MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[GSAC Killer]

" I spit hot fire!!!!!!!!"

Wilburt I hope everything works out for Fisk. Do I see you being a dominant athletic program in basketball at the Div II level YES!!, track more than likely, but every other sport you will find the same type of success you have had in Div 3. By the way to be perfectly honest the main reason Fisk has not been as successful as they should have been in basketball which is all I know was COACHING!!! Dr. Glover is a great person but hands down Fisk has had the most talented team the last 5 to 6 years in the GSAC. Just my opinion!

They were more talented than both of the teams I played on, but obviously to be talented is not enough all the components must fall into place..

WE AT DA VILLE have been blessed to have it all. Great athletes, coaches, and administration!!

[wilburt]

GSAC Killer:

It all depends on what you define success as...

I think the folks in Nashville may have a different definition than the folks in Maryville of what that is.  It is all in the eye of the beholder.

Yes, Killer DA VILLE has been blessed to have it all.  Good Luck to you Killer in your future endeavors as well as to you Mr. Beaty. 

By the way, I used to spit hot fire, but that's when I used to drink it first       

[old_lion]

In reference to announcing recruiting successes on the website...the kid must first sign his acceptance of his financial award letter and then the school can post.   We are going to post all of ours the week after graduation. 

Thanks for the insight Coach.

It seems to me, that the lack of the ability to sign a prospect to a letter of intent would be the single most significant factor that makes a DIII Coach's life tough.

Would you care to comment re your understanding as to why letters of intent are inconsistent with "DIII philosophy", and therefore, not allowed?

I realize there are no athletic scholarships at the DIII level and perhaps that somehow is related. But let's not kid ourselves ... most DIII schools are private, fairly expensive institutions ... and in many cases, significant non-athletic scholarship money (commitment) is involved. And even though it's "just DIII", I'm sure most DIII coaches and athletes take their sports very seriously ... and would benefit from the ability to plan and control their situations.

Seems to me, letters of intent would benefit all concerned. Frankly, I don't see their downside.

I know one thing. It would be a good thing if there were ways to discourage prospects from pulling a "runaway bride" and bolting at the last minute.

But then that's just my opinion ... I could be wrong. 

[scottiedoug]

Ralph:  Maybe you answered this but maybe not.  In D2, are schools required to have essentially the same number of varsity teams for men and women?  It is my understanding that in D3, there is such a requirement.  If D2 requires 5 or 6 sports, is it for men and women?  Am I right that D3 requires more than 5 or 6 sports?

[scottiedoug]

Fisk and Lincoln and most if not all of the other historically black colleges and universities have played very important roles in making this country a better and more democratic and inclusive place.  While they did not do that by playing ball against schools that are not historically black, and while I am sure Fisk does not "need" the GSAC to continue to fulfill its mission, I am not comfortable with what looks a lot like voluntary re-segregation.   

Great historic rivalries are fun and generate money and enthusiasm, but we cannot afford to ignore the less positive social implications of even more "hanging out with who looks like you."  Just an opinion, of course!

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph:  Maybe you answered this but maybe not.  In D2, are schools required to have essentially the same number of varsity teams for men and women?  It is my understanding that in D3, there is such a requirement.  If D2 requires 5 or 6 sports, is it for men and women?  Am I right that D3 requires more than 5 or 6 sports?

I found it!

D2 Sport Participation Requirements

(D3 now requires five and five with one sport in each of the three seasons.)

D2 requires at least 20 full scholarships and 10 for women and a $250K budget of which $125K goes to women.

[old_lion]

I am not comfortable with what looks a lot like voluntary re-segregation.   

Great historic rivalries are fun and generate money and enthusiasm, but we cannot afford to ignore the less positive social implications of even more "hanging out with who looks like you."  Just an opinion, of course!

Scottiedoug, I see your point ... segregation concerns me, as well.

Looking at the same issue from a different, and "big picture" perspective, I think assimilation is a huge issue. IMHO, the assimilation that has occurred over the last couple of hundred years or so, is one of the major factors that makes us a great nation ... and that makes this the best place in the world to live.

Back in the day, our ancestors considered themselves primarily English or Irish or African or Polish or German or Italian or whatever. Today most of us consider ourselves primarily American. That is the miracle of assimilation!

Seems to me, we are trending away from that. Consider Hispanic immigrants, for example ... There are an awful lot of people in this country who are expending great effort to make it possible for Spanish-speaking people to function quite well in the US without ever learning to speak English. What sense does that make? How will non-English-speakers ever assimilate? (Ask anyone from Quebec how that whole bi-lingual thing has worked out.) A hundred years from now, I wonder what percent of our population will consider themselves "primarily American"?

And if you think we have a problem re assimilation, check out what's going on in Europe. I'd recommend reading Mark Steyn's "America Alone", if you want an eye opener on this topic.

It's simple really ... everyone in the US should speak English ... DIII should have letters of intent ... the world would be a better place.

[scotswin]

It's simple really ... everyone in the US should speak English ... DIII should have letters of intent ... the world would be a better place.

Now those are some impressive priorities

[coachwgh]

scottiedoug, I feel you.  Very well put. 

Letters of intent would be fine with me but I am o.k. without them. I guess you get used to the fact that some kids won't be held accountable for their decisions. If they don't want to be at LC, I don't want them at LC! Sometimes D3 seems a little too much like a weekend at Banaroo, with so much freedom and being centered around the student athlete instead of get good grades, listen to coach, and be responsible.  I am not sure how many of you are familiar with the self-release program in d3. It states that if I am Bo Mason and I want to transfer to another D3 school, I don't have to tell Lambert squat about it.  I can self-release myself and speak to whoever.  If anybody on here thinks that teaches any valuable lessons, meet me out behind the tool shed. We need to talk!  That was completely off the subject but just another piece of legislation that makes it more difficult to run your programs as an intense basketball machine. 

Speaking of programs...I would like to add that May 19th we will have all five of our seniors walk across the stage and get the best liberal arts degree in the south.  Since I have been involved with the program all seniors that have finished their careers as a Panther in good athletic standing have graduated with only 2 taking five years instead of the customary 4. 

Any thoughts on moving the three point line back a whole foot?  What happened to the international distance?  This still has to get through one more group at the end of the month but I would think it would make it.  The rationale is said to be more spacing between perimeter and post.  That seems like an offensive execution problem not a dimensions problem.  Huntingdon always had good spacing between perimeter and post.  If the line goes back a whole foot, it changes a couple of things instantly.  1. % - If you are a 40% shooter at 19'9" then you will be a 35% shooter at 20'9".  Classic example was Robby Lawrence.  I stayed on him all the time that he was 40+ on the line and 35- if he was back a foot.  This percentage issue grows exponetially as the original percentage of the shooter gets lower ie..33% goes to 24%.  Yes everyone will get used to it and % will level back out but it will take some time. One good thing is that it will seperate the guys that can and can't shoot it a little bit more.  2. Defense - Does this change a teams defensive style?  It might change ours.  A Huntingdon style defense that packs it in seems to be a pretty good option since the 3fg% will drop naturally.  I don't know if we would benefit from being out in passing lanes and pressure the heck out of the ball with spacing being an issue between our help defenders.  If your philosophy is 2 passes away your help is 1/2 way between ball and their man, it opens up more skip pass options, penetrate and kick becomes more available, and flare screens become more effective.  This is assuming that there are guys on the other team that you have to guard at the new distance.  This change will effect the entire game not just where you shoot from.  I hope the decision makers are aware. 

[Ralph Turner]

Excellent discussion on the impact of the line, Coach Haynes.

Congratulations on the graduating seniors!

[wilburt]

I am not comfortable with what looks a lot like voluntary re-segregation.   

Let me just say this Doug.  I see your point and Old Lion's, but look at it from another angle - namely my own!  When schools like Fisk, Lincoln and Stillman have similar frustrating experiences in D3, it is no surprise to me that those schools would rather join (or rejoin) well established conferences with other Black Colleges so as not to deal with any more B.S. (whether it is real or imagined) from some of their colleagues in D3.

Coach Haynes I see your point about the "self-release" of some players but by the same token D3 coaches can recruit and bring in 10-20 players each year since there are no scholarships.  It all evens out in the wash... 

[scottiedoug]

Coach Haynes:  Thanks for the thoughts on the rule changes.  Did you think you could slip in the "best liberal arts degree in the south"comment without anyone saying anything?

I think I understand why Fisk, Stillman et al would choose not to put up with whatever they found stupid or racist, but I still am sorry about the implications of the decision.

Old-lion:  I am involved in some immigrants rights work and do not know anyone who is working to "allow" or even encourage people not to learn English.  You say "There are an awful lot of people in this country who are expending great effort to make it possible for Spanish-speaking people to function quite well in the US without ever learning to speak English."  My experience is that most immigrants know that learning English is necessary to doing well here.  I suggest you are listening to/reading comments by people with a different agenda than those of us who want a vibrant multicultural society.

[njlincolnlion]

scottiedoug:

To echo wilburt's point, Lincoln (PA) was surrounded by by a few hundred DIII schools, and Lincoln has tried in the past, but found the road to conference affiliation rather difficult.  I know Lincoln had physical plant problems, the lack of a real SID and some other issues, but the Trustee's chose to re-introduce football, a marching band, to enhance student life issues and address the dimishing enrollments of African American men in college generally, and HBCU's specifically.

[old_lion]

Old-lion:  I am involved in some immigrants rights work and do not know anyone who is working to "allow" or even encourage people not to learn English.  You say "There are an awful lot of people in this country who are expending great effort to make it possible for Spanish-speaking people to function quite well in the US without ever learning to speak English."  My experience is that most immigrants know that learning English is necessary to doing well here.  I suggest you are listening to/reading comments by people with a different agenda than those of us who want a vibrant multicultural society.

A vibrant multicultural society?

I don't know that I have a strong opinion about that ... that would be pretty cool I guess ... as long as all those vibrant folks from all those different cultures assimilate and eventually come to think of themselves primarily as Americans, as opposed to Tombuktuians or whateverians ... that's my primary concern.

I suggest you are listening to/reading comments by people with a different agenda than those of us who want a vibrant multicultural society.

I disagree. I don't think it's a matter of mutually exclusive alternatives. I think it's possible to both value and preserve your original culture and to become "an American". Plenty of folks have managed to do it over the past couple of hundred years.

I agree with the attitude expressed by the Prime Minister of Australia (I think, maybe it was New Zealand?) ... he said, basically (I'm not quoting) ...

Anyone is welcome here if they want to become an Australian. But don't bother coming here if you want Timbuktuian to become our second language, if you want us to officially recognize Timbuktuian holidays and customs, if you want Timbuktuian food served in our schools and prison systems, etc. etc. ad nauseam ... If you are that enamored with all your Timbuktuian "stuff", maybe you should stay in Timbuktu.

Makes sense to me ...

Scottie, I sincerely hope that your "gut feel" re this situation proves to be more accurate than mine. (My experience is that most immigrants know that learning English is necessary to doing well here.) But, "learning English" is only part of the process of assimilation ... Based on my reading and personal observations, "traditional Western Civilization" that has been responsible for so much of "what's right in the world" is in danger of coming under siege. Read Mark Steyn's book ... I'd be interested in hearing your take on it.

[old_lion]

If you are not a liberal at twenty, you have no heart. If you are not a conservative at forty, you have no brain.
- Winston Churchhill -


Hmmm ... I can see the logic in that statement ... I wonder where us Libertarians fit in ...