BY MATTHEW VANTRYON | Asst. Sports Editor Previous Butler athletes speak out against coach as four women transfer Nine student-athletes have transferred from Butler University’s women’s basketball program over the past four academic years. Additionally, four coaches have left the program and five players have chosen not to return over the last five seasons. Four…
OVERTIME: Still hope for men’s basketball despite dismal campaign
BY BEN SIECK | SPORTS EDITOR Brad Stevens bolted to the National Basketball Association. Junior forward Roosevelt Jones suffered a season-ending injury before playing a regular-season game. Blue II died, and the Butler men’s basketball team is barreling toward its first losing season in nearly a decade. For fans used to a certain level of…
$14,738,745 and no one’s talking about where it’s going
Butler University’s athletics department is on “an island of its own.” The budget is a mystery to the public. No one from the athletics department will discuss information about this year’s budget, and officials in other departments say they don’t know much either. Butler athletics has the right to keep budget information private since the…
After one season in the Atlantic 10, is Butler packing up and moving on?
Despite several media reports and anonymous sources saying that the university will change athletic conferences, officials are mum. Butler University is one of five institutions rumored to be moving to the reorganized Big East. A new move could mean more media exposure, less travel time, new competition and a larger athletics department budget. Butler—along with…
McGrath earns Hall of Fame
Jim McGrath, Butler associate athletics director for communications, has been announced as an inductee in the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame. “It’s hard to wrap your hands around when you’re being honored for doing your job,” McGrath said. “I’m doing something that I love, and I try to do it the…
Men’s basketball: Clarke’s injury causes controversy
Sports injuries can be a scary thing for athletes, family and fans. The Butler community realized this when standout senior transfer Rotnei Clarke flew headfirst into the base of a hoop in a win against Dayton on Jan. 12. Clarke was fouled hard by Flyers defender Matt Derenbecker and hit the basket, suffering a neck…
Butler first full-time SID still leads program
Jim McGrath wanted to be a pharmacist. Butler University’s sports information director of 31 years never intended to become involved in the sports information field. A 1971 graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., McGrath considered attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, among others, to study pharmacy. “When I got to Augustana, I found out…
Butler welcomes newest Hall of Fame inductees
On Saturday night, Butler inducted seven new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductees were Clyde McEntire, Norman “Norm” Ellenberger, Lynn Schreiber Wallace, Charles “Chuck” Orban, Beth Christiansen Hutson, Fraser Thompson and James “Jim” McGrath. “It’s a tremendous honor,” McGrath said. “To be recognized for doing your job is almost beyond the scope…
Chrishawn Hopkins dismissed from men’s basketball team
Junior Chrishawn Hopkins has been dismissed from the Butler men’s basketball team, according to a press release from sports information director Jim McGrath. The release was made public shortly after 5:45 Wednesday evening. In the release, coach Brad Stevens said Hopkins was dismissed for “a violation of team rules.” “I am sorry to have to…
Conference switch in the works?
In recent weeks, reports from ESPN and CBS led many to believe that Butler may switch athletic conferences within the next few years. Butler could make the transition from the Horizon League to the Atlantic 10 conference and replace departing Temple. The Owls of Temple are currently part of the A-10 in all sports except…