UAlbany vs. Maine (2/9/2013)

[UA_MA_2000]

Boston beat UVM at Vermont tonight.

 

At Vermont too!

 

Stony Brook also held serve against Binghamton and won in straight sets.

[McFan]

I personally believe that we will be in some new conference that will be part A-Ten, part CAA, part old Yankee conference, and Part AE.

 

Now that is where my mind wanders. Something new. Something that we could have been or could be a part of.

[Clickclack]

I'm ok where we are right now... Let's grow and get stronger...

[McFan]

I'm ok where we are right now... Let's grow and get stronger...

 

With BU's exit, this conference is headed south. I agree we need to get stronger.

[Dane96]

NOTHING...and I MEAN NOTHING will happen until the Catholic 7 and the BE split. Once that occurs...the A-Ten or the CAA could be at risk. The MAC could lose schools to the new BE (UMASS).

 

There are dominoes to be had...and frankly sitting where we are, building our brand (which doesnt ALWAYS mean wins) and building facilities are what counts.

 

No matter what anyone wants to believe or not...the CAA Football brand is going to be the impetus to gaining more recognition among AD's. Period. When you are at the CAA level down the NEC...you are not being plucked to the big time unless you are an anomaly like VCU or Butler.

 

Being on National TV...playing FBS schools and playing big time FCS schools will put us on the map. The other programs will follow suit because they are either really good right now (softball, track and field, field hockey) or getting on track and solid (Basketball M/W and Lax).

[Dane96]

I'm ok where we are right now... Let's grow and get stronger...

 

With BU's exit, this conference is headed south. I agree we need to get stronger.

 

Disagree wholeheartedly. Live next to BU...they are a non-factor in this city, in the media, and elsewhere. They are a hockey school that happens to be ok in other sports.

 

BU made a lateral move.

[madDOG]

NOTHING...and I MEAN NOTHING will happen until the Catholic 7 and the BE split. Once that occurs...the A-Ten or the CAA could be at risk. The MAC could lose schools to the new BE (UMASS).

 

There are dominoes to be had...and frankly sitting where we are, building our brand (which doesnt ALWAYS mean wins) and building facilities are what counts.

 

No matter what anyone wants to believe or not...the CAA Football brand is going to be the impetus to gaining more recognition among AD's. Period. When you are at the CAA level down the NEC...you are not being plucked to the big time unless you are an anomaly like VCU or Butler.

 

Being on National TV...playing FBS schools and playing big time FCS schools will put us on the map. The other programs will follow suit because they are either really good right now (softball, track and field, field hockey) or getting on track and solid (Basketball M/W and Lax).

 

So what you are saying is...exciting times ahead??

[Dane96]

I firmly believe we are on the upswing. Firmly.

 

It takes time folks...it takes time. 8 years ago Football had something like 4 full-time assistant coaches. Look what we have now.

 

Track and Field was barely funded...look what we have now.

 

Basketball finished with four on the floor...we are infinitely better now.

 

It takes time...and even good OVERALL athletic programs suffer downswings at times.

[UA_MA_2000]

I'm ok where we are right now... Let's grow and get stronger...

 

With BU's exit, this conference is headed south. I agree we need to get stronger.

 

Disagree wholeheartedly. Live next to BU...they are a non-factor in this city, in the media, and elsewhere. They are a hockey school that happens to be ok in other sports.

 

BU made a lateral move.

 

I agree with D96's disagreement (but I also agree with the sentiment that we need to make the America East Conference stronger). Beyond Commonwealth Avenue, BU doesn't get much coverage. From my own experience, I have often tried without success to find coverage of BU basketball in the Boston Globe.

 

BU basketball doesn't even play that often (or at all?) in Agganis Arena, which is a shame. I enjoyed watching basketball there at the America East Tournament a few years ago.

 

As far as the America East Conference goes, I have always wanted it to develop into the hub of Northeastern/New England public schools. Drop Hartford, pick up Rhode Island or some other defection (CCSU?), and slowly---but surely---build our program to the point that it is ready for a conference upgrade 10-20 years from now.

Edited February 13, 2013 by UA_MA_2000

[UA_MA_2000]

 

So what you are saying is...exciting times ahead??

 

I am excited for Saturday's men's basketball game against Hartford.

[Dane96]

I'm ok where we are right now... Let's grow and get stronger...

 

With BU's exit, this conference is headed south. I agree we need to get stronger.

 

Disagree wholeheartedly. Live next to BU...they are a non-factor in this city, in the media, and elsewhere. They are a hockey school that happens to be ok in other sports.

 

BU made a lateral move.

 

I agree with D96's disagreement (but I also agree with the sentiment that we need to make the America East Conference stronger). Beyond Commonwealth Avenue, BU doesn't get much coverage. From my own experience, I have often tried without success to find coverage of BU basketball in the Boston Globe.

 

BU basketball doesn't even play that often (or at all?) in Agganis Arena, which is a shame. I enjoyed watching basketball there at the America East Tournament a few years ago.

 

As far as the America East Conference goes, I have always wanted it to develop into the hub of Northeastern/New England public schools. Drop Hartford, pick up Rhode Island or some other defection (CCSU?), and slowly---but surely---build our program to the point that it is ready for a conference upgrade 10-20 years from now.

 

Yup...pretty much agree.

 

And look at this tasty tidbit from the Athletic Department: With today's indoor track and field America East titles, the UAlbany athletic department has now won 60 conference titles in the DI era.

 

That's just under 5 titles per year in DI. All you have to do is look across town to see what "mired in mediocrity" really means.

[McFan]

I get most of this but are you two saying this conference is better w/o BU? I really only follow T&F and BB and they were generally top half in those sports.

 

60 titles, very impressive. How many belong to T&F?

[Dane96]

I don't think you can say necessarily better off; but is it a huge downgrade? No. Directionally speaking for the conference...it is better in as much as BU doesn't have decision making stranglehold capability.

 

If it weren't for BU (and this is a fact, not supposition) the AE banner would have AE Hockey, with the star power of Boston College, and likely AE football.

 

Off hand, I'd have to think nearly a 1/4 of those titles are track and field.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Dane96

[McFan]

I have T&F (and Cross Country) responsible for 27 of those titles. So although progress is being made. It's a bit blown out of proportion by the overwhelming success of one program.

[Dane96]

Sigh. My My.

 

Ok...so we have 33 titles in 13 years. That's at least 1.5 champions per semester...on a paltry budget that broke the 10mm mark less than 4 years ago and has seen less money from University coffers (I believe a 10% decrease), while at least doing minimal to massive upgrades on all facilities (cosmetic or new construction).

 

I will take it with eyes on the future.

 

We have won more titles, if memory serves, than ALL the SUNY's combined.