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Date Posted: 07/22/15 12:33:40am Wed
Author: gate
Subject: Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League
In reply to: Raider Archivist 's message, "25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League" on 07/21/15 6:42:37pm Tue

It was obvious that the League would not grow and that lesser-known leagues would surpass us if scholarships were not introduced. It seems like only yesterday that schools like Lafayette were insistent on not having them.

To say that scholarships must not compromise academic integrity for our schools is an understatement. My hope is that it will continue to do the opposite and attract only the nation's best.

Now more than ever, the League seems to appreciate playing a broader schedule with quality opponents rather than high-profile academic institutions only, like the Ivy League. If the Patriot League continues to create a winning, brand name for itself, our athletic and academic integrity will speak volumes and continue to gain accolades on and off the field. For too long it seems we relied on an association with the Ivy League to give ourselves an identity. As we continue to improve with scholarships, the Ivies may find themselves in the rear view mirror. Though we will always play them, it will no longer be out of necessity but more out of loyalty. Until now, those roles were reversed.

The expansion of the League to include BostonU and Loyola will only help our exposure, but I am still not sold on BU. IMO the Terriers have a tremendous advantage due to their global name, location, and number of applicants/size. Although they add to the competitiveness of the League, they have proven that their programs can win championships in their inaugural season while the founding members of the Colonial/Patriot League may find it even harder to rise to the top of the mountain. I wouldn't be surprised if BU lax won the title next year in only its 3rd season; Colgate's storied program only just won its second.

Time will tell what the future will hold for Georgetown and its membership in football.

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Replies:

[> [> Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League -- Go...'gate, 07/22/15 1:04:23am Wed

>It was obvious that the League would not grow and that
>lesser-known leagues would surpass us if scholarships
>were not introduced. It seems like only yesterday
>that schools like Lafayette were insistent on not
>having them.
>
>To say that scholarships must not compromise academic
>integrity for our schools is an understatement. My
>hope is that it will continue to do the opposite and
>attract only the nation's best.
>
>Now more than ever, the League seems to appreciate
>playing a broader schedule with quality opponents
>rather than high-profile academic institutions only,
>like the Ivy League. If the Patriot League continues
>to create a winning, brand name for itself, our
>athletic and academic integrity will speak volumes and
>continue to gain accolades on and off the field. For
>too long it seems we relied on an association with the
>Ivy League to give ourselves an identity. As we
>continue to improve with scholarships, the Ivies may
>find themselves in the rear view mirror. Though we
>will always play them, it will no longer be out of
>necessity but more out of loyalty. Until now, those
>roles were reversed.
>
>The expansion of the League to include BostonU and
>Loyola will only help our exposure, but I am still not
>sold on BU. IMO the Terriers have a tremendous
>advantage due to their global name, location, and
>number of applicants/size. Although they add to the
>competitiveness of the League, they have proven that
>their programs can win championships in their
>inaugural season while the founding members of the
>Colonial/Patriot League may find it even harder to
>rise to the top of the mountain. I wouldn't be
>surprised if BU lax won the title next year in only
>its 3rd season; Colgate's storied program only just
>won its second.
>
>Time will tell what the future will hold for
>Georgetown and its membership in football.

I think the Patriot League was and remains a great idea, though I believe admitting Loyola was unnecessary and watered down the conference's academic reputation somewhat. I actually was very happy to see BU, a long-time Colgate opponent in many sports, join the league. I also believe BU is a far stronger school academically (in percerption and reality), than Loyola.

I am very happy to have Georgetown in the conference for football but their scholarship situation (or lack thereof) is a problem.


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[> [> Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League -- bison137, 07/22/15 7:32:09am Wed

Boston U is good academically, but is a very poor fit in other ways. It is 4-5 times larger than most other PL schools and spends far more on most sports than do other PL schools. Very hard for PL schools to compete with them in many sports.

Also fwiw they have a lot of programs/majors that allow them to attract athletes. At Boston U, you can major in athletic training, criminal justice, occupational therapy, etc. Nothing wrong with those majors, but it certainly is not a fit with other PL schools. Also they have Metropolitan College, which specializes in things like online classes and night school. In the past a number of their basketball players were enrolled in Metropolitan, but it looks like the Academic Index may be changing that.


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[> [> [> Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League -- 60'salum, 07/23/15 9:17:05am Thu

>Boston U is good academically, but is a very poor fit
>in other ways. It is 4-5 times larger than most
>other PL schools and spends far more on most sports
>than do other PL schools. Very hard for PL schools to
>compete with them in many sports.
>
> Also fwiw they have a lot of programs/majors that
>allow them to attract athletes. At Boston U, you can
>major in athletic training, criminal justice,
>occupational therapy, etc. Nothing wrong with those
>majors, but it certainly is not a fit with other PL
>schools. Also they have Metropolitan College, which
>specializes in things like online classes and night
>school. In the past a number of their basketball
>players were enrolled in Metropolitan, but it looks
>like the Academic Index may be changing that.

I remind posters that it's "BU" for the univ in Boston, and "Bucknell" for that school in PA.....(yuk-yuk).


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[> [> Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League -- gate, 07/23/15 11:33:12am Thu

With conference defections and realignments happening, I guess the PL should feel grateful that schools like BostonU and Loyola wanted to join. But the former in particular came from an inferior league IMO and had everything to gain. The Terriers are now a big fish in a little pond and have won conference titles in each of their first two years. I expect them to continue to succeed in women's soccer, field hockey...and just wait until m/w lax hits their stride...the men almost have in just two seasons.

The fact that neither school has football is bittersweet. The road to winning the PL championship is more attainable for the rest of the league but they did nothing to bolster the league in its premier sport.

The additions of these schools provided some stability and breathing room. The pros must obviously outweigh the cons. It is nice to see Colgate's banners in their arenas.


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[> [> [> Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League -- Truth Ferret, 07/23/15 2:04:20pm Thu

The PL had to grow its membership beyond the core small "liberal arts" schools that created it. There's simply a handful of "cookie-cutter" schools to choose from for expansion of similar sixed schools with strong academic reputations in Div. I. ( Count them on one,..maybe both hands ). Hence, American, BU and Loyola.
I don't think BU's advantages are that extreme or Loyola's academic reputation that destructive to the PL's reputation.. And the geographical diversity these schools brings Gate to significant urban media markets. Playoff and regular competition among 10 teams in many sports is extremely healthy.The formation of healthy Leagues requires compromise of some "nice-to-haves." It's art, not science. It doesn't appear the PL has compromised on its core values. It appears to get stronger every year, and continues to be a very good fit for Gate. Independence is not a choice, Period.







>With conference defections and realignments happening,
>I guess the PL should feel grateful that schools like
>BostonU and Loyola wanted to join. But the former in
>particular came from an inferior league IMO and had
>everything to gain. The Terriers are now a big fish
>in a little pond and have won conference titles in
>each of their first two years. I expect them to
>continue to succeed in women's soccer, field
>hockey...and just wait until m/w lax hits their
>stride...the men almost have in just two seasons.
>
>The fact that neither school has football is
>bittersweet. The road to winning the PL championship
>is more attainable for the rest of the league but they
>did nothing to bolster the league in its premier sport.
>
>The additions of these schools provided some stability
>and breathing room. The pros must obviously outweigh
>the cons. It is nice to see Colgate's banners in
>their arenas.


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[> [> [> [> Re: 25 Year Anniversary: Is 'Gate content with the Patriot League -- DFW HOYA, 07/25/15 9:49:28am Sat

>It doesn't appear the PL has compromised on its core
>values. It appears to get stronger every year, and
>continues to be a very good fit for Gate. Independence
>is not a choice, Period.

I'm not sure you could make that argument in football. The PL is not as strong as it was ten years ago.

Is Lehigh stronger now than then? No. Lafayette? No.

Holy Cross? Probably not. Fordham improved because it had a three year head start on scholarships and Bucknell if only temporarily.


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