I am going to post a statement Gabe made today in the Mailbag. But first I need to acknowleges I am taking it out of Gabe's context and his comment, at this time, doesn't reflect his thoughts on the University's AD in total.
The comment is "tradition, geography and commitment are the main reasons I don't think Missouri can ever consistently be in the top half of this league." He was talking baseball with that comment and I think it could also apply to all sports especially the major two and the other outside sports.
Why we aren't likely to become a blue blood is kind of simple. 1) We were late to the party. Schools like the coastal areas drew the monied that supported the sports and won!
They won and developed the tradition that has today taken hold! People respect seem to respect the older than they do the newer. There is Old money and new money! Who has the more respect and why?
2) Geography - Warmer weather has the advantage of people prefering to be warm than cold! Yes, some coastals have cold weather, but not as long as we do! Kids are people too! Plus, they like the areas with money even if they don't have it. Yet!
3) Committment is the money. We have some great alums with money, but not enough of them. If you don't have Knight and Nike or T Boone, type money and love to support the sports then you need lots and lots of the the smaller monied guys that feel the same way. We don't have enough of them!
But it is still possible when you look at Nebraska and Oklahoma, but there is also Louisville who is building it.
I see two things that are important! You have to have the money! And you need a coach that stays long enough to develop the continued winning tradition over a long enough time to get you there. NE had it, OU had it! Louisville seems to be doing it. Some are doing it in just one sport. Duke has done it in BB, kansas has, KY has done it and there are smaller school Boise that are showing they can do it in the toughest sport to so it!
I will always have my hopes, but tempered with reasonable expectations for now.
The comment is "tradition, geography and commitment are the main reasons I don't think Missouri can ever consistently be in the top half of this league." He was talking baseball with that comment and I think it could also apply to all sports especially the major two and the other outside sports.
Why we aren't likely to become a blue blood is kind of simple. 1) We were late to the party. Schools like the coastal areas drew the monied that supported the sports and won!
They won and developed the tradition that has today taken hold! People respect seem to respect the older than they do the newer. There is Old money and new money! Who has the more respect and why?
2) Geography - Warmer weather has the advantage of people prefering to be warm than cold! Yes, some coastals have cold weather, but not as long as we do! Kids are people too! Plus, they like the areas with money even if they don't have it. Yet!
3) Committment is the money. We have some great alums with money, but not enough of them. If you don't have Knight and Nike or T Boone, type money and love to support the sports then you need lots and lots of the the smaller monied guys that feel the same way. We don't have enough of them!
But it is still possible when you look at Nebraska and Oklahoma, but there is also Louisville who is building it.
I see two things that are important! You have to have the money! And you need a coach that stays long enough to develop the continued winning tradition over a long enough time to get you there. NE had it, OU had it! Louisville seems to be doing it. Some are doing it in just one sport. Duke has done it in BB, kansas has, KY has done it and there are smaller school Boise that are showing they can do it in the toughest sport to so it!
I will always have my hopes, but tempered with reasonable expectations for now.
