COLUMN: DePaul has to find its identity before becoming ‘Chicago’s team’ again
New DePaul men’s basketball head coach Tony Stubblefield outlined his vision for the program when he was introduced at Wintrust Arena.
One phrase that stuck out during his press conference was, “We will become Chicago’s team again.”
But what exactly does it mean to be “Chicago’s team?”
“I think it’s a team that resonates with the city, a team that people think about,” said Adam Rittenberg, senior college football writer at ESPN and faculty at DePaul. “It’s always going to be a pro sports town but when you’re trying to label yourself that, you’re trying to enter the mind of all Chicago sports fans.”
In the battle to be Chicago’s team, as it stands, DePaul is not in the conversation.
The Blue Demons have finished in last place in the Big East for five straight seasons. The last time they made the NCAA Tournament was back in 2004 during Dave Leitao’s first stint as head coach when they were in the Conference USA.
Given how long DePaul has been mired in mediocrity, becoming the city’s team “again” may have raised a few eyebrows. Did DePaul ever hold that moniker to begin with?
“I think so, definitely in the late ‘70s and ‘80s,” Rittenberg said. “The combination of a really good team, a team that went to the Final Four in ‘70, and the connection with WGN. I remember growing up in California, I would see DePaul basketball on WGN. I had no idea who they were, but they were consistently good throughout the end of the Ray Meyer era and into the Joey Meyer era. They were a team that mattered in Chicago. It’s obviously not the case much anymore.”
As far as who can claim that tag at the moment, there is little argument that it belongs to Loyola given their recent run of success. Loyola has made the NCAA Tournament and made deep runs in two out of the last four seasons.
“There’s been this real longing for one of these city teams to emerge and I think the hope’s always hinged on DePaul just because of the rich tradition of basketball at DePaul,” said Shannon Ryan, college football and basketball reporter at the Chicago Tribune. “But Loyola doesn’t use that tag of ‘we’re Chicago’s team’ but Chicago really has embraced Loyola these last couple of years because, whether you went there or not, it just seemed like the city was really eager to get behind a team doing really well here.”
For a program like DePaul, falling behind Loyola is unacceptable. DePaul plays in the Big East, which is considered a tougher league than the Missouri Valley Conference. But Loyola was able to do something DePaul hasn’t — build an identity.
That identity can be built from more than just basketball. Loyola proved that with Sister Jean. She was a good representative of the school and added more national spotlight to the university.
It’s an aspect DePaul should aim to emulate from the Ramblers.
“Loyola was a largely irrelevant program until the last few years,” Rittenberg said. “But what they did is they found the right coach, which has been a big problem at DePaul. They’ve had an identity issue at DePaul. Loyola was able to capture who they wanted to be. They got into the right conference, they invested in their program after an incredible year when they made the Final Four and now they’re set up to at least have a chance to have a really good program outside of that coach.”
For anyone who has been following DePaul, the “right” coach has been a point of contention. Leitao’s second stint did not go as expected. In any other program, he might not have lasted as long as he did, given the team’s consistent underperformance during those six years.
To become Chicago’s team, the fastest route is simple — win. Normally, winning fixes everything. However, in college, it takes a little bit more and it goes back to the concept of identity.
“They have to market their value in the city,” said Joshua Hicks, DePaul graduate student and senior writer at WARR media. “They are in the heart of downtown with D1 sports and other strong academic programs. Use all of those tools to market the school and target the local high schools, whether it is through CPS, charter, etc. Hit the areas where most colleges won’t; the under-privileged, low-income areas of the city.”
Identity goes hand-in-hand with establishing a connection. For DePaul to get back into the minds of Chicago sports fans, they need to do a better job of recruiting local talent. Sustained success is great, but it means just a little bit more when the success is brought about by talent with roots in the city.
DePaul should have a leg up on some of their city competition. Northwestern, who market themselves as Chicago’s Big Ten team, have only made the NCAA Tournament once back in 2017. UIC has made it only three times, with the last appearance coming in 2004.
The Blue Demons have a large number of alumni in the city, play in the Big East and have Wintrust Arena — all factors that should attract top local talent. But sustained failure and poor administration have held DePaul back.
What will it take for DePaul to become Chicago’s team?
“Until DePaul is this regular top, or near the top, of the Big East and making annual NCAA Tournament appearances consistently, and then winning there as well, then they’d be embraced as ‘you’re our team,’ whether you went to DePaul or not,” Ryan said. “You’d have this connection to the city. Being in a pro town has its own unique challenges where you have to do really well to catch people’s attention, so you can’t be mediocre. You’ve got to really wow people here when it comes to the college teams to have them get behind you.”
DePaul has taken steps to try to improve. They hired a new athletic director in DeWayne Peevy and hired Stubblefield as coach. These are steps in the right direction.
“They’re in a position to sort of turn the page and now they have to give this coach the support he needs to get out and form that identity,” Rittenberg said. “Kind of like Porter Moser did at Loyola or even Chris Collins when he started at Northwestern. You need to have that and then, obviously, recruit well.”
For DePaul, the battle for Chicago, if you will, is not over. In some ways, it’s just beginning. While Loyola may be at the top, they’re going through some restructuring given the loss of a couple of players and their coach, who departed for Oklahoma.
DePaul needs to establish itself as a basketball program that players want to come to and make better. It’s going to take more than marketing the old logo but with new faces in charge; it will require a clean slate. One with renewed hope.
Tim • May 17, 2021 at 6:40 pm
I think everything is different now. I don’t know if Peavy and Stubblefield are the right guys, but the Transfer Portal is real. A coach can’t think he’s going to build a program by recruiting high school guys and have them stay 3-4 years. If the kid is really good, he’s gone in a year. If he’s not, he probably isn’t staying 4 years. It’s too easy to transfer. Even the “great” programs are losing players to the Portal.
David • May 12, 2021 at 7:27 am
For all of you informed fans out there Tony Stubblefield is 51, not the ancient age of 53. Just the facts.
Peevy is in over his head! • Apr 29, 2021 at 6:41 pm
Mr. Simpson, you are correct. Peevy is not impressive, convincing or articulate – without notes. He has never led an athletic department or any office before at any level. He was a day-to-day manager, not a visionary. A visionary is what DePaul desperately needed in our new AD; we didn’t get it. ( And please, someone tell Peevy to put down his arms when reading a script.)
We need to remember, DePaul did not hire Calipari. The truth is DePaul hired one of Kentucky’s gophers. Gophers were only entertaining in Caddyshack!
Now, I’m all for giving a person an opportunity, but Peevy simply does not have the connections, experience or skill to lead such a troubled athletic department. He proved this by hiring a middle-aged man, who has never been a head coach, to be the face of DePaul. What more proof does one need?
John Simpson c/o 72 • Apr 29, 2021 at 12:42 pm
All I know is Peevy is not the right man for the job. He is quite ridiculous after having met him twice already. He will never be one to leave a legacy. He will be gone in a few years.
DePaul was “America’s Team” • Apr 29, 2021 at 1:23 am
Skye Elder for DePaul AD!!! You make 1000% more sense than DePaul’s high-paid schmucks. Peevy couldn’t even figure out the easiest of all decisions: bring back Billy Blue Demon. It was only the most iconic collegiate basketball logo in the country.
Therefore, is it any wonder that Peevy botched the men’s basketball head coach hiring? Don’t shoot the messenger. Just ask all the players who recently transferred. They’ll tell you the same thing.
Skye, I love your positive energy and petitions!
Skye Elder • Apr 28, 2021 at 8:16 pm
Ongenda is coming back. The recruiting class is highly ranked. Would have loved to see what Lopez Jr. was to become. Stubblefield cannot be worse than Leitao. I am petitioning hard for the logo correction, which, in my view, is the single worse mistake in DePaul basketball history. And when I say petitioning hard, I mean telling everyone who’ll listen.
DePaul was “America’s Team” • Apr 28, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Skye,
I couldn’t have explained the current state of DePaul’s logo better myself. The old, “Billy Blue Demon” logo is DePaul. It was recognized nationally. It signified basketball excellence – at least during the regular season. As you stated perfectly Skye, today’s logo is like it’s men’s basketball team, “a blurry mess.” Great job!
Unfortunately, Peevy destroyed any hopes he had of succeeding as AD. He hired the wrong guy to lead us back to credibility. Proof: DePaul doesn’t even have enough players to field a team right now. This has never occurred before in DePaul’s rich men’s basketball history.
Let’s wait for the next AD and head coach before we bring back “Billy Blue Demon.” That logo is meant for winners! See y’all in 2030.
Skye Elder • Apr 28, 2021 at 10:47 am
For anyone concerned with DePaul’s image, please let’s change it! Basketball savvy aside, the logo is TERRIBLE! Fix the BLUE DEMON! What was previously a world-class symbol recognizable by all ages everywhere, is now a blurry mess. Think of the youth! Change the logo back to the ORIGINAL BLUE DEMON. This is where you start.
DePaul was “America’s Team” • Apr 28, 2021 at 8:37 am
Senile Steve is an ill-informed, thoughtless guy who spews fiction. (Please read the proof below.) Yet, he states, I made “an ignorant comment… You sound like an old burned out Chicagoan who has lived in a bubble. You go into attacking peoples personal appearance.” Let’s see who is really ignorant and living in a bubble…
Senile Steve, I didn’t create this canvas known as DePaul Basketball. All you need to do is talk to some of the players who were forced to transfer to understand what a mess DePaul is under Peevy . (And JLP is not a good comparison. Everybody knows she was arguably the worst AD in NCAA history.) The facts are Peevy is a poor communicator; Peevy has no vision; Peevy is medically obese – not a good look for an unproven and untested athletic director; and, Peevy lacks leadership skills. Proof: In Peevy’s only leadership decision that mattered, he failed! He hired an old guy who has never been a head coach…EVER! Now that’s failure!
For the record Senile Steve, Peevy was not the Athletic Director at Kentucky as you state – now that’s “ignorant”! He was Mitch Barnhart’s assistant; Peevy had very limited authority. To put things in perspective, Kentucky has 19 Executive, Deputy and Sr. Associate Athletic Directors, and 23 Assistant Athletic Directors. Peevy was Barnhart’s Deputy Athletic Director. He was responsible for booking hotels for the basketball team. That’s not leadership!
And to show how “ignorant” Senile Steve is, he is now comparing Stubblefield’s old and beaten look to Coach K and Coach Boeheim. This is the Kool-Aid DePaul is serving its students and fan base. For the record, Coach K has been a permanent head coach since 1975. He has won 1,170 games, 5 National Championships and elevated his teams to 12 Final Fours. Coach Boeheim has been a permanent head coach since 1976. He has amassed 982 wins, won a National Championship and achieved 5-Final Four appearances. With 45 + years of real leadership and head coaching, decision-making experience, both coaches are bringing a lot of energy to their respective programs well into their 70’s. I believe it is fair to say both these coaching legends have earned their wisdom wrinkles.
Yet somehow, Senile Steve is comparing a very old-looking Stubblefield, who is 53 old and has never even won one NCAA game – at any level – to two coaching legend. And Senile Steve said I am “ignorant”. WOW!
With no confidence in Peevy’s leadership, and the hire of an untested, unknown and old-looking and walking Stubblefield, 9 players transferred and 1 departed way too prematurely to the NBA – Weems has no chance of being drafted. To show you how bad things are, no other NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, in the whole country, has had as many transfers as DePaul’s Men’s Basketball. Yet, Senile Steve says I’m “ignorant.” I strongly suggest this historic exodus proves players have no confidence in DePaul’s leadership and vision.
And Senile Steve, congratulations to Stubblefield for securing the transfer of two bench warmers. DePaul will continue to recruit bench warmers from other programs. The reason is DePaul is a failed athletic program, with no strategic plan or vision to elevate it’s only revenue-generating team from the dungeon of the Big East.
Finally, Peevy proved he has absolutely no connections by hiring Stubblefield. For the last 20 years, every NCAA Division I, I and III program has passed on Stubblefield. Even New Mexico State passed on Stubblefield when Lou Henson got sick. Yet, Senile Steve tells us to “give the guy a chance.” We have been giving DePaul a chance for more than 25 years. They are the laughingstock of NCAA Division I Basketball for a reason. And that’s not an “ignorant” statement!
Steve • Apr 27, 2021 at 2:30 pm
What a terrible ignorant comment from above. You sound like an old burned out Chicagoan who has lived in a bubble. You go into attacking peoples personal appearance? Like how ignorant can you be man? It doesn’t matter what you look like, how old you are just look at Coach K, Boeheim, Etc. these guys don’t have a problem with their program age and appearance has nothing to do with building a program. ..
How do you know Peevy is not the guy, he was the AD from one of the best College basketball programs of all time but you say he isnt credible??? What because he’s not from Chicago??? lol….Hes been around a big time program and has vision, thats way more than JLP ever could have brought us. The guy is hardly in year 1 getting rid of the fat and building the program and his vision…Give the guy a damn chance. Im sure you would have preferred Loyolas or another local Chicago guy lol
Stubblefield I do agree that it was a shocker and I never heard of this guy but hes been highly involved and in the coaching aspect for over 20 years so how does he lack leadership? Again, give that guy a chance hes already brought in one of his PG’s who was a top 100 player last year and has many years of eligibility unlike Charlie Moore who was fantastic but had 1 year left. We also got a Kansas transfer who is unproven but athletic and comes from a top 10 program so in my eyes this guy has already hit the ground running given the SH** situation he inherited a few weeks ago….Is keeping local talent critical, absolutely but it isnt the only thing thats your small time bubble vision that you have…We are already night and day in a much much better place than we were 2 years ago…Give the guys a chance and trust the process (Like Joel Embid) lol
DePaul was “America’s Team” • Apr 26, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Great article, Mr. Hernandez! You hit the nail on the head by stating, “It’s going to take more than marketing the old logo but with new faces in charge; it will require a clean slate.” DePaul Athletics still has way too many of the old guard on staff. They all represent damaged and contaminated goods, with nepotism connections to the failed Jean Lenti-Ponsetto regime. Peevy must start anew and gut the cancer, from top to bottom, in his department.
Unfortunately, Peevy is already on shaky ground with a men’s basketball program that is assured last-place finishes in 2022 and 2023. Many inside DePaul have quietly voiced their concern that Peevy was the wrong choice as AD. He was!
It is also accurate that Stubblefield doesn’t have the confidence of its current players, as most have transferred. This is a fact. Furthermore, how does a new head coach, with no leadership experience and no credibility understand what it truly means when he says, “We will become Chicago’s team again?” DePaul doesn’t have any games on national TV, no WGN distribution network, and almost no players. Stubblefield has zero credibility or selling pitch with 4 and 5-star players to PERSONALLY elevate their careers. Stubblefield has no leverage with high-school coaches as he is now selling himself, not his boss-the head coach. Why would a reputable high-school coach risk his star player with a 53 year old, untested and unproven coach?
And honestly, Stubblefield looks and walks like an old man. He simply doesn’t look the part of leading a new, vibrant and energized program; he looks like he’s ready to retire. Not a good look for anyone selling themself in any profession. To top it off, Peevy is medically obese, with ill-fitting glasses. Now, this sounds like I’m picking on DePaul’s Athletic leadership, but that’s not accurate. We all understand that first impressions are very important in all fields. DePaul’s current athletic faces simply do not exude the image of a winning men’s basketball program or athleticism. (And before someone brings up Ray Meyer’s grandfatherly image, remember he had a 40 + year HOF history in Chicago before he became a national celebrity.)
In closing, unfortunately, in his first year, Peevy has proven to many he doesn’t have the skill set to elevate DePaul back into the NCAA Tournament. Stubblefield was a puzzling and illogical hire. The future points to a failed men’s basketball program for the foreseeable future. DePaul doesn’t have a brand, logo or winning strategy. Why can’t DePaul do anything right? Listen to Mr. Hernandez, DePaul: DePaul needs a clean slate.