Villanova

Does anyone has any updated information about Villanova baseball (and school)? It seems there was upgrade for the baseball field since last posting, Any information would be helpful and thanks in advance.

Every year for the eighteen years I lived near the Villanova field we heard an on campus field was being planned. Unless something has changed since last season, thirty years later the field is still in Plymouth Meeting (eight and a half miles from campus) and lacking a locker room, rest rooms and concessions (unless you consider a grease truck pulling up concessions).

If you’re a right handed hitter a strong wind blows in from left in the spring. It also has an outrageous amount of foul territory.

In 2023 they were 14-37 overall and 7-13 in conference. In a good year Villanova gets to .500 overall beating up in inferior local D1’s. Last year they were 4-7 against the locals.

The head coach has been there seven years. He’s 99-195. That he’s kept his job tells you winning is not a priority.

Doesn’t this tell you all you need to know about the competitiveness of the program from the coach’s profile?

“Mulvey can look back on having built a solid foundation for the future of the program. While the progress may not appear in the win column, he and his staff have created a positive culture centered on the complete student-athlete experience. The results of that focus paid immediate dividends from the standpoints of academic achievement, community involvement and alumni support.”

The next two paragraphs talk about grades and community service. Eventually the profile talks about his coaching and the accomplishments (?) of the baseball team.

My kids went away for college ball. The more talented kids do. My daughter went to grad school in Philadelphia. Their attitude is you want to walk around town with your nose in the air and an attitude you fart perfume (polite version of another phrase) Villanova is the place to go. It’s snobby and preppy.

@Baseballdad2024 posted:

Does anyone has any updated information about Villanova baseball (and school)? It seems there was upgrade for the baseball field since last posting, Any information would be helpful and thanks in advance.

Sent you a PM about it.   Heading out to Philly in a few days .  My first impression (despite never seeing the place) is what RJM said ..but maybe with some Hope and Optimism 

Excl Academics. Mediocre -so far- baseball. subpar Facilities. no Fall cut BS(35 max).  decent Mid major conference. Great Basketball Conf.  Upscale area.

I am originally from NJ (now west)and haven't been to Philly since Rocky and I were running up those steps.

Thanks RJM!

I always respect and enjoy reading your comments in past years. Appreciate your sharing the information. Yes, it seems still no locker room and concessions.

A strong wind from the left means an advantage for LHH?

@RJM posted:

Every year for the eighteen years I lived near the Villanova field we heard an on campus field was being planned. Unless something has changed since last season, thirty years later the field is still in Plymouth Meeting (eight and a half miles from campus) and lacking a locker room, rest rooms and concessions (unless you consider a grease truck pulling up concessions).

If you’re a right handed hitter a strong wind blows in from left in the spring. it also has an outrageous about of foul territory.

In 2023 they were 14-37 overall and 7-13 in conference. In a good year Villanova gets to .500 overall beating up in inferior local D1’s. Last year they were 4-7 against the locals.

The head coach has been there seven years. He’s 99-195. That he’s kept his job tells you winning is not a priority.

Doesn’t this tell you all you need to know about the competitiveness of the program from the coach’s profile?

“Mulvey can look back on having built a solid foundation for the future of the program. While the progress may not appear in the win column, he and his staff have created a positive culture centered on the complete student-athlete experience. The results of that focus paid immediate dividends from the standpoints of academic achievement, community involvement and alumni support.”

The next two paragraphs talk about grades and community service. Eventually the profile talks about his coaching and the accomplishments (?) of the baseball team.

My kids went away for college ball. The more talented kids do. My daughter went to grad school in Philadelphia. Their attitude is you want to walk around town with your nose in the air and an attitude you fart perfume (polite version of another phrase) Villanova is the place to go. It’s snobby and preppy.

@fishnsail posted:

Sent you a PM about it.   Heading out to Philly in a few days .  My first impression (despite never seeing the place) is what RJM said ..but maybe with some Hope and Optimism 

Excl Academics. Mediocre -so far- baseball. subpar Facilities. no Fall cut BS(35 max).  decent Mid major conference. Great Basketball Conf.  Upscale area.

I am originally from NJ (now west)and haven't been to Philly since Rocky and I were running up those steps.

Thanks @fishnsail!

I'll check your PM now.

@Baseballdad2024 posted:

Thanks RJM!

I always respect and enjoy reading your comments in past years. Appreciate your sharing the information. Yes, it seems still no locker room and concessions.

A strong wind from the left means an advantage for LHH?

I moved away when my son (youngest) headed for college. I haven’t been to a Villanova game in twelve years. If I was the coach I would load up on left handed hitting. I would go when they played Louisville, West Virginia and Notre Dame. They were all in the Big East. Almost all homers went to center and right.

@RJM posted:

I moved away when my son (youngest) headed for college. I haven’t been to a Villanova game in twelve years. If I was the coach I would load up on left handed hitting. I would go when they played Louisville, West Virginia and Notre Dame. They were all in the Big East. Almost all homers went to center and right.

Thanks again, @RJM.

Good to know about that. 2024 son is LHH. This is very useful information for us because we cannot tell from their website. Always appreciate your comments!

The field has no bathrooms. Just portolets that are open to the public. It’s disgusting. The field is nice, but the bathroom situation is gross.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

The field has no bathrooms. Just portolets that are open to the public. It’s disgusting. The field is nice, but the bathroom situation is gross.

Thanks @TerribleBPthrower! Hope the bathroom situation gets better in the future. Sounds like your son played there in the past? Anyway, did you notice anything else with the field/program/school? Any information would be helpful for us.

Villanova is terrible, just read the comments.

If prefer to not a be a part of powerful elite academic school, with a very active affluent alumni network who go out of their way to take care of their own...well by all means dismiss them completely. I listen to so many here preach about the 40 years vs 4 and blah blah and rip a school like Villanova? I am not even a Nova guy but that it is a high quality school that would treat your son very well in life.

Terrible’s son did the Atlantic 100 showcase there. The porta potties have been there for thirty years. Nothing about the facilities has changed in thirty years. Nothing about losing a lot more than winning has changed in thirty years. They’ve mostly been a Big East bottom feeder sometimes qualifying for a last conference playoff seed.

It’s a quality education. They don’t offer a lot of money. They’re proud to brag the parents of the students are wealthy enough to send their kids there. The students are proud to carry the attitude. It’s why the school has a reputation of snobby and preppy.

Neither of my kids did a visit for baseball or softball.

Here’s where I got my personal impression of Villanova. It’s on The Main Line. Its a stuffy, well to do area. After divorce I started dating a woman from the area. Her family was generational money. They look down at people who don’t live there. When her friends and she found out where I lived they referred to it as The Catholic Mainline. They defined it as where the kids of blue collar Roxborough  families who made successes of themselves moved to. They called it new money without class. I didn’t think these Main Line people had much class. When I broke up with the woman I told her I respect people more who make their own money than live off their family’s reputation and wealth.

I don’t think I’m going to be offered a job in student recruitment at Villanova anytime soon.

@old_school posted:

Villanova is terrible, just read the comments.

If prefer to not a be a part of powerful elite academic school, with a very active affluent alumni network who go out of their way to take care of their own...well by all means dismiss them completely. I listen to so many here preach about the 40 years vs 4 and blah blah and rip a school like Villanova? I am not even a Nova guy but that it is a high quality school that would treat your son very well in life.

There’s no doubt it’s the best D1 school in the local area academically after Princeton and Penn.

Fitting in socially and culturally is important. If you get accepted to an Ivy and are concerned with these issues you suck it up and get the education. Villanova is nowhere near them academically. I’d move on. If looking for a job away from the Philadelphia area Villanova is respected as a good school. But it’s not that big of a deal.

The caste system is a big deal in Northeast cities. I remember a front page and center article in the Inquirer about how special men who attended The Prep (Saint Johns) were. It’s a freak’n private high school. It’s in Philadelphia. Of course some Philadelphia leaders are going to have come from there.

My son played @ Villanova (3-game series) many years ago, and it doesn't sound like it has changed much.  Yes the facilities were not up to par with most college baseball facilities who sink millions of dollars into athletics.  I agree with @old_school.  Who cares?

For many, its an opportunity to play college baseball somewhere and get an excellent education.  For others that want to move into the professional baseball ranks and want the leather sofa, large screen TV, gaming consoles, and an engraved locker name plate in their college clubhouse then you should probably pass on Villanova.  Focus on what is most important to you.  It is not always about material things.  For many aspiring college baseball players and regular college students it is about the total experience, and getting what you want out of those 4 years.   

JMO.

My view is why would anyone want to play at a school with a tradition of losing? I would only do it at an Ivy with the perspective if I get tired of losing I’ll stop playing baseball. Why play at a far off campus, inadequate facility when there are plenty of comparable programs with much better, on or near campus facilities? Baseball is obviously not a priority at Villanova.

@RJM posted:

Baseball is obviously not a priority at Villanova.

Agreed.

I am the parent of a St. Joes alum. Anyone who knows anything about Philly should know the feelings between them. That being said I know many Nova folks and have done business with many in the area. I would have had zero issue with my kid choosing there.

My father grew up walking distance to that field, and my mother 4 miles away.  I was born in Norristown, next door to the field.  Good times.  I spent a lot of time heading down the Germantown Pike to visit my grandparents until they passed 7-8 years ago.   My dad bagged groceries to pay for his entire Villanova education. Imagine trying that today.  Back in the 1980's Fairfield University was viewed as a better academic school than Villanova (my wife went to Fairfield). Fairfield is still a great school but no question Villanova is now higher rated.  Jay Wright made Villanova what it is today, a great destination.  Villanova could have a top-notch baseball team if it were a priority for the school. It's too bad, they have the dough to upgrade the facilities IMO.

@old_school posted:

Villanova is terrible, just read the comments.

If prefer to not a be a part of powerful elite academic school, with a very active affluent alumni network who go out of their way to take care of their own...well by all means dismiss them completely. I listen to so many here preach about the 40 years vs 4 and blah blah and rip a school like Villanova? I am not even a Nova guy but that it is a high quality school that would treat your son very well in life.

He asked about the baseball (and school in parentheses). Just sharing my thoughts on the facilities, which were disgusting.

@RJM posted:

My view is why would anyone want to play at a school with a tradition of losing?

Maybe they LIKE the campus, the students, the opportunities, the vibe - and this is a baseball opportunity that has been offered.

@anotherparent posted:

Maybe they LIKE the campus, the students, the opportunities, the vibe - and this is a baseball opportunity that has been offered.

There are plenty of baseball opportunities for these things in an environment that doesn’t involve losing two of three games all season.

Dish’s son’s situation is not the norm. He’s only there one year. One year of losing is a reasonable trade off for academics. I couldn’t take four years of losing.

@RJM posted:

There are plenty of baseball opportunities for these things in an environment that doesn’t involve losing two of three games all season.

Dish’s son’s situation is not the norm. He’s only there one year. One year of losing is a reasonable trade off for academics. I couldn’t take four years of losing.

We are winning the whole enchilada this year.. well maybe the Big East...one can always dream..  LOL  !
True though.. son's deal isnt typical.
A one year  MBA degree +innings+hopefully no drama-  will compensate for previous mediocre Bach degree and lack of consistent innings (though much was this own doing, of course) ...should over ride the lack of a winning program and respectable facilities(especially when compared to the name recognition and wealth of said campus.)
I will post updates...  with boots on the ground this weekend.

Everybody knows the academic reputation.

Baseball is not good, but it's not at the ugly level of D1 baseball, it is still competent despite the record. That being said it is clear baseball is an afterthought there.

If you take it for what it is - a solid academic opportunity where you also get to continue playing baseball you won't be disappointed. If you are going there looking to win a conference or develop, probably not the place for you. Recruiting seems to be those fringe D1/HA D3 types, good but under recruited, or private school recruits because they know they have the academic chops. I don't know how much they are funded, but it's not full, I don't think its particularly close either.

Culturally it's not considered a very fun school, basketball games are exciting when they're good, but if your kid is looking for the typical college scene, Villanova is not the place for that. I'm sure being on a team helps a bit with that though.

All in all - it's not going to be a traditional D1 baseball experience. If your son is ok with a strong academic school, a more conservative social scene, and just looking to prolong his baseball career (possibly at a discount) then it's a fine choice. It's similar to non service Patriot League schools which would probably be a more fitting conference if not for Basketball.

Does your player want to attend a Catholic university?  There's an emphasis on religion and on service learning at Villanova that's pretty serious.  I think the baseball there is getting better, but it won't be that much better in the next five years.  St. Joe's, which is not that far away from Villanova, offers better baseball (I think) and better Business majors.  St. Joe's is best for those more practical students who want to work in the Philadelphia business community right after graduation, but Villanova is much better if your player is academically advanced, considering graduate school, or interested in nursing, law, or engineering.  Both are Catholic universities with ethics (theology/philosophy/western humanism) requirements that really can't be avoided, so your player should be comfortable spending money to take those types of classes and with learning in a Catholic environment. 

RHP parent;

Have you considered U of Notre Dame, new coach Shawn Stiffler is from Somerset, PA. Years ago, our White Sox Area Code team conducted their AC tryout at Notre Dame, very impressive school.

Bob

@Consultant posted:

RHP parent;

Have you considered U of Notre Dame, new coach Shawn Stiffler is from Somerset, PA. Years ago, our White Sox Area Code team conducted their AC tryout at Notre Dame, very impressive school.

Bob

You know Villanova is not near the same level as ND.

Thank you, @Consultant, but I think I was responding to @baseballdad2024.  My son's college baseball journey is over   but I agree that there's not any overlap in the baseball players recruited by ND and Nova.  Different worlds.

Thank you @RHP_Parent and everyone for the additional information and comments! It's been very helpful because everything is new to us.

While two players we know well play at ND, he is not at that level... Yes, I also heard that the baseball program at Catholic is getting better. Hope he'll find somewhere he fits. We may ask more questions in this or other threads. Appreciate all your help in advance, everyone!   

One quick word on the bathroom situation at the Villanova field…the public park it is in has a bathroom with flush toilets a little beyond the outfield fence. It’s not a bad walk and much better than using the portalets in the parking lot.

I went to Villanova for grad school. Its reputation for being stuck up comes from the rest of the schools in the Philly area. It's as much jealousy from the Temple and St. Joe's crowd as it is snobs at Villanova---let's just say it goes both ways. Villanova is a preppy, reserved school compared to gritty, urban Temple. That's just reality. Villanova has a beautiful campus, great academic school...but mediocre baseball. If you're looking to play baseball for a living, it's not the best choice. If you are looking to get an education there and baseball is a part of it, I would not hesitate to recommend it.

@stranded1 posted:

I went to Villanova for grad school. Its reputation for being stuck up comes from the rest of the schools in the Philly area. It's as much jealousy from the Temple and St. Joe's crowd as it is snobs at Villanova---let's just say it goes both ways. Villanova is a preppy, reserved school compared to gritty, urban Temple. That's just reality. Villanova has a beautiful campus, great academic school...but mediocre baseball. If you're looking to play baseball for a living, it's not the best choice. If you are looking to get an education there and baseball is a part of it, I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Well said, the Temple crowd and the St Joes crowds are very different. St Joes lines up similar to Nova on most things outside of the success of the basketball program. Much more so than Temple.