Always Learning
11-08-2013, 05:17 PM
Like MOR, although he has a "man cave" I am "whole house." And like MOR, I have been awaiting for tonight for a long, long time. Not just for this season, but for being in the Big East. Back in the day, all the way back to the spring of 1958, Xavier sought conference affiliation.
Jim McCafferty organized meeting after meeting with AD's and coaches from Marquette, Loyola (Chicago -- and remember, they were one time a national power), Detroit (does Dave Debuschere ring any bells), Oklahoma City (Abe Lemon's wildly successful teams), Duquese (Sihugo Green and annual top ten teams), and of course Dayton and Loyola of the south.
It seems that so damn many AD's and Coaches were wound up about "eligiblity" and could't faathom Jim's simple, but tru, explanation that "who cares? We all play each other now, and that is never an issue."
Kinda funny that all of us also played what would be called "outlaws" yet as private schools with excellent academic reps were squabbling over eligibility rules.
Jim never gave up, and finally, looking at the way to get in the dance and $$$$, there was a Midwestern Conference, and things were rolling along, until Dayton and Marquette got greedy and the Midwestern lost a lot of luster.
But, finally, the A-10 sent out an invite (sans Dayton) and Xavier moved way up the ladder.
And now... the Big East, home and home with Georgetown, Villanova, St John's, Marquette et all and a conference tournament in THE GARDEN. Every game this year, every game, will be on National TV, and that is huge for recruiting when Mom's and Dad's and grandma's can see their one and only play no matter where they live.
Yep ... we are arguably in the second best best conference in the country (third at worst) and the talking heads will be doing a lot of conversations that include XAVIER!!!
From me, I send many thanks to all of the people down thru the ages that made tonight come true.
Go X !!!
Jim McCafferty organized meeting after meeting with AD's and coaches from Marquette, Loyola (Chicago -- and remember, they were one time a national power), Detroit (does Dave Debuschere ring any bells), Oklahoma City (Abe Lemon's wildly successful teams), Duquese (Sihugo Green and annual top ten teams), and of course Dayton and Loyola of the south.
It seems that so damn many AD's and Coaches were wound up about "eligiblity" and could't faathom Jim's simple, but tru, explanation that "who cares? We all play each other now, and that is never an issue."
Kinda funny that all of us also played what would be called "outlaws" yet as private schools with excellent academic reps were squabbling over eligibility rules.
Jim never gave up, and finally, looking at the way to get in the dance and $$$$, there was a Midwestern Conference, and things were rolling along, until Dayton and Marquette got greedy and the Midwestern lost a lot of luster.
But, finally, the A-10 sent out an invite (sans Dayton) and Xavier moved way up the ladder.
And now... the Big East, home and home with Georgetown, Villanova, St John's, Marquette et all and a conference tournament in THE GARDEN. Every game this year, every game, will be on National TV, and that is huge for recruiting when Mom's and Dad's and grandma's can see their one and only play no matter where they live.
Yep ... we are arguably in the second best best conference in the country (third at worst) and the talking heads will be doing a lot of conversations that include XAVIER!!!
From me, I send many thanks to all of the people down thru the ages that made tonight come true.
Go X !!!