Michigan_Dane

I just ordered 12 tickets to the home opener. Excited to head back to Albany for the weekend.

Most folks in California, Georgia or Michigan have never heard of SUNY. I've lived in all three. If Cuomo wants credit for free tuition he should be pushing the SUNY Centers to become household names like UCLA or Georgia Tech. That means big time athletics and top academics (the opposite of access).

I wasn't aware nor did I care that Tennessee offers free tuition to their community colleges. Free tuition to Georgia Tech or UCLA would be much more impressive.

Most Americans would guess SUNY is the name of a foreign transfer student not major university. Athletics and branding need to be the focus else who cares if it's free.

I'm concerned SUNY Poly is the smart choice and UA will be the "access" option. Maybe that was the plan behind the spin off all along?

I would have preferred a leader from a STEM field. UA has suffered from a lack of professional colleges and science/technical fields. We need fewer "studies" programs and more math.

On the athletics side we'll have to wait and see. Hope he does no damage.

Wishing we had Dr Jones back

Glad there is a resolution that lets them play.

When North Carolina is targeted over Cuba, Iran and North Korea or dozens of other countries with horrible human rights records you have to question your sanity.

We also don't have the Bubba Alumni as Bill Clinton's campaign guy referred to LSU non-alumni fans.

I think our branding as "Albany" as opposed to "New York" is a big part of that problem.

UAlbany is in need of a Sugar Daddy.

The state usually supports their flagship. Not in New York.

We don't have a T Boone Pickens like Oklahoma State. Or the Papa Johns founder helping Louisville. Even Stony Brook has Senator LeValle and a billionaire.

We don't have that level of support and commitment.

Looks nice. Better than what was there in the 90s

CAA Conference's Towson beat Syracuse. They are on to the Final 4.

Barring a better offer it's time to move all sports to the CAA. Incremental improvement is still improvement.

19 and 20 is a lot better than what the folks over at AGS were saying.

I'm still worried about QB.

According to USA Today the average revenue by conference is 131 for America East and 111 for CAA. Albany is ranked at 135 ($18M) so if money matters and it does the CAA is a stronger conference.

It would be a modest step up from the AE in lax and basketball.

Is there an overall conference ranking? I'd love to see where the America East ranks overall as well as by sport.

So how would a move to CAA be overall and then by sport. I think it's a modest improvement

The CAA has been a launching pad conference to the G5 in a way America East has not been. So even though I'm not sure it's much stronger it's been a stepping stone historically.

Even if I take as fact that we are currently a lacrosse destination, my point is the success is based on the current incumbents. It's only as lasting as the current coach and staff. So it can change quickly.

Where conference affiliation is more durable. North Carolina is in a desirable conference regardless if their coach and staff quits tomorrow. That conference puts in place a floor for which they can only fall so low. It's a safety net. Same idea as real estate. Downturns hurt good neighborhoods but crush bad neighborhoods.

I'd love to see that safety net in place relative to a desireable conference. As noted here the problem seems to be the same as in football. There is no place to go. We're stuck trying to run the table every year in a mid-major.

Is it possible for UAlbany Lacrosse to get into the Big Ten like Johns Hopkins just for that sport or would the AE forbid it?

If the MAC jumped on the lax bandwagon that might be compelling since they are fbs.

The top conferences are like California beach front housing. Even in a downturn everybody wants in so "down" is never as long or as severe.

What conference is even possible down the road for Albany as a next step?

I think UA has outgrown the America East. It's holding us back. If we lost a Coach Brown or Marr it would be tough. The big boys just recruit the next coach because the Big 10 or ACC is perennial. We are always at risk of losing what we've achieved.

In short we're not there yet where the Albany name is going to sell a recruit.

How does this stack up against our SUNY Center competitors? I'm guessing much better.

With such a stellar resume how do we convert that into a promotion?

Most of the above drivers for a new conference are incredibly unlikely. Growth of lacrosse is the most likely but if we remain at the top in 10 or 20 years and the sport grows that could make us very desirable.

Albany athletics has had major success across the board: men's and women's lacrosse, basketball, track and football. There isn't much more they could achieve on the field or court. Yes lax could win a national title. Men's basketball or football could do better in their playoffs.

That said what gets UAlbany to the next level conference?

In impact ranking order:

1) Direct politician support. Biggest possible impact Gov decides he wants it. Money and leverage.

2) Growth of lacrosse. It's our most successful sport. Huge growth in lacrosse would be good for us.

3) Major donor. A T Boone Pickens type guy. Huge support for Oklahoma State.

4) On the field success. We're already successful at this level so how much more we can push it without a new conference is questionable. Worked for Wichita State and Boise State but it's rare.

5) Growth of the university. Conferences are based on TV and that's based on viewers. Bigger is better

So how do you get to an AAC type conference? That's what I see.

Students petition to make Stellar permanent, but it's against SUNY policy

 

UAlbany students: Keep Jim Stellar as president

I've been out of college 20 years. Let's face it, the most important quality in this role is fund raising, lobbying and influence. As long as the candidate is pro college sports and can influence politicians that's the right candidate for me.

That said I'd like a land grant flagship candidate out of the Big 10, ACC or SEC country

I just booked my flight for the Albany football home opener against Monmouth on 9/15, Hope it's better weather than last year's game against Elon.

I really want to go but flights are $600 from ATL and my wife probably wouldn't appreciate me being away for Mothers Day. Dang

Ditto Michigan

Can we take a moment to appreciate the fact that **North Carolina** is travelling to UAlbany to play in the first round of an NCAA tournament??!! If you told me this 20 years ago (when I graduated) I would have thought you were out of your g-damn mind.

Totally agree. I applied to a D3 UA. We want more but it's remarkable progress in 20 years.

What we need to do is to appeal for an American Athletic Conference membership, and make a commitment to upgrade our football program and facilities.

 

Maryland won last night, Ohio state collects another loss... although it was close.

I said it before but any paradigm shift that propels Albany or any SUNY Center to prominence athletically starts with the governor. Only he can break the status quo and give the financial boost needed to get to the next level conference. It'll take facilities and a financial commitment only he can provide.