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Post by bfoley82 on Jan 17, 2023 13:10:43 GMT -5
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 18, 2023 3:40:04 GMT -5
The Anderson’s are “Whale” Benefactors to the St. Thomas University. They have give a very large amount to ensure the school’s athletic success. Did you read the price tag for the project….$175 million. 🤑. The architectural renderings provide an extensive and beautiful facility. I could not find the projected seating size for either basketball or hockey. Wise move to combine the venue, along with a new practice venue for the basketball team. With an enrollment of over 9,000 students, the venue will hold 5,000 seats. As with any planned college or university construction projects, there is neighborhood headwinds. Three buildings will be demolished on the campus to accommodate the new facility expected to open in 2025. It will be a smaller version of Conte Forum, but will also have a second ice sheet for practice. Seems St. Thomas and Sacred Heart are on similar paths. St. Thomas will be playing Harvard football in a home and home series beginning this September in Cambridge, with a return trip to St. Paul in 2029. Would like to see HC on their schedule for football, basketball and hockey in the future. Their colors and athletic logo looks familiar in design. 😳 www.mprnews.org/story/2023/01/17/university-of-st-thomas-announces-75-million-donation-toward-new-oncampus-arena |
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Jan 18, 2023 8:26:05 GMT -5
The Tommies are going all in on athletics.
Their football team is already tops in the PFL and I imagine they will be looking for a league change at some point soon.
Their basketball team is 13-8 in their second season as a D1 program.
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 18, 2023 8:43:57 GMT -5
We have an expression in my family: "And this affects me, how?"
Point is, how does the activities of a school in Minnesota building/not building a facility in which we will never play (at least very highly unlikely) affect the fortunes of Holy Cross and , more specifically, Holy Cross athletics? Been to Minnesota numerous times and the people are among the best you'll find in the U.S. - "midwest values" and all that. But, really. Another attempted shot at Holy Cross athletics department and administration? Sacred Heart? OK, makes sense. They are "local" and we play them. St. Thomas? Nope.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 18, 2023 10:25:39 GMT -5
I would not so quickly dismiss St. Thomas regarding being on the HC radar for scheduling at some point in the near future. As mentioned great location for a game to spread the Holy Cross umbrella in the mid west.
Harvard is playing St. Thomas this September in Cambridge, with a return trip to Minnesota in 2029. Guess Merrimack gave Harvard too tough a game last year, so instead of the NEC, Harvard is scheduling a PFL team.
In 2017, their Coach, Glenn Caruso, was on a prospective watch list when candidates were being interviewed for the HC job. Doubt that he would come east as he seems intrenched in St. Paul, as he has been at St. Thomas since January 2008. St. Thomas will be projected in the top 25 FCS teams, and once they are eligible could very well be a future opponent in the playoffs.
Just like Sacred Heart, nice to see a Catholic University with a “can do” attitude in making a major D1 upgrade to their facilities from D3. Both schools needed on campus ice facilities to compete in D1. Since I am a campus facilities geek, I like seeing what is being built, particularly at small to mid range private institutions.
HC has other priorities at the moment regarding Student Housing to accommodate a larger population. Let’s see what the new Campus Master Plan will unveil.
Now the real question…When will Univ of New Hampshire and University of Vermont upgrade their facilities that were built when Wooly Mammoths 🦣 traveled in the Green and White Mountains. 😂
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Post by trimster on Jan 18, 2023 10:56:15 GMT -5
The Tommies seem to have a clear vision of what a successful D1 athletic program can do for a college/university. It would be refreshing to know a real vision for HC Athletics exists. Perhaps our new President and AD have one. As always, time will tell.
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Post by bfoley82 on Jan 18, 2023 11:05:32 GMT -5
We have an expression in my family: "And this affects me, how?" Point is, how does the activities of a school in Minnesota building/not building a facility in which we will never play (at least very highly unlikely) affect the fortunes of Holy Cross and , more specifically, Holy Cross athletics? Been to Minnesota numerous times and the people are among the best you'll find in the U.S. - "midwest values" and all that. But, really. Another attempted shot at Holy Cross athletics department and administration? Sacred Heart? OK, makes sense. They are "local" and we play them. St. Thomas? Nope. St Thomas was just recently a D-3 power and already making quick inroads in the D-1 world. They hired a top notch hockey coach that had multiple Frozen Four appearances on his resume and they were already playing some football games at the Twins stadium. This affects Holy Cross because they are another D-1 hockey program that is getting a new facility but also St Thomas is in CCHA. |
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Post by bfoley82 on Jan 18, 2023 11:14:46 GMT -5
I would not so quickly dismiss St. Thomas regarding being on the HC radar for scheduling at some point in the near future. As mentioned great location for a game to spread the Holy Cross umbrella in the mid west. Harvard is playing St. Thomas this September in Cambridge, with a return trip to Minnesota in 2029. Guess Merrimack gave Harvard too tough a game last year, so instead of the NEC, Harvard is scheduling a PFL team. In 2017, their Coach, Glenn Caruso, was on a prospective watch list when candidates were being interviewed for the HC job. Doubt that he would come east as he seems intrenched in St. Paul, as he has been at St. Thomas since January 2008. St. Thomas will be projected in the top 25 FCS teams, and once they are eligible could very well be a future opponent in the playoffs. Just like Sacred Heart, nice to see a Catholic University with a “can do” attitude in making a major D1 upgrade to their facilities from D3. Both schools needed on campus ice facilities to compete in D1. Since I am a campus facilities geek, I like seeing what is being built, particularly at small to mid range private institutions. HC has other priorities at the moment regarding Student Housing to accommodate a larger population. Let’s see what the new Campus Master Plan will unveil. Now the real question…When will Univ of New Hampshire and University of Vermont upgrade their facilities that were built when Wooly Mammoths 🦣 traveled in the Green and White Mountains. 😂 Good question but UNH's renovation for six million to the hockey facility happened over the summer www.unionleader.com/sports/college/whittemore-center-rink-shrink-plan-to-reduce-the-ice-surface-is-underway/article_685fd5b0-2da1-5a4f-a0bf-bfed0149b378.html |
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 18, 2023 11:21:18 GMT -5
I stand by my original post. We can agree to disagree, agreeably, as always. Let me know when they are on our schedule in any sport. [just like I put virtually no stock in 'verbal" recruits - let me know when they sign the NLI. Just me. Maybe old age creeping slowly into my bones.]
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 18, 2023 11:50:33 GMT -5
The new FCS Catholic Football League….Holy Cross, St. Thomas, Sacred Heart, Merrimack, Fordham, UIW, Villanova, Stonehill, Georgetown, San Diego. St. Francis.
Will never happen, but will be interesting to see which teams will intersect in the next ten years.
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Post by trimster on Jan 18, 2023 13:34:37 GMT -5
I stand by my original post. We can agree to disagree, agreeably, as always. Let me know when they are on our schedule in any sport. [just like I put virtually no stock in 'verbal" recruits - let me know when they sign the NLI. Just me. Maybe old age creeping slowly into my bones.] It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Tommies appeared on multiple schedules this decade. |
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Post by bfoley82 on Jan 18, 2023 13:37:28 GMT -5
I stand by my original post. We can agree to disagree, agreeably, as always. Let me know when they are on our schedule in any sport. [just like I put virtually no stock in 'verbal" recruits - let me know when they sign the NLI. Just me. Maybe old age creeping slowly into my bones.] It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Tommies appeared on multiple schedules this decade. Especially with Men's Hockey having roughly 60 plus teams..... |
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Post by Tom on Jan 18, 2023 15:02:50 GMT -5
We have an expression in my family: "And this affects me, how?" Point is, how does the activities of a school in Minnesota building/not building a facility in which we will never play (at least very highly unlikely) affect the fortunes of Holy Cross and , more specifically, Holy Cross athletics? Been to Minnesota numerous times and the people are among the best you'll find in the U.S. - "midwest values" and all that. But, really. Another attempted shot at Holy Cross athletics department and administration? Sacred Heart? OK, makes sense. They are "local" and we play them. St. Thomas? Nope. I think the relevance is that people think I should be sainted - preferably without the whole needing to be dead first requirement |
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 18, 2023 15:08:39 GMT -5
Now, why didn't I think of that?!  Your honor, I withdraw my objection. |
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Jan 18, 2023 17:20:51 GMT -5
St. Thomas football won the Pioneer League this year -- it's first in DI -- but was ineligible for the NCAA tournament so Davidson got the auto-bid. Will be interesting to see if they decide to go scholarship in football.
I think they're 5 year plan would be to get into the Missouri Valley Conference for basketball. And the 25 year plan might be to become a potential Big East candidate, being located in MSP media market.
Hockey is the dominant college sport in Minnesota -- have to imagine they'll be very competitive.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Jan 18, 2023 17:22:34 GMT -5
I stand by my original post. We can agree to disagree, agreeably, as always. Let me know when they are on our schedule in any sport. [just like I put virtually no stock in 'verbal" recruits - let me know when they sign the NLI. Just me. Maybe old age creeping slowly into my bones.] It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Tommies appeared on multiple schedules this decade. They have a home-and-home scheduled with Harvard in football for 2024 and 2025. I actually saw them lose to Fordham in OT in one of their first ever basketball games as a DI program last year. And then this year I got to see Stonehill beat Holy Cross in the same gym. |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jan 19, 2023 9:47:25 GMT -5
St. Thomas University has 10,000 students, its endowment per student is anout a fifth of Holy Cross'. It has about $350 million in long-term debt. The new venue is very nice, but the seating capacity appears to be dictated by ice hockey, The venue will seat 4,000 for ice hockey, 5,000 for hoops. Total cost of $175 million Lee Anderson has an interesting life story. He is also a generous benefactor of USMA, from which he graduated. At age 83, his very generous philanthropy may be coming to an end. horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/lee-r-anderson-sr |
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Post by bfoley82 on Jan 19, 2023 13:33:35 GMT -5
St. Thomas University has 10,000 students, its endowment per student is anout a fifth of Holy Cross'. It has about $350 million in long-term debt. The new venue is very nice, but the seating capacity appears to be dictated by ice hockey, The venue will seat 4,000 for ice hockey, 5,000 for hoops. Total cost of $175 million Lee Anderson has an interesting life story. He is also a generous benefactor of USMA, from which he graduated. At age 83, his very generous philanthropy may be coming to an end. horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/lee-r-anderson-srHoly Cross had a 42 year head start over St. Thomas. Every dual use arena is dictated by hockey and if they start drawing well for hockey they have two pro sports arenas (TimberWolves and Wild play in different buildings) in the Twin Cities which can host games. |
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 19, 2023 15:22:22 GMT -5
The new FCS Catholic Football League….Holy Cross, St. Thomas, Sacred Heart, Merrimack, Fordham, UIW, Villanova, Stonehill, Georgetown, San Diego. St. Francis. Will never happen, but will be interesting to see which teams will intersect in the next ten years. You must have had coffee with EFG and caught his conference realignment bug.🙂 I like the PL but also enjoy these mix and match new conference imaginings. |
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 19, 2023 15:38:19 GMT -5
I stand by my original post. We can agree to disagree, agreeably, as always. Let me know when they are on our schedule in any sport. [just like I put virtually no stock in 'verbal" recruits - let me know when they sign the NLI. Just me. Maybe old age creeping slowly into my bones.] One more post and I may have to go all Spiro Agnew and call you a "nattering nabob of negativity" 🤣🤣 I think St. Thomas will be on the schedule of M or W BB, M or W hockey or football before too long. They've played Harvard and Fordham already. |
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 19, 2023 16:00:18 GMT -5
Not when people here are speculating how neat it would be. Wake me up when they are on the schedule. Then I will be interested. And was there something wrong with Spiro? Wasn't he one of our great VPs of all time? I think he was framed.
Somewhat more seriously (but not totally), I'm on record of not getting excited about verbal recruits either. Perhaps a version of "show me the money," in my advancing years, I want to see actuals, not "possibles" which never happen. NLIs, not twitter cr@pola.
I prefer to think of it as not "negative" but rather living up to being a "doubting Thomas." Recall that he became a saint like all the others (Judas excepted) despite not going along with the crowd.
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Post by mm67 on Jan 19, 2023 17:56:03 GMT -5
Never heard of the school until now. Wish them success.
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Post by bfoley82 on Jan 19, 2023 19:53:15 GMT -5
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 19, 2023 20:12:37 GMT -5
Phewww! I thought you might not be well, Foley, since we hadn't seen a shot at Holy Cross from you in for awhile. But, we can see you are back in tip-top shape.
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Post by rgs318 on Jan 19, 2023 20:16:20 GMT -5
I have to add that post and that football attendance to my WGAD list. Didn't know about the school until recent posts. Did not care and still don't. I guess a lot of people really wanted to see them lose that game.
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