|
|
|
Forum Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 1:37:17 AM
Posts: 270,
Visits: 438
|
|
LeatherCy (4/10/2008)
Why not a new arena? I can think of two places to start looking for funding. How does the Nardelli-Boyer Arena sound?
You set it up with them Cy and I will buy season tickets, and I make that proclimation knowing that I would probably only get to four games a year (better than just the one this year though).
I think if a new arena does get built with an agresive marketing campaign we could easily sell 1,800 season ticket holders.
|
|
|
|
|
Freshman
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/24/2008 2:46:55 PM
Posts: 44,
Visits: 186
|
|
Congrats to Dr. Van Alstine! He has done a great job in the selection of our new B'ball coach. Think about it, he was able in 1 month to remove, advertise, and get us a proven winner as a D-1 coach. Compare that to Al, who has been working for 6 months trying to decide whether or not we should use the name "Westernwinds" . Great job Dr. Van Alstine! Now, back to FOOTBALL 
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 10:56:32 PM
Posts: 91,
Visits: 125
|
|
| Anyone go to the Press Conference??? What did Mo have to say??
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/26/2008 11:28:34 PM
Posts: 140,
Visits: 533
|
|
Didn't go to the press conference but watched the video of it that is up on the WIU website.
Said all the normal coach - need to get to know the players, work together as a team, will be an agressive team, etc. A couple of interesting things first he did say he hadn't seen Western play this past year, so he knows nothing about the returning players. He was asked about the facilites and he kind of side stepped the question, but did say it is all about the home court advantage. If they can fill Western Hall then they would a great home court advantage and that is all that matters. Said a nice arena is nice to show recruits, but not necessary.
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 10:56:32 PM
Posts: 91,
Visits: 125
|
|
| I just watched the video of the Press Conference. At the beginning Mo thanked some friends from Peoria for being there. He mentioned Steve Weaver. Steve is part of the Weaver Angus family that has Angus cattle, trotting horses, and a bunch of KFC franchises throughout the Midwest. Steve's wife is a Western alum. Sure doesn't hurt to have friends like the Weavers. Hopefully they will become ardent Leatherneck supporters.
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 4:40:31 PM
Posts: 540,
Visits: 1,185
|
|
Friday's Sports Commentary from Chris Duerr (KHQA-TV-7):
Molinari Hire infuses Leathernecks with MOmentum!!
Self-professed Program Builder lands in Macomb!!
By Chris Duerr
Posted: Friday, April 11, 2008 at 11:15 p.m.
JIM MOLINARI TAKES OVER THE REIGNS OF LEATHERNECK BASKETBALL!!
Going into the search process, Western Illinois Athletic Director Doctor Tim Van Alstine guaranteed us that his next hire would have a resume with head coaching experience...
What he did not tell us is that the new Leatherneck skipper would have references from Mike Krzyzewski.
Or come to us as a Land of Lincoln Native.
For both Western and new skipper Jim Molinari, the union seems a fit.
Jim Molinari: "The geographic location and the opportunity to build. I am a builder. I love building. I realize, Bradley won seven and eleven games the first two years and it is painful because sometimes what you understand intellectually is different when you go through it emotionally. But that is what I do. So this is another opportunity to take the foundation, take these young men and build into their lives. Build something special."
He has no illusions. And his eyes are wide open. Jim Molinari knows this is not a coaching cakewalk. History dictates that elevating the profile of a Division One basketball program long mired in mediocrity (and doing so the right way) breaks more coaches than it makes. The challenge then for Western was finding a candidate with both the coaching chops and desire to undertake and succede in this unique job with its unique built in challenges. It wasn't easy.
Dr Tim Van Alstine: "In fact, some of the other candidates that we did interview; they didn't give us the sense that they wanted to be here. Jim gave us a sense of confidence that he wanted to be here. He had a sense of confidence in our players and I think that really helped a lot. It made our players feel good; that they wanted to be part of a coaching staff and a program that felt they could win. Jim brings that to our program."
Molinari: "This felt right. I've called timeouts I the first four minutes of games, where our team might be winning 6-2 and said this doesn't fell right. This doesn't feel like who we are. Well, this feels right to me. That's really important. So I am obviously elated. And I feel a great burden of responsibility. They're showing confidence in me and I am going to take that responsibility."
Who the Leathernecks will be in the Coach Mo era remains to be seen. There are some basic tenets he adheres to. Education as a priority. Outreaching his fan base and the community....
Molinari: "We are going to give this a great shot at Western. Make it something that people can be proud of. Like Quincy. We want to build the tradition. I know the tradition of Quincy. My college roommate was Bob Spear. So I am very familiar with that. Quincy Tradition. And we want to have the same tradition."
Jim Matteson (longtime WHOI-TV Sports Director in Peoria) "The one thing I can say about Coach Mo is that he is passionate. He is passionate about his relationship with his players. He is passionate about his relationship with the media. He is definitely passionate about his relationship with fans. And he is passionate about winning."
And that passion extends to his calling card: Defense.
David Nurse, WIU Sophomore Guard "When we first heard (about Molinari's hire) everyone was like, ah man, because everywant wants to play offense but...Defense is what wins you games. We know that and that is what we are committed to doing.'
Molinari: "All I promise is what I can do. I do have experience. I have confidence in what I believe, my philosophy and I will work extremely hard. I know it's going to be a difficult challenge. I am a process person so I am going to go day by day"
One WESTERN. All Leathernecks !!
Go Leathernecks !!
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:35:25 PM
Posts: 352,
Visits: 1,500
|
|
Good luck "Mo". Look forward to meeting you and hope the fans will come. Students have never really organized a student section like Molinari's Army at Bradley, but would be nice if you can resurrect it at WIU.
B-Ball Fan
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 10:56:32 PM
Posts: 91,
Visits: 125
|
|
| I think the AGR's should take the lead and establish the Molin"army" at Western!
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | |