WHY LMU is not at top of the WCC in sports

[lmu08]

Everyone is trying to find reasons and excuses why LMU is not good at basketball. The fact is that LMU is not good at sports as a whole. People blame the players, the bad luck, the coaches, and the A.D. This can all be somewhat true, but I believe that it comes from the top. The school's job is to put the athletes in the best situation to succeed and LMU has not done this. It is a mystery why LMU cannot be good at basketball in the basketball mecca of L.A. and in sports in general. Look at San Diego for instance. They have a great football, basketball and baseball program and even made the dance last year. They are identical to LMU in school demographics. Gonzaga's basketball team has made that whole athletic department team better and that university is in Spokane. I think it comes straight from the top, The president and the AD. The president needs to step and realize that athletics is very important to a school's success as a whole and will actually raise application numbers. Look at Gonzaga, enrollment numbers have gone up because of basketball. Look at other Jesuit schools, Boston College and Georgetown know the importance of athletics and they do fine in school. Students will actually have pride in their school and will stop going across town to SC or UCLA for athletic events. Yes, we dont have football but I doubt Gonzaga students complain about that. The AD and president need to be proactive about putting sports back on the map. I know all that social justice stuff is important, but et athletes be athletes. Husak needs to stop spending so much time congratulating student athletes for good grades and more time on developing athletes. Our school has enough money for a new library, but why not invest in a gym where all students will use that. LMU has a high school gym and is embarrassing to watch on TV. Husak needs to sac up and force Lawton to make athletics a priority. As far s fundraising goes, Husak from what I know does not do a ton of that. That is mainly the coaches that put their programs on the map, not the AD. This means getting more money into the sports, better facilities, better everything.
Some Solutions-
-Get Husak out , he is a great guy, but makes poor decisions. Four basketball coaches in 6 years, and signing Good to a 5 year contract when you dont have to? come on
-bring in a big time assistant AD from a big time conference, he will make more money as a head AD and will have the opportunity to change a program. He will know what is right, that being Athletics and not as much of a focus on social justice. Weather that sounds right or not, that is the brutal truth. This AD will know how to fundraise and know the importance of a sucessful athletic department
-lastly get the pres and AD on the same page....they have to have to the same goals and a new AD can make he president realize the importance of school spirit and how that will drive the school to an overall better stature.

I know this is not that simple of a solution, but given the situation, it is the most logical, every bad situation starts from the top in turning it around

[crazycagegirl]

And don't threaten to kick out the alums while the visiting fans are behaving worse than they are, yet no one will stop them.

And lmu08, the gym is a development in progress. They have a plan, it's just going to take some time before we see the fruits of that labor.

[titanczar]

I think LMU has greatly improved GP. Sure it's not an arena like Gonzaga's and USD's but a great improvement from just a few years ago. I haven't been to every WCC arena. But LMU would rank at worst 4th in the WCC behind Gonzaga and USD. Santa Clara and LMU are, IMO, a toss up as to who has the better gym.

The aquatics facilities is top notch. So the money had to come from somewhere and it came under the leadership of Husack.

While nobody will say no to a new arena, where would LMU build a new arena? Of course the damn NIMBY's would b*tch up a storm if a new arena was being built!!

One other thing, LMU doesn't whore themselves and lower academic standards to get kids into school. There are strict entrance and eligible guidelines for student-athletes. I find that refreshing.

[crazycagegirl]

Yes - the part about having high academic standards is really refreshing. I'm sure plenty of other schools lower their standards because they are looking for the best of the best performance wise. I think it's great that LMU won't compromise their image, like other places do.......

The new gym is one that will be built around the actual court we already have, from what I understand. It's more of an expansion of what Gersten is. It's ridiculous how huge they would make this state of the art gym, and it will be interesting to see when they actually DO build it.

We do have the best scoreboard in the WCC. No other gym I've seen has a scoreboard with a complete listing of all players on the court, with their total points and foul count. I LOVE that board! The only gyms I haven't seen are Portland and Gonzaga.

[fanblade]

There has been a lot of discussion over the years here about the administration's commitment to athletics or lack thereof.

I think the hiring of Bayno, Gersten improvements, the new coaching offices etc shows that the President and administration are getting realizing the importance of athletics to LMU. As far as winning %'s go we have improved across the board in the past 2 decades by a lot! Lawton has even mentioned athletics in the past few year-end speeches he gives to students and the faculty.

Things can't change overnight especially with a recession thrown into the mix and we'll hit bumps in the road (like Bayno) but more improvements are coming. We have a new weight room on the way, lighting improvements, and some other stuff.

As a campus priority the library was absolutely necessary and now that it is wrapping up I hope we can focus on bringing in the coaching and student-athlete talent we need to be very competitive.

I hope students, alumni, and fans continue to press the board and admin to support athletics and I do think they are being receptive. A good start too is to show support by donating to lionsfund.

[ironlions]

There has been a great improvement in athletics facilities. These are some the changes I have seen since I started LMU in 96.

- Soccer field has gotten bleachers and a fence
- Baseball has the new blue monster and the training room
- New tennis courts
- New softball stadium
- New aquatics facilities with Olympic size pool
- New score board and lower level seating in Gersten
- Contract signed with Addias
- New coaching offices
- Not directly linked to athletics but Burns Rec is a pretty amazing.

I believe a new athletics weight room is in the works.

Go Lions

[stonewall]

It's funny, but the one person not mentioned is probably the person who has the most power/authority when it comes to this process and I don't mean the president. Any guesses as to who that is?

With LMU playing Goonzaga this weekend, I painfully recalled that I personally twice heard Bill Bayno publically relate his very candid exchange with Mark Few prior to taking the job. Those words ring in my ears now, Few told Bayno: "Bill, don't go to LMU--it's a graveyard."

Bayno would then go on to relate how he took the job despite that because he saw so much potential, blah blah blah--we all know how that worked out...

Fact is, despite a brief flash in the early 90's LMU has not ever been a basketball powerhouse and thus, perhaps the last 20 years has merely been a zen-like lesson to us that maybe our expectations are too high? I mean if we wanted a good basketball team we would have gone to UCLA, Duke or Kansas, right?

Sorry I don't mean to despair but this past week has me thinking black thoughts.

[smc4]

I saw you mention Gonzaga in another post. That is a school that rose from the cellar's of obsucirty to media darling. I don't see how LMU can't or any other mid-major. I wonder though if it is just about stars aligning or is there a practical path that can be put in place.

[LMUpepbander]

The thing to keep in mind with the Zags was that they had a true Cinderella run and not one that was conceived and constructed. With improved talent, we have a chance to catch that lightning in a bottle, and if we can pull off a good run in the coming years, that'll hopefully open the floodgates.

[stillalion]

"Gonzaga's basketball team has made that whole athletic department team better and that university is in Spokane."

WHAT?

How does anyone come to this conclusion. A few years back the WCC added the Commissioners Cup to go to the university with the best overall athletic program (based off of wins). Gonzaga has been in the bottom 1/2 of the WCC every single year (except 2004 when the were 4 out of 8 teams). Last year they were - wait for it - 8th! How the heck has basketball made their athletic department better? The fact that they are 8th AND have powerhouse mens and womens basketball programs means that the other programs just don't win.

Gonzaga has a winning basketball program. That's all they have. They are not a school to emulate in anyway if you care about athletics.

Here is LMU position in the Commissioners Cup compared to Gonzaga for all 6 years they have had it.

2003 - LMU #6 - Gonzaga #7
2004 - LMU #3 - Gonzaga #4
2005 - LMU #4 - Gonzaga #6
2006 - LMU #1 - Gonzaga #7
2007 - LMU #5 - Gonzaga #6
2008 - LMU #4 - Gonzaga #8

We were not once beat by Gonzaga.

We are near the top half of the WCC despite our mens basketball team (and poor baseball performances). The year we won it was because our basketball team finally had a good season. IF we get our basketball team out of the basement - we would be #1 or #2 every single year.

We can desire to be a lot of things - but Gonzaga is not one of them!

(AND the commissioners cup does not count softball, men's or women's water polo - 3 teams that have outstanding win percentages)

[ironlions]

It will be interesting to see what will happen to Gonzaga basketball in the upcoming year. I believe Ira Brown, Jeremy Pargo,Micah Downs, Josh Heytvelt are all seniors. Their recruiting class is good but not as good as classes in the past. A lot of the big time recruits they went after opted for bigger schools. The big quesiton has to do with coaching vacanies in the PAC 10. I don't really see Few leaving for Arizona, but Oregon is another story. Oregon has only won 8 games this year. They have lost to Oakland and almost lost to Portalnd. I haven't checked the Oregon board but I'm sure they want Kent boosted. Oregon is Few's alma matter, he is friends with the AD and Nike and Phil Knight will come to him with a blank checkbook. Plus they have good fishing in Oregon.

Zagsfan-feel free to correct me.

Go Lions

[guest]

The problem with the other WCC teams is none of them upped their $$$ and facilities after they went on their run like the Zags did. Yeah the Zag run started with a "Cinderella" story, but immediately after that they made changes that allowed them to maintain their success. The arena came a few years later, but more special admits, increased recruiting budgets and increased coaching salaries were made after their first year of success.

After LMU's improbable run? Nothing... No major renovations (probably didn't need them then), no major increases in budgets for recruiting or salaries. All of those things allow you to keep quality staff and people in your program.

Anyone notice who the Associate Head Coach is at Arizona State? Give you a hint - a former LMU assistant who took a job at a Big Sky school for more money!! A BIG SKY!!! (he then eventually moved along to Ariz State after another stop). Not saying you could keep him at LMU forever, because you can't. But it would have been good to keep him for more than one year.

Ironlions, I too think Few would bolt for Oregon - that's my guess - but I was looking at Oregon's recent record, yeah they are struggling this year, but two years ago they won 25+ games and lost in the elite 8 to Florida... one game away from the Final Four... I know this is a "what have you done for me lately" business... but I don't know if he gets axed yet...

Stillalion, no one cares about other sports. Even though the Zags might not dominate in other sports like they do in Basketball - but they still benefit from basketball's success - they have a bit more $ in those non-revenue producing sports.

[lmutex]

The problem with the other WCC teams is none of them upped their $$$ and facilities after they went on their run like the Zags did. Yeah the Zag run started with a "Cinderella" story, but immediately after that they made changes that allowed them to maintain their success. The arena came a few years later, but more special admits, increased recruiting budgets and increased coaching salaries were made after their first year of success.

After LMU's improbable run? Nothing... No major renovations (probably didn't need them then), no major increases in budgets for recruiting or salaries. All of those things allow you to keep quality staff and people in your program.

Anyone notice who the Associate Head Coach is at Arizona State? Give you a hint - a former LMU assistant who took a job at a Big Sky school for more money!! A BIG SKY!!! (he then eventually moved along to Ariz State after another stop). Not saying you could keep him at LMU forever, because you can't. But it would have been good to keep him for more than one year.

Ironlions, I too think Few would bolt for Oregon - that's my guess - but I was looking at Oregon's recent record, yeah they are struggling this year, but two years ago they won 25+ games and lost in the elite 8 to Florida... one game away from the Final Four... I know this is a "what have you done for me lately" business... but I don't know if he gets axed yet...

Stillalion, no one cares about other sports. Even though the Zags might not dominate in other sports like they do in Basketball - but they still benefit from basketball's success - they have a bit more $ in those non-revenue producing sports.

+1

[gotoreros08]

not to mention, GU is towards (if not at) the bottom of the WCC academically

[ironlions]

From ESPN:

Oregon (10). The coach: Ernie Kent. The problem: Sustained success has been elusive, never more than in Kent's 12th season in Eugene. He's hit some real high notes: twice reaching the NCAA Elite Eight, twice winning the Pac-10 tournament, once winning the Pac-10 regular-season title. But there have been about as many low notes: more losing seasons than winning seasons in league play, and this season's grisly 0-8 Pac-10 start. There might be mutual relationship fatigue for fans and the coach.