Spokane and Gonzaga

[outpost]

I can't remember who asked, and what the context of the question was, but someone on VT was inquiring about Spokane, Gonzaga and the Community's willingness to rally around and embrace it's basketball program.

Spokane County appears to be similar in population to Sedgwick County (Wichita's home county), with a population of 436,000 reported in 2005. The City of Spokane has a population slightly < 200,000, about 40% smaller than Wichita.

Keep in mind that Pullman, the home of Washington State University, is about 75 miles away. So while Washington State probably has much more to offer most students, Gonzaga has found a niche.

[MoValley John]

Spokane is also growing very, very rapidly. Those numbers, although just a year old, are not very accurate.

[outpost]

Could be true, but that's all I had available.

I'll look for the link and post it when I get to work.

[MoValley John]

I don't have time to pull figures today, but a quick pull from Wikipedia on Spokane registered this:
Since February 2005 the population has seen a rapid increase, which attributed to the decrease in the average cost of living and and increase in the job market.<SUP class=noprint title="The text in the vicinity of this tag needs citation.">[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)]</SUP> Spokane was #49 on the Men's Journal 2005 "50 Best Places to Live" list[2] (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4186/is_20050309/ai_n12945611), #5 on the Forbes Magazine 2005 "Safest Places to Live" list[3] (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9131261/), and #35 on the Inc. Magazine 2005 "Top US Cities for Doing Business" list.[4] (http://www.inc.com/bestcities/2005/best.html?size=0&year=2005)

[RoyalShock]

I was the one who asked, so thanks for the numbers, Outpost.

What would be very interesting to know is, from someone who lives there, how the perception/relationship of Gonzaga by the locals compares to Wichita State and Wichita. Since there are two large state schools in Washington, it would be a valid comparison.

[DawgieStyle]

I was the one who asked, so thanks for the numbers, Outpost.

What would be very interesting to know is, from someone who lives there, how the perception/relationship of Gonzaga by the locals compares to Wichita State and Wichita. Since there are two large state schools in Washington, it would be a valid comparison.

its not really viable....Gonzaga is a hell of a lot better than Wichita.

[RoyalShock]

its not really viable....Gonzaga is a hell of a lot better than Wichita.

Please try to keep up. This is about using the current attendance and local popularity/fan base situation to help predict the potential future outcome. You must not have read the topic that prompted this one.

[DawgieStyle]

no see, I did it read it. Community support and the total success of the program go hand in hand. The more successful your team is, the more support you get. You can't compare Gonzaga and the Shuckers, because, quite frankly, Gonzaga has been way more successful than the Shuckers. I mean really, they've opened a can of whoop *** on the rest of the mid majors.

[RoyalShock]

no see, I did it read it. Community support and the total success of the program go hand in hand. The more successful your team is, the more support you get. You can't compare Gonzaga and the Shuckers, because, quite frankly, Gonzaga has been way more successful than the Shuckers. I mean really, they've opened a can of whoop *** on the rest of the mid majors.

What part of future do you not understand? Remember the Katz chat where he was asked which mid is most likely to become the next Gonzaga and his response was Wichita State?

And save your "shuckers" references for the TrashTalk board. That's what it's there for.

[DawgieStyle]

What part of future do you not understand? Remember the Katz chat where he was asked which mid is most likely to become the next Gonzaga and his response was Wichita State?

And save your "shuckers" references for the TrashTalk board. That's what it's there for.

WSU is not going to be the next Gonzaga. Andy Katz is a moronic Talking head. In one poll he has SIU to win the MVC, the next CU, the next WSU...he can't make up his mind, let alone the next Gonzaga. If you beleive Everything Andy Katz says you are by far more gullible than I gave you credit for, and would love to meet you in Vegas. The shockers need to make another NCAA tournament before even THINKING about being the next Gonzaga. You had better focus on that for now. Let the boys who've been there more than once, twice, three, four and five times worry about taking the next step.

As for the "shuckers" comment and the trash talk board. If you think you are going to use that trash board as an excuse every time some one takes a shot at Wichita, think again. Yes some comments are blatantly bad, but if you take all the ribbing and fun out of valley talk by banishing everything to the trash talk board, you are going to end up with a very boring valley talk.

[mid-major fan]

Hugh differences between Gonzaga and Wichita. For one, the MVC is much stronger and more balanced than the West Coast Conference. One similarity: at least a part of both schools feel they are too good for the league they are in.

[DawgieStyle]

Hugh differences between Gonzaga and Wichita. For one, the MVC is much stronger and more balanced than the West Coast Conference. One similarity: at least a part of both schools feel they are too good for the league they are in.


huuuuugee diff. also, to be devils advocate. Granted the MVC is much better than the WCC...but Gonzaga is also much better than any team in the MVC...

[RoyalShock]

You think your statement that WSU will not be the next Gonzaga is more credible than Katz? Please give us your pedigree for taking your word over that of someone who's job it is to know what he's talking about. And saying "he's a stupid talking head", is not a pedigree.

Besides I will reiterate that we're talking about future and potential. That means we are comparing two different time frames in an attempt to make a prediction. I seem to recall that when you first arrived on VT, there were many posters (not just from WSU) who questioned your ability to understand simple logic.

The "TrashTalk" comment was a friendly reminder. You could have taken it as such. A separate board was created so that we might have the best of both worlds. You can either accept that by taking your "fun" to that forum or risk not being able to take part at all. Your choice.

[LincolnJay]

I heard on a couple different occasions that the meth problem in Spokane is so bad that some jokingly refer to it as the "Meth Capital of America".:shock1: :sweat: :bag:

[outpost]

Sorry my comment led to this mess.......

Dawgie Style, get back on your leash and back in your dawghouse.

It's not a flame war. You're coming on here and spouting off without trying at all to develop an understanding of the original context in which the comment and query were made.

You're welcome, RoyalShock.

[DUBulldog]

I heard on a couple different occasions that the meth problem in Spokane is so bad that some jokingly refer to it as the "Meth Capital of America".:shock1: :sweat: :bag:

I've heard the same thing said about rural Iowa. Unfortunately, meth seems to be a problem all over.

[Jayball]

Hugh differences between Gonzaga and Wichita. For one, the MVC is much stronger and more balanced than the West Coast Conference. One similarity: at least a part of both schools feel they are too good for the league they are in.

Anytime a team gets on top their fans start to ask that question. But it seems to me that this conference is getting to the point that it is helping its members by overall strength. I hope for a repeat of last years nonconference performance. As someome, (outpost?) said "A rising tide lifts all boats" A good followup to last year could really propell the Valley into the void left by CUSA. Improved TV contracts, ect will come with more success.

[DawgieStyle]

You think your statement that WSU will not be the next Gonzaga is more credible than Katz? Please give us your pedigree for taking your word over that of someone who's job it is to know what he's talking about. And saying "he's a stupid talking head", is not a pedigree.

Besides I will reiterate that we're talking about future and potential. That means we are comparing two different time frames in an attempt to make a prediction. I seem to recall that when you first arrived on VT, there were many posters (not just from WSU) who questioned your ability to understand simple logic.

The "TrashTalk" comment was a friendly reminder. You could have taken it as such. A separate board was created so that we might have the best of both worlds. You can either accept that by taking your "fun" to that forum or risk not being able to take part at all. Your choice.


Katz may have a "pedigree" as you call it. But you know what...I'll take almost any of the guys from valley talk over him, as experts on the Valley. We watch every single game, we analyze every game, we discuss every game, and we complain about every game. No offense to Andy Katz, but I'd say I know more about the valley than he does, and I bet you do to Royal Shock. You take a poll of 100 valley talk members (with equal numbers from each school), I bet their consensus answer is way more accurate than Andy Katz. Easily more accurate, reliable, and researched. So yah, in general, I do know more than Andy Katz about the MVC, and so do you. Now all we have to do is get rid of bias for the schools we love, and we can be on tv too.

[RoyalShock]

I should say that I hope WSU is NOT the next Gonzaga, if that means the rest of the conference is weak. I'm actually surprised Gonzaga has been able to maintain their level with all that is against them:

-"Mid-major"
- Less exposure in the west.
- Conference "chasm". ie. Gonzaga and everyone else.

Makes you wonder if all those rumors of recruiting shenanigans are true.

Anyhow, if "next Gonzaga" means just attaining and sustaining their level, I'm all for it.

[MoValley John]

In the overall scheme of things, Gonzaga in the WCC most looks like Creighton in the Valley. Both small Jesuit schools fighting an uphill battle against larger "name" schools in their region. While Gonzaga fights for the U of W and WSU fans, Creighton fights for the Nebraska and to a smaller degree Iowa State-Iowa fans. Both Creighton and Gonzaga have much smaller athletic budgets then the larger, public institutions and both have chosen basketball as their route to national prominence. That is where all comparisons of Gonzaga and any other Valley school end. Gonzaga is a mid-major and has no hopes of ever escaping that label unless they move to a different conference. The WCC is weak not just now, but historically has only been able to really maintain one successful team. Unfortunatly for Gonzaga, there is no place for them to move. The Valley currently has 4 teams expecting to make a lot of noise, with 5 others close on their heels.
Comparisons with Creighton and WSU scheduling philosophies against that of Gonzaga also are bogus, because Gonzaga is in such a different situation. Gonzaga needs to schedule tough away games, and also take buy games because they get nothing from their conference schedule. In fact, they get less than nothing, their conference hurts them and always will. As for which scheduling philosophy is better, CU or WSU, I don't know, don't care and think it's pointless to speculate. I do knowthat Altman has tried to schedule up with very little success and I also know that Turgeon found himself in a mess trying to put a schedule together this year. So, maybe, neither is working.

[Rasputin]

I heard on a couple different occasions that the meth problem in Spokane is so bad that some jokingly refer to it as the "Meth Capital of America".:shock1: :sweat: :bag:

I have heard Omaha and Des Moines referred to as such, too.

[Jay Supremacy]

In the overall scheme of things, Gonzaga in the WCC most looks like Creighton in the Valley. Both small Jesuit schools fighting an uphill battle against larger "name" schools in their region. While Gonzaga fights for the U of W and WSU fans, Creighton fights for the Nebraska and to a smaller degree Iowa State-Iowa fans. Both Creighton and Gonzaga have much smaller athletic budgets then the larger, public institutions and both have chosen basketball as their route to national prominence. That is where all comparisons of Gonzaga and any other Valley school end. Gonzaga is a mid-major and has no hopes of ever escaping that label unless they move to a different conference. The WCC is weak not just now, but historically has only been able to really maintain one successful team. Unfortunatly for Gonzaga, there is no place for them to move. The Valley currently has 4 teams expecting to make a lot of noise, with 5 others close on their heels.
Comparisons with Creighton and WSU scheduling philosophies against that of Gonzaga also are bogus, because Gonzaga is in such a different situation. Gonzaga needs to schedule tough away games, and also take buy games because they get nothing from their conference schedule. In fact, they get less than nothing, their conference hurts them and always will. As for which scheduling philosophy is better, CU or WSU, I don't know, don't care and think it's pointless to speculate. I do knowthat Altman has tried to schedule up with very little success and I also know that Turgeon found himself in a mess trying to put a schedule together this year. So, maybe, neither is working.

Mo Valley John, that is some of the best analysis, without all the trash talk bs, I have seen in a while. Maybe there is some hope for valleytalk.net after all. That is what these forums should be about ... at least until the season is under way, then it's game on.