Small Colleges Starting Football

[KitchenSink]

Shouldn't Castleton State have a nickname that is some sort of castle nickname, like - oh, I dunno, the Knights or the Rooks or something?  Maybe the Swords or the Axes.

Spartans sounds Roman to me - and I don't remember Maximus going into any castles.  Castle references make me think of Olde English there, squire.  Maybe the Castleton Ales? 

[Pat Coleman]

Some other coverage of Castleton football's startup:

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2008/01/04/Castleton+State+job+draws+interest
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2007/11/29/Castleton+adds+football
http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/northeast/2007/Plymouth+State+returning+to+roots

[Teamski]

Shouldn't Castleton State have a nickname that is some sort of castle nickname, like - oh, I dunno, the Knights or the Rooks or something?  Maybe the Swords or the Axes.

Spartans sounds Roman to me - and I don't remember Maximus going into any castles.  Castle references make me think of Olde English there, squire.  Maybe the Castleton Ales? 

I concur.  The Knights name is sooo applicable, too!

I couldn't imagine how expensive it would be to start up a DIII team from scratch.  Helmets, pads, uniforms, stadium with New-style turf, training facilities, coaching staff, etc.  For a small college, it would seem almost prohibitive unless you have a financial gift of some sort to jump start the project.  I can definately see the long-term benefits.  Football is one of the best advertisements for the school.

I take it that after a couple seasons and 2 or 3 more teams, the NAC could land an automatic bid? 

-Ski

[Ralph Turner]

...

I take it that after a couple seasons and 2 or 3 more teams, the NAC could land an automatic bid? 
-Ski

Yes, Castleton State makes the 4th core member playing football from the NAC.  With the three affiliates, that gives 7 teams. 

My question is whether Gallaudet fields a varsity every season.  Objectively, that is one question that the critic must ask.  If the Bison do field a team every year, then the NAC can have an AQ in 2011.

See below, February 14th posting. NAC member Maine Maritime participates in the NEFC Bogan.

[PA_wesleyfan]

...

I take it that after a couple seasons and 2 or 3 more teams, the NAC could land an automatic bid? 
-Ski

Yes, Castleton State makes the 4th core member from the NAC.  With the three affiliates, that gives 7 teams. 

My question is whether Gallaudet fields a varsity every season.  Objectively, that is one question that the critic must ask.  If the Bison do field a team every year, then the NAC can have an AQ in 2011.

  I'll raise this to you Ralph... Can  Gallaudet serve two conferences??? They are in the CAA with Wesley and Salisbury now in every other sport and "IF" Frostburg were to try to gain membership that would make 4 core members.

[Ralph Turner]

...

I take it that after a couple seasons and 2 or 3 more teams, the NAC could land an automatic bid? 
-Ski

Yes, Castleton State makes the 4th core member from the NAC.  With the three affiliates, that gives 7 teams. 

My question is whether Gallaudet fields a varsity every season.  Objectively, that is one question that the critic must ask.  If the Bison do field a team every year, then the NAC can have an AQ in 2011.

  I'll raise this to you Ralph... Can  Gallaudet serve two conferences??? They are in the CAA with Wesley and Salisbury now in every other sport and "IF" Frostburg were to try to gain membership that would make 4 core members.

Yes, they can, especially if the Capital doesn't offer football.

If the Capital offers football, then I don't know.  If I were the Gallaudet president, I would appeal to keep the NAC affiliate membership, too.  I think that Gallaudet can be very competitive in the NAC, and I want programs to be competitive in D3.

[Pat Coleman]

Gallaudet is on probation from the CAC because of improprieties regarding changing of athletes' grades. They may not remain in the conference.

[Teamski]

Gallaudet is on probation from the CAC because of improprieties regarding changing of athletes' grades. They may not remain in the conference.

Oops!   

[wildcat11]

Catdomealumni.com Special!

Catdomealumni.com has just posted up an interview with Pacific University (Forest Grove, Or, Northwest Conference) Athletic Director, Ken Schumann, about the possible return of football in Forest Grove.

The Red and Purple Interview: Pacific AD Ken Schumann

[Ralph Turner]

North Atlantic Conference Football press release --  from September 2007.

"Joining full conference member Husson College (Bangor, Maine) are five associate members: Becker College (Leicester, Mass.), Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.), Maritime College State University of New York (Throggs Neck, N.Y.), Mount Ida College (Newton, Mass.), and Norwich University (Northfield, Vt.)."

...to which they have added full member Castleton State.

Fortunately for the members of Pool B, this conference does not have 4 core members, and therefore cannot proceed to AQ status at this time.  It looks like Wesley, Salisbury, Huntingdon and the UAA are the primary beneficiaries.

[Ralph Turner]

No football at Lynchburg!

http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0208/498972.html

LC Nixes Football
   posted 11:17 pm Mon February 25, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA
   reporter: Dennis Carter     posted by: Webteam

Lynchburg College has decided to "pass" on starting a football program for now.  LC President Dr. Kenneth Garren said it would take about $10-million of new money to begin a program with the quality facilities the school would want.  And at this point, Garren feels that kind of money could be better spent. Dr. Kenneth Garren, Lynchburg College President - "It might be for facilities at our Claytor Nature study center which is 20 miles to the west, an environment preserved area where we do environmental education or it could be expansion of our Wake Fieldhouse renovations there or for Student Center, or it might be to build a new facility for our nursing program and our sports medicine program."

Lynchburg College actually had a football team from 1917 to 1932, but the sport was dropped due to tight funds and the belief that ALL students should benefit from physical education.

[smedindy]

That may make sense for them. That area is FULL of football and they'd had a hard time competing.

[Knightstalker]

I thought it was against the law not to have a football team when you were below the Mason Dixon Line.   

[Ralph Turner]

Here is a link my commentary on the Empire 8 opening Affiliate status to state schools for football.  Others may comment on that thread.

Here is the post...

Maybe with the Empire eight opening up the shuffle will begin anew???

Empire 8

+1!  Thanks for prompting me to check for news releases.  I missed it this morning.

My first impression is that this allows Norwich to move to the NAC.

The Empire 8 maintains its AQ with the logical D-III opponents to maintain its appeal to the fans.  They saw how a quality conference champion Whitworth got aced out of Pool C bid as a Pool B team.  (Did the E8 get that bid over Whitworth?  Others may disagree, but I think so.)

How many random posts do we have from upstate New York fans longing fro the creation of a New York Super-conference?

The E8 is down to 6 teams.  They need one for the AQ.  They can add up to 5 teams if they wanted, but opening the affiliate status to a Cortland State, a Brockport State, a Buffalo State and even a Morrisville State allows the conference to achieve the goals mentioned below. Accepting these four schools take the pressure off the SUNYAC to consider going for the AQ (and finding affiliates for its four member schools).

Here is the pull quote.

"The Empire 8 is one of the premier Division III athletic conferences in America," said Dr. Charles Edmondson, Empire 8 and Alfred University President.  "By potentially expanding our football affiliates, we will be able to sustain that status, enhance the quality of competition, and contain the costs of long-distance travel."

The shuffle is amenable to the NJAC schools who now can accept the ACFC schools who apply.  The NJAC can preserve its AQ.  Wesley DE gets a home!  I expect that Wesley, FSU and Salisbury will be admitted into the NAJC.  Western Connecticut may be freed to move back to a New England conference now, if budgetary considerations warrant the move.  This also takes some of the pressure off the Capital AC to become a football conference, if Wesley and Salisbury join the NJAC.

Norwich's movement from the E8 into the NAC for football is covered.  Norwich may be more successful in that conference, altho' the NAC is a long, long way from an AQ!!!  Pool B just got smaller.

This Texan now applauds the improvement in East Region football!!! 

Please accept the facetious braggadocio, because I think that this really strengthens D3 football!

It is all about financial considerations!  AQ's around!

Hooray for the E8!!!

I look forward to Pat Coleman's or K-Mack's analysis, too.

Comments are greatly appreciated!

The E8 and the SUNYAC were closely aligned in the Future of D-III Working Document from May 31, 2007.  See page 159-160.

[@d3jason]

Here is a link my commentary on the Empire 8 opening Affiliate status to state schools for football.  Others may comment on that thread.

Here is the post...


The shuffle is amenable to the NJAC schools who now can accept the ACFC schools who apply.  The NJAC can preserve its AQ.  Wesley DE gets a home!  I expect that Wesley, FSU and Salisbury will be admitted into the NAJC.  Western Connecticut may be freed to move back to a New England conference now, if budgetary considerations warrant the move.  This also takes some of the pressure off the Capital AC to become a football conference, if Wesley and Salisbury join the NJAC.


P
Comments are greatly appreciated!

[/quote]

Only problem I see with a Wesley, Salisbury, Frostburg moving to the NJAC is the conference's limiting the roster to 85 players (I believe.) Both Salisbury and Wesley play JV schedules and have large rosters.

Wesley would be the only school not receiving state money in such a configuration and a loss of 30-50 players may hurt the school's bottom line.