Husband-Father-Brother-DogDad. Formerly with Creighton Athletics (1985-2021). Semi-retired. Living my best life and spending some time in The Bahamas 🇧🇸
The Indiana State NCAA at-large berth topic today is just so tiring and frustrating for this former MVC guy.
The Sycamores “didn’t play anyone in the non-conference” is because no one would play them, no one has any incentive to play them. 15 years of wash, rinse, repeat…
March, 2013...
Don’t accept the invite they said. Just enjoy being a big fish in a small pond they said. That’s not what we are thinking we said. Our goal is to be a big fish in a big pond we said.
And here we are...
#BigEast
#Creighton
Submitted my resignation to Rass this morning-my last day at
#Creighton
will be Fri Sept 10. My 36-year run with
@gocreighton
has been a great ride; thankful to all who have been a part of my journey. Blessed that
@bdrass
has been in my life since my 1st day on campus (Aug 1985).
How about
@cucoachmac
and his staff and the players by the way?
#Creighton
loses Nembhard and Kaluma after an Elite 8 run in 2022-23 and the Jays are
#2
in the
#BigEast
, Top 10 nationally and will be 2 or 3 seed in 2024
#MarchMadness
. Respect.
Thinking of Don Leahy and Tony Barone. Both had dreams for this night for
#Creighton
@BluejayMBB
starting way back in 1986. Both I’m sure are all smiles up there right now...
Just remarkable that
#Creighton
@BluejayMBB
has had only two head coaches in the last 30 years. More remarkable is the consistent success of each:
🔹986 games
🔹651 wins, 335 losses
🔹66% winning percentage
🔹22-11 average yearly record
What a 3-decade ride for Jays fans…
#RDJ
Just a rough night for the
#BigEast
… Think Seton Hall, St. John’s & Providence are much better and more deserving as at-large squads than Dayton, Northwestern, Nebraska & Michigan State. And, not surprisingly, it appears Indiana State was not seriously considered.
#MarchMadness
Also about last night…
To the
#Creighton
game management crew for having a good court storm plan and having the necessary bodies on hand to execute the rope line to protect UConn/provide the Huskies clean passage to the locker room. Great work
@B_McCarville
👊
In 2011, I asked Chris Gradoville to help the catchers of the select baseball team I was coaching. On Sept 20, at the Jason Judge Golf Trny, he asked me how those guys are doing. “Not as baseball players. As human beings,” he said. “Because that’s the most important thing.” 💙🙏
Former
#Creighton
Athletics staffers catching up and reminiscing tonight; lots of (the same old) stories and an abundance of laughter. Callahan, Burgers, Sarver, Rasmussen, Rider & Brace. Over 160 years of
#Creighton
experience in one photo…
There is some sadness walking in tonight as this is likely our last dinner here since it is closing at the end of the month for retirement but thank you Anthony’s Steakhouse for all of the great meals and great memories over the years. What a great run. An
#Omaha
original…
Chris Gradoville was just the best of us. Simple as that. He got it. He knew. He was there for you. He had your best interest at heart. Think that’s why his sudden departure hurts so damn much…
Played ALL of the
#BigEast
games - 10 home/10 road - finished 2nd at 14-6. Went 7-3 at home, 7-3 on the road. Went 8-2 against the top half (1-1 vs Villanova, 2-0 vs UConn, 2-0 vs Seton Hall, 2-0 vs St. John’s, 1-1 vs Xavier). Solid regular season work
#Creighton
@BluejayMBB
What a night for
#Creighton
…Sure hope Don Leahy, Tony Barone, Doc Bevilacqua, Father Hart and the countless Jays fans no longer with us watched that one tonight over
#1
UConn together from up there 🙏
Great season for
#Creighton
and congrats to SDSU. The Jays missed too many bunnies and open 3s and gave up too many second-chance points today. But for that physical of an
#EliteEight
game to be decided by an official on such a soft play is tough to take…
#MarchMadness
Thankful to all who have been a part of my
#Creighton
journey. Truly blessed to have been at such a special place surrounded by such special people every step of the way… 💙💙💙
💙 Today, we say goodbye to a Creighton legend on his last day of work here. Thank you, Kevin Sarver! You will be missed and your impact on Creighton will never be forgotten! Creighton is a better place, because of you! Once a Jay, always a Jay!
Today is the last
#Creighton
home game of the year for these two great humans as well. 51 consecutive years on the official table for Denny Lee and 52 consecutive years for Tom Jelinek. Remarkable. Thank you gentlemen.
No excuses. Congrats to Villanova. Jays with a great run at
@TheGarden
.
#Creighton
gave everything it had for three nights. Rest up fellas. The Big Dance awaits…
#RDJ
Thinking a lot of Don Leahy, Tony Barone, Doc Bevilacqua and Padre Hart this morning. They’re all gone but I’m sure they are watching, hopefully together, with smiles, tears of joy and are damn proud of this
#Creighton
@BluejayMBB
#EliteEight
squad…
#MarchMadness
#Creighton
is moving on to the NIT quarterfinals.
@BluejayMBB
defeats Memphis tonight 79-67 and is now 20-14 on the year. Five
#Jays
in double figures tonight plus 8 points & 10 boards by frosh Christian Bishop. Quarterfinals to be Tuesday or Wednesday (date, location, time TBA).
.
@FieldTurf
CORE is on its way... Morrison Stadium, home to
@creightonmsoc
and
@CreightonWSoc
, to have the same FIFA Quality Pro playing surface as Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta United FC), Providence Park (Portland Timbers) and CenturyLink Field (Seattle Sounders).
#Creighton
Rati keeping
#Creighton
within 5-6 points for the 10 minutes Alexander was on the bench with four fouls is an under appreciated element to the win over San Diego State on Thursday…
#MarchMadness
#BigEast
Championship Saturday has arrived
#Creighton
Nation...
🔷
#11
@BluejayMBB
vs
#8
Seton Hall (1:30 tip at
@CHICenterOmaha
)
🔷 18,000+ expected; early-arrival encouraged
🔷 Lots A, B & C open at 10 am; venue doors open at noon
🔷 White-Out & Senior Day
🔷 National TV (FOX)
With our last home game today, special shout-out to these two dudes who have a combined 97 years on the
#Creighton
@BluejayMBB
official table: Denny Lee, left, on the game clock (47 years) and Tom Jelinek on the scorebook (50 years). Thank you gentlemen.
#GoJays
.
@creightonmsoc
was re-started in 1990. In 33 years (1990-2022):
🔹 26 NCAA Tournament appearances
🔹 15 Sweet 16 appearances
🔹 12 Elite Eight appearances
🔹 6 College Cup (Final Four) appearances
That is absurd success by a giant MSOC program…
#Creighton
#MCollegeCup
⚽️🏆"In my mind, we are not underdogs. We are a giant program ourselves." -
#Creighton
men's soccer coach Johnny Torres on the
#GoJays
mentality heading into their College Cup national semifinal match vs. (3) Syracuse on Friday.
No doubt the guy most proud of this
#Creighton
MBB staff and squad is former AD Bruce Rasmussen. So happy he and his wife Jill were in attendance down there tonight to witness that in person.
#RDJ
Be proud
#Omaha
... the 2018 NCAA MBB Championship Midwest Regional at
@centurylinkoma
went really well & there were dozens of heroes for its success but I can’t thank this core group enough for their dedication, ownership and passion for the event.
#MarchMadness
#EliteEight
So happy for this group, especially those who will be experiencing their first
#MarchMadness
. 285+ MBB teams and 3,500+ MBB players missed out this year. Earning a berth is hard. Cherish every moment…
#Creighton
#RDJ
So happy for this guy. D2 legend, bet on himself, decided to play his last year close to home, having a great year in the
#BigEast
while also leading the young
#Creighton
squad, got to experience a win at the
@TheGarden
and will end his collegiate career at
@MarchMadnessMBB
. Wow.
Zooming in on the background is sometimes the best part of action photos. Just look at
@JasenGreen44
and
@CoachRyanMiller
reacting to the big 3 by
@FFarabello
to put
#Creighton
up six over Marquette late in the game on Saturday. Awesome.
Thinking about
#Creighton
having to come from 16 points down with 15 minutes remaining to beat SIUE on Nov 27 to 4th in the
#BigEast
, a BE Trny title game appearance, an at-large berth and a first-round win in
#MarchMadness
to playing
#1
seed Kansas tomorrow for a Sweet 16 berth.
#Creighton
didn’t play very well and Oregon had a lot to do with that. Both teams showed great toughness but the Jays just had a little bit more in the tank at the end.
#MarchMadness
#Sweet16
Just thinking about what a great college soccer season it’s been for these two tremendous humans:
@creightonmsoc
head coach Johnny Torres &
@CreightonWSoc
head coach
@Ross_Paule
…
#Creighton
legends as players, terrific coaches and no one bleeds Bluejay Blue more than these dudes
Rass gave me this office fridge in July, 1989 because he was buying a bigger one for his office. Amazing that it will outlast us both here. Also, my mom bought that alarm clock at Target on Saddle Creek on move-in weekend my frosh yr (Aug 1985, Swanson Hall Rm 521)…😊
#Creighton
Have watched this a few times and for any coach of any sport to speak like this to his/her team off the top of his/her head moments after such a gut-punch of a heartbreaking season-ending loss is really remarkable. Well done
@cucoachmac
…
#Creighton
Today is the last
#Creighton
home game with these three great young men together. Good luck today and the rest of the way. And thank you for everything.
#RDJ
What a great run by the Fighting Porter Mosers. Congrats to Porter, his staff, the Loyola-Chicago players and
@ValleyHoops
on a tremendous season.
#respect
Another rough day for the “
#Creighton
will never make it in the
#BigEast
” crowd (March, 2013) as well as the “
#Creighton
will be nothing after Doug leaves” crowd (March, 2014). In Mac We’ve Always Trusted...
#GoJays
An 18-year run with
#Creighton
Athletics ends tomorrow for
@AdrianRRider
so
#TBT
to future hosting duties at the 2017 NCAA MBB Midwest Regional in Kansas City. The best teammate and friend one can have. Thanks for all of your contributions to CU’s success the past two decades.
Fun Fact:
#Creighton
changed women’s teams from “Lady Jays” to Bluejays in the early 90s - 30 years ago - at the urging and persistence of WBB head coach Connie Yori for these very reasons…
Still need 2 make progress. At my daughter’s HS BB tourney & the programs are using “lady” when describing the girls teams while the boys team just say the mascot. The message is they are the “real” team. Get rid of the “Lady” & show everyone both programs have equal importance.
Think it is normal for fans to be sad, disappointed and a little heartbroken when a beloved player decides to move on and I also think any message directly to that player should start and end with “Thank You & Good Luck.”
#Creighton
#Creighton
missed too many bunnies, turned it over too much and gave up too many offensive rebounds to beat a really good Marquette team on the road but it is embarrassing to the
@BIGEAST
that Shaka continues to be allowed on the floor during play without consequences…
My son all year has been preaching to me that
@FFarabello
is the Glue Guy for
#Creighton
MBB and when he hit that big 3 late vs Marquette today I texted my son “Glue Guy Fran” and he responded with “his middle name is Elmer’s” 🤣
Been blessed to have been surrounded by greatness my entire
#Creighton
career including these two fantastic humans. Ross and Johnny were inspiring as student-athletes and as CU grads they have positively impacted countless lives and represent everything
#Creighton
is about… ❤️
And the year it didn’t (2022),
#Creighton
was without Nembhard and Kalkbrenner due to injuries and took eventual national champion Kansas to the final minute in the Second Round. Hell of a coach indeed…
Unsung hero for
#Creighton
today again was Farabello. His pick-six steal/layup and his 2 free throws down the stretch were big plus his 2nd half defense including staying vertical on the last second put-back attempt when the SJU player kicked both legs out and flopped backwards
Great get-together tonight to catch up and reminisce with former
#Creighton
Athletics staffers: Brad Abramson, Adrian Rider, Lauren Miltenberger, Kevin Sarver, Steve Brace, Jill Rasmussen, Bruce Rasmussen, Carol Ketcham & Mark Burgers 💙
How about that. Never a doubt. What a gritty gritty short-handed bunch.
#Creighton
moving on in
@MarchMadnessMBB
after a huge comeback over San Diego State.
#RDJ
Not our night but what a special two weeks by
@CreightonWBB
. An unforgettable and simply
#Flantastic
run to the
#EliteEight
. Hang that banner proudly at Sokol Arena ladies, you’ve earned it and
#Creighton
alums everywhere are proud…
Said goodbye to this fabulous lady today. If she was in your life your life was better because of her. Blessed. And boy did she love her
#Creighton
Bluejays... RIP Bette Walker
#Creighton
Hall of Fame Weekend is upon us; about 40 former
@BluejayMBB
players and staff are starting to arrive Omaha for the festivities and Saturday night’s induction of Dana Altman and Kyle Korver. Welcome back fellas.
#GoJays
There were quite a few difference-makers for
#Creighton
in tonight’s comeback win over St. John’s at
@centurylinkoma
but the crowd is at the top of the list. Thank you
@BluejayMBB
fans, a round of applause for all of you.
#GoJays
.
@AdrianRRider
sent this “How it started” pic out to our
#Creighton
Athletics staff yesterday. It’s what great friends do.
The late 80s was a rough time, obviously, but it is simply astonishing how so much could be so wrong in one mug shot… 😂
This is it… 36 years in Omaha and tonight’s
@creightonmsoc
match is the first
#Creighton
Athletics home event I’ve been able to attend as a spectator.
#GoJays
Lunch today with two great friends who are also
#Creighton
Legends - Jim Hendry and Bruce Rasmussen. Was lucky enough to meet these two guys in August, 1985 and here we are nearly 40 years later…
#Blessed
The only good news on the cancellation of Selection Sunday was that I could attend my daughter’s
@UNOdanceteam
postseason banquet.
Bad news: that event has now been cancelled too due to the pandemic.
Good news: we were in charge of dessert and now I have cake for life... 👍👊
Since its
#MarchMadness
time, here’s the 2002-03
#Creighton
Bluejays, the last season at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The Jays finished the year 29-5 led by seniors Kyle Korver, Larry House and DeAnthony Bowden.
#Creighton
gave it away tonight; credit to Villanova for winning the toughness battle. But did Pat Driscoll really rob Baylor Scheierman of a game-winning three with three seconds left in regulation by calling Mason Miller out of bounds when he wasn’t? Is that what happened?
In college athletics, no one celebrates the good times, endures during the tough times, worries & sacrifices at all times more than the families of the coaches. Thank you Elmar and the Bolowich Family for all you’ve given to
#Creighton
, Omaha and
@creightonmsoc
the last 8 years.
#FunFact
:
@bdrass
walked in my office, closed the door and said “Elmar has decided to retire at the end of the season. Who’s next for us?” I said “I think Johnny. He’s ready. And he’s earned it.” Rass said: “That’s what I think too. Let’s go tell Johnny.”
And that was that…