Inside Furman Athletics - Bob Richey, Jason Donnelly (March 1st 2023)

[FU Hoopla]

[HammerTKE]

That was outstanding! I'll see everyone in Asheville this weekend! Let's be loud!!!

[Roundball]

Outstanding! We are so lucky to have Bob Richey and Jason Donnelly at Furman at the same time. I do hope Dan tested for Covid before this interview. My symptoms were the same on Sunday, when I tested positive. I will admit the following are selfish, but light hearted comments. As to Dan’s request to want his broadcast seats on the floor a press from the home bench, NO! Those seats for for long term season ticket holders. No press row on that side of the court! Go Paladins!

[FU Hoopla]

Love hearing about the proposal to move spring break in the future to allow us to generate more FU student involvement in the SoCon tourney, that's going to be amazing for us in the future!

[KingPaladin]

Love hearing about the proposal to move spring break in the future to allow us to generate more FU student involvement in the SoCon tourney, that's going to be amazing for us in the future!

Most other state schools are the next week anyways so it should be later!

[FU Hoopla]

Bob Richey the real coach of the year, EZ
This man builds CHAMPIONS and builds his players into grown men ready to succeed in life!

[apaladin]

Only disappointment is hearing that Timmons will be the sane size. So how will this help recruiting by having a tiny gym and the smallest in the SoCon by far:
UNCG 10,000+
UTC. 10,000
WCU. 7,000
ETSU. 6,500
Citadel 6,000
VMI. 5,000
Mercer 4,000
Sam 3,500-5000
Wof. 3,400

Furman 2,500
Don’t care how nice it is recruits are impressed by largeness. Not as excited about the reno after hearing how small it will be. Even tiny WC will have 1,000 more seats. A huge mistake IMHO which of course means nothing,

[FU Hoopla]

Only disappointment is hearing that Timmons will be the sane size. So how will this help recruiting by having a tiny gym and the smallest in the SoCon by far:
UNCG 10,000+
UTC. 10,000
WCU. 7,000
ETSU. 6,500
Citadel 6,000
VMI. 5,000
Mercer 4,000
Sam 3,500-5000
Wof. 3,400

Furman 2,500
Don’t care how nice it is recruits are impressed by largeness. Not as excited about the reno after hearing how small it will be. Even tiny WC will have 1,000 more seats. A huge mistake IMHO which of course means nothing,

Still will probably be more like 3,000.
Also if you're going to say 10,000+ for UNCG you can say that for us too, we have the great advantage of having Bon Secours Wellness Arena to our name as well, we will be the only program in the SoCon with an ultra nice on campus arena and a big downtown arena as well.

[bj93]

I just hope CBR will be coaching FU in the new arena.

[cavedweller2]

Greensboro 10,000 + arena. 500 people show up. I would not be impressed by an empty cavern.

[The Jackal]

I'm sure they studied this, but I'm game with whatever brings a good atmosphere.

There are a lot of examples of really electric sports atmospheres in stadiums/arenas that are on the smaller side. You'd much rather have 2500 fans in a 2500 seat arena than 2500 fans in a 5000 seat arena.

[FurmanFan23]

I agree a thousand percent with that point. A big arena with empty seats is not good. A smaller more packed arena is the way to go in my opinion.

[paladinfan12]

I was hoping for something closer to 3500-4000 for capacity.

UTC and UNCG play in municipal arenas. Our municipal arena can hold the same amount for large games.

[HB88]

I, too, would like to see at least 3K, maybe 3.5K, but my guess is that when the decision was made to renovate rather than rebuild the die was cast for something in the 2.5K range. No engineer or architect, but it seems that the ceiling of Timmons is simply too low to accommodate a lower bowl, complete circuit concourse, AND upper-level seating.

[FUBeAR]

I was hoping for something closer to 3500-4000 for capacity.

UTC and UNCG play in municipal arenas. Our municipal arena can hold the same amount for large games.

FUBeAR is not a hoops arena aficionado, but it would seem that we really shouldn’t be ‘less than’ when it comes to FU vs. Davidson athletics…. Caught a hoops game here when FUBeAR Jr. was a Football Recruit of the MildCats in 2011. Thought it was a nice venue.


Belk Arena holds more than four times the amount of people than the entire college enrolls. The 5,295-seat venue has more than enough space for the entire 1,800-plus student body, yet it is continually filled to the rafters with alumni, faculty, family, locals, and just casual fans.