Around the Nation board

[Pat Coleman]

Watch out, Pat, you're gonna revive the Jack Sikma argument! 

You do and you can stop posting. I believe a college professor should be capable of knowing the difference.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pat,

As my emoticons made clear, I had NO intention of reviving that argument.

I love this board, so please do not come off as a bully and throw me off.

BUT, could you explain to me the difference between NESCAC football teams being 'in' d3 (but never playing anyone else in d3) and Jack Sikma 'not' being in d3 (but playing at a school and in a conference who followed all the rules of d3)?

Aside from a 'technical' distinction, I just don't get it.  And this has NOTHING to do with Jack Sikma, specifically!  I just don't understand the distinction that you are drawing.

[Pat Coleman]

You as a college professor should be able to know the difference between following some of the same basic tenets as a group and actually being an admitted member of the group.

[Pat Coleman]

As my emoticons made clear, I had NO intention of reviving that argument.

...

BUT, could you explain to me the difference between NESCAC football teams being 'in' d3 (but never playing anyone else in d3) and Jack Sikma 'not' being in d3 (but playing at a school and in a conference who followed all the rules of d3)?

Words speak louder than emoticons, Chuck. I'm asking you now, leave the poor dead horse alone. The ASPCA would like you to stop beating it.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pat,

I have NO intention of reviving the issue, but I would like to know how the CIRCUMSTANCES differ.

a)  the student-athlete is not at a d3 school, although the school (and conference) adhere to all d3 rules

vs.

b) the conference is officially in d3, but doesn't play ANYONE else in d3

Can you explain to me how b is more d3 than a?

[Pat Coleman]

Pat,

I have NO intention of reviving the issue, but I would like to know how the CIRCUMSTANCES differ.

a)  the student-athlete is not at a d3 school, although the school (and conference) adhere to all d3 rules

vs.

b) the conference is officially in d3, but doesn't play ANYONE else in d3

Can you explain to me how b is more d3 than a?

The schools in b) are required to follow ALL Division III rules, no matter what.

The school in a) did not offer basketball scholarships but was never subject to the NCAA's eligibility or compliance requirements. You can't prove they followed "all d3 rules" because there was no requirement for them to do so.

[wc2viking]

Just bumping in (the Jack Sikma debate?) to thank Keith for a good read in Around the Nation. 

Really sorry about the travel SNAFUs - man, I get homicidal in those #^&%^# airport security lines.  People - You have to take ALL the metal crap out of your pockets!!!! It's really not that hard!

[Pat Coleman]

What I have noticed flying a couple times a year for this web site is that I always get pulled out for extra attention. I'm convinced that it's because I'm flying to Washington Dulles. I have gotten patted down getting onto turboprops in Abilene, Texas, TWICE. Sheesh.

[Toby Taff]

What I have noticed flying a couple times a year for this web site is that I always get pulled out for extra attention. I'm convinced that it's because I'm flying to Washington Dulles. I have gotten patted down getting onto turboprops in Abilene, Texas, TWICE. Sheesh.

i didn't think they actually checked here pat.

[Pat Coleman]

Yeah, man, the only times I've ever flown out of Abilene I got pulled aside. You tell me, coincidence?

[oldpa]

You need to stop wearing those turbans when you fly.

[K-Mack]

Better late than never, the Bubble watch has been added to Around the Nation.

Um, spread the word?

[redswarm81]

Ron, are you disagreeing with Junior Assistant Guru K-Mack, who has written that the NESCAC is "small college football at its finest?"

That doesn't mean "at its most competitive" -- that statement takes things like atmosphere and rivalry and tradition into account.

1.  Hey, how do I procure Pat Coleman as my spokesman? 

2.  It would seem to me that such a broad superlative as "small college football at its finest," applied to the NESCAC while comparing relative strengths among conferences, would logically have to imply a fair amount of competitiveness.

Speaking of atmosphere rivalry and tradition, I made it up to the Dutchman's Shoes game.  Did you see me waving? 

[redswarm81]

Ron, are you disagreeing with Junior Assistant Guru K-Mack, who has written that the NESCAC is "small college football at its finest?"

I respect Keith's opinions and knowledge, but if every conference did what the NESCAC does, Division III football would be a joke.

I wholeheartedly disagree (and you can verify on the "Future of Division III" Board the wholeness of my heart).

Division III members agree to place academics before athletics.  The NESCAC clearly has the academics, and their performance in other sports makes it clear that their athletes perform at the highest Division III levels.  The only difference I see, e.g., is that Colby players get distracted during Bates and Bowdoin weeks, not during the playoffs.

Honestly, I'd be much more impressed with Division III schools on principle if they all followed the NESCAC's lead.  I'd have less fun in late November and December, but I couldn't complain about hypocrisy at schools who publicly claim to place academics ahead of athletics.

I see more hypocrisy in permitting DIII (academics before athletics) athletes to participate in national tournaments than I see in prohibiting DIII (academics before athletics) athletes from participating in five week tournaments during academic crunch time.  But that's just me.

If Keith is a "Junior Assistant Guru" then I guess I am an Associate Assistant Guru, Third Class.   

No lie Ron, I searched the D3football.com site to find where you stand in the pecking order.  I had originally written "Ron, are you disagreeing with fellow Junior Assistant Guru K-Mack . . . ?"

[Mr. Ypsi]

Honestly, I'd be much more impressed with Division III schools on principle if they all followed the NESCAC's lead.  I'd have less fun in late November and December, but I couldn't complain about hypocrisy at schools who publicly claim to place academics ahead of athletics.

I see more hypocrisy in permitting DIII (academics before athletics) athletes to participate in national tournaments than I see in prohibiting DIII (academics before athletics) athletes from participating in five week tournaments during academic crunch time.  But that's just me.

I think there are quite a few THOUSAND athletes (including many in the NESCAC) who will reject your attempts to ban ALL post-season competition in ALL sports.  Or are you still arguing the bizarre premise (from the board you killed in general d3 topics) that football is UNIQUELY evil?

In the real world (as opposed to whatever universe you live in), the football playoffs are no more (or less) disruptive than the playoffs in numerous other sports.