FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[PBR...]

they should take care of business this weekend and go about business....i think isgro is turning the corner and really starting to see all of the field and recognize coverages right now and know where to go with the ball. plus he will only get more confident in the wr's making plays. gordon will the game be streamed over the net again this weekend?

[gordonmann]

Up:

Yep, I'll post the info in a little bit.

For now I'm writing on another subject.  Someone tipped me off to the following editorial that ran in the Sunbury (Pa.) Daily Item.

http://www.dailyitem.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/SPORTS02/610130324/-1/SPORTS

It addresses the struggles of Susquehanna's program over the past few years.  Along the way it takes a shot at Delaware Valley and other unamed programs:

"There is no question that G.A. Mangus established himself as a keen recruiter and an offensive whiz in taking the Aggies, who previously hadn't had a winning season since 1985, to consecutive NCAA Division III quarterfinals.

But there also was an adjustment in the Delaware Valley admissions department. It seemed to most other league coaches that there was an open-door policy.

Wide open. Same at a couple of others schools."

The writer offers no evidence to back up the accusations.  No review of recent classes' entrance statistics, which aren't that hard to obtain, to see if the average SAT score or GPA of an incoming student has dropped while the football team has improved.  No comparisons of Susquehanna's academic statistics with the other MAC schools.

There's no response from DVC, leaving me to wonder if they were called.  If you're going to slam a college like this, shouldn't they at least have a chance to respond?

And while the editorial cites "most other league coaches" not a single one is quoted.  While I suspect the author's opinion comes from conversations with someone -- it's doubtful a Sunbury newspaper writer has much independent knowledge about the inner workings of Delaware Valley College -- apparently no one was willing to state the case against Del Val on the record.

Leaving all that aside, the author doesn't provide much insight into Susquehanna's situation.  The piece cites injuries which just about every program in the country could claim at some point.  It ignores the tremendous recruiting advantage that Susquehanna's spectacular facility provides.  And it glosses over the fact that Susquehanna since 2000 is 8-15 (.348) against Lycoming, Juniata, Moravian and Centennial Conference members -- the ones that the writer mentions or implies have higher academic standards like Susquehanna.

Let me be clear -- I really like the people at Susquehanna.  Their SID does a tremendous job.  Briggs is one of my favorite coaches to speak to in any part of Division III.  And as I've told several people on- and off-line, I'm really going to miss the trips to Selinsgrove.

But this piece isn't researched or sourced well enough to substantiate the claims it makes.  I hope Susquehanna's athletics department didn't have a role in it.

[Pat Coleman]

Hmm -- sounds like Mr. Small-town Sports Editor took some off-the-record/background griping and turned it into a "story."

This really should be marked as a column. I can only hope it was in the actual paper.

Meanwhile, I took the opportunity afforded on the paper's site to send feedback. It was as follows:

Hmm ... interesting allegations. Any actual facts regarding Delaware Valley and your unnamed "couple of others [sic] schools" to throw in?

Whatever happened to calling for comment? Presenting both sides of a story? Or, if this is a column, whatever happened to saying so?

[PBR...]

After reading this piece of garbage it is more than obvious he has a axe to grind with DVC. Where do i start? First off i printed out the story and its now being used in my cats litter box. I agree totally with you both Pat and Gordon. He takes numerous pot shots at DVC and Mangus. There seems to be no attempt to get any kind of facts or comment from DVC. Yet he names DVC and Mangus and calls them out by name but also states " Wide open. Same at a couple of others schools." Well what other schools you named DVC and Mangus why not the others?! Then he almost contradicts himself in how he whines about schools lowering statdards to get better athletes but then says "Susquehanna has played many close games in recent years but made mistakes at crucial times to turn a potential win into a loss. The penalties, turnovers and missed tackles are a direct reflection of the coaching staff" and talks about how hard SU's coach has recruited certain markets for better players. Well to me the above sounds like the talent level was the same it was just the players and coaches making mental mistakes not a real difference in talent levels so which is it? I did reply to him should be interesting to see what i get back(I was a little harsh...) but if someone wrote that piece of garbage and tried to send it over my companies newswire or television station(never would of happend editors would of freaked) they would be looking for new work at the end of the day. I have seen high school kids do much more research into stories. I truly hope no one from SU was involved in this because it is nothing but sour grapes against DVC pure and simple.

[gordonmann]

As requested before, tomorrow's Aggies game will be on the internet...

Delaware Valley

versus

Albright

Pregame coverage is 12:40 with kickoff at 1 PM on www.AllinBroadcasting.com.

NOTE:  If you tune into the game and it doesn't sound like me, it's because you have the Albright broadcast which is also through the same site.

[MOJO]

Posters,
Pursuant to the newspaper article with assertions that DVC instituted an open door admission policy for football players peaked my interest.  I think I can safely say that when DVC went from worst to first, in such a short period of time, many folks in the MAC suspected that some changes where made in their admissions policies.  With this being said, it's one thing to suspect this and another to make the statement as a given in newsprint.  I agree, DVC officials should have been given an opportunity to address these assertions.  I'm sure over the years some MAC schools have made exceptions in their admissions/financial aid policies to attract a specific ballplayer and hopefully strengthen their program.  With that in mind, that's a far different scenario than just changing admission policies across the board for football players.  As I recall, this topic was visited last season and it angered many of the DVC posters.  Now the question is, did they or didn't they?  And if they did, why is everybody catchin up? Did other schools change their admissions policies to be competitive or did DVC change their alleged admission policy again?  Commentary please.

[gordonmann]

On today's broadcast, right now the game is posted on AllinBroadcasting.com as Delaware Valley vs. Moravian.

We're working to get that fixed.  I can assure you will cover today's game, not air a replay of last week.

[MOJO]

Posters,
Another example of parity, Wilkes 13 - LVC 10.  You look at the LVC team and look at their record and you say mediocre at best.  You look how they played DVC and Wilkes and you realize this is a helluva team.  The biggest difference from years past, is the D and a seasoned and effective O line.  These kids have the abilty to compete and come to play.  When Kelly(QB) and Brossman(WR) are 100%, they are scoring machines, as good as it gets in D3 football.  From the parity perspective, I think after this season, it will be awhile before we see this occurance again.  Enjoy, no givens this season on any Saturday for any team!

[Lyco80]

I am curious about the article too and would suggest, if any serious inquiry would examine the graduation rates of the Mangus/DVC era.  I am a big believer in giving people a chance to prove themselves.  If DVC altered their admissions policy to access talented football players who were marginal students and they graduated - where's the beef?  However, it is quite another thing if DVC and Mangus rode the backs of these players to successes (and then left town as did Mangus) and these athletes were left in the dust of the school's and team's success without the sheepskin.

D3 schools give students who might not be able to gain acceptance into Ivy League level schools an opportunity to mature, learn and prepare for future successes.  This is true for the non-athlete too.

It is quite another thing to be a rank opportunist.  One of the most impressive things about Penn State and Notre Dame is that their football players graduate - usually within their eligibility.  After all, for most college football players, life - real life - begins with the last whistle.  That's truly when the game gets interesting - not just the antics on the gridiron.

[gordonmann]

Lyco:

From what I've seen having been around the program for three years, Del Val is graduating its players.  There have been a couple players who have transferred but that probably has more to do with playing opportunities than anything else.

I can't think of many instances in which a player came in, made a big impact and then had to leave school for academic reasons after a year or two.  It certainly hasn't happened more at Del Val than at any other school I've seen, including the NESCAC.

[gordonmann]

The Del Val broadcast from yesterday's Delaware Valley/Albright football game is posted online here:

http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/Delvalley/delvalley101406.asx

[FearTheRam]

GM you are quite right, with but a few exceptions, all GA's players have remained in school working towards their degrees. As for this team or program being used by him, I'd say it was mutual. They went from the perennial doormat of the MAC to one of it's most feared teams. In the process giving some excellent young men the opportunity to get an education. Who loses there? As for the article it's just one more example of sour grapes. It's quite obvious that even with all it's talent, all teams are competitive with DVC. Read between the lines of that article to see the real pot-shot taken there.

As for LVC they have some talent, just not quite enough.

Congrats to the Aggies for overcoming a somewhat undisciplined and unfocused performance to win once again. Hopefully, they will come out ready to play this coming Saturday.

[bill]

About the article -
I've posted many times about this here, but we'll soon see which schools put their money where their mouth is academically...
I don't think we're far off from a MAC where each school will know EXACTLY what the others are doing when it comes to admissions....

[FisherAlum05]

what chance realistically does Kings have at winning the conference and the automatic bid??

[gordonmann]

We'll know more starting this week with their trip to Widener.

They are 5-0 in the MAC but their opponents have a combined conference record of 7-14 excluding the loses to the Monarchs.