I support BU but dont give JL forever

[bigdaddystuck]

I and my family have been closely connected with BU for well over 30 years....money talks. If the big money donors are behind the program, it will be difficult to make a change. Several bad seasons, and by that I mean losing, in a row would probably do it. We are in the middle of a possible 1st losing season. Several more years of this and a change will be made. IMO, if the season continues this way, heads will role and new assistants will be brought in. My guess would be JL (obviously) and little B (likely) would be safe.

 

[thefish7]

This year is rapidly becoming a lost year, and it's trying for me-- a supporter of Jim Les. As far as I'm concerned he has until the end of next season to turn this thing around, as it currently stands. My reason for wanting to support him is I don't think he'll leave for a bigger program if he does eventually find consistent success here. I believe he needs to fix his coaching staff. I believe there are definitely better coaches around, but e.g. if we hire a guy like Cuonzo Martin (who I think is proving to the be coach people thought he would be) I believe he'd help BU along and then take a job offer at a "bigger" program-- as I'll believe he'll do with Missouri St.

For me this factor (and what I still view as very good recruiting despite our recent results) makes me more forgiving of Les's struggles. However, I don't have unlimited patience, and so he must have success next year with a team that should be about as deep as any I've seen at Bradley during my time as a diehard fan.

 

[wizard1]

I support BU but---

I support BU but---

Coach---Could you define for me what you mean by "Major Boosters". Is it strictly $$$ or can a booster be "Major" in other ways----Working hard on behalf of the program with Braves Club, the Alumni Association, or the "B" club, raising money for the program, a history of annual contributions over many years, ex-players loyal to BU, advertising in game programs, supporting sports other than basketball, etc. IMO we have a number of Major $$$ boosters who buy their way in for high profile seats then disappear after a few years or when we experience some adversity or when they move out of town. And---How many of the BIG contributors are corporate $$ and not really personal giving?---are these "Major Boosters"?

I suspect what you really mean are "Influential Boosters"---Those who have close ties to the University, who are listened to by the administration AND TRUSTEES, and whose opinions are meaningful and have credibility with the administration AND TRUSTEES, as well as those who give big $$$.

There are many people in this catagory.

Also Coach, I am 100% convinced that the disatisfaction with JLs results is rampent among many BU fans far beyond the narrow confines of this message board. This Board may very well be a reasonablly accurate poll, a microcosm, of the feelings of most BU fans.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

The difference is that from what I hear, the administration and great majority of boosters agreed and felt it was time to replace those earlier coaches, and Mo, too, when it finally happened. And there are still some hard feelings that linger from every one of those firings.
As of now, despite the amount of dissent seen here on the message board about keeping JL as coach, there is not that kind of sentiment from the people that matter- the administration and major boosters.

That is not 100% true, nor is that 100% knowable, because I know some administration and trustees are MUM on the issue.

And big money boosters are NOT the be all, end all, sadly for some. It might give them access and privilege. . .but small peanuts, when gathered, can either create feast if the bag is full or famine if the harvest isn't plentiful.

That also doesn't take into account new big money that is being withheld, or big money that hasn't been present since 2002, either.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

I am not sure this is true-
Preseason banquet sold out, and game-day luncheons sold out, or nearly sold out.
Season tickets were equal or above last year, and there were extremely few given up by season ticket holders.
Donations are up, and the number of Braves Club and Braves Scholarship Society donors is at an all-time high.
Average attendance this year so far- 9,007 vs. last year 9,110. And almost all of our likely largest attendance games have yet to be played.
And there were over a thousand BU fans who travelled to Las Vegas for the tournament there.

I don't know about ticket sales for the MVC tournament, but I would be surprised if they were down over last year.

But the only way you might measure fan support as being down might be the number of no-shows, or people who leave early, or if there was a poll of fans, it would show there are more unhappy fans, or disapppointed ticket holders.

Actual attendance is nowhere near average attendance. While that's not knowable, a reasonable estimate is that average attendance is 7500. I realize that also if tickets are sold (which is likely what is announced) above that, it doesn't affect income (obviously). That is also NOT a slam, as admittedly the schedule has had several odd game times and some less than attractive opponents to the casual fan. . .not necessarily attributable to the team, however, I think that is reasonable for future poor attendance.