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[Columbia Blue]

I'm sure it's come up in this monolithic thread, but being a student of history ...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grea...est_Conference

Dayton HAS BEEN in a conference with DePaul & Marquette before. Granted, we won exactly (1) conference game in 2 seasons under JOB & OP, an unlikely upset of ranked St Louis propelled by 8-8 3PT from Shawn Haughn. But as much as we contrive this animosity from the Jesuit schools, they thought enough to invite UD in 1993. What changed?

Some interesting dynamics:
- we left Xavier in the old MCC to join GMC but continued to schedule them. X caught up when we both joined A10 in 1995
- UD was **** lucky the A10 took us on our tradition & fan base vs recent futility. Not sure what Plan B was ... Back to MCC?
- it's 25 years ago, but I wonder if our miserable GMC play is still held against us
- What might have been ... Had UD competed in the GMC, maybe we follow to conference USA then to old Big East as non-football member like DePaul & Marquette. Does X still go to A10? Recall SLU spent time in MVC before joining A10.

I'd love to know the inside story from those days. Maybe Jablonski or Archdeacon could reach out to Ted Kissell?

As it is, God provides and we're in a good place. Our sustained results need to match our facilities and fan base. The A10 can take us there.

See also: John C's great article on Ted Kissell, 2008
http://www.udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7323

	Xavier XAVIER MUSKETEERS Dayton's biggest rival dating back to the early 1900s. Founded in 1831, Xavier University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its three colleges offer 78 undergraduate majors, 43 minors and 11 graduate programs to 6,646 total students, including 3,961 undergraduates. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide. Xavier's nickname is the Musketeers and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.

	Ted Kissell TED KISSELL Athletic Director at the University of Dayton from 1993-2008. Helped spearhead a renewed commitment to athletic excellence by hiring Oliver Purnell to resurrect the men's basketball program, and emphasized major non-revenue sports to raise UD's profile. Helped UD receive an invitation to the A10 Conference, developed new baseball, softball, soccer, football, and basketball facility upgrades, and achieved NCAA appearances in men's basketball, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball -- the latter three being program's firsts. Also served as UD's Vice President and improved overall academic performance among student athletes.