MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

RustCollege,

I went back to look at my notes from the Spring of 2006, when the Fisk issue arose.

At that time, Fisk was only spending $280,000 on athletics, which was 41 % less than the next lowest school on 2006.  Since then, LaGrange has added football, and all of the programs have upgraded their athletic departments in various ways.  In my notes as to what I would have recommended that Fisk do to "commit" to the GSAC in 2006, I would have proposed increases in all sports by at least 33% per year for about 5 years to get the program up to current D-III standards. That would have translated into a 2010-11 budget of about $1.2 Million.  The financial downturn at Fisk would not permit that.

From a distance, the goals of the GSAC, which came together around 1999-2000, have changed.

Spillman moved into the big HBCU D-II conference in the South. 

Scholarship athletics ( or re-stated "athletic scholarships") have its own aura in the South.  Even Huntingdon, LaGrange and BSC are fighting this.

If I am advising the Rust athletic department on what will make a success participation in the GSAC, then I am guessing a financial commitment of nearly $0.8 to 1M is where Rust needs to be as a start.

Part of Rust's problem is its isolation with peer institutions.  Practically speaking, Rust is a long way from everyone!

Good luck with this.

[wilburt]

I no Fisk was wen was Stillman an Stillman move up 2 D2 and also Stillman had plans 2 go D2 a long time ago with Lane, LOC, Clark, Morehouse and 3 other schools I bet u didn't no dat...lol 

1. Rust College:

I did know that, but it was my understanding that the GSAC encouraged Stillman to push up their timetable to move to D2 and leave the GSAC earlier than they might have originally planned.

Has the GSAC offered Rust admission?

2. Ralph Turner:

Fisk's move to the NAIA has allowed it to reduce the number of sports offered. As a result, 1) Fisk was able to make improvements to the gymnasium, 2) is able to offer athletic scholarships under current NAIA rules and 3) potentially form a new athletic conference of 6 Black Colleges in the South.

So from a financial perspective (getting more bang for its athletic buck) and a collegiality perspective (if the new conference becomes a reality) then the move to the NAIA has been a win/win for Fisk thus far.   

[Ralph Turner]

I no Fisk was wen was Stillman an Stillman move up 2 D2 and also Stillman had plans 2 go D2 a long time ago with Lane, LOC, Clark, Morehouse and 3 other schools I bet u didn't no dat...lol 

1. Rust College:

I did know that, but it was my understanding that the GSAC encouraged Stillman to push up their timetable to move to D2 and leave the GSAC earlier than they might have originally planned.

Has the GSAC offered Rust admission?

2. Ralph Turner:

Fisk's move to the NAIA has allowed it to reduce the number of sports offered. As a result, 1) Fisk was able to make improvements to the gymnasium, 2) is able to offer athletic scholarships under current NAIA rules and 3) potentially form a new athletic conference of 6 Black Colleges in the South.

So from a financial perspective (getting more bang for its athletic buck) and a collegiality perspective (if the new conference becomes a reality) then the move to the NAIA has been a win/win for Fisk thus far.   

Good morning, wilburt!

The NAIA will permit an "AQ" for a conference with 6 schools.  Fisk may be come the "anchor" or the "keystone" for the conference.

As one reviews the NAIA website, those HBUC's seem to independents.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/naia/member-services/championships/Qualifcation_Plans/qual_plans_pdf/qual_MBB_DI.pdf

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/naia/member-services/championships/Qualifcation_Plans/qual_plans_pdf/qual_MBB_DII.pdf

[wilburt]

Dr. Ralph you are correct the 6 schools would make it an AQ in the NAIA. No more scheduling problems trying to get a Pool B bid.  I don't know if Fisk will become an anchor or not but it is the only school in a "big city" aside from Philander Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Bottom line is that the alumni are happy with the move and the new direction of playing more of our tradition rivals!

[Spencer Beaty]

I will be the GSAC's representation at the NCAA division three final four!  I am going to Salem to see some good basketball... and maybe play a little golf.

[GSAC Killer]

http://mountainpress.southernheadlines.com/index.cfm?section=34&story=13459

This article is for my buddy OLD LION!! Dropping dimes..lol.. It was fun..

[batteredbard]

Wilburt

I hate to mention it but I couldn't help but notice that Fisk women didn't do any better against Dee Bell at Martin Methodist, this season than they did when he was at Maryville, 88-27.

http://sitemason.martinmethodist.edu/files/fKLODu/Game%2023%20MMCvFisk%202.7.htm

I always liked the Fisk men's games and I think it made the other conference schools better, as far as men's basketball went, to have them. But it was a drag on all other sports. So Im glad Fisk is now able to devote resources where they feel they can make the most benefit to their student athletes.

At this point, maybe the GSAC should just watch and pay attention but not worry about the other conferences. When the dam breaks, be it for travel expenses or fear of falling behind in a super conference race, or from some other odd ball straw that always seems to trigger major shifts I sort of think that there may be more than one option presented very quickly to the entire conference along with some subsset ideas to 1) MC alone, 2) PC alone, 3) HC and LC as a package and 4) the womens only institutions.

Maybe by then the GSAC wont care if it adds a member here or there, maybe it will test the solidarity, but no need to speculate yet. Just wait and watch for the first odd move somewhere else then start the speculating.

[wilburt]

batteredbard:

Despite the loss to Martin Methodist the women did win a couple of games this season.  The biggest problem Fisk faced with the women's program when it was in D3 (and still is to a certain extent) was that too many players that were recruited to play changed their minds once they got on campus.  They either focused on academics or become active in other social endeavors.

With respect to the GSAC I agree with you, but I would add this. You can't grow as a conference when 1) you are contracting every few years (ie Fisk and Stillman) & 2) turning your nose at prospective members (ie Thomas More and UDallas).

Three (3) of those four (4) schools have moved on to other conferences with automatic bids (albeit one to D2) and a 4th one is seeking to create a new conference in the NAIA - yet the GSAC remains stagnant after nearly a decade of existence.  There may be millions of reasons for this, but the responsibility has to rest with the GSAC leadership.  What's the vision for the GSAC in the next ten years? We all have seen what the first ten years has produced.

[mattgrubb]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/mar/18/thunderbolts-run-is-over/

here is what happens without the killer

[Spencer Beaty]

I just finished watching the DIII final four semis, and I must say that I wasn't overly impressed.  Washington University was a good team, but the other three teams seemed only slightly above average.  I know that most of the top ranked teams, for some reason, got put in one fourth of the bracket, but I think that MC could be there next year.  I believe in the scots, and I am ready for a final four run.

[bballlover]

Congratulations to Pittman ( 1st  team) & Watson ( 2nd  team ) All South Region

[Spencer Beaty]

Congrats to Pittman and Eryk.  Who are the other members of the all-region teams.

[bballlover]

http://www.d3hoops.com/all-region/index.html

[Spencer Beaty]

Number 11 for Guilford made first team all-region.  He can shoot the rock like no ones business.  No mention of Old Gregg, I thought that he was as good as any big man I saw this year except for Carson Newman's Auburn transfer.

[bballlover]

Does anyone know if the GSAC tournament rotates back to Huntingdon next year or if it will it be somewhere else?