Butler's Dawg Pound

New School Year-New Dawg Pound

2011-10-02T14:18:00.004-04:00

With the new school year comes a new sports season! Before I get into talking about what the members of exec are doing to ensure you have a great time in the Dawg Pound, I will tell you all a little bit about me.
I am a senior Public Relations major and not only do I serve as the Public Relations officer for Dawg Pound, I also am the president of my sorority. This is my fourth and final year in the Dawg Pound and you can find me front row on the side closest to our team. The reason I wanted to join Dawg Pound exec was to give members the awesome experience I have had. Two years ago, I took the 24 hour drive to Salt Lake City to watch the dawgs play in the Sweet !6 and found myself sitting in the pouring rain at Lucas Oil. Last year was an amazing experience. I was one of the only Dawg Pound members to attend all of our tournament games. Although the end result wasn't the best, I love being a Butler Bulldog.

I am so excited for the upcoming school year! Currently, the Dawg Pound has over 950 members! That's more than we have ever had at this time in the school year! Currently, we are passing out our Navy Shirts and the memberships cards in our office (Hinkle 182) and the white shirts will be given once the Navy have been distributed.
Something new to happen to us is the fact we are now officially a part of Butler Athletics. We have decided to remove ourselves from the student government with the interest of our members in mind. We work closely with everyone in the Athletic Department so we saw this as the perfect opportunity.

We have some exciting things planned for this year including a partnership with Dawg Pound Alums, t-shirt give-aways and of course our end of the year party.

If you have forgotten what perks you get for being a Dawg Pound member, let me remind you.

With your discount card you can get deals from:

Ripple Bagel Deli:

10% off your purchase

Jimmy Johns:

Free medium soda with purchase of sandwich and chips (Broad-Ripple location only, carryout or dine in only)

Q-Doba:

Buy one breakfast entree, get one breakfast entree free (Broad-Ripple location only, carryout or dine in only)

Marcos:

1. Buy one get one free at regular price, pizza only.

2. Buy 1 pizza at regular menu price, free CinnaSquare

(Broad-Ripple or Downtown location only, carryout or dine in only, offers not to be combined)

With the use of your student ID and Dawg Pound card you are guaranteed lower level seating for basketball games (first come, first serve).

Lastly, i would like to introduce the 2011-2012 Dawg Pound Executive Board.

President- Jake Lemon

Vice President- Myke Van De Vort

Membership- Ryan Ward

Treasurer- Rudy Longman

Public Relations- Whitney Martin

Sponsorship- Carolina Glenn

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me, come to our office hours (Monday and Wednesday 6-8pm, Hinkle 182) or post on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/BUDawgPound or on Twitter at @BUDawgPound

Go Dawgs!,

Whitney

Not a Goodbye, Just a See You Later

2011-06-13T16:15:00.005-04:00

As Gordon Hayward's final desperation shot bounced from the backboard and off the front of the rim, I sat, in the front row of the student section at Lucas Oil stadium, and wondered if that was the closest Butler would ever come to a national championship. I was a hopeful Junior marketing student who lived and breathed Butler athletics, and as the confetti fell to the celebrations of a Duke championship, I could not help but think that THIS (a loss) would be the highlight of my Butler career. Little did I know, my senior year would be filled with even more excitement.

Looking back at my four years at Butler University, the saying "Time flies when you are having fun!" doesn't even do it justice. I can still remember my first Butler Basketball game, an exhibition against St. Joseph (Indiana), where new head coach Brad Stevens led the Bulldogs to a 25 point win. Not only was I excited to see my new team, but I was welcomed into the student section with open arms. A few games later, I was painted and dressed from head-to-toe in navy and white yelling at opponents and incapable Horizon League referees (some things never change) Just three years later, I had already served as the Marketing and Public Relations officer, and was elected as President of the Dawg Pound for my final year at Butler. I had seen Butler lose four out of five starters, I had seen Butler get beat at home by Loyola, I had seen Butler go to a national championship, and I had seen Butler lose Hayward to the NBA, but the biggest trend that I saw was a hard working group of coaches and players that knew how to win.

To say that the basketball team is the only team at Butler who excels through hard work and mental toughness would be discrediting the rest of the Butler athletic teams. I watched as the Football team went from a winless season, to an 11-1 championship ending run just a few years later. I watched as the cross country team continued their conference domination. I watched the men's soccer team post a top-5 national ranking through an undefeated regular season. I saw the women's soccer team and our volleyball team win their respective leagues. I witnessed the women's basketball team playing in the post-season NIT tournament. I saw our softball team break records and make it all the way to a conference championship game. I watched as star players not only went to class, but also participated and contributed to discussion. I watched the Butler Way unfold each and everyday on and off the court.

Surrounded by the Colts, Pacers, and IU fans, Butler might never sell-out every game, or be a frequent feature on the news/Indy star, but if I have learned one thing following Butler athletics, it is that Bulldogs thrive as underdogs. Butler will continue to stay true to itself, and its fans should be proud of what has been accomplished over the past few years. As we watch more and more student athletes come and go, we are reminded that there is more to life than just sports, but with all of the negative and immoral happenings right now in college athletics, it is sure refreshing to support a team like Butler.

I will forever remain a Butler fan and follower, and someday down the line would love to be able to work and give back to the organization that taught me everything I know. To those of you who have shown me the ropes and laid the foundation for the Butler Way, I cannot thank you enough. To those of you to come and who will continue to add to Butler Nation, I wish you nothing but the best and am sure that you will have an experience of a lifetime. A Butler degree is now worth more than it used to be, and I argue that the hard work of individuals like Matt Howard, Connor Burt, Matt Lawder, Brittany Bowen, Jesse Wolfe, and countless other student athletes had a lot to do with that.

This update marks my last post as acting President and after I log off, the blog will be handed to our newly elected Public Relations officer Whitney Martin. I started my own sports opinion blog for those of you who are still interested in reading my updates, as I am sure many will be about Butler. As they say, I will be a Butler Bulldog for life. The blog can be found at http://contenderrender.blogspot.com. I hope that you have enjoyed my blogging and I know that Whitney will do a great job from here on out!

GO DAWGS!

Kyle Murphy

Sippola Update #2

2011-01-28T14:48:00.015-05:00

It is the time of the week for another Ben Sippola update. I have been lucky enough to get on the good side of the Columbus Crew and thanks to TJ Ansley, Digital Content Editor for the Columbus Crew, I was able to grab some pictures of Ben Sippola in training.

As you can see in the pictures, Sippola is sporting the #28 jersey and is still competing for a contract and a place in the first team roster. News out of Major League Soccer today, reported that roster size was expanded to 30 players per team. This has to be seen as a positive for Sippola's chances of getting a contract and would allow him more opportunity to impress the coaching staff.

Although pictures cannot tell the whole story, it sure looks as if Sippola is doing his best to show his work ethic and compete for a spot on the team. Sippola seems to be adjusting well and is surely learning a lot from the veterans on the field. In addition to the pictures, the Crew also created a short "get-to-know" interview with Sippola. Check it out!

More updates to come throughout preseason. Only 6.5 weeks until Major League Soccer begins.

All pictures and video

were provided by

www.thecrew.com.

Big Game Tomorrow!

2011-01-26T17:48:00.010-05:00

Continuing with the trend of Butler's Horizon League domination, we now focus our attention on our Women's Basketball team. For those of you who have not heard, the Bulldogs are currently undefeated in Horizon League play at 7-0 and are looking to add another win tomorrow night. Standing in the way of that W is another undefeated and nationally ranked opponent - long time rival Wisconsin Green Bay.

Green Bay has dominated the rivalry recently, winning 28 straight against the Bulldogs, but Butler's top four scorers (all Seniors) are determined to end that streak at home tomorrow night. The 7-0 start in conference this year is the second best start in Butler history since a 9-0 run in 1993, while still in the MCC.

The timing could not be better - in the last four weeks, Butler has won 7 straight games and has claimed two Horizon League Players of the Week: Bowen for the week of Jan. 10 and Hamilton for the week of Jan 17. If that wasn't even motivation, a win over ranked Green Bay on Thursday night would give Coach Couture her 400th career win. I cannot think of a more deserving way for such a hard working, strong willed individual to earn her 400th.

Although attendance at Women's games has not been known to sell-out Hinkle Fieldhouse, I am expecting and hoping that a good crowd will come support the Bulldogs in their quest to unthrone the Pheonix tomorrow night at 7:00pm. I have been told that those who attended the Men's game last Sunday can purchase tickets at the Box Office for $3 when presenting their ticket stubs.

I also know that Dawg Pound members in attendance can enter to win $100 cash at half-time and that REACH will be there to pass out free t-shirts to the first 100 students.

Below is an address from Coach Beth Couture:

Dawg Pound-

Let me start by saying that the women’s basketball team and staff appreciates all your efforts in supporting our team this season. We have had an increase in student attendance at our games and it has been GREAT.

With that said, I want to emphasize the importance of our upcoming game this Thursday night versus our longtime conference nemesis, Green Bay, who is ranked No. 16 nationally. Currently, we are tied with them for the lead – both teams at 7-0.

It will be a tough game, and we certainly could use your help on Thursday night!

Go Dawgs!
Coach Beth Couture

As far as I know, there is not a single undergraduate student currently enrolled at Butler University that has been able to storm the court at Hinkle Fieldhouse in celebration of an upset. Tomorrow night, if Butler can continue their winning streak, I will see each and every one of you at mid-court when the final buzzer sounds.

Sippola Update

2011-01-22T19:32:00.006-05:00

Add a Columbus Crew jersey to your next wish-list and start getting excited for the MLS season to begin. On January 18th, Butler Senior and soccer star, Ben Sippola, was selected as the 30th pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft by the Columbus Crew. There were rumors that New York would take Sippola and others that suggested Columbus was the team most excited about the talented midfielder, but one thing was for sure - Ben Sippola was going to be picked and would play professionally.

The afternoon of the draft, Sippola was monitoring his status via a draft tracker with a few friends when he received a call from his father yelling "Columbus!" Confused, Sippola watched as the draft tracker quickly updated and displayed his name next to Columbus and the 30th overall pick. When the initial shock of excitement began to subside, Sippola realized how great of an opportunity it would be to put on the Crew jersey and represent Butler at a higher level. Plus, the distance doesn't hurt either. "I am a Midwestern guy, so I was thrilled when I knew I would be only three hours from Butler." Ben shared.

Sippola became the sixth player from Butler to be drafted in the MLS and the first since John Mariscalco (Colorado Rapids, 2006). Talk about a successful program - Six players have been drafted to professional teams in just over a 10 year period. Despite the fact that only one of those Bulldogs drafted (Stephen Armstrong) is still playing professionally, Sippola has a chance to play for one of the better teams in the league and will begin training with them tomorrow. "I will be joining the Crew this Sunday. We spend a week in Columbus and then head to Phoenix, Arizona for preseason," Sippola explained.

American soccer fans may recognize the names Robbie Rogers, Chad Marshall, Eddie Gaven, and Jeff Cunningham. For those of you who may not have heard of them, you could compare them to NBA veterans who have represented their country at the highest level. Sippola mentioned that "all of these players have proven themselves at the highest level of American soccer even making appearances for the Unites States National Team. My goal is to fill the shoes of these players some day. I cannot wait to learn from them and play with them." Contracts in the MLS, however, are not guaranteed, and Sippola will be fighting for his place on the team as soon as he takes the field on Sunday. "I will be on trial until they offer me a contract. It could be a matter of a week or a month or two before I am offered a contract. I will earn a contract if the coaches feel like I can bring something to the team, whether it be my work rate, tenacity, versatility, etc."

With everyone at camp competing for a first team spot, it may be more likely that Sippola will earn a reserve spot in his first year with the team. Major League Soccer has decided to bring back the Reserve League for the 2011 season and Sippola might find himself suiting up for these games. However, it is important to note that Ben Sippola is exactly the hard working, determined player that could surprise the coaching staff and earn a first team spot. Just ask Coach Findley, who recently left Butler to pursue the head coaching position at North Carolina State in the ACC. Regardless of when Sippola makes his 1st first team appearance, I am confident that he will continue to do what he has done in his three and a half tremendous years at Butler - win.

"I couldn’t be more excited to go to Columbus, I have wanted to be a professional soccer player since I can remember. In spite of this, I will miss the Butler atmosphere, going to basketball games, my professors, the athletic department, and of course my friends. All I can say is “thank you” to everyone at Butler for their support," Sippola concluded.

I will do my best to keep the Butler fanbase updated on Sippola's status, but in the meantime, add the Columbus Crew to the professional teams that Butler is contributing to.

Another Bulldog Going Pro

2011-01-12T15:02:00.012-05:00

Update #2: It is official - Ben Sippola was taken as the 12th pick in the second round of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft (30th overall) by the Columbus Crew. I will have more on this later, but for now congratulations to Ben on another great accomplishment.

Update: Ben Sippola was not drafted today, but still has a chance to make a team via the supplemental draft where another 54 players will be taken on January 18th. I will keep you updated on his status.

Everyone in Butler Nation, along with college basketball fans across the country followed Butler's Final Four run last March and watched as a blossoming sophomore, Gordon Hayward, took his last shot as a Bulldog. Just four months later, a different Bulldog team was making noise in the press and was led by another superstar. Much like Hayward and company ran through the Horizon League undefeated, the men's soccer team went undefeated through the entire regular season - posting a 16-0-3 record (3 ties) going into the second round of the NCAA tournament. Senior midfielder Ben Sippola played the role of do-it-all Hayward and the rest of the team continued to work hard to prove all the doubters wrong by winning and eventually climbing all the way up to #5 in the national rankings before losing to a fortunate Michigan State side on November 21.

Despite the early exit from the tournament, Butler and Sippola were awarded some well-earned recognition. Coach Kelly Findley won the 2010 Horizon League Coach of the Year. Butler seniors Conner Burt and Ben Sippola were named to the 2010 ESPN University Division Men’s Soccer Academic All-America Team. Ben Sippola and junior Matt Hedges were named to the Second Annual Goal.com Team of the Year. The same two (Sippola and Hedges) were named to the 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America Team. Sippola was chosen to the first team, while Hedges held a spot on the second team. Sippola also won the Horizon League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Month twice out of the four month season. Ben was also listed as a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy (the top award in college soccer). And finally Sippola won the Horizon League Player of the Year award. In case you missed it, Ben Sippola was listed in all of the awards Butler won this year except for Coach of the Year, and I am sure Coach Findley would tell you that Sippola did a fair share of coaching as a team leader this year as well.

The recognition for Sippola has not stopped there. He was invited to the Major League Soccer (MLS) combine this past week where he was given a chance to work out in front of scouts from every professional team in the MLS as well as scouts from across the world. The purpose of the combine is for teams to evaluate who they will take in the MLS Draft that is scheduled for tomorrow at 12:00p EST. With only the top 54 players selected, many are unsure of Sippola status in the draft, but it is still not out of the question for him to play professionally next year if he were not to be taken. At least one source has him going #28 overall though. Ben was nice enough to answer a few questions following the combine- check out the brief interview below and keep your eye out for updates on his draft status tomorrow!

1. 2010: Horizon League Player of the year, NSCAA First Team - All American, First Team Academic All-American, Semi-finalist for NCAA Herman Trophy. When you committed to Butler while still in High School, did you ever imagine that you would achieve such prestigious awards?

Ben: I never imagined that I would achieve this much individual success in my collegiate career. However, I have always believed in my self as a player and my abilities. I have always believed that working hard ultimately pays its dues and that is the case with me. I simply worked hard for four years and I am now gaining recognition for it.

2. How did your role at Butler progress over the years, from starting 10 games in 2007, to 16 in 2008, to then starting and becoming a key contributor on the 2009 and 2010 teams?

Ben: My freshman year I was injured midway through the season, which caused me to miss a lot of time. However, since then I have started virtually every game for the last three years excluding some time I missed my sophomore year because of a concussion. The last two years I have had more of a leadership role and this past year I became the catalyst behind our offense, where in the past I was very defensive minded.

3. What were the expectations of the team going into the year? Did you ever expect to be undefeated going into the NCAA tournament?

Ben: The expectations for this past year were to win the horizon league championship and receive an NCAA bid allowing us to ultimately compete for a national championship. I never expected that we would go undefeated, however it is not surprising when you look at the character, talent, and strong bonds of brotherhood within our team and coaching staff. 2010’s undefeated season is a testament to what a group of people can accomplish when united by strong leadership and common goals.

4. The first loss of the season was in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Ben Ten foe Michigan State. What did they do that others could not?

Ben: I’m not necessarily sure that Michigan State did something that others could not. It ultimately came down to our inability to capitalize on our scoring opportunities, which seemed to be our Achilles heal as the season progressed. We out shot state 15 to 6, had the majority of the play, but just failed to score the one goal that we needed to put the pressure on them.

5. As the season progressed, were you aware of the interest coming from Major League Soccer? If so, how did you handle the pressure of playing in front of professional scouts.

Ben: I knew that my name was being thrown around a little bit, but it really did not affect my game. I was not concerned with scouts or interest from Major League Soccer. I was just concerned about winning games for Butler University. However, it is always encouraging to know that MLS is taking notice.

6. Where were you when the call came to participate in the MLS combine? You were expecting a call?

Ben: I was at my house at Butler University with all of my roommates. I was not expecting the call, so when I got it, I’m pretty sure I jumped for joy. I felt like a little kid at Christmas.

7. For the non-soccer followers, can you give us a brief summary of what the combine consists of?

Ben: The combine consists of the nation’s top 70 or so collegiate prospects. The players are split up into four teams and play a three game round robin over four days. Every MLS team and many other professional clubs watch and scout the games. Other than that, the combine consists of a lot of down time and various meetings with teams, the player’s union, and agents.

8. Was there a player at the combine who you bonded with most and how has it been to play with the best young players in the country?

Ben: I got a chance to spend sometime with long time horizon league rival and Green Bay Phoenix, JC Banks. We were placed on the same team at the combine and developed some chemistry in our last game when he played right wing and I right back.

The combine was a great experience as it exposed me to a whole new level of soccer, I now have a better idea of what I need to improve in my game.

9. Major League Soccer is continuing to grow both in teams and in fan base and many are beginning to consider it as an elite league. Have your sights been set on the MLS for awhile or are dreams of Europe beginning to form.

Ben: Right now I am concerned with playing my soccer in the United States. However if that does not work out, Europe is always an option.

10. What can we expect from Butler Men's Soccer next year with the significant amount of seniors graduating and Coach Findley taking the NC State job?

Ben: You can expect a team with a blue collar mentality, a great work ethic, and a lot of skill. I am confident Butler will hire a great new head coach as our Assistant Athletic Director, Beth Goetz, has a great soccer background and knows exactly what to look for in a coaching candidate.

Bonus: When you become the next Landon Donovan of USA Soccer, will you continue to support the Butler Bulldogs?

Ben: Although this is highly unlikely (laugh), I will always support the Butler Bulldogs. I bleed blue.

The next rapid fire questions can be answered with one word and should be the first thing that pops into your head.

1. What is next for Ben Sippola?

Ben: A lot of hard work on the soccer field.

2. If you had to compare yourself with a professional soccer player who would it be?

Ben: Gary Neville

3. Funniest teammate?

Ben: Adam Glanzer

5. What do you do when you aren't studying or playing soccer?

Ben: Fly Fishing

6. Favorite food?

Ben: Chipotle Burritos

7. Band?

Ben: James Taylor

Thanks Ben! Good luck this week we will all be cheering for you!

Andrew Smith is "The Moose"

2011-01-08T14:56:00.011-05:00

After last night's 22 point 10 rebound performance against always pesky Cleveland Sate, I feel like it is time to debut the newest nickname for Butler's 6' 10" starting center, Andrew Smith. A few lucky Bulldog fans may have been lucky enough to hear or witness the "Mooooooooooooose" chants from the North side of the Dawg Pound when Smith gets announced in the starting lineup, but after his breakout game I feel like everyone should know. Now, you may ask yourself: What does Andrew Smith and a moose have in common? Well, hopefully by the end of this blog post you will see the clear connections between Andy and the Alces alces, or in non-scientific terms - moose. By the end of reading this, I am sure the next time Smith scores a bucket, you will join us putting four fingers on each hand behind our heads and chanting "Mooooooooooooose."

The first obvious similarity between Smith and a moose is their sheer size. An average moose has been known to grow between 6-7 feet tall and Andrew Smith stands on the upper-side of that at 6' 10". Now, because Smith is just a Sophomore it might be hypothesized that he is still a growing moose, but let's instead throw out those extra two inches and call it even. And despite the average moose weighing between 850-1500 lbs, I think we can all agree to throw out the difference there as well. But wait that is not all.

If you are not convinced of the similarities yet, than hold on because I have some more. One of the most reliable resources on the web, Wikipedia, claims that "moose are not usually aggressive towards humans, but can be provoked or frightened to behave with aggression." This is seen at Butler through the polite and bashful young man who listens during class and talks at press conferences, but come to play when it is game times. Another interesting point is that the natural enemy of the moose - the wolf is seen throughout our conference. When a pack of wolves or humans provoke the moose, the moose will fight back.

That means trouble for the rest of the Horizon League. Of the nine opposing teams in the Horizon League, five have mascots that are humans or wolves, one is a flame (that burns down a moose's habitat) and another is a panther that could easily be confused with a wolf in the eyes of a moose. That leaves the Penguins, who a moose could step on, and the Pheonix who would frighten any animal - thus creating more aggression.

Still don't get the connection? Moose are known as big lanky creatures with long limbs, but are surprisingly fast and can run up to 35mph. Much like the moose, Andrew Smith is tall and lanky, but is deceivingly fast running the break and jumping up for the lob. Don't believe me? Watch Smith run the floor next game. Last night, he was consistently one of the first people back on defense and ran hard all the way to the other end on offense.

If you STILL don't believe me, check out a recent picture of Smith from practice this week.. there are some eerie similarities there, but I will let you be the judge. Rumor has it after this picture was taken, the photographer was dunked on.

Finally, the last point and possibly the real reason for the nickname might just be the fact that his number is 44. If you put four fingers on each hand behind your head (as shown in the picture at the top) it looks like antlers- thus forming a Moose. Truthfully, Andrew is beginning to blossom as a player and has been a real "moose" down on the low post. If he can continue to play consistent minutes in the post and put up numbers half as good as last night, Butler will be a scary looking inside-out threat. So whatever your reason is for calling Andrew Smith a moose, I hope that you will join us in recognizing our very own as "Mooooooooooose."

Night at the Museum or Afternoon at Hinkle?

2010-12-22T14:18:00.004-05:00

Before I get into the topic for this update, I have to apologize to my readers for the lack of updating over the past two weeks. Apparently finals, papers, and the fact that I got engaged last week were a little more time consuming than I had previously expected. I promise to give everyone a warning the next time that happens.

Although I had intended to write this blog immediately following the Stanford game last Saturday, I thought it would be more enjoyable to reflect and write while enjoying the sunshine in West Palm Beach, Florida while the majority of Butler fans suffer in snow covered hoosier country. Truthfully, I simply forgot to pack and had an early flight Sunday, which made it literally impossible to update after the game.

But anyway, despite the fact that this update will become outdated in a few hours (following the Butler vs. Utah game tonight), I still believe that this topic should be addressed and discussed.

Hinkle Fieldhouse, the home of Butler Basketball, is a national monument and historical landmark that brings numerous basketball enthusiast and historians alike to campus for a glimpse of one of the most storied buildings in college basketball. The athletic department have recently taken notice and embraced the new attention with museum like displays on the East side of the building displaying memorabilia from past and present events. Museums are known for the sophisticated and the quiet guests that appreciate the art/display in front of them. Here is the problem: that same museum crowd has carried over to game days at Butler and Hinkle is packed with fans who would much rather sit back and enjoy the display than cheer on the student athletes that work so hard each and every game. Those of you who have attended a home Butler game at Hinkle Fieldhouse know exactly what I am talking about.

Over Thanksgiving Break a few weeks back, I did something that I never thought I would do - attend an Indiana University home basketball game. I was told that all of the students were gone on break - yes all 10,000 - and thought that Assembly Hall would be as quiet as ever. Wow was I wrong.

I made my way to what is usually a student section behind the basket and politely made my way between the middle age couples and families that were taking the vacationing students spots. I was prepared for a nice and quiet game filled with a few questions from the nice looking senior citizen who was seating next to me about how the game was played. Again - Wow was I wrong. As soon as the game began, everyone from the 4 year old daughter in her IU cheerleading outfit, to the 85 year old man with an IU striped cane were chanting "Air-ball" and "Defense" along with the rest of the crowd. This was not the atmosphere I was expecting and definitely not the crowd I was used to back in Indy.

A few days before the Stanford game, I had received an email from Coach Stevens urging us (the Dawg Pound) to be as energetic and rowdy as possible. He went on to say that the team fed off of the energy of the crowd and really needed us after a long non-conference season was coming to a close. On Friday night, I bought posters, paint, markers, and a white board in hopes that I could ignite the Dawg Pound. I sent out emails urging students to stay on campus until after the game. By the time I showed up at Hinkle and saw the line of students outside waiting for the gates to open, I knew that it was going to be a good day. What I did not expect was the reaction and involvement of the rest of the Hinkle crowd.

From the moment the ball went up in the air for the tipoff, Hinkle was rocking. Many times (as opposed to none regularly) there were standing ovations for a defensive stands, there were adults and kids joining in on cheers, and most importantly there were Butler players taking in the crowds energy and taking it to a good Pac-10 school.

I haven't heard Hinkle as loud as that since the last second victory against Xavier last year or since Senior Night for AJ, Mike, Pete, Julian, and Drew. Can you imagine if Hinkle was always that loud? Can you imagine how hard it would be for opposing teams to come to Indy and play well? I can promise you that the Dawg Pound will work harder to ensure that this happens, but what will the rest of Hinkle do?

The new exhibit inside of Hinkle is a great addition that helps portray the amazing history of the old Fieldhouse. The main exhibits, however, are the Men's and Women's basketball games. What if Vincent van Gogh was standing next to a "Starry Night" exhibit? Would you approach him and thank him for such a beautiful creation?

Consider a museum that always has the artists in attendance. Hinkle is the museum, and the artists are the student athletes that put their all into each and every game. Let's thank them each and every game for the entertainment they give us with our voices because unlike van Gogh, our athletes want to hear from you.

Two Loses and Two Moral Victories

2010-12-07T15:53:00.006-05:00

As the final buzzer sounded at the IZOD center in New Jersey, I could not help but think that Butler had just proven themselves on a national stage, yet did not win the game against Duke. Last year, it was forcing the Blue Devils to defend one final possession instead of the blowout everyone assumed. This year, following a dismantling loss by Louisville and an ugly home loss to Evansville, the critics predicted an even more lopsided loss, and had it not been for Shelvin Mack's cramps when Butler was trailing 45-44, I believe that Butler would have won that game.

It may not have been Duke's best game of the season, but the number one team in the nation tied at half-time with a team who lost to Evansville? What does that say about Butler? Some would say they are inconsistent, and right now that might be true, but I would argue that they are finally beginning to come together as a team and find their individual roles. With the exception of Zach Hahn still trying to dribble the ball, the first half and early second half (pre-Mack injury) of Saturday's game showed glimpses of the new Bulldogs.

Butler fans have been so lucky that we have not had to have a team building year like this for quite some time with the immediate impact from Hayward, Nored, and Mack two years ago. But it is important to realize that the majority of programs around the country have rebuilding years all the time. Take UNC for example - last year was not the greatest year on record for the Tar Heels, and they have already lost some close games this year. I will not be surprised, however, to see UNC challenge Duke for an ACC title this year. Butler, like UNC, is simply rebuilding and like UNC's win over Kentucky, Butler's statement against Duke shows that the two teams might be turning things around already. If that is the case, look out. Over the last 4 years, only one other team has been ranked in the top 25 more than Butler. This statistic shows not only how well our teams have been, but it also shows how the majority of other teams have to embrace years like Butler is having currently.

We will not have to wait long to see if the team is progressing as I think they are. Xavier and Stanford (in addition to Mississippi Valley State) are all waiting to give the Bulldogs their best shot in the next week and a half. Despite Xavier playing less-than-stellar basketball right now, going up against a Xavier squad at Cintas with a fierce rivalry brewing, will not be an easy task.

So what can we expect from the remainder of the season? Butler might not go undefeated this year, and will surely be challenged by Cleveland State and Detroit for the Horizon League title. But what we CAN be sure of is that Brad Stevens and the 14 players on this year's roster will be prepared to compete in each and every game. We can be sure that Butler will continue to develop into the team that will once again compete for a deep run into the NCAA tournament. It is not a matter of if it happens, but more of a question of when. Butler, like other programs, needed time to adjust to the significant losses from last years team. The best part though is, the adjustment has already begun.

Other Tidbits

* The Dawg Pound has already filled a bus of 50 students that will drive down to Xavier with two other fan buses in order to help bring some Butler spirit into the hostile building. We will also be taking buses to UIC and Valpo, in addition to any NCAA tournament rounds that are drivable.

* Because the Stanford game is the Saturday after finals, I am starting to become concerned that students will not be able to stay in campus housing following finals. We are currently looking into reserving a room on campus to give underclassman a place to stay until game time.

* We have appointed Myke Van De Voort to a "Cheer Coordinator" position that we will be testing for the remainder of the year. Cheer Coordinator will consist of leading cheers and keeping everyone on the same page during games and is a position that we have been thinking about for awhile. I have no doubt that Myke will do a fantastic job!

Should Butler Bow Out?

2010-11-30T16:09:00.008-05:00

It figures that only one game after I dedicate a blog praising Butler for their execution against Siena, they decide to pretend they do not know how to play without Ron Nored. It figures that everything that excited me about the Siena game was non-existent in the Evansville game. It figures that Matt Howard would get into foul trouble and Shelvin Mack would disappear for long periods of time. And of course, it figures that online message boards would become littered with "the sky is falling" mentality.

I mentioned in last week's blog that if we had lost Ron Nored to injury last year, not many of us would have been able to name a viable replacement. And although Shawn Vanzant stepped up in New York against Siena, the Evansville game brought back some of my previous concerns. With Nored's starting role being given to Senior walk-on Alex Anglin, it could be hypothesized that Coach Stevens may not have an answer either.

With Vanzant producing better coming off the bench, Anglin might have been the safest option to replace Nored in the lineup. A lanky guard that knows the system as well as anyone, Anglin was asked to put in vital minutes that he might not have been prepared to do. To his credit, Anglin was able to hold his own and contain Evansville's leading scorer Colt Ryan to 14 points and added a crucial bucket of his own at the end of regulation. What was missing however, was the drive and determination to not just score, but win. Nored has always seemed to play better when the game was on the line, but who steps up when he cannot play?

I find it interesting that what last year's team lacked - this year's team has, and what this year's team lacks - last year's team had. Take for example, the countless times last year we were told how our lack of athleticism was going to doom us against teams from the Big 6. Somehow though, our determination and drive to win allowed Butler to come out ahead. This year's team is by no means lacking in talent or athletic ability - in fact I would argue that this team is one of the most athletic teams we have had; however, as was present in the Evansville game, the drive to win is just not there - yet.

Now, I assume, and hope, that most Butler fans realize that the sky is not really falling and that the season is still very young, but unless someone on this team develops the drive to win a close game, it might not be the type of season that Bulldog fans are used to. The drive to win is something that cannot be taught, but it is something that I fully expect to see from Mack and Howard. It is something that I would love to see out of our talented freshman.

Many people have noted, and maybe rightfully so, that tomorrow's game against Loyola is much more important than the Duke game on Saturday, but lets not give up on our team yet. Yes, last year we were one shot away from a national championship, but not many would have pegged us to be there in November 2009. Think about this: What if Butler were to beat Duke on Saturday. Most people will say Butler has no chance, but how much of a chance did most people give Butler against Syracuse? Kansas State? Hell most people predicted Butler to lose against Murray State. If you are ignorant enough to believe that two loses can make or break an entire season in November, then you will have to agree that one win against Duke could change everything.

Regardless of the outcome of the Duke game on Saturday, Butler will continue to win games and prove its worth for the NCAA Tournament. Take a look at last year's results, do you think that the Selection Committee weighed our wins over Ohio State and Xavier (our two quality non-conference wins) or the undefeated Horizon League season more? Our non-conference record last year was 7-4. Had we not been preseason ranked in the top 10, we would have been having these same conversations following the loss to Clemson in Anaheim. In fact - I kind of remember hearing these same conversations.

My point, is that Butler has consistently won championships by proving everyone wrong - sometimes even its own fans - and that we should not be surprised if and when the Bulldogs begin to click and find the drive they need to win games.

If we had lost to Evansville last year, which we almost did, would it have mattered? Do you believe the team would have quit and stopped working towards the ultimate goal - winning a national championship?

Why, then, should we believe that now?

Louisville: Just What Butler Needed!

2010-11-23T23:51:00.005-05:00

Following what could have been one of the ugliest Butler basketball games since the Bulldogs were neutralized by Minnesota last year in Anaheim, I cannot help to think that the loss to Louisville was a great thing. Don't get me wrong, the 15 point loss last week might have been the "worst" loss Butler has sustained in a few years, but it could not have come at a better time. Hear me out.

As most Butler fans have found out by now, we are not the same team that came one shot away from a National Championship. In fact, I think that this year's team (2010-2011) could be BETTER. Don't believe me? Just look how well the team has responded since the infamous loss. Four days after basketball's version of the valentine's day massacre, Butler turned its frustrations on a previously undefeated Ball State team and crushed them by 33 points. Three days after that, Butler walked into Times Union Center and did what only one other team has done in 40 games - win.

Although the 33 point dismantling of Ball State served justice for the rumored BSU fans' chanting "We want Butler" after a less-than stunning defeat of Indiana State, it is the Siena game that is the most encouraging. Despite being unable to watch the game on TV, I was following online thanks to Victory Firelight and was pleasantly surprised with the final result.

In just the second minute of the game, Ronald Nored, our starting PG and reigning Horizon League Defender of the Year, collided with a Siena defender and was taken out of the game to receive stitches. He would not return and is rumored to have sustained a concussion. Imagine if this had happened last year; who would have stepped up and defended star guard Clarence Jackson? Had this been last year, I would have chalked up the loss and immediately logged off of the computer. This however, is exactly why I am so encouraged by this year's team. Not only did Vanzant respond (he scored 12) but our entire bench stepped up when our normal starters were having off nights. In fact, Butler's bench outscored Siena 38-5 with huge contributions from Andrew Smith, Chase Stigall, and Garrett Butcher.

This type of contribution was exactly what was lacking in the earlier Louisville game. Say what you want about Louisville and how the environment was not welcoming to the visiting Bulldogs, but one cannot argue that Times Union Center is not just as hostile. Say what you want about Louisville and how their physical play took the Bulldogs out of our element, but take one look at Nored's eye and count the number of times players were on the ground tonight and one can see that Siena was just as physical as the Cardinals.

My point, is that Butler would not have beaten Siena tonight in New York if we had not gotten beat by Louisville last week. Not only was the loss an eye-opening event for fans and analysts alike, but it was also a time for the players and coaching staff to make an adjustment. Whether or not the hype and rankings were beginning to set in, we will never know, but it looks like Coach Stevens and the rest of the players have already responded.

We as fans should applaud the coaching staff who continue to schedule tough early games in November and December. Most of the major programs continue to schedule easy wins early in the season and may not find out that adjustments are needed until it is too late. Butler got the awakening it needed from Louisville and the remaining teams on the schedule should be worried.

Top 25 Reasons To Be Thankful You're a Butler Fan

2010-11-18T16:53:00.009-05:00

As Butler students are packing up and getting ready to head home for Thanksgiving break, I thought there would be no better time to reflect on the last year of Butler Athletics than to create a list of things us fans can be thankful for. Seeing as how Butler Athletic teams are now being consistently represented in the Top 25 of their respective sports, I thought a top 25 list was appropriate.

Top 25 Reasons to be Thankful You're a Butler Fan this past year:

#25 - Hinkle Fieldhouse: Anyone who has watched a Butler game on the ESPN network has been reminded of the history that is Hinkle Fieldhouse. There are not 3 college arenas in the world that can boast such history and at every home basketball game, I am reminded how truly amazing the atmosphere can be.

#24 - Blue II: Not only is Blue II a great looking english bulldog, he has become a symbol of Butler seen all over the internet. There are not many live mascots left in the college/university ranks, and Blue II (thanks to last year) has become an icon for all of those young bulldogs aspiring to great things.

#23 - Dawg Pound: With this year marking my 4th year as a member of Dawg Pound, I can truly say that we have come a long way. Fans and students alike can be thankful for the involvement by the Dawg Pound at all sporting events this past year. It doesn't hurt that we have been blessed with great teams, but records were set for Volleyball and Women's Basketball just this past year and we have sold out the lower level at every game so far this year - including preseason.

#22 - Half-Court Shots: Is it a coincidence that Butler's Athletic success and the conversion rate of half-court shots during timeouts of basketball games seem to be related? I think not.

#21 - Athletic All-Americans: Shelvin Mack has already been selected this year on many different preseason all-america lists. Jessica Wolfe of the Volleyball team became BU's second AVCA All-American last season as well.

#20 - Cody Zeller: Even though Cody Zeller picked Indiana, we can be thankful that Butler is being considered with such high-profile recruits and that despite coming up empty in the end, we can be assured that the program will continue to do what is does best - WIN. Recruits will continue to watch our success and eventually want to be apart of it.

#19 - Xavier: We should be thankful that Xavier and Butler agreed to extend their contract and will play each other the next two seasons again. Not only does Xavier represent a quality midwest program (despite recent results), but they also provide another marque non-conference game for Butler to build its resume upon.

#18 - Khyle Marshall, Chrishawn Hopkins, Erik Fromm: These three freshman have shown extreme promise already in this early season and I am expecting more great things by the end of the season. Khyle and Erik have shown they have the skills to compete at a high level and Chrishawn "Hops" Hopkins has already shown his incredible vision of the court. It is only a matter of time before these three adjust to the college game and provide Coach Stevens with more lethal weapons.

#17 - IU Athletics: Wisconsin scored 83 points on IU football last week and the basketball team (despite Crean-the-savior) is still not good. Although several high profile recruits have committed to IU, we can still be thankful that Butler is currently a winning program and shows no signs of stopping.

#16 - Thunderdunks: We have already dunked more this season in 2 games than most of last year. Get ready message boards, the thuderdunks might be coming with Butler instead of against them. All of these dunks and Chrishawn is still yet to throw one down. I promise you when he does, ESPN will be all over it.

#15 - Fall Sports Dominance: I already dedicated a blog post to this topic, but the sheer domination by Butler Fall Sports teams the past two years proves that Butler is no longer just a basketball school. With conference championships from the mens and women's soccer team, the mens and women's cross country team, and a second place finish by Volleyball, not to forget the 11-1 finish and post season appearance by the Football team last year, the past few years have been the best Fall Sports finish that I can remember.

#14 - Louisville: We can be thankful that we lost that game on Tuesday. Not only did it allow the team to realize what we need to work on, but it was done early enough in the season to help us prepare for the rest of the season. Be glad that we do not schedule cupcakes early on in the season like most major programs. We are going to learn more about our team this next month than most will learn in late match.

#13 - Bobby Fong: What a great ambassador for our school. An avid follower of Butler sports, Fong represents all that Butler stands for. We will greatly miss him as our President, but with his unexpected departure, Butler may have a great opportunity to capitalize on the athletic success in a way no President has done yet.

#12 - Band Wagon: Man did the band wagon take off in March. What we need to understand and be thankful for is that the band wagon will come and go, but us fans can be proud that we have always been and will stay on the wagon.

#11 - The Butler Way: What an incredible motto that our students, faculty, staff, and athletes live by. There is truly a wide gap between our school and the majority of major athletic programs. The team above self motto is not only preached, but it is lived each and every day - from the Dance major to the All-American athlete. I am thankful for the Butler Way and how it is so much more than just a motto.

#10 - Water Fountains are replaceable: Enough said.

#9 - Roosevelt Jones, Jackson Aldridge, Andy Smeathers, Kameron Woods: We should be thankful for the four recruits who have already signed LOI's to come play at Butler next year. Not only are these four players incredible athletes and basketball players, they are also great students. Roosevelt Jones is a strong candidate for Mr. Basketball in Illinois.

#8 - ESPN "experts": Is it just me, or do I become thankful whenever an ESPN expert picks against Butler. Nothing satisfies me more than to prove experts wrong, and last year's Final Four run (after being written off following the Georgetown game) made it even more special.

#7 - Did I mention IU Athletics?: Gosh am I glad that I am a Butler fan.

#6 - Consistency: I mentioned it earlier, but Butler has been incredibly consistent. Butler basketball currently ranks 5th in weeks being in the AP Top 25 over the last 5 seasons. In addition, Butler has played invited to the NCAA Tournament for four consecutive years. Three of the past five NCAA appearances Butler has advanced to the Sweet 16 or later stages. This consistency of success by our basketball team is something to be thankful for.

#5 - Academic All-Americans: Butler Basketball has had four players earn six Academic All-American certificates in the past four seasons, with Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward earning the recognition last year. In fact for the 2009-2010 season Butler athletes claimed 5 Academic All-American awards. Joining those two, was Conner Burt from the Men's Soccer team, Grant Hunter from the Football team, and Andy Baker from the Cross Country team. Already this year, Conner Burt and Ben Sippola have been recognized with the award. Even our women's club laccross team claimed 8 Academic All-Americans (second only to UCLA's 9) this year. This commitment and recognition for our academics shows that the Butler Way is truly important to us.

#4 - Undefeated seasons: I am thankful to not witnessing a loss for the men's soccer team this year and the men's basketball team last year in Horizon League play.

#3 - Gordon Hayward: We can be thankful that Hayward showed that Butler can produce athletes for the next level and that by attending Butler and getting an outstanding education, you could also be getting prepared to play in the pros someday. In addition, here is to hoping that Hayward remembers Butler when he is making all sorts of money and gives back to where it all started.

#2 - Brad Stevens: I could dedicate a whole blog post to Brad Stevens and what we should all be thankful for, but many of you know this already. A class act coach and person in the community, Brad stands for all that is Butler. His pledge to stay at Butler following the Final Four run should give us all something to be thankful for.

#1 - National Championship Appearance: This was something special. No Butler fan will ever forget that April night and why should we want to? We might be the only team in the world that can truly claim that we WON without scoring more points than the other team. We proved to the whole world that hard work and teamwork can get you all the way to the national championship game. Had that shot gone in... wow, but the fact that it didn't and we are all better off because of it, speaks volumes to what was accomplished by that team last year.

I know that there are many more things about Butler Athletics that we should be thankful for and I hope that you share your top list. Have a great Thanksgiving with friends and family (those who are the most important) and GO DAWGS!

Dr. Fong Leaves Legacy and A Great Opportunity

2010-11-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

On a day when most Butler fans will be depressed and utterly disgusted with a certain recruit's decision to attend a different Indiana school, I find it appropriate to focus on the future and the enormous opportunity that may be facing the Athletic Department. Just last week, Butler University President, Bobby Fong announced he was leaving to become President of Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. While many were surprised and others were saddened, I couldn't help but think that this was good news for Athletics at Butler.

Before I continue, I must stress that the opinion that follows is only that of me, Kyle Murphy, and not that of the Athletic Department, Dawg Pound, or any related Butler organization.

During Butler's magical run through the NCAA Tournament last March, I could not help but feel that Dr. Fong did not fully recognize the team for its unprecedented accomplishments. Don't get me wrong, Fong was on TV and in the newspaper plenty, but each time he seemed to be reserved towards the idea of giving credit where credit was due. Instead, Fong used the publicity and media to stress Butler's academic prowess. In each of his many interviews, Fong repeatedly referenced how Butler's students' first priority was to be a student first. Now, I commend Fong and the University for its focus on academics and cannot imagine it any other way, but for something of this magnitude I would have expected more from our leader on campus. Call it "The Butler Way" if you wish, but this reservation of gratitude might suggest that Dr. Fong did not like the idea of Butler being recognized more for its athletic accomplishments than its academic achievements.

Take a recent example of University funding: Many of you are familiar with the ButlerRising campaign that raised over $154.7 million over a 7 year period. Only 1.8%, or $2.8 million, went to Athletics with $1.7 million of that specifically given by donors. The money alloted was used for the turf, women's locker room and part of the recent bowl updates. The Athletic Department had to add another $1.7 million itself to make the Butler Bowl look like it does today.

In addition, the Horizon League average for scholarships is about 120 per school and Butler only funds 95 for athletic purposes. If that wasn't enough, the Athletic Department also paid for Hinkle roofing repairs, the new baseball hitting facility, the updated sound system in Hinkle, additional tennis courts, an updated softball stadium, the new electronic scorer's table in Hinkle, as well as updated football lockers. It has also been reported that the University did not give one penny more for Brad's new contract. (Thanks to "bernie44" on buhoops for the majority of this information)

I am not suggesting that Butler University should place more emphasis on athletics than it does on academics; I am simply saying that there is plenty of room for improvement. With all of the media attention and millions of dollars worth of free advertisement, a President who will embrace the athletic success along with academics could capitalize on enormous opportunities facing our successful teams.

My somewhat controversial hypothesis is that President Fong is leaving Butler due to the recent success of our basketball program that elevated our athletic profile. I cannot deny that Dr. Fong was a great President for our University and that he will be greatly missed by students and faculty alike, but with his resignation comes an opportunity to fill the open position with someone more willing to support our blossoming athletic programs. It becomes more clear each day that facilities are increasingly important among recruits and without financial backing, those facilities may never be built.

Butler's Fall Sports Dominance

2010-11-03T18:52:00.001-04:00

As my first post of 2010, one would assume that I would be quick to talk about the Final Four and Butler Basketball's run to the national championship game last March. Although I will surely touch that subject soon, I am fairly confident that topic has already been talked about. Instead, I will use this post to bring to everyone's attention another potential Final Four appearance and the success of Butler's Fall Sports teams.

For those of you who have not heard, Butler Men's and Women's Cross Country, Women's Soccer, and Men's soccer have all claimed Horizon Regular Season Titles already. The Men's Soccer team has not even played its last regular season game (Senior Night.. well morning.. is at 10:00am on Friday) and clinched the league with an undefeated record of 15-0-1. For those who do not follow soccer closely, that is 15 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie. There is only one other team in the country that can claim a similar record and that is Louisville (who has tied twice and actually lost an exhibition game to Penn State).

All of this Fall success is worthy of its own novel, much less a measly blog with 6 followers, but wait I am not done. The volleyball team is currently 2nd in the Horizon with an 11-1 conference record and plays first place Milwaukee Nov. 6th at 4:00pm in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Could Volleyball be the 5th Butler sport to claim a fall sports title? The McCafferty Trophy might be on its way to Indianapolis before Christmas break.

The Butler Bowl will be a busy place the next few weeks with both the Women and Men's Soccer Horizon League Tournament. As previously mentioned, the men still have one more regular season game before the Horizon League Tournament and it comes with some added hype. Butler faces a Cleveland State team that not only beat Butler last year 1-0, but is also coming off of a recent 2-1 upset over #1 ranked Akron. Although this game promises to be a dandy, it is unfortunate that not many fans will be able to watch it. The game time is scheduled for 10:00am on Friday morning due to a conflict with the Women's Horizon League Tournament game at 3:30pm. It would be so much easier if Butler just wasn't so good at sports.

Sports, as we all know, is not where it stops at Butler though. Joining Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward with Academic All-American recognition is Senior soccer star Conner Burt from Elkhart, Indiana. Burt has started every game this year for the Bulldogs and has been a vital component to the team's success. When I thought of updating this blog, I knew that hearing from Conner would be the icing on the cake.

The interview follows:

Me: First, I would like to congratulate you on your Academic All-American recognition. How have you been able to balance your school work with your athletic responsibilities? Without going too cliche on you - what does the Butler Way mean to you

Conner: I think the Butler Way is simply being excellent in all facets of your life. As a student at Butler goes through their four years, they learn a lot about who they are, what drives them, and how they ought to be a beneficial member of society--I think the The Butler Way facilitates this process and sets a foundation for future success. My individual success is simply a result of setting goals, not being complacent, and always putting forth excellent work--be it soccer or school.

Me: Butler currently is ranked #3 and #6 in two separate polls this week, how does that ranking speak to the hard work that the team has put forth during the off-season?

Conner: To be honest, the rankings are nice, but are just a snapshot of what's going on behind the scenes. As a senior, we've worked day in day out to arrive where we are now...certainly that does not come easy and a ranking in a particular week can't capture what we've put in to get to this point. I guess at the end of the day, we're going to remember all the work we put in and the trophies we raised, not our top 10 ranking for a few weeks throughout a season.

Me: When the season began was there any indication that the team had top ten talent? And more importantly did anyone think you could still be undefeated going into the last regular season game of the year?

Conner: I certainly think there was belief coming into this season. As opposed to past years, we feel like we can play and compete with any team in the country. If you look at our past two seasons (13-3,13-2 records)...we're a gritty team that doesn't like to loose. This difference this season is that we believe in each other and have confidence that we'll get a result every game. At the same time though, you don't look at a season and get ahead of yourself. We take each training session as an opportunity to get better and play the game we love, and don't take things for granted. Really the only thing we worry about is our next game and what we need to do to prepare.

Me: Lets talk about IU. Last year saw Butler getting an unfavorable draw in the NCAA tournament playing an IU team that you had already played (and beaten) in Bloomington. Was this years 4-1 thrashing pay-back?

Conner: I don't think it was necessarily a payback. As freshman, we all set a goal that by the end of our careers, we'd beat Indiana two years in a row. At the time, this was lofty, considering we hadn't beaten them in 10+ years. We all went into the game knowing the implications: we had been ranked fairly high so far throughout the season, and a lot of people considered this our first "real test" (which is not necessarily the case because our league games have all been tough, as have some other games like Loyola Maramount) and so I think the guys felt like we had something to prove. Not to mention as a soccer player from Indiana, you grow up hearing about the prestige and success of IU's program--and rightfully so. But as we've shown the past two years, we've built a program to be proud of.

Me: You have scored some crucial goals throughout your Butler career - a few game winners. How does it feel to score that last-minute goal to earn a victory for the team?

Conner: I tell you, its what you play the game for. When it's overtime, golden goal--its really about who has more guts. And as we've shown all season, we're determined to get results for 120 minutes. Scoring the goal is great -- and this season, our celebrations have really gotten a lot more elaborate (which makes it even better). In the end though, whether I get the game winner or its someone else, you always feel great that you got a result as a team.

Me: Cleveland State (your final test of the season) took down #1 ranked Akron last week. CSU has been a tough outing for you guys in the past - how do you overcome a team like CSU?

Conner: CSU is always a tough to play against. They're a quality team--and them beating AKRON is a testament to the quality and parody within our League...even though we don't get very much respect. At the end of the day, we treat each game similar, and focus on what we do well. Its what has gotten us to this point, and will continue throughout the season.

Me: Regardless of the result on Friday, you have already clinched the Regular Season Title and home field advantage for the Horizon League Tournament. What can we expect for the post season? Is a national championship out of reach?

Conner: First our sights are set on the Horizon League Tournament. Its one thing we've not conquered since I've been here, and is our primary focus right now. As for the NCAA's...I think we've got a bigger perspective this year. Last year, we were happy to be there and excited to get an bid. Since last season ended, I think there's been a bit of a bitter taste in our mouth. Now that we know what its like and are more experienced, everyone knows that this season could be something special. But you can't get to the National Championship without winning in the first round. So that's where our focus is.

Me: I appreciate your time and want to end this brief interview with some rapid fire one-two word responses.

1. What is next for Conner Burt?
Conner: Adventures

2. If you had to compare yourself with a professional soccer player who would it be?
Conner: John Terry (minus his personal life ha)

3. Funniest teammate?
Conner: Blake Lyden

4. Who would win in a number crunching battle - you or Matt Howard?
Conner: Depends on who has a mustache at the tim

5. What do you do when you aren't studying or playing soccer?
Conner: Fly Fish

6. Favorite food?
Conner: Avocados?

7. Band?
Conner: Right now--Freelance Whales or AudioDax

GO DAWGS!

Monthly Updates..?

2009-12-12T21:41:00.001-05:00

Well although I have not planned it, and I was hoping to be updating more often than this, I seem to be following a pattern of updates exactly a month a part so far since I have created this blog. With that though, it means today is an update day!

Today was filled with excitement at Hinkle Fieldhouse, not only did we get to watch Butler dismantle Ohio State for what could be the last time in a awhile, but we also got to recognize all of our championship fall sport teams. Watching the men and women's cross country team, men's soccer, and football team walk onto Hinkle's floor with each of their respected championship trophies was enough to make the day a success. Luckily, Butler fans were in for much more.

There were Dawg Pound members camped out since the early morning to ensure their front row spots for this showdown, there were ESPN posters being constructed throughout pre-game, there were recruits sitting in Hinkle (some for the first time), all to watch our Bulldogs take on former player and head coach Matta's Ohio State Buckeyes. As has been mentioned by many media outlets, there might not be a better place to take in a basketball game on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The day did not disappoint with Butler winning 74-66.

During pre-game we got a chance to catch up with Butler's Top 150 recruit Khyle Marshall who was visiting for a game for the first time in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Afterwards he could not express more how excited he was to play here next year. "That was a great experience. A packed house, fans we're crazy, the atmosphere was incredible. It made me want to go out there and play already!" Well trust me Khyle, I am not the only one who can't wait for you to "go out there and play already!"

Another topic to address is the Dawg Pound itself. Many have probably noticed that this is one of the best Dawg Pound's we have ever had. Although I would like to attribute all of the success to the current executive board, I have to give most of the credit to the incoming freshman class. We were approached by the Freshman Caucus earlier this year to host an event to get the Freshman class more involved and excited for the season. Last Saturday before the the Valpo home game, we gathered in the HRC to eat (courtesy of one of our sponsors Qdoba) and talk everything Butler. This group did not need much to get them excited. Our only away trip this season so far was filled with a charter bus of Freshman, many of which had their first experience with the Hoosier movie watching ritual on the way to Northwestern.

I also cannot take away all of the fans that have been going crazy in the Pound for years now either. There has been more communication between exec and the Dawg Pound members this year than any other with Twitter, Blogging, Facebook, and listserv messages. We have the point system almost perfected and great sponsors. HH Greg now on board with the Athletic Department and gives away amazing prizes to Dawg Pound participants each home game. It is truly great to be a Butler fan and more importantly a Dawg Pound member.

Enjoying Dickie V's company in New York before the Georgetown Game!

Question and Answer with our New Bulldogs!

2009-11-12T19:40:00.001-05:00

I know I know it has been awhile since I posted, but I had to wait until we had three new recruits signed before I could post these short answers. While I was gone I am sure many have caught the hype that continues to build around our Fall sports here at Butler.

Mens Soccer won the Horizon League regular season championship and plays in a semi-final game Friday at 2:30 against Cleveland State (the only conference team to beat them this year)
Women's Volleyball remained undefeated at home and clinched third place for the Horizon League Tournament coming up.
Cross Country sweeping the Mens and Womens Horizon League Championships
And of course our Football team is 9-0 and the Horizon League title will come down to the final home game on Nov. 21. (Word on the street is Drake already has a fan bus on order)

As our fall sports are posting more and more wins and championships around the league, the men's basketball team is preparing for a season that is unlike any other. Never before has a Butler team had this much hype and excitement following them before the season has started. It seems this will be something that fans and players alike are just going to have to get used to as the 2010 recruiting class that signed yesterday does not show a drop in talent.

I asked Erik, Khyle, and Chrishawn four questions that I thought I would share with the rest of you fans, so that you can join me in getting excited for the next 4-5 and even more years of Butler Basketball.

Questions:

1. What was the most exciting part about recruitment? And in the end, what set Butler above your other offers?

2. What are you excited about most about joining the Bulldogs? And how do you see yourself fitting into the lineup?

3. What are your goals for your Senior year?

4. Will Butler win a national championship your freshman year?

Erik Fromm
The most exciting part was knowing that one of my favorite teams was interested in me. It gave me a lot of confidence in making my decision. I chose Butler because of the academics, basketball program, and location. In addition, Coach Stevens is an amazing person/coach
I'm very excited to become a part of the great team we will have my freshman year. I can't wait. I see myself fitting into the lineup in any way that Coach Stevens wants. I'm willing to play any position to benefit the team.
The goal for this season is of course, to win state again. That's the ultimate goal that every team reaches for.
(In reference to question number 3) That's the goal, isn't it? :)

Chrishawn Hopkins
the most exciting part about my recruiting was by the end of July i had over 60 division 1 schools looking at me and butler just made me one of their top priorities and made such an effort to come to all my games during the summer
i am excited to join a team that is already good and I'm just going to add to the progress that butler is moving forward to and i feel i will fit in great from going to all the open gyms with the guys on the team we all play the same style which makes it a better transition for me into my freshman year
i want to make a great impact during my freshman year and hope to go far in the tournament
i cant promise anything lol but that's what i have been praying for and i hope to contribute to us making it there
Khyle Marshall
The most exciting part would definitely be the visits. I chose butler because they have the perfect balance of both basketball and academics. They're selected to the tournament every year and they have top notch academics. It's also a situation where I can immediately compete for playing time.
I'm excited about joining a great group of guys that really take their business on the court seriously and they also have a close relationship both on and off the court. I think I can fit in real well with the lineup. That plays a major part in my decision. Whether or not I can fit in and I felt that when I was playin with them in open gym.
I want to leave Flanagan with some form of a championship before I leave. Whether it's districts, regionals or states. I just want to leave knowing what it feels like to be a champion.
I think Butler will definitely have a shot of winning the national championship my freshman year. We have the talent and the coaching to be a contender for a national championship.

So it is time to welcome a new era of Butler Basketball and start getting used to the hype!

Stay Tuned

2009-10-11T22:24:00.001-04:00

I am in the process of trying to get one of our sponsors to provide some early morning food for Dawg Pound members before the Blue and White Scrimmage on the 24th! Coach Stevens has personally invited all Dawg Pound members to attend and get their first look at both the 2009-2010 Men's and Women's basketball teams.

Also keep checking back here, as I will have an update soon for a little question and answer with our 2010 men's basketball recruiting class.

Look for the Men's Soccer team to be ranked or at least receiving votes if they continue their great play. Beat Valpo tonight a few days after upsetting #14 Indiana in Bloomington. With only one loss on the year and being undefeated in conference, look for the Bulldogs to be a strong contender for the Horizon League Title.

With a BYE week this weekend, also watch out for the 5-0 Football team to continue their impressive season next week at home against Valpo.

Women's Soccer beat Wright State today to put them into a tie for 2nd place in the league standings, they continue play at Cleveland State on Friday.

Volleyball suffered a loss today against Loyola in a tough match to keep them in 2nd place in the standings as well. Their next match is Saturday at home against Youngstown State.

Dawg Pound growing by the day...

2009-09-22T18:08:00.001-04:00

Wow, time just flies when you have some many things to keep updated! There has been a lot that has happened in Butler Athletics since my last update and the Bulldogs are looking good so far this season! Check out www.butlersports.com for all of the updates!

The Dawg Pound has been looking good recently with the taking over of the Jungle at IUPUI for our women's volleyball game. And we are also making our presence known at our Football games so far supporting our undefeated team. More and more people are picking up their shirts and signing up to be apart of the biggest thing on campus. Make sure to keep checking here and my twitter page (http://twitter.com/BUDawgPound) for more updates.

Some big basketball recruits have and are still coming to campus so if you see some, make sure to welcome them to Butler!

2009-09-01T20:24:00.001-04:00

Welcome new members and sponsors!

2009-08-26T20:15:00.000-04:00

"Wow!" That is all that I can say when thinking about Block Party yesterday. One of the best things to witness and be apart of that is for sure, music, free give-aways, and most importantly Dawg Pound signups begin! In only the little time that Block Party provided we now welcome 557 new members! That sets a new record for the amount of people to sign up at one event, which gets us excited that this year we can surpass our member total of 1200 from last year! Thanks to everyone who signed up early and to those of you who didn't do not panic as you can sign up all year round. We will be having office hours on Tuesdays and Wednesday from 4-8pm. Our office is on the third floor of Atherton Union - room 306. Feel free to drop by then to sign up or meet us in front of the football gates on September 5th.

Remember that this year we are starting something new: 1st year members are $20, 2nd year members are only $15, and 3rd and 4th year members are only $10. All shirts and membership cards will be distributed at the first football game on September 5th. Don't forget to bring your ID so we can check you off the list.

ALSO I would like to welcome our sponsors for the 2009-2010 season: Thank you to Marcos, Qdoba, Bagel Ripple Deli, Noodles, and Red Mango. While we continue to be impressed with the great partnerships we have formed with Marcos, Bagel Ripplel Deli, and Qdoba; we would like to welcome two new sponsors this year. Noodles and Red Mango are as excited as we are this year to make this the best year yet. Look out for all the discounts that members will get with their member cards and go see them soon!

More later..

Let the games begin...

2009-08-24T14:25:00.000-04:00

Freshman have moved in and everyone else is herding to campus for classes this Wednesday and with that marks the 2009-2010 Butler University school year! Today we met in the Wildman room of historic Hinkle Fieldhouse for our first meeting as a new Dawg Pound exec and I came away even more excited than I thought. This year is going to be one of the most exciting seasons Butler Athletics and fans have seen in quite sometime. We plan on meeting every other week so that we can stay on top of events that we want to plan as well as to keep the communication of past events fresh. Our goal this year is to not only to provide a fun and active environment at Butler Athletic events but also to build a name and a brand that will outlast this year and on to years in the future. I have received a lot of advice and suggestions already and would love more if you have it, as you and I both know we can only make so many people happy, but I WILL read every email and WILL take every suggestion into consideration.

Quick Notes:

The women's soccer team has suffered two early losses, both by only one goal. They showed a lot of heart against Purdue as they fought back from a 2-0 deficit to almost tying the game.
The tshirts and member cards will be here to pick up at the first home football game (Sept. 5) You can sign up early at Block Party or you can sign up and receive your shirt on the same day at the game! $10 for 3 year members, $15 for 2 year members and $20 for 1 year members!
Look for more information on a trip to IUPUI to support the women's volleyball team soon! Trip includes prizes and possibly food on the way to the game! Stay tuned!

Email me: DawgPoundPR@gmail.com

Quick Update

2009-08-14T14:55:00.000-04:00

Classes begin in a few weeks and that means another start of a great year filled with Butler Athletics. I am in the process of discussing what I hope will be the "next big thing" for Dawg Pound and Butler Athletics in general, but I am not sharing that information with you yet. Also all of our sponsors are set for this year, and we do have a few new ones, so look for us during Block Party to see who they are.

Tomorrow marks the official opening of the season with the Women's soccer team taking on Indianapolis! And glad to see the guys got back from Italy safely! That is all for now just a quick update, keep checking back though as you never know what will happen around here.

Edit: I forgot two important things! First, former Bulldog Mike Green is headed to Belgium to continue on his journey of playing professional basketball. Good luck to him and congratulations to the Belgium fans that now get the pleasure of watching a true floor general at work.

And finally, a little shuffling in the AD department as Bulldog great Don Benbow retires after 36 years of service. Read about it: http://www.butlersports.com/genrel/081409aaa

Its been awhile...

2009-08-09T23:30:00.000-04:00

I am sorry for the long delay from the first blog until now, but I have been extremely busy! I promise to try to keep this updated with as much information as I can grab from Butler Athletics as well important events in the Dawg Pound. Hopefully by the end of this week I will have all of our sponsors finalized and can send in the new designs for our tshirts to get printed for our first home Football game September 5th. Don't you worry these shirts will not be white!

I am also in the process of drafting a few exciting events for Dawg Pound members this year that will definitely add excitement to the Athletic year, stayed tuned for more on that later.

Well since I haven't updated in awhile why don't I start by highlighting some recent events in Butler Athletics:

1. THIS JUST OUT: CHRISHAWN HOPKINS COMMITS TO BUTLER, welcome the 2010 shooting guard originally from Las Vegas who has been making quite a name from himself in the short time he has been around. Reports suggest Hopkins had over 15 offers and was certainly destined to get more. This is a great pickup for us, as Hopkins is a great shooter and adds an athletic component that we have not seen before. I encourage you to check out his dunk contest videos that have become popular on youtube.

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaAiUbfwDEA he is second!

2. Second on the list, Tomorrow August 10th marks the opening of camp for the Butler Football team. Starting in the morning the Bulldogs, along with second team 2009 Football Championship Subdivision Preseason All-American Grant Hunter, prepare for the home opener against Albion.

3. Looks to be another great year for the cross country/track team

http://www.butlersports.com/sports/c-xc/2009-10/releases/080509aaa

- "Butler cross country/track coach Matt Roe has added nine recruits to his 2009-10 men’s and women’s rosters and the incoming class figures to have an immediate impact on the Bulldogs’ successful distance program. The newcomers include eight top women, plus one talented male runner."

Looks to be another great year for the cross country/track team

4. Butler Basketball is in Italy right now and lost to the Swiss National team twice in the first two nights of the trip. Not much emphasis should be put on the losses as this trip helps Coach Stevens get everyone some looks as he figures out the right combination for success. Matt Howard was injured in the last game against the Swiss, but not to worry it is not serious despite the fact he might not play the rest of the trip. It is just for precautions.

5. Girls soccer will open the fall season of Butler Athletics on August 21st against Western Kentucky, before coming home and playing Purdue in the Bowl on the 23rd. This is going to be an exciting year!

6. And finally, ButlerSports.com got a makeover and was revealed last week. I encourage you to check it out and order some tickets for this season's teams.

Look forward to more news soon!

1st Post!

2009-05-11T21:17:00.000-04:00

Well I have been busy trying to get some new online ways for you to follow what is going on at Butler- more importantly what is going on with Butler Athletics. I have created a Twitter site which I am learning today that hopefully we can update from cell phones during both home and away games. And now I am opening up a blog for the Dawg Pound that our new executive board and members can post on. I plan on being involved all summer with students, faculty, and alumni to work out the best way to run things next year.

I hope to have weekly blog posts if not more frequent on what we are doing and how Butler Sports are performing. Bare with me as I am new to both blogging and twittering, but will do my best to keep everyone informed. Again any questions and concerns should be sent to DawgPoundPR@gmail.com! Have a great day!