Can Giacoletti make Drake a contender?

[WSUwatcher]

Interesting observation about Loyola, Sub. It's a pretty wealthy institution, so the money is there -- the question is how much they're willing to devote to athletics.

[ShockTalk]

Interesting observation about Loyola, Sub. It's a pretty wealthy institution, so the money is there -- the question is how much they're willing to devote to athletics.

I get the impression that they've made new commitments to athletics. I think that's one of the main reasons the MVC added them.

[Aargh]

IlSU has a FB team in that second-tier FB classification that has a playoff system and almost no interest outside of cousins of the players. That costs them 65 scholarships (I think) and they get about the same number of butts in seats for FB tht WSU gets for BB.

The salary cap for BB coaches at the second-tier FB schools is in the $500K range. SIU went past that and it nearly bankrupted their athletic department and did not produce a winning program.

[shockmonster]

Not sure about current pay, but it's about potential pay. ISU has much better support, potential support, to fund things at a higher level. Hell, we didn't have impressive pay by any means when we started with Turgeon, but the potential was there once something was built. And now we're paying close to 2 million. I don't know where the ceiling is for BU or ISU, but I have no doubt that it's much higher than DU. And hell, I was on the ISUb board the other day and they were wondering if they could ever pay 350k. UNI is pretty much maxed out where they're at. MSU won't spend. The only hope is really ISU and BU and maybe even a Loyola down the road.

We are a much different program than ISUR, and it's not comparable. I doubt if ISUR is paying anymore than 400k right now. As long ago as Scott Thompson in 1992-93, we were paying 400K+. We wanted Jim Valvano after the Cohen fiasco (some big donors were committed to winning) and we ended up with Thompson. We didn't get much for it but we went from paying him 400K+ to paying Randy a little less. There have always been some big donors willing to put up big money for a winner. ISUR doesn't come close to that type of commitment.

[WSUwatcher]

We wanted Jim Valvano after the Cohen fiasco (some big donors were desperate to win at any cost)...

Fixed.

Actually, the Cohen misery followed by the Thompson failure led to Smithson, whose inability to crack .500 despite his fanaticism led to Turgeon, who led to Marshall, who led WSU to the Final Four.

Sometimes bad things lead to good results, and it just takes patience and endurance to get there. Alabama football fans, for example (e.g., me), know that very well: Dubose + Price (sort of) + Franchione + Shula, at long last = Nick Saban. You just have to tough it out, as Shocker basketball fans have, and root for a school that's willing and able to put up the bucks when the time comes and the opportunity is there. Fortunately, WSU is such a school. Most in the Valley are not.

[shockmonster]

I will add that 400K+ at that time was big time pay.

[another shocker]

i don't know. phelps was a good/great recruiter. who was that outstanding freshman they had last year, again, that since tranfered? the white kid- something king maybe? (and I want to see what rice does in the big10 next year).

we'll have to see what giacolleti does, but getting good players at drake is do-able, somehow.

[SB Shock]

The answer is NO. This is drake - they a perennial dormats and if they ever get a coach who does anything, he will be gone at first chance.

[another shocker]

The answer is NO. This is drake - they a perennial dormats and if they ever get a coach who does anything, he will be gone at first chance.

the answer is yes.

[SB Shock]

the answer is yes.

And why? Past history doesn't not support that assertion. Their fan base is very fickle ----3 to 4k per game, so it not like they have alot of support (and thus $$, to keep any quality coach).

[Zardoz]

He will be at Drake for 3 or 4 years. If he wins he will move on to a better paying job. If it doesn't work he will be fired and Drake starts over again.

[pogo]

He will be at Drake for 3 or 4 years. If he wins he will move on to a better paying job. If it doesn't work he will be fired and Drake starts over again.

This is the most probable scenario unless some of those private school alumni step up with some LARGE monetary incentive to stay if he is successful. The old adage "Money talks BS walks."