Unlike many on this board I have absolutely no interest in joining the CAA. My preference is the Patriot league because of the prestigious schools in that league. I don’t understand the continual prejudice against SHU on this board. SHU is a school that is growing in academic reputation each year , investing heavily in new campus building and in its athletic programs . They sponsor football , hockey and more Div 1 sports then FF and most MAAC schools. I welcome them joining the MAAC, just my opinion.
Post by alsostagparty on Feb 14, 2024 21:22:59 GMT -5
Every conference has a misfit or two. Trouble is, as the MAAC becomes reconstituted into a new home for NEC and former D2 schools, it’s Fairfield that looks like it doesn’t belong. A move up in conference elevates the competition with just a better, more exciting, more reputable brand of basketball. Additionally those schools have great facilities; passionate fans, solid resources, high caliber recruits and greater national recognition for the most part. Sorry, but my season tickets just aren’t worth as much to me if I’m watching Merrimack, LeMoyne, Sacred Heart, etc. Who’s next…Stonehill, St. Michael’s, St. Anselm? Are they our true peers in sports? Patriot only makes sense on an academic level…distinguished basketball is not their thing.
Separately, I think St. Bonaventure really lucked out being part of the A10. In my mind, they don’t fit well in that conference. They haven’t been relevant since the Lanier days (‘70?). Why not us instead of them?
We need to tread carefully and think long and hard about any possible conference change. A10 would be a wonderful landing spot for us (we are far more financially and academically stable than some of its current members); if we joined the CAA and it then lost several members, where would that leave us? Patriot is a gilded cul d'sac; it's a nice neighborhood but that's about it. Back around 1990 I wrote to then-President Kelley about leaving the MAAC after HC, Fordham and Army left. He didn't see any plausible alternatives for us at that time. In fact, by way of comparison he said Georgetown towered above all the other schools in the Big East (and that's when BC was still a member) and Big East membership hadn't dimmed its reputation at all. Before we think all is lost by continued membership in the MAAC, maybe we should adopt Father Kelley's mindset. Fairfield's objective quality and reputation have improved since, and despite, joining the MAAC 40+ years ago. No one thinks less of Vanderbilt for being in the SEC, Davidson for being in the A10, Northwestern for being in the Big 10, Rice or Tulane for being in the American or Stanford for being in the (now defunct) PAC12. Continued membership in the MAAC is not ideal but it is acceptable as we work toward the next stop in our journey.
We need to tread carefully and think long and hard about any possible conference change. A10 would be a wonderful landing spot for us (we are far more financially and academically stable than some of its current members); if we joined the CAA and it then lost several members, where would that leave us? Patriot is a gilded cul d'sac; it's a nice neighborhood but that's about it. Back around 1990 I wrote to then-President Kelley about leaving the MAAC after HC, Fordham and Army left. He didn't see any plausible alternatives for us at that time. In fact, by way of comparison he said Georgetown towered above all the other schools in the Big East (and that's when BC was still a member) and Big East membership hadn't dimmed its reputation at all. Before we think all is lost by continued membership in the MAAC, maybe we should adopt Father Kelley's mindset. Fairfield's objective quality and reputation have improved since, and despite, joining the MAAC 40+ years ago. No one thinks less of Vanderbilt for being in the SEC, Davidson for being in the A10, Northwestern for being in the Big 10, Rice or Tulane for being in the American or Stanford for being in the (now defunct) PAC12. Continued membership in the MAAC is not ideal but it is acceptable as we work toward the next stop in our journey.
I couldn't disagree more with my friend Father Kelly who I feel was not strategic at all in his thinking with regards to sports. He was holding out for an invite to the Ivy League (I am only half joking, that is what he wanted). Candidly, Georgetown may tower over some other Big East schools, but there is not one in the conference at the level of a Rider or SHU. The big east schools all have a reason for being selected to be in that conference and there is a reason SHU didn't get an invite there. Fairfield has not progressed its program since 1978. Reportedly we passed on a Big East invite at a time when UConn had a losing record against the Stags. The only original MAAC schools left are Manhatten, Iona, Fairfield and St. Peters. We are now surrounded by SHU, Marist, Quinnipiac, Rider - most or all of whom I believe were D2 when we entered the MAAC. Over the 44 years this programs have advanced and we have not. In that time there have been many missed opportunities. I do agree the CAA is very high risk, and is not ideal. Neither is the patriot (Father Kelly would have gone Patriot in the current situation). A10 remains the goal, I just don't see that happening unless both are basketball teams advance in the NCAA tourney, and the A10 has a big void to fill....
Last Edit: Feb 15, 2024 0:29:08 GMT -5 by reindeerfan
After many long years and endless discussion, I am not interested in being in a NEC-Lite conference. "I will need to see it before I believe it": that Fairfield administration will actually do something proactive, rather than continue to be historically reactive and continue to tread water.
Almost every time you hear Dr. Nemec, he speaks of a "National Profile" for Fairfield. You will NEVER get that in the MAAC. If you're playing in every major market from Boston to Charleston, which the CAA affords you, you are expanding your profile in that direction. Same with the Patriot League, but on a lower level exposure wise. Time to go.
We need to tread carefully and think long and hard about any possible conference change. A10 would be a wonderful landing spot for us (we are far more financially and academically stable than some of its current members); if we joined the CAA and it then lost several members, where would that leave us? Patriot is a gilded cul d'sac; it's a nice neighborhood but that's about it. Back around 1990 I wrote to then-President Kelley about leaving the MAAC after HC, Fordham and Army left. He didn't see any plausible alternatives for us at that time. In fact, by way of comparison he said Georgetown towered above all the other schools in the Big East (and that's when BC was still a member) and Big East membership hadn't dimmed its reputation at all. Before we think all is lost by continued membership in the MAAC, maybe we should adopt Father Kelley's mindset. Fairfield's objective quality and reputation have improved since, and despite, joining the MAAC 40+ years ago. No one thinks less of Vanderbilt for being in the SEC, Davidson for being in the A10, Northwestern for being in the Big 10, Rice or Tulane for being in the American or Stanford for being in the (now defunct) PAC12. Continued membership in the MAAC is not ideal but it is acceptable as we work toward the next stop in our journey.
I couldn't disagree more with my friend Father Kelly who I feel was not strategic at all in his thinking with regards to sports. He was holding out for an invite to the Ivy League (I am only half joking, that is what he wanted). Candidly, Georgetown may tower over some other Big East schools, but there is not one in the conference at the level of a Rider or SHU. The big east schools all have a reason for being selected to be in that conference and there is a reason SHU didn't get an invite there. Fairfield has not progressed its program since 1978. Reportedly we passed on a Big East invite at a time when UConn had a losing record against the Stags. The only original MAAC schools left are Manhatten, Iona, Fairfield and St. Peters. We are now surrounded by SHU, Marist, Quinnipiac, Rider - most or all of whom I believe were D2 when we entered the MAAC. Over the 44 years this programs have advanced and we have not. In that time there have been many missed opportunities. I do agree the CAA is very high risk, and is not ideal. Neither is the patriot (Father Kelly would have gone Patriot in the current situation). A10 remains the goal, I just don't see that happening unless both are basketball teams advance in the NCAA tourney, and the A10 has a big void to fill....
Fairfield athletics in general is a tale of lost or blown opportunities.
This sounds like a much needed football move for Marist & the PL. Marist football really needs to exit the Pioneer League, as they are the only Northern school left. And the PL still has only 7 football members, adding another school makes sense so they can have 8 conference teams now.
Can’t say SHU and Merrimack have no conference affiliation for their Football programs . Both will likely remain in the NEC as they are today as associate members for only football . Duquesne which is a full member in the A-10 today is an associate member in the NEC for football only. MAAC conference rules allow a full time member to have one women sports and one mens sport in different conferences. That is how FF competes in the NEC fir field hockey and in the CAA for mens lax.
Post by brokenboat on Feb 15, 2024 16:51:17 GMT -5
On Thursday, January 25, 2024, it was reported that Sacred Heart would play the 2024 FCS season as an independent. On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the Northeast Conference released its 2024 conference schedule, which confirmed that Sacred Heart and Merrimack will not be football-playing members in 2024. A decision has not been reported regarding Merrimack’s status for the 2024 FCS season.
Broken, thanks for the update and clarification. Not sure why SHU and Merrimack would not want to remain in the NEC football conference at least for one more year while their respective move to the MAAC settles in.,