Is Santa Clara "On a Mission" in Men's Basketball

"The Bucking Bronco"

Very clever - the Double Entendre - Santa Clara - "We're On A Mission".

If you've been to the Leavey Center - it's an in your face pronouncement, played on the ginormous video screen - with the volume exceeded only by a Metallica concert - that sends the message of we're "Jonesing" for bigger things...Click the link below, just in case you've missed it.

SCU "On A Mission" Video

The PR possibilities are endless.  A rallying cry, a source of motivation, maybe a little bit of "chip on the shoulder angst".

BUT, what does it really mean?  I sat down with Dan Coonan, Athletic Director to find out that and more.

First things first.  Here is an abbreviated version of the published, official mission statement of Santa Clara Athletics.

"The Santa Clara Athletics program will field first-rate men's and women's intercollegiate athletics teams that are competitive within their Conference and the region, and strive to be competitive nationally. The programs will bring honor, distinction and greater national awareness to the University, which will not only complement but enhance its national image and prestige.
The Santa Clara Athletics program will enrich the life, character and vitality of the Santa Clara University campus. It will foster school spirit, and will generate fun and excitement for students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and fans. 
Coaches and administrators will provide student-athletes with an athletics experience that is both challenging and rewarding. They will serve as role models for student-athletes and prospective student-athletes, and will be assimilated into the campus culture.
In carrying out each of the above values and principles, the Santa Clara Athletics program will serve as a leader in the field of intercollegiate athletics and recreation, and a model for other universities."

Good statement.  Actually, pretty aggressive - given Dan is a Lawyer by training.

"National", "Role Models", and "Leaders".  But, it's just a statement and according to Dan - not enough.  Not not enough to build a Brand around Santa Clara Athletics.  "We needed something to state our commitment to "competitiveness" now and going forward and this represents that commitment".

SO..."On A Mission" was born.

You did read that correctly - commitment and competitiveness..Words many Season Ticket holders believe are not in the SCU athletics playbook OR wallet....

Well, let me retract that a little bit.  I believe everyone in our Athletic Department is "committed" to doing their very best.  Brandon Clark doesn't take an opponents charge in the lane because it's FUN - he is full on committed to his team.  Kerry and his coaches non-stop instructions to players during games, is full vocal chord shredding commitment.

Unfortunately, commitment is not enough.

In a way, I feel for Dan and his team.  And in another way, I'm really chapped.  Particularly in Men's Basketball, where fans and those of us in the "chairbacks" have expected much more.  Do the math - if your program is lowest in funding but highest in expectations - hard to make the kite fly.  That's not commitment.

Let's face it, the recipe for the A.D. job at many universities and my guess at SCU is, IMHO, 3 parts managing politics and 1 part managing performance.

SO, I put myself in Dan's shoes...I have to be a politician - I can't go "call out" my boss at the University.  I can't level with the fans, alumni, press and look like a whiner.  I can't REALLY task my coaches with winning titles with fewer resources/scholarships than everyone else in my conference.

Even Lance Armstrong and his "medical" bag couldn't win the Tour De France riding on a flat tire....

BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE is create a "measuring stick" for the future.  IF funding is restored.

It will be hard for a coach or A.D. to hide behind "lack of funding" if the University let's the moth's out of the wallet.  And that's what we need - CLARITY & TRANSPARENCY.  It feels good to say....

To Dan's credit - they DO measure everything.  The top 3: Conference Performance, RPI, and NCAA Tourney appearances.  Maybe soon it will mean something....More...

Clearly, something is afoot.  As I wrote in an earlier column, The Presidents Commission on Athletics" decision is due in June. I know one thing.....

The Season Ticket holders hope the Trustees are "ON A MISSION" - the same one Dan and his team are on....

NEXT POST: More with Dan Coonan "inside" the Department and Men's Basketball.

Breaking News - SCU President's Commission on Athletics - Decision Delayed

"The Bucking Bronco"

Breaking News!!!  No Aaron Gordon isn't transferring to Santa Clara....Darn!

The meeting and decision by the Board of Trustees regarding the President's Commission on Athletics has been delayed until June due to Health reasons.

NO - members of the Board are doing just fine, but SCU employees were not.

I'm sure you've read about the University's decision to drop heath insurance coverage for elective abortions.  

Members of the Faculty through the Faculty Senate elected to appeal the decision believing that the University did not properly adhere to its governance policy in making the decision.  As a result, the appeal had to be brought to the Board of Trustees for a decision in February - effectively and appropriately moving the date for review and decision on Athletics until June.

Hopefully, for Season ticket holders, our health plans will cover the anxiety therapy we may need while we await the report....

MEANWHILE....Our Broncos continue their bi-polar run through conference play.  At our best, we can play with Gonzaga for 39.97 minutes and then there's Portland and USF to remind us of how much we need to do...

As we await the Commission Report, we have Pacific and St. Mary's this week and then the WCC Tourney starts soon.  We'll see which team shows up this week.  

NEXT POST:  THIS WEEK....My conversation with Athletic Director - Dan Coonan....Revealing....