D3 Championship Belt

[sludge]

Thanks.  I'm concerned about how long it may take to get the Belt back in the ODAC, where it belongs.

Also, I'm concerned about the deterioration of the Belt itself.  Perhaps the Smithsonian could help?

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks.  I'm concerned about how long it may take to get the Belt back in the ODAC...

I wonder if the NESCAC would deign wear it!        8)

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Plus, with the way the competition is for Amherst in the NE, they might not lose a game next year.

[Just Bill]

Did anyone watch the college slam dunk contest last night?  I certainly didn't.  I was glued to The Office marathon.  But I saw the highlights on Sports Center this morning.

I'm not clever enough to make this up, but they gave the winner of the slam dunk an honest to goodness championship belt!  I kid you not.  This thing is catching on like sudoku.  I'm sooo glad I got that trademark.

I'm searching for photo evidence.

[sac]

Williams is at the head of the list to take the belt away, they start 07-08 as the odds on leader at 4-1.

[hopefan]

The Big question is, will we be able to get the belt out of New England??  We may have to think about awarding regional championship belts..... 

[sludge]

The Big question is, will we be able to get the belt out of New England??

[Just Bill]

The Big question is, will we be able to get the belt out of New England??  We may have to think about awarding regional championship belts..... 

Well, the South Region held the Belt^TM all the way up until the last game this year.  Eventually, Amherst (or another NE team that's beaten Amherst) will have to play someone from somewhere else.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Well you'd hope so, but we New Englanders sure don't like to give things up once we get them.

Anyone else see an Amherst loss to the #10 NESCAC team in the last game before the conference tournament?

[sac]

The Big question is, will we be able to get the belt out of New England??  We may have to think about awarding regional championship belts..... 

Not likely, untill sometime in the tournaments final four in my estimation.

I just hope it never leaves D3.........that would be embarassing. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

sac,

Such an unthinkable result has, in fact, already been thought of - non-d3 teams are not eligible to receive The Belt^TM, as they are not members of the sanctioning body.  (The status of provisional d3s seems to have remained unresolved, but since they would play a d3 schedule The Belt^TM would no doubt soon revert to good hands.)

I'm still troubled by the possibility of the tournament getting underway with The Belt^TM in the possession of a team not in the field.  Imagine the scandal if the national championship team angrily rejected the Walnut-and-Bronze because they weren't given The Belt^TM!  There might be rioting in the streets of Salem.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's not a Belt without some controversy.  It only invites press, which is never a bad thing.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm not sure if you finished construction yet, but I searched for "gaudy 'championship belt'" today on google images and came up with this.

Apparently this guy's quite the drummer.

[Just Bill]

Ah yes!  The season is upon us.  The smell of the hardwood fills the air.  And that glint of light in your eye?  It's merely the reflection of the sun off a well placed rhinestone or perhaps some exquisite sequins.  That's right...  the D-III Championship Belt^TM will return for its second season.

A quick recap of the travels of the Belt^TM in the 2006-07 season:

Nov. 17-Nov. 27 - Virginia Wesleyan
Nov. 27-Jan. 2 - Averett
Jan. 2-Jan. 7 - Guilford
Jan. 7-Jan. 27 - Virginia Wesleyan
Jan. 27-Jan. 28 - Emory & Henry
Jan. 28-Feb. 7 - Randolph-Macon
Feb. 7-Feb. 10 - Bridgewater (Va.)
Feb. 10-Feb. 22 - Guilford
Feb. 22-Feb. 24 - Bridgewater (Va.)
Feb. 24-Feb. 25 - Roanoke
Feb. 25-March 3 - Hampden-Sydney
March 3-March 17 - Virginia Wesleyan
March 17-Present - Amherst

So many questions, so much drama.  Will the Lord Jeffs devour their non-conference opponents like crumpets at tea time, thus keeping the Belt^TM in the NESCAC the entire season?  Will an upstart like Hunter or Lasell KO Amherst and take the Belt^TM back to their own league?  Will Pat finally tire of the stupidest thread on the message board and pull the plug?  Only the basketball gods know!  (And they only know because Greg Sager told them.)

D-III Championship Belt^TM primer:
1. The Belt^TM is an imaginary title belt (think boxing or pro wrestling) which is held by one team until they are beaten by another.

2. The Belt^TM despises all levels of basketball other D-III, so it cannot be won by a team from another division.

3. There is no #3.  Really, it's not brain surgery.

In the blue corner, making their first defense of the D-III Championship Belt^TM: Amherst!  And in the not blue corner, the pride of the CUNYAC: Hunter!  Let's get ready to rumble!

Present - Amherst

Next Championship Belt^TM match - Hunter at Amherst, November 16

[smedindy]

Currently, Hunter is listed as 10,000-1 underdogs to beat Amherst and get the belt. Will Hunter be the Buster Douglas of D-3?

Um....no.