FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

Gallaudet is a national university that attracts students - and student athletes - from all over the country and, for that matter, all over the world.

I understand that, but from a coaching standpoint to avoid the best school(Maryland school for the Deaf) for thier purposes, just isn't a good idea.

[hasanova]

Gallaudet is a national university that attracts students - and student athletes - from all over the country and, for that matter, all over the world.

I understand that, but from a coaching standpoint to avoid the best school(Maryland school for the Deaf) for thier purposes, just isn't a good idea.

Sorry, pride, I didn't see a reference to "avoid" anywhere.  I'm sure Gallaudet gets its share of hearing impaired students from Maryland and the greater Baltimore/DC metro area, but I also just wanted to highlight the fact that Gallaudet has a much more global impact in the hearing impaired community than just the Washington metro area.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

nova-

That is fine. I probably wasn't clear.  I even looked at the basketball roster to see what players they had on thier team; there weren't many Maryland players on the team. (Maryland school for the Deaf, did win the national championship this year in basketball as well.) The school has one 20 National Championships since 2000 in the 11 sports that they offer.

It is a good sports school and Gallaudet is in a good spot for these players.

I want to see every high school athlete play in college somewhere.  Even if they have to create a NCAA D4 Intramural division

That is the problem with some of the kids back from where I am from, if it isn't D1 they don't want to play.  It has gotten better recently and more of them are accepting the idea that they aren't d1 caliber.

[Pat Coleman]

I want to see every high school athlete play in college somewhere.  Even if they have to create a NCAA D4 Intramural division.

That isn't necessary, trust me. I played basketball and baseball in high school, started games as a senior in baseball, and I was not good enough to play baseball in college.

Any college program that I could have made would not have been worth it from a competitive standpoint.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

I want to see every high school athlete play in college somewhere.  Even if they have to create a NCAA D4 Intramural division.

That isn't necessary, trust me. I played basketball and baseball in high school, started games as a senior in baseball, and I was not good enough to play baseball in college.

Any college program that I could have made would not have been worth it from a competitive standpoint.

Let me rephrase it little bit. I think every high school player should at least attempt it.  If they realize that it just isn't worth it or they don't even make the team then they shouldn't continue to pursue it. Where I come from there are kids that just won't attempt it. I keep in contact with a quite a few coaches from my high school that are amazed on how much talent goes wasted.  My school competes year in and year on the state level and most won't try it. There is never any harm in trying.

I know a player a few years ago from MD she was the player of the year for softball had an ERA of something like .16 and she said she wasn't going to even play softball in college.  She changed her mind she is playing d3 softball right now.

[hasanova]

I want to see every high school athlete play in college somewhere.  Even if they have to create a NCAA D4 Intramural division.

That isn't necessary, trust me. I played basketball and baseball in high school, started games as a senior in baseball, and I was not good enough to play baseball in college.

Any college program that I could have made would not have been worth it from a competitive standpoint.

Let me rephrase it little bit. I think every high school player should at least attempt it.  If they realize that it just isn't worth it or they don't even make the team then they shouldn't continue to pursue it. Where I come from there are kids that just won't attempt it. I keep in contact with a quite a few coaches from my high school that are amazed on how much talent goes wasted.  My school competes year in and year on the state level and most won't try it. There is never any harm in trying.

I know a player a few years ago from MD she was the player of the year for softball had an ERA of something like .16 and she said she wasn't going to even play softball in college.  She changed her mind she is playing d3 softball right now.

I have nephew who is 6'10" tall, but he decided he would rather pursue his college academic career without interruption rather than "try" to make a college team.  It's sometimes simply a personal choice.  Now, after graduating with honors in three subjects - math, physics and computer science - he has a plum job with Microsoft in Seattle.  I tend to agree with Pat - almost all colleges have intramurals if that's what you want to do.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

I want to see every high school athlete play in college somewhere.  Even if they have to create a NCAA D4 Intramural division.

That isn't necessary, trust me. I played basketball and baseball in high school, started games as a senior in baseball, and I was not good enough to play baseball in college.

Any college program that I could have made would not have been worth it from a competitive standpoint.

Let me rephrase it little bit. I think every high school player should at least attempt it.  If they realize that it just isn't worth it or they don't even make the team then they shouldn't continue to pursue it. Where I come from there are kids that just won't attempt it. I keep in contact with a quite a few coaches from my high school that are amazed on how much talent goes wasted.  My school competes year in and year on the state level and most won't try it. There is never any harm in trying.

I know a player a few years ago from MD she was the player of the year for softball had an ERA of something like .16 and she said she wasn't going to even play softball in college.  She changed her mind she is playing d3 softball right now.

I have nephew who is 6'10" tall, but he decided he would rather pursue his college academic career without interruption rather than "try" to make a college team.  It's sometimes simply a personal choice.  Now, after graduating with honors in three subjects - math, physics and computer science - he has a plum job with Microsoft in Seattle.  I tend to agree with Pat - almost all colleges have intramurals if that's what you want to do.

I understand that. Your nephew made the right choice. Maybe I am just to risky and don't really want to take the safe route. It is really hard for me to even imagine someone not even trying to play in college if they played in high school. Even if it is just for one practice.  Players can become better players.  I know quite a few players that were just ok in high school, but worked hard and became stars on thier own team.  I think that too is what d3 is all about.

[allsky7]

I want to see every high school athlete play in college somewhere.  Even if they have to create a NCAA D4 Intramural division.

That isn't necessary, trust me. I played basketball and baseball in high school, started games as a senior in baseball, and I was not good enough to play baseball in college.

Any college program that I could have made would not have been worth it from a competitive standpoint.

Let me rephrase it little bit. I think every high school player should at least attempt it.  If they realize that it just isn't worth it or they don't even make the team then they shouldn't continue to pursue it. Where I come from there are kids that just won't attempt it. I keep in contact with a quite a few coaches from my high school that are amazed on how much talent goes wasted.  My school competes year in and year on the state level and most won't try it. There is never any harm in trying.

I know a player a few years ago from MD she was the player of the year for softball had an ERA of something like .16 and she said she wasn't going to even play softball in college.  She changed her mind she is playing d3 softball right now.

I have nephew who is 6'10" tall, but he decided he would rather pursue his college academic career without interruption rather than "try" to make a college team.  It's sometimes simply a personal choice.  Now, after graduating with honors in three subjects - math, physics and computer science - he has a plum job with Microsoft in Seattle.  I tend to agree with Pat - almost all colleges have intramurals if that's what you want to do.

I understand that. Your nephew made the right choice. Maybe I am just to risky and don't really want to take the safe route. It is really hard for me to even imagine someone not even trying to play in college if they played in high school. Even if it is just for one practice.  Players can become better players.  I know quite a few players that were just ok in high school, but worked hard and became stars on thier own team.  I think that too is what d3 is all about.

     I have a 12 year old nephew that's fastball has been clocked at 110 in little league. He won't even go out for the middle school team.  Says he wants to focus on studying. His name is Sidd Finch. 
     Seriously, I agree that it is a personal choice and everyone is different. However, I will say that my sports experiences were just as important to my success in life as anything I learned in a classroom. I agree with Pride that it would be nice if more kids would at least gave it a shot. I think some legitimately do want to focus on studies but I also think some are intimidated by the leap from HS to the college level. Even D3 is a big jump but there are some borderline kids that with a little work, determination, and patience, could contribute on the D3 level.

[hasanova]

Pride, back to Pat Coleman's point about the difference between HS and college sports, I played HS basketball and baseball and thought I was a fairly good player.  So, when I got to college, I considered "trying" to walk-on Guilford's basketball team.  I then watched some of the "recruited" freshmen and upperclassmen playing and soon realized they were "out of my league."  I realize every small college doesn't have this type of team, but I saw World B. Free (nee Lloyd), M. L. Carr and Greg Jackson, all future NBA players - two of whom were All-Stars.  These men later won the NAIA title in 1973.  Many of the guys who didn't play pro were 6'6" to 6'10" bruisers who would have killed me.  All I would have gotten from even trying out would have been humiliation, a possible broken nose and a copy of the poster showing World Free stepping on my shoulder while doing a reverse dunk.

I think most reasonable people reach a point where they realize "those guys are better than me and I better pass my Calculus exam if I ever want to be an Engineer."  Fortunately for me, a small college environment allowed me to play soccer, but I have never regretted not trying out for basketball.

[hasanova]

 I have a 12 year old nephew that's fastball has been clocked at 110 in little league. He won't even go out for the middle school team.  Says he wants to focus on studying. His name is Sidd Finch.   

This reference is probably lost on many of our readers, but I see you remember George Plimpton's famous April Fool spoof in Sports Illustrated of the infamous - and fictional - Mets phenom.  Hadn't he also lived in a Tibetan monastery, pitched in Army boots and played the French horn?  lol

[allsky7]

 I have a 12 year old nephew that's fastball has been clocked at 110 in little league. He won't even go out for the middle school team.  Says he wants to focus on studying. His name is Sidd Finch.   

This reference is probably lost on many of our readers, but I see you remember George Plimpton's famous April Fool spoof in Sports Illustrated of the famous - and fictional - Mets phenom.  Hadn't he also lived in a Tibetan monastery, pitched in Army boots and played the French horn?  lol

     Yep, I think you are probably right Hasa. I sometimes forget that in two weeks, I will be a 44 year old middle age man.  I looked it up and that article came out on April 1st, 1985.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

nova-

All valid points. Maybe I am a bit new school when it comes to all of this, but I would still do it.

Personally If I were around players that were better than me, I wouldn't care.  I am out always challenging players that are better than me not because I think I can win, but because I will be come a better player by doing so.

By the way are you coming to the GC-GC game this year. I'll save you a burger or two at the tailgate party.  I am doing things different this year, not having a big sponsored one.  It will be a private one this year. More than welcome to stop by.

[allsky7]

 I have a 12 year old nephew that's fastball has been clocked at 110 in little league. He won't even go out for the middle school team.  Says he wants to focus on studying. His name is Sidd Finch.   

This reference is probably lost on many of our readers, but I see you remember George Plimpton's famous April Fool spoof in Sports Illustrated of the famous - and fictional - Mets phenom.  Hadn't he also lived in a Tibetan monastery, pitched in Army boots and played the French horn?  lol

     Yes, and the radar gun clocked him at 168 mph. I remember reading that article in 1985 thinking there is no way but still somewhat buying it. Of course, I felt like a total fool like so many others when I realized what the date was. 

[allsky7]

nova-

All valid points. Maybe I am a bit new school when it comes to all of this, but I would still do it.

Personally If I were around players that were better than me, I wouldn't care.  I am out always challenging players that are better than me not because I think I can win, but because I will be come a better player by doing so.

By the way are you coming to the GC-GC game this year. I'll save you a burger or two at the tailgate party.  I am doing things different this year, not having a big sponsored one.  It will be a private one this year. More than welcome to stop by.

     I think you both make valid points. I am just glad that I stuck it out even though it didn't go so well  early on.

[hasanova]

nova-

All valid points. Maybe I am a bit new school when it comes to all of this, but I would still do it.

Personally If I were around players that were better than me, I wouldn't care.  I am out always challenging players that are better than me not because I think I can win, but because I will be come a better player by doing so.

By the way are you coming to the GC-GC game this year. I'll save you a burger or two at the tailgate party.  I am doing things different this year, not having a big sponsored one.  It will be a private one this year. More than welcome to stop by.

I've been to the first ten games, so I think I'll be at this one as well.  Thanks for the offer on a burger - medium  - lettuce, tomato, mayo and onion. 

This is the last thing I'll say about trying out for a college team -  I think it's always wise to challenge yourself by playing with and against others who are better.  That forces you to improve as well, but there is, in my mind, a limit.  If I'm rated a 3 in tennis, for example, I may want to play a 3.5 or even a 4.  I am not, however, going to risk complete humiliation and injury by stepping on the court with a professional player or, for that matter, someone who is at the top of his game in the NCAA.  That's just nuts!