WHEN will you know Marquette has hit the "big time"?

[77ncaachamps]

I thought about this question as I walked through a local Champs store (in CA).

I think Marquette will have hit the "big time" when it's licensed apparel is sold in mall sports stores in every state.

[CAINMUTINY]

I will take a national championship and people knowing the school is in Milwaukee as opposed to somewhere in michigan.

[esotericmindguy]

Maybe when Marquette gets a top 10 recruiting class and finishes in the top 25% of the big east for four consecutive years.  Or maybe when they have 5-6 former players in the NBA at the same time. 

If any of those things happen I think we'll know that MU made it big time.

[schubert33]

I thought about this question as I walked through a local Champs store (in CA).

I think Marquette will have hit the "big time" when it's licensed apparel is sold in mall sports stores in every state.

Marquette still doesn't have a strong presence in Wisconsin department stores!!

[ChicosBailBonds]

I thought about this question as I walked through a local Champs store (in CA).

I think Marquette will have hit the "big time" when it's licensed apparel is sold in mall sports stores in every state.

Because of the way MU sells merchandise, I think you're going to be feeling little time forever.  MU doesn't license much product and marks up the stuff it does have to sell at the Warrior Shoppe and online.  They control almost all the inventory so they can sell it for what they want at prices they deem.

I think MU is already at the Big Time per Esoteric's definition.  I think we'll hit the REALLY BIG TIME when one of the following happens

1) When a coach is offered a job for IU, KU, UK, UCLA he publicly acknowledges getting the offer and then says...nope...It's Marquette!  It's Marquette

2) If a coach does leave, we're able to get a replacement high high major coach to come on over  (Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Pac Ten head coach....or someone from a premier non BCS school like Xavier, Gonzaga, Memphis)

3) When we aren't happy with two Sweet 16 appearances in 25 years

[PJDunn]

Point #3 being the real key!!!

[Daniel]

When we land a 5 star player, then another one within 3 seasons.  That would be sweet.

[79Warrior]

You will know because these type of posts will not exist.

[ErickJD08]

All insignificant, but 5 star recruits and preseason favorite for final four. 

[4everwarriors]

When recruits turn down Duke, UNC, Kansas, UCLA, UK, to be a Warrior.

[soloWarrior]

I thought about this question as I walked through a local Champs store (in CA).

I think Marquette will have hit the "big time" when it's licensed apparel is sold in mall sports stores in every state.

Not sure about your definition of "big time"...i've never seen a UCONN jersey in a sports store outside of New England...I guess jim calhoun has a lot of work to do!

Imagine the salary he'll request when UCONN makes it to the "big time"!  $$$$$$

[77ncaachamps]

Good points everyone.

Cain...I'll take that too.

Esoteric...I like that, but to me, BIG TIME means you get one every year or every other year or near 60% of the Top 100 seniors are considering you (or 40% mention you in their first three schools). I think those standards you posted, though they are yours, are too low.

Schuber...When I was a little Warrior at MU, I sadly found that to be true as well.

Chicos...I see Wyoming and Idaho stuff around here. Yes, they're in the Western region. Yes, they're state schools. But c'mon! They're not in a Major Power Conference nor have they been a powerhouse in basketball and other sports (maybe football). Re: coaches, good take. Re: Sweet 16...I don't think ANYONE has been happy about that here! (So does that make us BIG TIME, now?)

Daniel...I question the ability to duplicate that each season thereafter.

79Warrior...that may be the best answer here.

Erick...Yes, but what if that was only for one season? What if Marquette had 5 star recruits an a preseason favorite for the Sweet 16 every year? Would that suffice?

4Ever...Yes, but what if that happens for only a season or two or three?

Solo...UConn and other state schools are everywhere. Let's just say, when catalog manufacturers prefer Marquette over UConn, then we've hit the BIG TIME.

[ErickJD08]

Consistency would be ideal but you need final four appearances...

Honestly, "big time" is respect in the basketball world in my mind.  And this season is really critical, and I have been saying this for 12 months now.  If Buzz can produce a quality team that COMPETES in the Big East and makes a tourney run, the talk of the town will be about how all the talent left and how Buzz is awesome.  Then the 5 stars will come, then the preseason respect for 2010, then this board can start clammering for a National Championship, THEN expectations will be high consistently high (for at least the next few years).  I think we will be in for a roller coaster next season.   

[muhoosier260]

i was at the greenfield mall (not sure what its called) and i went into a sports apparel store. they had UW, packers, brewers, bulls, cubs, cardinals, etc. I saw some other college apparel in there and asked what the deal was with no MU stuff, the response was something to do with licensing issues because Marquette is a private school. I laughed and asked the guy why, since there was USC and ND and several other private school stuff there, especially with it being Marquette's hometown. He didn't have much to say other than go to the spirit shop for MU stuff. Long story short, if you can't get MU stuff in Milwaukee, I wouldn't plan on getting it anywhere else unless they win a few national championships.

[downtown85]

All insignificant, but 5 star recruits and preseason favorite for final four. 

+1
When 5 star recruits start signing with regularity, then we are big time.  The old addage of "selecting" vs. "recruiting" will hold true.

[downtown85]

http://w3.nbebasketball.com/index.php/top-50-recruiting-study/#more-4700

The survey looks at the most top 50 (RSCI) prospects over the last 7 classes.  Here is the list of the top schools which include the number of players in the top 50 over the time period (paragraph at the end of the article).

"Nationally, the programs with the most Top 50 prospects in the time period were North Carolina (18), Duke (14), Kansas (14), Syracuse (14), UCLA (11), UConn (10), Louisville (10), Florida (10), Texas (10), Villanova (9), Memphis (9), Kentucky (9), Michigan State (9), Florida State (8), Arizona (8), USC (7), Ohio State (7), LSU (7), Georgetown (6), Georgia Tech (6), Wake Forest (6), Washington (5), Oklahoma (5), NC State (5), Indiana (5), Oklahoma State (5), and Alabama (5)".


I would say the first 10 on the list are "big time."

[NavinRJohnson]

When they wear those ugly uniforms like Syracuse and Ohio State, etc.

[StillWarriors]

i was at the greenfield mall (not sure what its called) and i went into a sports apparel store. they had UW, packers, brewers, bulls, cubs, cardinals, etc. I saw some other college apparel in there and asked what the deal was with no MU stuff, the response was something to do with licensing issues because Marquette is a private school. I laughed and asked the guy why, since there was USC and ND and several other private school stuff there, especially with it being Marquette's hometown. He didn't have much to say other than go to the spirit shop for MU stuff. Long story short, if you can't get MU stuff in Milwaukee, I wouldn't plan on getting it anywhere else unless they win a few national championships.

There's a store near me in the Chicago area that exclusively sells college stuff. I'd been in there a couple years ago and was disappointed to see no MU apparel or souvenirs in there. It made me feel like MU is still small time in the national consciousness. I was in the same store a few weeks ago with my kids, however, and they actually had a pretty good amount of MU stuff. In fact, a junior high aged kid was buying a MU shirt while I was in there. I asked the guy at the store when they started carrying the stuff and he said a year or so ago they'd gotten a few items and they sold real quick, and it grew from there. I understand Chicago is close to Milwaukee, but still, I do think we've made strides in the last few years with the success we've had in the Big East.

[GooooMarquette]

When one-and-done in the tournament is considered a down year....

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

When we return to our proud history as "Warriors."

[WellsstreetWanderer]

When my friends pick MU to advance beyond first round in their NCAA  brackets

[The Lens]

If we go to the Dance next year, I think we are officially a "Program".  5 years in a row would be a huge feat.  It shows that you're not just one really good class.

[MU Chi_IL]

when the nets are cut down again...

[GOMU1104]

When the head coaching position is considered a destination job...not a stepping stone.

[Lennys Tap]

There's a store near me in the Chicago area that exclusively sells college stuff. I'd been in there a couple years ago and was disappointed to see no MU apparel or souvenirs in there. It made me feel like MU is still small time in the national consciousness. I was in the same store a few weeks ago with my kids, however, and they actually had a pretty good amount of MU stuff. In fact, a junior high aged kid was buying a MU shirt while I was in there. I asked the guy at the store when they started carrying the stuff and he said a year or so ago they'd gotten a few items and they sold real quick, and it grew from there. I understand Chicago is close to Milwaukee, but still, I do think we've made strides in the last few years with the success we've had in the Big East.

What's the store's name and location?