smokeyjoe wrote:
I know we are all getting tired of hearing Culture Change...but I think what we are talking about is 25 years of negligence to the the whole Athletic Department. We really ran a Division I program like a DIII program. It had effects . The national and local media had lost contact with LU. Couldnt have found us with a GPS. and with that went the attention of high school coaches and athletes, AAU programs as well. Along with that the very quick " why would I go to Loyola?" Our reputation was now sunk and for a very long period. Along with that went the rep of bad coaches(i remove Coach Whitesell from that cuz I thought he was a quality guy) bad facilities, bad conference,bad schedule, bad attendence ,horrible popcorn, even the student body had for the most part lost contact.
So now we are in to the 3rd year of a re-imagine program. We are not seeing the success we would like but we are seeing some small signs, a new conference, student attendance occasionally looks better, new facility, some impressive recruits, a re-connection with the chicago area ( Fred Mitchell of the Trib covering the games) the real deal is under water at the high school and AAU level. What are those guys saying about Porter Moser and the program and that I dont know and I doubt anyone on the board does.
My point is that we built ourselves a really deep hole and we are just starting to attempt to climb out of it. The one thing we do know is that we are not out of the hole yet and culture change is about more than just starting to win it is turning around the long list of things LU neglected for 25 years in running a DI program.
Stay with it. As an outsider looking in I see bright spots. Obviously attendance is an issue but winning cures all as they say. I am expecting a good crowd for you guys today with an in state rival coming to town. Hopefully you guys pack the place when WSU comes in. Beating them would do wonders in advancing your program. The students will get to see it all over ESPN. That may even help with recruiting. As a member of the Valley it is a big deal if WSU can go deep again in the tourney. Gives the recruiting coaches a little something in their pocket with the "why not us we play in the same conference." Doyle is a heck of a player to build around.