NE Region General Questions

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Those schools make sense to join.  The only question will be Bay Path.  Are they planning to expand in the near future?  The given list has only seven schools with men's sports (assuming Wheelock is definitely going to be offering them), which is the bare minimum for an AQ.  This seems a bit tenuous unless they attract a few more schools.

I'd also question whether Elms is looking to jump to this conference, which would come in squarely ranked below even the NAC in terms of level of play.  It's not out of the questions, but they are the least likely to go for this.

This conference would put the GNAC at ten schools for men's sports and thirteen for women's sports.  A school like Pine Manor may jump across to the new conference; that would be a natural fit (and even the numbers out for the GNAC).

As far as the NAC, this new conference would leave them with only six schools (for both women's and men's sports).  Although all of the schools are in the north, either Vermont or Maine.  They could add some of the independents (Southern Vermont, Presque Isle, Lyndon State, or Green Mountain) as natural fits.

This could solve a lot of the issues we've been debating for 2+ years in a realistic way.  It will be interesting to see if and when this goes down.  Where did you get the insider information?

[d3bballinboston]

in two-3 weeks the name of this new league will be decided.  top choices are United Athletic Conference (UAC) or the Southern New England Athletic Conference (SNEAC).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Do we have any official press release on this yet?

[d3bballinboston]

not till after the AD meeting in a few weeks, which is when the name will be official

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Might I suggest the Conference of Regional Athletic Participation?

[d3bballinboston]

that was almost funny Hoops Fan.   After all it really is about what is inthe best interest for the student-Athlete.  The ncaa doesn't care how competitive the league is when they award the AQ's they just look at if that league achieves the requirements.  Geographically this might be one of the shortest travel leagues in New England, which is outstanding for the student-athletes invovled and not to mention the budgets of the athletic departments.

adminstration wise this league will be very good. This new league is already begun making a website and also will be hiring a full time Commish and a stipened SID to help with all of the PR of the league.  With DWC and Elms involved in the planning of this league says a lot. both those school were involved in the GNAC and NAC planning and i doubt the new league will make some of the same mistakes those leagues made in their infancy.

So just because you don't think this league will be competitive does give you the right to call it the CRAP league.  When every league starts from scratch their competiveness was usually really bad.  It just takes time and energy to make them better.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I don't care man.  I might be active on the national scene, but I'm all about the small schools.  You're right, now that the CCC has to drive out to WNEC for games, this new league might be the shortest distance.

I love it.  I just also like funny acronyms.

[GnacAlum55]

How long until the new league gets an AQ?  Is there a waiting period? 
I like the CRAP acronym. 

[Pat Coleman]

Two years without one, third year they would get one.

[Ralph Turner]

It is even more emphatic than that SNEAC-ky name they were thinking about. 

[heythere]

I feel bad for elms basketball, they have made the tourney two years in a row now, and now there wont have the AQ. wow that sucks

[d3bballinboston]

yah it does kinda suck for elms men's basketball and their softball team as they both made the NCAA's.  but you have to look at the best interest of the entire department and school.  This new league's travel budget is much much lower then the NAC.  This will eventually alow more money for other things in their budgets.  Maybe more recruiting?! This would make them even better!  In other sports at Elms this new league will be good for them.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Um, well this doesn't take effect until 2008-2009, so they have one more AQ year.  However, by 2008-2009 Pool B might be a nice place to hang out in terms of basketball.

[d3bballinboston]

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070510/SPORTS/705100389/1007/SPORTS

[sjmb9]

The new conference will be known as The New England Athletic Conference