Major gift for Drake basketball

by **DUBulldog** » October 22nd, 2019, 12:42 pm

$1 million to the men's basketball program and $2 million for upgrades to Knapp Center

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story ... 061716002/

I've hated the Knapp Center from the day it opened....will be interesting to see what upgrades are made.

**Sponsor**

by **BCPanther** » October 22nd, 2019, 1:12 pm

Congrats Drake!

The league can only get better as we infuse more money and improve facilities. We're 100% jealous of your AD in Cedar Falls! Massive step up from Ol' Sandy....

by **squirrel** » October 22nd, 2019, 1:27 pm

Great deal!

I wondered if the comment about keeping coaches was an implying that existing hoops funds could now be funneled to some of their other programs? Seemed an odd comment to make for a one-off gift.

by **DUBulldog** » October 22nd, 2019, 10:25 pm

BCPanther wrote:Congrats Drake!

The league can only get better as we infuse more money and improve facilities. We're 100% jealous of your AD in Cedar Falls! Massive step up from Ol' Sandy....

You or I would have been a massive step up...at least as far as the ability to evaluate/hire basketball coaches.

by **BCPanther** » October 23rd, 2019, 7:46 am

DUBulldog wrote:
BCPanther wrote:Congrats Drake!

The league can only get better as we infuse more money and improve facilities. We're 100% jealous of your AD in Cedar Falls! Massive step up from Ol' Sandy....

You or I would have been a massive step up...at least as far as the ability to evaluate/hire basketball coaches.

Truer words never spoken.

Mark Phelps. Good times.

Quick Mark Phelps story. Our seats used to be 4 rows up just to the scorer's table side of the visitor's bench at the McLeod Center. Drake is in playing UNI on a weeknight and UNI is putting it to them pretty good. Phelps has spent the entirety of the second half whining about traveling not being called, while he's been down double digits the entire time. Kipp Kissinger got to the point where he'd heard enough and the next time down the floor looks at him and goes 'Mark, shut your f***ing mouth and take your beating'. This will forever be my favorite Mark Phelps moment.

I know I give Drake a lot of crap but the Valley is better when you have a successful program in what's becoming a major market. It's good for the league, even though it's taking a UNI guy to do it for you

by **DUBulldog** » October 24th, 2019, 6:57 pm

Not sure if this was ever discussed on this board, but Drake also got a $5 million gift to the women's b-ball program earlier this summer.

by **sivert** » October 25th, 2019, 11:52 am

Good gravy.