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Message: [QUOTE="ClamOtto, post: 2016495, member: 368"] Big picture - there is reason for concern that goes beyond the fact that we've had some mediocre teams in recent years. SU has always had structural disadvantages in big-time college sports. Relatively small, under-resourced private university located in an out-of-the-way place unfortunately known mostly for getting huge amounts of snow. Look at how few private universities are in P5 conferences and how many of those are consistently successful. Private, tuition-driven universities generally don't have the money, the alumni bases or the legislative support to compete against the giant flagship universities (more true in football, but still applies to basketball somewhat). And they don't have the extra difficulty of trying to attract coaches and athletes to Syracuse. Not bashing Syracuse - just being realistic about its reputation in the outside world. I think it's a big factor in why athletics, and the rest of the university to some extent, is so full of alums. it's already come home to roost in football, but the school has been able to overcome those obstacles in basketball mostly because of the Dome and having a legendary HOF coach who is willing to work for way-below market and not look elsewhere. It also helps being in a state without a well-known flagship public university. The good news moving forward is that it was enough to get us in the ACC, so we'll never become Colgate with worse academics. The bad news is that the university is going to have to figure out how to compete without its biggest built-in advantage. This was always inevitable, but the sanctions and retirement pre-announcement have hastened it. It's clearly too early to know how it will work out, but we can't ignore the risks. I have no doubt Duke will go through the same thing when K retires. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?