ephoya04
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by ephoya04 on Feb 1, 2006 8:34:17 GMT -5
Met Bernard Muir last night and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. Firstly, there was a great turnout (prob. about 60-70 people). He spent about 10-15 minutes talking to a group of 3 of us and he is exactly what the program needs. He is open and receptive to fan's ideas, has lots of energy, and is trying very hard to move things in the right direction.
With regard to the on campus arena he said we are moving in that direction and that we are closer now than we've been in a long time.
All this on top of a great performance by the team, I'd say things are definitely looking up.
Bernard agrees, this next stretch against 3 ranked teams is HUGE...lets keep it rolling
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Post by Frank Black on Feb 1, 2006 9:53:59 GMT -5
With regard to the on campus arena he said we are moving in that direction and that we are closer now than we've been in a long time. This is pretty big news. I can't believe no one has commented on this yet. Let me be the first. This is pretty big news.
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HoyaSox04
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Founding member of the ROCK-tavius Spann Fan Club.
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Post by HoyaSox04 on Feb 1, 2006 10:16:41 GMT -5
With regard to the on campus arena he said we are moving in that direction and that we are closer now than we've been in a long time. Yeah, EP, did he give any more details beyond this? Agreed, Frank - this is HUGE news. Is the administration smartening up finally?
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ephoya04
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 387
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Post by ephoya04 on Feb 1, 2006 10:25:27 GMT -5
He reinterated that he won't give any detials on time frame, and that their are still issues to be worked out (I am assuming money and neighbors). He did say though that McDonough CAN'T sit for 25 more year in its current state the way it has for the last 25 years because it is basically wasted space on a campus where, as we all know, space is at a premium. He said the plan has been for a long time to drill down and drop the court while rotating it 90 degrees. It seems like McDonough is on the list of things to accomplish, just not sure when
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Post by RockawayHoya on Feb 1, 2006 10:42:34 GMT -5
He reinterated that he won't give any detials on time frame, and that their are still issues to be worked out (I am assuming money and neighbors). He did say though that McDonough CAN'T sit for 25 more year in its current state the way it has for the last 25 years because it is basically wasted space on a campus where, as we all know, space is at a premium. He said the plan has been for a long time to drill down and drop the court while rotating it 90 degrees. It seems like McDonough is on the list of things to accomplish, just not sure when This just made my day.
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ephoya04
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 387
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Post by ephoya04 on Feb 1, 2006 10:45:32 GMT -5
Glad to be of service
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HoyaSox04
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Founding member of the ROCK-tavius Spann Fan Club.
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Post by HoyaSox04 on Feb 1, 2006 10:51:54 GMT -5
EP, I would say "you da man" but you know I can never say that to you - I can't give you too much credit. But thanks for the update...
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Post by FairfaxHoya on Feb 1, 2006 10:54:14 GMT -5
Agreed. If nothing else, this shows me that they are thinking about how to solve this problem, as opposed to mere platitudes about "maybe someday." Talking about specifics shows me they are serious.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 1, 2006 11:16:10 GMT -5
A lot has changed since Oregon...or he just likes you better! Made my day.
Oh, by the way, folks, if you work in or near DC, you should click the banner above. Muir and DFW have $12 group tickets to remaining games!
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SFOHoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by SFOHoya on Feb 1, 2006 11:52:07 GMT -5
One thing that is clear from talking to Bernard last night is that the on-campus arena is clearly on his radar screen. In the brief Q&A session, he stated that he would take questions on any topic in regards to athletics... except the on-campus arena (he said this jokingly). My inference from his tone and from our conversation is that he's been / is being hounded by us and others on this topic and there are still more questions than answers.
He did make mention of the 'Master Plan' as his top priority for the next 18 months, indicating that its scope is rather far reaching.
Otherwise, really enjoyed speaking with him; he asked me to stop shadowing him at away games (he recognized me from the Oregon trip.)
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SoCalHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
No es bueno
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Post by SoCalHoya on Feb 1, 2006 12:31:42 GMT -5
Hmm...by "rotating" I guess you could preserve the North/South walls of McDonough and then expand the West or East walls, right? Basically, it would make the long part of the arena the short part...wonder how much that would cost?
This is great news. In Oregon, even though he was somewhat tight-lipped about any arena stuff, I could tell he wanted one too. He comes from ND where they can throw money to build just about anything, but still sit on their hands on a new basketball arena (not that they really need one, but that's what their basketball folks complain about, pth). So I know he'd like to make his mark, use our momentum to put us back into some decent digs for the basketball team and the entire University.
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Post by SoCal Hoya85 on Feb 1, 2006 12:43:59 GMT -5
Good to know there are plans in the woodwork about the on campus arena. I think they would be surprised how quickly funding would come from alumni... I know I would donate as much as I could and I am not only a very poor student but notoriously cheap.
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cincyhoya
Century (over 100 posts)
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Post by cincyhoya on Feb 1, 2006 13:03:49 GMT -5
A lot has changed since Oregon...or he just likes you better! Made my day. Oh, by the way, folks, if you work in or near DC, you should click the banner above. Muir and DFW have $12 group tickets to remaining games! SoCal - couldn't agree more. I've got a feeling lots of alums would open their wallets to donate for something on campus. By the way, anyone take the advice above? Anyone noted the line "Make sure to mention promotion code 1-2-3-4 when ordering" "the password is 1-2-3-4-5.... only an idiot uses that for a password! somebody change the combination to my luggage..."
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2006 13:04:19 GMT -5
Hmm...by "rotating" I guess you could preserve the North/South walls of McDonough and then expand the West or East walls, right? Basically, it would make the long part of the arena the short part...wonder how much that would cost? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but the "dig-down" option would maintain the existing exterior walls of McD. To open up space, however, the entire building would be gutted. This includes the athlete's weight room, all offices, current training rooms and locker rooms, etc. McD would become solely a convocation center/basketball arena, with minimal offices remaining (perhaps just the AD itself, and not all of the sports teams offices?) Everything that was removed would be moved to "Phase III" of the MSF*. Until that is done, McD will just have to sit and wait... * = Phase I is complete - relocated utilities, laid ground work for next two pahses, throw on new field, construct south wall. Phase II construction should begin this summer pending funding, and will involve construction of BOTH the east and west stands, the pressbox on the west stands and completion of all fencing. Phase III construction should begin summer of 2007 pending funding, and will involve the build-out of all locker, meeting, training and weight rooms, equipment storage, offices, light standards, and a new scoreboard. This via the Winter 2006 Georgetown Progress newsletter.
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Feb 1, 2006 13:11:17 GMT -5
Fundamentally, I don't think anything's changed--Muir (as well as Brick, Lang, and Rienzo before him) knows better than anyone the facilities issues and their effects on limiting Georgetown's short and long-term potential, but they're also mindful that the decisions on such projects go up much higher.
McDonough Gym was built in an era to house four sports: men's basketball, men's track, baseball, and men's tennis, after football was dropped after the 1950 season. That's roughly 50 athletes, an office for three or four part time coaches, and a department staff of three.
Fast forward 55 years. There are now 27 sports, almost 800 male (and female) student athletes, 70 coaches, and another 60 in athletic and training staff, all in a building designed in the 1940's and without any substantive renovations. No comparable school has the challenges with facilities Georgetown has. Not a one.
In short, no one has to tell Athletics that a case for improvements are desparately needed. As to the Administration, that's another story.
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guru
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by guru on Feb 1, 2006 13:49:31 GMT -5
DFW - You really like to pee in our cheerios, don't you?
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prhoya
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Post by prhoya on Feb 1, 2006 13:53:54 GMT -5
Great news, ep.
The Administration has to be aware of the lack of adequate facilities for our teams, especially the basketball team and McD.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2006 14:03:50 GMT -5
Great news, ep. The Administration has to be aware of the lack of adequate facilities for our teams, especially the basketball team and McD. Awareness of it doesn't equate to a willingness (or ability) to do anything about it...
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Feb 1, 2006 14:06:09 GMT -5
Opinion, not fact.**
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Feb 1, 2006 14:06:53 GMT -5
Of course the administration is aware of the facility issues for basketball. It is also aware of facility issues for science, business, student groups, libraries, other athletic teams, deferred maintenance, etc. There are also pressing financial concerns in terms of rising tuition costs that must be capped. With space and finances both feeling a tremendous crush, the question of what gets priority is paramount. And given that almost all of those other projects have better-developed plans right now, the McD renovation still seems a long way off, unless someone has $50-100 million they want to give to move it to the top.
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