughts after reading through most of the FB posts with my morning coffee

I believe FB program success revolves around the following life-cycle:

Identify talented players
Attract talented players
Develop those players
Establish appropriate (O & D) systems for team competitive success
Coach up players within the chosen systems
Retain players

I believe the current program, in the last year and a half,  has brought some strengths to bear on some of those elements, but in some areas it is still handicapped.  I believe the identification process has improved and the process to get talented players to consider Valpo is much better than in the past.  I also see an effort to get a consistent weight program in place for player development and a general structure that is more attuned to a DI program.

HOWEVER, I also compare VU with what I have observed and learned about other PFL programs.  What I have concluded is that the rest of the league is pulling away from Valpo in terms of commitment.  Existing facilities at the Drakes, Marists, Campbells, Daytons of this world were always better than Brown Field.  Now Jacksonville just completed installation of their new track around their FB field to complete that facility and Butler has just opened a large, new press box and expanded the seating at Butler Bowl. The league is expanding to Stetson and Mercer, both located in the football crazy southeast which will make being competitive in the league, much less against FCS scholarship programs, even tougher.    In the meantime some talented recent recruits have bailed on the program, the losses continue to pile up, and finger pointing has begun.

So where is VU at this point in terms of attracting and retaining talented players?  I went to Brown Field for a game this year:  No new track, puddles in the grass separating the playing field from the stands (where the track might go but now kind of isolates the game from the fans).  The home side stands are not visually impressive, smaller than some HS stadiums, and getting rusty.  The press box is kind of small.  In short,  it's not a DI FCS facility.  While there is a weight training facility, I understand that there really is no weight training facility that can support a program that has nearly 100 players on the roster (note that the facilities section of the VU Athletics web site does NOT highlight any weight room).  So if I'm a good football player, willing to pay my own way, and I visited VU facilities and - to select one close-by - Butler's, where would I go?  There are kids on the VU roster from Florida:  VU or Stetson or Jacksonville? Good Lutheran player from the northeast - VU or Marist? My son played at a DIII school in the northeast -- their facilities and the facilities of the other schools in the same league far surpass Valpo's.

In addition to academic reputation, course of study and campus culture and attractiveness, the attraction, development and retention of good football players is closely tied to facilities.  Homer could recruit good BB players because he had the ARC and the connected basketball offices etc. to show.  The turf field (sans track) and scoreboard are a start, but a new mascot and a blow-up arch isn't quite enough.  Kroencke Hall is not quite enough. The current (as well as past) staff can only do so much with this handicap.  Stacy Adams, in a local newspaper interview recently mentioned how his HS fb program at East Chicago (Central?) HS will have better weight training, practice and playing facilities than Valpo's.

Now as far as coaching systems and coaching the players within the system of choice -- that's another debate.  But it is also noteworthy to remember that with good talent, any system can work and bad coaching decisions can be overcome.

I believe that if VU wants to be even marginally competitive in the PFL, it must invest more in the program including upgrading the facilities.  The university cannot afford to wait until the hospital is demolished years down the road.  It can't wait to finally install the track that has been on the drawing boards for a decade.  It needs to expand and improve the weight training facility, and on and on.  The reason it can't wait is that , as many of you have indicated, ESPN FCS FB score crawler is killing us in terms of public perception and it is embarrassing..

I wish that Mark LaBarbera and Coach Carlson (as well as T&F and MSO and WSO) would (a) bury FIT and (b) start all over immediately by pull together a comprehensive athletic alumi campaign to fund these things. By creating  "Brown Field at Alumni Stadium" (sorry, my vision) expanding an upgraded training facility not only would FB benefit, but so would the track program as well as men's and women's soccer.

I agree with 99.5% of what you wrote--particularly that FITT should be abandoned.  But I disagree with you when you wrote the following:  "Homer could recruit good BB players because he had the ARC and the connected basketball offices etc. to show."  To me, that comment implies that the ARC is of such D-I quality that it actually serves as an asset to recruiting.  IMO, the reverse is actually in place.  The ARC is a crap facility that hinders recruiting.  I think Homer Drew brought recruits here because of the person he was and the program he ran, and not because of the facilities that he had within his disposal to sell.  Just like Brown Field has its issues comparatively to the rest of the PFL, so too does the ARC as far as venues are concerned in the HL.

[vu72]

Well crusaderjoe, you may be right about the basketball facilities, but at least one top 100 recruit seems to disagree.

Here is part of what Erick Locke had to say about his visit:

Class of 2014 Chicago Brooks guard Erick Locke visited Valparaiso on Wednesday night and left campus with a scholarship offer.  The visit was an enjoyable one for the sophomore.

"They showed me around the facilities.  We got to see the gym, watch practice, and workouts.  I was able to see what their schedule was like during the day."

He set down with Valparaiso Head Coach Bryce Drew and was offered a scholarship.

"After they showed me around I went in the office and talked to Coach Drew with my dad.  He talked about some of the things they are trying to do as a program long term development wise for the players and facilities.  He extended the offer mid way through his speech.  I appreciated it because it is a great school and the facilities are overwhelming."

What was Locke's reaction?

"I am very ecstatic over the offer.  I could definitely see myself playing there in the years to come.  I can't predict where I am going to be in a few years, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Valparaiso ."

[valpofan56]

Well crusaderjoe, you may be right about the basketball facilities, but at least one top 100 recruit seems to disagree.

Here is part of what Erick Locke had to say about his visit:

Class of 2014 Chicago Brooks guard Erick Locke visited Valparaiso on Wednesday night and left campus with a scholarship offer.  The visit was an enjoyable one for the sophomore.

"They showed me around the facilities.  We got to see the gym, watch practice, and workouts.  I was able to see what their schedule was like during the day."

He set down with Valparaiso Head Coach Bryce Drew and was offered a scholarship.

"After they showed me around I went in the office and talked to Coach Drew with my dad.  He talked about some of the things they are trying to do as a program long term development wise for the players and facilities.  He extended the offer mid way through his speech.  I appreciated it because it is a great school and the facilities are overwhelming."

What was Locke's reaction?

"I am very ecstatic over the offer.  I could definitely see myself playing there in the years to come.  I can't predict where I am going to be in a few years, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Valparaiso ."

Wow, you talk about coaches putting a spin in a post game write-up.  "We got to see the gym" implies nothing about whether he liked it or not, just that he was there.  The other quote you bolded for us, "I appreciated it because it is a great school and the facilities are overwhelming," is nothing short of ambiguous.  To begin with, the word overwhelming does not mean quality as in: I went down to the ghetto yesterday and was overwhelmed with the conditions.  Also, if you are to assume that he went overwhelming in a positive way, which he likely did, I'm hardly convinced he was referring to the basketball facilities at all.  He was talking about the quality of the school in the same sentence.  Maybe the overwhelming facilities he was referring to were the new engineering wing and the library or chapel, etc.

[wh]

Well crusaderjoe, you may be right about the basketball facilities, but at least one top 100 recruit seems to disagree.

Here is part of what Erick Locke had to say about his visit:

Class of 2014 Chicago Brooks guard Erick Locke visited Valparaiso on Wednesday night and left campus with a scholarship offer.  The visit was an enjoyable one for the sophomore.

"They showed me around the facilities.  We got to see the gym, watch practice, and workouts.  I was able to see what their schedule was like during the day."

He set down with Valparaiso Head Coach Bryce Drew and was offered a scholarship.

"After they showed me around I went in the office and talked to Coach Drew with my dad.  He talked about some of the things they are trying to do as a program long term development wise for the players and facilities.  He extended the offer mid way through his speech.  I appreciated it because it is a great school and the facilities are overwhelming."

What was Locke's reaction?

"I am very ecstatic over the offer.  I could definitely see myself playing there in the years to come.  I can't predict where I am going to be in a few years, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Valparaiso ."

Wow, you talk about coaches putting a spin in a post game write-up.  "We got to see the gym" implies nothing about whether he liked it or not, just that he was there.  The other quote you bolded for us, "I appreciated it because it is a great school and the facilities are overwhelming," is nothing short of ambiguous.  To begin with, the word overwhelming does not mean quality as in: I went down to the ghetto yesterday and was overwhelmed with the conditions.  Also, if you are to assume that he went overwhelming in a positive way, which he likely did, I'm hardly convinced he was referring to the basketball facilities at all.  He was talking about the quality of the school in the same sentence.  Maybe the overwhelming facilities he was referring to were the new engineering wing and the library or chapel, etc.

I think most people would agree that our basketball and football facilities are woefully inferior to our competitors.  Notice I said inferior, not inadaquate.  Needlessly extravagant athletic facilities permeate the landscape at every level of education, including the Horizon League.  It is one of the biggest wastes of taxpayer dollars in the public sector and donor dollars in the private sector.  It feeds an attitude of self indulgence, elitism and entitlement among student athletes.  It has created a "facilities race" that has spiraled out of control and is putting the future of higher education in peril.  How much longer are private universities like Valpo going to be able to keep up with this insanity before it literally prices itself out of business? 

Following is an article from NCAA. org entitled "Facilities Arms Race" that addresses this very topic. 

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Issues/Commercialism/Facilities+arms+race

I found another good article entitled "As I See It: Colleges, hospitals are today's cathedrals" which addresses the extravagance in academic and medical facilities:

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_5978c5d4-82ac-11e0-8529-001cc4c002e0.html

I don't know where or how this is going to end, but somehow we need to return to some sense of reasonableness over extravagance. 

[crusaderjoe]

Wouldn't it have been better if Locke had said "We got to see the arena" instead of saying "we got to see the gym"?  That subtle distinction spoke volumes.

[vu72]

Wouldn't it have been better if Locke had said "We got to see the arena" instead of saying "we got to see the gym"?  That subtle distinction spoke volumes.

So now we are picking at the choice of words from a sophomore in high school?

Locke is a very highly regarded kid as are our current verbals Nick Davidson and Clay Yeo. Apparently we can garner interest without benefit of an "arena".

I'm not suggesting for a moment that improved facilities aren't  needed or helpful.  The track is an obvious need and an embarrassment as it now stands. basketball is a different situation. Do we have a dedicated practice facility just for men's basketball in a separate building complete with weight training and leather chairs for lounging while watching videos and sipping ice tea?  No. do we have a separate practice court, dedicated weight room for basketball and new floor and new video board?  Yes.  Are more changes on the way?  Yep.

Why athletes pick Valpo over other institutions is a very good question. Academics play a big part and coaching another very important part.  I'm guessing that a player who witnessed a Valpo-Butler game or Valpo-Missouri State game at the ARC, came away with excitement over the atmosphere versus sitting at an "arena" that was half full.

[wh]

I'm guessing that a player who witnessed a Valpo-Butler game or Valpo-Missouri State game at the ARC, came away with excitement over the atmosphere versus sitting at an "arena" that was half full.

On a good day at most HL schools - in fact, on a VERY good day...

[crusaderjoe]

A "gym" garners interest.  An "arena" closes.  Which of the two makes the recruiting process easier for the staff?

And by the way, I get it now.  You're free to use the kid's language to bolster your argument at your convenience while at the same time not offering me the same courtesy.  Thanks for clearing that up.

And regarding the "half full/half empty arena vs. gym distinction", wonderful, the ARC was full against Butler and MO State.  The atmosphere was electric.  Great.  Did those games garner interest from recruits?  Sure.  From a revenue standpoint, so what?  All things being equal, given its size, a 100% filled to capacity ARC brings in the same amount of revenue as a 50% filled Hinkle Fieldhouse, a 71% filled UIC Pavilion, or a 48% filled Nutter Center.  Those facilities may not always be full but at least I can buy a ticket to watch the game behind a basket at any of the aforementioned facilities without having the need to stand on a walking track for the entire game.

[sectionee]

I don't know...I'd rather stand on the track of a rockin' packed gym then have an entire row to myself anytime I want.

[bbtds]

And regarding the "half full/half empty arena vs. gym distinction", wonderful, the ARC was full against Butler and MO State.  The atmosphere was electric.  Great.  Did those games garner interest from recruits?  Sure.  From a revenue standpoint, so what?  All things being equal, given its size, a 100% filled to capacity ARC brings in the same amount of revenue as a 50% filled Hinkle Fieldhouse, a 71% filled UIC Pavilion, or a 48% filled Nutter Center.  Those facilities may not always be full but at least I can buy a ticket to watch the game behind a basket at any of the aforementioned facilities without having the need to stand on a walking track for the entire game.

Actually Butler is getting $29 this year for it's cheapest ticket and $40 for most of their seats which I don't think that VU comes close to charging for their seats. So Butler probably reaps more revenue than VU even when Hinkle Fieldhouse is 50% filled. 

[valporun]

The other thought with the Butler and Missouri St. games, whenever ESPN is in town to broadcast said games, it will bring out the crowd and the college kids with their "HI MOM/DAD!!! SEND MONEY" signs. The only way you'll really get a good indicator of your team's attendance being viable is if the opponent coming into your building is also going to being a travel crowd, and pique the interest of the hometown fans. Having the hometown fans in the stands helps give the recruit an idea of the fans he'll play in front of, but the scheduled team playing also has something major to do with that indication for the recruit.

[agibson]

From a revenue standpoint, so what?  All things being equal, given its size, a 100% filled to capacity ARC brings in the same amount of revenue as a 50% filled Hinkle Fieldhouse, a 71% filled UIC Pavilion, or a 48% filled Nutter Center. 

Does this actually make sense, from a revenue perspective?  I mean, if the building's free, it's one thing.  And maybe, sometimes, you do to tap into a large gift from a donor who wouldn't otherwise have given the money.   But, if you have to _construct_ the arena, how many seasons of 50% filled seats does it take to pay for it?