Ask the AD -- November Edition
11/30/2009 | 12:00:00 | General
Nov. 30, 2009
This is the latest installment of our monthly feature called, "Ask the AD." If you have questions for Saluki Director of Athletics Mario Moccia, feel free to submit them by e-mail.
E-Mail a question to Mario Moccia
Has SIU tried to expand its television network to include the Chicagoland area?
Our television deal with Mediacom was the best third-tier deal for the Salukis for the 2009-10 athletic season. Chicago is always on the radar for expanding the radio and TV network, but it didn't make financial sense this year for our multimedia rights partner, Saluki Sports Properties. Currently, we have eight affiliates on the radio network, and plans are underway to create a similar network for TV next year. Chicago will certainly be re-addressed. Just to illustrate the costs that are involved, Saluki Sports Properties has identified five potential radio affiliates in Chicago, but the cost to be on one station would be between $70,000 to $100,000 for a full season. That is a very hefty price, even with the great exposure it would bring us.
With the new football and basketball locker rooms in the new east addition to the Arena, are you going to keep the weight room in its current location on the north end of Lingle Hall?
Yes, the current strength and conditioning area will remain in the Troutt-Wittmann Center. As of now, the entire 56,000-square foot addition is spoken for. The first floor will house new locker rooms for football, as well as men's and women's basketball (men's and women's basketball will feature a three-part area with a locker room, lounge and video classroom). Also, the building will contain a new equipment room and athletic training room. The second floor will house coaches offices and meeting rooms for football and men's and women's basketball. Other components include a team store, club room for donors, ticket office, auditorium (which will double as a press room), a new Hall of Fame, donor recognition area and a substantial lobby for fans.
Why all of the piped in music at basketball games and less of the band? Call me a traditionalist, but I've been coming to games for years and have gotten used to the band playing at certain situations.
I am in favor of a healthy balance, and I do like to hear the band as much as anyone. The mix of band and recorded music has been pretty consistent the past two seasons with a good mix of each. This year, though, is a transition year for the band, as they have a new director, George Brozak, and many new members. We are currently trying to integrate these new members to our game presentation, but I know the band didn't attend one of our exhibition games, so we really have had only three games with the band in attendance to judge our gameday atmosphere for this season.
What are the plans for use of the current front entrance and lobby when renovations are completed at the arena?
As I indicated above, the arena lobby will house a new ticket office with windows inside as well as outside, our new Hall of Fame, donor recognition area, a team store and an entrance to the new club room for donors. Outside the lobby will be a plaza area for which the finishes have not been finalized, but it will be a great place for Saluki fans to mingle before entering the facility.
I had heard rumored that in the new stadium, as memorial for the late coach William McAndrew, there will be a Giant M made out of large stones, that will be placed in the North End Zone. And that this fixture will be painted white yearly by the students, and occasionally the fans of opposing teams can rearrange the stones into other letters. Is this true?
Well, this sounds strangely like the north end zone at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo. As of now, we plan on taking the existing memorial to William McAndrew that is in McAndrew Stadium and moving it to the new stadium as our main recognition piece to General McAndrew. We have no plans to put anything on the hill area, except for grass, where we plan to offer lawn seating to fans on the day of the game.
What opponent is scheduled to open the renovated SIU Arena?
At the present time, we will open with exhibition games, as this is standard with our schedule. We are still finalizing our schedule, but we know we will have a Mountain West opponent early, as part of the MVC-Mountain West Challenge. We will also host two opponents to be determined as part of the qualifying rounds of the Chicago Invitational Challenge. If we advance to Chicago, there is the potential to play a BCS opponent, such as Purdue, which is already in this tournament. The promoters are also talking to Arkansas and Missouri.
