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Date Posted: 15:44:04 08/01/06 Tue
Author: J.J.
Subject: Re: NEW NEC COMMISIONER
In reply to:
Mike
's message, "Re: NEW NEC COMMISIONER" on 14:18:16 08/01/06 Tue
About time! But I'm not sure what she (or anyone) can do to really improve the conference. The loss of the doubleheader at Hershey in MBB was disapointing (although CCSU did great job without it). SBU is leaving for football, and the NEC has twice been shut out of the I-AA playoffs AQ bid and likely will be as long as we reamain a low-equity alternative to fully scholly I-AA football.
I keep saying that I'm not sure we are still a great fit for the NEC anymore. I respect the programs in the conference, but we should be planning to do what's in our future best interest and I think persuing a conference affiliation with medium size public institutions in the Northeast is a good idea on all fronts.
In almost every sport, on the field we can compete with any of the regional publics such as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Boston U (large private), the SUNYs, and even at times with UMass and URI. There is also no doubt in my mind that affiliating with these schools would increase the stature and academic reputation of CCSU as well.
I know many on the board have said that a move would be lateral (specifically when considering MBB). And while that point is close to the truth (the AE will be a 1-bid conference too), there is much more upside to joining 7 other public schools with good academics and more exposure.
I know that the University of Hartford is likely our biggest barrier in to jumping to the AE. They likely would block any move we tried to make to join, but IMO offer the best and most realistic fit for any future expansion they might consider. I think a great case can be made that we would bring a lot to the table and would benefit the current members in many ways.
I know the school and the AD won't come out and say as much becasue of both contractual and professional obligations, but a real case should be made that this is in the best future interest of CCSU.
UMBC just up and ran from the NEC, as have others in the past (Marist and Rider to the MAAC) to do what best for them. I'm also not convinced that Quinnipiac and Monmouth aren't looking at their options. We would be foolish not to at least CONSIDER alternatives to the NEC!
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Re: NEW NEC COMMISIONER -- Keith, 16:33:48 08/01/06 Tue
JJ...for the most part. I agree. The AD at QU already said a few years ago that they want to move and, IMHO, CCSU is always late in the game when it comes to making the right move.
If CCSU does go to the AE? What about football? Any news on aligning football with part of the old A-10?
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conference problems -- J.J., 16:10:51 08/02/06 Wed
Keith, I don't think CCSU is late in the game making the move, I think the bottom line has always been that we haven't had many options available to us.
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I don't know the exact reasons why, but after the move to DI for the 1986-87 season, no one wanted us in their conference. The ECAC-Metro (now the NEC) didn't want us then and neither did the ECAC-North (now the AE).
The Univ. of Harford was admitted to the ECAC-North in 1984-85 season (just after their upgrade from DII), effectively blocking us out the next season and in the future. However, CCSU was admitted to their womens baskeball conference (Seaboard Conference) for the 1986-87 season, and played just 3 seasons before the two conference would merge and form the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). I would note that CCSU finished better than UHa in 2 of the 3 seasons in the Seaboard. CCSU and Brooklyn College were not asked to join the new combined mens and womens conference - Colgate's women played in the NAC for just 1 season before heading to the PL for 1990-91.
So it was not until the 1990-91 season that CCSU men's team was finally asked to join a conference. Only after the Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh left the ECC to join the newly formed Patroit League was CCSU's admitted in the conferece. The ECC was desperate - the one proud conference was on its last leg and in just 3 season the ECC would totally collapse and everyone left for a nice conferences except us.
The simple fact is for the 1990-91 season the NAC (now the AE) had just 6 teams (Boston U, Hartford, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Vermont) in mens hoops. They did not want Central. The following season they added our ECC conference mates Delaware and Drexel! In subsequent years the AE added 2 more former ECC mates Hofstra (1995) and Towson (1996). I would also note those 4 teams left the AE for greener pastures in the CAA. And even more recently the AE added 3 newly upgraded DI programs (the SUNYs), and of course just a few seasons ago our NEC peer UMBC made the bolt over to the AE - all in favor of CCSU!
Insider or others with more info of the suation may be able to explain why, but there were many chances to join the AE and it never happened. I've been told we had applied at least twice and were denied both times. Most commonly the reason given was Hartford's objections and our academic standing compared to the existing members.
Only in another stroke of luck shortly after the ECC fell apart, a bunch of schools left the Mid-Con for the Horizon Conference. So CCSU and SUNY-Buffalo joined a midwest conference just so we could have access to the the NCAA bid in MBB. Finally, in 1998 C.J. was able to get us in the NEC, a local conference that was a much better fit than the Mid-Con that saved us travel costs and time. He did a great job and we have built our programs around winning the NEC's AQ in all sports. It has been a good formula, no doubt. I just don't think we belong with small private schools, when the larger regional publics are closer to our profile.
So my question is how does Harford get lucky enough to have a steady membership in the AE all these years? We can offer a conference a lot more than they ever did or will. But with more changes in the conference landscape coming and a rising I-AA football program, CCSU may be able to find a conference that is and always was the best fit for us - the AE.
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Re: conference problems -- J.J., 16:13:15 08/02/06 Wed
Wow, after writing all this (sorry way too long) I can see why many in the Athletic Department might not have positive feelings for the AE or its member institutions.
But unless we really think we can make the step up to a newly modified A-10, I still think that the AE is our best choice. And in any case, I don't see how even a revamped A-10 would consider us coming in as an NEC program.
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Re: conference problems -- newbritainite, 18:20:26 08/02/06 Wed
I have looked online for any discussion regarding a conference move (CCSU) and even any other changes involving the NEC...no such luck.
If there is any push that exists to make a change for CCSU, I would think there would be more discussion besides this forum. - Where does the AD (CJ) stand on this?
If there is any talk on any of this, it seems to be one huge secret.
I do agree that CCSU has performed VERY well in D-1 in the NEC. However, just looking a the NEC schools, clearly CCSU's profile does not exactly fit well.
CCSU would be HEAVILY more competitive and regarded if they were in a stronger and larger conference. Along with going to a bigger conference would again be, better facilities.
Well, maybe a good FB season would help all of this.
And we cannot forget to mention women's (and men's) soccer.
How about some more TV coverage???
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Re: conference problems -- Keith, 18:32:49 08/02/06 Wed
Well written JJ. You did your homework! I agree...CCSU was not given the opportunities. Hindsight is 20/20 but CCSU should have made the move back in 82 as orignally planned. I don't get UofH' clout either. If they think they are a better school academically, they are sadly mistaken. In fact, I understand that the school is very VERY strapped financially. Just drive through the campus and you'll see what I mean.
I don't know where CJ stands on any conference move. Actually, I think CJ will be retiring in a few years so I am not sure if he will take any action regarding a conference change.
It will be interesting to see how this all pans out if, in fact, CCSU is trying to make a move. I am sure there are many things behind the scenes that we are not privy to.
Now...UofH was mentioned...how about how lucky QU and SHU were? They joined the NEC without having to struggle as independents!
Anyway...I think we'll be in the NEC for the foreseeable future but I could be wrong.
It also appears that the new commissioner does have some credentials...so I'll try and stay optomistic!
By the way...what DID happen to that Hershey PA deal?
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Re: conference problems -- J.J., 11:52:42 08/03/06 Thu
I didn't know CCSU was going to upgrade to DI back in 1982. That's way before my time :) As I said before I doubt the AD or the President would make any public remarks stating that we are looking for a new conference right now (although I think CJ did adresss the question quite diplomatically in an ask the AD segment on the website). If, and when, it ever happened I would expect it to come as somewhat of a suprise to us all. I'm not looking to put the school or the department on the spot, I'm just saying that as fans and boosters I think we should be intersted in a change to associate with New England/NY schools of a similar profile (size/public) and to expand our exposure and reputation.
Look, NU bolted to the CAA with little notice or conisderation to the AE, and we know UMBC did the same thing to the NEC when they left. The recent statement from SBU to leave the NEC for FB came just months after they signed an extention to the NEC until 2010. It possible things are in the works now (I hope), but I think we all agree we should be looking out for Central's best interest in the long run. Likely we are in the NEC for a year or two, but with a nice investment in facilities and FB schollys there are a lot more possibilities.
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Hartford is certainly a sore subject. As a private school they really don't compte for the same pool of students as we do. However in recent years CCSU is accepting a similar caliber of student (something that wasn't done in the past). On the field its no match, we own them. They can field a good golf and soccer team (most recently WBB w/ Rozzitti), but that's about it. They've always had problems competing in the AE in most sports. In some ways UHa is a better fit (private/size/athletics) with QU, Monmouth, and to some degree SHU and RMU.
Monmouth has stated in public that they were looking for playoff opportunites in FB and would consider a change in conferences to achive it. I have no doubt IF Monmouth was aked to join the PL they would leave the NEC in a split second, as would Quinnipiac. Both schools have the standing and profile to try to make the jump to another conference.
And of course QU is in bed with the ECAC for ice hockey and even left the AE as a Lax-only member to joined a midwest Lax conference with Ohio State and Notre Dame. They have tons of $$ to spend and want to use sports to associate with high academic institutions to give their school a shot in the arm. Look at all the publicity they get with the "Quinnipiac Poll." They are spending their $$$ wisely.
Finally don't forget NJIT is moving to DI and will be looking for a new home too!
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According to an article on pennlive.com the Hershey deal fell though becasue of the change in the NEC front office, not becasue of CCSU. Penn State said "it just blew up."
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