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Zach B
Mike Cragg on St. John's: “I think it’s a place in college basketball you can win and win big. You’re on the biggest stage in the world, in Madison Square Garden and New York City. For me, that’s a unique proposition in recruiting the top players in the country.” #sjubb

Mike Cragg on Chris Mullin: “I love what I see from Coach Mullin and his team. I think we are in a prime position to win this year. He obviously knows Big East basketball better than most, being a player in the league and a coach in the league." #sjubb
 
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Most important thing is we have a fully functioning AD, with full autonomy over the sports programs period. No more monkey business with years of having nobody running the ship. All programs and their coaches should answer to him and hopefully he puts us on a path a little further away from the mom and pop nonsense that keeps us down.
 
Per Zach B
More Mike Cragg on Mullin: “There’s a learning curve with that, too. Let’s be real. There was no real background to suggest he would be a great college basketball coach. He wanted to do it from his heart. I love that. So it’s my job to help [him] follow his heart." #sjubb

Mike Cragg on playing more games at MSG: “We have to be a value proposition to them, too.” #sjubb
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=296845]Per Zach B
More Mike Cragg on Mullin: “There’s a learning curve with that, too. Let’s be real. There was no real background to suggest he would be a great college basketball coach. He wanted to do it from his heart. I love that. So it’s my job to help [him] follow his heart." #sjubb

Mike Cragg on playing more games at MSG: “We have to be a value proposition to them, too.” #sjubb[/quote]

Seems he “gets it”. He’s way ahead already lol.
 
Everything I'm reading about this hire so far makes it seem like it's an amazing choice. Excited about that.
 
It just seems like we finally have a legitimate professional who knows how to not only be a real AD but a truly effective one. Hopefully this trickles down and some real expectations and smart hires continue. Glad to hear that he wants to upgrade CA. Seats, concessions, and ensuring the air is not 80 degrees are really all that's left. While I like CA and think it's more intimate, we absolutely need to hold onto MSG with everything we've got. It's slowly been slipping away and if MSG goes, so does a big shot to our brand, perception, and one of our very few recruiting advantages. Even in our worst seasons, seeing us play at MSG is truly special and it gives instant legitimacy and prestige. I know Cragg implied that we need to win and draw more fans to make it worth their while. If we can do that, I expect that we will start playing more there. This is partially why I'm so frustrated with the schedule...we have a potential top 25 type year coming up with a loaded roster and we could've scheduled more games at MSG with big name schools and gotten tons of eyeballs and butts in seats. This is one year we need to show MSG that we can be relevant nationally and get good fan turnout. I expect 12k+ for Nova/G'Town at MSG. Hopefully more.
 
What I was most excited by was the comment he made to Minko in the radio interview: the Big East is a level playing field and there is no reason we can not compete for a championship every year!. I love it, he is 100% correct. .
 
I am so excited and optimistic about the new AD Mike Cragg that I have just mailed him a Donation to be used in the Athletic Department , prior to any formal Fund Raising Campaign . I urge the posters here, all of them, to consider reaching for their Check Books too! As Loyal Alums and Fans we need to support our School, it’s Programs to the best of our abilities . Maybe I am more in tune with this aspect as I was at ND recently to visit Granddaughter and see Irish vs Vandy . I took time to visit the Joyce Athletic Center and was blown away ! While it’s may not be realistic to duplicate that facility , CA needs upgrade in many Areas and more Games at MSG with 19,000 plus in the seats . I stopped into the Basketball office while there , each sport has their own Office by the way and inquired if Coach Brey was there? He wasn’t , but I did speak to the Coach’s receptionist and said 2 things to relay to him . First , ND and St John’s should play each other in BB every year , home and home . Second , ND made a mistake forsaking the BE for the ACC , notably in Basketball . She was very gracious , all the staff and people you encounter at ND are very pleasant and good natured , from Parking lot attendants up to Academic Staff . Classy place . She promised to pass my suggestion about St John’s along to Coach Brey . Who cares if she was just humoring me , the fact that she said she would was enough to make my Day ... Until we went to the Basilica !
 
Awesome stuff Sly! I think fundraisers can be a lot more creative and can rake in money like never before. The key is harnessing Mullin and his NBA connections...imagine getting KD on the Queens campus for a SJ benefit? Meet and greet with KD or Curry or whatever. Get some of the dream team guys on campus...stuff like that. Auctioning off game worn jerseys consistently, auctioning off more cool fan experiences like getting a behind the scenes tour, meeting the team/coaches, etc. This is why we need Mullin more committed...he has a ton of power and connections. We need to start using them to our advantage. Get the Knicks to visit campus and do a combined benefit event...I don't know. This stuff seems so easy to me, not sure why we can't do at least something along these lines. They do have events for $1,000 a head dinners but let's be real...the common fans are almost certainly not paying that. They need to do more middle of the ground stuff to raise money. $100 a person or something like that more realistic but with a cool enough event worth attending. For the RW Club it looks like your big "reward" for donating $100 is a pin or something. I could see sending a pin to someone who donated $10, not $100...seems quite cheap and boring IMO.

They need to step their game up and get more creative. From what I saw it looks like the only level you can actually get legitimately cool stuff is if you have $15,000 or so to just throw around. How about donating $500 and getting a personalized authentic game-issue jersey? That's the type of thing that would wake people up and seriously consider. I've already donated money and will continue to, but in addition I would be more than happy to volunteer my time to discuss ideas with admin even though I know it won't happen.
 
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[quote="fan5577" post=296873]What I was most excited by was the comment he made to Minko in the radio interview: the Big East is a level playing field and there is no reason we can not compete for a championship every year!. I love it, he is 100% correct. .[/quote]
My dear friend 5577 from our Brooklyn days, I don't believe Mets' logo is permitted on this site lol
GO Yanks!
Get better Mets!!!
 
5577 and SSG , us 96 Schermerhorn Street Alums are dwindling and would all like to see a upsurge in the BB Program SOON ... having this new AD , Mike Cragg, and his remarks at his Presser and Minko interview are all good .. maybe I should tell him to call Mike Brey and get those ND games scheduled .
 
[quote="Sherman, Sheridan & Grant" post=296884][quote="fan5577" post=296873]What I was most excited by was the comment he made to Minko in the radio interview: the Big East is a level playing field and there is no reason we can not compete for a championship every year!. I love it, he is 100% correct. .[/quote]
My dear friend 5577 from our Brooklyn days, I don't believe Mets' logo is permitted on this site lol
GO Yanks!
Get better Mets!!![/quote]

It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it!!
 
I think the issues are deeper than the athletic department.

I dont think there is any SJU pride amongst grads of the last 10 years. These are the possible future donors who could help take SJU to the next level. SJU needs to build the culture from within to create the future of the university and its atheltic department. Maybe it is just as simple as winning games, but the culture needs to be instilled throughout the university.
 
[quote="Redman#13" post=296915]I think the issues are deeper than the athletic department.

I dont think there is any SJU pride amongst grads of the last 10 years. These are the possible future donors who could help take SJU to the next level. SJU needs to build the culture from within to create the future of the university and its atheltic department. Maybe it is just as simple as winning games, but the culture needs to be instilled throughout the university.[/quote]

Arguably some/lots of merit in what you stated

Would encourage Graduates of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) to get involved

Last month they had a well attended event (I was there) at Astor Place featuring a speaker from NBC Universal.

Bobby usually attends.

Cocktail party preceded the event. Cost was $5 per person.

[URL][URL]https://www.stjohns.edu/alumni/get-involved/alumni-associations/graduates-last-decade[/URL][/URL]

Also special pricing for first time G.O.L.D. members ($150) to attend the November 2 President's Dinner at The N.Y. Hilton Midtown

[URL][URL]https://www.stjohns.edu/about/events/21st-annual-presidents-dinner[/URL][/URL]
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=296883]Awesome stuff Sly! I think fundraisers can be a lot more creative and can rake in money like never before. The key is harnessing Mullin and his NBA connections...imagine getting KD on the Queens campus for a SJ benefit? Meet and greet with KD or Curry or whatever. Get some of the dream team guys on campus...stuff like that. Auctioning off game worn jerseys consistently, auctioning off more cool fan experiences like getting a behind the scenes tour, meeting the team/coaches, etc. This is why we need Mullin more committed...he has a ton of power and connections. We need to start using them to our advantage. Get the Knicks to visit campus and do a combined benefit event...I don't know. This stuff seems so easy to me, not sure why we can't do at least something along these lines. They do have events for $1,000 a head dinners but let's be real...the common fans are almost certainly not paying that. They need to do more middle of the ground stuff to raise money. $100 a person or something like that more realistic but with a cool enough event worth attending. For the RW Club it looks like your big "reward" for donating $100 is a pin or something. I could see sending a pin to someone who donated $10, not $100...seems quite cheap and boring IMO.

They need to step their game up and get more creative. From what I saw it looks like the only level you can actually get legitimately cool stuff is if you have $15,000 or so to just throw around. How about donating $500 and getting a personalized authentic game-issue jersey? That's the type of thing that would wake people up and seriously consider. I've already donated money and will continue to, but in addition I would be more than happy to volunteer my time to discuss ideas with admin even though I know it won't happen.[/quote]

I've recently been working with some of the key people at the University with regards to fundraising.

The way it's currently structured is that each school along with the sports program have their own gift officers who are responsible for raising funds for that school/department only. I've voiced my opinion that the University's current structure seems a bit odd because each Gift Officer is kind of siloed. I personally feel that each one of these officers could be the "main point of contact" for each area. However, they should all be working as one unit.

I do feel the new AD will help the school tremendously and I'm hoping I'm right.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=296885]5577 and SSG , us 96 Schermerhorn Street Alums are dwindling and would all like to see a upsurge in the BB Program SOON ... having this new AD , Mike Cragg, and his remarks at his Presser and Minko interview are all good .. maybe I should tell him to call Mike Brey and get those ND games scheduled .[/quote]

In regard to those posts suggesting CM bring in some NBA Talent to lure recruits and $$$ cash cash cash- Chris has already had the champion Golden State Warriors to Queens to shoot around w our team!
Imagine how cool that was and how cool ( how cool, ice cold...OutKast-like)
future annual similar events will be...
Dammit if small non football Catholic schools like Villanova and Gonzaga can hit the BIG time
SO CAN WE!

Your humble servant
Wm. T. Sherman
 
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