FB: American Rivers Conference

[SpeedKills84]

I am a little surprised that SpeedKills84 is getting pounded.  I've thought he has been clear he bears no ill will to coaches or athletes.  Rather he is expressing an opinion that I've heard expressed by a former member of the Cornell Board of Regents; "The administration could be more supportive of Ram athletics.".

Incidently SpeedKills84, were you a football player who found you could excell in track & field or were you a track guy who brought your speed to the football team on a lend/lease program?

I was recruited for track initially for some time, then football started to recruit me as well.  I figured I would give both a go. 

[doolittledog]

what years did you guys graduate from UD?

'92  When both schools looked quite a bit different than today. 

As most will acknowledge from both schools, it's more fun to give crap to the other school than actual hard feelings.  I have friends that married Loras grads. And I do have to correct something.  That girls note actually said "ugly" UD students and not "poor ass" UD students...so she might have been on to something with our looks

[CaliRamRL6]

I'm not speaking for PH or SpeedKills but when I attended Cornell ('01-'05), Cornell was more focused on music and theatre. I enjoyed my 4 years at Cornell but it was obvious that sports weren't exactly a high priority there. I think that has changed some. John Cochrane reports directly to the President and it used to be that the Athletic Director was reporting to some other person on campus. Things seem to be getting better over there and I hope that Cochrane continues to build on his vision for Cornell athletics.

[SpeedKills84]

I am a little surprised that SpeedKills84 is getting pounded.  I've thought he has been clear he bears no ill will to coaches or athletes.  Rather he is expressing an opinion that I've heard expressed by a former member of the Cornell Board of Regents; "The administration could be more supportive of Ram athletics.".

Incidently SpeedKills84, were you a football player who found you could excell in track & field or were you a track guy who brought your speed to the football team on a lend/lease program?

Maybe it's me, but first impressions mean a lot and my first impression is that of one who got a good education, enough support from the athletic department to be an All-American, and is successful enough to support the program after graduation, but still feels like he didn't get enough. Not enough support from the school in general, or enough from the new coaching staff to stick with the team when the style of offense changed. Also resorting to name calling when presented with a valid argument doesn't hold well with me either. Maybe if I met him in person I'd find my new best friend, but I doubt it.

To repeat what warthog said, the school/administration could be more supportive of the athletic program.  That being said, I don't feel like I have been treated unfairly or been slighted more than any other one person.  It's an issue on the whole.  All my coaches, including Coach Dillon, were supportive of me, and helped whenever/however they could.  But in the end, I felt my talents could best be used on the track.  It's rough when the coach who helped recruit you on one system leaves, and a new foreign one is established halfway through your collegiate career.  I took almost the whole summer to decide not to play, and it wasn't easy.  I still went to most all the games and congratulated the coaches win or lose.  It wasn't a lack of support on their part, but it was a tough decision I made for myself.  Sometimes the tough decisions have to be made to get ahead in life.  The name calling only happened after the cheap shots directed at my personality and abilities were made.  I have a feeling most would have fired back as well.

[SpeedKills84]

I'm not speaking for PH or SpeedKills but when I attended Cornell ('01-'05), Cornell was more focused on music and theatre. I enjoyed my 4 years at Cornell but it was obvious that sports weren't exactly a high priority there. I think that has changed some. John Cochrane reports directly to the President and it used to be that the Athletic Director was reporting to some other person on campus. Things seem to be getting better over there and I hope that Cochrane continues to build on his vision for Cornell athletics.

I second that.  It's definitely a step in the right direction.

[DutchFan2004]

This was posted on another board.  Think it will catch on in the IIAC?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-08-14-pregame-handshake_N.htm

GO SPARTANS!

I'm fairly certain that in the IIAC, both teams line-up to shake everyone's hands after each game, something the story says takes too long for the bigger schools.

This may apply to some schools, but I would be willing to bet it's pretty close to the same numbers.  The traveling team is limited to the same number of players and I would be willing to bet that schools like Central and Wartburg's numbers are not all that far off of what D 1 teams field.  I know that there are about 80-110 kids that are on the sidelines of those two schools.  The shaking of the hands for the Central/Wartburg games takes a long time no matter what city you are playing in for that reason. 

[Purple Heys]

84:  It is my sincerest hope, that as a representative of the type of education Cornell has to offer; and as a student of the law you will assimilate the following as constructive criticism and an attempt to enlighten you...all so that you can feel good about supporting your alma mater as both an athletic and academic institution.

Statements attributed directly to you:
"I just feel that the school (Cornell) doesn't do enough on their end of the bargain, and maybe that's just the nature of playing DIII sports vs. scholarship programs.  There is very little support for athletics at Cornell outside the athletes, parents, coaches."

"...the school/administration could be more supportive of the athletic program."

"It's (Cornell) an academic school first and athletic well umm...maybe fourth?"

"Someone has to ask why about 55%, on average, of the kids return to the football team after their freshman year."

"All this leads back to the terrible return rate Cornell has.  Someone's gotta start keeping these kids around...whether its coaches making promises they can't keep or the vast amounts of corn out there.  Someone's gotta sit back and figure out what's making these kids bail..."

These opinions have the common thread:  You don't think Cornell's Administration supports athletics...at least to the extent that it supports its academic program and reputation. 

Although you made an initial assertion that Cornell's football retention rate was subpar, you offered no real facts to back up your point and you shifted your point of view to Administrative support.

First: From a near term perspective, I think it can be accepted that Cornell, relative to other IIAC institutions has a lower profile, Athletically speaking, compared to that at all the other IIAC institutions.  This obviously was due to conscious decision by the Cornell Administration by either action or lack of action.

But let us take a look at the facts of the recent future.  Bear in mind this is relative to Cornell only...I don't think it is fair to compare the influence of Sugar Daddy Joe Chlplaty at UD or what Wartburg's done at the new W.  These were done with resources Cornell simply does not have.  But with the resources available Cornell has done the following:

Hired a new AD, who reports to the President.
Named an Assistant AD
Added Athletic Department admin staff for recruiting coordination
Added a new Athletic Trainer
Added a Director of Soccer
Added a full time Strength and Conditioning coach available to all programs
Hired a new baseball coach

Cornell has made $1.3 Million in capital improvements to the Athletic facilities including the Small Multi-Sport Center, the Meyer Strength Training Facility, nearly doubled in size; expanded The Meredith Wrestling Complex; In March 2009, the Rams christened the new Mount Vernon Softball Complex in cooperation with the Mt. Vernon community; Created the Purple Pass program for the local community to see all Ram sporting events for free.  There are future plans for renovating Ash Park, but Cornell is wisely postponing given the uncertain economy.

The results:  Cornell has qualified teams and individuals for NCAA championship play.  Numerous athletes have received All-IIAC honors in nearly every sport.  We have had NCAA All-Americans and we have even more athletes and entire teams earning All-academic athletic awards.  These are incontrovertible facts.  The fact is that Cornell's goal to upgrade its Athletic profile without sacrificing the academic repution is making positive progress.

How does one conclude that there is a lack administrative support when all the facts are contrary?  Cornell is an academic institution first.  Yes.  I don't think your folks foot the bill for your education just for you to run track and play a couple of years of football.  You got admitted to law school.  Not everyone does.  You have the opportunity to put on your resume that you graduated from one of the best academic institutions in Iowa.  You also got the opportunity to experience success as an All-American in Track...if you think you did that on your own and without administrative support then, son, there is little hope for you.

But I would hope for you is to actually read what you write and consider objectively if you are expressing facts or opinions.  Do not misrepresent your opinion as fact.  So the football team went 0-10 last year.  It wasn't for a lack of trying...ask Central, Luther, and Wartburg...good teams we competed hard against.  Joe Wascenske would not have made one bit difference on that mark.

We love opinions on this boards...but be prepared to have your facts checked and challenged...and your opinions dissected...and don't be a wuss about it.

[5 Words or Less]

Thought for the day:

The fewer the words, the better the prayer.

-Martin Luther

Hallelujah Brother Martin!!!

[5 Words or Less]

Thought for the day:

The fewer the words, the better the prayer.

-Martin Luther

Hallelujah Brother Martin!!!

Dear God;

Stop PH/84's argument.

Amen

[SpeedKills84]

84:  It is my sincerest hope, that as a representative of the type of education Cornell has to offer; and as a student of the law you will assimilate the following as constructive criticism and an attempt to enlighten you...all so that you can feel good about supporting your alma mater as both an athletic and academic institution.

But let us take a look at the facts of the recent future.  Bear in mind this is relative to Cornell only...I don't think it is fair to compare the influence of Sugar Daddy Joe Chlplaty at UD or what Wartburg's done at the new W.  These were done with resources Cornell simply does not have.  But with the resources available Cornell has done the following:

Hired a new AD, who reports to the President.
Named an Assistant AD
Added Athletic Department admin staff for recruiting coordination
Added a new Athletic Trainer
Added a Director of Soccer
Added a full time Strength and Conditioning coach available to all programs
Hired a new baseball coach

Cornell has made $1.3 Million in capital improvements to the Athletic facilities including the Small Multi-Sport Center, the Meyer Strength Training Facility, nearly doubled in size; expanded The Meredith Wrestling Complex; In March 2009, the Rams christened the new Mount Vernon Softball Complex in cooperation with the Mt. Vernon community; Created the Purple Pass program for the local community to see all Ram sporting events for free.  There are future plans for renovating Ash Park, but Cornell is wisely postponing given the uncertain economy.

The results:  Cornell has qualified teams and individuals for NCAA championship play.  Numerous athletes have received All-IIAC honors in nearly every sport.  We have had NCAA All-Americans and we have even more athletes and entire teams earning All-academic athletic awards.  These are incontrovertible facts.  The fact is that Cornell's goal to upgrade its Athletic profile without sacrificing the academic repution is making positive progress.

But I would hope for you is to actually read what you write and consider objectively if you are expressing facts or opinions.  Do not misrepresent your opinion as fact.  So the football team went 0-10 last year.  It wasn't for a lack of trying...ask Central, Luther, and Wartburg...good teams we competed hard against.  Joe Wascenske would not have made one bit difference on that mark.

We love opinions on this boards...but be prepared to have your facts checked and challenged...and your opinions dissected...and don't be a wuss about it.

I take constructive criticism pretty well.  But for you, the best thing would be to squash your condescending tone.  Trying to talk down to me does not do you any good.  You are not going to impress me, and it makes it hard to take you seriously.  I already feel plenty good about supporting Cornell academically and athletically and don't need to be enlightened.

$1.3 million over 3 years is not a whole lot of money.  Compare that to what Cornell received/spent on non-athletic buildings/remodelings over that time which is easily in the tens of millions of dollars.  A miniscule amount.  The results you boast of are a sign of some progress to get Cornell on par with the kind of athletic prowess they had of years past.  Check back 10-20 years and see how many All-Americans, All-Conference, etc. Cornell had each year.  They would put all of us newbies to shame.  I could only hope Cornell displays the success they used to have.

I am aware of the difference between fact and opinion.  If you really want to debate that, you don't know what Joe's impact could/could not have been.  He could have locked down the only victory or gave away your only chance.  To assert he could not have possibly changed anything or even helped secure a win is naive and far from fact.  I thought this argument was long over.  

If you think I'm a wuss as you so eloquently put it...well you wonder why I don't take you seriously.  Not only do you like to talk to me about my athletics, marginal stats, irresponsibility, but I'm a wuss on top.  I've never even met you.  Simply amazing.

[Ash Park]

I hope that one day the ram fans can argue about which Cornell Iowa Conference Championship team was better  

[warthog]

Thought for the day:

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some football teams or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.

-Frank Zappa

[Charlie Kohawk]

This was posted on another board.  Think it will catch on in the IIAC?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-08-14-pregame-handshake_N.htm

GO SPARTANS!

Now that Eric Raeburn is no longer coaching in the IIAC, it has a much better chance.

Cheap shot. Wartburg fans should know better considering their own coaching legacy.

Which current/former Wartburg coach flat-out refused to shake hands with his counterpart from another school exactly?

None that I'm personally aware of. Here's a better question: Which former Wartburg coach referred to his opponent from Cedar Rapids as "white trash" to his players during a heated game?

[warthog]

Charlie:

I don't doubt it was said, however I believe you misunderstood who he was talking about.  He was likely commenting about some of us Wartburg fans.  He didn't like us either. 

[Charlie Kohawk]

Check out this video from Coe's media day of Steve Staker talking about his friend Ed Thomas' death. The video, by the way, was by my friend and Gazette reporter Jeff Johnson who showed up even though he was on vacation. Such is life in the media these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opv-Fom4-Tc&feature=player_embedded