Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Peacock, Monday, March 10, 02:51:12pm [1]

I have read your resume and know where you have been and the talk sounds good. You havn't exactly managed anything other than a radio show through the bulk of your time which accounts for your pro statements. Being an SID is not exactly great credentials. Now will you to take $60M to accomplish all this. What would it take? Is it worth it to move to KY for little renumeration as no one will believe you can accomplish what you say. Yes there is quite a lot of corporate money around but not a lot of students who care, much less the community.

Most of your comments are givens. Rather than restatement of these, why not elabrate on how you intend to suduce a corporation for a team with such a low stature. You have to prove it first and that is what I would like to hear.

Probably the toughest question would be, Why would the school consider for candidacy a man who brings his platform to a BS board such as this.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- To: bunk, Monday, March 10, 06:21:19pm [1]

Just a thought-- while you're questioning my background -- your current AD was an asst. basketball coach.

I was and always will be a salesman/promoter.


Andy Furman

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Bad answer -- Peacock, Monday, March 10, 11:54:12pm [1]

Not exactly a program maker for SPC. In fact if he is your model, don't apply.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Dodger Blue Peacock'61, Monday, March 10, 03:22:44pm [1]

Andy, like your moxie. Can you speak to some street/sandlot lineage (from one Brooklynite to another)....i.e 1 sewer or 2? (LOL); Ebbets Field daze?; PSAL or CHSAA?; any Parade Ground League/CYO/Shore Parkway sandlot baseball background?; or Nite Center Basketball?; or Bklyn Sunday Morning softball/touch football on cement fields? This is type of stuff that usually doesn't find its way into your standard resume but does tell me at least where you're coming from! Lastly...neighborhood?...i.e Flatbush (Yours truly)), Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Bay Ridge, Marine Park, etc. I too took Hudson Tubes back in the day to SPC and can remember when local student bodies marched on Madison Square Garden after they were named to the "then" prestigious NIT...real old school! ANy way if you're so inclined please feel free to respond/or not to the above inquiry. Good Luck!!

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- To: Dodger Blue, Monday, March 10, 06:05:05pm [1]

Thanks for the kind words -- seems the natives are a bit restless and can't blame 'em. They've been burnt for years. I went to Lafayette High ('67) from Bensonhurst -- have a soft spot for SPC -- maybe from the old days -- and would like to repair what once was -- I think I can.

Hey, how many out there would accept the challenge?

Hope to see you at the Armory,


Andy Furman

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- To: Bunk, Monday, March 10, 06:13:00pm [1]

Oh yee of little faith -- let's face it, all I can do is improve what once was -- and if it was about the money I'd say stick it -- yeah, I made good $$ on radio for some 18 years -- but what challenge is there nightly talking to Fred from Cincinnati?

Here I can be judged -- will I pass or fail -- and I think I'll pass.

As for this board, it's a start -- I've created a buzz here --and I can create one in and around SPC and Jersey City. Isn't what that's all about?

Get the Peacocks ready for my press conference -- see if Central Park Zoo has any for loan.

BS is only that if nothing is accomplished -- from my vantage point here -- and no disrespect for the current staff -- I'd say nothing has been done in the last 5-8 years. I'd like to know why.

And, finally, if you have checked my resume -- see where I've been and what I've accomplished at "holes" like Belmont, NH, Florence, KY (Latonia Race Course) etc. Sold Jim Beam on a $150,000 race at Latonia -- don't think we can sell the Battle of Jersey with St. Peter's with Prudential as a sponsor?

Keep your head up. Peacocks to the Penthouse,


Andy Furman

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Dawg 97, Monday, March 10, 06:27:21pm [1]

Surprised at all the doubters and hostility here. I read this board a lot and the biggest complaint is no one in the administration cares. Well here is a guy who is a proven promoter has succeded in everything he's done and is willing to come to SPC for his love of the school. He may not have the typical credentials of an AD, but isn't that what the school needs? An alternative, type A personality willing to come in and make change just because he loves the school, as opposed to some assistant ad coming in from somewhere just to get a title and move on. His resume, references and contacts are impressive, give the man a chance, if anything at least we would be getting someone that gives a shit

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Coach Knight, Monday, March 10, 11:19:03pm [1]

You are just as nuts as Furman. You have no idear on what is reality.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Bunk, Tuesday, March 11, 12:39:45am [1]

Thanks for the response. I think this is an interesting thought exercise, not just for you, but for the entire community of Peacock fans. I'd like to see all the Peacock fans answer this question. What would you do to make Saint Peter's a competitive program? I'm not talking about the team itself. I don't mean "get a better coach" or "recruit a big man with post-up moves". I mean the program as a whole.

Now, you started it. Some of it was specific, some wasn't. Let's go through them.

"To make St. Peter's College competitive"

Yes. This is our goal. Right now, the college is not competitive and, for alumni, it's embarrassing. A competitive athletic program is good for the health of the college. It improves the school's atmosphere, it fosters pride.

"To make students, faculty and staff proud"

More of the same. Not specific, but worthwhile goals.

"To get community involvement"

A terrific idea. At $7, Peacock games are quite the bargain. Do you know how insane the prices are at the Izod Center for the moribund Nets?

"To get corporate financial support"

This is one of the prior administrations big restrictions. Has this been opened up? I hope so. We need sponsors, because we need money.

"To get alums involved"

All part of the plan.

So, again, I ask for specifics. What would you do to make Saint Peter's a competitive program?

Here's one first step: upgrade all facilities. The weight room, the lockers, everything. Move all home games to The Armory. Do it now. However, we can't just be tenants. We have to invest in the building. The place needs a real sound system. It needs real bleachers on all four sides of the court, so fans can be close. This is highly important. Good bleachers, close to the court. Upgrade the Yanitelli Center facilities, move the games to the Amory is the first step.

Any other ideas from you fans?


(ps. change your name back to Andy Furman)

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Coach Knight, Tuesday, March 11, 01:13:02am [1]

Stating the obvious over and over. For a college team just what is "corporate financial support"? Is that even legal? Do any teams have that? It is all very moot because decisions like that come from above and not at AD level..Good luck but all of that is just BS..or pissing in the wind.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- Bunk, Tuesday, March 11, 02:41:43am [1]

"Corporate financial support" = sponsorships, advertising. It's something the Peacocks already have. When I attend games, I'm informed that I can stay at the Doubletree Hotel and Suites in Downtown Jersey City. That sorta thing. It's a perfectly normal way to raise funds for the program.

Let me ask you a question, Coach Knight. Are you satisfied with the level of the program of Saint Peter's College men's basketball? If not, how would you improve it?

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> Re: To: Andy Furman -- JACKO, Tuesday, March 11, 09:14:12am [1]

i guarantee that the new AD comes from either MAAC roots or Seton Hall roots... its just expected that people shoose the comfortable person for this type of spot -- either someone rich ensor recommends from a maac school or someone from seton hall roots (a former asst ad who left to go be an ad in the midwest and wants to come home)... there will be NO major changes, its just too hard to navigate within the current school setting as the school needs cash for the school - the sports programs will always be secondary

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Weakness to your answer -- Peacock, Tuesday, March 11, 12:56:35pm [1]

Funding a full athletic program also brings in students. The main issue SPC has is with obtaining students. Nothing they have done has done one thing to really boost the image that in the end attracts students. People who worked in the development offices can tell you how the applications increased after visits to the NCAA. If you check out the student population you might be surprised to learn how many come to SPC to play D1 sports. Subtracting scholarships there is a surprisingly high percentage of athletes that actually pay tuitions. Athletics brings in money to the school in more ways than the cash flow for attendance. Without the athletic program, as pathetic as it has been, it has kept the school from going under where the resources were sent covering administration mistakes. Why you ask. Because it brought in paying tuitions.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Right on the money. -- Bunk, Tuesday, March 11, 01:36:20pm [1]

You are right on the money. As my boss likes to say, "Everything is connected."

What are some of your ideas to make the program a legitimate, competitive Division I program?

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Weakness to your answer -- Tim Camp, Tuesday, March 11, 03:40:51pm [1]

Any fan who wants to better understand the true nature of a complete Division I athletic program or knows a child trying to become a Division I athlete should read this story from the New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/sports/11coaches.html?ref=education

Just about every school that competes in Division I football and basketball has the full number of scholarships in those sports, but in the other sports even the kids playing at the "have" schools are unlikely to be on a full ride for athletics alone.

As Peacock noted, having a broad-based athletic program is an excellent way to attract students who end up filling the rosters, not to mention students who want to be student fans at a school that has good teams.

For a school like SPC, athletes can represent about 10% of the student body.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Weakness to your answer -- oldtimer#1, Tuesday, March 11, 04:44:43pm [1]

Excellent observation.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Peacock -- Dawg 97, Tuesday, March 11, 08:05:53pm [1]

Peacock weren't you one of many on this board that was in favor of cutting the 80 plus tuition paying football team. Kind of contradicts your statement, no?

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Peacock -- Peacock, Tuesday, March 11, 10:44:20pm [1]

No, I wasn't, but when the decision was made I accepted it. The issue was more a lack of committment to support it than anything else. No one was going to do anything to make it competitve.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Peacock -- Dawg 97, Thursday, March 13, 09:26:16pm [1]

I stand corrected then Peacock, but i know the majority of the board was for it, which i never understood. If Iona can field a quality fb team SPC should be able to as well. If anything it would be another 80 men on campus who are more likely to attend bb games. Hell the bb team even stole a fb player last year

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> Re: To: Bunk -- Coach Knight, Tuesday, March 11, 01:07:18pm [1]

It does not raise funds for the "program" it may raise some funds for the school. As to yor question "if I am satisfied with the level of the program" the answer is NO and I have been dissatisfied since 1982. Until the mindset of the President and Board of Trustees changes there will be no "upgrade" of any significance. This talk is all just that talk and it is from people that have no input or say .

[ Edit | View ]

[> Disappointed. -- Bunk, Wednesday, March 12, 01:58:14pm [1]

I'm disappointed by the lack of ideas from the true Peacock fans. People like Cindy Crawford and loyal are smart posters. Do you have an ideas for bring the program up to the MAAC level?

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: Disappointed. -- Cindy Crawford, Wednesday, March 12, 06:09:15pm [1]

Thanks for the compliment,but I'm sorry to say i think it's mostly about the lack of financial support .An infusion of funds ,not likely to happen to any great extent,could help ameliorate some of the problems.
The facilities from parking,to bleachers with modern seating,to scoreboards(Iona's for example include graphics that include ongoing game stats and percentages) need to be upgraded.
Staff and their salaries need to be increased to to attract and keep dynamic,talented people.Hopefully this will start with a commitment to paying a new AD a competitive salary. I understand the candidate field has potential. Are we willing to pay what will secure one?
The recruiting budget is paltry ... some schools spend more on postage .
Marketing is also deficient.The population of the city has changed from the glory days at the Armory,when a dozen bus lines brought families to its doorstep,without the competition of multiple top 20 games on cable TV at home.Most of those who attended in the 60s are either in nursing homes,dead,or have long fled to the burbs.
New connections have to be forged to link the college to the new community and businesses at the eastern shore of the city.
There is a need for more money and for a dynamic vision. Where it will come from is anyone's guess.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: Disappointed. -- loyal, Wednesday, March 12, 06:25:47pm [1]

Vision that upgraded athletics can drive enrollment (invest $$ to make $$) is evidently not the Board's current perspective. Someone has the chance now to drive that concept home, with a new Prez and likely a more articulate, persuasive, ambitious AD. Like Cindy says, the AD hire will speak volumes.
Gonzaga and Xavier live by that philosophy. Locally, Siena is directionally there. Manhattan is, too, as is Iona. All three programs pay coaches approx 3x our compensation, for example.
But, compensation is not all of it. I had the opportunity of working out at the Omni alongside the Manhattan athletic director two years ago. We got into a casual mens BB conversation....let me tell you, Byrne is to our guy what Bill Gates is to the guy owning the corner garage.....for us to improve exponentially, our new Prez and AD would have to have that type of commitment and professionalism. We'll see.
Short of that, we will be dependent on catching lightning in a bottle, hope Dunne or his successor can find three above average players within two recruiting classes, and maybe steal a title every six/seven years or so. We were close three years ago, but Sowers went south and Manhattan happened to field the best MAAC club in the past ten years. Most other years, the Sowers, Yates, Clark club would have been right there.
If the current level of commitment/vision continues, realistically, occaisional contention, when the planets are in alignment, is the best we can expect.
This is NOT a knock on Dunne....but if Siena, Manhattan and Iona pay coaches 200K+ and we pay ours around 75K, and have better facilities, how often can we be expected to come out on top?
If you can hire a guy for any job, in any discipline, for 200K and my budget is 75K, who is going to get the better candidate, and who is most likely to succeed? Easy answer.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: Disappointed. -- oldtimer#1, Wednesday, March 12, 07:25:09pm [1]

Cindy/Loyal - pretty good and accurate posts. As you know and had been posted several months ago a Committee has been formed to address the financial specifics of the Athletic Program. Supposedly this has been ongoing since before September and was initiated by the new administration. Who makes up that Committee, what they are discussing and when they will reach conclusions, I have no insight. The only question to my mind is when will a determination be made and what will it be. Perhaps too many meetings and not enough action. My best guess would be something should happen before the end of the school year since the new fiscal year begins July 1st. However, that is only a guess.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Re: Disappointed. -- Peacock Blue, Thursday, March 13, 07:46:40am [1]

What's the status of the propsed student-center?

IMO, it's ridiculous to spend all that money on a new building when there are so many problems with the existing facilities. We need to upgrade to make our facilities (not just athletic) to make them comparible with other schools our size before we worry about new buildings. Enough with putting band aids and bubble gum over the problems.

The new administration has to realize that running a college is a business, not a charitable cause. It seems that the "Jesuit way" at Saint Peter's is quite different from that of schools such as Loyola, Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Xavier.

Sure it sounds great to hear "The Jesuit College of New Jersey" and what a "diverse population of students we have." The truth is high school students could care less. One trip to the NCAA tournament would generate more interest for a high school student than any of that(It's almost free advertising in a way). Also, I hear so much about the alumni from SPC that are top executives in big companies. It scares me to think about what will happen when that generation of graduates retire. Who will take there place? The standards for students are quite different now than in the 60's "blue collar, shirt and tie" era.

As for the new AD, whoever it may turn out to be, here's an idea to get the students involved:
Make the "Cock Pit" mean something instead of it being this mythical section of the bleachers that in actuality is 4 kids that are drunk and show up with their body painted. Instead of giving out shirts to the first 500 students at a random game or these "Tees for 3's", have students sign up and give their e-mails. As a member of the "Cock Pit", you would get a t-shirt and there would be a pre-game reception with free wings/pizza and soda.

In addition, is there any sort of "Jr. Peacock Club?" Make the games a place that families can bring their kids. I go to games at other schools and see fathers with their sons. Children are admitted for free so it can't be that hard. It doesn't matter to these kids what teams they're watching, they just know they're at a basketball game. We have to reach out to people and the community so people think "$7 for a basketball game and an afternoon with my kids, what a deal!"

Also, student support has to start with the student-athletes and coaches. The "Code Blue" promotion of a few years a go was a nice idea, but there was no reason for students to show up. Stressing to student-athletes that they need to support the other teams is important. There should be a "we're in this together" attitude among the athletes.

I was at a game this past year with a friend and there was some rare crowd noice and chants of defense. He who turned to me and said "I bet this place could get really loud with 3,000 people here." I remembered the games against Manhattan vs. KeeKee from a few years back...what a difference 2 years makes. We must be one of the few teams that has a home court disadvantage.

[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: Disappointed. -- IWasThere, Thursday, March 13, 05:58:47pm [1]

You make many good points. I'd like to see the Marketing Department get involved, perhaps sponsoring a competition or a course requirement for undergrad and MBA students. The goal could be on getting the public to know about and come to SPC games.

[ Edit | View ]