MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[mybleedinghands]

Don't get me started on the ODAC venue issue.  The damn solution is to play the games at the higher seed all the way through the tournament.  As good as the game was last night in Salem it was ashame the environment couldn't have been more like a college environment.  There were maybe 20 students there for the game.  The loudest people in the gym were the "young" alumni of Rhoades Era.  Massive empty space in the place...Depressing looking back on it.

It is ashamed...Game at VWC or Macon would have produced an unbelievable environment...Instead we get a clown, a fiddle player, old folks...oh yeah, and powdered wigs, canes, and seat cushions.  Lord help me!

P.S. This post takes nothing away from the game, the players, the coaches, or the officials.  One hell of a game, but it would have been nice to have it at VWC or Macon even though I probably wouldn't have been able to go to either of those locations.

Would the championship game have been as good if it were held a VW? I doubt it. The home court is a powerful benefit. I doubt VW's opponents would have played them as close on VW's court in the 2 prior games. Imagine the #1 seed set to probably play 3 in a row at home. How many visiting fans would you attract? Why would they show up at VW rather than come to Salem?  Playing on a neutral court is better for all the underdogs and better for the eventual champion. If you're going to make any noise in the NCAA's you have to get used to playing away from home for the big wins.

So please 3sdown (even though you kicked my butt in the pick'ems for the tourney) give it a rest. I for one think you're dead wrong on this topic.

All I can say if VWC had a semi-final and Championship ODAC game in its gym IT is a sad state of affairs down at the VWC campus if the school couldn't pack the gym...I am not speaking about anything in relation to the team or the players, but that is SAD!  I know if Macon was the higher seed for the Semi-Finals and the Finals the gym would be at capacity.  Maybe that is just a difference in TRADITION.  Not sure? 

I hope if VWC gets home games or hosts one of these regional sites in this new NCAA Tournament that they are able to turn the people out b/c there team sure does deserve that support. 

And in regards to cost...Holding the games at the higher seed would cost very little other than staff time at the ODAC Schools.  So I am tired of hearing that excuse as well.  And I don't think anyone has mentioned the biggest joke of excuse in my mind:  The Final Four is played in Salem and it gives the ODAC a "heads-up" playing there for the Tournament.  What a joke...In my mind!

And most importantly I think we leave the students out of the EVENT.  At Macon when RMC receives a bid for the NCAA Tournament and gets a home game tickets are hard to come by...even for students, but the place is packed with students and it is a great environment.  I just think we have gotten away from our roots and I would like to see the attraction back on the ODAC Campuses (and the nice facilities these schools are building).  But, as you say, baselinejam, I will stop beating this dead horse until next year around the same time...I don't want Jim with his camera out looking for the carcus!

if VWC can't pack the gym for any possible ncaa game they host it is quite sad! LC isn't known for having the greatest of attendance for its sports (although we do get more fans than any other odac team sor some sports), but if we can get a crap load of people for women's soccer then they should be able to pack the gym for their games!

[jeloesel]

 I don't want Jim with his camera out looking for the carcus!

3sdown,
Too late.  Jim and his camera found a carcass or two and even some powdered wigs at The Event.

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[hasanova]

WOW!!! i get sick for a few days, come back and read about how horrible my school, ouch, however i don't believe in all this back and forth stuff, anywayz, i just wanted to congradulate the Quakers on a mighty fine season, they had some ups and down and any young team would, but they had a great season. i look forward to returning next year, and filling whatever role Coach Palombo has for me. i guess not playing makes you appreciate the game more. i hope to play a large role, and help make Ben even more dominate by taking some attention off of him, but we are full of talent here, so every minute is going to be a battle, hopefully next year we can improve our "non tradition" lol!!
its been fun, hopefully i will see many of you next season!!

Genaro - I agree, the Quakers had some bright spots this year and I feel they will be even better next season.  Trust me, whatever role you play next year will be "large."    It was good to see you in the stands at so many games this year and I really look forward to seeing you on the court next fall.

[justafan02]

Don't know where this notion of VWC not packing the house came into play.  I mean I am not saying they have the greatest attendance in the country, but its not horrible, especially for the big games.  Macon and Sydney usually draw 1,000 or so people each year and last years NCAA game against New Jersey City brought in 1,315.  That leaves standing room basically.  And boys, you must remember there are only 1,200 full time students at VWC. 

[oldfish]

I gotta agree with JAF02.  I am not sure where this talk of poor fan support on the part of VWC comes from.  They got almost 1300 people for the RMC game this year and almost 800 for the LC game on a Wednesday.  From what i remember, those seem like pretty good crowds for an ODAC game.

[mybleedinghands]

Don't know where this notion of VWC not packing the house came into play.  I mean I am not saying they have the greatest attendance in the country, but its not horrible, especially for the big games.  Macon and Sydney usually draw 1,000 or so people each year and last years NCAA game against New Jersey City brought in 1,315.  That leaves standing room basically.  And boys, you must remember there are only 1,200 full time students at VWC. 

yes, but look at the area VWC is in! the largest metropolitan area in the US without a major professional sports franchise! get some marketing students to market the games/team some and with the teams success they could probably average 1000 fans a game, at least when the students are in session. i don't know if it costs anything, but if it does i imagine its pretty cheap to the point where basically anyone can afford it.

[hasanova]

Don't know where this notion of VWC not packing the house came into play.  I mean I am not saying they have the greatest attendance in the country, but its not horrible, especially for the big games.  Macon and Sydney usually draw 1,000 or so people each year and last years NCAA game against New Jersey City brought in 1,315.  That leaves standing room basically.  And boys, you must remember there are only 1,200 full time students at VWC. 

yes, but look at the area VWC is in! the largest metropolitan area in the US without a major professional sports franchise! get some marketing students to market the games/team some and with the teams success they could probably average 1000 fans a game, at least when the students are in session. i don't know if it costs anything, but if it does i imagine its pretty cheap to the point where basically anyone can afford it.

Scottie, I think that might be just the opposite of what really happens in larger metro areas.  Personally, I think the most successful DIII programs for attendance (football and basketball) are often in smaller towns where they are the only game in town.  In some cities, there are simply too many entertainment choices and, unless you have a tie to a particular DIII program, you simply won't consider going to a game.  Guilford, for example, is in a county with 7 colleges.  Three play DI sports, three play DIII sports and one plays JC.  That doesn't even count WFU, WSSU, Elon, Salem College and the Big Three over in the Triangle.  If I lived in Emory or Ashland or Farmville and was looking for something to do, I might decide to attend an ODAC game.  In towns like Greensboro and Virginia Beach, it may be about your 10th choice.   

[hasanova]

I gotta agree with JAF02.  I am not sure where this talk of poor fan support on the part of VWC comes from.  They got almost 1300 people for the RMC game this year and almost 800 for the LC game on a Wednesday.  From what i remember, those seem like pretty good crowds for an ODAC game.

By the way, if VWC is drawing those sorts of crowds, that's great!  The biggest crowds I've ever seen at Guilford were about 1100 for two NCAA First Round Women's games and it was wonderful.  Those crowds really dramatically and positively changed the game atmosphere. 

[mybleedinghands]

Scottie, I think that might be just the opposite of what really happens in larger metro areas.  Personally, I think the most successful DIII programs for attendance (football and basketball) are often in smaller towns where they are the only game in town.  In some cities, there are simply too many entertainment choices and, unless you have a tie to a particular DIII program, you simply won't consider going to a game.  Guilford, for example, is in a county with 7 colleges.  Three play DI sports, three play DIII sports and one plays JC.  That doesn't even count WFU, WSSU, Elon, Salem College and the Big Three over in the Triangle.  If I lived in Emory or Ashland or Farmville and was looking for something to do, I might decide to attend an ODAC game.  In towns like Greensboro and Virginia Beach, it may be about your 10th choice.   

well that is true! thats where the marketing aspect comes in! if they have a sports management (or marketing) program down there they should get kids in the program to market the bball team to increase the already good attendance! it will benefit the team, the spectator's environment (as long as it doesnt bring in too many jerk fans), and it just simply looks good on a student's resume!

[algernon]

Don't know where this notion of VWC not packing the house came into play.  I mean I am not saying they have the greatest attendance in the country, but its not horrible, especially for the big games.  Macon and Sydney usually draw 1,000 or so people each year and last years NCAA game against New Jersey City brought in 1,315.  That leaves standing room basically.  And boys, you must remember there are only 1,200 full time students at VWC. 

HSC average home game attendance during regular season:
2002-03:  916
2003-04: 1056
2004-05:  823
2005-06:  725

HSC home game attendance for NCAA Tournament:
2000, v. Maryville:  1919
2001, v. Gettysburg:  NA
2002, v. N.C. Wesleyan:  NA
2003, v. SCAD:  1283
2004, v. Elizabethtown:  1640

[algernon]

If I lived in Emory or Ashland or Farmville and was looking for something to do, I might decide to attend an ODAC game.  In towns like Greensboro and Virginia Beach, it may be about your 10th choice.   

Hasanova .... How can you possibly suggest that there's not a whole lot to do in Farmvegas?

[hasanova]

If I lived in Emory or Ashland or Farmville and was looking for something to do, I might decide to attend an ODAC game.  In towns like Greensboro and Virginia Beach, it may be about your 10th choice.   

Hasanova .... How can you possibly suggest that there's not a whole lot to do in Farmvegas?

Been there, done that, so I have "data" to back me up.  lol   By the way, I grew up in the unincorporated community of Claudville, VA - try finding that on a map.  Farmville is absolutely "big time" compared to Claudville.    Claudville has "You are entering" and  "You are leaving" on the same sign.   Until just a few years ago, the ONLY traffic signal in Patrick County was a mock intersection in the parking lot at Patrick County HS, so they could teach Driver's Ed.   Now, that's small town America! 

[baselinejam]

OK - I may have mis-communicated; my point wasn't that VW wouldn't pack the house. I think home teams would draw even more than usual, making the home court advantage even greater. My point is that visiting teams rarely draw a lot of fans. Is the tournament held for the fans of only 4 schools in round 1, 2 schools in semi's & 1 school in the final? Being the #1 or #2 team is reward in itself. Do you need to have the home court as well?

I like the idea of upsets and I'm a huge ACC fan - it seems to have worked for them. I'll  repeat myself in that I know (being D-3) we will never have the rabid support of the ACC. I still think the tournament is for the players 1st & foremost.

I think the ODAC does it right and we all have something special because of the tourney being held in Salem.

Now I'll let this issue rest until next year too.

[3sdown]

baselinejam-

No comment on your opinions...We all know where I stand.

Jim-

No comment on your photographs...You aren't sucking me into it!  At least not until February 2007!

[tigerfanalso]

I like the neutral site as well. I think it draws a fan base from all schools, not just a few, and I think it makes for better b'ball and is more fair to the players. Just imagine the 07 ODAC finals being hosted by #1 seed VWC vs. E&H, some 8 hours away. There would not be one E&H supported in the gym... somehow that doesn't seem fair nor appropriate for the home team to have that big of an advantage . Again, if the ODAC schools as well as the ODAC itself get together and figure out a better marketing approach, fan participation and support will increase, I think. Hell,  invite all the youth leagues around the Roanoke area, get them involved, the kids would love it and their parents would be forced to come. Community involvement is my point and that goes well past fan base from the ODAC schools.