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re: Seriously, would the basketball school identity better fit Auburn?
Posted on 11/17/15 at 10:55 am to AUNashville
Posted on 11/17/15 at 10:55 am to AUNashville
Okay, your OP basically says that since we cannot expect to win a national championship every year that we should ignore football and focus on basketball, correct?
If so, this thread is totally absurd. First off, the school's athletic focuses are heavily based on what donors are willing to send the AD. If Auburn de-emphasized football, many of those donors would stop writing checks. The lack of basketball attention is because the team has been downright bad. Football is bad this year, but we've also won 2 SEC championships in the last 5 years and been to 2 national championships.
As a Vandy fan, I know a lot about an athletic department with little commitment to football. It's not fun. That is the last thing you want to see happen. Basketball simply needs a good to great head coach (hello, Bruce Pearl) and some high quality recruits (Bruce is working on that) to be highly competitive. There is no need to de-emphasize football to accomplish that since we're well on the way already.
ETA: To answer the main question explicitly, there is no need to just be a "basketball school". Auburn can excel at both. The football team has shown it can excel recently, and the basketball team is set up for success for a year or two at least, depending on how long Pearl stays.
If so, this thread is totally absurd. First off, the school's athletic focuses are heavily based on what donors are willing to send the AD. If Auburn de-emphasized football, many of those donors would stop writing checks. The lack of basketball attention is because the team has been downright bad. Football is bad this year, but we've also won 2 SEC championships in the last 5 years and been to 2 national championships.
As a Vandy fan, I know a lot about an athletic department with little commitment to football. It's not fun. That is the last thing you want to see happen. Basketball simply needs a good to great head coach (hello, Bruce Pearl) and some high quality recruits (Bruce is working on that) to be highly competitive. There is no need to de-emphasize football to accomplish that since we're well on the way already.
ETA: To answer the main question explicitly, there is no need to just be a "basketball school". Auburn can excel at both. The football team has shown it can excel recently, and the basketball team is set up for success for a year or two at least, depending on how long Pearl stays.
This post was edited on 11/17/15 at 11:00 am
1
Posted on 11/17/15 at 11:00 am to AUNashville
Of all the posts I've seen this may be the worst.
Posted on 11/17/15 at 11:09 am to DoreonthePlains
quote:
ETA: To answer the main question explicitly, there is no need to just be a "basketball school". Auburn can excel at both. The football team has shown it can excel recently, and the basketball team is set up for success for a year or two at least, depending on how long Pearl stays.
This answers the question I asked. I never asked if we should give up on football nor insinuated that we should go that route because of our recent struggles.
My question was asked in regards to Auburn's positioning and characteristics as a university.
This post was edited on 11/17/15 at 11:14 am
Posted on 11/17/15 at 11:10 am to AUNashville
quote:
There's another thread occurring right now (roller coaster vs. consistency) regarding our football program, and some of us are coming to the realization that it just isn't a reasonable expectation to compete for NC's year in and year out
Very few programs ever get to have a run like that. Bama is an anomaly right now. USC was too. Those kind of dynasties can never be expected, only enjoyed if they occur.
quote:
Bama being in the same state certainly plays a role (especially when Saban is there)
Bull-fricking-goddamn-shite. I'm so sick of conceding with this "same state, little brother" mentality. Recruiting has gone national. We don't have to recruit Alabama citizens to be a good football team.
quote:
but I also believe the size of Auburn as a school is also an influence.
What does this even mean?
quote:
However, we see several smaller schools who are hierarchically second in their state able to sustain an elite basketball program.
Eight years ago you would have been laughing at the Bama fans calling Auburn second in the state.
quote:
Would Auburn be better off as a basketball school?
No. We are a football school. We have SEC championships and a few natties. We have Heisman winners.
quote:
Is there any chance Pearl can make this a possibility?
Yes. If you want to discuss Auburn's ability to be both a great football program and a competitive basketball program, then go ahead. We certainly should be that with our proximity to Montgomery, Atlanta, and Columbus. There's no reason why Auburn should not be pulling in a few local studs every year especially with our facilities.
But to give up football because of a few bad years, well, get the frick out.
This post was edited on 11/17/15 at 11:12 am
Posted on 11/17/15 at 11:17 am to AUNashville
I'm always amazed at the ability of some people to quit at even the slightest bit of adversity.
Never start believing!!!
Never start believing!!!
Posted on 11/17/15 at 11:27 am to AUNashville
quote:
My question was asked in regards to Auburn's positioning and characteristics as a university.
Well, I answered that too. Auburn cannot go down that road due to boosters and general fan apathy. Kentucky can do their Big Blue Madness and pack Rupp Arena to the rafters. Auburn is struggling to sell out any game. Kentucky does not "position" itself as a basketball school. They simply do whatever is best for their athletic department at the time. Auburn cannot do big events for basketball right now because there are not enough people who care.
Posted on 11/17/15 at 10:50 pm to AUNashville
I was a Fr during the 98-99 season and I can honestly say I had as much fun at those games as I've ever had in JHS. Was a fricking blast.
Posted on 11/17/15 at 10:57 pm to ever43
Yep, we had season tickets that year. It tops my Auburn sports list, other than Cam's year.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 2:13 am to AUCE05
quote:
Some of you are alters.
This.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 3:28 am to AU4real35
AUNashvile is either an alter or a crappy poster
Or both
Or both
Posted on 11/18/15 at 8:57 am to DesignTiger
quote:
Why not both?
Most big mid major programs like Xavier/Dayton/Gonzaga have a fraction of the alumni & fanbase that Auburn has.
With only ~9,000 seats at Auburn arena, we can have a sold out loud basketball environment with only a minor part of the fan base.
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