FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

bill · May 15, 2006, 02:10:57 PM

My two cents:

The MAC will NOT add Wesley. The academics simply aren't there....

Shen. is an interesting fit, and it might have some merit. Since the commonwealth now needs an extra team for its other sports, adding them isn't out of the question. The non-football travel will be somehwat far, but remember that they're right on I-81 in northern VA. Besides Lyco, it's not that far....In fact, I'd say that when traffic is accounted for, it's not much different than Scranton going to Manhattanville

It wouldn't be the worst thing for football either. With only 7 conference games, going to 8 will help some school's potential scheduling woes..

Also, they're in a "hot" admissions market (northen VA) and it will be the presidents that decide this one, because TCNJ isn't joining the MAC unless the NJAC does something wacky....

gordonmann · May 15, 2006, 03:15:54 PM

Ralph:

Hm. I'm not sure I know enough to suggest a list of probable D3 defectors.

The ones you listed strike me as possible. Maybe the MIAC, Liberty League, SCAC or "Interstate 7" for non-football, too.

I gather there would be a lot that goes into that decision. And I'd rather not think about it too much, I guess.

Warren Thompson · May 15, 2006, 03:40:45 PM

Quote from: bill on May 15, 2006, 02:10:57 PM
My two cents:

... and it will be the presidents that decide this one, because TCNJ isn't joining the MAC unless the NJAC does something wacky....

I believe it is the presidents who always have the final say on membership.

Pat Coleman · May 15, 2006, 04:13:07 PM

I don't think you will see too many conferences defect to a D-IV or III-AA. You'll probably see many conferences split down the middle.

Consider it -- given a choice of D-III or D-IV, where do you think Oberlin is going? How about Hiram? Then what do you think Wabash and Wooster and Wittenberg will do?

Are Johns Hopkins or McDaniel really likely to fall in the same camp as Swarthmore and Haverford? You know that III-AA or IV will not allow a school to also play D-I lacrosse.

If it happens -- and the odds appear lower now than they did five years ago -- it will not be a simple process.

Warren Thompson · May 15, 2006, 04:59:51 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 15, 2006, 04:13:07 PM

Are Johns Hopkins or McDaniel really likely to fall in the same camp as Swarthmore and Haverford? You know that III-AA or IV will not allow a school to also play D-I lacrosse.

The idea of Hopkins sans big-time lacrosse staggers the imagination. Jeez, the crabs in Chesapeake Bay would go on strike, and the monuments in Monumental City self-destruct in protest, and Baltimore be no better than the District of Columbia ....

john merrick · May 16, 2006, 02:28:50 PM

I think what you'll find is that DIII schools that are current powers or are rich in football tradition will continue to have football. Schools that are up and down, but rely on football to bring in students will also survive. However, schools that aren't successful will always be surrounded by the rumors that football is being dropped. With schools trying to balance budgets, anything "extra" is fair game. And lets be honest, in many schools football is a luxury that doesn't bring in big dollars.

Warren Thompson · May 16, 2006, 02:33:15 PM

Quote from: john merrick on May 16, 2006, 02:28:50 PM
And lets be honest, in many schools football is a luxury that doesn't bring in big dollars.

Just out of curiosity, at how many D3 venues does football "bring in" any
dollars?

john merrick · May 16, 2006, 02:35:45 PM

I think it brings in big bucks as far as alumni contributions. I know of some cases where donations from football alumni are used not only for the benefit of the football team, but also to benefit the school itself. College presidents would be insane to kill football in those institutions. They would be shooting themselves in the foot.

john merrick · May 16, 2006, 02:36:49 PM

I also know of a few instances where clothing sales bring in big bucks.

Pat Coleman · May 16, 2006, 04:49:06 PM

You don't think tuition brings in big bucks? Just a thought.

Warren Thompson · May 16, 2006, 06:31:13 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2006, 04:49:06 PM
You don't think tuition brings in big bucks? Just a thought.

Agreed. In D3, tuition and other things bring in the "big bucks." Sports, on the other hand, bring in very little, if anything ....

john merrick · May 16, 2006, 07:56:32 PM

Obviously tuition brings in more money then football. But my point is a school will be less apt to eliminate football when the sport can bring in money of its own. If the football program just sucks money out of the institution then that's another story. Also, when you're talking about private schools, many students don't pay full tuition. So yes, in some cases, football can bring in big bucks especially when counting those alumni dollars.

bill · May 18, 2006, 10:50:24 AM

John
There was actually a thread about this topic some time ago; I'm just too lazy to go and look it up again

But yes, I agree. Tuition driven schools (like FDU and several other MAC schools) like the fact that at any time, there's about 100 tuition paying students on campus!

bossman05 · May 18, 2006, 08:46:54 PM

Who cares bout all that garbage.......Lets talk football boys......If you wanna talk about all that school and tuition stuff go post on the centennial conference board...if there is one???

Which school signed some of the biggest recruits this off season??

Any big transfers??

Who will contend this year??

Will Lyco return to the top or continue to fall??

Will Mangus's departure hurt del val or will Clements continue del val success??

Has Leb Val admissions people started working with the football coaches??lol

Who is replacing Port at Albright? (Big shoes to fill)

Is Widener going back to their true colors and trying not to look like lyco??

How many games will Juniata win??

What more exciting playing Juniata or staying at the hotel on Raystown Lake??

Who will FDU upset this year if anyone??

Knightstalker · May 18, 2006, 10:31:35 PM

Quote from: bossman05 on May 18, 2006, 08:46:54 PM
Who cares bout all that garbage.......Lets talk football boys......If you wanna talk about all that school and tuition stuff go post on the centennial conference board...if there is one???

Which school signed some of the biggest recruits this off season??

Any big transfers??

Who will contend this year??

Will Lyco return to the top or continue to fall??

Will Mangus's departure hurt del val or will Clements continue del val success??

Has Leb Val admissions people started working with the football coaches??lol

Who is replacing Port at Albright? (Big shoes to fill)

Is Widener going back to their true colors and trying not to look like lyco??

How many games will Juniata win??

What more exciting playing Juniata or staying at the hotel on Raystown Lake??

Who will FDU upset this year if anyone??

I heard that a 6'8" tight end from the College of Charlestown is transferring to a MAC school near you soon.