Where is the ROI -- Canisius University Golden Griffins

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[> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Thu, December 25 2025, 1:42:37

It is not so much about Buffalo at large but about students. Thousands of kids run cross country, play soccer, etc. and would love to excel at the D1 level and win championships...put the resources into these other programs and compete at the "highest" level.

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[> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- Griff, Thu, December 25 2025, 6:24:29

No offense to the kids who run, but if the Canisius cross country team won the national championship, I doubt I would even know, There's a reason why some sports are spectator sports and others are not.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Thu, December 25 2025, 7:59:17

Well, when Quinnipiac's WBB team made the sweet sixteen the whole country know about it...could it happen with CU baseball or softball team...with a "consistent" winning program? What would that do for the CU image and student recruitment verses a BB program that plays in a high school gym in front of a handful of students?

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- Griff, Thu, December 25 2025, 16:14:03

You really think there is a high school kid whose college decision is going to be influenced by the success of the softball team?

The "whole" country didn't know about Quinny's women making the sweet 16. I just had to Google it to refresh my memory that it even happened and I don't recall a single detail. Let's be honest. Try as some might, women's basketball has a very very narrow fan base - at all levels.

Football and men's basketball drive 99% of the interest in collegiate sports. And the goal obviously should be to not play in a "high school gym in front of a handful of students". I would take the men's basketball team simply competing for MAAC titles year after year (a la Iona) over winning national championships in golf, soccer, rowing, etc. a 100 times out of a 100. And I know I'm not alone.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Fri, December 26 2025, 2:04:21

When was the last MAAC title? When did we compete year-after-year for a MAAC title? Do you really expect that to happen in the age of NIL. Not sure I will live long enough to see that happen.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- Griff, Fri, December 26 2025, 5:43:35

Tied for the MAAC title in 2018. Finished 2nd in 2014 and 2019. Finished 3rd in 2013.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Fri, December 26 2025, 13:06:05

OK, may be your definition of success...not mine.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- Griff, Fri, December 26 2025, 13:50:57

What's your definition of success I'm confused? Winning the rowing national championship? You asked when they last won the MAAC title and I answered. It includes four top 3 finishes in the last 13 seasons. Not great but not God awful either. Sure NIL has changed the landscape dramatically but with the exception of Siena and Iona, everyone else is in the same ballpark. Enough at least to find other ways to get it done and consistently compete to be in the top 4 or 5 each year.

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[> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Thu, December 25 2025, 1:52:52

"This was a money game" I guess most who post here are too young to remember when Canisius posted winning records against top ranked D1 teams...now it is a little like prostitution, lousy work and bad for your reputation but the money is good.

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[> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- In fairness..., Thu, December 25 2025, 13:29:11

There's this narrative that Canisius used to beat Power 4 teams. Canisius is 3-25 against the Big Ten, 14-26 against the Big 12, 41-96 against the ACC, 52-95 against the Big East, and 109-195 against the A-10 all-time.

That doesn't mean that Canisius should forget its past. It doesn't mean that the Griffs should just give up, but the game has changed and Canisius needs to evolve with it. Spending time thinking about NIL, fundraising, tickets, sponsorships, and marketing are all better than dwelling on games at the Aud.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Fri, December 26 2025, 1:53:45

I rather liked it more when we beat Syracuse, Providence, (amongst others) in the same season. Now we just schedule money games against such teams, if they will have us.

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[> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- Get with the times., Fri, December 26 2025, 10:03:10

So, tell us how you really feel?

The hard part about this era is $ is the most important thing and then ensuring you invest it in the right players is the second most important.

Go Griffs!

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[> Re: Where is the ROI -- Go-Grifs-Go, Tue, December 23 2025, 7:37:22

Agreed, declassify to D3 but keep a D1 hockey program and invest in women's hockey. Build the athletics identity around that.

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[> [> Stupid -- JB, Wed, December 24 2025, 17:39:22

If there is any thinking of dropping down to d3 just scrap the whole thing. Why would anyone watch that? And no one cares about college hockey so scrap that idea too. I hope you are seriously kidding about girls hockey. I'd rather they never play another second of college sports.

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[> Re: Where is the ROI -- Aw poor baby (Don’t give up quitter), Tue, December 23 2025, 8:45:38

So clearly Mercyhurst, MD Eastern Shore and Maine should just abolish their whole program because they lost to us. Get a life and learn to take a bad loss flush it and move on. It’s not like Fairfield beat us badly at home. Let’s see how that goes. Sowwy you wost a game so baddly whittle boy. Have some moxie! Don’t be a whimp!

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[> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- Competitor, Tue, December 23 2025, 12:36:51

How the heck did we beat Binghamton? State funded with our tax dollars. Over 18,000 students! We are punching above our weight and some think we should give up. Clearly spectators who never played sports and have zero competitive spirit.

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[> [> [> Re: Where is the ROI -- PFM, Thu, December 25 2025, 1:57:57

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then!

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[> [> Re: Can we start with a damn video board?! -- Pony up $500,000 and we will have one., Fri, December 26 2025, 11:44:40

The Athletic Department would welcome your donations.

Go Griffs!

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[> [> [> Re: Can we start with a damn video board?! -- Tarrantino, Fri, December 26 2025, 14:04:34

They don't cost a half a million dollars. A simple search comes back saying Mid-Range for Mid-Major Colleges (e.g., wall-mounted or auxiliary video board in a 2,000–5,000 seat gym): $40,000–$150,000. Virtually everyone in the country has one. Is there anyone else in the MAAC who does not?

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[> [> [> [> Re: Can we start with a damn video board?! -- Griff, Fri, December 26 2025, 15:56:53

Maybe not 500k but I've been told that for high quality, considerably more than 150k.

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[> Re: Where is the ROI -- BfloGriff, Fri, December 26 2025, 14:03:41

For the New Year lets hope (and pray) THE POWERS THAT BE at CU are of a mind to all work to continue to grow the University. In 2025 CU appears to be on that track. The City of Buffalo with her new Mayor appears to be also. His Honor campaigned with attracting more people living in the City,particularly downtown. Good things appear to be happening in the Theater District. New apartments appear to be in the works.As to CU,IMO we have very good coaching in the "big three" winter sports. We have a President in Steve Stoute who played University level Soccer and who wants to grow CU, he once wanted to be a college/university Athletics Director after Graduate School. As to recruits who want to chase "bigger" NIL $$ now by transferring to Wherever State, once upon a time your parents wanted you to graduate with a degree leading to a profession or a good job. Now days, go where ever you can to get $$. Maybe you won't even have to go to class. But still now there are parents who are heart broken when that happens. Back in the day when Alma Mater was Canisius College, MBB was the only winter sport. Most of our classmates graduated. Some went to the now NBA or to overseas professional MBB. One of CC's MBB players is the founder of one of Buffalo's best Law firms, another won three NBA Championship rings, two others (brothers) became Police Officers. Stick around, go to class, work hard for your coaches. You never know---. Be a Griff.