Nicely said. And congrats to all. I know you shouldn't look ahead but I have to say I don't really want to play Susquehanna again and really really really do not want to play Salisbury again. We played them both this year. That's enough! This is like running a gauntlet.  Yuck.    

Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 13, 2025, 09:06:00 AMThe school's finances seem to be in good order, with assets of $275M and liabilities of $56M (as of June 2024). 

I'm curious as the liquidity of the institution. If the majority of the assets are fixed assets and the bulk of liabilities current, then there could be a short term liquidity issue. Do you know how much cash they have? Current ratio?

I think the game last night was an excellent way to start the season. Both teams were tested in all aspects of their game. Both teams will take away something from this that should help them the rest of the season. I predicted an 8 point CNU loss. I was close. We lost our All-American and only have 1 senior. We're good. But RMC is loaded. Good luck the rest of the way.

Also - when RMC won the national championship, they went 33-1 with the lone loss to CNU. The following year CNU won it all with a record of 30-3, with one of the losses to RMC. So, statistically speaking, the loser of this game each year has a better chance at a Natty!! 

Thanks MCScots. I appreciate that input. I like looking at stuff like this. I'm a numbers nerd. (Hence, I was an adjunct Finance professor for several years). I used to serve on the CNU Education Foundation which oversees the endowment but my 3 terms ended a few years ago. Now my only official involvement is serving on the Athletic Advisory Council.

Just about all of my money to CNU goes to athletics. The President's Suite for football games has my name on it. Also, I started the QB Club 3 years ago to help the football team as much as possible.

I do provide funds for an annual scholarship in my daughter's name. And sometimes I will make a special donation for the arts at CNU. But mostly it is athletics.

Thanks again and feel free to send me fun stuff like this anytime!

Quote from: IC798891 on November 11, 2025, 04:10:33 PM

Quote from: MCScots2013 on November 11, 2025, 11:48:45 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 11, 2025, 10:47:45 AMSurprisingly, CNU's admission rate is somewhere in the mid-80s (86% for the class that entered last year per CNU itself).  Of that 86%, only 18% actually enrolled.

Admitting 6300 freshmen with a total student body of 4500 seems a little crazy. Can't be a common practice, right?  Would probably run into issues if more students decided they wanted to live near the water.

No, this is standard practice. You have your estimated yield rate, and work from there to get the size you want.

Yes, if one year you unexpectedly get 20% instead of 18%, you're going to end up with an extra 126 students. Not only is this something most colleges would kill for, you make it work. Singles turn into doubles, doubles into triples, people stay in lounges, you loosen your off campus housing policy.

I think in the past 15 years or so, Virginia Tech ran into an issue when more accepted than they predicted with the yield. They were putting 3 to a 2 person dorm room and renting hotel rooms nearby.

Quote from: MCScots2013 on November 11, 2025, 02:54:48 PMCNU85, don't take this the wrong way--it helps to have a $200 million from the state.  Of course, the University has to be great stewards of the money to keep the level, and it sounds like CNU as stepped up.  As a Virginia taxpayer, I am glad you are able to boast on your alma mater!

2025 Budgets:
CNU: $201m
W&M: $469m
GMU: $1.5b
JMU: $784m
Longwood: $175m
Norfolk State: $240m
ODU:$585m
Radford: $285m
Mary Wash.: $175m
UVA: $2.2b ($68m for UVA-Wise)
VCU: $1.5b
VMI: $104m
Tech: $1.8b (gotta pay for a new coach...)
VSU: $234m

I didn't take it the wrong way at all. Facts are what they are. I appreciate it. And you are correct in that CNU is a good steward of what is received. It is also difficult (for me) to always understand what is truly paid by the state. I'm interested in knowing your source. I looked at Budget Bill HB1600 and get $115 Million for FY 2025 and that dropped to $109 Million for FY 2026. Still not chump change.

Also, none of the building costs came from the state appropriations budget. They are all funded by bonds. And as you are most likely aware, in Virginia, zero state money goes towards athletics.

Allow me to boast about my undergraduate alma mater.

With some exceptions, CNU students are required to live on campus their first three years. Many students prefer to live on campus for their senior year. My daughter opted to live in a house nearby for her senior year (not my house!). The dorms are amazing and I can see why some would opt to stay on campus. My daughter's sophomore and junior year dorms were 12 month dorms. She never moved. The 12 month dorms do not have to leave during breaks. There were 4 bedrooms in her dorm (apartment). Each bedroom has a private bathroom. There was a full kitchen, dining area, living room and washer/dryer. Residents halls in the latest rankings (take rankings with a grain of salt) have them at #1 in Virginia and #4 in the nation.

Science labs at one point were highly rated. Up there with Stanford if I remember correctly. The Biology program is ranked #8 by Study.com. The MAT was ranked #1 in nation a few years ago. I could go on....but that's enough to make the point.

Starting around 1997, when former US Senator Paul Trible became the CNU President, there has been somewhere close to $1.5 Billion in improvements. There is a ribbon cutting on a brand new Science and Research building in January. Here's a live video feed of the construction. CNU Science. Our new President, Bill Kelly (retired Rear Admiral) is continuing the excellence in not only buildings but in academics. He previously was the head of the Coast Guard Academy and is a former D3 student-athlete.

The leadership program just won it's third consecutive Global Leadership Conference in Prague. The Marching Band has performed in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin and in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade.

The business school recently won the Bloomberg Trading Challenge.

We have 3 coaches with over 600 wins in their sport.....Field Hockey, Baseball and Softball. All 3 are former CNU student-athletes. I did an analysis in February on currently active CNU coaches. 7 of them are in the top 10 in their sport of Active coaches in D3 based on winning %. Those 7 are also in the top 11 of coaches all-time in D3. Another coach is on top 20 active coaches and the women's soccer coach will be on the list once he gets enough seasons under his belt.

Currently Field Hockey is ranked #1. Football #7, Women's soccer #14, Men's soccer #22, Men's basketball #9, Women's Basketball #20 (d3hoops)/#7 (Coaches). Men's Lacrosse was #4 for most of last season.

Our head groundskeeper is phenomenal.  A few years ago he won an award for best D3 Softball field in the nation. CNU only D3 school honored As mentioned in the last football podcast, we play football on grass. The field is immaculate. Chris is a VT graduate (multiple degrees in turf management) and was the top assistant groundskeeper for the Nationals.

We recently built a chapel on campus. Imagine that. A state school building a non-denominational chapel. We have added a fine arts center to go along with the performing arts center. The "Ferg"

The campus is beautiful. Live Cam - Great lawn

I hope this post doesn't put people off. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in a particular sport that we forget that we are talking colleges and universities which is of greater importance at this level.

And the story I just presented about CNU is not an outlier. I'm sure others could do the same about their alma mater. The research institutions of the UAA. The prestige of the NESCAC schools. The national championship dominance in certain sports by particular schools.

D3 tells a great story in general. I hope the challenges being faced by many are overcome and we can continue experiencing what all d3 student athletes bring to their respective sports and institutions.

My apologies. The CNU SID sent me a still shot of SU lining up to kick the PAT after that last TD with 19 seconds left in the game. The snap was bobbled and it became a broken play. SU was indeed attempting the PAT.

The NJAC is improving.  2 ranked teams. Rowan getting votes which means some people think they are top 25. TCNJ having a winning season. I believe both CNU and SU are better teams having played that game. Other than extra points and trying to make up for it, that game was a tie. Turnovers were the difference. SU will be tough in the playoffs. I hope the NJAC makes some noise in the coming weeks.

Wow! What a game!

If you would have told me Barry gains more yards on the ground than McGowan, I would not have believed it.

I'm not sure why SU attempted 2 on the final TD with 19 seconds left. There was no upside to that, at all.  Had SU recovered the onside kick and kicked a FG, the game would have gone to OT. Had  they kicked the PAT and then get the onsides and managed a FG, they win the NJAC. Baffling decision.

I've heard that rumor for the last couple of years. My take on it (and just totally guessing) is that they are exploring their options. I would think you need to bring in a consultant to help figure out if a move like that makes sense. Perhaps someone got wind of that possibility.

Time will tell.

Someone suggested we call it the Royal Farms Trophy! There are about 6 Royal Farms gas stations/convenience stores on Rt 13 between SU and CNU. And I think a few more are closely passed in Va Beach/Norfolk/NN area.

The NJAC was insane when it also included Frostburg St and Wesley!

I made the trip to VT. The folks at Castleton were extremely gracious and hospitable. The stadium is beautiful. I like the train station feel!

I hope to make many return trips. We actually made it a vacation and went into Canada and down into Maine before crossing over to VT. I was able to locate my great grandfather's headstone in a cemetery in Barton VT.

My grandfather grew up in West Glover.

I like that idea. I plugged in a question into AI and it came up with:

A strong, memorable name that captures the shared regional identity and mascots is The Chesapeake Cup or The Maritime Trophy. These names are alliterative and have a classic feel often associated with college football rivalries.

I'm leaning towards the Chesapeake Cup. What do you think?

Connor Barry has another outstanding game. 17-18 340 yards and 3 TDs. Plus he ran for 3 TDs. 2 of his rushing TDs were results of long passes (i believe one was 72 yards. The other I can't remember-40+ seems right) that ended up inside the 1 yard line. That would have been 5 throwing TDs. Wow.

His stat line for the season is now 119-166. 2,054 yards. Almost 72% completion. 26 passing TDs. 1 INT. 293.43 yards per game. He also has 5 rushing TDs

And most games he plays less than 3 quarters. The best stat of all for Connor Barry — he's a junior!

Colin Hart had 8 receptions for 204 yards and 2 TDS, giving him 9 TDs for the year, with 37 receptions totaling 881 yards.