Date Posted:09:27:19 03/18/04 Thu Author: sader1970 Subject: Living in the past, '56 In reply to:
Sader56
's message, "Re: Still venting?" on 06:57:06 03/18/04 Thu
Maybe you have grandchildren who go to HC now. Maybe you go to the games yourself. I don't know what your background is to say flat out that I "am wrong." I ventured an opinion on a VERY subjective issue. I don't recognize your moniker from past posts so maybe you are a regular contributor here under a different name.
I went to HC in the late 60's and the games at the Auditorium were often sell outs and we didn't have the stars you talk about but we did have some excellent players like Ed Siudet, Keith Hochstein; some guys with great potential and didn't use it (Ron Texeira); and some guys who didn't have the natural talent but worked hard and had the smarts, like a guy named Willard. We played against some of the best teams in the country (like UCLA, St. John's, Providence, etc.)
But, like when you were there, when I was there it was an all male, sports crazy bastion. That is NOT the case now. One of my sons graduated about 5 years ago and I have a niece going there now. I attend every home BB game and football game and many away games as long as I don't have a business conflict. I'm on campus freqently and talk to students and recent grads in my role as a Board member at a close-by Holy Cross club. The composition and mindset of the students at Holy Cross is radically different than when either of us went there. Last year, the Hart Center was sold out for most of the last few games when HC was winning and on its way to another PL championship and tournament championship. It didn't matter that it was the PL, it mattered that the team was winning.
When my son was there and sports reporter, sports editor and then editor in chief of "The Crusader", he covered the games and knew the coaches. The men's BB team was at its nadir but the women were doing well. He would tell me how there would be a substantial crowd at the ladies game and when it was over, most people left the Hart when the men's game was to start. Again, it wasn't the PL, it's part of a society where people support winners, not "losers."
To me, loyalty to your school means supporting them when they are having down years. I strongly believe that Ralph (and Bill) will have the Saders back on top of the PL again scaring the bejesus out of the high and mighty schools they play in the first round of the NCAA. Is this a fact? No, it's my belief and my admittedly subjective opinion.
The current crop of students have many other diversions than just sports. If you want to make the argument that the people of Worcester would show up in greater numbers if we were in an A-10, MAAC or BE, THEN you have a stronger argument, IMO.
Your flat-out statement that "you are wrong" is indicative of someone of the 50's when times were simpler and people could afford to make dogmatic statements.
sader 70, I don't know what interests today's students but I do think the people of Worcester would support the bb team if it played in a high profile league against quality competition. In the mid to late 70's the program was enthusiastically supported by both the students and the Worcester community. It was very difficult to get tickets to the Hart and all games were sold out. The program was at the height of popularity when the Big East was formed and the Centrum was built. At this point HC had an opportunity to take the program national but Fr. Brooks decided it was inappropriate to continue playing teams that we had played for years and years in a formal league format. The program has never recovered from this and has gotten progressively worse with each new league affiliation culminating with the current association with the pathetic Patriot league. The general public will never embrace this league. There's no way you could ever think of playing a Patriot league opponent at the Centrum, a venue that could have housed national as well as league games for the last 25 years. All you need to know about the current interest level in HC athletics is that the bb games are bumped off the air by Icecats hockey. Do you think this would be the case if the team played in a high profile league? The T&G provides limited coverage but you can't expect much more based on the direction of the programs and the general lack of interest in the Patriot league. As a follower of the program since the days of the great Jack Foley (still the best shooter I've seen) its difficult to watch what has happened to a once proud athletic tradition. deter
I know you can't go back 50 yrs and recreate wht HC had, times are different. But 25, 10 yrs ago, we controlled the decisions that brought the program to where it is today. Where would Uconn be if they chose the PL instead of the BE?
HC was above Uconn in the late 70's and 80's. You wouldn't want the success of Uconn? Where would the Womens program be if Rebecca Lobo and Kara Wolters Signed here instead of Uconn. Yes, both wanted to come to HC, but with No Schollies and the PL, they said No thanks. Ask Bill G. if the PL help land them.
So for those of you who don't think the PL has hurt HC, think of that the next time you watch UConn on TV. Think of the revenue and prestige HC would have had. Rebecca Lobo put the womens game on the map and she should have been in purple and white. Thanks PL..
