Date Posted:13:23:03 03/29/04 Mon Author: kesiwick Subject: Re: Colgate Slams HC In reply to:
cf rivals
's message, "Re: Colgate Slams HC" on 12:41:07 03/29/04 Mon
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.
