Neil Fanaroff here at Franklin Field for today’s Homecoming showdown against archrival Princeton. Penn comes into the game 4-0 in the Ivy League, controlling its own fate. They look to continue the season’s success against the Tigers, who haven’t had the best season. But there’s no telling what can happen when these two rivals clash, so stay tuned. I’ll be liveblogging for anyone who couldn’t make it to the field for this year’s Homecoming game. Follow along with me here:
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November 7th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Regime Change Vol 4 Distributed Today
ll Stakeholders, Fans of Penn Athletics, & Penn Administration -
Volleyball: Penn 3 - Columbia 0: Amazing Takeaways:
We have been only too happy to acknowledge successful Penn teams that are outliers within the program, and to them add Volleyball. Coming into last night’s match at Columbia, Coach Kerry Carr, her staff, and team’s accomplishments - currently undefeated in the Ivy League and title favorite - preceded them. Coach Carr’s own story is quite something, but to meet her in person, in an unscripted moment, is to understand the essence of any elite sports program, and her team’s national ranking. She exudes the charisma and a pleasant aggressiveness that is especially necessary for national recruiting. And recruiting standout athletes she does. The match was exciting athletic contest, and the DP’s Neil Fanaroff had it right in reporting one wouldn’t want to get in the way of an Elizabeth Semmens spike. Yet until recently Volleyball has been a well kept secret. And another great thing about this team is most of them come back next year!
Admittedly success has many fathers, but it is also true you harvest what you sow. DP reporting can rightly claim its share of credit for the greater awareness, enthusiasm, and attendance at Volleyball matches. Earlier in the season a DP reporter wrote this team had the best shot at an Ivy title, and wondered why its following was so meager. The DP’s Volleyball reporting remained steadfast, including a great story on attendance and cheer leading at matches by two current Penn basketball stars, Jack Eggleston and Tyler Bernardini. VB team parents have appreciated this, and waxed enthusiastically about last week’s Palestra turnout for the pivotal match against defending champion Yale. To Weightman Hall’s contributions leading to the Yale match turnout, a tip of the hat.
Another takeaway was a parent’s appreciation for Penn Rowing members (who had participated in the head of the Charles Regatta) cheering at the VB match at Harvard. This is Exhibit A for underscoring the need for and benefit in breaking down silos surrounding specific teams and their supporters.
It is with both pleasure and regret to acknowledge the contrasting tone between this note and Vol 4 attached. The former is a tale of what’s possible, while the latter is a fair and accurate tale of what is.
Go Penn!
EN
November 7th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
REGIME CHANGE - VOL 4
To Stakeholders & Fans of Penn Athletics –
Leadership & Accountability
Our goal is to enhance the quality of the intercollegiate athletic experience of our student-athletes and non-athletes. Our concern is the mediocre performance of our athletic programs, with less than 30% of Penn’s teams having winning records against other Ivies during the past decade. This sub-standard performance lessens the undergraduate experience in all 30+ teams and cheats them of an enthusiastic fan base; a spirited student environment; acceptance of apathy; implications for fundraising; and respect for the Penn brand. Evidence for these concerns appeared as two nuggets in the recent DP, Parents Weekend issue and on the Buzz Blog:
1) Katherine Rea’s editorial, “Dropping the Spirit Stick,” recounts to her surprise a Yale alumna and non-football fan friend’s excitedly planning her return to New Haven for The Game. “…asked why, she replied that all the students, and most alumni one or two years out, go to The Game, partly to see friends and support the team, but also for the giant tailgate.”
2) Benji Greenbaum, on The Buzz Blog offered the following below our “Regime Change Vol 1 & 2” posts: “These guys are clearly onto something. None of my friends went to the game yesterday. My friend Ken’s parents were in from Miami, so we hung out with them. I have no idea why so many students are apathetic towards the team. Sadly my HS in North Jersey had more school spirit than this place. I expected the opposite when I decided to come here over other schools.” (We trust Benji’s post is not a hoax.)
We know of no sacred tablets on which it’s written that Katherine, Benji and their fellow undergraduates experience shall not include and be enriched by the kind of spirit and tailgating they clearly expected. While Weightman Hall doesn’t bear sole responsibility, neither have their actions resulted in any improvement. If anything, during the past 15 years of this Regime, apathy has increased, while attendance has eroded, including at of all places our beloved Palestra. How much further must Penn’s program decline, why must it be tolerated, and who is responsible?
President Amy Gutmann has challenged the Pennsylvania community to move “from excellence to eminence.” Quite the reverse has happened to Penn sports. Thus, respectfully, we ask the leadership of our great University to update the student body, alumni, and Penn sports stakeholders of their true vision for Penn sports going forward. If it translates to more status quo, at least we will be spared false hope for program excellence anytime soon.
The challenge to our leaders is to defend Weightman Hall’s record for Pennsylvania’s intercollegiate sports programs, and in particular last year’s anno horriblis. Why would mediocre Penn sports programs be any more acceptable than a hypothetically mediocre Political Science or Economics program? We believe that mediocre performance is unacceptable, and as with any and all Penn pursuits, must strive for excellence and eminence. Moreover, we would also welcome assurance the Penn sports program will have the necessary resources and support to achieve eminence. If that commitment is received, it must be skillfully implemented, and thus Regime Change at Weightman Hall is needed now.
If you would like to be added to the growing list to receive electronic versions of future editions, or have missed previous ones, please e-mail your request to ernie@catalyticgroup.com and include “Regime Change” in the subject line.
Thank you. Ernie Nounou, Wh’66
November 7th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Bravo to Ernie for getting this out there for the University community.
These issues continue to be felt by alums who feel alienated and ignored
by Bilsky, and his pompous arrogance.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
All Stakeholders, Fans of Penn Athletics, & Penn Administration -
Although we appended a note of caution re the “Benji Greenbaum” quote as hoping it wasn’t a hoax, we’ve received word from a trustworthy source it may indeed have been, and regret the error.
EN