Happy Tenth Anniversary, D3hoops.com!

[David Collinge]

As noted on the front page today, this is the 10th anniversary of the conversion of DIII Basketball Online to D3hoops.com, and the beginning of the D3sports.com empire.

Happy Birthday!


I thought this would be a good place to aggregate birthday wishes for Pat and the crew.

I don't know when I first discovered D3hoops.com, but it must have been pretty near to the start.  Since that time, I've gotten countless thousands of hours of enjoyment and edification from this site and its tireless staff.  I'm happy that I now have an opportunity to give some back, in my own small way, to the people and site that have meant so much to me for ten years.  Thanks, Pat and crew, for everything you do for us, and congratulations and best wishes on your tenth anniversary!

[Warren Thompson]

Indeed, happy tenth, Pat and Crew ....

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks to Pat Coleman and the crew. I think that I first discovered this site during the 1999-2000 basketball season.

IMHO, these sites have been the singular difference in the Division III athletics.  It has provided a common platform on which the Division III fan base has been able to build its support.

This all started with hoops, but realistically, Stone Station, partially as an outgrowth of these sites, may do more to capture the spirit of D3 than anything else that we have.

It is very easy to imagine these sites growing with the technology.  The second decade should be even more fun the than the previous.

Please excuse me whilst I listen to the February 3rd Hoopsville podcast, (which I had to miss while away from the computer.

[Titan Q]

The impact this site has had on Division III is just amazing.  Just the other day, I was trying to think about what it would be like following the CCIW and the national picture without it, and I just couldn't fathom it. D3hoops.com has changed the entire landcape for fans.

I think of all of the people I have met, and friends made, via D3Hoops.com...all of the relevant things I have learned about schools and conferences I had barely heard of 10 years ago...all of the in-depth game reports and inside scoop I'm exposed to every week.  The site has just had an enormous impact.

Happy birthday - and thank you - to D3hoops.com.  Looking forward to the next 10!

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks, guys, I appreciate it!

This has gone from a one-man operation to a labor of love for several of us: Gordon Mann, Mark Simon, Dave McHugh and others. And that doesn't take into account the contributions from people such as you guys. Thanks again!

[bbald eagle]

let me add my thanks too 

[sac]

I'll echo what everyone else has said.  Its been great fun.  Most of all I hope the site has changed some peoples perceptions about what D3 is all about.

Thanks for all the hard work and the great changes in covering D3 basketball that have occured because of it. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ditto on all the nice things people have said.  To add a personal note:

Prior to d3sports, I was not even aware that IWU won the 1997 national basketball title until I received an alumni mag several months later!  By 2001, I could listen to the Final Four games (though with what Horace Jenkins did to us, that was a dubious plus ).  My devotion to d3 sports is a direct result of this website, without which it would be futile.

The result has been countless thousands of hours avoiding anything 'productive' - for which you have my eternal gratitude!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have certainly been around long enough to remember nearly all ten years of this website. Heck, Pat even used to quote me on the old "Post Up" board's front page! (That was during a time our "rivalry" was a bit more heated. National Championship will end those rivalries, sometimes!)

Anyway... the one thing I have certainly noticed when booking guests for Hoopsville or when calling around for information, I don't have to describe the show or the site nearly as often. SID's and coaches tend to know what the site is, what the show is, and who we are... which I always take as a sign that the site only continues to grow and certainly has a well-deserved element of respect.

Though, I also know that its the fans that tend to also help promote the site and as such, the show. I certainly appreciate everyone from the die-hards to those who may only visit once in awhile with helping keep the site alive and give us (Pat, Gordon, Mark, myself, and others) the reason to work a little bit harder. I bet we all would say it would be harder to do the work, if people didn't seem as interested!

Thanks to everyone who supports us in whatever ways they do - even if it is a simple post of thanks. I know I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate it. I also say a personal thanks to everyone that listens to Hoopsville. I love doing the show and I love the fact more fans and more coaches each year are tuning in! The show would NOT exist if D3hoops.com didn't exist... so obviously my thanks to Pat Coleman and those who first decided that Division III Basketball deserved this kind of attention!

[Greek Tragedy]

Congrats as well...now thinking about it, what would we do if we didn't have this site?!  I think I came in about the 99-00 season because I think I was posting when EC knocked down a near half court buzzer beater to beat Point in Storm Lake at the Buena Vista Sectional to send EC to the Final Four, eventually losing to Calvin in the Final.

[Gregory Sager]

I've followed D3 basketball for close to thirty years, and believe me it was a struggle to glean any information whatsoever about the division as a whole, or about teams in other regions, before this site came along. Aside from the Street & Smith preview by Chuck Mistovich and his Basketball Times column, there wasn't anything out there at all. Even picking up out-of-town scores was a chore, because we all know just how many D3 scores fall through the gaps in the newspaper agate.

This site changed all that. It's not only become an exhaustive clearinghouse for information on D3 sports and D3's constituent institutions, but the message boards have helped to create a sense of community among fans within the division that previously didn't exist.

Thanks, Pat and crew, and happy birthday to D3hoops.com!

[TigerStripe]

Congratulations!










www.thecollegeendzone.com

[wizbegs1304]

Congrats, great work, hope to see more and more additions each year!

[Gray Fox]

We are now up to eleven.  It gets better and better.

[amh63]

This gives me an opportunity to say my thanks and contgrats to D3hoops.  I have been an reader for about three years and finally registered recently.  Anyway, I am aware that we all are in the midst of the Ncaa games and such, but I thought that Pat and the crew could inquire a bit about several items.  First, the site of future MBB final 4's.  I have been down in Salem four times recently and have enjoyed the experiences.  When will the NCAA "committee" for site selection start tihinking about the men's site for the future.  I was led to believe the Salem site contract was ending soon.  With respect to the women's sites, will the appropriate committee start considering final 4 sites "off campus".  Wasn't one of the WBB sites in Springfield, Ma. several years back.  It would be nice to have one of the final 4 sites set in the "home of BB".  I realize that it takes two to tango.... that areas must also provide proposals, etc.  However, I believe that the NCAA should be more proactive in this areas.  The women's BB site this year is not really a neutral site unless you eliminate any host school from participating up front...fat chance of that.  The last item is the Div3 tournament.  I understand that the WBB will go to 64 participants next year.  This is because of increased women's BB teams in Division 3?  I know the 6.5 number etc.  I would like to have the MBB number also go to 64.  Waiting around for increased men's teams is foolish.  I guess it is determined by money available.  With 400 plus schools in Div 3 the NCAA can surely provide the funds required to add 4 more teams.  Eliminate the foolish 65th team in div1 MBB.