FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[HansenRatings]

My Historic Rankings for the current ODAC members plus Ferrum:
As far as recent history goes, Ferrum looks like the they will struggle, but for the most part, they have hovered somewhere in the middle of the conference.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

May be good for the scheduling of football.  But, I don't see where Ferrum brings any value to the ODAC, athletically or academically.  No Ferrum team is a standout winner or consistently winning program.  Academically, it'll be at the very bottom with VWC, or laughingly, VWU.

Hmm... not sure you know Ferrum's athletics that well. Just off the top of my head, women's basketball has been in the national conversation for several years now.

At the same time, I think there is a bit of naïveté about the ODAC athletically. While it isn't that bad a conference usually in most sports, it isn't like the bottom is stellar. Ferrum will fit in this conference just fine - even academically. You may end up being surprised.

[CMR]

May be good for the scheduling of football.  But, I don't see where Ferrum brings any value to the ODAC, athletically or academically.  No Ferrum team is a standout winner or consistently winning program.  Academically, it'll be at the very bottom with VWC, or laughingly, VWU.

Hmm... not sure you know Ferrum's athletics that well. Just off the top of my head, women's basketball has been in the national conversation for several years now.

At the same time, I think there is a bit of naïveté about the ODAC athletically. While it isn't that bad a conference usually in most sports, it isn't like the bottom is stellar. Ferrum will fit in this conference just fine - even academically. You may end up being surprised.

Surprised?  I strongly doubt it.  I've had first-hand knowledge of Ferrum for 40 years.  I'm looking from the inside out, you are clearly on the outside looking in.   A very good move for Ferrum, again, I'm not sure the ODAC gains much, other than football.  Like you implied, Ferrum will fit nicely in the bottom of the conference.  Not sure that's a good reason, you'd like to get a new member that elevates the conference. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Sure, I am on the outside... but it isn't like I don't talk with those in the school either. That doesn't mean I don't think this is a good fit for Ferrum and that it still may not surprise you.

[CMR]

Sure, I am on the outside... but it isn't like I don't talk with those in the school either. That doesn't mean I don't think this is a good fit for Ferrum and that it still may not surprise you.

Absolutely, it is great for Ferrum, and I'm sure anyone you'd talk to at Ferrum should be ecstatic.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I don't understand why they wouldn't be. And if they weren't, why would they entertain the idea? This process was two-way. ODAC was looking for members, they talked to three (Ferrum, Averett, S. Virginia). If Ferrum was NOT interested, then they easily could have stepped aside. If they weren't ecstatic, they could have stepped aside. (Ironically, I was told by a source that Ferrum was out of the mix only to have a few other sources in the last few days tell me they were going to be selected.) So, I don't understand why they aren't ecstatic about this? Are there many individuals who aren't happy on campus? That wouldn't surprise me. You will find people on every single campus in America who are displeased with the direction their institution is going - no matter the direction. But I just don't get why you say it is great for Ferrum but anyone I'd talk to at Ferrum would be ecstatic. Seems to counter itself.

[tigerFanAlso2]

those acceptance rates will only worsen as the price continues to soar, excepting W&L of course.
Good education offered at several ODAC schools but nothing elite, or even close.

[Swish3]

It would seem that acceptance rates aren't necessarily the best indicator of a school's academic reputation.  I'd imagine a school would consistently have a similar amount of freshman they admit every year...if that's true, the percentage that are accepted is primarily determined by the amount of applications the school receives, which is bound to fluctuate from year to year.  Oh well, just a thought....

[CMR]

Why is it that the few times that I actually post, that you're always trying to beat up on me and challenge an 'opinion'?  I think I'm saying the same thing.  It's good for Ferrum, it's good for the people at Ferrum, it's good for the ODAC leadership;  they all agreed on it.  I'm just an ODAC fan that simply doesn't think it's good.  Enough said.

[jknezek]

It would seem that acceptance rates aren't necessarily the best indicator of a school's academic reputation.  I'd imagine a school would consistently have a similar amount of freshman they admit every year...if that's true, the percentage that are accepted is primarily determined by the amount of applications the school receives, which is bound to fluctuate from year to year.  Oh well, just a thought....

Acceptance rates are a pretty good indicator of a school's academics given some caveats. You don't find high academic schools with high acceptance rates because selectivity allows them to have high quality students. There is an extremely strong correlation between acceptance rates and academic reputation, as higher academic reputation schools get more applicants and reject more applicants per open spot.

Now, is there necessarily a difference in academic reputation between a school with a 45% acceptance rate and a 50% acceptance rate? All other things being similar, not necessarily, as that will vary some year to year. But there is probably a difference between a school with a 45% and a 65%. Are there better measure of academic reputation? Probably, but they aren't as easily available. And too often schools that we think are similar are bracketed in different categories by someone like U.S. News, with their many, many categories trying to get as many schools a "high rank" as possible to avoid complaints and sell magazines.

On the whole though, acceptance rate is a darn good indicator so long as you are comparing similar type and size schools and aren't splitting hairs inside of 10% or so. That's my guess, but the correlation overall is well known.

Comparing a public school to a private school, or a liberal arts school to a technical school, I wouldn't put anywhere near as much stock. Just like a 10,000 person school and a 2000 person school. The ratios don't work as well. But for 15 1000-2000 enrollment private liberal arts schools in VA? It's a good indicator.

[Swish3]

It would seem that acceptance rates aren't necessarily the best indicator of a school's academic reputation.  I'd imagine a school would consistently have a similar amount of freshman they admit every year...if that's true, the percentage that are accepted is primarily determined by the amount of applications the school receives, which is bound to fluctuate from year to year.  Oh well, just a thought....

Acceptance rates are a pretty good indicator of a school's academics given some caveats. You don't find high academic schools with high acceptance rates because selectivity allows them to have high quality students. There is an extremely strong correlation between acceptance rates and academic reputation, as higher academic reputation schools get more applicants and reject more applicants per open spot.

Now, is there necessarily a difference in academic reputation between a school with a 45% acceptance rate and a 50% acceptance rate? All other things being similar, not necessarily, as that will vary some year to year. But there is probably a difference between a school with a 45% and a 65%. Are there better measure of academic reputation? Probably, but they aren't as easily available. And too often schools that we think are similar are bracketed in different categories by someone like U.S. News, with their many, many categories trying to get as many schools a "high rank" as possible to avoid complaints and sell magazines.

On the whole though, acceptance rate is a darn good indicator so long as you are comparing similar type and size schools and aren't splitting hairs inside of 10% or so. That's my guess, but the correlation overall is well known.

Comparing a public school to a private school, or a liberal arts school to a technical school, I wouldn't put anywhere near as much stock. Just like a 10,000 person school and a 2000 person school. The ratios don't work as well. But for 15 1000-2000 enrollment private liberal arts schools in VA? It's a good indicator.

I figured you'd chime in, Jeremy...your comments make sense to me.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Why is it that the few times that I actually post, that you're always trying to beat up on me and challenge an 'opinion'?  I think I'm saying the same thing.  It's good for Ferrum, it's good for the people at Ferrum, it's good for the ODAC leadership;  they all agreed on it.  I'm just an ODAC fan that simply doesn't think it's good.  Enough said.

I misread your post here:

Sure, I am on the outside... but it isn't like I don't talk with those in the school either. That doesn't mean I don't think this is a good fit for Ferrum and that it still may not surprise you.

Absolutely, it is great for Ferrum, and I'm sure anyone you'd talk to at Ferrum should be ecstatic.

For some reason I thought you said those at Ferrum should not be ecstatic. Not sure how I did that. I'd like to blame my contacts or glasses, but I am not sure that was the reason. No clue why.

So I apologize for my reply which was asking why you thought those at Ferrum are not ecstatic.

That said, I am not trying to beat you up on your opinion. I am asking questions about it and countering it if I disagree. That is a conversation. I certainly haven't called you names, said your opinion is BS, or the like.

[CMR]

NP, thanks, moving on!

[Ralph Turner]

My Historic Rankings for the current ODAC members plus Ferrum:
As far as recent history goes, Ferrum looks like the they will struggle, but for the most part, they have hovered somewhere in the middle of the conference.

Thanks, Hansen.

I believe that that graph has explained the increased seismic activity beneath Yellowstone National Park.

[HansenRatings]

My Historic Rankings for the current ODAC members plus Ferrum:
As far as recent history goes, Ferrum looks like the they will struggle, but for the most part, they have hovered somewhere in the middle of the conference.

Thanks, Hansen.

I believe that that graph has explained the increased seismic activity beneath Yellowstone National Park.

It's a little easier to read in the link. Team names and ratings appear when you hover the cursor.