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In the weak history of BG Basketball scheduling - This BLOWS!

I fully agree! HOWARD????? Come on! Look, I get why you want Dr. Sidney Ribeau there and all, and he should be. But why in the world are we playing Howard for that first game in there. For gosh sake, schedule a team that at least builds a little excitement around the opening of the arena for the first game in the building and roll out the red carpet and invite Dr. Sidney Ribeau to be there for it. Heck, play Howard two days later in game #2. But the first game as Howard??? Volleyball gets Michigan State, women's hoops gets Purdue, and men's hoops gets - Howard? Wow......

FYI Howard was 7-25 last year. Playing Matt Howard (by himself) would have been more exciting!

It's the 2 return games we have to play @ Howard that bugs me.....I kid I kid, maybe.

Why was there such a strong expectation on this board that the opener would or even should be against some “big name” opponent? That doesn't seem to be the typical approach. Akron opened their football stadium against Morgan State last fall. Xavier opened Cintas against Miami U. OSU opened the Schott against Oakland.

I believe NIU has the newest basketball facility in the MAC. They opened against DePaul, which I guess still counts as a big name school although obviously not what they once were. And DePaul won big.

It seems that for the most part teams try to schedule an opener that they’ll have a good chance of winning. There is always a lot of hoopla and distraction that comes with that first game in a new facility. I’m not sure that’s the best time to schedule your toughest opponent. Plus getting drilled in that first game doesn’t set the greatest tone or leave the best memory (not to suggest fear of losing should ever be much of a factor in scheduling, but the reality of it is still there).

I guess I get some of the disappointment in this announcement, but it feels overblown to me. The first game will be all about the new building. Personally I’d too like to see a “name” opponent during that inaugural season, but I’d honestly prefer to have it a little later in the non-conference schedule.

Eh, just win the damn game. One more season in the legendary AA and then on to the Stroh!!

I've got the solution to this "lackluster" opening opponent. Let's thank the Stroh's for their thoughtfulness, return their money, and stop building the building! Since this one opponent will set a horrible tone for BG men's basketball and halt the tremendous success we have enjoyed for the last decade. We cannot let that happen, so we just won't play the game and everything will be right with the world!

Are we seriously bitching and moaning about ONE oppenent?!?!? They didn't have a great year, but they come to us from a conference above us in the RPI, they have a BG connection, and they said "yes". It should be a great game and I look forward to enjoying my popcorn and soda from a seat in the arena to watch it. It shouldn't mater WHO we are playing, we should come out to watch BECAUSE we are playing.

Why was there such a strong expectation on this board that the opener would or even should be against some “big name” opponent? That doesn't seem to be the typical approach. Akron opened their football stadium against Morgan State last fall. Xavier opened Cintas against Miami U. OSU opened the Schott against Oakland.

Yeah, we should do what EVERYBODY ELSE does !!

Look at the Women's BB and the Volleyball opener(s) - why didn't we bring Howard and the whole family in for them?

Are we seriously bitching and moaning about ONE oppenent?!?!?

Yep, seems to be.

I thinks the Program, the Stroh and Family deserve better!
(I'm sure they'll never say that - there are too kind)

And I know of NO one who is complaining about the Building, the Donors, the Construction or the $$$ involved.

I was hoping for the University of Findlay. Crap.

It's the Journey... wrote:I've got the solution to this "lackluster" opening opponent. Let's thank the Stroh's for their thoughtfulness, return their money, and stop building the building! Since this one opponent will set a horrible tone for BG men's basketball and halt the tremendous success we have enjoyed for the last decade. We cannot let that happen, so we just won't play the game and everything will be right with the world!

Are we seriously bitching and moaning about ONE oppenent?!?!? They didn't have a great year, but they come to us from a conference above us in the RPI, they have a BG connection, and they said "yes". It should be a great game and I look forward to enjoying my popcorn and soda from a seat in the arena to watch it. It shouldn't mater WHO we are playing, we should come out to watch BECAUSE we are playing.

Not a single person is complaining about the Stroh's, their generosity, or anything of the sort. Listen, I know your world is full of unicorns and rainbows but not every comment in this forum has to be a glowing endorsement of BGSU. We're here to discuss and debate all things BG.

BGDrew wrote:

It's the Journey... wrote:I've got the solution to this "lackluster" opening opponent. Let's thank the Stroh's for their thoughtfulness, return their money, and stop building the building! Since this one opponent will set a horrible tone for BG men's basketball and halt the tremendous success we have enjoyed for the last decade. We cannot let that happen, so we just won't play the game and everything will be right with the world!

Are we seriously bitching and moaning about ONE oppenent?!?!? They didn't have a great year, but they come to us from a conference above us in the RPI, they have a BG connection, and they said "yes". It should be a great game and I look forward to enjoying my popcorn and soda from a seat in the arena to watch it. It shouldn't mater WHO we are playing, we should come out to watch BECAUSE we are playing.

Not a single person is complaining about the Stroh's, their generosity, or anything of the sort. Listen, I know your world is full of unicorns and rainbows but not every comment in this forum has to be a glowing endorsement of BGSU. We're here to discuss and debate all things BG.

LOL!!!!! That is the best thing I have read on this craptastic day. Thank you.

I would recommend you look up sarcasm, because that was the first part of my post. If you knew me at all, and other will agree, most of the time I am a "glass half empty" kind of guy. BGSU has many faults and I am more than willing to discuss them. But this one game is really a non-issue for me. I am sure there was a certain amount of money to go toward our first opponents for the Stroh Center. And given performance of the past decade Men's Basketball is right where it should be. Women's Basketball has a great opponent that will provide a competitive game as does Volleyball. I believe the Men's basketball opponent will provide a competitive game as well. For me, this is the best game of the three. Dr. Ribeau did a lot of great things while at BGSU and having an opponent with a tie to the University is great. But if you disagree with that, fine.

By the way, the only Unicorns and Rainbows you will find are the ones in my daughters bedroom.

According to the latest Ask The AD Howard came about because they were one of two options we had left due to no other doable offers. The other team was Western Kentucky.

BGDrew wrote:According to the latest Ask The AD Howard came about because they were one of two options we had left due to no other doable offers. The other team was Western Kentucky.

According to GC, Wake Forest is still a possibility.

Tricky_Falcon wrote:

BGDrew wrote:According to the latest Ask The AD Howard came about because they were one of two options we had left due to no other doable offers. The other team was Western Kentucky.

According to GC, Wake Forest is still a possibility.

Well we do have the right connections there with the AD and an Asst. AD both being BG grads, and they have played at some smaller schools in the past, but I wouldn't count on this one in the least.

GC made it clear that there were some outlandish restrictions for any of those big schools to come to BG. I think its good to know that he stood up for the mid-majors and didn't give in to the 3 for 1's or other redic offers, as a side note Wake Forest hired a new coach today.