Rambling0101 wrote:
Question - would anyone trade the final four the “created by culture” slogan?
We have a basketball program that had a National Championship, two NIT runner-up finishes (when the NIT was on par with the NCAA Tournament), two Sweet 16s, and a major role in desegregating college basketball. We have an excellent AD, we have 2 national championships in men's volleyball, and a really good media/communications team. We have a top 100 university academically with an administration that appears fully committed to athletic success.
Porter Moser was the department head in charge when the men's basketball team went to its second Final Four in its history. He did so after having six consecutive losing conference seasons... but the administration and the athletic director stuck with him despite never having had a winning season in the MVC in 10 attempts at two different schools.
What PM did at Loyola in 2018 was astounding, and he should be praised and appreciated for his breakthrough. He is a very good coach (now....) that figured it out after 10 straight losing seasons in the MVC.
But he didn't invent basketball. It wasn't Loyola's first ever success. He didn't do it alone, and he got more resources from the University administration than any previous coach. So quit acting like PM's achievement was unprecedented, a solo effort, etc. That accomplishment belongs to the institution. Porter Moser is damn lucky he had us (the institution, fans, students, alumni, Sister Jean, Bill Behrns, Tom Hitcho, Jerry Harkness, the administration, etc.), or he might be remembered as the guy who failed at ISU and got dumped after six losing conference seasons at Loyola.