|
Merrimack
Feb 28, 2020 15:14:33 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Feb 28, 2020 15:14:33 GMT -5
The attendance last night was 1404 in a gym that seats 1200. 204 people stood the whole game. Merrimack now offers D-1 BB, FB, Hockey and Baseball, joining the exclusive club HC, BC and other fine schools are in. I can't think of a single criticism of Merrimack Athletics. ALL their sports are now D-1...Men's and women's soccer, field hockey, have all been successful.....the school is growing in leaps and bounds....HC football opens there next season, take a road trip, an easy hour from Worcester.. I know you have to move lock, stock and barrel to your new division with a few exceptions. I was referring to the small club of schools that offer FB, BB, h, baseball because some of our D-1 opponents have dropped football or baseball or don't offer hockey so that shows a certain commitment by Merrimack and HC. It may be sensible for BU, Northeastern, Vermont, etc. to drop football and baseball, but I am proud of HC for Fielding teams. Actually have a trip planned to Merrimack for the FB game. Have a friend from that area who has made many trips down 495/290 to HC games and can now repay the favor.
|
|
|
Post by cfrivals on Feb 28, 2020 15:16:01 GMT -5
Football fields with a track around it scream small time / high school. What does a 3-29 BB team in the $93 Mil Luth Center Scream?
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 28, 2020 15:17:49 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Feb 28, 2020 15:17:49 GMT -5
Football fields with a track around it scream small time / high school. What does a 3-29 BB team in the $93 Mil Luth Center Scream? Not printable 😊
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 28, 2020 15:19:18 GMT -5
Football fields with a track around it scream small time / high school. What does a 3-29 BB team in the $93 Mil Luth Center Scream? "Wait 'til next year"
|
|
|
Post by WCHC Sports on Feb 28, 2020 15:24:16 GMT -5
What does a 3-29 BB team in the $93 Mil Luth Center Scream? "Wait 'til next year" The motto of the team for the last 25 years. I feel like the Mets.
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 28, 2020 15:31:29 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Feb 28, 2020 15:31:29 GMT -5
What does a 3-29 BB team in the $93 Mil Luth Center Scream? "Wait 'til next year" Better than the alternative.
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Feb 28, 2020 15:54:55 GMT -5
When we say the world of collegiate athletics has changed over the years, the emergence of Merrimack is a perfect example. Not so long ago they were nothing vis a vis HC. Now they're competing with HC for talent, players and coaches. Then multiply Merrimack by a hundred. HC must be totally aware of this phenomenon. I don't believe HC's PTB are. Do you really think that HC's PTB are that clueless--that they are not aware of what is going on with other colleges in New England, the Northeast, or the whole country for that matter? Do you think that a visitor to this board is more up to date on college developments than people who run a college for a living? Yes and Yes. The ONLY reason we have Luth is that a wealthy alum and his wife told TPTB that they wanted to spend tens of Millions on athletic facilities. Ask yourself. If that hadn't happened, do you believe HC would have elected to put in the time and energy required to come up with that amount of money the hard way, i.e., by going around begging for relatively small amounts of $$ at a time? Please keep that in mind before claiming that the Luth is definitive proof how committed TPTB at HC are to true athletic competitiveness and truly understand the rapidly changing environment. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Feb 28, 2020 16:23:12 GMT -5
Football fields with a track around it scream small time / high school. I prefer this one to Fitton (personally, I find our football stadium dilapidated and a bit of an over-sized eyesore but that may be just me).
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Feb 28, 2020 20:35:18 GMT -5
Are there plans to build a larger basketball facility at MC? 1,200 would seem to be a problem at some point.
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 28, 2020 21:29:45 GMT -5
via mobile
HC16 likes this
Post by Ignutz on Feb 28, 2020 21:29:45 GMT -5
Football fields with a track around it scream small time / high school. I prefer this one to Fitton (personally, I find our football stadium dilapidated and a bit of an over-sized eyesore but that may be just me). View AttachmentFitton certainly needs to be up-dated/up-graded, but I think your picture screams “small-time” - despite the fact that DC and HC are on similar planes.
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 28, 2020 21:42:15 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Feb 28, 2020 21:42:15 GMT -5
Do you really think that HC's PTB are that clueless--that they are not aware of what is going on with other colleges in New England, the Northeast, or the whole country for that matter? Do you think that a visitor to this board is more up to date on college developments than people who run a college for a living? Yes and Yes. The ONLY reason we have Luth is that a wealthy alum and his wife told TPTB that they wanted to spend tens of Millions on athletic facilities. Ask yourself. If that hadn't happened, do you believe HC would have elected to put in the time and energy required to come up with that amount of money the hard way, i.e., by going around begging for relatively small amounts of $$ at a time? Please keep that in mind before claiming that the Luth is definitive proof how committed TPTB at HC are to true athletic competitiveness and truly understand the rapidly changing environment. Thanks. I would lean toward TPTB are equally committed to HC Athletics as we are but with more responsibility on their shoulders. The Luths gave a huge gift but basically every urinal and closet is available for naming for the appropriate sized gift. I think the professional development folks, probably not the Trustees, sold the secondary gifts and would be happy to send out request after request for fifty bucks but that probably wouldn't keep up with inflation in construction costs while the small donations accumulated. If the Luths and others hadn't given the lion's share of the $93 million I agree the Luth wouldn't have been built. It just wouldn't have been responsible for the Trustees to have borrowed the bulk of the cost or to have raised tuition, or depleted the endowment or diverted the annual Holy Cross Fund or Crusader Athletic Fund.
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Feb 28, 2020 22:01:06 GMT -5
Yes and Yes. The ONLY reason we have Luth is that a wealthy alum and his wife told TPTB that they wanted to spend tens of Millions on athletic facilities. Ask yourself. If that hadn't happened, do you believe HC would have elected to put in the time and energy required to come up with that amount of money the hard way, i.e., by going around begging for relatively small amounts of $$ at a time? Please keep that in mind before claiming that the Luth is definitive proof how committed TPTB at HC are to true athletic competitiveness and truly understand the rapidly changing environment. Thanks. I would lean toward TPTB are equally committed to HC Athletics as we are but with more responsibility on their shoulders. The Luths gave a huge gift but basically every urinal and closet is available for naming for the appropriate sized gift. I think the professional development folks, probably not the Trustees, sold the secondary gifts and would be happy to send out request after request for fifty bucks but that probably wouldn't keep up with inflation in construction costs while the small donations accumulated. If the Luths and others hadn't given the lion's share of the $93 million I agree the Luth wouldn't have been built. It just wouldn't have been responsible for the Trustees to have borrowed the bulk of the cost or to have raised tuition, or depleted the endowment or diverted the annual Holy Cross Fund or Crusader Athletic Fund. If no Luth then no huge indoor field, no unprecedented practice basketball court, no larger weight room, no large film viewing room, no larger medical suite, no gleaming new locker rooms, etc. Do you think the absence of the Luth would have had a significant negative impact on recruiting? Many of the coaches and administrators have acknowledged the great positive impact Luth has had on recruiting. So if the Luth just didn't exist, you would be OK with TPTB's commitment to athletics. Correct?
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 28, 2020 22:34:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Feb 28, 2020 22:34:42 GMT -5
1) absence of the Luth would have a negative impact in recruiting but not so much it couldn't be overcome by a skilled coach like Ralph Willard or Coach Gallo at Merrimack. I think the Luth helps Coach Chesney the most and don't know if he could have overcome it's absense to win the PL in his second year but wouldn't bet against him because he won with only one full recruiting class of his on the field.
2) Would I be happy with TPTB commitment to Athletics without the Luth? About ten years ago I attended a meeting for class agents and the very sharp development official Maggie Bramley explained that TPTB were already planning something like the Luth because of the simple fact that HC had good outdoor athletic facilities, but because of the college calendar and the Worcester weather, much of the opportune time to use them were while school was out of session. Thus TPTB were committed to an upgrade of indoor training facilities to help all sports.
If the Luths didn't come forward the $93 million expansion of the Hart Center might not have been possible but TPTB were committed to upgraded indoor facilities to match the outdoor facilities that had been upgraded before then.
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Feb 28, 2020 23:07:37 GMT -5
They were planning it "ten years ago"? I rest my case.
|
|
|
Post by Crucis#1 on Feb 29, 2020 0:41:44 GMT -5
If I recall correctly regarding updates to athletic physical plant, during the “planning” phase of more than ten years ago, and before Fr.K field was built in 2009, several ideas were discussed under the administration of Fr. McFarland. The revised campus master plan provided to the trustees roughly ten years or so, called for a stand alone Indoor Facility on the plateau above Fitton Field on the site of the facilities maintenance building. The facility would have been similar to the indoor Bryant facility, and would have included new locker rooms for Fitton Field for Football, and locker rooms for Softball.
Over the next two years the master plan was changed from the original proposals to a comprehensive integrated complex. Fr. B took over in January of 2012 with additional changes being made to the conceptual design. By 2013 the decision was made to build an expanded facility as part of the Hart Center renovation to include not just a Basketball Practice Facility, but the facility now in operation. After Nate Pine arrived in 2014, additional changes were made to the proposal to enlarge the IPF from a 60 yard field to a 100 yard field, as well as modifications to the new Strength and Conditioning Center location.
Between the winter of 2014 and the late fall of 2015 additional gifts and financing for the complex were secured with the Luth’s providing the lead gift. The Luth’s gift was approximately a third of the total cost. Construction with shovels in the ground began in March 2016. The construction was delayed for a month during the PLT and the NCAA tournament to allow the Men’s team a place to practice in the Hart Center.
Citing a ten year delay is not accurate regarding the time line. The Luth was completed and dedicated in April of 2018.
Of note, in New England, only HC, UConn, Bryant and BC have indoor football practice facilities that can be used for field sports. Dartmouth’s is currently under construction. Except for UConn all have been built in the last five years.
|
|
|
Post by hc6774 on Feb 29, 2020 7:35:13 GMT -5
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 29, 2020 12:44:00 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Feb 29, 2020 12:44:00 GMT -5
In this category, Regional Universities North, Providence College is first, Bentley second, Fairfield third and PL member Loyola of Maryland is tied for fourth with the College of New Jersey. Why did Loyola join the PL over Fairfield? Was it a North/South compromise similar to adding new states before the Civil War?
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on Feb 29, 2020 14:12:49 GMT -5
Interesting! I had no idea that Merrimack was Catholic (Augustinian)!
|
|
|
Post by Crucis#1 on Feb 29, 2020 18:37:11 GMT -5
Why Loyola ?
Loyola’s Lacrosse Program was National Champions just before joining the Patriot League.
If Fairfield had retained there football team, they may have gotten the nod over BU.
|
|
|
Post by Crucis#1 on Feb 29, 2020 18:48:11 GMT -5
Interesting! I had no idea that Merrimack was Catholic (Augustinian)! The other Augustian school is Villanova. Attached is a list of all current, former and defunct Catholic Colleges and Universities. Interesting to see the list of former Catholic Colleges. RGS can you provide some information regarding Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry?
|
|
|
Post by MeatWilkerson on Feb 29, 2020 19:00:58 GMT -5
In this category, Regional Universities North, Providence College is first, Bentley second, Fairfield third and PL member Loyola of Maryland is tied for fourth with the College of New Jersey. Why did Loyola join the PL over Fairfield? Was it a North/South compromise similar to adding new states before the Civil War? Loyola b/c of Lax, Brah. How long till HC becomes a USNWR, Regional College? 3, 5, 10 years . . .
|
|
|
Merrimack
Feb 29, 2020 20:13:35 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 29, 2020 20:13:35 GMT -5
Stop the nonsense. Stop chumming the water
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Feb 29, 2020 20:47:02 GMT -5
Yes and Yes. The ONLY reason we have Luth is that a wealthy alum and his wife told TPTB that they wanted to spend tens of Millions on athletic facilities. Ask yourself. If that hadn't happened, do you believe HC would have elected to put in the time and energy required to come up with that amount of money the hard way, i.e., by going around begging for relatively small amounts of $$ at a time? Please keep that in mind before claiming that the Luth is definitive proof how committed TPTB at HC are to true athletic competitiveness and truly understand the rapidly changing environment. Thanks. I think that HC, being rampantlly and virulently top down, would have waited for Rome to check in and then made a decision. We are really just a Seminary masquerading as an institution of higher learning. Humorous, but how else do you administer a college? You have a board, you have a President/CEO and then you have stake holders like Faculty, students, alumni, who all know how to and enjoy rattling the cage of TPTB. In HC's case you have additional self appointed stake holders who use the college as a battleground over the ideology and morality of the Catholic Church. It is hard to be top down when you have all of the skilled parties threatening to withhold donations, hold sit-ins in O'Kane, declare the College non-Catholic, etc. Then if you have a parent who is paying $300,000 call you better listen hard, you can't afford to lose too many full payers. It's hard for TPTB to be virulent and rampant with all the checks and balances in place. Walking on egg shells while facing troubling demographic, technological and societal trends is more like it.
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Feb 29, 2020 23:11:28 GMT -5
longsuffering- Scratch below appearances to get at reality. Why doesn't HC have a lay person as President, as many other Jesuit colleges do? Do you know about the Reidy episode? That was a long time ago. But even then we knew that the pool of potential HC presidents, so long as it is limited to the Jesuits, is too small for a college with national aspirations.
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 29, 2020 23:56:21 GMT -5
Of course, if a qualified Jesuit is available, you'd support having him as the president, right?
|
|