MBB: MAC Freedom League

[Coach K]

Here is my take (and a simple one at that)

Centennial - Your upper level academic schools, well established with rich history's, generally football dominated.

MAC and CAC - A step down from the Centennial in terms of academics, still solid schools. More of a spectrum of academics I guess I should say. Scranton is a tough school to get into, as is Moravian, where as some would say Del Val and DeSales are a bit easier to enter

PAC - Younger schools, mainly established within the past 50-60 years. Less strenuous in terms of who they allow into their schools academically out of HS. But they give kids an opportunity who may want to get into a four year institution, but who maybe didn't test well on an SAT or ACT.

I firmly believe that the education you get in everyone of the league's schools is top notch, but I believe that these are the feelings people have from reading this board, and things I have heard in the past. The East coast does a good job academically top to bottom compared to other regions, but that is just my opinion.

[Warren Thompson]

Coach K:

You make some legitimate points above. While a discussion of comparative institutional academic standards is generally -- and correctly -- verboten in these rooms, it is now relevant and appropriate, to a certain degree, in that some of the MAC defections were motivated by academic concerns.

BTW there are some current MAC venues where it is  "easy" [relatively speaking] to gain entrance, but vastly more difficult to do well and graduate. Much of a student's success has to do with motivation and willingness to work hard, no matter where she or he matriculates.

[chizwiz]

saratoga,

Excellent review of the happenings, opinions, and facts.  I agree whole-heartedly with what you said, academically and athletically.

[Coach K]

Mr. Thompson

I agree with you as well. No matter what your SAT is to get in to an institution, you still have to do the work when you get there.

I am a graduate of Alvernia, and I feel that I got as good, if not better of an education then my friends who attended Muhlenberg, and a bunch of other MAC schools. I'd put up the people who graduate from there with any other college.

I also agree. Del Val might be "easy" to get into, but I have heard that certain programs there are as tough as can be.

[adam]

Back to basketball for a bit if I may.

Finally got to see the Colonels last night in their defeat of Kean.  Not sure who Kean has played, but a win over an 8-1 team is always nice, especially a game where the Colonels only trailed in the first few minutes.
Nice balance from the Colonels.  Not mentioning names, but it looks like one player seems a little bit in it for himself rather than the team concept.  Be that as it may, I am looking forward to games more this year.  It's nice to wonder who will step up then wonder what Shovlin will do.  Shoblin was a fine player, but too much got brought up on things other than his basketball skills and rightfully so.
If Colonels can gel, no reason to think they couldn't contend for a playoff spot.

[cold_case]

Toga,
I thought your post was informative and well thought out.
I agree many schools were and perhaps still are "Dumbing Down" which has become a "Disturbing Trend." Heck, some schools even went to an open admissions policy because of dwindling enrollment and finance. Maybe some schools in the MAC still exercise this practice, I don't know.
However, I wanted to point out something to anyone that feels Scranton is "Holier than Thou."
After the spring semester of 2002, there was a wrestler from King's who was dismissed from the team for poor academics.  It just so happened that this kid pulled off an upset in the MAC tournament, was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament and qualified for nationals. After he was booted from King's, he transferred to Scranton, was admitted and wrestled for the Royals the very next year. Do you honestly think that if he was not an athlete and an MAC champion, he would have been admitted to Scranton?
I understand better than anyone that there is not one school which is as pure as the driven snow and perhaps this was one incident, but Scranton did open its doors for this kid. Have they closed it since, I don't know, but it happened and I found that to be "disturbing."
I have a Communications Certificate from Da U, (a 33-credit program) and I saw a few four-year athletes wandering around that couldn't add 2+2. You know who some of them are.
I'm also aware that this is an everyday occurance at many institutions and really don't believe Scranton takes advantage of that but why do you think other schools basketball programs got turned around overnight? You got it!!!
If you don't believe this post regarding the above wrestler, you can checkout his records on the following links for King's and Scranton.

http://departments.kings.edu/athletics/men/wrestling/individual_records/2001_02_individual_records.htm

http://academic.uofs.edu/department/athletics/wrestlingstats2002-2003.htm

[Coach K]

Does anyone have a list of all of the teams in the Landmark Conference?

Also, with the NEAC, do they have half their teams competing in a separate region?

Just curious

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.d3hoops.com/news.php?date=2006-11-06

[saratoga]

CC: I have to admit I never heard of the situation with the one half of the brother duo...if you say it happened that way, then I have no reason to doubt you. I just find it hard to believe the UofS would even accept a transfer from Kings...especially if they didn't have about a 3.75 to start. Must have been his lucky day.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

CC: I have to admit I never heard of the situation with the one half of the brother duo...if you say it happened that way, then I have no reason to doubt you. I just find it hard to believe the UofS would even accept a transfer from Kings...especially if they didn't have about a 3.75 to start. Must have been his lucky day.

Sara - I'm sure you have the stats from the Admissions office to back up that claim about the 3.75, right? 

Everyone "dumbs down" admission - even in D3.  It is what it is...

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Did I see correctly that King's only lost to a D-1 school (Lafayette) by 9?

Just checking...

[NEPAFAN]

CC: I have to admit I never heard of the situation with the one half of the brother duo...if you say it happened that way, then I have no reason to doubt you. I just find it hard to believe the UofS would even accept a transfer from Kings...especially if they didn't have about a 3.75 to start. Must have been his lucky day.

Sara - I'm sure you have the stats from the Admissions office to back up that claim about the 3.75, right? 

Everyone "dumbs down" admission - even in D3.  It is what it is...

Yeah doesn't bother me...I am all for it!! 


Yeah they Kings lost by 9 , didn't you see it on the ESPN2 bottom line?

Scranton beats 8-1 Manhattanville to win the Desert Shootout in Las Vegas...

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Scranton beats 8-1 Manhattanville to win the Desert Shootout in Las Vegas...

Wow, good to see those two squads having a solid match now, before Manhattanville joins the MAC-F next season.  Those two could develop a serious rivalry, being in the same conference... OH WAIT, Scranton's leaving.  Morons.

[NEPAFAN]

CJ, enough. Like I said, can you be any more jealous?


I don't want to take anyone to task on the board, but I will go ahead and do it anyway.

Arent they the Lafayette Leopards?? You would think you would get it right when you are writing a story on them!!!!!

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17607663&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=460522&rfi=6

[saratoga]

Well, I guess the gang from Wilkes will now have to develop that special something with the Madhattervilles & Arcadias of the new & improved Freedom League. Just think...this time next year Baptist Bible & Marywood may be in serious battles with Alfred Neuman & Cabrini for the remaining MAC spots!!! And the "morons" are whom???