Grantland: Losers of the College Basketball Coaching Carousel

Donate To GopherHole
I lived around Ryan Field area for 2 years (just across Greenbay off Central) and people walk from campus, which is a really nice 25 minute walk. The purple line is right there, as is the metra... both provide easy access to downtown Evanston... that's if folks don't avail themselves of the options on Central.

As areas go, Evanston is pretty amazing.
 

fmlizard said:
Anyone who thinks our sports-related campus culture isn't at best 11th in the conference is deluding themselves. Living in the TC is one of the best in the B1G, but when it comes to a passionate sports fan base we are at best a small tick above Northwestern. That said, there is potential if you give people anything at all to cheer about - see the hockey riots of 02-03 for proof.

There's a reason why every B1G school has 5-10 bars devoted to them in the conference melting pot of Chicago except for Minnesota, which has 1 very small and sparsely attended one. We got kicked out of the larger one next door years ago when 4 people showed for the Iowa game, and 2 were related to a player at the time.
Click to expand...

I think the U atmosphere would improve with more bars / restaurants around Stadium Village. It is impossible to get food / drinks before a basketball game without showing up 6 hours early.

When it is cold out people don't want to walk far.

Not sure how to make this happen with limited spacing and the need for parking and a practice facility.
 

As far as campus life...either you didn't go here or never went out because dinky town is hopping on the weekends and it is a pretty fun atmosphere. I've been to Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Illinois and the night life atmosphere is equal if not better here than all of the above. As far as basketball fans go, when the barn is going it is as good as it gets. Want proof? Listen to Dakich praise the atmosphere the whole game against Indiana. Take into consideration he played at Indiana and knows what a very loud arena sounds like every night. As for football, I agree most B1G schools have better game day/tail gate and their stadiums are louder. Also agree Syracuse was an exception. All of this said, winning programs will create equal excitement as other schools.
 

Gopher Bandanna Guy said:
Apparently none of the 6 Big Ten football games you attended were in Bloomington, Evanston, West Lafayette, or Champaign. I've been to all of these places in the last 5 years, and none of them were any better 'campus enthusiasm-wise' than the U in the TCF Bank Stadium era. IU was especially apathatic, considering they were 7-1 when we rolled into town, and their stadium was half full, on a warm sunny day. Illinois had a nice tailgate scene, but nothing else. Northwestern has the lame-o 'Wildcat Alley' attended by approximately 40 people including the marching band. And Purdue had the tailgate lots way too far away from the stadium.
Click to expand...


Purdue has tons of tailgating in & around the stadium, on the golf course right next door, etc...you must have been way out in the outer parking lots because there is a LOT of tailgating right next to the stadium. That said, the stadium is almost always 1/3rd empty but the student section is pretty cool. Those other schools you listed I completely agree. IU, Illlinois & N'western are horrible...I would rank my game day experiences in the Big Ten as follows:

1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. Michigan State
7. Purdue
8. Minnesota
9. Illinois
10. Indiana
11. Northwestern

I haven't had a chance to get to Lincoln yet, but I assume that is going to easily rank in the Top 5...and probably Top 3. Granted, the opponent could have played a part in some of these, but that is my rating of my experiences thus far.
 

TheBarnyard said:
As far as campus life...either you didn't go here or never went out because dinky town is hopping on the weekends and it is a pretty fun atmosphere. I've been to Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Illinois and the night life atmosphere is equal if not better here than all of the above. As far as basketball fans go, when the barn is going it is as good as it gets. Want proof? Listen to Dakich praise the atmosphere the whole game against Indiana. Take into consideration he played at Indiana and knows what a very loud arena sounds like every night. As for football, I agree most B1G schools have better game day/tail gate and their stadiums are louder. Also agree Syracuse was an exception. All of this said, winning programs will create equal excitement as other schools.
Click to expand...

I lived in Dinkytown for three years when I went to school. At the same time people like me lived on campus some 60-70% of student body did not. It is better now [more on and near campus] but the facts are still the facts - the U is one of the largest commuter campuses in the country. Also has one of the largest percentages of working adults enrolled. That is both a strength and a 'weakness'.

Also - I go to a lot of games and usually eat in Stadium Village or Dinkytown - so yes I know there is some action. But again - for everyone there there are a lot more not even close by - who commute in for classes from Richfield, White Bear or Eden Prairie.
 


jmag21 said:
Teague has bollixed this up completely, in my opinion. Whether or not the unknown we eventually get ends up being a good coach may matter in the long run, but in the short term, recruits are reading nothing but stuff like this, and reports about good coaches and even mediocre coaches turning us down by the truckload. No matter how this ends up, Teague has not controlled the message. Unfortunately, it's looking more and more to me like Teague's decision to fire Tubby (which I wasn't in favor of, but didn't absolutely hate at the time) has been a gigantic mistake.
Click to expand...

sky is falling...
 

lugnard said:
I lived in Dinkytown for three years when I went to school. At the same time people like me lived on campus some 60-70% of student body did not. It is better now [more on and near campus] but the facts are still the facts - the U is one of the largest commuter campuses in the country. Also has one of the largest percentages of working adults enrolled. That is both a strength and a 'weakness'.

Also - I go to a lot of games and usually eat in Stadium Village or Dinkytown - so yes I know there is some action. But again - for everyone there there are a lot more not even close by - who commute in for classes from Richfield, White Bear or Eden Prairie.
Click to expand...

I don't get it though....so lots of people commute, so what? Due to the size of the campus, and city, bars, restaurants and other attractions on / near campus are still plenty full and vibrant. To me, the percentage of commuters is only relevant to the extent that 10,000 undergraduate peers isn't enough for me to hang out with on a given night (hint: it is)
 





You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom