kikuria

On 4/1/2024 at 2:59 PM, B9j2j6s said:

Hope it works out for both.  I can only go off what was being communicated in the emails.  It seemed positive to me because of the equipment that the AD were buying for the team.   As a club member we were using weights made of paint cans and metal pipes, our rowing machines were ancient concept 2 model b's and my freshman year boat that I learned on was made of wood.  Think the type you see at a TGI Friday's hanging on the walls.  

The rowing team in the club Era had many many ups and downs.  So not surprised some UA alumni would be hesitant to help with the start of the D1 Era.  Sorry if this sounds like a Taylor Swift tour. 

For those unaware the D3 Era ended appox 1994.  Here is what the team looked like back then.

https://www.row2k.com/video/-quot-Albany-39-s-Rowing-Revival-quot--original-airdate-July-1988-on-WMHT-Channel-17-Albany-NY/29306/

Then the club Era was after we got dropped from the AD.  We got our funding from the Student Association and dues that the rowers would pay. During this time the team was student run with a coach being hired but all the choices were made by the eboard which was made up of members of the rowing team.  Recruiting was only on campus and we often had large Novic or beginning rower teams.  The major problem was students would lose interest when after the first year with a 430pm practice time they would have to switch to the Varsity team which had 530am practices.  This made it hard to grow the team, coaches often wouldn't stay for more than a year, and we didn't have the money to upgrade equipment.  

There was also a time when SA dropped the club and they were competing under the Friends of Albany Crew.  Not sure what happened during this time period (appox late 2010's to Covid) or what ultimately sank the Friends of Albany Crew, but that is the very short history of the Rowing Team at UA. 

I am sure I am leaving a lot of historical details out.  If anyone knows anything more please feel free to add.  I know I said this before, glad to see UA back on the water.  Hope we are back to stay.  Rowing and Pep Band were the two activities that made a large University seem smaller and made it feel like home for 4 years.

Not precisely.  I went down a rabbit hole years ago and spent way too much time researching this (my wife will never forgive me.) 

The program was always technically a "club" but that meant something different when it was founded in 1984. Club Sports then were generally sports the University would track towards varsity-status. Direct support from the Athletic Department ended in 1991 though the team maintained informal support.  It's unclear why the school never formalized varsity-status.

On 12/14/2023 at 9:31 AM, dslyank said:

Kikuria any thoughts/opinion on new coach? His BIO looks very impressive. Of course, I respect your privacy if you do not wish to respond or have no opinion.

Family obligations have kept me offline and I come back to lots of new stuff.  My two cents - Chris Chase is a good fit.  The challenges with "starting up" aren't the same as coming into a fully established program where you're maximizing what you already have and look to extend it. He's got deep relationships in the rowing community and should be able to leverage that into a recruiting advantage.

I'm sure there will be growing pains. As long as he has enough resources (doesn't need to be the most, but does need to be enough) and is given the time to build, UAlbany has some real advantages that have been overlooked for decades. I always believed if you built it, people would come. I say that from a place of optimism while trying to be brutally objective.

10 hours ago, B9j2j6s said:

Nothing was posted on Row2k?  Glad to hear he is doing well and growing the family.  

Didn't even think to check there

8 hours ago, Dane96 said:

Agreed.  Was discussing this a few CAA folks. Most of NU’s meets are local.  Albany has enough comp to not have to leave New England and MAAC territory.  So to be attached to the CAA just for the championship may not be a necessary thing.  They said, I think the MAAC has 10 schools. Not sure if adding another is too many for them. 

Last I checked there were 7 or 8 MAAC schools sponsoring women's rowing.  May have the details a bit off though.

25 minutes ago, alum73 said:

Anyone know what league we are going to be in?

MAAC, NEC, CAA are most likely. 

MAAC is most logical.  The "club" team was running in that circle already.  And doing well.

7 hours ago, Eli said:

@kikuria will be PUMPED about this news!

Correct! Overdue but happy to see Benson and company finally pulled trigger.

On 5/22/2023 at 11:33 AM, classof95 said:

I ran into an Albany alum who owned a store (his sweatshirt gave it away) this weekend and we talked a bit about the state of the university and athletics. He is pretty involved still as an alum but is losing interest year by year. Said that he has had a few conversations with President Rodriguez about concern over losing ground to the other major SUNYs, both in academics and athletics. Said the degree was far more prestigious back in the 90s than it is now. Rodriguez apparently said that they're less concerned with US News rankings and more with making the university accessible to as many students as possible. I like the latter idea but I'm not sure it precludes the former. Has anyone else heard similar sentiments from the administration?

Yes.  They've decided to run the University as a social service agency rather than a center of excellence.  They use different words but the meaning is clear.

8 hours ago, Eli said:

Welcome back! lol

I do try.  But only occasionally! 

On 4/18/2023 at 3:02 PM, Eli said:

Yep. School completely blew it after the MBB/WBB championship years (didn't give Brown the tools he needed to continue) and the #1 LAX years (don't really follow LAX so not sure why that happened). Instead, they renewed an FBB coach that is a total loser on and off the field (total prick if you ask me) like 3 times, yadda yadda yadda.

One day we'll fire Benson, Cegles, Gattuso, Killings, etc. and start a new...that's when I'll be back to talking about UA publicly in a positive light and giving them money on a yearly basis. Until then, I won't give them a dime outside of coming for the arena home opener (50/50 chance), I'll continue to trash members of the leadership team (aforementioned) on social media and anytime the school calls me begging for donations I'll tell them to fire those clowns otherwise to stop calling. Don't care if they are an innocent student calling or someone from the AD. You want my money? Make changes. Starting at the top.

New arena and newer stadium is just lipstick on the pig.

And the Office of Civil Rights/Department of Education still haven't blessed the school declaring it in Title IX compliance.  Self-inflicted wounds over and over again (like all the staffing choices you listed.)

On 8/1/2021 at 1:11 PM, dslyank said:

Article about TITLE IX front page of TU today. Interviewed people at St Rose and lcc. Article mostly about covid and financial loses to Athletic departments and especially how that effected woman sports. Interesting comment from lcc:  "At her former school, Siena also said it has no plans to ax teams. Athletic director John D’Argenio said sports help drive enrollment with so many athletes outside of the basketball programs paying at least some of their own way."  Curious lcc currently running an add on TV claiming lcc guarantees all applicants a $57,000 scholarship. Then their athletic director claims most student athletes pay at least some of their way. Don't think that computes; but I never really believe any of the garbage that come out of the school. The article goes on to say how St.Rose and especially lcc & D'Argenio have built up their opportunities for women over the years; but fails to reveal their current TITLE IX statuses??

But I digress; what is most interesting, UA the largest school in the area is NOT mentioned or interviewed at all. Probably a very good thing UA not interviewed????????????

Thinking it's a business decision by the Times Union.  UA athletics has been pouring advertising dollars towards the TU over the last few years.  That kind of coverage kills the golden goose.   UAlbany  has many former TU staffers working for them now.  Piss off the school with your coverage, sport reporters won't get access to the locker room or and beat reporters will get less access to on campus people.  That's how the game is played and both sides know it.

On 7/10/2021 at 11:56 AM, dslyank said:

A fine IMHO is the least of UA's problems. Typically, the men's program will be forced to reduce the # of scholarships they can offer to bring it inline with the women's number of scholies. Could also be a penalty faze where the men may be required to have a LESS scholarship ratio for a period of time This means cutting programs OR playing handicapped with less scholar athletes for men. The alternative is of course adding women's programs; but $,$$$,$$$,$$$ you can guess how likely of that happening. 

I am sorry to sound like a doom sayer. This is all speculation on my part; but I'm guessing the NCAA was waiting or hoping the courts would bale them out. Now they HAVE to do something?? They cannot simply IGNORE a TTTLE IX violation indefinitely.

Anyone like to add anything or disagree. PLEASE DO SO! Loved to be wrong about all of this.

Reading the article and the trying to get through the ruling.  Basis of the dismissal appears to be because the school has current agreement with the Office of Civil Rights. And court doesn't want to step in while in effect? Am I reading that correctly?

What happens if school doesn't meet the deadline?

Note:  Notwithstanding my love for rowing and previous advocacy for the addition of Women's Crew, I recognize that ship sailed (or rowed) long ago. Bummer but reality sets in at some point.

1 hour ago, Eli said:

Welcome to a week and a half ago, or maybe even two, sir. 

Sadly, I've been heads down for a few months now.  If it weren't for twitter, it would have take a few weeks for me to figure out the score of the game. So there's that at least.

Anyone see this article? Towards the bottom is includes a small part about UAlbany owing the NCAA $30,000 for hosting the first round of football playoffs.

https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Low-turnout-for-UAlbany-football-playoff-victory-14873033.php

2 minutes ago, Clickclack said:

I like winning football. The other type hurts... 

Insert edit:

I like <winning> football

May my otherwise lame effort to lighten the mood not go down in flames 

I like football

14 minutes ago, GreatDanes06 said:

I mean I remember when I worked for the AD for a year as a student facilities person, I remember that thing was seldom used. I knew they had some kid classes there, but most of the time I never saw it being used to a high level.

I'm definitely older than you!  Probably dating myself to some degree but there used to be a ton of PE classes including swimming classes (I took one. Great 1 credit class.)  There was a swimming (and diving?) team too.  I don't know if there is a local market for pool rentals though. 

9 minutes ago, B9j2j6s said:

In the write up I saw said the pool was going to be filled in.  Bummer for me being a former ua lifeguard

Was hoping I read incorrectly. Need to find it again. Regardless, just terrible.  What were they planning on doing with it? That I don't remember. 

3 hours ago, Clickclack said:

Like you, I believe the same but realistically we are probably another 3-5 years out which is sad. 

2 hours ago, B9j2j6s said:

Based on the size of the PE building reno I would say 3 to 5 years is about right.  We will get there.

Did I read correctly that they are getting rid of the pool? Or are renovations in the works for it too?

17 hours ago, DanesRGood said:

I don't think it was feasible and still don't.  We don't have the money, support from the alumni, support from the university or support from the state to make it work. It's sad really. 

I agreed insomuch as it only works when it's a budget priority.  It does not appear to be.

1 hour ago, Clickclack said:

it's old history now but my understanding in speaking with someone in the know...and recalling it now as best I can but it was right around the same time. 

Oh what could have been

16 hours ago, kikuria said:

Shame is so many ways ....

I should have asked this differently - was the offer to join the CAA extended at the same time as football? Or did it come up afterwards?

5 minutes ago, kikuria said:

Shame is so many ways ....

Do you know when the offer was extended? How does something like that play out?

25 minutes ago, Clickclack said:

$$$ the offer was extended!

Shame is so many ways ....