Stuck for hours at the United Club at Philly Int'l, but read this Philadelphia Inquirer article about Final Four and Villanova. It shows why it is important for our administration and academics to care about having a good BB program:
http://www.philly.com/philly/educat...a_proving_a_winner_on_and_off_the_court.html#
Villanova proving a winner on and off the court
Within two minutes of Villanova's men's basketball victory over Kansas on Saturday night, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue received 280 text messages from alumni and other excited fans, looking forward to the Final Four.
"Houston, here we come."
"God bless you and the entire Nova community."
"How can I get tickets?"
The Villanova University president couldn't answer right away. He was busy hugging team cocaptain Ryan Arcidiacono, a moment captured on national television.
For Donohue, in his 10th year as president, it was another capstone moment in an exhilarating year for the Catholic school on the Main Line.
The 10,000-student university experienced its third straight year of record-breaking applications, including double-digit percentage increases in interest from students from the Midwest, South, and West.
Gifts and pledges reached $100 million per year for the last three years. With two years left in its capital campaign, Villanova already has collected $515 million of its $600 million goal.
The university, one of the nation's top producers of Fulbright scholars, last month was reclassified as a doctoral institution, which further raises its profile, said provost Patrick Maggitti.
"It's been one thing after another," he said. "It's been a ride."
The trajectory only promises to improve if the effects of the basketball team's success in previous years is any indication.
In 2009, the last time the team advanced to the Final Four, the university received what it estimated to be at least $6 million worth of free media coverage, said Ann Diebold, vice president of university communications.
"It's PR you can't purchase," Maggitti said.
This year, Villanova was ranked the most talked-about team in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, according to a report in Ad Week. Star player Kris Jenkins was trending on Twitter after a great game Thursday. Among those tweeting was Jill Biden, wife of the vice president and holder of a master's degree from Villanova, who offered this: "Let's Go @VillanovaU Wildcats."
In 1985, when the Wildcats won the national championship, the number of freshmen the following fall jumped by 119, to 1,670, said Michael Gaynor, director of university admission.
"It can certainly swing a pendulum in a favorable way," he said.
Just as telling is what happened in 2009, when many schools were having trouble attracting a class as the economy soured.
"I think the Final Four run helped us to get our class," he said.
The university has offered admission to 42 percent of its 17,266 applicants this year. Typically, about 20 percent of those offered admission enroll.
Could a national win be a tipping point for a student selecting a college?
http://www.philly.com/philly/educat...a_proving_a_winner_on_and_off_the_court.html#
Villanova proving a winner on and off the court
Within two minutes of Villanova's men's basketball victory over Kansas on Saturday night, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue received 280 text messages from alumni and other excited fans, looking forward to the Final Four.
"Houston, here we come."
"God bless you and the entire Nova community."
"How can I get tickets?"
The Villanova University president couldn't answer right away. He was busy hugging team cocaptain Ryan Arcidiacono, a moment captured on national television.
For Donohue, in his 10th year as president, it was another capstone moment in an exhilarating year for the Catholic school on the Main Line.
The 10,000-student university experienced its third straight year of record-breaking applications, including double-digit percentage increases in interest from students from the Midwest, South, and West.
Gifts and pledges reached $100 million per year for the last three years. With two years left in its capital campaign, Villanova already has collected $515 million of its $600 million goal.
The university, one of the nation's top producers of Fulbright scholars, last month was reclassified as a doctoral institution, which further raises its profile, said provost Patrick Maggitti.
"It's been one thing after another," he said. "It's been a ride."
The trajectory only promises to improve if the effects of the basketball team's success in previous years is any indication.
In 2009, the last time the team advanced to the Final Four, the university received what it estimated to be at least $6 million worth of free media coverage, said Ann Diebold, vice president of university communications.
"It's PR you can't purchase," Maggitti said.
This year, Villanova was ranked the most talked-about team in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, according to a report in Ad Week. Star player Kris Jenkins was trending on Twitter after a great game Thursday. Among those tweeting was Jill Biden, wife of the vice president and holder of a master's degree from Villanova, who offered this: "Let's Go @VillanovaU Wildcats."
In 1985, when the Wildcats won the national championship, the number of freshmen the following fall jumped by 119, to 1,670, said Michael Gaynor, director of university admission.
"It can certainly swing a pendulum in a favorable way," he said.
Just as telling is what happened in 2009, when many schools were having trouble attracting a class as the economy soured.
"I think the Final Four run helped us to get our class," he said.
The university has offered admission to 42 percent of its 17,266 applicants this year. Typically, about 20 percent of those offered admission enroll.
Could a national win be a tipping point for a student selecting a college?
Last edited:
