(This article is Part V of Fordham SportsNet’s series detailing Frank McLaughlin’s thoughts on the current state of the Fordham men’s basketball program. Today, the AD addresses the fans.)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

This past Saturday’s New York Times article by Brian Heyman brought to light the concerns some Fordham basketball fans have been voicing of late. Discontent with the school administration, from Father McShane to Jeff Gray to Frank McLaughlin. Discontent with the state of affairs within the basketball program, with head coach Dereck Whittenburg receiving the bulk of the criticism.

While the article seemed to represent the sentiments of only a handful of disgruntled fans, a general level of frustration within the Fordham community has been evident both during and after the 3-25 season that concluded in early March. McLaughlin, the university’s Executive Director of Athletics, is aware of this dissatisfaction, but was quick to caution fans about the impact their negativity can have on a basketball program.

“One of the disappointments has been how quickly people have turned negative,” McLaughlin said during an interview with Fordham SportsNet. “I don’t think they realize that their negativity affects recruiting, affects the atmosphere of the team.”

While McLaughlin appreciates the passion fans have, he asked that they keep things in perspective.

“I understand people being frustrated. I understand it all,” McLaughlin said. “Some people have a great love for Fordham and Fordham basketball. But they have to remember that these are our students. These are the kids who could get admitted here. They’re representing us.”

McLaughlin also addressed ongoing questions fans have had about the chain of command at Rose Hill. When it comes to basketball, some have questioned what role Gray, the university’s Vice President of Student Affairs, has with the basketball program. Gray can be found at just about every men’s home basketball game standing a few feet to the side of the Fordham bench, leading to speculation about his role with the program.

“Dereck reports to me,” McLaughlin said. “And I don’t mean that in a bad way. I don’t even like saying that. We work together.

“I think Jeff takes a bad rap. He’s really been supportive and really fought for athletics.”

For any sports team, in addition to low morale, a down season will usually result in poor attendance. The majority of seats at the Rose Hill Gym were empty this year. No sellouts in a gym that holds just 3200 people. This did not come as a surprise to McLaughlin.

“When you’re in New York City there are a lot of other options so you do have to have a good product,” he said.

Now the AD and head coach have to work on bringing that good product to Fordham.

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(This article is Part IV of Fordham SportsNet’s series detailing Frank McLaughlin’s thoughts on the current state of the Fordham men’s basketball program. Today, the AD talks about the Rose Hill Gym and plans for a new arena.)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

The Rose Hill Gym opened its doors for the first time on January 16, 1925 for a game between Fordham and Boston College. Today, it’s the oldest gym still being used by an NCAA Division I team. Despite a two million dollar renovation in the summer of 2002, and even with all its history, the Gym is what it is: A quaint, 3200 seat venue that does little to attract recruits and opponents. And without the modern amenities newer facilities provide, the Gym is simply unable to produce that special gameday experience fans have come to expect.

For years, Fordham University officials have faced intense questioning from alumni and fans about plans for a new arena. Most recently, rumors have run rampant about designs for a new arena, what it would take to build a new arena on campus, and whether or not the administration feels a new basketball home is a priority. When Fordham SportsNet sat down with Frank McLaughlin, the AD talked about the Rose Hill Gym and plans for a new arena.

“The plans are there,” McLaughlin said. “The plans have changed over the course of time. They’re probably different today than they were three years ago because of the economy. There’s no question that if there’s a major donor that was interested in building an arena and made a substantial contribution obviously it would move up on the priority list.”

When McLaughlin talks about a new arena he is really talking about an entire convocation center. Right now, the Lombardi Center serves as the home to the Rose Hill Gym, athletic offices, weight and training rooms, basketball and tennis courts, an indoor track, a swimming pool, and other athletic facilities and necessities. A more modern, updated facility would be ideal, McLaughlin says, for everyone from athletes to fans.

“We need a student center. We need a rec center. We need an athletic center. We need all three. They’re mandatory. We have to have them,” McLaughlin said, referring to NCAA requirements. “We’re in a league now which is a killer league. If you look at Saint Louis University, two years ago we were better than them. But you build an 85 million dollar facility, that really enhances your recruiting, your support. It becomes a real pride factor for an institution.”

It’s become clear, to McLaughlin and others, that the Rose Hill Gym just doesn’t measure up to college basketball arenas across the country.

“There’s no question we’re at a disadvantage,” McLaughlin said. “Kids that are basketball players come here and the first thing they want to see is the arena.

“There’s no question if we had a facility we’d really enhance the program. If you took [Fordham head coach] Dereck Whittenburg and made him the head coach at Xavier I’m sure they’d be successful. If you took Sean Miller from Xavier and put him here he would struggle. (Since this interview took place Miller left Xavier to become the head coach at Arizona.)

While the Sean Miller reference may say more about the overall state of Fordham basketball than just simply the need for a new arena, McLaughlin understands the importance of having a facility that attracts talent, increases enthusiasm, and creates the modern gameday experience fans get in newer venues.

“If we had Saint Louis’ facility or Xavier’s facility the first thing you’d get is a much higher level player. You get a much higher level player you have a much better team. You have a much better team then people want to come and see the team,” McLaughlin said.

Right now, people aren’t coming to Rose Hill to see the team. Fordham’s 3-25 record last season had a lot to do with that. McLaughlin understands that part of the equation. But the AD and other higher-ups at the university also see the empty seats at the current facility.

“I’ve heard people here on campus [ask] ‘why do we even have to build something if we don’t pack the present gym?” McLaughlin said. “Maybe if our alumni and the students prove that this place is packed then maybe other people would say it’s a necessity.”

For now, McLaughlin is involved in ongoing discussions with Madison Square Garden, the IZOD Center, and the Prudential Center, potential sites for Fordham to play some of its home games in the future. The Rams are scheduled to play Seton Hall in Newark next season, and there’s talk of a game against Villanova at the Meadowlands. During the Bob Hill era, the school began playing some home games at the Garden with mixed results. There was the big win against St. John’s back in 2000, but there were also a lot of empty seats any time the Rams played at MSG.

“We’ve looked at all of those [facilities] and we’ve talked to the people,” McLaughlin said. “To be honest with you, we don’t have a great product right now. One of the worst things would be to go into the Garden to play a game and have 3500 people. Believe me, we’re working on all those things. We’re at a disadvantage. If there was an eight to ten thousand seat facility in this area, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, we don’t have that.”

(Up Next: A message to fans.)

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(This article is Part III of Fordham SportsNet’s series detailing Frank McLaughlin’s thoughts on the current state of the Fordham men’s basketball program. Today, the AD addresses Fordham University’s commitment to basketball.)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

Frank McLaughlin has been on the front lines of college athletics for over 40 years. As a player, coach, and now athletic director, McLaughlin has experienced the highs and lows of college sports. That’s why the AD has a good understanding of what the Fordham basketball program is going through right now. After all, since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1995, the Rams have finished .500 or better just twice, and have gotten as far as the semifinals of the conference tournament only once. This past season, Fordham won just one conference game, and after finishing with a 3-25 record, the basketball community is upset and demanding answers. The AD gets it.

“I understand their frustrations,” McLaughlin said last Thursday during an interview with Fordham SportsNet. “We’re doing all we possibly can to make sure this thing is successful. Do we have drawbacks? Yes. But being in New York is a plus. We’re doing a lot of things to try to make this thing successful.”

One of the drawbacks, ironically, for a school like Fordham is its high academic standards. These standards aren’t lowered for student-athletes. And, at times, having high academic standards and attracting top basketball talent is a tough mix. But for a school like Fordham, a school that prides itself on academics, lowering standards isn’t an option.

“Are we a great academic institution? Yes we are. Are we proud of that? Yes we are?” McLaughlin said. “If there’s a potential student-athlete our main goal is to make sure that person has the ability or the chance to get a degree. We are not going to become mercenaries and bring somebody in here just to play basketball.

“We’ve had very few, if any, disciplinary problems with our student-athletes,” the AD added. “I think it’s hard for a student-athlete to come here. There are no bogus courses. There’s no place to hide them. They’re mainstreamed. These guys have to work. You have to get a kid who’s conscientious. If you get a kid who’s not conscientious he’ll never survive here.”

So what does Fordham have to do to attract basketball talent and maintain its academic integrity at the same time?

“I think we have to get lucky,” McLaughlin said. “I think Dereck [Whittenburg] and his staff have done a very good job recruiting some people through personal contacts and reputation. I think we have some very good players coming in this fall. With our freshmen I think people will see an improvement and then we just have to keep plugging away. And we need to get lucky. You want to get somebody who maybe the Big East overlooks and two years from now they [ask] ‘why didn’t we get that guy?’”

McLaughlin spoke candidly in response to concerns about Fordham’s commitment to its basketball program.

“I think that’s a fair question and I think that’s something we’re constantly addressing,” he said.

When asked whether or not Fr. Joseph M. McShane sees basketball contributing to his overall vision of Fordham becoming the nation’s premier Catholic University, McLaughlin said the President supports the program.

“I think there’s no question that he would like the basketball program to be successful,” he said.

Still, questions remain. Legitimate questions considering the team has spent too much time at the bottom of the Atlantic 10 over the past 14 seasons. The million dollar question: Is Fordham capable of competing in one of the top college basketball conferences in the nation? McLaughlin thinks so, and according to the AD, Fordham’s success in the A-10 is important to the school and to the conference.

“I think the A-10 has a great respect for Fordham,” McLaughlin said. “They would like us to be successful. It’s very important for the A-10, with the New York media, for Fordham to be successful.”

But Fordham hasn’t been successful, and that concerns the AD for a number of reasons. Perhaps there’s more of a sense of urgency now, with McLaughlin admitting that he never takes Fordham’s membership in one of the country’s most competitive leagues for granted.

“We’ve got to get our basketball program successful in case there are changes made or something happens, that we are a valuable entity, so that if people are thinking of realigning conferences that we’re involved,” he said. “To be honest with you, right now we would not be involved because we’re not as successful, so we’ve got to try to change that as soon as we can.”

McLaughlin did say that no changes were being discussed, and Fordham has not been put on notice by the conference. But at this point he does have legitimate concerns, given Fordham’s struggles, the size of the conference, and the nature of college sports.

“College Athletics is run by the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) schools right now, and they’re very strong,” McLaughlin said. “If you’re a non-BCS school like we are you’ve always got to be prepared that something might happen.”

For now, McLaughlin remains focused on helping the program succeed, and getting back to where they were in March 2007 when the Rams made it to the semifinals of the A-10 tournament.

“We’ve had moments but not enough moments,” McLaughlin said about Fordham’s time in the A-10. “We have to do it on a more consistent basis.

“It’s hard with our facilities to overcome some of the disadvantages. But we were in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 playoffs and all of a sudden you start saying ‘hey we’ve arrived’ and you think you’re there. And then all of a sudden things go wrong and then we have to start rebuilding again. Are we capable of doing it? Yes we are capable of doing it.”

(Up Next: Talk of a new arena.)

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(This article is Part II of Fordham SportsNet’s series detailing Frank McLaughlin’s thoughts on the current state of the Fordham men’s basketball program. Today, the AD discusses head coach Dereck Whittenburg.)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

In a strong defense of Dereck Whittenburg, Frank McLaughlin officially ended his public silence by unequivocally stating his support for the Fordham head coach.

“Nobody’s perfect. I’m not perfect. And we all would do things different ways,” McLaughlin said when asked to evaluate Whittenburg’s performance this past season. “Dereck was going through a learning process. To have an inexperienced team and then have a freshman point guard is really hard. You could see some of the comments of the other coaches. They have a great respect for Fordham as an institution. Dereck is very well respected in the coaching profession. He might not be respected here, but he’s well respected in the coaching profession, and he’s been a winner everywhere he’s been.”

Declaring his confidence in Whittenburg and calling for a team effort from everyone involved at Fordham, the AD said he never lost faith in Whittenburg, despite the difficult season that ended one month ago.

“I was as supportive as I could be of Dereck,” McLaughlin said. “When you go through adversity you learn who your real friends are, who your real supporters are.”

When a team struggles through a 3-25 season like the Rams did this past season, a season full of poor performances, injuries, bad luck, and a host of distractions, questions about the head coach’s job security are going to arise. Even though Whittenburg is signed through the 2012-13 season (at a hefty salary by Fordham’s standards), and with a team dominated by freshmen and the hope of the current recruiting class, Whittenburg found himself on the hot seat with an impatient fan base. Still, McLaughlin was in his corner throughout the season, and continued to stand by his coach during an interview with Fordham SportsNet that took place in his office last Thursday.

“We have confidence in Dereck and I think we’re making greater efforts to make sure the program is successful,” McLaughlin said. “I think we have a good freshman class. I think Dereck’s a good coach. He’s hard working. He represents the university the right way. I don’t know if he gets enough credit. All five of our seniors two years ago graduated. We have a great graduation rate. Derek has a tough love. He’s hard on the kids, very demanding on the kids to represent the university the right way.”

In a challenge to everyone in the Fordham community, from administrators, to the team, to the university’s academic offices, to fans, McLaughlin said that in order for the program to be successful, everyone had to be committed and involved.

“It’s not Dereck. It’s all of us,” McLaughlin said. “It’s not an individual thing. When you pick on an individual you’re looking for excuses. This is a team effort. This is our student body. This is our alumni. This is our admissions office. This is our development office. This is all about Fordham. If we all get behind it the right way then we’ll be successful.”

The university’s silence following the season raised suspicions that the administration may have been discussing Whittenburg’s future at Fordham. In reality, McLaughlin said the silence should have told fans all they needed to know about the university’s support for Whittenburg.

“Are we supposed to come out with a statement every week, every time there’s a rumor or there’s speculation?” McLaughlin asked. ”These are personnel matters that we’re dealing with. We do that confidentially. We don’t do that in the media.”

Then, in perhaps his strongest rebuke of criticism over his silence, McLaughlin said this:

“We did say something. By not saying something we said something very strongly.”

So what goes on when two basketball veterans talk during a season like the one that just took place at Rose Hill? McLaughlin, the school’s AD, in charge of 22 varsity sports but none bigger than men’s basketball, and Whittenburg, six years into his Fordham tenure, talk constantly throughout the season.

“I don’t micromanage basketball, but I talked to Dereck after every game and let him know that I was supportive,” McLaughlin said. “I’m very, very supportive of him and working very hard to make sure that we turn this thing around.

“I said [to Derek and to his coaches and players], ’I know what you’re going through. I know you’re not enjoying it. None of us are enjoying it. But on behalf of the university I want to thank you for the classy way you’re representing us. And I want to assure you that we’re all going to roll up our sleeves and we’re all going to go out and get some players here to help you guys turn this thing around.’”

McLaughlin also addressed the NY Daily News article in February detailing Fordham’s struggles in the A-10. For some, particularly those not enamored with Whittenburg and who seem to twist and turn every word he says, Whittenburg appeared to question why Fordham was in the A-10. To McLaughlin, and others who know and understand how much Whittenburg wants to win, the head coach was just being the fiery competitor he’s always been.

“I wasn’t upset,” McLaughlin said about Whittenburg’s comments in the article. ”Dereck is a fierce competitor. He wants us to be in the A-10. He wants us to be successful in the A-10. I think what he was saying was that ‘the decision was made before I was even here. I wasn’t involved in that decision. Ask the administration.’ Anybody who’s looking to be negative will read negative things into any story, try to twist things and make them negative.”

While the university continues to support Whittenburg, McLaughlin is a bit perturbed at just how quickly the fan base has turned on the head coach of the school’s marquee program.

“This year everybody’s really down on Dereck. Last year they were down on Dereck. Two years ago they were saying ‘Oh my God we’re going to lose Dereck. What are we doing to keep Dereck? We can’t afford to lose him.’ [These are] the same people who are [now] saying we should make a coaching change.”

A coaching change not about to be made.

(Coming Tomorrow: A discussion with the AD about Fordham University’s commitment to basketball.)

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(Last Thursday, I sat down with Frank McLaughlin, Fordham’s Executive Director of Athletics, to discuss the state of the Fordham men’s basketball team. Over the next five days, Fordham SportsNet will run articles detailing our conversation. Today, we begin with McLaughlin’s thoughts on the past season.)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

Sitting in his office last Thursday, with spring appearing to be right around the corner, Frank McLaughlin talked confidently and boldly about the current state of the men’s basketball team at Fordham. At the helm of Fordham Athletics since 1985, McLaughlin has witnessed his share of ups and downs. Add to his resume his years as a player and coach, and the Fordham AD certainly knows and understands what college sports are all about.

That being said, after this past season, with the Rams finishing 3-25, winning just one Atlantic 10 game, and battling an assortment of injuries and what seemed like an endless amount of drama, McLaughlin finds himself having to defend Fordham’s marquee program. Still, last Thursday, he sat on a pullout chair with the Fordham Ram logo and answered question after question with the same confidence and pride that have defined his tenure at Fordham.

“It was tough,” McLaughlin said when asked about this past season. “It was a carryover from last year. Two years ago we were 18-12. There was great excitement and a lot of guys coming back. And so I think the expectation level was high. Then we were 12-17. I think there was a great disappointment there. And then, even though we all said this was a rebuilding year, I think the frustration from the previous year really carried over. I’ve dealt with this day in and day out. I’ve coached and I’ve played. I’m probably more patient and more understanding than the average fan would be. Although I’m very upset. I want Fordham basketball to be very successful and I think we have the potential to be successful.”

So much has been made of the disappointing 2007-08 season. After winning 18 games (the most for the Rams since they joined the Atlantic 10 in 1995) and advancing to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament in ’06-07, many thought Fordham had arrived. With highly-touted seniors Bryant Dunston and Marcus Stout back for one more run at Rose Hill, expectations may have been a bit too high, McLaughlin now says.

“What people didn’t see was that when Bryant and Marcus were juniors the schedule was easier,” McLaughlin said. “We had a tougher schedule their senior year. A lot of times a team that’s totally senior oriented struggles because the kids are distracted. ‘What am I going to do next year? I want to play in the NBA. I want to play in Europe.’ They’re not as relaxed as when they’re juniors.”

The makeup of the ’08-09 team was far different from that senior-laden team of ’07-08. With a freshman point guard in Jio Fontan, and a team consisting of fellow freshmen Alberto Estwick, Trey Blue, and Lamar Thomas, sophomore Mike Moore and sophomore transfer Jacob Green, the Rams were left with just Herb Tanner (junior), Brenton Butler (junior), Chris Bethel (senior), and Luke Devine (senior), as upperclassmen projected to see significant minutes. When Butler and Bethel went down with season-ending injuries, the Rams relied on young, untested players and even walk-ons to compete in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences.

“To me the kids played hard,” McLaughlin said about this year’s group of players. “I was proud of the way they represented the university. I think it’s our job, all of us, to go out and try to get better talented players to help the ones we have right now to be successful.”

McLaughlin seemed determined on this April afternoon in the Bronx. Determined and committed to getting the program turned around. It’s been a long struggle for Fordham in the Atlantic 10. But McLaughlin, like head coach Dereck Whittenburg, has won as both a player and coach, and he knows that while the road’s been rough, and may get rougher, this is what being involved in sports is all about.

“I’m a competitor,” McLaughlin said. “I have a great love for Fordham. I’m very upset, as is Dereck, with the present state of basketball. Being competitors, we’re going to work hard to get this thing turned around.”

McLaughlin never wavers in his description of a winner, and a winning program for that matter.

“This is going to sound crazy. I’m never concerned about winning and losing. I’m concerned about playing well,” McLaughlin said. ”I honestly believe that if you play well on a consistent basis the wins will take care of themselves.”

This year that wasn’t the case, but McLaughlin isn’t about to give up on the program.

“I can always remember this being a great home-court advantage and it wasn’t this year,” McLaughlin said about the Rose Hill Gym. “I remember that gym was always packed. It was hard to come into Fordham and win a game. Hopefully we get that feeling back soon.”

(Coming Tomorrow: McLaughlin discusses Fordham head coach Dereck Whittenburg.)

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Quick note on the Jio Fontan rumor as I work on my Frank McLaughlin story:

I originally dismissed Sean Brennan’s rumor in his Basket Case blog about Jio Fontan transferring as just that, a rumor. The rumor got started one night at Madison Square Garden during the early stages of the Big East Tournament. Of course, any mention of the best player on a team – a freshman who drew praise from coaches and players across the country this past year during an outstanding rookie season – leaving his school is going to get hot real quick. But the story didn’t seem to have any juice until the Daily News’ Roger Rubin suggested last Thursday that Fontan’s Rose Hill departure was all but done. I’m still not convinced.

As someone close to the basketball program told me last week (No, not Frank McLaughlin), after a 3-25 season anything is possible. It makes sense, too. How many teams, Big East or otherwise, would love to have Fontan running their offense for the next three years. Isn’t it possible that these teams are responsible for putting the rumor out there? Big East teams? Maybe during the Big East Tournament? I did report that Fontan met with McLaughlin, though for all we know they could have simply been sharing their opinions of Citi Field or the new Yankee Stadium. Seriously, Fontan and McLaughlin are allowed to meet as player and AD. This is not uncommon practice.

Covering Fontan and the Rams this past year, I can only hope that the rumor is just a rumor. My conversation with him toward the end of the season led me to believe that Fontan’s committed to Fordham. I still believe that. By the way, at the time of our talk last Thursday, McLaughlin did as well.

“My understanding is that Jio is not thinking about transferring,” McLaughlin told me.

The problem with rumors is that once they get started, they never seem to go away. They become part of our “Daily News.”

Charles Costello

Fordham SportsNet has learned that Mike Moore will transer at the end of the academic year. Fordham is expected to issue an official announcement later in the day. (Photo courtesy of Joe DiBari)

Just got back from Fordham where I learned that Mike Moore will transfer at the end of the academic year. Moore, a 6-5 sophomore guard from New Haven, Connecticut, started 23 games this past season for the Rams, averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He knocked down 42 three-pointers and along with Jio Fontan provided the only consistent offense for Fordham down the stretch. Moore averaged 5.5 points in 28 games his freshman year. We’re hearing that his next stop may be down south. The university is expected to release an official announcement later on today.

 Charles Costello

(Update: Roger Rubin is reporting on Sean Brennan’s Basket Case blog at nydailynews.com that Jio Fontan is expected to ask to be released from his Fordham scholarship and may transfer to Rutgers. I can’t comment on this report except to say that I shook hands and exchanged hellos with Fontan today as he sat outside Frank McLaughlin’s office waiting to speak with the AD. To be fair, we don’t know why Fontan was there, or what their conversation was about. And keep in mind that this isn’t the first time that Brennan’s blog has posted a story about Fontan leaving. But with yet another rumor front and center, and with Fontan visiting today with McLaughlin, this story is worth keeping an eye on.)  CC, 8:25 p.m