Date Posted:18:04:55 03/17/04 Wed Author: Raider Redhead Subject: Are you talking PL departure for basketball only? In reply to:
Go...'gate
's message, "Re: HC to A-10; it may be time." on 15:50:54 03/17/04 Wed
If so, I can understand that, as HC has won three PL regular season championships and five PL tournaments in the past fourteen PL seasons. But, beware -- The first few years in a more competitive conference will be a rough ride. Case in point -- Fordham and their A10 experience.
If you think that HC should join a more competitive conference in more or all sports, you might want to re-think that position based upon your recent PL performance. In the past fourteen seasons, HC men have won two football championships, four soccer championships, and no championships in cross country, indoor track, baseball, lacrosse, outdoor track, or tennis.
That isn't exactly a dominant resume, nor does it suggest infinitely superior performance is a horse@#$% conference with sorry ass members like Colgate. (Don't be offended by the language...It comes from calling the cows home in Hamilton while the hoops team is playing and from our hedonistic Baptist tradition.)
Oh, and by the way, just what is the source(s) of the additional athletic funding that HC will need to compete in a better conference?
Possible answers:
1. Attendance and television? I think not. There are at least six schools within 70 miles of Worcester than are a more attractive hoops draws. You might pick up a few more larger paydays for away games. And, a Centrum-based home venue might bring in a few more dollars for big games of local interest, such as BC, UMass, UConn, or Providence. Nonetheless, you need to get on those teams' schedules first.
2. Alumni and friends contributions? Possibly. But, keep in mind that you'll require some major sports-specific and "booster" contributions to compete with large public universities and with private institutions that possess big-time sports budgets. Case in point -- UMass currently allocates 27% of their total annual budget to athletics.
3. Higher tuitions? Possibly. However, like Colgate, your current tuition level is already pushing the ROI envelope.
4. The Society of Jesus (a.k.a. The Church)? Possibly. Yet, despite being the wealthiest corporation in the world (still waiting for its IPO), I somehow sense that there may be more urgent fiscal priorities on the minds of the clerical hierarchy -- BC sports for one.
But I can really see this in the context of a bigger HC and FU full departure to the A-10. At that point, we need to look at a BU or a VMI to complete the league - as a full member.
