Post by brokenboat on Feb 15, 2024 17:55:29 GMT -5
I'm sure it has more to do with the NEC slighting the schools that just burned them to go to the MAAC for the rest of their sports. IMO Sacred Heart and Merrimack would prefer to keep the football teams in the NEC but were not allowed to.
Post by scorethebasket on Feb 15, 2024 20:40:50 GMT -5
Instead of bashing other schools, you know what would help the Fairfield U "brand" more? Winning the conference you claim to be too good for once in 25 years.
Last Edit: Feb 15, 2024 20:41:43 GMT -5 by scorethebasket
Instead of bashing other schools, you know what would help the Fairfield U "brand" more? Winning the conference you claim to be too good for once in 25 years.
Hard to win with mismatched academic standards in this conference. Some bad hires along the way didn’t help too. Sure would I like to win yes, but if your name isn’t Iona, not many have done what you’re being all high and mighty about for the better half of those 25 years.
In all honesty when Fairfield has been a program that has sucked for the better half of a decade and a half and still found a way to raise $50M for new arena, that’s the statement in itself. Schools in our conference have no athletic want or ability to advance. Fairfield has grown tremendously in terms of enrollment, financially and with their academic standards regardless of COVID stress that others are seeing. Not many can say that in MAAC. We need to be around more like minded schools and not get bogged down in schools that might not even have their doors open in 10 years.
Last Edit: Feb 16, 2024 0:15:05 GMT -5 by gostags13
It’s not “high and mighty” to suggest the best thing to do is win, sell yourself and let that do the talking before worrying about other schools and who joins a conference you are consistently unable to win.
Also, it’s not just Iona in that timeframe. About half the league has done it. Including two NCAA tournament wins (Manhattan, Siena) and one Elite 8 run (Saint Peter’s).
The new arena is great, the support is there and there’s finally a competitive contending team. Let’s win it this year.
Last Edit: Feb 16, 2024 15:40:21 GMT -5 by redsea96
It’s not “high and mighty” to suggest the best thing to do is win, sell yourself and let that do the talking before worrying about other schools and who joins a conference you are consistently unable to win.
Also, it’s not just Iona in that timeframe. About half the league has done it. Including two NCAA tournament wins (Manhattan, Siena) and one Elite 8 run (Saint Peter’s).
The new arena is great, the support is there and there’s finally a competitive contending team. Let’s win it this year.
I don't disagree on winning but hear me out. Last 26 years (25 champions) by number of MAACT Championships (which is the last time Fairfield won):
So a team, Iona won 44% of the time. Of the other call it 12 eligible teams (10 others in league now plus Loyola and Monmouth who left) less then half of the eligible teams won with 5 of the 12 over the last 25 years.
Fairfield has made the Finals 5 times in that period so about 20% of the time (and we have sucked bad for the last 15 years like I said). While we have been really bad only Iona, Siena have made it more and Manhattan & Niagara have made it the same number of times (5).
Over that stretch of 25 finals St. Peters has only made it 4 times, Canisius has only made it once, Quinnipiac has not made it since joining in 2013, Marist's first ever appearance was last year and Loyola's one appearance was beating us (before leaving the league in 2013.
Moral of the story, this team needs to win 1 major game in March to change to overall tide in your eyes and most but the comments above are an overreaction to think thats the only way out for a "bad program". This program is good enough to move to the next level now.
UMass leaving means the A-10 will go from 15 schools to 14 schools for basketball. I’m not so sure that the A-10 will want to get back to a 15 school league.
UMass leaving means the A-10 will go from 15 schools to 14 schools for basketball. I’m not so sure that the A-10 will want to get back to a 15 school league.
I actually believe that the A10 has a vision for an 18 team league. CoC will undoubtedly will move the A10. I do expect there to be a big domino effect here.
Post by Stagophile on Feb 26, 2024 16:29:01 GMT -5
Who are the other A10 football schools? I could see Richmond and Rhode Island bolting to an established football conference to secure their football future.
Last Edit: Feb 26, 2024 17:12:07 GMT -5 by Stagophile
Oh wow, an A10 spot opens up. We wont get it but domino effect opens a spot somewhere else
The A10 is a misfits conference geographically - Dayton, St Louis and Loyola Chicago clearly don’t belong - fallout from a breakup puts us in a nice spot.
They will need a lax member with UMass probably leaving in that sport too. St Joes, Hobart, Richmond, St Bonaventure is as interesting as CAA lax.
Last Edit: Feb 26, 2024 18:31:56 GMT -5 by ctghostman
The CAA should be very worried about this development, they could be in line to lose some schools to the A10. William & Mary seems a logical choice to move on.
btw - what the heck is UMass thinking? They should move football back down to FCS and mount a huge campaign to join the Big East. Even staying in the A10 is a better move basketball wise.
Who are the other A10 football schools? I could see Richmond and Rhode Island bolting to an established football conference to secure their football future.
The A-10 does not sponsor football. UMASS was an independent in football. Some of the A-10 schools ( like Richmond and Rhode island) are associate members in the CAA for football only.
It’s not “high and mighty” to suggest the best thing to do is win, sell yourself and let that do the talking before worrying about other schools and who joins a conference you are consistently unable to win.
Also, it’s not just Iona in that timeframe. About half the league has done it. Including two NCAA tournament wins (Manhattan, Siena) and one Elite 8 run (Saint Peter’s).
The new arena is great, the support is there and there’s finally a competitive contending team. Let’s win it this year.
I don't disagree on winning but hear me out. Last 26 years (25 champions) by number of MAACT Championships (which is the last time Fairfield won):
So a team, Iona won 44% of the time. Of the other call it 12 eligible teams (10 others in league now plus Loyola and Monmouth who left) less then half of the eligible teams won with 5 of the 12 over the last 25 years.
Fairfield has made the Finals 5 times in that period so about 20% of the time (and we have sucked bad for the last 15 years like I said). While we have been really bad only Iona, Siena have made it more and Manhattan & Niagara have made it the same number of times (5).
Over that stretch of 25 finals St. Peters has only made it 4 times, Canisius has only made it once, Quinnipiac has not made it since joining in 2013, Marist's first ever appearance was last year and Loyola's one appearance was beating us (before leaving the league in 2013.
Moral of the story, this team needs to win 1 major game in March to change to overall tide in your eyes and most but the comments above are an overreaction to think thats the only way out for a "bad program". This program is good enough to move to the next level now.
Based on what? What has the program shown that says so? They haven’t won anything at the current level. It’s all wishful thinking at this point.
What is the complete package for the school you are admitting.
Are they financially stable? Can you sustain the increased budgets required. - Seems to me not many schools can come up with $51 million without borrowing a penny.
Is there a commitment to athletics across the board? - We do have a consistent record in other sports. And investing in athletics in total.
Facilities - Excellent for all sports: BBall/VB, LAX, Soccer (new lighting coming), Field Hockey, Softball, Baseball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Golf
Growth - A consistent record with college population shrinking.