Post by fan on Sept 30, 2020 13:44:19 GMT -5
I'm new here, but have been and/or was a reader, and from time to time a "poster" on the other board. But my lack of computer skills, and perhaps 10 thumbs have left me for quite
a time unable to log on, so I thought I'd try this board, and here I am.
I became a Titan fan when I relocated to Detroit about the same time that Dick Vitale came here, I was from NY and a big St Johns fans, so the transition to the Titans was simple.
I have enjoyed the highs and endured the lows, maybe not to the depths of Titan family members. But perhaps this gives me the ability to see the events the program and/or
sports in general at the school have "lived" through.
The following is a listing and short comments of events in my time that have shaped the program and brought it to the point it is now, the list is very random, but it's my opinions.
1) College basketball has exploded in popularity and as a source of income for schools, especially D-1's, starting about the Vitale era. Detroit has only been a minor player in that growth. Part of the blame has been placed
on the long painfully decline of the City of Detroit, Frankly that's likely a excuse not a reason, just look at Dayton, or St Louis or even Butler, or others in older city's. Further the school had a second chance, the amazing come
back of the city as a entertainment "hub', certain a city D1 team should have been a part of that. It seems the school missed that opportunity also.
2) The school has something that in college basketball that money can't buy, tradition, a good Detroit D-1 team would be a major story any place they played because of the history of the program, now when they go on the road, they get paid for their L and somebody else gets the benefit of that tradition. Oakland has been making a effort to grow their D-1 program to the point where it's relevant, largely on the back of their head coach who has dreams of being Tom Izzo. Truth is they might not ever be relevant because the lack this magic of a "tradition', and they can't buy that. Detroit has not used their hard earn tradition well. Chance is when this Oakland coach leaves, Oakland University might forever be a "low" D1, and all that effort added little tradition.
3) Dan Gilbert, the City of Detroit is rebuilding on the backs of Dan Gilbert and his company. It is truly strange that at some point the school didn't sit down with Mr. Gilbert, and say we want "in" we want to be a part
of this new and exciting Detroit. Start by selling the naming right to the gym, or the field to Quicken, get a fat check and put it to the tab for the Big East. Maybe name a new school within the school for Dan Gilbert, like the Dan Gilbert school of Business.
4) The name Detroit Mercy, I understand why, and the need, and I'm not going to get into that, but the name is a marketing nightmare. Not only did that name hurt the school, it likely damaged the Sisters investment in the school.
The answer at the time of the joint agreement was simple, something like the Mercy School of Nursing or a separate College of Mercy. It's likely to late, but a NCAA champion, the University of Detroit-Mercy, does not have a good ring to it.
5) Coach Davis, Mike Davis may have a fine history in NCAA basketball, but the school needs a coach that has more fire, one that needs be on the radio, and TV, pushing the school, a coach who can go to the cruze and hand out opening game tickets. Mike Davis is a mature and at a very mature program, when the program needs the next Dick Vitale.
6) D1 or D2 or D3, the school needs to decide where it needs to be, right now it has one toe in the pool, if it's D1, it needs to make the commitment, if not then be a NYU, or Loyola of New Orleans, that's not where the loyal fans might want to be, but that's ok, a D3 national championship would be fun, at least something to cheer for.
This is just a few pent up comments, and a few things to talks about, most is really a rehash, but it's fun to be back on.
a time unable to log on, so I thought I'd try this board, and here I am.
I became a Titan fan when I relocated to Detroit about the same time that Dick Vitale came here, I was from NY and a big St Johns fans, so the transition to the Titans was simple.
I have enjoyed the highs and endured the lows, maybe not to the depths of Titan family members. But perhaps this gives me the ability to see the events the program and/or
sports in general at the school have "lived" through.
The following is a listing and short comments of events in my time that have shaped the program and brought it to the point it is now, the list is very random, but it's my opinions.
1) College basketball has exploded in popularity and as a source of income for schools, especially D-1's, starting about the Vitale era. Detroit has only been a minor player in that growth. Part of the blame has been placed
on the long painfully decline of the City of Detroit, Frankly that's likely a excuse not a reason, just look at Dayton, or St Louis or even Butler, or others in older city's. Further the school had a second chance, the amazing come
back of the city as a entertainment "hub', certain a city D1 team should have been a part of that. It seems the school missed that opportunity also.
2) The school has something that in college basketball that money can't buy, tradition, a good Detroit D-1 team would be a major story any place they played because of the history of the program, now when they go on the road, they get paid for their L and somebody else gets the benefit of that tradition. Oakland has been making a effort to grow their D-1 program to the point where it's relevant, largely on the back of their head coach who has dreams of being Tom Izzo. Truth is they might not ever be relevant because the lack this magic of a "tradition', and they can't buy that. Detroit has not used their hard earn tradition well. Chance is when this Oakland coach leaves, Oakland University might forever be a "low" D1, and all that effort added little tradition.
3) Dan Gilbert, the City of Detroit is rebuilding on the backs of Dan Gilbert and his company. It is truly strange that at some point the school didn't sit down with Mr. Gilbert, and say we want "in" we want to be a part
of this new and exciting Detroit. Start by selling the naming right to the gym, or the field to Quicken, get a fat check and put it to the tab for the Big East. Maybe name a new school within the school for Dan Gilbert, like the Dan Gilbert school of Business.
4) The name Detroit Mercy, I understand why, and the need, and I'm not going to get into that, but the name is a marketing nightmare. Not only did that name hurt the school, it likely damaged the Sisters investment in the school.
The answer at the time of the joint agreement was simple, something like the Mercy School of Nursing or a separate College of Mercy. It's likely to late, but a NCAA champion, the University of Detroit-Mercy, does not have a good ring to it.
5) Coach Davis, Mike Davis may have a fine history in NCAA basketball, but the school needs a coach that has more fire, one that needs be on the radio, and TV, pushing the school, a coach who can go to the cruze and hand out opening game tickets. Mike Davis is a mature and at a very mature program, when the program needs the next Dick Vitale.
6) D1 or D2 or D3, the school needs to decide where it needs to be, right now it has one toe in the pool, if it's D1, it needs to make the commitment, if not then be a NYU, or Loyola of New Orleans, that's not where the loyal fans might want to be, but that's ok, a D3 national championship would be fun, at least something to cheer for.
This is just a few pent up comments, and a few things to talks about, most is really a rehash, but it's fun to be back on.