danefan

Some notes on the CAA: Since the CAA began play as a football conference in 2007, a member team has played in the FCS Championship game four times, with Delaware making it in 2007 and 2010 and Richmond and Villanova winning it in 2008 and 2009, respectively. In 2007, the CAA set records with 15 national player of the week honorees and by sending five teams to the national championship playoffs. The very next season, in 2008, they broke that record with 19 national player of the week honorees and tied their own record by again sending five teams to the national championship playoffs for the second straight year. At the end of the 2008 season, the CAA had six Top 25 teams with four placing in the Top Ten. Players from the CAA received 78 All-America honors. In the opening weekend of the 2009 season, CAA teams defeated three Division I FBS teams. William & Mary and Richmond took down teams from the ACC (one of the six conferences whose champions receive automatic Bowl Championship Series berths), respectively Virginia and Duke, while Villanova defeated Temple from the MAC. The following weekend saw New Hampshire defeat another MAC team, Ball State (which had gone through the previous regular season unbeaten, but ended 2009 2–10). All four of the CAA teams to defeat FBS teams qualified for the 2009 FCS playoffs and won their first-round games; Villanova and William & Mary reached the semifinals, and Villanova won the FCS championship.

We could very well be looking at a schedule like this in 2013 and 2014. 2013 vs. Ivy OOC (Stadium Opener) @ Patriot OOC vs. NEC OOC vs. Maine @ UNH vs. Stony Brook @ URI @ Villanova vs. Towson @ Delaware, Richmond, W&M, JMU, Elon/Coastal @ Delaware, Richmond, W&M, JMU, Elon/Coastal vs. Delaware, Richmond, W&M, JMU, Elon/Coastal 2014: @ FBS (Syracuse, UConn, Army...?????) vs. Patriot OOC @ Ivy OOC @ Maine vs. UNH @ Stony Brook vs URI vs Villanova @ Towson vs Delaware, Richmond, W&M, JMU, Elon/Coastal vs Delaware, Richmond, W&M, JMU, Elon/Coastal @ Delaware, Richmond, W&M, JMU, Elon/Coastal How can you not get excited about this!

It takes away the question of institutional commitment. That has to help.

CAA North: UAlbany Stony Brook Rhode Island Maine New Hampshire Villanova CAA South: William & Mary Richmond James Madison Towson Delaware (Open Spot) The Open Spot in the south will likely be a Socon team or Coastal Carolina out of the Big South. My $$$$ is on Elon.

My understanding is the new stadium will have an expanded "Team Store". Hopefully they'll link it up to the website store.

Someone should take this dopes twitter account away... Why? I think he's right. It started with high paid coaches bailing on student athletes. Now its highly paid administrators doing the same thing to conferences.

Interseting tweet from Jim Fiore (Stony Brook AD)

Good to get the press now. I have a feeling he'll be gone soon for a corporate spot somewhere. The $500k he makes now is chump change compared to what some companies will be willing to pay him.

The University Administration has not really done anything over the past 10 years (President Hall excluded) to show it wants to compete and be successful on a CAA level of football. And if even if they want to, they've proven inept at matching resources or the bells and whistles of the CAA. I'd say its a 10% chance we're in and only if about 3 or 4 teams reject offers. Hopefully I'm wrong.

http://articles.dailypress.com/2012-07-06/sports/dp-spt-caa-yeager-realign-update-20120706_1_caa-tom-yeager-realignment

The width of the women's lax field is the same as the minimum for soccer. Could this be a condition of Fallon's gift (not only no football, but nothing except lacrosse?)? Might be. If so I hope lacrosse never steps foot on Bob Ford field. John Fallon can watch the games but only if he pulls up a lawn chair and sits on Fallon Field. .

Why can't they put temporary lines down on the lacrosse field? It's big enough isn't it?

It appears there have been formal invitation out to Davidson, College of Charleston and Appalachian State. http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120628/PC20/120629183/report-socon-issues-july-4-deadline-for-college-of-charleston-s-decision-regarding-caa The SoCon has given the schools until July 4th to make a decision.

CAA football is way more attractive though.

I'm pleasantly surprised that it didn't really follow the tone of the teaser paragraph in yesterday's online version or the headline. Not saying it was good, but it certainly wasn't bad. No quotes from anyone at UA?

Surprise surprise...a negative headline referring to a UAlbany revenue opportunity. Interesting from a paper that has paid for naming rights.... http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Is-that-name-worth-it-3604738.php I can't wait to read the whole thing...It will be very interesting to see if Singleas even tries to address the TU owning the naming rights to the Knick.

The Collegiate Rugby Championships were held at PPL parl in Philadelphia. Home to Philadelphia Union and some FCS football (Delaware played against Nova). Also mentioned as the possible home for Villanova football should the accept the offer to join the Big East. I see no dimensional reason why rugby couldn't be played at Ford Field. Now, given its club status might preclude it, but I'm sure if Albany Rugby ever drew a large enough crowd they could "persuade" the University to make money.

This is why I get so ticked off when I read on other boards about how SBU is a better fit for the CAA. We've had WAY more success in D1 athletics! On-field or court success is not a major factor for conference affiliation. Media market and institutional commitment are the two top reasons why schools get targeted. Stony Brook has us beat by a mile in both of the those factors.

How long will it take to be at 90% capacity every game? Take that time and add 2 years.

Agreed. Official opening is better in 2013. However, I hope a test run can be done for next year's spring game.

Binghamton presented its pitch http://online.wsj.com/article/AP9a83a697413a4321a8d502315e6aa175.html

Aronhalt too. http://www.fox23news.com/sports/custom/localsports/story/Suero-Aronhalt-Leaving-UAlbany-Program/R4bHQy2GokOurmkLFSae4g.cspx

I would hope we all feel the same way!!!! FYI - looks like 2012 already went up! $50 https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/132622.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=15800&DB_LANG=C&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=15800&DB_LANG=C&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=

Where is he going?

That's a fair way to do it. But don't be surprised if someone who hasn't been a season ticket holder before 2012 makes a nice donation and gets a good seat.