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Post by gcbona69 on Jan 1, 2006 11:27:14 GMT -5
First things first--a Happy New Year to all Bandwagoneers. over the last few days there has been a spirited discussion on the merits of the current state of the program and the coach in charge of the program. i wanted to start a new thread to put things in a little different perspective so maybe some could take a step back and take a different look at things. I was as dismayed as any grad at the nightmare we endured and i felt that it would take a minimum of 5-10 years before we got things back to where we could be proud--by Bonaventure standards-of our program. That would appear to have been a fairly accurate assessment at this point. However, just to allow ourselves to feel a little better, let's compare ourselves to our traditional rivals in Western New York. i feel somewhat qualified to do this as i grew up in WNY and still live here. Niagara was all the rage over the last few years. Oh, boy, they made the NCAA for the first time in 35 years and here they go, a dynasty in the making. They're sitting at 3-7 and have flushed their entire Freshman class, two transferring and two redshirting. Way to capitalize on the success Mihalich. They are down to 8 players dressing and it's no wonder that almost all of games are characterized by a second half meltdown. Their home opener was a real event, a full house and they got us by 13. Wait until they get back home again. there will be no student support to be seen and it will no longer be chic to go to NU games. Sound familiar? Canisius is 1-8 after having been picked by the Buffalo Snooze to be a force in their conference. Say goodbye MacDonald. Their season has been marked by underachieving and by attitude problems brought along by high profile transfers. They have a hard time drawing as well, a real crime when you consider the number of CC alums in this city.Of course, they play in a high school gym, as does NU, so there's no atmosphere at all. NU is especially weak in this area-the place is small, dingy and just plain ancient. Then we have the University at Buffalo. They're the real success story in the area, but then they should be as they have top of the line facilities and the best program our tax dollars can buy. so let's eliminate them. So maybe our program doesn't look so bad after all given what we've had to endure. Neither NU or CC has been burdened with the near death penalty or negative pub that comes with it. Despite that they still are a mess and are really not showing any signs of getting out of the morass that they have created for themselves. Certainly we have much higher standards for our program than they do, as well we should since history has borne that out. We play in a far superior conference than they do so to a certain extent it skews the comparison. But when you look at where we are, and where we recently have been, compared to where they are and what they have not had to contend with, all of a sudden we don't look that bad. We have better athletes in place and we have better days ahead. i don't know if the same can be said of CC and NU. Now, let's get ready for a difficult conference ride. The wins will be few and far between while the other two will start to show some improvement vis a vis their record as they get to go to combat against some dog teams in the MAAC. That's how it goes when you have higher standards. Please exhibit some patience, be supportive and we will eventually be rewarded for those virtues. It's all relative and could always be worse.
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Post by gcbona69 on Jan 1, 2006 21:19:44 GMT -5
I compare SBU to the other members of the so-called Big 4 since i have my roots in this area, was raised on the pap printed in the Buffalo papers and they have always set one program off against the others in comparisons, either openly or in subtle ways. Also, since i am exposed to so many graduates of the other programs almost daily it is inevitable that the comparisons follow in spirited debate. i was hoping to eleicit the input of some other WNY posters like HNK in Niagara Falls who would be more exposed to the NU tubthumpers than i am. I find it interesting that they are pretty much getting a pass in the media for their misfortunes simply because they had a modicum of success last season. Mihalich is putting up a brave front saying he isn't that concerned at this time, but i don't see how he cannot be concerned. But then again, he does have the MAAC schedule coming up to look forward to which should help him pad the record. Come on, let's have somei nput from Western New York members--i want your take on the local college b-ball situation.
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Post by oldschool on Jan 1, 2006 22:10:37 GMT -5
SBU continues to amaze me. We have no backyard metro market to draw fans (nor players) from, like our compadres in the so-called Big 4 do. Additionally, because the student body at SBU comes from a much more diverse geographic base than does that of the Big 4, most of our alumni do not stay in the area to become season ticket buyers/supporters. Still, we sell tickets to mostly fill a great stadium (even in down times), we have one of the most active fan billboards in the Bonnies Bandwagon and we are able to generate, at least once each year, positive media interest in not one, but two metro newspapers (Buffalo News and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.) I agree--we have something here in Bona Land and I am happy to be part of it. Things are not so bad.
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Post by sburizz on Jan 1, 2006 23:09:39 GMT -5
I like your post oldschool, non-bonaventure affiliated people rarely understand us. I was at the Marist game and it was hilarious to see all the Marist fans amazed at the overwhelming Bonaventure crowd. I plan on buying season tickets regardless if I live in the area or not just to support the University and team. The Solomon argument aside, I think that we are headed in the right direction. I, like many of you am a die hard bonaventure fan. Just throwing this out there but what does everyone think that St. Bonaventure needs to enhance the University and our athletics?
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Post by magnusbu on Jan 2, 2006 3:08:23 GMT -5
I think we need to upgrade the RC and the rest of the athletic facilities. With the RC we would have to be careful to not disrupt the atmosphere. The reds need upgraded and the bleachers redesigned to cater to the student more. As far as the whole university goes. The dorms and the classrooms need to be seriously upgraded.
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Post by Section7 on Jan 2, 2006 6:15:54 GMT -5
$$$$$. Mr Green is the answer.
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Post by FriendsofAN44 on Jan 2, 2006 8:04:44 GMT -5
Good points, all. And speaking of money, that IS the answer. Unfortunately, except for the recent donation by Mr. Thomas Mara that was ear-marked for the new baseball field, not much money seems to be headed towards athletics.
Of the $60,000,000 just raised in the capital fund(annual fund, not sure of the correct title), I heard that none of it is going to athletics. I can't understand that, they've raised 60 mil, plan on adding at least another 30 mil, and NONE of it can be used by athletics ?!
They have many pressing needs too, along with some wishes for the future:
The basketball court is absolutely shot, and needs to be replaced (about $200,000)
The red seats are 40 years old this summer and in very poor condition, and they would like to replace those with more modern seating
The pool is in very sad shape (also 40 years old?) and has already caused one flood that almost totalled the Boser Weight Room below it; they would like to build a modern natatorium between the Rielly Center and the Richter Center
They would like to add lights and seating at the baseball field, to utilize the new surface during the summer for Legion and other baseball events (more income through rental fees)
They would like to add field turf to the soccer/lacrosse fields, and the softball fields, to enhance those facilities and make weather less of a factor and save money in field preparation
These are just a few items, and money is the bottom line.
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Post by FriendsofAN44 on Jan 2, 2006 8:41:45 GMT -5
Also, something else that disturbs me, and many others, is the BAF donor list. It is printed in each game program, with donor's names and their giving level.
On this entire printed list, which takes up a full page in the catalog and includes donors from the $5,000 level down to the $100 level, I see a grand total of TWO former basketball players that have donated to the BAF:
Mr. & Mrs. Brendan McCann '57 ($100) Mr. & Mrs. Bob McCully '62 ($100)
That is pathetic !
Apparently zip, zero, nada had been donated back to athletics by any other basketball players that got a free education and everything else.
The names that are missing are conspicuous from their absence - nothing from Bob Lanier; nothing from JR Bremer; Larry Weise; Jim Satalin; Jim Baron; Sanders, Belcher, Stith's, Hollis, Crawford, Green, etc etc etc - I could go on and on.
A few players made millions in their athletic careers in the NBA and in Europe; and others have had extemely successful business careers; and they can't find it in their heart to donate something back to the athletic program that got them started.
Do we even contact ex-players for contributions ? I would certainly hope so. There is at least one name on the list that I recognize as a former athlete (Mark Evers, baseball, $1,000 donation), so I would assume that ALL athletes are kept in touch with after graduation.
Maybe they donate in other ways, and just give to the Annual Fund (or whatever it's called). But how about giving something back to the program that gave you a start on a successful career, didn't charge you a dime for that start, and is in desperate need of your help !
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Felca
Sophomore Member
Posts: 172
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Post by Felca on Jan 2, 2006 10:42:30 GMT -5
That is atrocious! Why is Bonaventure so poor at cultivating the Bona spirit post graduation? Our alumni drive the future of our school, and it is just a disgrace that past scholarship atheletes don't contribute. Hopefully Coach can change the attitude.
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Post by sburizz on Jan 2, 2006 11:21:29 GMT -5
If I had the money the first two things I would replace would be the speaker system and the lights. If we could have lights that can dim and flash like certain arenas have it would be a very attractive thing for recruits and good for the fans.
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jim62
Junior Member
Posts: 377
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Post by jim62 on Jan 2, 2006 11:28:06 GMT -5
Fox:
I agree with you 1,000,000,000 % about the "giving" spirit of our athletic alums.
Every year, I get a copy of the donors list and go through it to see familiar names and rekindle memories, etc.
But afterward, I always wonder to myself where are the names of the guys we used to cheer for when they were representing St. Bonas for us?
Are they all "down and out" or destitute or homeless or something?
Maybe they are. I don't know.
But I do know that they, as a group, comprise a large hole in the list of donors to our Alma Mater where they were housed, fed and given a free (money wise) education.
What did the University do or not do to cause them to turn their backs for all these years?
I don't know the answer but have always pondered the question.
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Post by sneakers on Jan 2, 2006 11:28:57 GMT -5
Fox
You've made some very good points. The school’s greatest need is obviously money. SBU has needs in many areas around campus and the school lags most of its piers in establishing a significant endowment. Personally, I don't think the BAF does a good job in contacting alumni (which may be purposeful). I don't recall ever being contacted to donate to the BAF. On the other hand, I am contacted with several letters and telephone calls per year to donate to the Annual Bonaventure Fund. Frankly, I am happy that they put that much effort into the Bonaventure Fund as living far away from the school makes it is easy to forget to give, and I think it is a great cause. The students who call about the Annual Bonaventure Fund are very pleasant and always have an update about what is happening on campus for those alum that have been away for a long time. It's a nice way to reconnect.
As is my unfortunate habit, I waited until the end of the year again to donate. Wanting to get a charitable deduction for 2005 I called to pay my pledge by phone last week only to find the school was closed for the last week of the year. Luckily with the Annual Fund you can donate via the internet using a credit card, so I did that. I also wanted to make a donation to the BAF, but found no way of doing that on-line. The school would be wise to update its web site to allow on-line donations to the BAF.
The school appears to be careful about how aggressive they want to be with the BAF. Clearly they would rather an alum donate to the Annual Bonaventure Fund than to the BAF since the Annual Bonaventure Fund is an unrestricted fun (unless the donor specifically communicates that his or her gift is restricted to a specific purpose), while the BAF is restricted to uses related to athletics. An unrestricted fund can be used for whatever purpose the school deems to be its biggest need which gives more flexibility. Athletics would of course qualify as a need, but probably is not generally deemed to be one of the biggest needs at a school that has a laundry list of needs and wants.
My bet is that the school restricts the Athletic Department to contacting only people who have donated to the BAF in the past as they do not want confusion as to whether to donate to the Annual Bonaventure Fund or the BAF. They don’t want them competing with each other for the same list of donors. I don't know that for a fact though. Is anyone in the know out there? It seems to me that may be a reasonable restriction, but they ought to allow the Athletic Department to contact any grads who were recipients of athletic scholarships during their time as a student as I would think these individuals would want to give back.
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Post by FriendsofAN44 on Jan 2, 2006 12:30:56 GMT -5
Thanks for all the additional input so far, and you can rest assured that the people in power DO take suggestions and comments from this board and act on them as best they can. So any feedback will get to the right people. Believe me, they do read this board !
In fact, I know of one person (employee) that posted on one of the older versions of this board that was called into the President's office and reprimanded for some of his negative postings. They traced his IP back to his office in Francis Hall (don't know how, but they did). Ps-he no longer works at SBU, but not because of that. And Bona '91 informed me that they called him and asked if he know who this '*********' character was, as apparently he has ruffled quite a few feathers and they were trying to track him down. Attempts were unsuccessful, so if he is an SBU employee, he is not using his SBU account to post.
Anyway, I didn't know that you could donate to the Annual Find via credit card, but NOT the BAF - that needs to be changed.
Also, my apologies to any former basketball players I didn't list that do donate to the BAF, but I am unaware of them, or they donate anonomously.
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Post by oldschool on Jan 2, 2006 12:36:46 GMT -5
I'd like to think that maybe some of our athlettes who have enjoyed successful careers after leaving SBU are making anonymous donations, but nationally, Division I football and basketball alumni are notoriously stingy in giving to their alma maters. In fact, when Grant Hill gave enough money to Duke to endow athletic scholarships in 2000, it was big news: "Grant Hill, former Duke basketball All-America and five-time NBA All-Star, and his wife Tamia, a four-time Grammy-nominated recording artist with Elektra Records, will give Duke University $1 million to establish an endowed fund for athletic scholarship support." Now I know that none of our former players have had the kind of financial success that Mr. and Mrs. Hill have enjoyed, but perhaps they could get together by decade and make some kind of contribution--the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s--even a token effort would show a lot and get the university some great press.
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Post by bonadona on Jan 2, 2006 13:14:21 GMT -5
I just want to clarify on what Fox wrote about the University reading and responding to this board. Although it's really a matter of semantics it's important that people don't read the "ruffling of feathers" comment as if people are trying to stifle commentary and pursue these follow ups on posters. Both in the case in the past where it was an employee who was tracked and in this current situation, it is not just that negative comments are being posted. It is scurrilous rumors and outright lies that concern the University. In both of these cases the postings were false and, especially in the past situation (which I know Fox you were privy to and know you felt the personal attacks on some of the best and brightest at Bonas were totally unjustified!).
It's important that the readers of these posts realize that none of these "facts" are true and I don't think any of us would stand by and let lies damage our program! Opinion is not the concern but personal vendettas are.
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