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Post by elonphoenix on Apr 14, 2009 22:01:01 GMT -5
Baseball is not a revenue generator (I guarantee their ticket revenue in 1.5 seasons hasn't recouped the costs of fencing in the complex and staffing the ticket office), and I don't believe fundraising has been finished for the fieldhouse. As for "working on other higher level, longer term projects" I guess we'll have to see how those turn out. Hard to give him credit for things that are as yet unnamed.
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Post by phoenix3 on Apr 15, 2009 7:38:16 GMT -5
Baseball is not a revenue generator (I guarantee their ticket revenue in 1.5 seasons hasn't recouped the costs of fencing in the complex and staffing the ticket office), and I don't believe fundraising has been finished for the fieldhouse. As for "working on other higher level, longer term projects" I guess we'll have to see how those turn out. Hard to give him credit for things that are as yet unnamed. You're right, I've changed my thinking. He sucks.  |
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Post by euphoenix99 on Apr 15, 2009 8:57:50 GMT -5
Hiring ISP which increased the athletic teams' exposure, concieved the Night of the Phoenix which gave us an additional 2 1/2 athletic scholarships and impressed many of the local businesses and professionals, made baseball a revenue generator (you may not like this, but it helps generate more income/defray costs), helped procure donations for the new fieldhouse, Changed the Elon Athletics Foundation (basically just a name and a bank account) to the Phoenix Club which has revenue generating drives and a working board, he hired what I believe will be a great women's basketball coach in Barefoot, he is currently working on other higher level, longer term projects that are in the development stage. In addition, I think the firing of Ernie Nestor and the Hiring of Matheny was done as well as it could have been. You had a 2006 coach of the year who had won a northern division championship that same year who had just made a strong run into the Southern Conference Tournament. It's easy to say "so what, he still needed to be fired" but with all of the contractural issues, and the hope that Ernie was about to finally turn things around, I felt the decision to give him one more chance was the right one. Plus he obviously had a short list of potential coaches who were interviewed offered and finally hired in a very succinct timeframe. We now have a great fit with Coach Matheny where some other SoCon schools do not even have a coach, much less a good fit. Maybe I'm guilty of having a "glass half full" mentality. So, I'm supporting the Elon athletic programs with my money and my time. So far, I'm much more pleased than displeased with what's happened with Elon Athletics since 2006. Great post phoenix3. I'd be curious to know what the naysayers think Blank should be doing that he hasn't already. Go Phoenix! |
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Post by phoenixphan06 on Apr 15, 2009 9:43:14 GMT -5
Of all the threads that I've read in my short time here, I couldn't be more dissapointed at the content posted on this one!
Under Blank's guidance, we are now perenial SoCon title contenders in Men's Tennis and Baseball with multiple NCAA Tournament bids to date. Our football program has garnered respect at all levels with several players getting attention from NFL Scouts, and is on the verge of making a deep playoff run. Several capital projects have been completed or are currently underway (Latham Park seating expansion, Rhodes Stadium Scoreboard, Swing Center Facility for Men's and Women's Golf, Athletic Field House to name a few).
To be completely honest, Dave Blank has been the best thing to happen to Elon Athletics in decades! He has steadily built up a solid athletic department made up of great coaching and support staff as well as some of the best student athletes in the country. Before Blank our athletics department was in such bad shape that it has taken a few years to change the culture around Elon and he has without a doubt done a great job at that!
I understand that everyone won't agree with every move that he makes, but thats why we're fans and not the AD! He understands that it takes time to shape a solid athletics department and part of that falls on us fans. Everyone needs to get behind him and his decisions and trust that he has Elon's best interests in mind.
Elon Athletics will continue to improve with Dave Blank as the AD and I know that each and everyone here wants to see Elon rise up and become one of the premier schools in the SoCon and all of the south!
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Post by elon_phan on Apr 15, 2009 21:14:22 GMT -5
Phoenix3 and phoenixphan06, I am in your camp. It appears to me that Blank is doing a good job.
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Post by 3birdfan on Apr 16, 2009 8:44:47 GMT -5
Aight everyone, I am not here to rip Blank a new a__Hole, but I do feel some aspects need to be addressed. I think everyone can improve and while I feel we are definitely a "half full glass" I am pushing and hoping for the Phoenix to a "all the way full glass".
But here is just to address to few point PP06.
Baseball was making bids and improving long before Blank came, this is the same trend it was making when White was here. Tennis was a White hirer and the tennis facilities were under White.
Sorry credit goes solely on Lembo (hired by White) and the staff he has put together. Lights on the field was in the Lembo contract and winning and the community involvement of Lembo has helped raise money for the stadiums
Latham seating expansion - still one of the worst things ever to me. It was a way to count seats and sell more tickets. I miss the days of the right field being full of rowdy fans and students, that was a great atmosphere.
Swing Center - wow an add on to our driving range, not too complex to do. Glad he did it but not impressed.
Athletic Field House - rests on the success of the football team not the success of the AD.
I think going to Division I and the hiring of Lembo along with White pleading for more financial support for our program is the best thing to happen to Elon.
Name the people Blank brought in, I can name them on my hand:
Lucas Kraut - ISP: Great hire makes us a real DI program.
Michael Jacobs - Tickets: Another good hire, has really moved our ticketing system where it needs to be.
Karen Barefoot - WBB: Yet to be seen
Matt Matheny - MBB: Yet to be seen
Increase in the Athletic Academic Support - Just smart and somewhat required by NCAA.
And oh yeah - I do agree with the Best Student Athletes in the Country.
I refuse to think it was bad shape. We started winning in football and people give money and come to games. Surprise.
We use to have a great atmosphere at MBBall games, now we lose and no one comes. It is cyclical people thats how sports and fans are its a love hate relationship.
After this long post and you have probably stopped reading I do want to agree that Blank was a great hirer for Elon. He has taken what Dr. White started and improved and pushed it further along. But with that he does have areas he needs to improve.
I love Brian Tracy but I want to have Blank shake my hand and say thanks for giving and glad you could make it to the game. I want to see those big donations from new people that Blank is famous for. And more importantly I want to see Blank continue on the trend of breathing new life into our athletic department through new hires and growing the department.
I am a Phoenix Phan, a Phanatic. But this means I will support the team NO MATTER WHAT, but that does not make me blind. I will always push for us to improve and get better. Its what I do and what I want from our Athletic Department.
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Post by phoenixfc on Apr 16, 2009 11:01:29 GMT -5
3birdfan - I agree 100% with your post. Does not mean that I will oppose Blank for like or that I can't become a Blank fan, but I'm far from on board at this point.
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Post by phoenixphan06 on Apr 16, 2009 12:34:55 GMT -5
In his less than 3 years as the AD, let me stress LESS THAN 3 YEARS, he has Elon on the right track. No AD in the country can turn a program into the perfect program or make decisions that every fan/supporter agrees with in such a short time but Blank is making every effort to steer us in the right direction.
I think this thread would be more appropriate in year 4 or 5, but definetly NOT BEFORE HE FINISHES HIS THIRD YEAR ON THE JOB!! I guess I just don't understand it. We all want to be proud of our alma mater and have a passion for seeing the athletics department succeed. Now that we're beginning to taste success in multiple sports on a more consistent basis I feel like you people (those not in support of Blank) expect perfection and immediate results.
IMO, there are many ways to support Elon Athletics. You can donate to the Phoenix Club, show up at sporting events, wear your favorite Elon apparel, etc. None of which includes picking apart the actions of the one person in charge of all of this.
Not to bring politics into the room, I hate politics, but I can't help but to feel the same way about the criticism President Obama has been receiving just months into his first term. Some may say theres not much of a correlation here between Obama and Blank and that I may be stretching this one a bit but my point still stands that its a waste of time to judge someone's performance on such a short term basis when clearly the changes necessary take a much longer period of time to execute efficiently and correctly.
Signing off for now in hopes that those lacking support for Blank are indeed not lacking support for Elon Athletics.
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Post by phoenixfc on Apr 16, 2009 13:09:05 GMT -5
Well, phoenixphan06, this is an opinion board and we are all entitled to express our opinions. Many of us have been around Elon for years and years and supported programs through thick and thin, both financially and by attendance. Don't know how many years you've been an Elon fan, but lat least some of us probably have been around much longer. I think much of the credit you are giving to Blank should be going to Dr. White, who I believe is the one who put Elon on the right track, but I don't pretend to know all the if's, and but's of what's done and not done. I do know, however, that I've personally been literally shunned by Blank on many occasions and observed similar treatment to others. My support to EAF, and now the Phoenix Club, has come from the efforts of Alan White, Trey Stewart and Brian Tracy, and so far, I've continued that support in spite of Blank. As I said before - this does not mean that I will never become a fan, but I'm far from it right now. I agree that he has not had much time to accomplish a lot - again, as you pointed out, it's only been 3 yrs, and to me, that's a lot like a coach coming in and having an awesome year or two with the players left by prior coach. I hope that in five years, I'm able to be as positive about him as you seem to be.
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Post by 3birdfan on Apr 16, 2009 16:03:16 GMT -5
Totally agree
Sadly agree
Completely agree, that's why I am a fan and not an Elon administrator. My "fansense" wants perfection and demands it. (who cares about common sense)
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Post by phoenix3 on Apr 16, 2009 20:54:59 GMT -5
3birdfan - I agree 100% with your post. Does not mean that I will oppose Blank for like or that I can't become a Blank fan, but I'm far from on board at this point. What do you mean "far from on board"? What has Blank done that would prevent you from getting on board? You want someone to make things perfect and then you'll get on board? Why don't you get on board and help make athletics better? Join the team! Hey, I agree with just about everything 3 bird said. I am also on board!!!  |
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Post by phoenix3 on Apr 16, 2009 21:04:50 GMT -5
fc, in your earlier post you heralded Dr. White. I think Dr. White is a great guy and did a great job over the course of his career at Elon. I think he deserves every accolade he has gotten and then some, but, he wasn't perfect either. Simons - 10 years with one winning season, Brenda Paul, Paul Hamilton, Ernie Nestor.
Is it just Blank's personality you don't like? I'll conceed in a quick minute that Dr. White is more personable. Other than that, I don't see how he has done anything poorly so far.
Oh, and by the way, I've been an Elon sports fan for about 34 years now.
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Post by elonphoenix on Apr 17, 2009 8:22:43 GMT -5
3birdfan - excellent point-by-point breakdown. I agree completely.
And, let's also address the damage Blank has done. I can't tell you the number of people who I've heard talk about how gruff and standoffish Dave has been to them, and it seems to cut across age, giving level, etc. Add to that the goodwill he lost from many in the community (and many on staff as well I'm sure) with firing Trip and now with Matt Eviston having left as well (not that Eviston had his contract non-renewed like Trip, but I think it'd be naive to say there isn't some connection to Matt seeing the writing on the wall, combined with wanting a saner schedule).
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Post by elonphoenix on Apr 17, 2009 8:28:28 GMT -5
phoenixphan06 is absolutely right. It's completely unfair to judge someone with only 3 years on the job. That's not nearly enough time to make a noticeable impact. I mean, look how long it took Lembo to make a noticeable impact on the football program.
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Post by 3birdfan on Apr 17, 2009 17:29:58 GMT -5
phoenixphan06 is absolutely right. It's completely unfair to judge someone with only 3 years on the job. That's not nearly enough time to make a noticeable impact. I mean, look how long it took Lembo to make a noticeable impact on the football program. You can't make that comparison because within the year Lembo had the community eating out of the palm of his hand. Everyone knows him and everyone wants to talk about him. I bet half the kids at elon and the surrounding community have no idea what Blank even looks like. |
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