W.C. Fields would be loving today. "All things considered, I'd rather be in Philadelphia." Or, on the campus of Villanova, where classes are cancelled today after an epic final shot and national championship victory.
The profile at Nova just became a "$upernova" that will light up the University for years to come...Awesome!
Made me wonder...What does Villanova have that we don't or even crazier, what do WE have that they don't?
The short answer - they have a 25 year head start.
We are both Catholic institutions* similar in mission, size, academic profile, urban locations, great campuses, and athletic facilities.
Our MBB academic progress multi-year rates are both above 980 out of 1,000.
Etc, etc...
We were national in the early 70's and had a few bright spots in the 80's and Nash 90's. We chose to build out the University campus, programs and Endowment, while schools like Villanova chose a vision that included athletics as an enabler to accomplish broader University goals.
Today, proudly, we have the "goods" to take this Brand national in MBB. As season ticket holders and fans, we may feel we are a "dark horse," but we have a war chest to become the "horse" to ride in the WCC and more. I'm not being a "homer" here.
There are facts to consider
Our Endowment of approximately $900m dwarfs Villanova's and by the way Gonzaga and St.Mary's.
Our location - heart of Silicon Valley - is on fire right now.
Our Campus - stunning, and curiously enough, there's now a stallion statue right in the middle you can't miss. Symbols.
Our Sr. University staff and Trustees have gone public that Athletics and MBB are to become nationally relevant in the 2020 strategic plan.
Fr. Engh and the Trustees are saying "yes" to the strategic and tactical needs to enable the vision.
Our A.D. is part of the decision making inner circle - no filters.
AND....
Money from the war chest is flowing...
New A.D. with a vision and attitude to get this done
Amped up branding with a new logo and uniforms
New facilities to impress recruits; lockers, Leavey floor, offices, training space, team space, co-located housing
More support staff to ensure we perform the best in the classroom and on the floor
New Coach with a "rep" for building tournament level teams
New Asst. coaches who have more experience and "cred"
Better scheduling - in tourneys with Arizona, Butler, Vandy
Recruiting budgets that can get us some Scout.Com "star" level players
You get the idea. Major $$ to make us a serious Mid-Major program. It's finally real people...
I know we're all from "Missouri" due to the past 25 years with SCU and athletics.
IMHO, it's time for all of us to get on board.
It won't happen fast, but the commitment to national, even striving for top 20 in MBB is part of the convo and more importantly, the budget.
The "old" Bronco is being put out to pasture and the new Stallion is getting ready to run - and that just may make us the "horse" to ride.
*Villanova is Catholic, but not Jesuit
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