Chat Details

AU Director of Athletics and Recreation Keith Gill 03-16-09

This chat will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2009.

Read the transcript of the live chat with Keith Gill, director of athletics and recreation at American University, who joined us on Monday, March 16, to discuss the AU Eagles' Patriot League championship and the team's appearance in the NCAA men's basketball tournament this week.

Transcript

1. • The Washington Times is pleased to welcome Keith Gill, director of athletics and recreation at American University, for a live chat. Good morning, Mr. Gill. Thanks for being with us during what is, I'm sure, a very busy week for you. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: It is a very exciting time here at American University. We are having our student ticket sale today and trying to make arrangements for our team to travel to Philadelphia. It is difficult because we only have 48 hours to try and arrange all of the logistics to ensure that our students, alumni and supporters can travel to the game to support the Eagles. by Keith Gill
2. • First, a belated congratulations to the Eagles for capturing the Patriot League tournament championship and a berth at the NCAA tourney. There must be lots of excitement up at Ward Circle these days. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: Thanks for the kind words. We are so excited about makin the NCAA Tourney. Last night we had about 300 people at our selection show watch party, students cam back early from spring break for our game on Friday and we even had Dave Feldman of Fox 5 in the house... It was a great weekend for the Eagles. Our alums have been writing and calling to express their sense of pride and based on the calls we have received today, we will have a great number of supporters at the game. All around campus there are signs of pride, we have banners celebrating the accomplishment, the bookstore is filled with various types of championship apparel and it seems that everybody on campus is talking about the team. by Keith Gill
3. • When will the team be heading up to Philadelphia? What's the practice schedule this week? by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: We will have a send of for the team tomorrow (March 17) at 1:45 outside of Mary Graydon Center on the campus of American. The team will practice prior to the send off and then be on their way to Philadelphia by about 2:00 p.m. Our practice on Wednesday March 18 will be at the Wachovia Center from 5:55 - 6:35 p.m and is open to the public. We hope to see as many American fans as possible at the open practice and on Thursday at our game....which tips at 7:20. by Keith Gill
5. • It took Coach Jones eight seasons to finally make a postseason appearance, but since then, he has made two in a row. What has made the difference? by The Beltway
   • Answer: I do not believe there is much of a difference. Coach Jones has a wonderful basketball mind and has always been a solid recruiter. He is a great coach that has accomplished many impressive things at American and at the University of Virginia. He has coached in two sweet sixteens, one elite eight and played in the Final Four. Winning the last two Patriot League Tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA tournament for two straight years only validates his abilities as a coach... by Keith Gill
6. • Villanova uses a rotation of smaller guys, sometimes up to four guards on the court at once. Are they one of the better matchups for American? by The Beltway
   • Answer: We are excited about the matchup with Villanova. We recognize that they will be a formidable opponent and will create some very difficult matchups for us. However, we have played a challenging schedule this year and we have a very experienced team that should help us to compete with a very good Big East opponent. by Keith Gill
7. • The Eagles have seven seniors on the roster. Was 2009 the year that American basketball was eyeing as the big year to make a splash? by The Beltway
   • Answer: Anytime you have seven seniors on the roster you believe that you have the opportunity to accomplish some very special things. This group have done some special things on the court (e.g. two Patriot League Regular Season and Tournament Championships, 2 NCAA Appearances in two years), but they will all graduate with their degrees in a couple of months. It is a wonderful group of students and their accomplishments have made us proud. by Keith Gill
9. • What did you do to tick off the selection committee? Villanova in Philly is an awfully tough first-round draw. by Odenton, MD
   • Answer: That is a very funny way to phrase this question. If you were with me in my office, you would hear a big belly laugh from me. We are excited about the location of the game because Philly is so close for our alums and students. We hope that as many of them as possible can make the trip...if we were playing Boise that would not be possible, but Philly allows them the opportunity to see us play. With regards to Villanova, it is the NCAA tourney and you expect a tough opponent...there are no easy games in the NCAA Tourney. by Keith Gill
10. • What are your thoughts on how AU drew the first game? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: We are excited about our draw. There are no easy games in the tournament; thus we knew that our first game would be challenging. Anytime you play a Big East team in what essentially is their home facility, it will make for a difficult game. However, last year we were a 15 and now we are a 14, that is progress. Philly will allow us to include more of our fans and students in the event. I know that Villanova will present some very difficult challenges for us, but all in all we are happy with the opportunity that the committee has provided us. by Keith Gill
12. • What was bigger last season for boosting American's profile: Winning at Maryland or making the NCAA tournament? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: I think both events were tremendous for our American University. However, if I was forced to pick one over the other I would say that making the NCAA tournament was the bigger event in our university's history. It was the first time we had ever been to the Big Dance. by Keith Gill
13. • How can American learn from how George Mason built on their Final Four appearance to sustain their program's success? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: George Mason's success in reaching the Final Four is an inspiration to us. We are going into the tournament with aspirations of success. We are not just excited about being in the tourney...we want to win and will go out and compete with that in mind. George Mason showed us what is possible and let us know that as long as there is time left on the game clock...you have a chance to win the game regardless of the size of your program. by Keith Gill
15. • Keith...what's the experience been like for you at American with the success of your basketball team? They never made a tournament until you came here. What impact do you think you've had on the athletics department as a whole? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: The success of the American University basketball team has been fun to watch. I am amazed at what a fine group of young men Jeff Jones and his staff has assembled. When you are around this team you realize how much they really like each other. The chemistry on this team has been outstanding. I think that is a tribute to Jeff, the other coaches and the players themselves. We are also quite proud of their record in the classroom, the seven seniors on this team will graduate in a few months. It is quite rare to have 7 seniors, but it is even more rare to have 100% of them graduate. by Keith Gill
16. • Hi Keith...big AU fan here, and I hope to be able to attend Thursday's game. How do I get an American Patriot League Championship T-shirt? by Lancaster, PA
    • Answer: I hope to see you at Thursday's game. We will need all of the fan support we can get to make the Wachovia Center the Philadelphia version of Bender Arena. You can buy your shirts and other championship apparel on-line at AUEagles.com or you can visit the campus bookstore on the second floor of Bender Arena on the campus of American. Go Eagles. by Keith Gill
17. • Mr. Gill, we're coming to the end of our chat. Thanks again for being with us today. Best of luck to the Eagles. Do you have any last words for our readers? by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: I appreciate the Washington Times having me as a guest blogger and this was a lot of fun. We are very excited about being in the Big Dance and encourage everybody to cheer on the Eagles on Thursday at 7:20. Go Eagles. by Keith Gill