2200 days of Brad Edwards

[MasonSAE4]

vcu and UMass certainly spent more than anyone in the A-10 on their practice facilities by a wide margin.

SLU has a facility attached to their arena, which is the best in the league bar none.

Saint Joe's also has a nice practice gym.

Hard to say where we'll fit until our facility is done, but it will probably be toward the upper-middle of the league.

We're sure to be ahead of GW, LaSalle and Fordham, none of whom have a dedicated basketball facility.

My fear is simply that I feel we'll rise above those teams (Fordham, La Salle, etc..) regardless because of Paulsen. Will this facility help keep recruits away from UMass, St. Louis, Dayton and vcu? I have my doubts. Maybe I'm wrong. I have no idea what goes through the mind of 17 year old kids. But something about UMass's facility must be quite the draw, because there's no way anyone watches Kellogg coach and thinks "yeah this is the guy who's gonna help me make the next step."

 

[gmujim92]

My fear is simply that I feel we'll rise above those teams (Fordham, La Salle, etc..) regardless because of Paulsen. Will this facility help keep recruits away from UMass, St. Louis, Dayton and vcu? I have my doubts. Maybe I'm wrong. I have no idea what goes through the mind of 17 year old kids. But something about UMass's facility must be quite the draw, because there's no way anyone watches Kellogg coach and thinks "yeah this is the guy who's gonna help me make the next step."

When you have one of the best coaches in the league -- and we do, no doubt -- you don't have to have the best facilities. You just have to be competitive.

Right now, not having any type of dedicated practice facility is unacceptable. We don't need a $25M palace with all the bells and whistles.

 

[Vurbel]

We don't have the worst facilities in the A-10.

We're nowhere near the top either, but once the practice facility and locker room upgrades are done, Dave will have a lot of what he needs to build a consistent championship-level program.

I guess we have to determine if we are happy just not being the worst. I think BE has other ideas.

 

[mkaufman1]

When you have one of the best coaches in the league -- and we do, no doubt -- you don't have to have the best facilities. You just have to be competitive.

Right now, not having any type of dedicated practice facility is unacceptable. We don't need a $25M palace with all the bells and whistles.

Exactly- Mason needs something to say "basketball is first here, and this is where you can develop anytime you want". If it has quality in it and resources for the team and recruits, that is the key.

 

[Vurbel]

When you have one of the best coaches in the league -- and we do, no doubt -- you don't have to have the best facilities. You just have to be competitive.

Right now, not having any type of dedicated practice facility is unacceptable. We don't need a $25M palace with all the bells and whistles.

If for us to compete with the big dogs that's the new norm. That's the cost of doing business. With that said, I don't have a spare $25million. Wish I did.

 

[Vurbel]

My fear is simply that I feel we'll rise above those teams (Fordham, La Salle, etc..) regardless because of Paulsen. Will this facility help keep recruits away from UMass, St. Louis, Dayton and vcu? I have my doubts. Maybe I'm wrong. I have no idea what goes through the mind of 17 year old kids. But something about UMass's facility must be quite the draw, because there's no way anyone watches Kellogg coach and thinks "yeah this is the guy who's gonna help me make the next step."

A 17 year old mind is unique. They don't make decisions based on the things we make decisions on. That's just the way it is, for better or worse.

 

[GMUgemini]

When you have one of the best coaches in the league -- and we do, no doubt -- you don't have to have the best facilities. You just have to be competitive.

Right now, not having any type of dedicated practice facility is unacceptable. We don't need a $25M palace with all the bells and whistles.

Marketing people. If the new plan is 15.5 and the original RAC rebuild is 20. That's a 35.5 million dollar athletics facility we have


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[Pablo]

Donations can be made by simply calling the patriot club at the number that was given at the end of the video. How much easier should it be?

Assuming Brian is correct that gmutd127 works in the ticket office, this is the attitude that irks me the most about the AD. I'm watching the video with my wife and she asks me if I've contributed to the proposed basketball practice facility. I have to explain to her that the school has not sufficiently reached out to people like us.

Why haven't all season ticket holders and Patriot Club members been provided sufficient information about the proposed facility? Why do I have to glean information about the project by searching the internet?

And, why is someone who works in the ticket office posting on this board that we have the worst facilities in the entire A10 Conference, and insulting current and prospective season ticket holders?

 

[Pablo]

http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.c...16/11/11/16_411_AllianceMag_final.pdf?id=5264:

"A two-phase approach will provide a very useful interim solution for our teams while the full facility is under construction. Phase 1 will include improvements to the existing upstairs gym at the RAC (the “Cage Gym”). Phase 1 will include new hardwood courts, six basketball goals, new lighting, painting, graphics, and team branding. It will also include renovations to certain other parts of the RAC to accommodate recreational needs, given the loss of student access to the Cage Gym. The cost of Phase 1 is estimated at $1 million.

Phase 2 consists of the complete design and construction of the entire addition to the RAC. Importantly, all of the improvements made in Phase 1 will be incorporated into the addition; no investment will be lost or used only temporarily.

The need for a dedicated basketball practice facility is clear. It is essential to our ability to compete in the demanding A-10, and to return regularly to the NCAAs.

Mason also has major improvements planned for the Men’s Basketball Locker Room in EagleBank Arena. The locker room campaign will provide the necessary funding to enhance our facility with Mason pride, upgraded technologies, and amenities that will excite players and new recruits as we continue to build on our Patriot traditions. This new facility will offer our student-athletes new lockers and benches, a team lounge, a film room, and an updated design to the decades-old facility. In order to construct a state-of-the art basketball locker room facility, we will need to reach our overall goal of $500,000. Through the attainment of this goal, Mason’s basketball program will be provided with a locker room facility that will impress recruits and make all of us very proud to be a Patriot!

We invite all Patriot supporters to consider investing in Mason Basketball. By making this investment now, you will help lay the foundation of success that will yield benefits for decades to come. To learn more about the project, contact Jennifer Montgomery at 703-993-3217 or jmontgo2@gmu.edu."

 

[TweederGMU]

A 17 year old mind is unique. They don't make decisions based on the things we make decisions on. That's just the way it is, for better or worse.

Totally agree

I have heard from older Mason Bball players that I've become friends with over the years say playing time and playing for a winning program is/was very high on their lists. These are guys who had the luxury of Coach L in the 2000s when we were consistently winning and were known to have a winning program.

Having great facilities is just the icing on the cake and can/could help sway a recruit away from LaSalle or some other shithole.

 

[GiantKiller_Co]

Assuming Brian is correct that gmutd127 works in the ticket office, this is the attitude that irks me the most about the AD. I'm watching the video with my wife and she asks me if I've contributed to the proposed basketball practice facility. I have to explain to her that the school has not sufficiently reached out to people like us.

Why haven't all season ticket holders and Patriot Club members been provided sufficient information about the proposed facility? Why do I have to glean information about the project by searching the internet?

And, why is someone who works in the ticket office posting on this board that we have the worst facilities in the entire A10 Conference, and insulting current and prospective season ticket holders?

From what I understand, the initial donation phase was only for larger donations and then they were gonna open it up for smaller community donations.

I feel you on the transparency stuff though. It would be great if we all knew what was going on.

 

[GMUgemini]

Totally agree

I have heard from older Mason Bball players that I've become friends with over the years say playing time and playing for a winning program is/was very high on their lists. These are guys who had the luxury of Coach L in the 2000s when we were consistently winning and were known to have a winning program.

Having great facilities is just the icing on the cake and can/could help sway a recruit away from LaSalle or some other shithole.

Yes, but notice Newman didn't mention facilities at all when he committed. It was playing time, helping to build the program back up, the coach and the fact that he believes in developing the whole individual.


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[gmutd127]

I know you like to jump on my posts since you work in the ticketing office and I have been critical of that department. That part of my post was in reference to comments other people had made that there was no obvious way to ensure your donation went to where you wanted it to go. The fact that they don't have a predefined category in the donation form, yes it could be made easier. Doing so would give the impression that this is legit and being done right. Most places in the donation business would tell you to put a special code in the form if it wasn't already available.

Ha, definitely got the wrong guy. I am often critical of the ticket office and the patriot club myself, just not usually on here. Things happen (or don't) that piss me off but it doesn't bother me to the point of pulling donations or not believing in the admin because I would bet these things happen in all athletic programs.

Anyways, I apologize for seeming to jump on your posts, nothing personal.

 

[gmutd127]

Assuming Brian is correct that gmutd127 works in the ticket office, this is the attitude that irks me the most about the AD. I'm watching the video with my wife and she asks me if I've contributed to the proposed basketball practice facility. I have to explain to her that the school has not sufficiently reached out to people like us.

Why haven't all season ticket holders and Patriot Club members been provided sufficient information about the proposed facility? Why do I have to glean information about the project by searching the internet?

And, why is someone who works in the ticket office posting on this board that we have the worst facilities in the entire A10 Conference, and insulting current and prospective season ticket holders?

As I mentioned to Brian, wrong guy.

 

[gmubrian]

As I mentioned to Brian, wrong guy.

Sorry if I incorrectly connected you with ticket office guy. His call and one of your posts were timed so closely and sounded very similar.

 

[Falco]

Yes, I understand there will be a portion of the RAC dedicated to the basketball teams. That is better than nothing.

Where I was going with my comment was that it is a step down from what was discussed when a practice facility was originally talked about in the 2007ish time frame. I believe our long awaited hall of fame was going to be in the new practice facility if I am remember correctly. Doing it as part of the RAC checks off training part of the box, assuming that the team will have 24/7 access to it (they will right?). I don't think it will be as impressive to recruits, though, as a separate building would be. I also think they are losing an opportunity to attract a big donor to put their name on a separate building. That might be a wash, though, as they are hopefully able to do it cheaper this way.

Why couldn't a big donor change the name still? If I had the luxury of donating large sums of money, I would prefer to donate to a building where hundreds of students go, rather then just a handful and coaches.

 

[Falco]

When you have one of the best coaches in the league -- and we do, no doubt -- you don't have to have the best facilities. You just have to be competitive.

Right now, not having any type of dedicated practice facility is unacceptable. We don't need a $25M palace with all the bells and whistles.

I frankly don't understand why the RAC isn't provided solely to the basketball team. Just give it to them. The students already have the aquatic center, and the Southside Gym. That's where I went before the RAC was built.

We don't need to raise any more money, its already built.

 

[Vurbel]

I frankly don't understand why the RAC isn't provided solely to the basketball team. Just give it to them. The students already have the aquatic center, and the Southside Gym. That's where I went before the RAC was built.

We don't need to raise any more money, its already built.

One could make the argument for that. But also could argue that the RAC is used for volleyball, classrooms, and offices. Now, it may be cheaper to build a new building that houses volleyball, offices, and classrooms. The people who are too lazy to walk to the other side of campus to lift weights aren't the ones who would be lifting weights to begin with.

 

[GMUSig03]

One could make the argument for that. But also could argue that the RAC is used for volleyball, classrooms, and offices. Now, it may be cheaper to build a new building that houses volleyball, offices, and classrooms. The people who are too lazy to walk to the other side of campus to lift weights aren't the ones who would be lifting weights to begin with.

Right - where would the men's and women's volleyball teams, and wrestling team play? RAC was not built as a dedicated basketball facility and is not suitable as such, without alternative options for students and other teams. Field house would be a terrible venue for dual wrestling meets and volleyball games - good luck recruiting for those teams if the field house is the only venue for matches.

Our on campus student population has substantially increased since the AQ center opened in 1998 and the student population is sort of split on each side of campus, so it completely makes sense for the students on each side to have gym access. Not a necessity, but a nice benefit and I hope part of the University's mission towards it's students to promote health and wellness.

 

[Falco]

Right - where would the men's and women's volleyball teams, and wrestling team play? RAC was not built as a dedicated basketball facility and is not suitable as such, without alternative options for students and other teams. Field house would be a terrible venue for dual wrestling meets and volleyball games - good luck recruiting for those teams if the field house is the only venue for matches.

Our on campus student population has substantially increased since the AQ center opened in 1998 and the student population is sort of split on each side of campus, so it completely makes sense for the students on each side to have gym access. Not a necessity, but a nice benefit and I hope part of the University's mission towards it's students to promote health and wellness.

The Mason administration could care less about Wrestling, and only has women's volleyball because of title 9. Basketball trumps all other sports, Mason needs to do what ever they need to do to make sure the basketball team is competitive.

Why isn't the Rac suitable for the basketball program. It has courts, weights. Class rooms that can be converted to film rooms. It has locker rooms that can be upgraded. Seems like an easy solution to me.

The wrestling team hasn't had a winning season in 10 years! Last winning record was 2007. and only had a total of 2 winning seasons since 2002.

The Women's volleyball team hasn't had a winning record since 2008.