Recap: Meet the AD (Indy Event)

[Muskie]

Recap:

I did not live tweet (I'm sorry to disappoint the two people who would have followed it). The setting just wouldn't allow me to tweet and be respectful of the people presenting. I'm going off memory.

Dayton: Basically said something similar to what was posted on GoXavier. Would hate to see rivalries like UD end, but Xavier has to do what is best for Xavier going forward. Said the OOC schedule is full the next two seasons, so no UD/X game unless they join Big East in that time frame.

Schedule: Excited about the schedule. Explained that in the future they will try to avoid so many conference games when Students are on break, but that with a round robin schedule this will always be an issue. Floated the idea of playing some early Conference Games in the middle of December so that students would be on campus, and then going back to OOC over break.

Big East Expansion: I took his statement on expansion to mean (and hopefully I will be corrected if I'm wrong) that the Contract with Fox Sports 1 states that there will be 12 teams in the League within five years. He guessed that their would be one Eastern Team and One Western team added eventually. Stated X is not blocking UD from the Big East. But he did note that X and UD compete for students (not just athletes) and X has a big edge right now being in the Big East.

Crosstown: This is X's year for a home game. I asked him to sell me on playing downtown and buying tickets. Made a pretty decent pitch that the more X fans down there the better the environment will be for the team. If we don't sell our seats it won't be a true home game. His overall goal is to get games back on Campus.

Facility upgrades: Noted Cintas is now 14 years old and that we are now competing with six teams that play in NBA arenas. We also discussed renovations to O'Connor and other sports facilities. Believes that Cintas is a great arena, but that "if you know where to look", there are some things that need to be updated/upgraded to keep us competitive.

Enrollment: If I heard him correctly the new freshman class has more kids from outside Ohio than from inside Ohio.

Additional Sports: Noted that we are the only Big East Member without Women's Softball. Also looking at Men and Women's lacrosse as possibilities. Additions will take into account field space and facilities.

____

That's all I remember for now. I may additional information as I remember it. For the other few people that were there. Feel free to chime in.

[GoMuskies]

[COLOR=#333333]Facility upgrades: Noted Cintas is now 14 years old and that we are now competing with six teams that play in NBA arenas.

I appreciate that they're striving to keep Cintas current, but I don't see this as a disadvantage for us. Playing at a nice on-campus arena is significantly better than playing in any NBA arena. I guess I had never thought about the fact that Xavier and Butler are now the only two schools in the league that play all home games on campus (I do not count the Crosstown Clownfest as a home game).

[tmac03]

Always great to meet some fellow Muskies and hang out with the esteemed Muskie. To add to Muskie's recap:

I was impressed with Christopher - very well spoken and really comes off as believing in Xavier as a unique institution.

He noted that coaches have already said that the Big East move has opened recruiting doors that would otherwise have been closed but it can't overcome the "#1 hurdle" in recruiting, which is a lack of football. It was surprising to me to hear that recruits in other sports put any importance on the existence of a football program but he was adamant that there is no way that is ever going to change.

Christopher said he thinks X can win national championships in both basketball and soccer. He said that soccer doesn't require public university resources and noted that UMass made the final four a few years ago with 4 scholarship players.

As Muskie noted, Christopher also talked about additional field space and facilities. He seemed equally concerned with providing new space for athletic teams as with providing intramural space for non-athletes. Mentioned a property that abuts I-71 as a possibility.

[nuts4xu]

Santa Ono already seems like a very good fit for UC, and a good guy. He is very much involved with the students, and I expect the relationship between Graham and Ono will be MUCH better than with President Williams.

I think the Shootout will return to campuses in the near future....but that is just my hunch.

[Milhouse]

I hope so. I do like Santa Ono and he seems to be much more into the sports than Williams ever was. Hope that the game returns back to the campuses next year.

I've heard great things about the new AD and hope to hear them continue.

[casualfan]

Santa Ono already seems like a very good fit for UC, and a good guy. He is very much involved with the students, and I expect the relationship between Graham and Ono will be MUCH better than with President Williams.

I think the Shootout will return to campuses in the near future....but that is just my hunch.

It's my opinion that the rivalry will end before it goes back to campus. Just my $0.02

[DC Muskie]

I can only think of four programs that play in NBA arenas. Which two am I forgetting...(instant rep opportunity here folks)

GTown
Nova
Marquette
St. Johns

[Masterofreality]

I can only think of four programs that play in NBA arenas. Which two am I forgetting...(instant rep opportunity here folks)

GTown
Nova
Marquette
St. Johns

Seton Hall, but Providence plays in an arena with AHL Hockey dates.

[GoMuskies]

Seton Hall? No, but off campus
DePaul? No, but off campus
Providence? No, but off campus
Creighton? No, but (slightly) off campus

I got nada.

[GoMuskies]

Seton Hall

There's no NBA team in Jersey. Even when there was, Seton Hall didn't play in their arena.

If Christopher is saying that there are six state of the art arena/NBA-like arenas used in the league, the Prudential Center (Seton Hall) and the Century Link Center (Creighton) I suppose would be the other two.

[Juice]

Seton Hall? No, but off campus
DePaul? No, but off campus
Providence? No, but off campus
Creighton? No, but (slightly) off campus

I got nada.

Creighton's arena is pretty damn big though.

[Masterofreality]

There's no NBA team in Jersey. Even when there was, Seton Hall didn't play in their arena.

I'm referring to Christopher's comments about 6. He was probably forgetting the Nets moved. They used to share Continenal Airlines arena with Seton Hall. Now Seton Hall plays in Prudential Center.

Providence has had Celtics games in the past, and I think still has a pre-season game, but the only shared tenant is the AHL Hockey team. It is a public arena though.

[Muskie]

I"m not clear if he said 6 NBA arenas or meant some sort of shared offsite facility.

I do recall him giving the example of GT being able to show recruits an arena and say "John Wall plays here" or something like that.

[GoMuskies]

If Seton Hall ever shared an arena with the Nets it was a long time ago.

[Masterofreality]

If Seton Hall ever shared an arena with the Nets it was a long time ago.

They did. Look it up.

[GoMuskies]

I"m not clear if he said 6 NBA arenas or meant some sort of shared offsite facility.


Well, there are 4 NBA arenas and 8 shared offsite facilities. I suppose the fact that the Dunkin Donuts Center and All State Arena are dumps could bring the 8 down to 6.

[paulxu]

Muskie, thanks for all the information.

[DoubleD86]

I know this is off topic, but it seems as if there are a good number of Indy residents on this board. We should plan a viewing party for one of the big games!

[paulxu]

I'll bet you could have one at Hinkle.

[hoyahooligan]

Seton Hall shared an arena with the nets until the moved to Brooklyn last year the Nets played 1 year at the prudential center 2010-2011. So not that long ago and before hand they shared the arena in East Rutheford. They currently share the arena with the Devils.

DePaul's arena used to be an NBA arena a while ago, now I think the WNBA team shares their arena.

[XURunner85]

Wrong Hoya, the DePaul arena never had the Bulls play there. They have always played downtown at The Chicago Stadium and now the United Center. And I do not remember them having played anywhere else when United Center was being built.

[hoyahooligan]

Wrong Hoya, the DePaul arena never had the Bulls play there. They have always played downtown at The Chicago Stadium and now the United Center. And I do not remember them having played anywhere else when United Center was being built.

You're right the bulls never played there but the seton hall info is correct.

Depaul has shared Allstate withWNBA, ABA and WBL basketball teams but no NBA.

[xudash]

Greg's point on this arena issue is centered around how basketball recruits perceive things.

So, for Georgetown, a recruit sees Georgetown, D.C. and the opportunity to play in an NBA arena.

Villanova can offer Philly and an NBA arena some of the time.

Marquette delivers the Bradley Center.

Whether some of the other arenas have current NBA franchises playing in them or not, some of them, like the Dunk and Creighton's place, are very nice venues (Dunk having been renovated).

Personally, I love the Cintas Center, I love being on campus, I have to imagine that works for most recruits, but even the Cintas Center lacks a few of the player amenities that are found in some of these NBA-type sites.

[Muskie]

Greg's point on this arena issue is centered around how basketball recruits perceive things.

So, for Georgetown, a recruit sees Georgetown, D.C. and the opportunity to play in an NBA arena.

Villanova can offer Philly and an NBA arena some of the time.

Marquette delivers the Bradley Center.

Whether some of the other arenas have current NBA franchises playing in them or not, some of them, like the Dunk and Creighton's place, are very nice venues (Dunk having been renovated).

Personally, I love the Cintas Center, I love being on campus, I have to imagine that works for most recruits, but even the Cintas Center lacks a few of the player amenities that are found in some of these NBA-type sites.

That was basically his point. We've gone from being one of the top 2-3 venues in the A-10 in amenities to a Bigger Conference with conference-mates that have (in some cases NBA caliber amenities).

[Masterofreality]

Really? I don't see how having to share a locker room, being bussed over to an arena, and barely being able to practice in said arena is an advantage, nor would be valued by recruits.

Now, having my own, unshared space and having a key to the arena to practice 24/7 would be damn valuable to me....as long as the arena was the calibre of Cintas.

[GoMuskies]

Now, having my own, unshared space and having a key to the arena to practice 24/7 would be damn valuable to me....as long as the arena was the calibre of Cintas.

I completely agree. I think we have a huge advantage over everyone other than Creighton and Butler from an arena standpoint in this league (and let's face it, Butler's arena is historic, but it's an old historic dump). I had never really thought about what an advantage we have on this front until reading Muskie's recap of Christopher's comments.

[SM#24]

MOR and Go, I agree that we have a facility advantage, but it's clearly now not as big as the advantage we had over the A10 (not saying either of you were implying that). Of course, for the most part we were recruiting different players than the rest of the A10.

[GoMuskies]

Are you nuts? How could we ever compete with Rose Hill Cracker Box or Tom Gola's Garage?!? Recruting against MSG will be much simpler.

[RoadWarrior]

Muskie, it was great meeting you and Mrs. Muskie last night! Great alumni in Indy.

[hoyahooligan]

Really? I don't see how having to share a locker room, being bussed over to an arena, and barely being able to practice in said arena is an advantage, nor would be valued by recruits.

Now, having my own, unshared space and having a key to the arena to practice 24/7 would be damn valuable to me....as long as the arena was the calibre of Cintas.

Georgetown has their own separate Locker room from the other tenants of the Verizon Center. I do know that St. John's does share the Knicks locker room though. We also have our own separate court that is laid down when we play they don't just use the same court like they do at the Garden. Playing in an NBA arena besides the fact that they have great amenities including the fact that as an off campus venue they can sell alcohol and just associating your program with NBA players is a recruiting pull. Recruits see that this is where they aspire to play one day when they make the league. Wizards players will sometimes sit court side to watch Georgetown games in addition to playing pick up back on Georgetown's campus over the summer.

[GoMuskies]

We sell beer on campus. So take that.

You're never going to convince me that an NBA arena across town where you're the #3 (at best) tenant is better than having a state of the art place right next to the dorms.

[MHettel]

I dont quite understand the idea that the lack of a football team is the "#1 hurdle" for recruiting. It just doesnt make sense.

So just HAVING a football team is what you need. Not how good that team is, but just having one?

So, the best players in the country have picked Duke and Kentucky and UNC and Indiana becasue they have football teams. They could have gone to Alabama or LSU, but it didnt matter that those schools had GOOD teams.

Just having a team vs. not having a team.

makes no sense.

[PMI]

You can buy beers at Georgetown games. Georgetown's gig at Verizon is pretty legit. They have a pretty nice locker room and a separate floor than the Wizards. I wouldn't trade what we have with Cintas by any means, but it's pretty obvious that lots of young recruits have had their eyes light up at the Phone Booth. It's a great arena to watch any event and it's still relatively new. With everything in the Chinatown area, I promise all the Xavier fans who make it out here in February will have a great time after we whoop up on DSR and the Hoyas.

[GoMuskies]

Best of all worlds for us. We can offer recruits a fantastic on campus experience at home and the ability to play in four NBA arenas (and a couple of other nice ones) on the road every year.

[Masterofreality]

Muskie, it was great meeting you and Mrs. Muskie last night! Great alumni in Indy.

For those of you who do not know....Road Warrior is a true icon and a man to be emulated....

He just doesn't post much. :wink:

[xudash]

We sell beer on campus. So take that.

You're never going to convince me that an NBA arena across town where you're the #3 (at best) tenant is better than having a state of the art place right next to the dorms.

That's the issue. Our Hoya visitor is right. We're not use to this phenomenon. It isn't about what we think of the issue as fans, it's about what recruits think about facilities as prospective players for a given program.

Personally, I wouldn't give up the Cintas Center for anything, and we will be just fine regardless, because we will address the non-court amenities that should be addressed, over time.

[GoMuskies]

That's silly. There's nothing to get used to and nothing to worry about. Maybe we won't have the decided arena advantage we had before, but we don't have anything to worry about or be jealous of on the arena front in the Big East.

[JTG]

I dont quite understand the idea that the lack of a football team is the "#1 hurdle" for recruiting. It just doesnt make sense.

So just HAVING a football team is what you need. Not how good that team is, but just having one?

So, the best players in the country have picked Duke and Kentucky and UNC and Indiana becasue they have football teams. They could have gone to Alabama or LSU, but it didnt matter that those schools had GOOD teams.

Just having a team vs. not having a team.

makes no sense.

I know it sounds crazy, but I heard this from non-athlete prospective students that they skipped Xavier because of no football, My son and daughter went to a high school where football was a big deal. They both went to X, but a number of their friends specifically mentioned they wished to go to a school with football.

[anXUfan]

That's silly. There's nothing to get used to and nothing to worry about. Maybe we won't have the decided arena advantage we had before, but we don't have anything to worry about or be jealous of on the arena front in the Big East.

Totally agree. I feel like we have an advantage, not a disadvantage, on the arena front. Especially when our students aren't out on break.

[Section 200]

I know it sounds crazy, but I heard this from non-athlete prospective students that they skipped Xavier because of no football, My son and daughter went to a high school where football was a big deal. They both went to X, but a number of their friends specifically mentioned they wished to go to a school with football.

Absolutely true for many folks - our campus is dead on fall weekends compared to the FBS schools. Football is also how many kids get introduced to colleges.

[GoMuskies]

Not to belabor the point, but since 2000 (to pick a round number), teams that play their home games in an NBA arena have made 4 Final Four appearances (Marquette 2003, G'town 2007, Memphis 2008, and 'Nova 2009). In that same stretch, George Mason, Butler, Wichita State and VCU have combined for 5 Final Four appearances.

If playing in an NBA arena is a major advantage for a college program, that advantage is being widely squandered.

[Muskie]

I know it sounds crazy, but I heard this from non-athlete prospective students that they skipped Xavier because of no football, My son and daughter went to a high school where football was a big deal. They both went to X, but a number of their friends specifically mentioned they wished to go to a school with football.

AD Christopher listed no football as a big challenge to getting prospective students. He also stated that X was not considering football as a long term option.

I think he's right. X became a ghost town on football weekends when I was there.

[Muskie]

Again. He wasn't saying that NBA arenas were the end all be all. He was just making the comment that Cintas is in need of some upgrades to remain competitive from the prospective recruit perspective.

[Muskie]

Muskie, it was great meeting you and Mrs. Muskie last night! Great alumni in Indy.

It was great getting to speak with you as well. Hopefully we will do it again soon.

[xudash]

Again. He wasn't saying that NBA arenas were the end all be all. He was just making the comment that Cintas is in need of some upgrades to remain competitive from the prospective recruit perspective.

Exactly.

[RoadWarrior]

I'll bet you could have one at Hinkle.
I spoke with the Director of Alumni Relations and he said there WILL BE a reception prior to the Butler game, most likely at Hinkle. Which should get Xavier Nation there early for better parking too!!!

[Muskie]

I spoke with the Director of Alumni Relations and he said there WILL BE a reception prior to the Butler game, most likely at Hinkle. Which should get Xavier Nation there early for better parking too!!!

Excellent! Better option than moe & Johnny's (f/k/a the bulldog) which is a Butler bar.

[bjf123]

Again. He wasn't saying that NBA arenas were the end all be all. He was just making the comment that Cintas is in need of some upgrades to remain competitive from the prospective recruit perspective.

I'd be interested in knowing what things he thinks need upgrading.


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[SM#24]

I know it sounds crazy, but I heard this from non-athlete prospective students that they skipped Xavier because of no football, My son and daughter went to a high school where football was a big deal. They both went to X, but a number of their friends specifically mentioned they wished to go to a school with football.


Absolutely true for many folks - our campus is dead on fall weekends compared to the FBS schools. Football is also how many kids get introduced to colleges.
Not just FBS level. If I recall because it was quite a while ago, when Mt. St. Joe's looked into going coed, they had surveyed male HS students. 25% said they would consider attending MSJ, that number jumped to 65% when asked if they would consider attending if they started a football team.

[xudash]

I'd be interested in knowing what things he thinks need upgrading.


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Hydro-therapy and better weight facilities; training and health management stuff. Some of this stuff requires them to go off campus.

[Muskie]

Hydro-therapy and better weight facilities; training and health management stuff. Some of this stuff requires them to go off campus.

Not to mention some of the other sports currently share locker room space. There are quite a few needs among our top programs.

[xudash]

Not to mention some of the other sports currently share locker room space. There are quite a few needs among our top programs.

Good point; I forgot that one. I believe we have six sports, if I recall correctly that do not have the room locker room facilities.

[Milhouse]

Excellent! Better option than moe & Johnny's (f/k/a the bulldog) which is a Butler bar.

Was this Moe & Johnny's a bar a walkable distance to Butler's Campus/hinkle? Last year when I went down we were looking for a bar that we could post up at early and then head to Hinkle 30 mins prior to tip but drove around the campus and couldn't find anything on the GPS. Ended up just going to Broadripple for a few then parking in a neighborhood by hinkle.

[Muskie]

Was this Moe & Johnny's a bar a walkable distance to Butler's Campus/hinkle? Last year when I went down we were looking for a bar that we could post up at early and then head to Hinkle 30 mins prior to tip but drove around the campus and couldn't find anything on the GPS. Ended up just going to Broadripple for a few then parking in a neighborhood by hinkle.

I suspect it's walkable. But I've never done it. It depends on how far you're wiling to walk.