|
|
Post by fan on Jul 7, 2022 10:15:52 GMT -5
Actually, I'm not sure what UDM fans expect from him, he coached here nearly 50 years ago, he's not from here and he didn't graduate from here. He never speaks poorly about the school or his time here.
Naming the floor for him was a nice gesture, but it really is more of a benefit to the school than to him. The floor naming will likely get more air time on the upcoming show than his time here 50 years ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Jul 7, 2022 20:41:03 GMT -5
Actually, I'm not sure what UDM fans expect from him, he coached here nearly 50 years ago, he's not from here and he didn't graduate from here. He never speaks poorly about the school or his time here. Naming the floor for him was a nice gesture, but it really is more of a benefit to the school than to him. The floor naming will likely get more air time on the upcoming show than his time here 50 years ago. I'm sure that Detroit fans don't expect anything of him, which is what we've gotten since he left for the Pistons. And that's fine; he's under no obligation to give to the school, even if every time he's in town he says he owes his success to Detroit. We hired him to do a job, he did it for a few years and got paid for it, fair exchange. Yeah, it would be nice if he donated some cash to U-D in between his gifts to Notre Dame, but it's his money. He can spend it as he wants. What I have had a problem with is the way the school has continued this one sided relationship, where he's presented as the only part of Titan basketball worth noting, while he rightly considers us a minor part of his career. The administration has for decades chased after him the way Forest Gump chased after Jenny. And it's been at the expense of recognizing other contributors to our history. And we keep doing it. Last month the Titan website published an article about Earl Cureton and his impact on the community. Nice article about Earl, bringing attention to all that he does for his hometown. And even in that article, about a guy who Vitale never coached, there is a subsection of the article entitled "Wisdom from Dick Vitale". How about "Wisdom from Smokey Gaines" instead, the guy who actually coached Earl? The only tangible thing coming from naming the floor is that DV gets his name mentioned on the broadcast at every home game. He benefits, but it does nothing for the school. Yeah, we did get a nationally televised home game, but according to the game notes it was televised on ESPN2 not the main ESPN channel, so according to the criteria of some on the board, it might not count as "nationally televised". We blew the floor naming opportunity, like we've blown most opportunities for the program over the past forty years. Name the floor after Perry Watson and you probably get it paid for completely by Chris Weber, Jalen Rose, and Juwan Howard, with probably a lot of money left over. You can still have a big ceremony and have big names in attendance. Might not be televised on ESPN2, but maybe Fox Sports Detroit picks it up. And you pay tribute to a long time/lifetime Detroiter who coached the program for 15 years. Local high school and AAU coaches might even take notice. I doubt that U-D gets more than a passing mention in the DV doc, and that's the way it should be. |
|
|
|
Post by uofdfan1983 on Jul 13, 2022 15:17:24 GMT -5
On the main U-D LinkedIn page, today, a Post was uploaded about the Dickie V documentary coming out July 20, with 3 classic photos (one at the unveiling at the court naming ceremony, one of his Titans celebrating, and one with Dickie, Thunder & Lightning and Boyd).
But this comment from a U-D Archy Grad says it all. He remembers one of the impacts that is uniquely Dickie V - the kind of impact that resulted in a full student section and ultimately a packed arena. I was in high school so I just remember the hoop the players jumped through -- not how it was created. Dickie V was a man who freakin' talked the student body into painting all the seats in Calihan!!!! This man was (and is) the greatest marketer/communicator in the history of college hoops. We need to find some of that mojo again...
James Timberlake
Partner, KieranTimberlake
Coach Vitale asked the architects to create a drum/ 'hoop' for the players to come out through at his very first game which we constructed for the basketball team and U.....likely won't make the documentary, but a fun fact nonetheless. They busted through it and the hoop was 'retired.' He amped up the program, post-Dave Debusschere (sp) and Spencer Haywood. Thanks Coach!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rogobob77 on Jul 13, 2022 15:46:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by fan on Jul 13, 2022 19:04:18 GMT -5
As Rogo put it the Vitale years were special, but as Sam put it so well, he has done nothing for the school, I guess for him it was just a job, he moved on and the U of D fans stayed put.
|
|
|
|
Post by upbasketballfan on Jul 13, 2022 21:16:29 GMT -5
As Rogo put it the Vitale years were special, but as Sam put it so well, he has done nothing for the school, I guess for him it was just a job, he moved on and the U of D fans stayed put. UD did a lot for Vitale! His job here put it all in line for his career. First and only D1 head coaching job which he parlayed to the Pistons job and that to announcing. So yes he did well here but this job put all the stars in alignment for his career. Without his opportunity here who knows how the rest of his career would have processed especially with his health issues. I think he owes Detroit a lot and should come to Calihan once a year and kiss the floor. |
|
|
|
Post by fan on Jul 14, 2022 7:39:55 GMT -5
It was a job, just a job and he made the best of it for the school and himself. After him, McCarter, Sicko, and Alexander had the same opportunity and failed.
Actually, Gaines after Vitale ran a good program and seems to get little credit for his work at the U of D.
|
|
|
|
Post by titansforever on Sept 19, 2022 14:54:06 GMT -5
Clean of cancer. Way go go, sir.
|
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Oct 12, 2022 16:21:31 GMT -5
Another honor for DV. He has given so much money to Notre Dame that they made him an honorary member of the Monogram Club.
(If you are wondering if U-D is mentioned in the little biographical video they created for him, it isn't.)
|
|
|
|
Post by larrytitan on Oct 12, 2022 18:47:36 GMT -5
What is the Monogram Club?
|
|
|
|
Post by rbj on Oct 12, 2022 18:52:01 GMT -5
Another honor for DV. He has given so much money to Notre Dame that they made him an honorary member of the Monogram Club. (If you are wondering if U-D is mentioned in the little biographical video they created for him, it isn't.) Notre Dame has an endowment of over 18 billion. Thanks Dick. |
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Oct 12, 2022 20:35:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Rogobob77 on Oct 13, 2022 11:37:21 GMT -5
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Dick Vitale’s arrival as coach of the University of Detroit basketball Titans. Time flies.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rogobob77 on Dec 21, 2022 19:26:30 GMT -5
Dick Vitale Tweets: “Proud that my documentary was selected to be shown at 7:30 pm on ESPN on Dec24 Christmas Eve ! #awesomebaby”
|
|
|
|
Post by Rogobob77 on Jan 29, 2023 8:33:12 GMT -5
|
|
