Feb 24 2024 vs Drake 5:00 PM

[UNIAlum95]

He called volunteers in to discuss their role in improving the atmosphere but then wouldn't take their suggestions or take any ownership over it on his own.

No surprise. Good riddance and on to a better future without him.

[Born-a-Panther]

Yeah it wouldn't take much to go a long way and no David did not have an eye for dressing up the atmosphere or he simply couldn't be bothered with the important work he had to do.

He called volunteers in to discuss their role in improving the atmosphere but then wouldn't take their suggestions or take any ownership over it on his own.

[PantherAlum09]

If you want to be insanely jealous go look at what High Point or Fairfield have. They are sized for them but my god they are gorgeous in every way. I watch games on ESPN+ every time I see them hosting. Then again I also watch very Manhattan game I can because I'm in love with their set up for very different reasons



High Point - they have videoboards inside their video boards





Fairfield







And to be fair - Manhattan - where they roll bleachers out onhalf their WRC/indoor track and have people standing on the indoor track. It's hard to find a photo to do it justice. You have to see it live in game to fully grasp it.

High Point looks like a palace. Holy cow. I do agree that we could do some large graphics that would really dress the place up. If I remember right, that was part of the dome renovation plan, too. I think that would make a huge difference in there. It is really incredible how much more likely so many of these things seem at the moment. Even little things for fan experience I think have been improved so much in the last couple weeks.

[clenz]

If you want to be insanely jealous go look at what High Point or Fairfield have. They are sized for them but my god they are gorgeous in every way. I watch games on ESPN+ every time I see them hosting. Then again I also watch very Manhattan game I can because I'm in love with their set up for very different reasons



High Point - they have videoboards inside their video boards





Fairfield







And to be fair - Manhattan - where they roll bleachers out onhalf their WRC/indoor track and have people standing on the indoor track. It's hard to find a photo to do it justice. You have to see it live in game to fully grasp it.

[UNIAlum95]

Yeah it wouldn't take much to go a long way and no David did not have an eye for dressing up the atmosphere or he simply couldn't be bothered with the important work he had to do.

[BCPanther]

I had to cut off at some point and went with players who played in McLeod. Benny J missed it by a few months.

As for it was put up for good feelings and color? True, and when it was put up Luke was the perfect person for it. However, it has been there a decade, or just over, at this point.

Having more than just one and actually doing proper graphics and color in the arena would be the right way to do it. However, given everything we've discussed/*****ed about over the last decade do we honestly think our last AD was willing to spend a few bucks to get a new photo or two to rotate in there? Hell, did he even know it was there at all?

Hard to notice anything when all you do is sulk and shuffle from the tunnel to your seat two minutes before the game starts and then leave as soon as you can when the game is over.

Lighting and graphics for the outside of both buildings would be relatively inexpensive and improve it instantly.

If all those south windows in the McLeod Center had huge logos and there were purple lights shot up the sides it would make it instantly more inviting.

[clenz]

Great summary and I guess it dates me but not having the Benny J on that list hurts a little He's the first name to help put us on the map. But that's 20 years ago now but I'll argue that he belongs on that Mt Rushmore of all time / modern day Panthers.

I had to cut off at some point and went with players who played in McLeod. Benny J missed it by a few months.

As for it was put up for good feelings and color? True, and when it was put up Luke was the perfect person for it. However, it has been there a decade, or just over, at this point.

Having more than just one and actually doing proper graphics and color in the arena would be the right way to do it. However, given everything we've discussed/*****ed about over the last decade do we honestly think our last AD was willing to spend a few bucks to get a new photo or two to rotate in there? Hell, did he even know it was there at all?

[achrist70]

Pehl is loved by the UNI fan base?

[UNIAlum95]

You will be insanely hard-pressed to find a more universally loved Panther that was the epitome of the attitude of an era/team/program. Did you forget that for 3 years, after his freshman year, the entire arena yelling "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE" every time he touched the ball or did anything?

The Koch brothers were all super polarizing somehow despite 2 of them being top 10/borderline top 10 all time to do it in purple and the third being not entirely far behind them but despised because he wasn't the older who.
Jordan was never super loved like Lucas
Kwadzo is potentially the most underrated panther of all time
Johnny Moran is second to Kwadzo in that category
AJ was probably the best we've seen in decades but even he was polarizing because we don't have a super high basketball IQ fan base
Pehl might be the most genuinely loved by the fan base, but he isn't a recognizable face
Berhow is one of the best shooters we've ever seen but isn't super known and I'd bet a large portion of the fan base already forgot
Singleton is "generic" O'Rear without the personality to get the "fans/support/love"
Sonnen might be close but isn't really that level
Ali is super close though I would argue the fact he is currently still coaching, recruiting against UNI, coaching at Drake, etc. would be a reason to not make him the face right now. Eventually? Yes. But I have a feeling he is super close to getting a call to the big chair and should Darian leave D+ I bet he would be real real real high on their list.

The only player we've had that is more known/loved/remembered/revered/etc. than Lucas as far as lasting memories is Tuttle.

Great summary and I guess it dates me but not having the Benny J on that list hurts a little He's the first name to help put us on the map. But that's 20 years ago now but I'll argue that he belongs on that Mt Rushmore of all time / modern day Panthers.

[UNIpanther99]

I absolutely was among those shouting LUUUUUKE during those games, and you mention a whole host of others we will all love to see on the concourse. It just seems like a photo that was initially put up to provide a little color and good feelings - and it did and does. But maybe let's add some more or rotate the photos among other greats?

[CyCarp]

You will be insanely hard-pressed to find a more universally loved Panther that was the epitome of the attitude of an era/team/program. Did you forget that for 3 years, after his freshman year, the entire arena yelling "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE" every time he touched the ball or did anything?

The Koch brothers were all super polarizing somehow despite 2 of them being top 10/borderline top 10 all time to do it in purple and the third being not entirely far behind them but despised because he wasn't the older who.
Jordan was never super loved like Lucas
Kwadzo is potentially the most underrated panther of all time
Johnny Moran is second to Kwadzo in that category
AJ was probably the best we've seen in decades but even he was polarizing because we don't have a super high basketball IQ fan base
Pehl might be the most genuinely loved by the fan base, but he isn't a recognizable face
Berhow is one of the best shooters we've ever seen but isn't super known and I'd bet a large portion of the fan base already forgot
Singleton is "generic" O'Rear without the personality to get the "fans/support/love"
Sonnen might be close but isn't really that level
Ali is super close though I would argue the fact he is currently still coaching, recruiting against UNI, coaching at Drake, etc. would be a reason to not make him the face right now. Eventually? Yes. But I have a feeling he is super close to getting a call to the big chair and should Darian leave D+ I bet he would be real real real high on their list.

The only player we've had that is more known/loved/remembered/revered/etc. than Lucas as far as lasting memories is Tuttle.

This could probably go all day, but I think you forgot Wes. He was the guy with the ball in his hands in the big moment (including the shot to win Arch Madness), the dunks, the big smile, very energetic - the exact type of guy you love as a fan. He felt like the heart and soul of the team after Tut left.

[clenz]

Also, Lucas O'Rear was a fun Panther to watch. But of all of our great players - why is his photo featured on the concourse?

You will be insanely hard-pressed to find a more universally loved Panther that was the epitome of the attitude of an era/team/program. Did you forget that for 3 years, after his freshman year, the entire arena yelling "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE" every time he touched the ball or did anything?

The Koch brothers were all super polarizing somehow despite 2 of them being top 10/borderline top 10 all time to do it in purple and the third being not entirely far behind them but despised because he wasn't the older who.
Jordan was never super loved like Lucas
Kwadzo is potentially the most underrated panther of all time
Johnny Moran is second to Kwadzo in that category
AJ was probably the best we've seen in decades but even he was polarizing because we don't have a super high basketball IQ fan base
Pehl might be the most genuinely loved by the fan base, but he isn't a recognizable face
Berhow is one of the best shooters we've ever seen but isn't super known and I'd bet a large portion of the fan base already forgot
Singleton is "generic" O'Rear without the personality to get the "fans/support/love"
Sonnen might be close but isn't really that level
Ali is super close though I would argue the fact he is currently still coaching, recruiting against UNI, coaching at Drake, etc. would be a reason to not make him the face right now. Eventually? Yes. But I have a feeling he is super close to getting a call to the big chair and should Darian leave D+ I bet he would be real real real high on their list.

The only player we've had that is more known/loved/remembered/revered/etc. than Lucas as far as lasting memories is Tuttle.

[CyCarp]

Bob can enter the chat by going to Adam DeJode and getting a bunch of the window graphics to cover all of the damn windows in that building to darken it and add atmosphere beyond grey unfinished walls that were supposed to eventually be covered with graphics

Agreed. We all hate Drake, but they did wonders with the exterior of the Knapp Center when they logo'd the hell out of it. I feel like we could do something similar at the McLeod.

https://godrakebulldogs.com/news/2020/11/19/drake-athletics-announces-attendance-policy-at-the-knapp-center.aspx

[UNIpanther99]

Bob can enter the chat by going to Adam DeJode and getting a bunch of the window graphics to cover all of the damn windows in that building to darken it and add atmosphere beyond grey unfinished walls that were supposed to eventually be covered with graphics

Also, Lucas O'Rear was a fun Panther to watch. But of all of our great players - why is his photo featured on the concourse?

[clenz]

TV has a ton of say in basketball obviously but we should never play an early afternoon Saturday league game by choice.

Bob can enter the chat by going to Adam DeJoode and getting a bunch of the window graphics to cover all of the damn windows in that building to darken it and add atmosphere beyond grey unfinished walls that were supposed to eventually be covered with graphics