Very classy letter from a very classy guy.

Said everything that needed to be said.

Would like to see improved regular concessions as well this season.

Wouldn't be hard at all to have decent food at the concession stands.

Hope that suggestion is taken to heart.

And You Bet, We Are Loyal To GW!

Well this should be the kiss of death for Hobbs.  Remember this is the "class act" who decided to wash our dirty laundry in public when question were raised about Hobb recruiting. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

http://www.gwsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/gewa-m-baskbl-mtt.html

Not the current team picture, however current roster.

http://www.gwsports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/gewa-w-baskbl-mtt.html

Women's roster has photos of the new players though old ones of the returnees. Strange to see a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores and an already out for the season RS Junior.  Both the men and the women will be totally unknown commodities entering the season.  Best wishes and good luck to the spouses of the two head coaches since they'll probably have the toughest job as the season unfolds.

This is a very well thought-out and well-written letter.  The first thought that occurred to me was why a letter such as this comes from Dr. Chernak and not from JK.  It didn't take long to figure out why.  Dr. Chernak cares about the school's alumni and fans and genuinely listens to what we have to say (and I include visiting this site at least occasionally to that thought).  By contrast, JK does not wish to be bothered by what the fans have to say. 

a little more at the Hatchet:

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2009/08/31/Sports/Chernak.Sends.Letter.To.Basketball.Fans-3759734.shtml

Seneca, thanks for pointing out how I'd react had JK been the one to issue this letter.  I am so fond of being told what I'd say or do in a given situation.  You know me so well it's scary.  To answer your question, had JK written this letter, I'd believe it every bit as much as I believe Dr. Chernak.  Of course, my point is that JK did not nor would not write such a letter.

     Obviously, the letter was timed to coincide with what I assume will be the release of season ticket applications in the very near future.  I can just imagine what the internal projections are for renewals and new sales.  In fact, the only part of the letter that I truly cared about was: 

"the University’s administration and coaching staff continue to be unwavering in our commitment to restore a winning Colonials basketball tradition. "

I just hope it is true, because everything else that has been fed to us over the last couple of years has been a crock.  I am not sure how many more seasons like the last 2 I can handle.

Poog - tetbook on how to distill MV to his essence.

However, to take it one step further on this issue - no MV we would have absolutely no idea how you feel about Kvancz or what you would think - the hundreds and perhaps thousands of posts here you have authored here regarding the failings of our athletic director would give absolutely no one any inkling as to your thought process on the matter at hand (sarcasm dripping). But you are right MV, Kvancz did not sign the letter. But if you want to bet something on the fact that he reviewed it, contributed to it and approved of it, I'd be happy to oblige.

Yes Seneca.  By all means.  Let's bet.  What would you like to bet?  A million dollars?  A million trillion dollars?  Let's be sure to pinky swear otherwise it's not a real bet.  Just so you know, this is along the lines of what you sound like.

AND WE'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to all for the relatively tame and quiet summer.  It allowed me to stay focused on supporting my family before half of my attention turns to Yankee baseball, Fish football and GW college bball for several months. 

Classy note indeed! 

Seneca and MV....continue.

Wow, Kvancz "approved" the letter.  When your boss is apologizing to the customers for the damage that's happened under your watch, you basically have two choices, agree or resign.   Let's see, which one should I choose?

Thinker I don't necessarily agree with everything you wrote but at least you are honest unlike someone else. But let me put another plausible eplanation out there for you. As far as sports both Chernak and Kvancz are joined at the hip. Both have been in eactly the same positions for the past 14 years. There are probably very few combos like that (duration) in college sports. I know that they consult each other very regularly perhaps daily. Had there been a schism between the two it would have happened under Penders. It did not. I have no idea how long Kvancz and Chernak intend to stay but I don't believe Chernak would ever fire Kvancz unless he did something illegal or was insubordinate. Whether he retires shortly only Kvancz knows the answer.

Now , you are likely right that there is likely more distance between Kvancz and Hobbs. But isn't that a logical function of the recent record and some other events? When you are winning the microscope is turned off when you are losing it gets turned on. That is naturally to be epected. Everyone in sports knows that this is a "winning" business.

My hunch is that this is a "call off the dogs" letter. A letter designed to buy some time (this season) when the Hobbs' situation may resolve itself one way or the other. It's not that I don't think they are being sincere as some real positive changes are being made but they both have been around long enough to know that the only thing that will ultimately placate all of us is a clean program that wins. All the other stuff is largely window dressing. If Hobbs can deliver a return to the program we had a few years ago, Chernak and Kvancz will look very good regardless. If he can't, a new President might force all three to walk the plank together. This is as much Chernak's athletic department as anyone else. His fingerprints are all over it (as the GW Board fully knows) and he knows that.

I am rooting for all 3 to succeed - it is better for all of us than the alternative. There is no guarantee that GW doesn't look at American and say why don't we do what they did. Some of you don't know how close that has already come to happening and basketball saved the day. If it can no longer save the day, someone new might revive that thought. Chernak and Kvancz have fended that off so far - don't bet that a new AD and VP might have the same influence or thoughts in this era of new economic realities.

You've made some very interesting points, Seneca.

I suspect you're right that Chernak and JK have been very close.  When things start to go bad, though it's every man for himself and that has caused some distance between Hobbs and JK and I would imagine some distance between JK and Chernak as well.

I also think that your point that GW has teetered on the edge of downgrading its entire athletic program is probably correct as well.  Given the money issues at GW and the nature of the school itself, I have to wonder how sustainable it is to maintain all of the full NCAA sports teams that are required to stay at the Division I level.  The answer is probably that if the men's basketball team does well you can justify it and if the men fail you can't justify it.

Dr. Knapp is slowly replacing the old guard - the head of Development and Alumni Affairs Laurel Price was basically just let go - a short time after the announcement that the dhief academic guy Don Lehman was being announced to be retiring net year.  Yes, I believe that Knapp will ultimately turn his sight to athletics - he still has the matter of $300 million he has to raise for the new engineering school he has to raise.  Then there is Lot 54 that has to be finished.  The endowment lost $250 million in the stock market - yeah I think we're in troubling times.

I really hope that los tres amigos can turn it around because you're probably right Seneca - if they don't it might be very easy for Knapp to pull the plug on the whole thing.