My biggest fear since Kelly was put in charge was he would fail to increase revenue and a new president would come in and say we need the resources some place else. I don't discount that might be a very real possibility. Father Garanzini has done some wonderful things for Loyola and that can't be denied. However, he has been an absentee owner before he stepped down. He spent a lot of time in Rome being in charge of higher education for the order. That allowed a person like Kelly to fill a void. Look at the University's organizational chart and you can see why Kelly has influence. There really is nothing he touches that doesn't go downhill and this won't be any different but the departments that answer to him are not the only ones run poorly.
I have given directed gifts that were improperly used, I have donated time and money that were never recorded. I have been insulted and ignored by University staff. I have been solicited for major gifts from the president himself and then can't get a response for letters and emails that I have sent. So for as much as I personally like Father Garanzini, all of this happened on his watch.
And yet I'm still here. I still like going to games and seeing everybody. I see people who watched me play and have seen my kids grow up to adults. I have a closer bond than most with the players knowing first hand what they go through and want so badly to see Loyola competitive again. I have friends from Loyola that range from Brot to Joe Crisman in age. I have a tremendous sense of pride when I'm on campus or business takes me near water tower. Father Garanzini deserves much of the credit for what has been accomplished.
I have now seen what will be four presidents, six athletic directors, and six head coaches over thirty plus years. I value my Jesuit education highly and have sent my three children to the academy and one to Georgetown. My family has been blessed with our association with the Jesuits, our lives are fuller because of it. I hold no ill will toward the University I earned a B.A. and an M.B.A. from, but I do not want to see the same mistakes made over and over again any more. Because I believe one day a president might just say enough is enough.

Quote LU86: "My biggest fear since Kelly was put in charge was he would fail to increase revenue and a new president would come in and say we need the resources some place else. I don't discount that might be a very real possibility. Father Garanzini has done some wonderful things for Loyola and that can't be denied. However, he has been an absentee owner before he stepped down. He spent a lot of time in Rome being in charge of higher education for the order. That allowed a person like Kelly to fill a void. Look at the University's organizational chart and you can see why Kelly has influence. There really is nothing he touches that doesn't go downhill and this won't be any different but the departments that answer to him are not the only ones run poorly. . ."

Amen, Brother 86. I could not have said it better. I am at the point to where I am beginning to think that for my own "peace of mind" maybe I should "detach" myself from Loyola. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me, fool me again and again and again . . . " Well, I guess that makes me the "fool".

That being said, there has been a parade through the Athletic Department of capable and likable people through the years - some better than others. But if they are not given the authority, tools, and resources to perform, there is no hope for improvement.

This is from someone who has been an observer and supporter for over 40 years. Maybe I should just go bang my head against the wall. It may just be less painful!

To LU 86 and all,
I took a look at the admin flow chart and although familiar with many people, must admit that I do not know Mr. Kelly.
It seems like many of our posters have reason to not like him. I googled to get a bio or something and came up rather empty.
Im in a quandary about all of this stuff because it started out about being an LU alum and basketball fan and turns into a long and winding road about how to get into a better place. I grew up with Red Rush and all that stuff, but that was a different era. I have read many great ideas on these pages, as well as some really unrealistic expectations about our performance from others. I would like to know firsthand that the school has given the AD an extended commitment and funding for the program to reach a competitive level in the MVC. Open communication with us fan people about this stuff would be great. If they aren't, I feel really silly committing my own time and funds. Personally, I think a successful big time program does nothing but benefit the entire University status. It should be a focal point for community and student involvement, and a huge marketing tool for increased visibility on a national scale.
My opinions about PM, (I am a fan his), the players, ( I am proud of them), are another topic for another day. I can recall a day when Denzel Britto was our point guard, nothing personal here, but talk about oxen ball!!!, and we played the Horizon league badly. I am glad to be in the MVC, and believe it is realistic to be successful here,with PM as coach.
I will be curious to see just what kind of genius Greg Marshall is after Fred and Baker are gone. I suspect he may become rather ordinary. Evansville without Balentine, really? It's matter a a few key players more than coaching genius. PM deserves the continuity and support so that he can recruit and be there for those players. Many of our losses wind down to five or six possessions. And many of those possessions are the result of our lack of quality tall people. I believe our returning players and incoming players will show up and ease the pain of losing the seniors that I have come to appreciate over the last three years...
Frustrating, but loyally yours,
Ramblerguy

There are so many people on this board that passionately want to see LU succeed at a national level again. Many contribute monetarily and in other ways ....but who knows what is the intention of the University. I would love to see a statement that clearly identifies the goal , the plan and a directive to ALums of such. "We intend to be a nationally recognized athletics program at the DI level. Here is what we need .......... Help us attain this by ................
I would like some direct communication and to know what is going on. Granted there have been so voids lately with Grace leaving and Father G leaving. I hope the new President is in place soon and make a clear statement on his intent for athletics at LU.
IF they are not going to commit I will still go and watch games and just kind of feel adly about it. I would prefer that I hear a clear statement that we are headed to the top and be part of making that happen.

Nate the skate, by the way, Why Nate the skate?
I agree wholeheartedly. Maybe this starts with the AD opening up time for an occasional meet up with us weirdo guys to give us the details and facts related to the program, you know the money stuff, how it gets done, the program needs and plan to fill those needs. Then again maybe he can't do that because he doesn't have the authority from above to guarantee anything. I assume he would not be in a position, nor would it be appropriate to provide opinions about his bosses, other than to tell us how wonderful they are. You are probably correct that it would be fair for the administration to put out a position paper and detail about what financial commitments they are agreed to going forward. I wonder on a comparative basis our budget vs our competition's budget. Its strange that filling the seats and getting the attention we crave will require either blind luck that we have a great season or upfront cash commitments over time to take the situation and proactively build a program at the level we want and get the rewards to follow...
I don't doubt that the rewards would be worth the effort, but what do I know, I just grew up in Chicago, went to school here and work here, and watch all the games!

Too easy.

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Cigarboy sucks!

I'm sure Kelly knows how to maintain his online presence. But this should tell you everything you need to know:

Kelly is a DePaul guy who has issued directives to not hire LU grads because he simply doesn't think our degrees are worth much.

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Cigarboy sucks!

Brot's review of his view !!

--I wish for LUC to get back to 1985 standard
--PM is many things--by far , most of them good--We all know what he has accomplished so far.--High character players with above average ability for the most part-
------He is a decent bench coach--improving a lot lately--run and gun first plus decent Defense with what he has
----Needs athletic BIGS--see Ill St and Evansville--Rajala an improving talent--needs BIG help
--I do NOT believe he can go very much higher based on his considerable talent which does fall a tad short--across the board
--Our program received a nice boost from Fr G et al--It should NOT stop there--However---
---We apparently have the wrong type of talent above Watson our AD--AD should report to President directly--This person appears to be adept at saying "NO"--Cannot have that sort in a forward looking type of position--EG--What is he doing to other departments at LUC?? I am suspicious that Hoops and rest of Athletics are not the only ones suffering
-- Goal must be to attain X or BC type status--for the school and CHICAGO neither of which is minor league--Although LUC HOOPS is at present less than major.
--Funds must continue to be spent to enhance HOOPS--thereby bring publicity and dollars to the school--Winning in the BIG TIME will get that--Conservative custodian of NO PROGRESS will NOT
--Doubtful that PM can do this job of competing against the best hence I truly reluctantly feel he should go . ILL ST threw our lack of athleticism and height in our face. PM has done well, but he ....
--After reading all that has been written here, it is truly apparent that LUC's set-up has failed --It CAN AND MUST BE FIXED

Why Nate the Skate.......Nate the Skate Hayes played for the Ramlbers in the early 70s/ Led the team in scoring one year with 22pga. about 6'2 but worked the baseline unmercifully, just kind of glided then jammed it home. Had kind of a beatnik persona. my favorite Rambler other than Foy Hart .
played with La RUe Martin.
We could luck into some inconsistent success like we did last year.....but better to build a solid foundation. with a clear directive to ACHEIVE at a HIGH LEVEL by having a solid marketing plan, good aggressive sports Information director, and support of the University at every level or just quit fooling with us and say this is good enough. Dont tell me we are going to have an athletic renaissance and then stop half way. Is the coach and the AD getting what they need to succeed? I think the point of whether to keep or get rid of PM is moot with out knowing what the University is doing to support the program. No coach will succeed with out the proper structure and support

I was thinking about assets and liabilities as a way to look at this
Assets, great campus, great academics,great(?) city, decent gym and facility. decent coaching
Liabilities: poor student and alumni support, poor marketing, troubling coverage
unknowns: Level of university support, reputation of coach at high school level,power of AD to get job done. anyone think of others?

Assets: great talent pool to recruit
Liabilities: losses, weather?
Unknown: Money? Even if we have support in spirit from the university as a whole, there is definitely a ceiling for a program like Loyola. Building off that, I would throw conference in there too. A lot of schools (i.e. DePaul) can build quite a warchest even with their doormat status by virtue of a nice tv deal/teams going far in March. Without WSU, the MVC would probably take a hit in both categories.