MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[colincondi]

I don't know that calling someone a racist in a public forum is what I would consider "funny."  I call that a serious allegation, and that is not a word that should be thrown around freely.  Wilburt, I have seen many of your posts throughout the months and years, and I've always had the utmost respect for you.  That is why I am disappointed that this discussion as taken the turn that it has.  You obviously love your university, which I admire.  But I think you are being a bit irrational here in stating that Lambert is a racist.  Do you know the man?  How many conversations have you had with him?  If all the other GSAC schools were historically black institutions, and Lambert were black, would you be making these statements?  If not, you are judging Lambert based on the color of HIS skin, which is and of itself, being just what you accuse him of being.

Have you ever stepped back to consider that there just might be something other than race involved here?  Is there even the slightest chance?

Wilburt, you are a good man, but I'm afraid you have overreacted in this case.

[Highlander]

Wilburt- I have no ax to grind. I am not only talking about the QOWI, but also how playing againest inferior competition affects the other members of the GSAC with regards to preparing to play againest the best of the best during tourney time, This is similiar to the discussions you had regarding MC's non-conference opponents in B-ball, and how that affected the way they performed during the tourney. With they way you talk about Lambert I almost have the feeling that you might be blinded by your personal dislike for him and not the issues at hand. To me it seemed that there are more coaches in the GSAC that might have the same feelings. Also, maybe I keep repeating the same question because you have not provided an answer on why Fisk has not been able to be competitive in the other sports.

[GSAC Killer]

I wish Coach Lambert would read this nonsense we are talking about.  Coach if you would get to read these posts KEEP FISK IN THE GSAC so that the Soccer, Volleyball, Baseball, Girls Basketball team can go 2-84 again next year, and the following so on-and on and on..

  Fisk needs to be an independent for good... Bring on Sewanee, and Ogelthorpe...

[mattgrubb]

Yes, lambert is a racist, when i played for him he always made the black, hispanic, native american, and the white players sit next to each in team meetings or in the cafeteria or on the bus and we even had a fight  between a black and a white player and he addressed it this way, there is only one color on the maryville college fighting scots basketball team:   Orange and Garnett

think about the man is wise beyond his years

Maybe the greater issue is that he just wants to get rid of fisk and move the 4 remaining schools into the USA South, which changed its name from Dixie to be more PC

[Highlander]

We can only dream about moving into the USA South conference. Talk about really steppin up for all of MC's sports. An AQ for every conference winner in each sport (mens and womens).

[wilburt]

Let me make it plain Highlander.  Fisk is not competitive in some sports due to LACK OF $$$$$$$. How many times and ways can I say that?  

I'll admit I may have overeacted, if you'll (colincondi) admit that Lambert is overreacting by doing what he his doing. I don't know the man so I can only judge him by his conduct and to me actions speaks louder than words.  Fisk's competitiveness is a smokescreen issue, I believe there are other issues driving this.  If this were just competitiveness issues and Lambert was acting in "good faith" then IMHO expulsion would not be the answer.  That's if that was the real issue.  I am not minimizing the competitiveness issue, but proposing expulsion is using a cannon to kill a fly.  It's overkill!  WHY?  Is it personal?  Is it racist?  You tell me...        

[mattgrubb]

I believe the thinking is the USA south wants the 4 teams from the gsac and not fisk and that if fisk is not in the gsac it would be a seemless transition, just a thought but it seems plausible

Lambert 4 life, i hope Andy Chaney gets on here and tells us all how it is going to play out

[Highlander]

Wilburt,
I completely understand if Fisk has trouble with the money issue. I just wonder how they can have a money issue if they were once a member of the SCAC. Is there not a requirement regarding the size of the schools endownment in regards to membership? Is that the reason they left the SCAC ( not trying to be a smart a- -)? Also, in regards to Lambert, how do you know that the other coaches don't feel the same way? Maybe they do, and they just haven't made it public. I would rather someone be straightfoward as opposed to hiding in the shadows.

[wilburt]

I don't know why Fisk left the SCAC.  I suspect it was due to travel issues much like why Rose-Hulman left the SCAC. 

I suspected that the other coaches and ADs felt the same way. It would be a surprise to me if they didn't.

[colincondi]

Wilburt,

I'm not sure why you insist that Lambert is the one behind this.  Obviously, the article you posted was from a Maryville newspaper.  Common sense says that the reporter is going to mostly get the AD at Maryville's point of view.  If a LaGrange paper had come out with the article, I'm sure they would have mostly gotten Phil Williamson's point of view.  The article mentioned that which school raised this issue was not public knowledge.  It also mentioned that expelling fisk was not the only issue.  They mentioned the article from a couple of weeks back about three schools (but not maryville) leaving the gsac to join another conference.

So just because Lambert is asked questions by a reporter and answers them does not mean that he is behind this.  In fact, I heard that Fisk might be voted out a couple of months ago from a coach at another GSAC school (believe it or not, I'm not a Maryville guy), so perhaps someone else is behind this. And just because Lambert is white and Fisk is a well-respected historically black school does not mean that racism is involved.  Fisk has had a very good men's basketball program (and knocking on the door of great) the last few years.  That is about it.  The rest of the athletic teams, for the most part, are a bit of a joke around the GSAC, from what I have heard.  I am not trying to be harsh in saying that... just stating what I have heard.  I have personally seen Fisk's soccer team lose 18-0 a couple of years ago.   I have never seen Fisk's facilities, so I cannot comment on those.  Today is the first time I've ever seen budget figures.

I understand your frustrations Wilburt.  But lashing out at lambert, accusing him of being behind it, and charging racism is over the top, in my opinion.  I have seen you on a number of occasions urge restraint and a more civil dialogue... I would urge you to do the same in this case.  Please be careful when you label someone a racist.  Casting stones like that can often be harmful, and at times counter-productive.

Colincondi (secretary of state)

[wilburt]

Thank you all for this discussion.  I'm tired and ready to go home. 

My comments have added salt to this open wound so I'll voluntarily remove myself from further discussions on the GSAC Board for at least the rest of the summer if not longer.

It is clear that some time in the near future Fisk will be leaving the GSAC.   It is my hope that we go D2 and rejoin the SIAC like Stillman did.  I wish you all the best and hope you get your AQ and your QOWI improves ASAP.  I've spoken my mind cause I believe a free and honest dialogue is the first step to resolve any dispute or problems.  I dislike the fact that people today really don't speak their minds in this day and age. 

You all know where I'm coming from and to Lambert's credit we know where he publically stands although it is overkill IMHO.  I'm still upset and angry about how this is being handled but this too shall pass...  There are more important things in life than sports!   Adieu for the summer

[Pat Coleman]

I don't know why Fisk left the SCAC.

Perhaps it wasn't voluntary.

[scotswin]

Highlander speaking to the media is a minor issue with me, but let me state again.  How has Fisk's performance impeded the GSAC?  In order for me to accept your generalizations please point to me (in sufficient detail) where Fisk's QOWI has impeded the other GSAC teams from receiving Pool B bids in the other sports.  Otherwise I am inclined to believe it is just a matter of perception/conjecture on your part and others. 

Wilburt,

Yes, here is one instance in which playing Fisk kept a GSAC team from earning a pool B bid:

2001 Maryville College soccer team was 14-2-2.  Three wins were over a Fisk team that didn't score a goal all year.  Fisks QOWI was 0.00.  A committe member actually admitted that had Maryville allowed Fisk to win one of the three games, Maryville's QOWI would have increased enough to get them in the tournament.  I don't have Maryville's QOWI from that year but I know for a fact that playing Fisk three times significantly hindered there chances of making the tournament. 

Since then, the formula has changed so that wins against any team with less than a .333 winning percentage are equal (previously there was a very low point total for wins a against a team with a .000 winning percentage). 

The fact is that Basketball has nothing to do with this action.  Basketball is the model program at Fisk.  In the other sports, it's as if there is no attempt to compete. 

[Spencer Beaty]

Whoa seems like I have missed a lot boys.  Wilburt, hows it going.  I would like to take this time to say what up to the MC posters.  Who is this Highlander guy/girl anyway.  Well I dont know about all these race issues, but i dont think that race will affect my views of any posters.  Hating on Wilburt by anyone other than me or Grubb is strictly forbidden from hence forth. 

[Spencer Beaty]

with all that aside now this is my real post.  I just like to boost my stats.  I think all of these conflicts/issues aside.  It is stime to talk basketball.  MC has a very deep team that was made a little less so when JJ and trey brewer quit the team.  We still have bo bob Q sam alex jerms bradely orr and maybe some freshman competing for minutes this year.  Hope the scots better last years effort and finally go deep in the NCAA's