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Messages - jknezek

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31
General Division III issues / Re: Future of Division III
« on: January 31, 2014, 04:24:40 pm »
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 31, 2014, 04:18:11 pm
I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I see jknezek's point. This could do a lot of damage to McMurry's image, simply because it makes the people who run the school look incompetent (unless there's a well-orchestrated public relations campaign by the school that has at its core a reasonable explanation for the double switch), and I certainly don't wish that kind of public embarrassment upon McMurry. On the other hand, Pat's right -- McMurry does fit the D3 profile very well, and goodness knows we need more D3 schools down in Texas, not fewer. Plus, now Ralph has a rooting interest within the D3 ranks again, and I like that. :)

My point wasn't that it could do a lot of damage. In the grand scheme I think it hardly matters outside of the kids that thought they would play D2 and aren't going to get that chance without transferring. Most people won't care, won't know, won't matter. It's just to a few of us that actually follow this kind of thing that it looks embarrassing. And within the industry itself it will look bad. But overall, I think the school is a D3 school. Not sure what went into the decision to move up, or the decision to rescind, but they seem to fit at the D3 level. In a couple years, all of this will be a distant asterisk in the history books.

That being said, for a brief period of time, to the few people around that care, it looks ridiculous. Maybe it will be a good warning case to other schools going forward.

32
South Region football / Re: American Southwest Conference
« on: January 31, 2014, 03:33:12 pm »
Quote from: AO on January 31, 2014, 03:27:47 pm
Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 31, 2014, 03:25:00 pm
Quote from: umhbalum on January 31, 2014, 03:22:08 pm
McMurry withdrawing Div II bid and wants to return to Div III. Will honor athletic aid for tuition for two years as long as student is still playing.

I find that decision fascinating, for sure. Not sure when they would be eligible for D-III playoffs again, or whether they would be welcomed to return to the ASC, or whether they would even want to apply to the ASC.

What a waste of time and money for an institution that really fits the Division III profile and should not have left.
Why wouldn't they be welcomed back to the ASC if they fit the D3 profile so well?

Because the combination of Miss College and McMurry leaving threw the ASC football AQ into doubt and probably left some bad feelings? Plus there might have been some issues about players their last spring season in the ASC possibly helping win some championships under D2 circumstances. Or simply because people don't like to be spurned and want to see some grovelling if they were to come back?

33
General Division III issues / Re: Future of Division III
« on: January 31, 2014, 03:21:23 pm »
Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 31, 2014, 03:13:54 pm
From Facebook:
Quote
BCH Sports
52 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS: McMurry announced it will withdraw its bid to go to Division II. Will stay at Division III for all athletic programs

Ralph Turner, please pick up the courtesy phone. Ralph Turner, please pick up the courtesy phone.

Sometimes I wonder who is in charge at these places? I mean, the decision to go D2 shouldn't have been some spur of the moment idea. It should have required a lot of thought and planning. It should have been a decision that once made, was made with at least a 10 year plan in place to make it successful. To turn around after what? 24 months? Maybe, and give up or change your mind or decide its a failure just looks like a school or athletic department that is completely rudderless and lacking leadership. Either that or filled with bumblers who can't do more than act on a whim.

To an outsider, it just looks embarrassing. Yes, no, we don't know, maybe, lets try it, no wait, we take it back, kind of like my 4 year old daughter trying to decide between 2 desserts...

34
East Region football / Re: New Jersey Athletic Conference
« on: January 31, 2014, 02:40:49 pm »
Southern Virginia is a stop gap measure for the NJAC. Those schools aren't going to want to make that trip. Wesley, Salisbury or F'Berg are probably all preferable schools for the conference. I'll be very interested to hear where Wesley is landing in a conference. Strange they emailed they are going to one, but not which one. I wonder what other news has to drop before they announce.

35
South Region football / Re: Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents
« on: January 31, 2014, 02:34:47 pm »
Quote from: thewaterboy on January 31, 2014, 02:23:50 pm
I dont think it would be smart for Wesley to go NJAC, the roster cap makes too little sense when you have 200ish players turning up to camp every year. With the financial situation Wesley is in, they benefit from every possible player they can get to come to Wesley in hopes of playing football. Now, if the NJAC does away with the roster limit, it is financially and logically a better option. NJAC with a roster limit is just not the most clear-cut path for Wesley at this point in the game.

I think if Wesley were to go anywhere in the near future I would have to say Empire 8. After the ACFC disbanded all but Wesley and Newport News (not a true D3) were taken by the E8. Imagine that conference with Wesley. whew. That being said, it also makes sense to remain independent, so long as there is a pool B bid available, and they can find the formula for success, which they have been able to do since becoming an independent. Thats why, IMO, Wesley has great advantage when taking on just about anyone outside the Purple Powers come playoff time. No week is a cakewalk.

The E8 is approaching max size. I can't believe they would add Wesley. Even losing Salisbury and Frostburg no longer threatens their AQ. Brockport and Cortland keep them at 8, if they kick out the outliers, with Alfred State a natural fit to go to 9.

36
East Region football / Re: New Jersey Athletic Conference
« on: January 31, 2014, 12:57:13 pm »
Quote from: Knightstalker on January 31, 2014, 12:55:47 pm
I do not think that Wesley will want to deal with a 100 player roster limit.  They are a national power as a pool B team, why would they want to change that?  I think that the NJAC needs to get Frostburg and Salisbury to join.  I saw on the E8 board someone mentioned CNU, but that would be a ridiculous road trip for every school in NJ.

Not that much worse than Southern Virginia is already going to be...

37
South Region football / Re: Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents
« on: January 30, 2014, 04:36:15 pm »
Quote from: wally_wabash on January 30, 2014, 03:21:33 pm
Do we think that on Jan. 27 Wesley lets people know that they'll be in a conference in 2015 and on Jan. 30 Cortland tells us that they are leaving the NJAC in 2015- which, along with Brockport's leaving this fall, takes the NJAC down to just six teams- is all just coincidence?  I mean, it totally could be.  Or the folks at the NJAC and Wesley may have had some informal conversations regarding the what-ifs of a Cortland possibly leaving, of which they probably had an inkling was coming (these things generally aren't sudden and surprising). 

Rowan and Kean have both beaten Wesley recently.  It's not as if there is evidence that Wesley would automatically come in and dominate the league- as in win the thing easily every year.  The league could use the addition (for competitive purposes as well tournament access purposes), Wesley could use the addition (playing games against Menlo is silly), and the East region could use the addition quite frankly.  Everybody wins.  I hope this happens.

I don't disagree with any of this Wally. Wesley joining the NJAC makes all kinds of sense. But I will be interested in the roster issue. I could see the NJAC dropping it entirely. Some schools might be in support to try and boost enrollment a bit while others like Montclair St., possibly the biggest school by enrollment in D3, wouldn't see a blip if the roster went to 300. Keep travel limits but let the roster be whatever you want and the added expenses are minor, a few more uniforms, more training room expenses etc., and possibly some Title IX issues, but it can't be that many for 50-100 non-travelling football players. What do I know?

Wesley would certainly make up for Cortland leaving in terms of quality, plus a little more. But I still believe long term Salisbury and Frostberg in the E8 and SVA in the NJAC is not a solution.

38
South Region football / Re: Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents
« on: January 30, 2014, 03:07:00 pm »
Quote from: wally_wabash on January 30, 2014, 02:35:05 pm
Quote from: jknezek on January 27, 2014, 09:09:19 am
Quote from: Teamski on January 27, 2014, 02:02:37 am
It is official.  It was announced by E-Mail that Wesley Football (only) will be joining a conference in 2015.  Which conference that is, I have not a clue.   Saving money and away time for travel was cited as the reasons.  Now to ponder which one.......

-Ski

That's great news. Will be interesting to see which conference. Of course, citing saving money and away time for travel leaves the door open for a non-AQ CAC, since they didn't cite getting an AQ for the playoffs. Will be interesting how it shakes out.

Think there might be an interested partner now.  This is too obvious to not happen, right?

Only if there is a work around for the roster limits. I believe the NJAC is limited to 100, and Wesley would be well over that. Could be the E8 is now planning to drop Salisbury and Frostburg. That opens the door for a non-AQ CAC. Salisbury, Frostburg, Wesley, SVA (who probably won't last in the NJAC), CNU if they leave the USAC for football. Still need a few more for an AQ, as has always been the problem. I think by the way the release was quoted you'll see a CAC conference with a non-AQ...

39
South Region football / Re: Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents
« on: January 27, 2014, 09:09:19 am »
Quote from: Teamski on January 27, 2014, 02:02:37 am
It is official.  It was announced by E-Mail that Wesley Football (only) will be joining a conference in 2015.  Which conference that is, I have not a clue.   Saving money and away time for travel was cited as the reasons.  Now to ponder which one.......

-Ski

That's great news. Will be interesting to see which conference. Of course, citing saving money and away time for travel leaves the door open for a non-AQ CAC, since they didn't cite getting an AQ for the playoffs. Will be interesting how it shakes out.

40
South Region football / Re: American Southwest Conference
« on: January 24, 2014, 12:38:52 pm »
Quote from: @d3jason on January 24, 2014, 11:28:54 am
Maybe they should play a D-I FCS program for a little guarantee money so they can upgrade their facilities.  ;)

Well played. +K.

41
South Region football / Re: USA South Athletic Conference
« on: January 24, 2014, 08:49:35 am »
I've said it before and I'll keep saying it, not happy W&L picked them up as an opponent. No benefit to it. Hopefully it is a home/home to carry the General's over to a better opponent in the future. I can only hope there is a Centennial school or even a team further north on the horizon. Was much happier when W&L's three non-conf teams expose the school in 3 directions and had a reasonable shot at being .500 or better...

42
General football / Re: Recruiting questions
« on: January 22, 2014, 11:14:28 am »
Could have just slipped through the football group's cracks. It happens. A lot depends on the schools. While some schools recruit really hard, others recruit a lot of names low key and just see who shows up. Then there are schools where the athletic department doesn't have much pull with admissions, so while they are happy to talk to anyone, it really is a matter of who gets in.

Also a lot has to do with coaching staff contacts. The baseball coach obviously was "tipped" off to your son by someone he knew, as you mentioned. Probably someone he had some success with. So that could make your son a higher priority for baseball. If the football staff doesn't have the same tip, or the same contact with your son's coaches, then it could be a lower priority for them. However, since your son showed initiative and interest in coming to the school, it probably moves him up their interest list. Especially since now they can send someone to him and maybe make that contact with the coaching staff at your son's school and build a bridge for the future.

There are so many reasons, possibilities, etc., for why recruiting goes the way it does, and a lot of it is simply strange factors like who you know or who they know. Don't read too much into it.

43
West Region football / Re: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
« on: January 10, 2014, 01:26:52 pm »
Quote from: KitchenSink on January 10, 2014, 01:17:29 pm
Actually, considering the bureaucracy of the UW system, it's amazing that they even have athletic programs.  Why do you think they are limited to 100?

You could make an argument that it is EASIER to put together a successful program at a private school than at a state system school.

It's a bit off topic but I was listening to sports radio on my way in this morning, very entertaining down here in the land of the Tide and Tigers, and some locals were bemoaning the lack of support UAB (University of Alabama Birmingham) gets from the Alabama University Board of Trustees. In terms of football they have a horrible stadium, miserable practice facilities, cheaply paid coaches (the hc just bolted to be a Petrino assistant at Louisville), etc... A caller came in and made the point UAB should be thankful they have a D1 football program at all, since in states like Wisconsin it is the flagship University or intramurals. Not a direct quote, but Wisconsin was specifically used as was intramurals.

Yeah... D3 does not get a lot of love down here, but I thought it was mildly pathetic that the state with a multiple D3 football champion was being used in that example.

44
West Region football / Re: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
« on: January 10, 2014, 09:25:03 am »
Quote from: retagent on January 10, 2014, 09:04:27 am
I will, at my peril, weigh in on this yet again. The determining factor is not the number of enrolees, it is the fact that state schools, by their very nature and purpose, are, and should be, less discriminating in their enrollment. Their charter is to educate the masses (not exactly stated, but that is the gist). Therefore, a student who would probably not make the "cut" academically for a private school, whose standards are routinely higher, will be able to get into a state college. That's not disparaging those students. If my memory serves, Bill Gates is not a college graduate. That means that an elite athlete, who might not have been as diligent in his academic endeavors in high school has a better chance of getting accepted at a state college than he does of getting admitted to a private school.

I've tried to get this point accross a number of times, but have been ridiculed, usually not addressing that specific point. I hope I have better luck this time. It's not a guarantee that a state college will have more, better athletes, but it is an advantage they have.  Another adavatage is lower cost. As has been pointed out many times, private colleges probably give out more financial aid than do public schools (although I've never actually seen the stats on that, I don't dispute it), which might somewhat offset that advantage. There are many other factors, but to deny what I have written above is dishonest.

No it's not dishonest to deny what you wrote, it's simply disagreement. There are a lot of private schools in D3 with ridiculously low standards. If you can breathe and write your name on a check, and have a high school diploma, there is a private D3 school that will accept you. While public schools certainly have lower academic standards, and for good reason as you point out, then the elite D3 private schools, D3 is a huge universe and there are more than a few diploma mills.

I will agree that most private schools cannot compete with in-state tuition for a public school, even with a huge financial aid package. But there are exceptions to this as well. Many private schools can offer full-ride need or academic packages, or, as W&L just went on record with, full tuition for any student whose parents make less than $70K. Of course you have to be somewhat in demand to qualify for these packages, usually the better students, who may or may not be athletically inclined. I won't deny there is an advantage to a  moderately above average or lower student from a moderately above average income family or lower in attending a state school. Overall though, the argument is not particularly strong.

Especially with Mount Union, a moderately expensive private school, as the longtime heavy weight in D3 football. Only 1 public school made the elite 8 this year. If there was that much of an advantage, more of the scattered public schools would have progressed, even accounting for the fact that the public schools are primarily grouped in just a few conferences. On a larger basis, the vast majority of D3 dynasties, soccer, swimming, wrestling, etc., all belong to private schools.

45
South Region football / Re: South Region Fan Poll
« on: January 10, 2014, 08:49:41 am »
At least we did better than the big boys. Auburn wasn't even ranked. Still, 60% from the preseason in the final poll isn't great. No one saw Wash U, Rhodes, Maryville, and TLU and only one of us came up with how bad HSU was going to be or how good Millsaps was going to be. B-SC going 5-4 caught us all by surprise, but considering how good Millsaps and Rhodes ended up, plus the game vs Wesley, that's not surprising in hindsight. The 2 year losing streak to Sewanee is mildly interesting.

Always fun to look at "pre" and "post". Thanks Bob.Gregg for going back to get it. +K

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