SLIAC

[jdoug2]

Since I've only attended games at Fontbonne I've never really seen much of a crowd. I would be interested in seeing some of the wacky college kids.

And now that the 4 teams have been determined all we need to do is figure out seeds 2-4.

[y_jack_lok]

Don't blame President Pride for keeping the Blackburn students from standing in the first row of the bleachers at home basketball games. You can blame her for the incredibly stupid decision to drop Football at Blackburn, ...

This should probably be posted on the men's board, but since the former commish mentions football above I will post here.

I have expressed an opinion in the past that perhaps some of the struggling institutions would be better off without football, given what it costs. I have heard the counter arguments that football progams bring in students and generate alumni support, including substantial support from former football players. I know this is the case at many institutions and I would hate to see schools with a century or more football tradition give up football as long as the institution is in decent financial shape. But I believe there are certain circumstances where not having football might be the wiser course.

As some of you know, and as I have posted before, my father-in-law taught at Blackburn for 21 years, retiring in 1977. So my wife grew up in Carlinville and during her time there Blackburn did not have a football team. I believe I read somewhere that the football program began at Blackburn in the mid-70s.

Why did they start a football program in the mid-70s??? I  have no idea. But perhaps it was to help increase enrollment and generate alumni support as the students who played and watched football graduated and showed their loyalty with donations. If that's the reason, then it is logical to ask if it worked. I don't know, but I get the impression that Blackburn is no better off today, enrollment wise and financially, than it was when my father-in-law taught there. So perhaps Blackburn dropping football isn't as dreadful a decision as some feel. I know it hurts the viability of football as a conference sport, and that's too bad. But, just as Maryville has chosen to go to D2, which many posters are sad about, it is their institution and they can do what the want. The same is true for Blackburn.

[y_jack_lok]

There is a link to an article on the Blackburn website which says "Blackburn Football Celebrates 20 years in 2008". However, when you click the link there is no article.

[SLIAC LEGEND]

It would be interesting to see how much A. running a D3 football program costs and B. how many student-athletes actually come to the school and pay tuition, and if they offset. 

I hardly doubt any schools make money off it.  Only the fewest of D1 teams make money off football, and even Ohio State is in the red this year.  FL will be in the red also.  I think in this era, schools are staying close to the books on financial responsibility, and in gender equity.

[watchdog]

Unless I'm mistaken:

Many schools started football at a time when male enrollment was declining. Also, it becomes financially feasible to have non-scholarship football with a large roster (65-80 or more), which drives down the per-capita cost (scholarships are a substantial part of the Division I football budget). Additionally, there is very little evidence to support the contention that football significantly impacts fundraising at small colleges.

[thenatural13]

Coach Dubb  -  "they were loud rude and attacked the players and head Coach"  -  if you can give me examples of anything that went over the line, I'd be happy to report it to people at Maryville - I believe in callin for action, not sitting back and complaining.   Just make sure, as you think about it, that it was 'different' from however the Blackburn kids were getting on the opponents last night.    In other words, don't ask for it both ways.  I am in total agreement with you if things were said that were vulgar, profane, racist etc....

Hopefan, reporting incidents hardly get anything done in the SLIAC. and i hate to say anything bad about the SLIAC but its true. I know of ONE person specifically that talked to the Maryville AD about their students actions at last years tourney, AND contacted the commishner of the SLIAC and whoever she could. Needless to say, nothing has changed and everything actually seems to be exactly the same. I hate to see the blackburn students always put down and restrained by the campus security and admin. due to the lack of the size of the gym. All we are trying to do is cheer and have a good time, and it seems like that can even be a problem, yet when we got to other schools, its compeltely different and it seems like there is NO restraints on the other schools students. They can do whatever they want and they dont even HAVE security at the game. That is just my opinion, and HOPE i wasnt trying to single you out or anything its just how i feel about the whole situation that goes down at blackburn every home game.

[formersliaccommish]

I'm sure my feelings about Blackburn's decision to drop Football are stoked by the great harm it does to SLIAC Football (now no AQ to the NCAA Playoffs in 2010 and beyond) but it will also harm Blackburn. No mention here of Principia also dropping the sport because it should be given credit for keeping Football going as long as it did given the sparse number of players.

How is Blackburn going to replace 40-60 male students, most of whom came there because of Football. As Watchdog correctly pointed out, dozens of colleges and universities have started non-scholarship Football in the last thirty years to bring in male students, fill empty dorm rooms, increase the size of dining hall lines, and give the campus and community five Saturdays of excitement during September and October.  I believe that Blackburn, Greenville, Huntingdon, LaGrange, MacMurray, and Westminster, maybe Eureka although they had Football when Ronald Reagan was there, are among that number. Division I schools like Georgetown, LaSalle, Dayton, and Villanova have revived Football, even played D3 until the rules were changed, and D2 schools like Quincy and Kentucky Wesleyan started it.

What's done is done, and, as y_jack_lok says, Blackburn can do whatever it wants, but I hate to see nearly 400 SLIAC Football student-athletes harmed. Commissioner Wolper and the SLIAC leadership will have to be very creative to redeem this because there are no easy solutions..    

[Pat Coleman]

I'm sure my feelings about Blackburn's decision to drop Football are stoked by the great harm it does to SLIAC Football (now no AQ to the NCAA Playoffs in 2010 and beyond) but it will also harm Blackburn. No mention here of Principia also dropping the sport because it should be given credit for keeping Football going as long as it did given the sparse number of players.

Amen -- I was sure that Principia would have been done four or five years ago. It's amazing that they went that long. Between the institutional challenges and all the turnover in staff there they had a lot working against them.

I agree that Blackburn's decision to drop football is short-sighted. They were on the upswing.

[y_jack_lok]

What's done is done, and, as y_jack_lok says, Blackburn can do whatever it wants, but I hate to see nearly 400 SLIAC Football student-athletes harmed. Commissioner Wolper and the SLIAC leadership will have to be very creative to redeem this because there are no easy solutions..    

As the former commissioner you are in a better position than I am to speak to the situation. And I hear and undertand all that you have said. Still, I can't help but think that perhaps the SLIAC isn't cut out to be a football conference. Seems like it's been a struggle to put enough schools together to get an AQ. Wasn't 2008 the first and only year that has occurred? Now two institutions are dropping the sport, albeit one temporarily we assume. So instead of trying to find schools to bring into the conference, perhaps those schools that want to have football and can sustain a competitive program should turn to other conferences for that sport alone, just as Huntingdon and LaGrange came into the SLIAC for that reason. It's done at other levels as well. My son attends Fordham which plays football in the Patriot League and all other sports in the Atlantic 10. Georgetown also plays football in the Patriot League while playing basketball, and I assume all other sports, in the Big East. Just a thought.

[y_jack_lok]

Just to break it down a little further, Spalding, which is officially joining the conference next season, does not offer football. So if you leave out Huntingdon and LaGrange, since they ae only football affiliates, there are only four true SLIAC schools left with football next season -- Westminster, Greenville, Eureka and MacMurray. And I imagine MacMurray's situation is somewhat tenuous.

So as the former commish says, current commisioner Wollper and the conference leadership are going to have to be very creative.

[hopefan]

Greenville women defeat Webster... in OT   2 unbelievable highlights  -  Megan Banal of Gville scores 38, Mert Riley of Webster likely had a triple double including double digit blocks!!!!

[fcnews]

Unbeleiveable score from Prin. PC by 22 over BC. To much MU talk?

[HCACBBALL]

Just to break it down a little further, Spalding, which is officially joining the conference next season, does not offer football. So if you leave out Huntingdon and LaGrange, since they ae only football affiliates, there are only four true SLIAC schools left with football next season -- Westminster, Greenville, Eureka and MacMurray. And I imagine MacMurray's situation is somewhat tenuous.

So as the former commish says, current commisioner Wollper and the conference leadership are going to have to be very creative.

As long as MacMurray is open as a institution I do not see football going away.  Sports (and football made a majority of this) made up a large percentage of the incoming freshman for this year.  It would not be productive to cut football because at Mac it is a big part of enrollment #'s.

[y_jack_lok]

When I said MacMurray's situation was somewhat tenuous I was referring to the institution, not the football program. However, I believe that MacMurray will get itself turned around -- slowly but surely.

[hopefan]

I don't know the player, and I don't know the new coach, but with the proper motivation and coaching, Mertie Riley coud be SO good at the SLIAC level.....  let Hoggit and Robinson work with her in the summer and fall and pass on attitude and skills to her... she could be a league MVP, and possibly an All American candidate......  there is a lot being wasted right now.......   why do I say that?

plusses... natural height, great basketball body- she's not a stringbean,  long arms shot blocking skills, good shooting form and touch

minuses... on again off again attitude, mental and physical toughness, footwork and dexterity, moving without the ball, working to get the good shot

I hope this isn't someone who bags it because 'it isn't fun anymore'   she would be a real pleasure to watch the next three years.