Patrick Bateman
Well-known member
I disagree that you need those things to have a high level of success but that's fine.
Bottom line is you aren't going to get those things unless you achieve a level of success that brings the excitement back to UC hoops. The university wouldn't be spending money on Nippert renovation if the football team were 7-4 every year and made a mid level bowl game. It took several years of sustained success on a large scale to get to this point with football. We achieved top national rankings, won multiple conference championships and made two BCS bowl games. All things that anyone would have told you were impossible before Brian Kelly stepped foot on this campus.
It's kind of like the chicken and the egg argument only there is a definitive answer to this question. I'd love to have all those things you listed above but we aren't going to get them until this program proves it's worth. Maybe to some of you it has but obviously there are a lot of people out there who aren't convinced. Most importantly, the big donors, the guys who have the planes and rent out the luxury suites and support the program financially aren't sold yet either.
Currently we're on the right track to getting to that point. Probably more now than at any point in Mick's tenure here at UC things are looking hopeful. Mick needs to sustain this level though and show that he can continue to improve. Once he proves it and sustains his success he'll get the buy in from the community. Once that happens you'll start to see him get the things you've listed above.
The univeristy is spending money on Nippert as an investment to get to a P5 conference and out of the AAC. The team went to a mid level bowl the past 2 years. All those years in the Big East and UL, Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers all passed UC up leaving UC and UConn in the AAC. UL left a trail of smoke and we can't see them anymore, literally after this year.
If we are on track then why was there an article a few weeks ago about Mick saying he needs fan support? That even the university across town has things that he doesn't? How can he recruit and get these top tier players when he doesn't have the fan base, facilities to compete? He will get one here and there like Lance and Lawrence but to get them on a regular basis Mick needs better resources. Bringing a recruit to 5/3 then having that same recruit go to Fed Ex arena or MSG to visit St.J where do you think they will be more impressed?
The basketball team and Cronin have proved their worth. They have been to 3 straight NCAA's and the donors and fans are still not interested. Indiana went through tough times, their fans never stopped showing, their donors never stopped giving, they got top flight recruits.