Defiantly Dutch Q&A: Mo Cassara

Mo Cassara was kind enough to chat with us this morning—and really, why shouldn’t he chat with us, we named our kid after him! More on that this weekend, perhaps. Anyway, thanks to Mo for his time and for a very interesting Q&A in which he revealed news about two Hofstra newcomers as well as a planned trip overseas next summer.

Do you look at tonight as a second opener?

Yeah, a little bit of a new start for us, another opportunity at home. We know we haven’t played our best, so I think there’s a long way to go forward and another great opportunity. Certainly, it’s almost like a new start.

Do you feel as if this season, with so many new faces, is an entirely fresh start for you and the program?

I think it’s really a giant transition season for us. It’s a transition to a lot of new young faces and transfer guys trying to get back and into playing mode and playing everyday, competing everyday. And ultimately it’s going to transition into another group of young players for next year, when the majority of our team is going to be freshmen and sophomores.

In your first year here, you had Charles Jenkins, who was pretty good at selling tickets. Last year didn’t go like anyone wanted and some of that momentum was lost. What are you doing to try and sustain the fan interest and get fans out to the Arena this year?

I’m going to go and reach out to our students body as well as in the community [and tell them] the wins are going to come. You’ve been through this, Jay Wright’s been through this, Tom Pecora’s been through this. There’s some transition at this level, and when you have coaching changes and you have a lot of players leave the program—if you look back at that first year, we lost eight guys between the guys who left the program and guys who graduated, we lost eight of our 12 guys in one calendar year—[you realize] we’re going to have to take our time and build it back the right way. And I’m really confident, just like Jay did and Tom did, we’re going to get this thing going. It’s just going to take a little bit of time.

Last weekend was a tough one. What positives did you take from it?

I think the biggest thing you take from last weekend is experience—on the road, experience in everything from travel to [taking] buses to planes to pregame shoot-around to pregame meals to mentally preparing yourself for the game and things like that. We have a lot of guys who haven’t done that. Now with a couple of transfers that will join us, they haven’t done that in a couple years.

It’s really funny. When we got on the bus, I had to kind of introduce everybody to [longtime bus driver] Eddie [Dellostritto], because he didn’t know half the guys walking on the bus. Walk out, make sure you introduce yourself to Eddie, [tell him] who you are, where you’re from. Eddie didn’t know three-quarters of the team. So that shows you how many new faces we have.

Were you able to get some consistency and get a routine going in practice this week?

We had to take Monday off for practice but we were able to go Tuesday through Thursday, three good days of practice, which was good after a very tough, challenging opening weekend, going to a Big 10 school after one day of rest and not playing particularly well in both games. So to be able to get a little consistency, for our staff and everybody to start getting back into their houses, into our offices, all that kind of stuff—between all the variety of things that have happened, we have not had one full-strength week of practice without interruption. And we need that desperately.

What is the best part about having to rely so heavily on young players?

I think it’s almost like everyday is a new challenge, everyday is a new opportunity. You’re not quite sure what you’re going to get, whether in practice or [in a game]. That can be frustrating at times, but it’s awfully exciting.

Jimmy Hall went from not playing in the first half against Queens to being your best player in two straight games. Were you surprised by how quickly he adjusted?

You know what? On the court I’m not worried. His adjustments are coming quickly because he played in a great high school program, he’s been coached, he’s learning to play and he’s very talented. His overall adjustment will be determined on how well he picks everything else up—being a student-athlete, being a part of a college campus community. Those are things, as freshmen, he’s struggling to adjust to and learn [about]. We have very high expectations for him and we’re going to continue to push him on and off the court to excel. He’ll have a couple bumps in the road, but his abilities will certainly continued to be showcased on the court.

Moussa Kone has been your second-best player in both games. You spoke often last year of his work ethic and his ceiling. Are you starting to see him reach that potential?

My big thing with Moussa is his energy. When he brings energy and enthusiasm to the court [as well as] his big body and long arms or his rebounding or blocked shots—those are things that we desperately need. And he’s gone from being kind of a young freshman to really going out there and playing right away. If he’s going to play 25, 28 minutes, maybe 30 minutes at times, he’s got to go from a four or five rebounds a game guy to eight or nine rebounds a game. That’s the difference between a good, average player and a really good player in this program.

You’ve already had more players start a game this year than in either of your first two years. Was that by design or in reaction to the lopsided loss at Monmouth?

I think we have so many kind of moving parts still. Really, in the last week to 10 days, we just had two guys join the roster, essentially, in [Shaq] Stokes and [Taran] Buie, as crazy as that sounds. We had to kind of adjust and adapt and move around a little bit. As you know, it’s not my style, I like to stick with a starting lineup and get some consistency and continuity that way, This year, for a while, it’s going to be changing and moving around and we’re going to play guys that are doing everything we expect them to do everyday.

I think that’ll happen for a while and we’re going to move more guys in and out that are playing well and we’re going to challenge our five young guys to really play well and play consistently and play hard. And if they’re not, they’re going to have to learn how to do that. And sometime the best way to do that is by sitting on the bench. It’s really not my style to play that many guys, but we may have to do that. This is going to be kind of a moving and evolving transition with a young but deeper group.

We’re also going to redshirt Darren Payen, who we believe is arguably the most talented, top to bottom, player, he’s really the crown jewel of the recruiting class. So we’re going to back him up. He’s also very young. And we just signed [Gervelle] Kidd from Hargrave Military Academy, who we’re very excited about. We have a real nucleus of young guys that this team is going to be really freshmen and sophomore and just a couple underclassmen. Moving forward, we’re starting to put all those pieces into place. We’re currently in the process of working to schedule an international trip in August, we’re going to get to play five games and practice 10 days in August, so we’re putting building blocks in place for the future of this program. Unfortunately, we’re going to get some inconsistency and up and down play on the court right now.

Taran and Jamal Coombs-McDaniels are eligible tonight. What are their statuses?

Taran’s back, he’s been back and practicing hard, and now after a long year-and-a-half of being here—from summer of the previous year and all that—now he’s actually [ready to go]. He’s in pretty good shape, he’s ready to go. Jamal remains out indefinitely with complications from his microfracture surgery from almost two years ago. I don’t want people to still think he’s suspended, he’s ready to go in good academic standing and everything else, but [because of] his knee he has not practiced this year.

What do you expect to see out of Taran tonight?

I think some jitters. A little bit of that game speed stuff will take a little bit of time to get back into, so to speak. I think that will take a little bit of time for him. I want him to try to let the game come to him a little bit and do what he does well. I think for him, a lot of it is going to be mental. Some of it is going to be physical, but I think he’s got to get some time under his belt. Just like our freshmen kids, he’s got to get some experience. He needs to get some time and experience. He hasn’t played a lot of basketball in quite some time.

Last year’s home opener was quite a memorable one, and despite a rough season, you had two or three of the biggest non-conference wins in the entire CAA. Do you hope tonight is for this team what Cleveland State or Long Island was to last year’s team?

I hope so, I hope so I’m not sure when it’s going to come, whether it’s tonight or it’s Saturday or it’s Sunday or it’s next Saturday, but it’s going to come. And hopefully for me as a coach—you obviously hope it comes sooner than later, so not only can our guys get some confidence and feel good about what we’re doing and what we’re trying to do and where we’re going, but also so I can get some sleep [laughs].

Email Jerry at defiantlydutch@yahoo.com or follow Defiantly Dutch at http://twitter.com/defiantlydutch.

Purdue 83, Hofstra 54 (Or: Shake it up, is all that we know)

 1.) As we noted after the Monmouth loss, this is going to be a season of early pain for late gain, and one in which the foundation is set for the future. There will be moments where this is not a whole lot of fun, but it will certainly be a whole lot better than trying to piece together a competitive season out of a bunch of ill-fitting parts, a la last year. Freshmen and sophomores accounted for 145 minutes on Friday night, up from 107 two nights earlier at Monmouth. (Random stat that may or may not mean anything: Freshmen and sophomores accounted for 128 minutes in the second game of the Tom Pecora Era way back on Nov. 23, 2001) And Mo Cassara changed up three-fifths of the lineup, inserting Jimmy Hall, Shaq Stokes and Moussa Kone in place of Stephen Nwaukoni, Kentrell Washington and Jordan Allen. That means the Dutchmen have had more different starters this year (eight) than in either of the last two years (seven). Get used to the mixing and matching.

 2.) For the second straight game, freshman Jimmy Hall and sophomore Moussa Kone were not only the most impressive of the underclassmen, but the best players on the floor for the Dutchmen. Hall and Kone were the only players to score in double figures Sunday and led the Dutchmen with 35 and 28 minutes played, respectively. It looks as if Kone—whose work ethic and upside were each lauded by coaches during a freshman season in which he was often looked like the  rawest player on the floor—has turned a corner. Kone has scored in double figures in both games this season after not reaching double figures at all in 32 games last year. And he has 10 rebounds in the first two games after recording 10 rebounds in a two-game span just three times last year.

3.) Hall’s ascension has been nothing short of stunning: From sitting out the first half of the exhibition against Queens to recording a double-double off the bench against Monmouth to moving into the starting lineup and leading all scorers with 17 points on Sunday. There will be hiccups to come for Hall as the youngest of the Dutchmen’s true freshmen adjusts to Division I basketball, but it’s tough to envision him exiting the starting lineup anytime soon. And how long has it been since Hofstra had a pair of 6-foot-7 or taller players exhibiting the type of promise Hall and Kone have displayed thus far? Roberto Gittens and Greg Springfield, maybe?

4.) The going has been a bit tougher for, well, everyone else. Newcomers Stokes, Allen, Washington and Dallas Anglin were a combined 5-for-23 from the field Sunday and are 11-for-52 in two games. Anglin has really struggled: He’s 2-of-20 shooting.  While some gruesome moments are to be expected out of a pair of true freshmen (Anglin and Washington), a redshirt freshman (Allen) and a sophomore who didn’t get cleared to play until last week and has been hobbled by injury (Stokes), the Dutchmen need more production ASAP out of their three lone upperclassmen. David Imes has five blocks in two games but is just 4-of-15 shooting—and 1-for-7 inside the 3-point line—and played just 22 minutes on Sunday. Stevie Mejia was better with the basketball on Sunday (two turnovers and four assists) but was just 1-of-7 from the field and is 3-of-17 shooting this year. And Nwaukoni followed up an 11-rebound season debut by recording no boards in just eight minutes, his briefest playing stint since Jan. 18 against Drexel.

5.) And now for some useless but fun stats: The Dutchmen are 0-2 for the 16^th time in program history and the first time since 2006-07…They have led once in each game: 3-2 against Monmouth and 2-0 against Purdue…The Dutchmen’s 17 first half points Sunday were their fewest since they scored 17 in the second half against VCU Jan. 23…And Hofstra has lost consecutive games by at least 29 points for the first time since the 1986-87 season, when the Flying Dutchmen—who, as our friend Raphielle Johnson noted Sunday night, were ACTUALLY known as the Flying Dutchmen back then!—lost at Lamar 97-53 and at California 85-55. The really bad news back then: That was the second time that season the Dutchmen suffered consecutive losses by at least 29 points. Hofstra also lost at Wagner 97-64 and at Providence 97-61. The Dutchmen did lose two straight games by a combined 58 points in 1995-96, otherwise known as my second senior year of college, when they fell to Delaware 93-65 and Drexel 93-63.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Purdue 11/11)

3: Jimmy Hall

2: Moussa Kone

1: David Imes

SEASON STANDINGS

6: Jimmy Hall

4: Moussa Kone

1: David Imes

1: Shaq Stokes

Email Jerry at defiantlydutch@yahoo.com or follow Defiantly Dutch at http://twitter.com/defiantlydutch.

Six semi-useful things to know: Purdue

1.) Purdue is 0-1 after a 70-65 loss to Bucknell on Friday. That was the first “Red Line Upset” of the season, followed minutes later by George Mason upsetting Virginia. Bucknell and George Mason play each other Tuesday. What does this mean? I’m not entirely sure, other than Purdue is gonna be hacked off today.

2.) Hofstra has never played Purdue. The Dutchmen are 1-2 all-time against current Big 10 teams, of which there are actually 12, but the name Big 12 was already taken. The only current Big 10 team the Dutchmen have played while it was a member of the Big 10 is Penn State, which edged Hofstra 74-71 in the Holiday Classic championship game Dec. 27, 2000.

 3.) This game is part of the Wounded Warrior Classic, which is put on by the Gazelle Group, which of course puts on The Worst Thing Ever, the CBI. Hofstra traveled to Purdue after playing at Monmouth on Friday night even though Villanova is also a host team and even though JAY WRIGHT’S team has an obvious connection to Hofstra. Why did the Gazelle Group send the Dutchmen halfway across the country when they could have just put them on a two-hour bus ride? It’s the Gazelle Group. Don’t ask.

4.) The Dutchmen lost a season opener for the 34^th time on Friday. The Dutchmen have bounced back with a win in their second game 18 times, including the last three times (2007, 2008 and 2009). Hofstra has not opened a season 0-2 since it lost its first three games in 2006.

5.) Jimmy Hall became the third Hofstra player this century to open his collegiate career with a double-double. He’ll try to become the first to have a double-double in his first TWO games. Kenny Adeleke and Halil Kanacevic fell just short: Adeleke had 25 points and nine assists against Kent State in 2001 while Kanacevic had eight points and nine rebounds against Yale in 2009.

6.) Mo Cassara wasted no time changing up the lineup as he penciled in Shaq Stokes, Jimmy Hall and Moussa Kone in place of Kentrell Washington, Jordan Allen and Stephen Nwaukoni. Incredibly, that means the Dutchmen have had more players start a game this year (eight, duh) than in either of Cassara’s first two seasons (seven each). 

Monmouth 91, Hofstra 62 (Or: Dark side’s calling)

New season, new recap theme!

Trying something new (and old) here with five-ish post-game thoughts. How long will it last? Who knows? Enjoy!

1.) Given all that’s gone on during the preseason for the Dutchmen, and the inexperience on the roster, a loss to Monmouth was not surprising. But the gains the Dutchmen made in shaving a 19-point halftime deficit to 12 disappeared over the final 8:40, when Monmouth outscored Hofstra 27-10. The 29-point loss was the Dutchmen’s worst season-opening loss to a non-power conference foe since the 1972-73 team fell to Temple, 80-48. In other words: Oof.

2.) As evidenced by the margin of defeat, this was a thorough loss for the Dutchmen, who shot just 29 percent from the field and missed more shots in 65 attempts (46) than Monmouth did in 72 attempts (36). Gulp. The Dutchmen also turned the ball over 23 times, their most since Jan. 5, 2009 against Northeastern. Stevie Mejia had a particularly rough game as he committed a career-high eight turnovers and was 2-of-10 from the field. Mo Cassara and Co. need a lot better out of Mejia, who provides the Dutchmen a rare bit of experience at the most important position on the floor.

3.) The Dutchmen’s other returnees—David Imes, Stephen Nwaukoni and Moussa Kone—fared a bit better by combining for 20 points, 23 rebounds and four blocks. Caution must be exercised in pro-rating these stats over 31 games, since Monmouth only played two players taller than 6-foot-7, but the Dutchmen will benefit if Imes can become a weapon from outside (both his field goals were 3-pointers, giving him one-third as many as he had last year) and Nwaukoni (11 rebounds) and Kone (a career-high 10 rebounds as well as six points on 4-of-6 shooting) can establish themselves on the boards.

4.) This season is all about, to quote Tom Pecora, early pain for late gain Nobody wants to hear that, but with nine newcomers—and Taran Buie and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, the two most anticipated imports, suspended for the first two games—it’s the truth. The growing pains began Friday, when newcomers accounted for 107 of the 200 minutes and nine players played at least 13 minutes. The latter happened just once last season, against Binghamton.

As for the newcomers, Jordan Allen, Kentrell Washington, Jimmy Hall, Shaq Stokes and Dallas Anglin combined to shoot just 9-of-35 with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 6:8, but it has to start somewhere. Stokes shared the team lead with 12 points, albeit on 4-of-12 shooting, while Anglin was just 1-of-11 shooting and Washington 0-for-4 with three turnovers.

5.) Hall was by far the brightest spot on an otherwise frustrating night. Hall looked like the rawest of the Dutchmen’s freshmen when he struggled in the second half of the Blue-White Scrimmage and didn’t play in the first half of the exhibition against Queens, after which Cassara hinted Hall had to develop off the court, as well. But Hall was the best player on the floor for the Dutchmen Friday when he pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds (including eight offensive boards) and scored 11 points in just 26 minutes off the bench. He is only the third Dutchmen to post a double-double in his collegiate debut since the turn of the century, joining Kenny Adeleke and Halil Kanacevic in the select club. This, of course, also means he has a 100% chance of finishing his career somewhere else. Welcome to life as a fan of the Flying Dutchmen, Molly!

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Monmouth 11/9)

3: Jimmy Hall

2: Moussa Kone

1: Shaq Stokes

SEASON STANDINGS (duh)

3: Jimmy Hall

2: Moussa Kone

1: Shaq Stokes

Email Jerry at defiantlydutch@yahoo.com or follow Defiantly Dutch at http://twitter.com/defiantlydutch.

Just The Facts: Transfers in their first game for Hofstra

Hofstra will have four transfers making their debuts for the Flying Dutchmen this season. Here is how transfers—both of the Division I and JUCO variety—have fared in their Hofstra debuts since 1991.

1991: Demetrius Dudley 33 pts/7 rbs vs. Navy

1993: Chris Johnke 0 pts/5 rbs vs. Iona**

1994: Jamil Greene 1 pt/2 rbs/1 assist vs. New Hampshire**

1995: Seth Meyers 14 pts/5 rbs vs. Stony Brook

1995: Lawrence Thomas 20 pts/4 rbs/2 assists vs. Villanova

1996: Lance Dunkley 2 pts/3 rbs/1 assist vs. Stony Brook**

1996: Duane Posey 8 pts/4 rbs/1 assist/2 blks vs. Stony Brook

1997: Mike Renfro 6 pts/3 rbs/1 assist/1 steal vs. Bucknell**

1998: Jason Hernandez: 7 pts/ 2 rbs/1 assist/2 steals vs. Maryland

1998: Abdul Sylla 0 pts/3 rbs vs. Youngstown State

1999: Greg Springfield: 7 pts/5 rbs/10 blocked shots vs. New Mexico State***

2000: Osei Miller: 2 pts/2 rbs vs. Northern Illinois

2004: Kenny Harris: 3 pts/1 rb/1 assist/2 steals vs. Florida International**

2004: Adrian Uter: 0 pts/2 rbs/1 block vs. Florida International**

2007: Darren Townes: 5 pts/5 rbs/1 steal/1 blocked shot vs. Holy Cross**

2007: Dane Johnson: 3 pts/1 rb/3 blocked shots vs. Holy Cross**

2008: Tony Dennison: 5 pts/4 rbs/1 assist vs. Clemson**

2008: Cornelius Vines: 12 pts/3 rbs/3 steals vs. Clemson**

2008: Miklos Szabo: 4 pts/11 rbs/2 assists/1 steal vs. E. Tennessee State**

2010: Mike Moore: 13 pts/4 rbs/4 assists vs. Farmingdale State

2010: Dwan McMillan: 15 pts/2 rbs/6 assists1 steal vs. Farmingdale State**

2010: Brad Kelleher: 2 pts vs. Florida Atlantic**

2011: Stevie Mejia: 7 pts/1 rb/4 assists/1 steal vs. Long Island

2011: Bryant Crowder: 13 pts/6 rbs/1 steal vs. Rhode Island**

**--junior college transfer

***--10 blocked shots are a school record

Seven semi-useful things to know: Monmouth

Epic flat-top for the win!

Welcome to a new feature that may or may not become a staple of Defiantly Dutch coverage. Who knows? I will explain more shortly. But there’s an hour to go before tip so there’s no time to chat!

1.) Monmouth leads the all-time series with Hofstra, 4-1. The Hawks won the last meeting between the teams, 87-79, on Dec. 10, 2003. The Flying Dutchmen earned their lone win in the series in the first game between the clubs in 1983, when Hofstra won 77-43.

2.) Like Hofstra, Monmouth’s pre-season preparation was drastically altered by Hurricane Sandy. Monmouth is located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, right on the Atlantic Ocean. The Hawks spent several days practicing in Scranton, PA following Sandy’s direct hit.

  

3.) Monmouth returns three starters from a team that went 12-20 under first-year head coach King Rice (who played collegiately at North Carolina, my pre-Hofstra favorite team, and rocked the flat-top better than anyone in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s). However, the Hawks went 10-8 in the Northeast Conference and were 12-12 following an 0-8 start.

4.) Overall, Monmouth returns 44.7 points and 17.7 rebounds per game from last year’s squad. The Dutchmen return just 22.6 points per game and 17.1 rebounds per game from their 10-22 team.

5.) Monmouth is the first of three Northeast Conference opponents Hofstra will face this season. The Dutchmen will host Wagner on Dec. 4 and visit Long Island University on Dec. 8. Hofstra is 107-58 all-time against current NEC foes and Monmouth is the only school that has played Hofstra multiple times and has a winning record against the Dutchmen.

6.) The Dutchmen are 43-33 all-time in season openers. They haven’t won a season opener on the road, though, since Nov. 21, 2004, when the Dutchmen beat Florida International, 69-67.

7.) As many as six players could make their debuts for Hofstra tonight: Sophomore Shaquille Stokes, a transfer from Hawaii, and freshmen Jordan Allen, Jimmy Hall, Dallas Anglin, Darren Payen and Kentrell Washington.

We’ll have a different kind of debate…when I moderate (The Sequel!)

This one goes out to @VABeachRep!

I’m not sure if you know this, but Hofstra is hosting the second Presidential Debate tonight. No, really, it’s true. There hasn’t been much publicity about it and the university is bashful about its role in determining the man who will rule the free world for the next four years, so you’ll have to take my word on it.

But seriously: As always, I am excited for Hofstra, even if I am, like four years ago, a little skeptical about all the ancillary benefits we are told the debate will provide our beloved alma mater.

(Added bonus: This time around, I get to be ticked off that the lies used to explain away the euthanasia of football are being used to extol the virtues of hosting the debate. Hooray!)

And like four years ago, I am once again perplexed as to how I didn’t end up being selected as debate moderator. Candy Crowley is a perfectly fine candidate to moderate, but without a Flying Dutchman or Dutchwoman running the show, who will fight for the issues important to the Hofstra community?

Politics, like everything else in American life circa 2012, is all about the niche. And all I care about is how Barry or Mitt will help make the Hofstra and Long Island experience better for both ancient alums like me and the whippersnappers who weren’t even gleams in their parents’ eyes way back when I was grooving to Candlebox during Happy Hour at Fezziwigs. Have I said too much again?

1993 musical interlude!

Alas, I have once again been relegated to the sidelines, so I thought it only fair to present to the public the issues that I—and you—should care about. Here you go: The 10 questions that would be asked tonight, if only I were in charge of the American democratic process:

1.) Is it true that part of the terms of hosting the debate, Hofstra demanded that the winner of the Presidential election agrees to change his name to David S. Mack?

2.) Do you know how much revenue football players generate for a Division I-AA program by playing in the NFL? I’m asking for a friend.

2b.) Also, if elected President, how soon will you use federal funds to re-instate football here at Hofstra?

3.) North Korea, the Middle East…blah blah blah, all sound and noise concealing the real issue in American politics: The Hofstra-Stony Brook cold war. So upon being elected President, how soon will you broker a détente between the two warring parties and get them playing each other again in every sport?

4.) We have heard a lot about Obamacare and Romneycare. What kind of care and assistance do you have in mind for the families of prospective college students overwhelmed by the catastrophic rise in college tuition? For example, there’s a northeast-based school where full-year tuition has risen from $11,060 in 1994-95 to $27,600 in 2008-09 to $34,900 in 2012-13. (No names, of course) What will you do to ease the burden and the increasing belief that college education is only for the elite?

5.) As a former Illinois senator and Massachusetts governor, respectively, both of you worked in cities and states with close ties to Hofstra athletics. Mr. President, please discuss how Hofstra’s double-overtime win over Northeastern Illinois in the 1994 ECC title game impacted your life. And Mr. Governor, please discuss how your life was lacking in meaning until Boston University served as the opponent in the first-ever game at Hofstra Arena—the very spot you’re standing in right now!—in January 2000.

6.) The stimulation of the economy begins at the local level, and at Hofstra, nothing stimulates the economy quite like Nassau (guffaw) Coliseum (hysterical laughter). What will you do to first broker peace between the NHL and its players union, thereby guaranteeing a 2012-13 season and the opportunity for students to walk across the street to the Coliseum, and then to facilitate the building of a new arena to replace the stinking deathtrap that is the Coliseum so that acts other than the circus, the Harlem Globetrotters and Bruce Springsteen come to the Coliseum?

7.) What kind of role will you play in keeping the CAA alive with northern-based expansion and moving all basketball tournaments to the aforementioned new Nassau Coliseum?

8.) Burning meal card points on overpriced sodas and pastries during the final week of the semester at Dutch Treats is a Hofstra tradition so old it even predates me. It’s a shame that this money turns into fake money once it is added to a meal card. Therefore, I ask you how quickly you can turn meal card points into actual currency, issued in good faith by the United States Treasury, that we can use to buy and sell goods and services outside the Hofstra campus.

9.) How soon after you are inaugurated will you name Charles Jenkins Minister Of Wolf-Related Problem-Solving Activities? Mr. President, you are already well-acquainted with Jenkins' feats and resume, after your debate prep at William & Mary.

10.) Lastly, can you use federal disaster funds to create extra parking spots at Hofstra? I mean, if you think it’s tough to find a spot today, you should come here on a Wednesday in November. How is that a 240-acre campus never has an open parking spot between 8 am and 9 pm? Mr. President and Mr. Wannabe President, knock down those trees and give us parking spots.

Email Jerry at defiantlydutch@yahoo.com or follow Defiantly Dutch at http://twitter.com/defiantlydutch.