MBB: MAC Freedom League

[Gregory Sager]

Hey, Greg! Was CJ4L's post above the opening "salvo"?

If your idea of a salvo is Germany's invasion of Poland, then, yes, that was a salvo. 

[NEPAFAN]

Switch catches rivals off guard


Riding with a few colleagues to a meeting to pick all-stars for Middle Atlantic Conference soccer, Joe Bochicchio's cell phone rang. University of Scranton athletics director Toby Lovecchio was on the line. The Lady Royals soccer coach got the news that this would be his final MAC all-star meeting.

Scranton's decision to leave the MAC after this season and join the fledgling Landmark Conference was announced Monday.

It took many Royals rooters and rivals by surprise, and one of them just happened to be in Bochicchio's traveling party: King's men's soccer coach Mark Bassett.

"The first thing he said was, 'Are we still going to play,' " Bochicchio said. "I said, 'Yeah. I just have to get my new schedule. It's just a matter of getting people to fit in.' "

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17436695&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416049&rfi=6

[Warren Thompson]

Hey, Greg! Was CJ4L's post above the opening "salvo"?

If your idea of a salvo is Germany's invasion of Poland, then, yes, that was a salvo. 

Colonel John certainly brought out his Stukas and Panzers, didn't he? And maybe even "Anzio Annie" fired off a few rounds, as well.

[Section J Guy]

Screw the Ivy League....the goal should be Patriot League..

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Greg and Warren - glad to entertain.  There are 4 or 5 things I show passion about in my life.  And Wilkes vs. Scranton is one of 'em.  It's a long tradition between these two schools, starting WAY back in 1993.    It produced such memories as the "Purple Tux" game, the conference title game in OT (94?), last season's Championship game thriller, 3 straight Saturday nights in '98 (regular season, MAC Title, NCAAs) and best of all Jags's "Scranton Fan Kissing Booth" t-shirt.

Jealousy?  No, the end of the rivalry is why I'm mad.  Scranton's leaving the MAC?  What's next, Auburn leaving the SEC or Duke leaving the ACC?  Just like UNC- NC State isn't the same, Wilkes-King's isn't the same.  Perhaps if Scranton moved to the Patriot League or, heheh, the Ivy, I'd be jealous.  But these guys - you can have 'em.

NepaFan - The "fag" comment was nothing personal.  Just a student section chant.  Edit if you want, but a chant like that is no more immature than chanting "SAT scores" during the MAC Title game.  And CC, I didn't bother applying to Da U.  But, to your charge, one can only surmise that they'd accept a Student Council President / National Merit Finalist. 

But hey, Scranton fans, maybe you can endear your new like-minded associates by bragging about Fulbright Scholars.  See if they give a crap.  The classroom is the classroom, basketball is basketball.  Success in one does not equate success in the other.  From the moment Al Callejas wore purple at the Long Center, you lost the right to brag about one during another.

To answer the question - what will the Freedom look like in 2008?  Lyco's gone, Scranton's gone.  Instead of the same 4 teams making the playoffs every year, it will now be Wilkes, King's, [insert team eliminated at Wilkes] and [insert team eliminated at King's] every year. Now, the regular season only determines who hosts the Freedom title game, Wilkes or King's.  Saying this, I'd worry about offending DeSales fans.  Then, I'd chuckle to myself, "Heh, DeSales doesn't have any fans..."

[ljk]

Hey Col.  and Naismith,  Looking over this years Wilkes roster, who is going to score the ball?

[NEPAFAN]

Catholic-I predict will be The U's new rival, in basketball at least.


and the rest....

Drew                                                   
Susquehanna                                       
USMM                                                   
Moravian                                             
Goucher
Juniata


I am sure Scranton will miss Deleware Valley...


Rumor was Elizabethtown was the other team applying to the Landmark Conference..

[Warren Thompson]

Rumor was Elizabethtown was the other team applying to the Landmark Conference..

Rumor has it that that is no rumor.

Rumor has it that E-town was invited to the Landmark, but had the door slammed on them at the very last moment.

Rumor has it that the powers-that-be at E-town are none too pleased at this turn of events.

Rumor has it ... (but, no, rumors are but rumors, aren't they?.)

[kate]

Hey, NEPAFAN, could ya at least spell "DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE" properly?  Also known at the Aggies or Del Val, not Del Valley.  i got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but GO Del Val!!!

[Section J Guy]

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17453629&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418218&rfi=6



Speculates if the move is transitional...

[saratoga]

Isn't there "transition" with any move...or, doesn't a change or move create transition? That question raised by the Editorial Board boarders on complete incompetence. There are few, if any, decisions the UofS has made in the last 50 years that have turned out wrong for the school. I sincerly doubt when the Board of Trustees sat down to make their final decision with the President that the Scranton/Wilkes possibility of playoff games in the future carried much weight. You may remember there was this very same discussion last year when at that time, the word was Scranton was looking at the Empire 8 so that they would be in a conference with schools such as Hobart, Hamilton, Ithaca & Wm. Smith. Many felt that a move away from the MAC was never a matter of "if"...only "when". That time arrived when the Landmark & Scranton came to the conclusion that this move or "transition" was in the best interests of both immediatly. Personally, I can see some of the remaining MAC schools taking the parochial and immature approach and deciding NOT to schedule Scranton in future years or at least until the hurt of being snubbed wears off. I'm sure Drew, Moravian, Susquehanna & Juniata will also soon find this out. Chances are that the coaches may still want to play, however, often times that call may not be in his or her hands. If that's how it's viewed at some schools...oh well, that's probably one reason these schools opted to leave the MAC in the first place...a serious lack of vision therein.

[NEPAFAN]

Hey, NEPAFAN, could ya at least spell "DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE" properly?  Also known at the Aggies or Del Val, not Del Valley.  i got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but GO Del Val!!!

Wow..a del val fan, i didn't know such a thing existed!

[bill]

Saratoga

Not that this means much, but in regards to your scheduling questions/parochialness, Drew is no longer scheduling FDU in ANY sport. They won't play us anymore...This directive comes straight from their athletic director....
Hopefully, there won't be a similar issue with the Scranton/Wilkes/Kings/ trifecta...

[ColonelJohn4Life]

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17453629&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418218&rfi=6



Speculates if the move is transitional...

Way to go fact-checkers at the Times / Tribune.  For those who read the editorial, it's Wilkes University.  Aaayyyye.

[Warren Thompson]

Saratoga
Not that this means much, but in regards to your scheduling questions/parochialness, Drew is no longer scheduling FDU in ANY sport. They won't play us anymore.... This directive comes straight from their athletic director.

Damn! that's certainly mature behavior by Drew.