Very slowly, little by little, this program is picking up a little momentum. Now our women's basketball team has a win over a Big Ten team (Wisc). You have to walk before you can run, and we are beginning to walk.

And the good news is that of the five players with the most minutes, four of of them look to be returning next season.

3rd sport this year to defeat a Big 10 opponent. That is not insignificant.

As enrollment and funding continue to increase, success is bouncing back as well.

Fans just have to be patient. I hope this does not make anyone angry, but my initial reasons for becoming a Cougar fan were not particularly noble. I am a 68-year-old white guy from Arkansas, and I could count on one hand the number of times I have been in the Chicago area, and the last time was probably 30 years ago. I have never, to my knowledge, even been on the CSU campus.

But I am a sucker for an underdog. A few years ago (five, maybe?), I noticed that according to Sagarin, we were THE worst men's basketball team in Division 1. So, I said to myself, "All right, I am going to be a Chicago State fan." I bought a T-shirt that I wear regularly, and I check the official site every day, plus this message board.

Wins are precious things these days in Chicago, but patience is rewarded, because now we have a volleyball team that is on the move, and other teams are beginning to pick up some significant wins. If we can get established in a logical conference where we can be competitive and develop some rivalries, that will help a bunch. Better days are ahead, and I will be able to say, "I was there." Go Cougars!

(11-25-2021 09:30 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  Fans just have to be patient. I hope this does not make anyone angry, but my initial reasons for becoming a Cougar fan were not particularly noble. I am a 68-year-old white guy from Arkansas, and I could count on one hand the number of times I have been in the Chicago area, and the last time was probably 30 years ago. I have never, to my knowledge, even been on the CSU campus.

But I am a sucker for an underdog. A few years ago (five, maybe?), I noticed that according to Sagarin, we were THE worst men's basketball team in Division 1. So, I said to myself, "All right, I am going to be a Chicago State fan." I bought a T-shirt that I wear regularly, and I check the official site every day, plus this message board.

Wins are precious things these days in Chicago, but patience is rewarded, because now we have a volleyball team that is on the move, and other teams are beginning to pick up some significant wins. If we can get established in a logical conference where we can be competitive and develop some rivalries, that will help a bunch. Better days are ahead, and I will be able to say, "I was there." Go Cougars!

You are right, fans do have to be patient. In Chicago States case, they (I believe) don't have a problem with fans of the school being patient per se, because many of their constituents, alums, people in the area etc, have little expectation for Chicago State athletics currently.

However, what they do have, is a HUGE number of potential fans that just don't engage much yet be cause they haven't had a reason to. And a little success is going to go a long way in bringing those people in the doors. I'm talking basketball fans who live nearby, who may have known lots of people who've gone to CSU, who would be at lots of games if they just felt like there was something to see. And a little success, and the exact type of scheduling this coach is doing is going to do that.

They have more potential than most people realize. Much of it is unrealized currently, but the pay off for a little success can be really high there. Higher than just about anywhere else I believe. You have good reason to be optimistic for the Cougers Pappy.