MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Brian Hamilton]

Jdub,

I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment.  From following HSC basketball I have seen how much the basketball players give back to the community.  After the 1999 season when we lost in 2OT, the college hosted an event to congratulate the team on their contributions.  That event was well attended by locals who brought their kids.  The basketball players took time to talk with the kids and signed team photos for all of those who were present.  I know at least one young child, my brother-in-law who was extremely excited when he got a signed photo of that 98-99 Tiger team.  D3 sports is all about character and playing for the love of the game.  What better motive and life lesson could we teach young men and women?

[David Collinge]

Surprisingly, Bridgewater took the D3 Championship Belt from RMC in that victory this evening.

Sludge .... I'm sorry, but what do you mean when you say that?

algernon, I should have asked this question last night, because I didn't understand it either.  sludge, what did you mean, that BC had a nice road upset over the Jackets?

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=5070.0

[sludge]

We tend to forget, don't we, that this is DIII basketball where coaches don't get paid a lot of money and the kids play because they love the game not because it's a staging ground for the pros. We are also "up close and personal" with the teams and their benches and we hear both the frustrations and the congratulations. I feel very fortunate that my son played DIII basketball. We both learned a lot about life during his four years at VWC thanks, in large part, to the coaches and the supportive administration. 

Good point, and its understandable that a coach may need to clean house and rebuild when things have gotten off track.

[sludge]

That D3 Championship Belt thing has a board under the mult-regional topics.  This virtual belt is looked at like a WWF Championship Belt, that is passed to the next team whenever they beat the belt holder.  Its just for fun.    By this rule, the belt has made its way from VWC's hands at the start of the season, via a path that was more twisting than you'd expect, into Bridgewater's hands last night.

It doesn't detract from VWC as the real defending champs at all.  And I think folks mainly care about who holds it at the end of the season!  8)

[Jacketlawyer]

That D3 Championship Belt thing has a board under the mult-regional topics.  This virtual belt is looked at like a WWF Championship Belt, that is passed to the next team whenever they beat the belt holder. 

Yeah, after the link was provided, I read the thread.  Pretty funny, but then again, I'm very easily amused. 8)

[hasanova]

Surprisingly, Bridgewater took the D3 Championship Belt from RMC in that victory this evening.

Sludge .... I'm sorry, but what do you mean when you say that?

algernon, I should have asked this question last night, because I didn't understand it either.  sludge, what did you mean, that BC had a nice road upset over the Jackets?

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=5070.0

Ah, now I understand.  Please forgive me, but I hadn't read that board.  If I understand this correctly, Guilford has an opportunity to reclaim it when they visit Bridgewater on Saturday, Feb. 10.

As someone else said earlier, it seems like a somewhat useless exercise, but is this the sequence?

VWC had it for winning the 2006 NCAA DIII championship
then they lost the belt to Averett
then Averett lost the belt to Guilford
then Guilford lost the belt to VWC
then VWC lost the belt to E&H
then E&H lost the belt to RMC
then RMC lost the belt to BC
and now BC will play GC next on Feb. 10

[hasanova]

That D3 Championship Belt thing has a board under the mult-regional topics.  This virtual belt is looked at like a WWF Championship Belt, that is passed to the next team whenever they beat the belt holder. 

Yeah, after the link was provided, I read the thread.  Pretty funny, but then again, I'm very easily amused. 8)

Yes, thank God, so am I.  lol

[justafan02]

Justafan02,

Let me tell you how proud, I am, and others are of the leadership at EMU.  You must really have no idea about EMU's coaching staff. 

I never said anything about the character of these men, their playing ability as players, or their win loss record.  If YOU, would have seen the back talk that all the coaches took from one particular player, you would have been dumbfounded.

I know Kirby has it tough with some players who left, and I felt bad last night for Parkes and Sager, who are great players be so frustrated after such success in years past. 

However, I don't think anyone should take the talking back from players.  Kids, most often, only do what they can get away with.  As much leadership as their is on that bench, someone should have put an end to it rather than let the player keep talking.

[allsky7]

Jdub,

I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment.  From following HSC basketball I have seen how much the basketball players give back to the community.  After the 1999 season when we lost in 2OT, the college hosted an event to congratulate the team on their contributions.  That event was well attended by locals who brought their kids.  The basketball players took time to talk with the kids and signed team photos for all of those who were present.  I know at least one young child, my brother-in-law who was extremely excited when he got a signed photo of that 98-99 Tiger team.  D3 sports is all about character and playing for the love of the game.  What better motive and life lesson could we teach young men and women?

     I know we are talking about character building, etc. and don't mean to change the subject but the subject of the H-SC 1999 NC game has come up a couple of times in the last few days. I still get a knot in my stomach when I think about that game. Absolutely, the most incredible game I have ever witnessed in person. (and maybe ever) The only other two games that I can recall even in the same league were the 1980 USA hockey team and the 1977 football playoff game between H-SC and Albany State.
     The 99 NC game was one H-SC should have/could have won. I remember sitting in stunned emotional exaustion next to my father at the end. We just looked at each other but couldn't even speak.I will also never forget seeing the Tiger players receiving the runner up plaque. It seemed as though they didn't want to go get it because they knew they should be getting the other one. That and the fact they were physically and emotionally exausted too. I'm sure they were later able to realize and appreciate what they accomplished but I know that was a tough pill to swallow. In life, you are lucky to even get one opportunity like that. That missed opportunity feeling was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I doubt that I was the only one feeling that way.
     I think too you have to give credit to a Plattville program that had an incredible run under Bo Ryan. I had the privilege of seeing UWP play several times during that era.
     Ok... sorry... Now back to your regularly scheduled program. 

[allsky7]

Jdub,

I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment.  From following HSC basketball I have seen how much the basketball players give back to the community.  After the 1999 season when we lost in 2OT, the college hosted an event to congratulate the team on their contributions.  That event was well attended by locals who brought their kids.  The basketball players took time to talk with the kids and signed team photos for all of those who were present.  I know at least one young child, my brother-in-law who was extremely excited when he got a signed photo of that 98-99 Tiger team.  D3 sports is all about character and playing for the love of the game.  What better motive and life lesson could we teach young men and women?

     I know we are talking about character building, etc. and don't mean to change the subject but the subject of the H-SC 1999 NC game has come up a couple of times in the last few days. I still get a knot in my stomach when I think about that game. Absolutely, the most incredible game I have ever witnessed in person. (and maybe ever) The only other two games that I can recall even in the same league were the 1980 USA hockey team and the 1977 football playoff game between H-SC and Albany State.
     The 99 NC game was one H-SC should have/could have won. I remember sitting in stunned emotional exaustion next to my father at the end. We just looked at each other but couldn't even speak.I will also never forget seeing the Tiger players receiving the runner up plaque. It seemed as though they didn't want to go get it because they knew they should be getting the other one. That and the fact they were physically and emotionally exausted too. I'm sure they were later able to realize and appreciate what they accomplished but I know that was a tough pill to swallow. In life, you are lucky to even get one opportunity like that. That missed opportunity feeling was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I doubt that I was the only one feeling that way.
     I think too you have to give credit to a Plattville program that had an incredible run under Bo Ryan. I had the privilege of seeing UWP play several times during that era.
     Ok... sorry... Now back to your regularly scheduled program. 

     And one additional comment to drive the point home. Anything powerful enough to render ME speechless is a powerful thing indeed!! 

[tigerfanalso]

Allsky7

The 1977 playoff game was/is the best game I  had the pleasure to play in. 30 years later I still play the "what if" game on that one ... still brothers me and always will .

The 1999 NC game was/is by far the most exciting sporting event I've have witnessed. I could not have been exhausted had I played in the game myself.

Fond memories all and two great examples of how mucg enjoyment sports have to offer ... even at the D111 level.

[Jacketlawyer]

That 1999 edition of the Tigers was one for the ages. . . .

Just thought I'd chip in my $0.02.  Enjoyed all the posts today on that subject.

[DeWayneCarter]

Well guys, its been kind of etched in stone that VWC's Stephen Fields won't win freshman of the year since he hasn't played the last couple of games since the knee injury...... since he is out of the equation I think Trawick from Bridgewater will get the title.... without him that team wouldn't have a scoring threat.

[allsky7]

Allsky7

The 1977 playoff game was/is the best game I  had the pleasure to play in. 30 years later I still play the "what if" game on that one ... still brothers me and always will .

The 1999 NC game was/is by far the most exciting sporting event I've have witnessed. I could not have been exhausted had I played in the game myself.

Fond memories all and two great examples of how mucg enjoyment sports have to offer ... even at the D111 level.

     While I wasn't a player in the 77 game, I was a participant....sorta. I was a 14 year old ball boy on the Albany sidelines. I distinctly remember hearing two of the Albany players talking and say "there is no way they can come back". It was 35 to 8 I believe at that point. Being a Tiger fan, I could barely contain myself when it was tied at 38. Not being able to finish off the W was disappointing but it still didn't change the fact it was an incredible game.

[hasanova]

I remember a game that was not a national championship game, but it was a very heated rivalry nonetheless.  Guilford was playing Elon at the Greensboro Coliseum as the first game of a Carolinas Conference college/ABA professional doubleheader.  They used to do that all the time, with Guilford, High Point, Elon, Catawba and others playing the first game before the ABA's Carolina Cougars played the Nets, Pacers or whoever was scheduled.

Anyway, Elon led Guilford 81-64 with about 5 minutes to go and then the Quakers started to make a furious comeback led by future NBA all-stars M. L. Carr and Lloyd (World B.) Free.  First thing you know, it's 87-86 Elon with about a second to go and Elon has the ball out of bounds under their own basket.  All they have to do is inbound the ball and the game is over.  Guilford lined up a couple of guys in a "picket fence" sort of defense similar to what you might see when soccer players try to defend a penalty kick.  The Elon player took the inbounds play, immediately turned to dribble and was called for charging into one of the Quakers in the fence.  World Free went to the aptly named free throw line with 0.0 on the clock for two shots.  In fact, the referees put all the other players on the benches.  Free made both shots and Guilford won 88-87, outscoring Elon 24-6 in the last 5 minutes.  There were fights and catcalls everywhere in the stands and many of the Elon fans were so mad they left and didn't stay for the pro game.

Don't you love rivalry games?