If they last few posts are any indication, I'd say Pat did add bablefish :  )

I'll be sure to type better and even spell check!

I'm guessing they need ot add the eighth soon and since Pat typically gets the scoop, we'll have to stat yune din the ocming months! That could be a tough blow if they lose E-town but the MAC would easily be able to add members from neighboring conferences. Thanks for the inof Pat and Warren, you guys are top notch!

Pat/Anyone,

Any word on who will join the Interstate Eight since they only have seven?  Rumors say Elizabethtown or Lycoming but those are just rumors, didn't know if anyone else heard anything more solid? What would another loss do to the MAC? Is Interstate Eight their official name and do they have a website or posted nay news anywhere recently?

I don't think we are on the cusp of a dmeise of DIII Football at all. Most DIII institutions are small and tuition driven. Many institutions give their athletic department recrutiment goals. That football team that brings in 35-50 kids a year is vital to instituional recrutiment goals. Take away football and you have to work much harder to make up the difference.

Pat Coleman's thought of a breakout is valid. Unless the division does somehting to curb growth such a change may be ineveitable. Unless they decrease the amount of access to championships and do something about the growth of the division, it will take veen longer to conduct championships and they may be the pre-text (lenght of NCAA CHampionships) needed to split the division. Hate to see it happen.

Is MAC doing anything to add football playing members?   

That really is hilarious, got a good laugh out of that. Aside from football, which CAC is clearly a national powerhouse, how does it look for other sports?

Just heard they evacuated the arena in Cali due to a suspicious package. Let's hope its nothing. 

Thanks Matt - anyways, how does Wesley, Villa Julie and Hood look for you guys? Which sports will be your tops? I know Wesley is very good in football and both hoops teams made ECACs.

For what ever it is worth, I understand that Empire 8 is adding becuase one of their members, Rochester Tech, is going to go Division I in the future. This is fairly common knowledge in the NY area. They recently went DI in men's hockey and will likely go in women's too. It is more a matter of survival for them and apparently they have been trying to expand for a long time. I also heard E8 talked to Stevens before they decided to go to the new conference. As to why Stevens pulled out of that bunch I haven't heard but I'd guess they didn't like something or just felt E8 was the better match for them. either way, best not to make assumptions.

It's really similar to the CAC. That newly formed league took members from everyone included Capital which left you needing to add members to survive. So you added Wesley (PAC) Villa Julie (NEAC) and Hood (AWCC). I am guessing no one criticized CAC for their moves and they shouldn't have. I just thought some of this info might be helpful since some had made some assumptions about E8 and Stevens.   
   

No problem with it at all Pat, didn't mean to offend anyone, sorry.

As you all know, there is a lot of movement happening in the division so this may continue for some time. I-8, SCAC, HCAC, PAC, MAC, CAC, now E8. I think it is just the reality - nothing more nothing less. 

Stevens joins Empire 8!

http://www.empire8.com/031406-1.html

I can understand your point at first glance but when you look at it closer it makes a ton of sense, in my opinion. What years did you play? 

FisherAlum -

Once again you got me. I thought holy crap 7.5 hrs, then I looked on Mapquest and you are clearly smoking crack! This ain't the 90's anymore and Fisher is not an independent as they were when you played there. Utica to Hoboken is not 6 hours nor is it 7.5 from Rochester! Rochester to Hoboken 5:38 and Utica to Hoboken 4:01, Hartwick to Hoboken 3:39 which is about the same as a trip to Rochester.

We're all entitled to our opinions but at least get your facts right.

The fact is the best institutions play the best institutions. I would bet the top E8 members are very excited about it becuase of the competition. Stevens is in a weak conference right now and E8 is a tremendous upgrade for them and offer great competition for the empire. Plus, there are tons and tons of alumni donors in the NYC/Metro area and you better believe the presidents and AD's thought of that! As a former coach, this would be a great opportunity for an expanded recruiting base too.

Just my opnion but I do not think it is uncreasonable they way you feel but I respect that.

That was my initial reaction too but slow down and think about. Every single team in E8 and any conference plays mutliple out of state games, Naz played Old westbury, Pitt bradford.... This will just be a conference game and that is more important than some out of region game that has no impact on tourney selection. I don;t think it imapcts budgets at all considering this. Plus it is actually a normal trip for Hartwick and Utica and not so bad for Ithaca, Elmira. Stevens has an incredible academic profile, almost a 1300 average SAT! Great athletic programs. I think it's a step up. They may not have the best hoops teams, they are improving, but this gives them many other great conference sports.

But maybe you'd prefer a Keuka or Cazenovia since they're in state! 950 SAT's and sub-par athletic programs. There is no comparison - peel away a layer or two and its a good move

I guess it was true, Stevens to join Empire 8!

http://www.empire8.com/031406-1.html

Stevens has decent hoops but their soccer and lacrosse programs are great!

From an Empire 8/NY State fan, congrats to Amherst's team. Great shooting and strong defense, that should do the trick. Play like that and Salem is your playground.

BooBalls - your comments and tone are exactly why people dislike some from your academically elite school/conference. I'll make this clear, I will not paint the entire conference or its fans with the same brush based on your comments but you are clearly a pompous, ignorant snob. Regardless, I wish you well.

Amherst and most NESCAC schools can do what they do becuase they are the best academic schools in our division, they have sickly endowments and they can package a kid for near full rides and its legal becuase that is how they package the student body. There are also many, many kids who come from very wealthy backgrounds and do not need aid and go to these schools because of its reputation and their family can pay the full cost. With this equation it is impossible for these teams not to be so good and we cannot fault them for that. 

I hope Amherst wins it all - great team.   

First off hats off to Amherst. 54% from three - that's sick! They deserved the win and if they play like that they will reign in Salem too. I don't think anyone can say this Fisher team underacheived or dissapointed.

Reggie - get your facts straight. The deepest RIT ever went, with or without Jones, was the Sweet 16. I beleive this is the deepest an E8 men's team ever played in post-season. How can you knock a team for bowing out in the Elite 8. We all want the national championship and defintely are idssapointed but to act like this was no accomplishment is ignorant. And exactly how does MA own Empire 8? UC beat Gordon and WPI, two MA teams they were expected to lose to. Amherst owned Fisher last night and that's the extent of it. Our league may not at the level of NESCAC in hoops this year but there's no shame in that.

E8 is on the rise. Where was Utica six years ago? They are now a Sweet 16 team and a couple of big men away from even greater things. Nazareth is on the way up, Hartwick too. RIT is still competitive. This league, while not elite in hoops, is on its way up no doubt.