Ask the AD -- July Edition
07/31/2009 | 12:00:00 | General
July 31, 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
Is SIU or the MVFC considering a home-and-home challenge series in football like we have in basketball with the Mountain West?
Our league and the commissioner, Patty Viverito, haven't mentioned this as a possibility. In the sport of football, there are very limited opportunities for non-conference games. In a typical year, there are a total of 11 games (some years we are allowed to play 12). The usual breakdown is eight conference games and three non-conference games. Of those non-conference matchups, one is going to be a FBS opponent (preferably close enough for us to bus), and the other two would be regional-type games, such as what we have just scheduled with Eastern Illinois and SEMO. The sport of football just doesn't lend itself to dual conference match-ups.
Since the Salukis are playing Marshall this fall in football, I have heard from reliable sources that they would be interested in a home and home series in hoops. Have you pursued this? Thanks. A Saluki fan in Huntington.
Well, I know that just last week, Marshall named UNLV AD Mike Hamrick as their new Director of Athletics, and I have never spoken to him about this, nor have I heard this from anyone at Marshall. I am sure if they were interested (and perhaps they are) we could begin a discussion. I will mention this to Coach Lowery when he gets off the recruiting trail.
Last year, myself and my two sons (who are also veterans) had the pleasure of attending your Veterans Appreciation Day football game. This was the first time I had been to campus since I left in 1953. Will you be doing another Veterans Day again this year?
We certainly will. Military Appreciation Day will be held on September 26, when we take on North Dakota State. I know our Assistant AD for Marketing, Mark Gazdik, is working on a fly-over, as well as the Wounded Warrior project -- similar to last year. I hope you can make it again, and we will do our best to make sure the men and women of the armed services are well-represented and properly thanked and honored.
With the fall sports season getting close, have any improvements been made with regards to the quality of Saluki All Access streaming video?
Yes. Tom Weber, our director of media services, has been working on improvements with our provider, Stretch Internet. This year, the video streams will not be software dependent, meaning you can watch them through any internet browser, rather than requiring QuickTime. Check to make sure your computer has Flash installed. Also, Tom reports that the picture quality is improved. The only caveat I must include is that we are still a year away from having new facilities. There are inherent network issues at McAndrew Stadium and SIU Arena that we must continue to deal with. Overall, I think you will be pleased with the improvements, however.
