WooHoo!! wrote on Apr 2, 2007 11:13 AM:
" All of you who are bashing the university for signing Lowery obviously are shortsided small minded individuals. The continued success of our basketball program (which even with this pay raise still makes money for the university by the way) is the single greatest marketing and recruiting tool this university has. The publicity generated by our bball program is worth millions of dollars in advertising. I say great job Super Mario!!! Let the donations and stdent applications begin to roll in!!! "
clueless wrote on Apr 2, 2007 11:09 AM:
" Big time basketball, requires big time Money. Everyone who attends SIU or enrolls here is aware of us having a major atheletic department before they get here. If you don't like it....go some where else! I'm so sick of this crap. If you don't want to support athletics like every other major universtiy in the country does, go some where else. Community colleges don't have athletic fees, neither do some private schools, they will gladly accept you. If you don't want to pay for it, don't attend SIU. Get out. We are a major universtiy, act like it.
For all of you complaining about SIU's decline in enrollment, you are blind. SIU basketball is the #1 marketing tool this universtiy has, hands down. It is marketing on a national level. To allow this program to fall back into irrelevance by letting Lowrey leave woule be a grave mistake for both academics and athletics. If can't understand why 750,000 year is warranted. Ask your self how much national tv advertising would cost a year to promote SIU? Then you'll find your answer as to why Lowrey is worth so much money.
SIU is getting an absolute steal for a coach, a program, and national media attention, name recognition and advertising that benefits THE ENTIRE SCHOOL! "
to ponder wrote on Apr 2, 2007 10:19 AM:
" I guess the Lowery's won't have any trouble paying the Ameren Bill anymore. That should cover the increase. "
MajorDawg wrote on Apr 2, 2007 8:55 AM:
" All the detractors ponder this. Lowery works extremely hard. Harder than 99% of the population. He has to recruit nonstop, do media interviews, keep on top of his players on/off season, watch lots of video....basically live and breath coaching. He motivated players like no other and has a new batch of players that will add more publicity for SIU.
What would you do in his situation when fair market value for a sweet sixteen coach is 1 million dollars? He accepted less money for more commitment from SIU.
That money will not come out of the SIU students pockets as much as people think. A lot of it will come from fundraising via Super Mario Mocchia to encourage Saluki Boosters to step up. Yes ticket prices are going to go up, as they should for a major Division I team.
SIU alumni Association and Student Athletic Scholarship Fund are the major groups of fundraising I am aware of. I'm not sure which will funnel more towards the salary or if there will be a new fundraising idea to compensate for the salary but people should get over the large amount and understand it is justly due and will seem like a bargain if it will raise the program to a level of interest and income to build a much needed new arena. "
Current Student wrote on Apr 2, 2007 8:51 AM:
" I am unsure how I feel about this. On the one hand I am glad to know our team is finally retaining a coach for awhile, it does help some with the university's image. However, on the other hand, that is a lot of money that could go towards our new library, new classroom space, technology, PARKING SPACES, and even scholarships. I'm not sure any basketball coach is worth that much. If you coach, you should coach for the love of the game and the players you inspire. I'm not sure if I am more disappointed in Lowery for taking the money or the administration for offering it. "
HOORAY! wrote on Apr 2, 2007 7:45 AM:
" ..OK, some simple math here - 750k times 7 years is 5.25 MILLION dollars. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but THIS IS PATENTLY OBSCENE. After all, it's just sports - oh, I forgot - Sports is MUCH MORE important than bettering Education these days, otherwise this kind of legal 'palm-greasing' wouldn't fly. Who REALLY had a say in this, anyway? Not you and me - after all, it was just our money, but we (as usual) have no say in how it gets spent, or in this case, WASTED. "
Uneducated wrote on Apr 2, 2007 5:55 AM:
" Three quarters of a million dollars for how many years? And what does this money gain in the way of a quality education? How much does this cost ad to the value of a degree obtained from SIUC? No wonder new students are beating the door down to get a much sought after degree from this university! This is a great deal for the taxpayer one must admit. We get to be the training ground for a very few people who may be picked up by the NBA. What does the program contribute to the quality or volume of education? I can;t fathom a guess, but it must be a bunch for as proud as they are of how they spend taxpayer dollars while complaining of lower enrollment. Evidently I am just not adequately educated to compute this one. "
CCTIMMBOCC wrote on Apr 2, 2007 1:03 AM:
" Nice job SIU. Us Saluki fans will have something to look forward to for the next few years. This will keep OUR Salukis in line to uphold the tradition that our past teams had worked so hard for. "
Unreal wrote on Apr 1, 2007 11:36 PM:
" It is a shame someone getting paid to coach as much as Lowery does. When there are alot less fortune people who would be grateful just to earn 5% of his wages a year. Instead of SIU paying such high wages why don't they help the students who would love to get a college degree and they or their parents cannot afford to send them to College. If part of Lowery's and other staff members wages were spent on education instead of sports the world would be better today and the kids would be more intelligent and could get a job paying more than minimum wages and the State of Illinois would be better off too. This is a prime example how the poorer gets poorer and the rich gets richer and it is how you play the game. I hope our legislators will take a look at the salaries when they are so generous of funding SIU. This makes me sick to my stomach. "
salukifan wrote on Apr 1, 2007 10:39 PM:
" Kudos to Moccia and SIU for signing to Coach Lowery to a long-term contract. The program and the school can only benefit by this deal. Welcome home Coach and continue the great work. See you next season. "
s. harrison jr wrote on Apr 1, 2007 10:20 PM:
" I think the extension of Chris Lowery's contract may be the single most important thing that's happened in SIU athletic's. "
Dave wrote on Apr 1, 2007 10:18 PM:
" I am overjoyed about the retention of coach Lowery. This is great news for the recruiting program. Now we can attract the highest quality high school athletes because they know Lowery isn't going anywhere. So, all you high school athletes beware. You better make your commitment today because a better player will take your scholarship away tomorrow. "
DAWG WATCHER wrote on Apr 1, 2007 9:35 PM:
" Hmmm. $750,000-per-year. I enjoy Saluki B-Ball and support Coach Lowery. But how does this jive with the university's financial woes? Why couldn't $500,000-per-year have been sufficient? Seems like our coach has more than a generous deal. I hope if we go to the NCAA Sweet 16 again that the ante doesn't raise again. Don't know if the 7-year contract extention precludes that or if the coach can opt out early, or not, if he wished to do so. All I know is that for SIUC, the terms offered and agreed to seem to be a bit high. At least that is my impression. "
I Still Have My Sanity wrote on Apr 1, 2007 9:08 PM:
" OH MY GOSH!!!! $750,000.00 PER YEAR?? YOU HAVE ALL GONE COMPLETELY "NUTS"!!.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN 3 OR 4 YEARS WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN WIN THE CONFERENCE???? LET THE MAN SHOW WHAT HE IS MADE OUT OF FIRST BEFORE YOU GIVE HIM THE COMPLETE UNIVERSITY. THIS MAN IS MAKING MORE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNITED STATES TO COACH SIU BASKETBALL COME ON, GIVE ME A BREAK FOLKS. MR. TEDRICK WHERE ARE YOU AT??????? SURELY YOU DIDN'T APPROVE OF THIS????? COME ON ROGER. "
Former SIU Student wrote on Apr 1, 2007 9:02 PM:
" Paying a basketball coach who doesn't educate anyone is a slap in the face for all of us who worked our way through SIU. This may be the final nail the coffin. Declining enrollment, increased costs, and a low quality education. "
Rich and Janie Davis wrote on Apr 1, 2007 7:56 PM:
" Kudos to the university and the Lowery family on an outstanding opportunity to remain in and help Southern Illinois University continue to grow and prosper! Also, we hope that the coaching staff are recognized, too, for their outstanding contributions to this dynamic basketball program! We don't want to lose them, either! "
Fred wrote on Apr 1, 2007 7:27 PM:
" Coach is a class act. SIU will benefit greatly from his staying. "
Wayne wrote on Apr 1, 2007 6:55 PM:
" Finally, SIU is acting like it is serious about its men's basketball program. I am happy for Coach Lowry and the University. The Arena must be renovated so the University can realize even more revenues from basketball. Arena rehab is an investment in the future and will pay for itself. Basketball makes millions of dollars for SIU. Any one who does that diserves just compensation. Crangulations one and all. Go Dawgs "
