Dane96

His offers, in addition to the schools you mentioned (aside from Gardner-Webb) were Brown, Gardner Webb, and Bryant. Kid was a guard growing up, he's from my collegeaues hometown here in MA on the RI border. Kid has serious ball on the floor skills and if he fills out, could be a surprise steal.

That's a great game.

Albany Law alumni would definitely object but not so much if it kept the school afloat. I suspect a merger will happen sooner, rather than later. I went to a school very similar to Albany Law and if it were not part of the fabric of another university, I am not so sure it would survive even though it produces fantastic alumni. Law schools are in huge financial trouble, generally speaking. Albany Law would be best served to be part of UA. Albany Med won't become part of UA unless it really wants to expand it's research offerings, then it is a no brainer. For Albany to get AAU status, I don't think the med school is a requirement (even though almost every AAU school has a med school) but the law school, engineering, and ETC will help...and getting CNSE could put us right over the edge. Union University is a mere affiliation of schools and labs that Med, Law, Pharmacy, Union College, and Dudley Labs are all a part of however, no entity reports, is governed by, or really has any control over the other, including Union University as a corporate entity of itself. Getting any of Med, Law, or Pharmacy would not be something negotiated with Union College.

Fair point And they will be a powerhouse right away: THEY CHEAT!!! The literally were put on probation for five years due to Binging around with transfers. (back in 2016). They just came off of the probation. We aren't talking one-offs...but like 30+ shady moves.

Not a shock, the move was planned. THis belongs in the realignment thread.

This was planned since February. I knew about it and discussed with others. My understanding is that they still want Howard and we would be 16. Of course, that could change. That being said, I see the CAA North breaking off at some point and I see us in a conference with that group, plus Fairfield and then 1-3 more teams. I've also heard some obscene rumors about Binghamton lately that go beyond them wanting to start up hockey (a no brainer for them).

Exactly. Look at what Brown did for Coaches vs. Cancer. I should say Brown and his family, as Jamie played a big role as well.

It's do or die for the staff. We have--with consideration given to the fact that it is still the CAA, probably the third best league in FCS--a weak conference schedule. Anything less than 6-5 or 7-4 overall is no bueno, in my book, with this schedule. Last year was last year. Time to put it all together.

Correct, in 1974 and 1975.

Looks like our games could be split between the MVP and HVCC. The hold up is the AE schedule right now, we need that to be finalized by the league so the school has hard dates for the MVP. Siena has first preference but if Albany is willing to change dates or play double headers on SIENA gamedays, e.g. using Siena's court...then we are likely to play there. It sounds like the preference is to play at MVP.

Unless Jamar's family is moving with him from Finland, I don't see him coming to Coach. I also don't necessarily think it is a good thing as much as we all adore Jamar. Right now, we need a top assistant tactician (with experience), a DBO, and a recruiter. I don't see Jamar as a DBO type...and he isn't ready for a top assistant role. Who knows, maybe this is the next step for Jamar...and I think he's enough removed from Brown (meaning not on his staff) to make this happen. But we really need a recruiter.

I think both are true.

Brand new coach with a year under his HC belt loses all his assistant coaches, except his DBO, in a critical year to his career and with apparently oodles of talent coming back. Discuss.

Not putting words in my mouth at all Honestly, this is so freaking bizarre that they didn't go to the MAAC. The MAAC is 10 schools for 2023, with the addition of full-time member Mt. Saint Mary's, and associate members LIU, Wagner, Sacred Heart, and VMI. I just don't see why the MAAC would have had an issue going to 11 for two years, especially considering that Merrimack is not eligible for the post-season. Sure, from Merrimack's perspective, they may have said to the NEC that from a cost-containment perspective, I'd rather play UVM, Albany, Lowell, Bryant, UMBC, Bing, NJIT and Lowell...but honestly, that's a bit of a wash distance wise. From my perspective, it is irrelevant that the AE is light years ahead of the MAAC in lax because Merrimack can't get an at-large in 2023 due to their transition. So yep, considering they are in the AE footprint, considering the AE is likely to add a 10th at some point, considering the rumors that Albany is being courted by the CAA (I don't think we are going), and considering that a 1/3 of Hockey East schools are AE members (and Merrimack plays in the HE)...I do think they are "trying out"--at least in their minds--for the AE. It would have been a non-starter years ago...but Bryant changed that calculus. If they can do something with their gym...and can build out the football stadium and go into the Big South, I wouldn't be shocked to see them invited in 3-4 years. As for NEC, I don't think they are dead or dying...in fact I think they will merge with the MEAC at some point.

Maybe I wasn’t making my point clear. Every NEC lax school that did not go to the A-10, MAAC, or the America East because the school upped and moved conferences in entirety, went to the MAAC with the sole exceptions of Hobart and Merrimack. Hobart is not an NEC member and based on location, makes sense for the A-10. LIU, Wagner, Sacred Heart, and Merrimack form the core of the NEC lax group that hopes to restart in the league in 2025. Presumably Stonehill brings them to five and they get some MEAC schools to get them to six or over. The MAAC is most certainly in Merrimack’s geography. So it’s odd that three of the four member schools go to the MAAC and the fourth goes to the AE. Even odder is the fact that Merrimack isn’t eligible for any post season, including the NCAA until 2024…the last year of this partnership. Betting money is that Merrimack is looking for that AE invite. Remember, they are also a member of Hockey East.