Certainly UVA/Tech will be carefull to maintain perception of value they each leverage from ACC, but except for occasional cocktial-circut talk, I could really care less what gones on in Wahoo or Hokie Land. I don't wish ill will against either, but I don't confuse social perception with reality.
The truth is VCU bb is every bite as good as those progams, which are also good programs. Yes, recruiting may have some background impact, but ability of alumni to craft the perception for world they want to live in versus the world that exists will always be part of life. VCU doesn't need to play or beat either of those programs to be better than both. We just need to continue to do what we are now doing: 1) provide extensive financial/emotional support, 2) provide best-in-class coaches, 3) recruit with an on-going passion and committment to a style of play, 4) sign excellent student athletes, and 5) ensure high quality faciities with student athlete academic support. We are doing all of them, and over the past 10 years have become much more consistent.
Xavier, Gonzonga, Butler, Memphis may watch what goes on down the rode at Ohio State, Univ. of WA, Univ. of IN, and Univ. of TN respectively, but none of them lose any sleep over those in-state programs. If Tech and UVa are going to be as good as VCU going foward, I look forward to playing either one in the NCAA's. Meanwhile, let their perception live between their ears; let ours live in our focus to out work and out smart all we encounter; often it is not hard.
Likewise, let us not live in fantasy land regarding out-of-conference scheduling. We can't pretend scheduling in-state weaker D1 programs will cut it. IF the higher RPI in-state schools won't play us, then let's get our black-and-gold butts on the road and go beat some higher RPI schools wherever we can face them. We are VCU. We are not victims. I didn't grow up in a tough envrionment, leave my trailer court in the rear view mirror, living, working my way through VCU [without family or govenment assistance] worried about what others were doing or thinking about me. I didn't work hard to become a VP in two differnt Fortune 500 companies, or leave corporate America to start up my own business a decade ago because I sought social acceptance, nor did I fined or expect " social justice" along the way. I did it because that was my goal. My wife of 31 years who I married during my sophmore year at VCU didnt wait on tables to help us pay bills so we could become "accepted". We have goals. We have passion. We don't care what the "establishment" thinks. I still don't.
State programs can run, but they cannot hide. Eventually they will have to deal with VCU. We're not going away. In fact, the best is in front of VCU. We will get much better! We compete against ourselves. We will continue to improve. We will not be complacent. We will live with integrity and purpose. We will reach our goals. We will win campionsships, and much more. We are RamNAtion. If others don't like that they can go pound sand.
