Re: To: Andy Furman -- Saint Peter's College Sports

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[> [> [> 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

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[> [> [> [> 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.

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[> [> 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!!

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[> [> [> 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

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[> [> [> 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

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[> [> [> 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

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[> [> [> [> 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.

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[> [> 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)

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[> [> [> 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.

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[> [> [> [> 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?

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[> [> [> [> [> 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

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[> [> [> [> [> [> 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.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> 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?

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> 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.

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

Excellent observation.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> 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?

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> 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.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> 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

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[> [> [> [> [> 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 .