FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Allen C]

While I agree that an argument can easily be made for the impact of say an ODU on a CNU situation, I also wonder about (look out- getting ready to go in a little different direction) facilities of the schools. The on campus facilities and the surrounding area, have to play a role. I have not been to but three campuses in the USA South... Ferrum, Shenandoah, and CNU. I am planning on going to Averett this year, but on the whole, I understand that there are some USA South schools that either have fairly poor facilities, or have to play at high schools in their area. (I know this has been hashed out many times).

My questions are this...What can be done to make the USA South a more competitive conference on a national level, and what role does the USA South conference office play in this endeavor? Is everything left up to the individual schools? Are there initiatives that other conferences are using for facilities, recruiting, and athlete retention that the USA South could implement?

I live in Williamsburg VA and hate to try to make comparisons between DIII, and FCS schools, but the Colonial Athletic Association has six teams in the FCS top twelve, and seven in the top twenty five. All from one conference. Could this be because each individual school has done a great job recruiting...I am sure so, but has there been input/guidance, or a marketing campaign for the schools in the conference possibly initiated by the conference office? Just wondering if Rita Wiggs and company can or maybe cannot play a bigger role in the conference's success?

[abnrgr]

To a used up SF Trooper from a washed up Ranger:

nothing wrong with a 3.5 in general. that's great; however making that your cut point for an athlete does not help your cause. As Tipps and WFU intimate; get the well rounded. If I am reading them correctly.

As I do not want to get into well documented discussions about grades and schools I will say that sometimes getting a kid off the street is a little more important. I rather have 150 on a squad. That would mean they are not in too much trouble.

[Bishop64]

To a used up SF Trooper from a washed up Ranger:

nothing wrong with a 3.5 in general. that's great; however making that your cut point for an athlete does not help your cause. As Tipps and WFU intimate; get the well rounded. If I am reading them correctly.

As I do not want to get into well documented discussions about grades and schools I will say that sometimes getting a kid off the street is a little more important. I rather have 150 on a squad. That would mean they are not in too much trouble.

We have no dissagreement on that point at all. In fact when you limit yourself to such a cut off, you are, in fact limiting your program because the 3.5 GPA is more the rarity than the norm. It's unfortunate, but true.

[narch]

They need to go D2 OR D1AA. Give the schlorships. Come off the money or their problems continue. Only 3000+ for the first home game.

and how would this help cnu become more competitive? do you think for a minute that cnu would be able to keep up with jmu/richmond/w&m on the football field any time in the next decade? and who cares about d2...really?

[abnrgr]

Come on Narch. Stop being PC. Spit out your thoughts. LOL

And James Madison smitted VPI...

[Ryan Tipps]

And James Madison smitted VPI...

Must we bring that up? 

[wasper68]

And James Madison smitted VPI...

Must we bring that up? 

HOKIE, HOKIE, HOKIE High
Someone wipe the tear from Ryan's eye!!!

[abnrgr]

wasper you made spit out my diet coke

[Ryan Tipps]

And James Madison smitted VPI...

Must we bring that up? 

HOKIE, HOKIE, HOKIE High
Someone wipe the tear from Ryan's eye!!!

If they keep playing the way they have been, sandpaper might be more appropriate than tissues for these tears

[wasper68]

wasper you made spit out my diet coke

glad I could help you out.  Hope you didn't have any rum in that diet coke or that would be considered alcohol abuse.

[wasper68]

And James Madison smitted VPI...

Must we bring that up? 

HOKIE, HOKIE, HOKIE High
Someone wipe the tear from Ryan's eye!!!

If they keep playing the way they have been, sandpaper might be more appropriate than tissues for these tears

Funny.  Let me know if I need to ship some to you.  You catching any Emory games this year?

[Ryan Tipps]

Funny.  Let me know if I need to ship some to you.  You catching any Emory games this year?

Sorry to say, but probably not. I'm actually taking graduate classes at Va. Tech this semester and have a few other obligations that have cropped up, so I don't think I'm going to travel as much this year as I have in years past.

Of course, if E&H makes the playoffs, that could change things 

[KEEPING IT REAL]

ODU did it!! Why not CNU? aND TELL Them kids in D2 who cares and the ones who made it.

Narch is no man

[Captains811]

     I have checked these boards ever since completing my eligibility and graduating from CNU in May of 2007.  While I am not interested in bashing the players at CNU now or the coaches, I do have a few thoughts/opinions on the state of the program.

     First, KEEPING IT REAL, the notion that CNU should go to 1AA is as silly as it is unattainable.  ODU has many, many more alumni than CNU and the ability to attract close to 20k fans to every home game.  CNU has an enrollment of around 5000 and if they graduate even a quarter of that every year I am willing to bet that number does not come close to the number ODU graduates. 

     Second, CNU has many advantages over the other USA South members when it comes to athletics and they have been mentioned here many times.  Location and affordability being the two that get the most attention, and deservedly so.  However, the main reason CNU was so successful so quickly, other than outstanding coaches and great administrative and fan support, was the ability to get the student athletes into school.
     
     Just as an example, I graduated high school with a 3.0 GPA and scored 1100 on my SAT.  I was accepted to CNU as a student before I decided I was going to play football in college.  A high school senior with those same credentials has zero, repeat zero, chance of getting into CNU today as a regular student.  While everyone knows exceptions are made for athletics, the number of and quality (in terms of talent) of those exceptions has decressed every year CNU has had a team, which also has coincided with CNU becoming a much more sought after and respected option for college applicants.  If someone took the time to find the average SAT score/GPA of incoming freshman for 2009/10 for the USA South members they would see the desrepency between CNU and the other members.
     
     For the Fall of 2010, CNU had 8400 applications and only ACCEPTED 1200 freshman.  That is around 14% of applicants.  I have not looked up the numbers but I am willing to bet that the other schools accept closer to 50% of applicants if not a much higher percentage.
     
     I say all of this because Coach Kelchner and the rest of of staff are not able to recruit the same kid as they were in the early part of the last decade.  This is the single biggest reason for the decline of the program and I am farily sure if Coach K was able to speak candidly, he would say the same thing.  I am also fairly certain that other schools in the conference are aware of this, preferbly NCW, who has done very well in recent years in getting many kids from 757 that Kelchner was simply not able to get into CNU.
     
     Lastly, I was at both the Wesley and Salisbury game and it is painfully obvious to anyone who has watched CNU for the first 10 years of the program that there are maybe 10-15 kids that traveled to Salisbury last Saturday who would of been on the traveling squad in any year from 01-07.  I am willing to bet the other alumni on this board would agree.  I am not saying nor do I support CNU admitting any athlete that does not meet the standards of the school, I am just pointing out what I believe to be the main cause of the slow decline in talent, and make no mistake about it, that (talent) is the reason for the decline in wins.   I want nothing more than for CNU Football to be successful and will continue to support them in the future. 

    These are just my thoughts and thanks to all who have made this board an informative read for me the past 3 years.  Hello all. 

[Pat Coleman]

Welcome to the board!