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Post by nycrusader2010 on Dec 29, 2016 11:01:24 GMT -5
nycrusader2010- Congratulations for recognizing that HC would compete in the MAAC "just fine without compromising our academic standards." Also, you forgot to include Monmouth in your list of MAAC schools. Monmouth would be quite competitive with HC in basketball as well as mens soccer, which they are emphasizing. Of course, it goes without saying that for the most part the MAAC schools' "minor" sports would be competitive and more against HC. Also, the PL would not kick out HC football as HC's fball program is stronger than that of any likely PL replacement school. Also, to split conferences would mean more work for HC's AD, which is a political negative. Finally, I stopped a long time ago crediting arguments that because things have been done a certain way for 30 years they can never change. Status Quos must always be continuously challenged. That's what Continuous Improvement means. I didn't forget to include Monmouth (in either category). Yes, they are pretty solid right now and an exciting team to watch. I, in fact drove by myself from the Bronx to the Hart because I thought that particular game would be a very good one. But, your kidding yourself if HC alum are going to more excited to see them on the schedule year after year more so than Bucknell, Lehigh and the service academies. Just a couple of years ago, people were whining on the football board over the idea that we'd lowered ourselves to the level of scheduling Monmouth. With regards to the PL, it is FACT that in order for the conference to sponsor football following a defection of any of the "core five", either conference bylaws would have to change or another football-playing full-time member would have to be added. Agreed on challenging status quos - the MAAC isn't a BAD option in my opinion (and I do think PL football would remain an option one way or another). I just see at as a lateral move that would sever many of our already existing rivalries. And the NY media market selling point is a non-starter for me. I live in the epicenter of MAAC Country and NO. ONE. CARES. Fordham football gets as much pub as Iona or Manhattan hoops. The only notoriety those two schools get is when they're in the Dance or maybe when they notch a big upset early in the NIT. Even Fordham basketball being in the A-10 is beyond being an afterthought here. Start talking about working our way up to the A-10 one day? I'm all in.
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Post by dadominate on Dec 29, 2016 11:49:11 GMT -5
nycrusader2010- Congratulations for recognizing that HC would compete in the MAAC "just fine without compromising our academic standards." Also, you forgot to include Monmouth in your list of MAAC schools. Monmouth would be quite competitive with HC in basketball as well as mens soccer, which they are emphasizing. Of course, it goes without saying that for the most part the MAAC schools' "minor" sports would be competitive and more against HC. Also, the PL would not kick out HC football as HC's fball program is stronger than that of any likely PL replacement school. Also, to split conferences would mean more work for HC's AD, which is a political negative. Finally, I stopped a long time ago crediting arguments that because things have been done a certain way for 30 years they can never change. Status Quos must always be continuously challenged. That's what Continuous Improvement means. I didn't forget to include Monmouth (in either category). Yes, they are pretty solid right now and an exciting team to watch. I, in fact drove by myself from the Bronx to the Hart because I thought that particular game would be a very good one. But, your kidding yourself if HC alum are going to more excited to see them on the schedule year after year more so than Bucknell, Lehigh and the service academies. Just a couple of years ago, people were whining on the football board over the idea that we'd lowered ourselves to the level of scheduling Monmouth. With regards to the PL, it is FACT that in order for the conference to sponsor football following a defection of any of the "core five", either conference bylaws would have to change or another football-playing full-time member would have to be added. Agreed on challenging status quos - the MAAC isn't a BAD option in my opinion (and I do think PL football would remain an option one way or another). I just see at as a lateral move that would sever many of our already existing rivalries. And the NY media market selling point is a non-starter for me. I live in the epicenter of MAAC Country and NO. ONE. CARES. Fordham football gets as much pub as Iona or Manhattan hoops. The only notoriety those two schools get is when they're in the Dance or maybe when they notch a big upset early in the NIT. Even Fordham basketball being in the A-10 is beyond being an afterthought here. Start talking about working our way up to the A-10 one day? I'm all in. excellent post. much of crossports banter is nothing more than mental masturbation by folks who have agendas and their heels dug in on certain issues, but nothing encapsulates that unfortunate reality more than the seemingly yearly proposal for hc to leave the pl to go to the maac. this has to be at least the tenth time it's arisen here - if not more - and nothing has changed to make it any more of a possibility. as actp noted, there has been an open offer for us on the table. and hc doesn't want it because it is a lateral move basketball-wise, a clear downgrade in academic prestige of our league members, and a major problem for football. so posters can pontificate and waste their breath all they want. it ain't gonna happen. and that's a good thing. like many other posters have posited, the a-10 is a completely different story and i would be all for that when our program is strong enough for it. the kearney/brown era likely set us back 10 years or so regarding having a program that is reputable and strong enough for a serious upgrade. while the laughable criticisms of carmody/adnp from a few outspoken posters are like annoying tsetse flies on the #@*&$~! of their well-known and pathetic personal vendettas - this board is far from anonymous - carmody is a well-respected coach who is establishing an identity for this program, is building us back up to respectability, and the ncaa tournament appearance he led us to was a major step in the right direction. i would have loved to have seen where rw would have had us right now had he stayed since he certainly had the respect and established a strong program identity, but alas, it didn't happen. this season is very important, and i think a strong pl regular season - which i believe will happen! - will keep our momentum going. a return to the big dance would be awesome and a real feather in the cap of this program, but i think just having a strong pl season and winning a game or two in the pl tournament will be enough to carry forward the momentum. we have no position to complain about the pl until we are a consistent force in it again. i think that will happen, and in the meanwhile, i'm going to enjoy the ride back to where we should be!
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Post by sarasota on Dec 29, 2016 12:21:56 GMT -5
If we were to go to the A10, what would you do with fball? If you are assuming fball would remain in the PL, I agree with you. Also, A10 has no mens lacrosse and no mens rowing.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Dec 29, 2016 12:48:51 GMT -5
If we were to go to the A10, what would you do with fball? If you are assuming fball would remain in the PL, I agree with you. Also, A10 has no mens lacrosse and no mens rowing. Were we to go to the A-10, it is likely that we would remain in the PL for football. As I stated before, the PL would have to add another full-time member sponsoring football to replace us, barring a change in the bylaw. We could in theory stay in the PL as a football affiliate. CAA football could also potentially be an option, with NEC as an all-else-fails plan should PL football not welcome us to stay. We could remain in the PL in rowing -- MIT is an affiliate in this sport so I don't see why our continued membership here would be a problem. Lacrosse could go to the MAAC, CAA or even potentially America East.
Long story short, these headaches would be well-worth an Atlantic 10 invite.
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Post by Tom on Dec 29, 2016 16:08:56 GMT -5
If we were to go to the A10, what would you do with fball? If you are assuming fball would remain in the PL, I agree with you. Also, A10 has no mens lacrosse and no mens rowing. For what it's worth, the Patriot League has no men's rowing either - only women's.
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purple71
Crusader Century Club
Posts: 169
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Post by purple71 on Dec 29, 2016 17:59:01 GMT -5
I have weighted in on this topic ad nauseum and concede the obvious: a move to the MAAC would lower the academic prestige of the Cross. I recall Siena coach, commenting upon Loyola's move to the PL: they wanted to raise their academic profile.
I will further concede that the MAAC is, like the PL, a one bid league. I will also concede that I am an old bastard who dreams of things as they were. I would also hope that I see things as they are. With that in mind, allow me to make a few observations:
The Board should require that the graduation year of all posters be included in their posts (for non-HC grads, their age). If that requirement were to be implemented it would give us a better perspective on their point of view and what might be driving it.
I also know that no matter what the consensus might be on this Board as to proper league affiliation that consensus is absolutely irrelevant to the path the college chooses to go down. That path will only be influenced by "the heavy hitters". My longstanding 3 figure donations don't mean anything in the face of 6 figure donations. That's just the way life works.
As to a neutral tourney site for the PL, that is absolutely pie in the sky. That was attempted many years ago and was a disaster for the league financially. No area worth anything will "bid" on having the PL tourney. After Siena won the MAAC 3 years in a row the league got the bright idea to accept Springfield's invitation to hold their tourney in Springfield. I believe that the arena guaranteed the league $250,000 a year in revenue from the tourney. This was based upon the fact that the previously tourneys in Albany had drawn crowds of nearly 50,000. Needless to say, the Springfield experiment was a failure for many reasons, not the least of which is that no MAAC team is in or on the outskirts of Springfield. Now the tourney is back in Albany for the foreseeable future. If the MAAC can't make a go of a neutral site, there is no way in hell that the PL could. The MAAC has a great draw in the Albany arena: Siena. There is no PL team that draws anywhere close to what Siena draws. The Siena base is probably 7500 for the tourney games involving Siena which makes the tourney a success, a greater success the further Siena goes. Having a central site is great for the fans of all teams as there is a real "March Madness" atmosphere. You simply aren't going to get that in Lewisburg.
As to OOC games, I too would like to see us play the schools that would form the mythical "Catholic League", particularly Jesuit institutions. As you can tell, I am thrilled that the series with Siena has been renewed after a long hiatus, given the geography involved (a 2 hour bus trip). I'm not thrilled about us playing Albany State (UAlbany for the non-Albanians) as we have very little in common with that school and its fan base is PL size.
It's snowing and slippery here so my seats in the arena will be empty as I watch Siena/UVM on TV from my chair in front of the fire, Dewar's in hand. Probably will be a tough game for 4-8 Siena as 8-5 Vermont has beaten them 6 consecutive times. Although the Albany paper gave the game a nice write up there we no line on the game. Such are the fortunes of mid, or perhaps, low-mid major teams.
Seriously, when you post, please set forth your year. Your current area of residence would be helpful as well so we could see those, such as myself, who are driven by a geographic agenda.
Happy New Year to all.
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Post by possum on Dec 29, 2016 18:41:36 GMT -5
Dado while I agree that Carmody is an excellent coach and we will be very competitive in the PL this season I don't share your optimism that the momentum will carry forward next year. I'd like your opinion on how we will be competitive next year with the returning players and five freshmen. I have high hopes that the incoming frosh will produce a couple of impact players but it's highly unlikely it will happen next year. We needed a couple of difference makers in this years freshmen class and it doesn't look like that's going to happen, losing out on our top 4 targets to league rivals and the Ivy League is a killer. Further complicating things is we have only one scholarship next year with Cohen leaving so there won't be a big influx of talent in that class either.
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Post by dadominate on Dec 29, 2016 19:08:36 GMT -5
Dado while I agree that Carmody is an excellent coach and we will be very competitive in the PL this season I don't share your optimism that the momentum will carry forward next year. I'd like your opinion on how we will be competitive next year with the returning players and five freshmen. I have high hopes that the incoming frosh will produce a couple of impact players but it's highly unlikely it will happen next year. We needed a couple of difference makers in this years freshmen class and it doesn't look like that's going to happen, losing out on our top 4 targets to league rivals and the Ivy League is a killer. Further complicating things is we have only one scholarship next year with Cohen leaving so there won't be a big influx of talent in that class either. fair points and i share your concerns about losses to graduation and a current freshman class that will need to take huge steps forward next year. ma is a huge loss who will be hard to replace. while they have not been as consistent, rc and mh will also be big losses, especially mh since jf is the only other big who has seen real minutes. if jf can develop a jump shot, refine his basketball skills, and become less prone to foul trouble - which i expect he will - i think he will be a very good big for us next year. much of whether we succeed or not next year will come down to whether some of this year's freshmen can take big steps forward next year similar to those that benzan has taken this year. we're also bringing in several guys next year who can shoot the basketball. carmody seems to favor upperclassmen, but he will simply have to play younger guys next year (barring an impact transfer) and he has shown the willingness to start a freshman from the get go (karl charles) if he is ready. i am not speaking on any inside info, but austin butler has me very excited for what he might be able to do for us right from the get go.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Dec 29, 2016 19:58:31 GMT -5
purple71 - great post
One disagreement. UAlbany / SUNY Albany / "Albany State" athletics is not what it was in 2002. They are definitely taking some share of the Albany market fanbase (and probably some recruits) from Siena. I don't mind playing Albany -- local opponent and are increasing their emphasis on sports. They will soon be UNH in football and at the level of say, Hofstra, in hoops. Basketball may improve if/when they become full time CAA members along with Stony Brook. Supposedly, Albany to the CAA had been a "done" deal a few years back but the Danes pushed it back b/c they were scheduled to host the A-East tourney for a couple of years running. Haven't heard anything since but one would think it's bound to happen.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 29, 2016 20:07:09 GMT -5
purple71, I once told GoPurp that I couldn't hold a candle to David Stockmen when it came to using numbers. I may have used the word 'manipulate'. GiPurp never forgot to remind me of that concession. Stockman was Reagan's first budget director, so I have to be of a certain vintage to have worked for him. And I have made no secret that I occasionally have conversations with some of TPTB at Georgetown, so that fixes my general address. I was looking up someone's title a few months ago, and I got a link to Wikileaks. In a classified cable from Moscow, there was his name, and below his, mine, with personally identifiable information. I have chosen not to search Wikileaks for how many other times I may be in there.
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Post by lou on Dec 29, 2016 20:33:25 GMT -5
We only play four games in New York this year...Syracuse, UAlbany, ArmyWP and Colgate. Let's not drop Albany from the schedule
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Post by rgs318 on Dec 29, 2016 21:01:04 GMT -5
The Board should require that the graduation year of all posters be included in their posts (for non-HC grads, their age). If that requirement were to be implemented it would give us a better perspective on their point of view and what might be driving it. Seriously, when you post, please set forth your year. Your current area of residence would be helpful as well so we could see those, such as myself, who are driven by a geographic agenda. Happy New Year to you, purple71, and your apparent geographic, ageist agendas.What do you believe a poster's age or date of graduation will tell you? Do you really believe that age is so important that it determines the way a person thinks without other factors. Do you believe that the opinions of residents of some states are somehow superior to those of other state/regions? These statements could well be two of the most bizarre I have seen on CROSSPORTS. Good luck with that. PS: I am Class of 1967, 71 years of age and I live in NJ (having recently sold our condo in VT). All that has been posted previously on at least one post. PPS: As long as new demands are being created. In the future a poster needs to post how much money he donated to Holy Cross this year and in each of the last 5 years. After all, we may need to know who actually puts his money where his mouth is to evaluate his opinion. Of course, such a demand is both intrusive and inappropriate, but are yours much better?
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Post by timholycross on Dec 29, 2016 21:46:20 GMT -5
Never would have thought you were older than me, RGS!
As long as we are in the truth telling mode. I am 65, class of 73, which means school-wise I got one year of co-education and sports-wise; hepatitis and 0-10-1 in football; in basketball, three years of Jack Donohue and one year of George Blaney.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Dec 29, 2016 23:30:18 GMT -5
While we're playing this game, I have opted to keep my graduating class (admitting I'm an alum here) and place of residence a secret.
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Dec 29, 2016 23:47:52 GMT -5
Funny stuff ny
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Post by sarasota on Dec 29, 2016 23:48:26 GMT -5
Let's all post our IQs as well! While we're at it--our personal sports histories as players at HC and in high school, whether we roomed with an HC varsity athlete at HC, our income/assets, whether we have kids who currently are scholarship athletes at HC, who we root for when HC plays our kids' colleges, any post-graduation work for the HC Alumni Assoc, members of TPTB or HC coaches with whom we are personal acquaintances, whether we root for our geographically local colleges, how many of our family are HC alums, etc., etc. After all, Truth is relative, right?
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Post by ncaam on Jan 2, 2017 16:41:14 GMT -5
We have 5 games today....why not spread them out for the PL diehards, starting a game at 12noon, 2, 4, 6, 8?
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Post by HC92 on Jan 2, 2017 17:02:30 GMT -5
We have 5 games today....why not spread them out for the PL diehards, starting a game at 12noon, 2, 4, 6, 8? There are maybe 10 people in the world who would even consider spending their day watching 5 PL games in one day. Better to have them all at a time that maximizes attendance at each game.
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Post by ncaam on Jan 2, 2017 17:30:01 GMT -5
Fewer than 10 would drive to a Holy Cross hockey game and then to Holy Cross basketball game, but they do. And you don't have to watch all 5 Games in their entirety. You watch the holy cross game and maybe the tail end of a couple of other games you are interested in. I see no impact on attendance. The same 400 people would have gone to that bu game today.
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Post by hchoops on Jan 2, 2017 17:37:19 GMT -5
We have 5 games today....why not spread them out for the PL diehards, starting a game at 12noon, 2, 4, 6, 8? There are maybe 10 people in the world who would even consider spending their day watching 5 PL games in one day. Better to have them all at a time that maximizes attendance at each game. 92. you have violated you own pledge and it has resulted in the expected
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 3, 2017 21:42:11 GMT -5
Talk about scheduling...
Has anyone looked at the Men's schedule during the last week of January?
I'm interested in the commentary from this board.
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Post by rgs318 on Jan 3, 2017 21:48:08 GMT -5
With Loyola and Navy back to back (Wed- Sat), any chance the team might stay over between games?
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Post by cmo on Jan 4, 2017 9:10:33 GMT -5
We have 5 games today....why not spread them out for the PL diehards, starting a game at 12noon, 2, 4, 6, 8? There are maybe 10 people in the world who would even consider spending their day watching 5 PL games in one day. Better to have them all at a time that maximizes attendance at each game. Would be a cool social experiment to have ihoop/hc87 and bison137 in the same room for this.
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