Date Posted:11:41:57 03/29/04 Mon Author: Nhteamer Subject: Re: Colgate Slams HC In reply to:
Gate Raider
's message, "Colgate Slams HC" on 01:26:54 03/29/04 Mon
My point, dado, is that if we are to have a vibrant board, many voices are needed.
Our problems are not of Colgate's making and it does, I believe understandably, tire some of our Patriot League brethren when we act superior. I, therefore, understand their desire to "rub our nose in it." Good for them. I am bothered more by the fact that we are indeed LAST in the PL President's Cup (or whatever it is called)
I would love one day to hear that Father Brook's whispered to somebody the admission that he was 100% wrong to dismantle one of the most respected Basketball programs in the East and, perhaps, the most respected 1AA Football program in the country and take us in the direction that he did. But it is not Colgate's fault that we are now struggling. I would love to be better than they at B-ball and as good as they at football, and softball, and hockey, and lacrosse, and swimming. Facts are facts. Let's improve things, not kill the messenger.
Nhteamer makes sood good points. I find Gate Raider entertaining and must admit that at times I'd rather read Gate Raider's rants than some of the "basketball minds" on this board who wrote a bunch of "happy talk" messages after we lost to D-III Williams. Let Gate Raider have fun now because I get the sense that things may be changing on Mount Saint James.
As much as I want to think things are about to change on the Hill, Do you really believe it?
Are you maybe starting to feel like HC always wants to be small time? I am so sick and tired of seeing HC as the nice little train that could, and not looked at as a legitimate D1 athletic school(PL, Atlantic Hockey). I heard how small the school was and how nice it was to see them play hard in the hockey game the other night, but the end result (just like with BB)was a loss. You could see that HC was not at the level as UND.
My point being, every time this school hits a high point where a decision needs to be made to expand the horizons, they fold up and we watch the porgram fall back in mediocrity. FB, BB, WBB, now hockey!! What is going on that is any different at HC. "If we get too good, our school will turn into Florida State" As stupid as this sounds, that seems to be the cry from the masses.
If you are to stay a legitimate D1 program in whatever sport, commit the best resources so each sport has the best potential at success. Join a league that can provide a better position for media coverage, TV and higher level of competition. Invest in your $$ sports so they can feed the non-revenue sports. To me and many on this board this seems like a simple proposition, but the the academic Father Brooks loyalists, this will never be a possibility.
There's definitely a little "wishing it were so" in my "things may be changing" line. Though, I do get the sense, after talking to someone involved, that they are really pushing for an ECAC bid. I agree with your "little train that could" analysis. Believe me, if they screw up what could be a first-rate hockey program I won't be that surprised. I don't like HC being patronized and I sure as hell don't like losing to Williams and a bunch of other schools that have zero basketball tradition. Right now, we get about 5,000 applications a year. I believe more exposure will at least add, say, 1500-2000 more applications, driving down our acceptance rate and increasing our national ranking -- look at Georgetown -- does anyone really believe that HC is considered more prestigious than GU?? Not on this planent -- and yes it does matter -- we pay a lot for a HC degree and a rising stock is the best investment a person can make
Seems logical that increased exposure that comes from increased expenditures on athletics and/or successful high-exposure programs like basketball and football would result in more, higher quality applications, but the evidence isn't there. A study of Division I-A football and basketball programs showed that while athletic success results in more total applications, it doesn't increase the number of high quality applications, so the quality of the student body doesn't change. May seem counterintuitive at first, but it can be noted that the majority of the high quality liberal arts colleges is in D-III and there seems to be no relationship between the relative academic quality of those schools and the presence or absence of high profile athletic programs. The very bright students -- the ones all the high quality liberal arts colleges are trying to recruit -- don't hear about Haverford or Middlebury or Bucknell or us as a result of athletics. More high school students may have heard about Georgetown as a result of their basketball success, but the bright students already knew Georgetown's academic reputation.
