As previously stated, 10 years ago, I would have been completely against the move. Now that Loyola and American have joined, the league has a march larger market profile. Reuniting with old MAAC rivals Army and Holy Cross adds to the attraction. I would prefer the CAA because the profile is so much larger, however, anything is better than the current state of the MAAC. My question would be, if interested, who else would the Patriot add? FF knows first hand that 11 teams doesn't work. Does Bentley look to move to Division 1? Is Marist's academic profile high enough? Interesting times.
There still is shake up among the conferences to be had. UConn got left out and is trying to get back to the big east except for football. Their current conference will implode. That will lead to a shake up in there and in the a-10. Fordham clearly doesn't belong in the a10. LaSalle know they screwed up years ago in leaving. BC hopefully can follow UConns lead.
Post by stagshoops3 on Mar 12, 2017 19:51:07 GMT -5
Bucknell has an impressive team. If Monmouth gets the bid they would've been a 12 or 13 seed. If BU (#3 in Patriot) got the bid they'd be in the play in game. The Patriot League has gotten better but the bottom half of that conference is incredibly weak.
Bucknell has an impressive team. If Monmouth gets the bid they would've been a 12 or 13 seed. If BU (#3 in Patriot) got the bid they'd be in the play in game. The Patriot League has gotten better but the bottom half of that conference is incredibly weak.
And the MAAC bottom half are giant killers! Routinely the MAAC has one or two of the worst div 1 teams
Bucknell has an impressive team. If Monmouth gets the bid they would've been a 12 or 13 seed. If BU (#3 in Patriot) got the bid they'd be in the play in game. The Patriot League has gotten better but the bottom half of that conference is incredibly weak.
And the MAAC bottom half are giant killers! Routinely the MAAC has one or two of the worst div 1 teams
Not a huge difference between these two leagues, but the fact is the current MAAC RPI is 16 and the Patriot 22. And most years the MAAC has been a little bit better. And considering Monmouth didn't even make it to the league final after dominating the regular season, yes almost certainly they would have been no worse than a 12 based on what number Iona was given.
Bucknell has an impressive team. If Monmouth gets the bid they would've been a 12 or 13 seed. If BU (#3 in Patriot) got the bid they'd be in the play in game. The Patriot League has gotten better but the bottom half of that conference is incredibly weak.
And the MAAC bottom half are giant killers! Routinely the MAAC has one or two of the worst div 1 teams
We were a middle of the road AT BEST team in the MAAC this year and have an RPI that would place 3rd in the Patriot. They only have 3 top 200 teams compared to 7 in the MAAC. This conference drives me nuts but give the overall quality some credit. Our 1 or 2 worst D1 teams had RPI's better than 30% of the Patriot League.
Damn you for making me defend a conference run by Ensor.
Fairfield University should be in the Patriot League. We are an academic first university that rightfully is not willing to cut corners and sacrifice its institutional integrity in order to achieve athletic fame and riches. We are wasting our time in the MAAC. I am tired of pretending to care about playing against the little sisters of the poor. I could care less as does the majority of our alumni and the surrounding community. At least in the Patriot League, we are being honest about who we are as a school and reintroduce rivalries against schools that interest alumni. The CAA would be nice too, but like ctghostman I believe it is not a good fit for Fairfield.
At least in the Patriot League, we are being honest about who we are as a school
Stago, this sounds like you want to give up and go Backwards. We must always strive to be better…… in Basketball and Academics. I agree that we need to get out of the MAAC, But going backwards is not the way to go. The examples of Fordham, Holy Cross and Loyola are perfect examples.
If there comes a day, that we say we cannot compete, then Patriot would be a fine league. But I do feel that we are still an option for the CAA and that would improve us Athletically and expand our Academic excellence geographically.
Basketball wise, I would consider a move to the Patriot League to be a lateral move within the grand scheme of mid-major basketball. Overall athletically, I would consider it a step up in competition especially lacrosse. Academically, it would be a great branding move for the University and its alumni. A job or graduate school applicant from a MAAC school does not move the needle. An applicant from a Patriot League school does. The Patriot League brand is a much better long term solution for the entire Fairfield University community. All due respect JS, this is much bigger than basketball.
Last Edit: Mar 13, 2017 9:36:16 GMT -5 by Stagophile
Guys, I wish you would delete these threads because the arrogance is unbelievable. WE ARE NOT ON THE RADAR OF THE CAA (lax excluded)...please stop saying the Patriot League is a bad move when each and everyone of those schools (INCLUDING SERVICE ACADEMIES) is better known than Fairfield IN THE COUNTRY. Note that I didn't say Tri-state area but even there, Army, Navy, Bucknell and Lehigh are much more pronounced than say every MAAC School.
Seriously, these comments irritate me from some that think the MAAC and its athletics and schools are well-known and respected. Just stop living in a world that doesn't exist when it comes to FU.
Basketball wise, I would consider a move to the Patriot League to be a lateral move within the grand scheme of mid-major basketball. Overall athletically, I would consider it a step up in competition especially lacrosse. Academically, it would be a great branding move for the University and its alumni. A job or graduate school applicant from a MAAC school does not move the needle. An applicant from a Patriot League school does. The Patriot League brand is a much better long term solution for the entire Fairfield University community. All due respect JS, this is much bigger than basketball.
- The MAAC has proven to be a much better basketball league that the Patriot…. thats been proven year after Year
- I would agree that overall Athletics would improve in Patriot
- But what you are not realizing is that Fairfield competes academically with Fordham, Holy Cross, St Joes, Loyola, Villanova, Providence, Boston College, Georgetown and UCONN….. and on a lower level with Scranton, Marist and Quinnipiac. Its been like that for 60 years, and it really has not changed much. Thats our academic league. Talk to our applicants, graduates and employers….. none of them associate us with the MAAC
Last Edit: Mar 13, 2017 10:16:27 GMT -5 by JoeStag