Posts Tagged ‘southland conference’

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NCAA Tournament Changes: Who Does It Impact?

April 23rd, 2010

Are we really that hypocritical?

All season we've been complaining, no, we've been hoping, in fact, we've been praying that the NCAA was going to do the right thing. That they would be true to the sport and not go for the money. Make a decision for the sport of basketball, not for TV ratings.

And today, the NCAA did just that. Sure they're getting paid, but they only bumped the tournament up to 68 teams. Three more teams, that's all. Our hopes and prayers have been answered, and our regular season still means something.

But then sports writers across the country, including ESPN's Dana O'Neil , started saying the play in games should be the at large teams instead of the automatic qualifiers. So after three months of berating the NCAA for thinking about moving to 96, we want to create a bracket that hurts better teams?

Here's how this should work, and it's really simple. Create whatever rules you want for getting the field to 68. Maybe four spots are set aside for mid-majors, whatever, I don't care. However, once the field is set, the play in games go to the worst eight teams. That's just how it works.

Utah State and UTEP shouldn't have to play each other and then fly halfway across the country two days later to play a Top 20 team while the SWAC champion sits around waiting for the guillotine to drop on them in Round One.

What happens when there's an auto-qualifier that should be seeded on the 12 line, like Cornell was this year? Do they get bumped up a line to an 11? Forcing the last eight o play in would knock four teams that are likely to pull upsets out of the tournament before it ever really starts.

The last eight teams in are all better than the winners of the worst eight conferences. Just because you win the Southland Conference you don't "deserve" to play a top seed. You earned your way into the NCAA tournament as a 16 or 17 seed, and you play the game accordingly.

Dana's (and everyone else's) reasoning is that it would make people care about the games on Tuesday. It would make those games matter. It would be good TV for the average sports fan. Well you know what else would have done that?

A 96 team tournament.

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Posted in College Basketball, NCAA, Opinion, march madness, ncaa tournament

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Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Conference Expansion Explored!

April 22nd, 2010

Currently there are a lot of rumors, speculation, and chatter about the Big Ten, Pac Ten, and possibly the Big East, Big 12, and the Mountain West Conferences respectively expanding their conferences, whether for more and or better markets, due to TV network contracts, or just for survival.

With that being said, some conferences in the world of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) need and should follow suit.

I took some time to examine the current line-up of FCS Conferences, and came up with a number of conferences that should or need to expand.

 

Southland Conference

The Southland Conference is like the SEC of Football Bowl Champion Subdivision. It has a strong number of core teams, and it has established its own network to show the conference’s athletic events.

Currently, the Southland Conference has so much pull in the FCS, it was basically awarded the FCS Championship Game near its own headquarters (Frisco, Texas at Pizza Hut Stadium).

With that said, one of its current members; Univ. of Texas at San Antonio, (UTSA) will be starting its inaugural football season in 2011.

UTSA has all ready stated it wants to compete in the FBS, and is making current arrangements to enter into the FBS as an independent.  Overall that will leave the Southland Conference will 11 total members, but 9 competing in football (The Univ. of Lamar Cardinals will resume its football program this up-coming season).

The other two members, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and University of Texas at Arlington do not have a football program.

This a great time for the conference to open its doors to expand and possibly have a championship game.  Here are a few teams the conference can take a look at.

· Grambling State Tigers:   The Tigers has a solid football team, and has finished with a winning record year in and year out. They fit geographically as well.

It would benefit the Tigers based on the fact that while they are in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) even if they win their conference title (as with all conference football members) they will not be able to participate in the FCS playoffs, for a chance to win a national championship.

That's because the SWAC does not participate in the FCS Playoffs due to games scheduled at the time the FCS Playoffs start. Also it would  boost to the schools recruiting of athletes as well.

· Univ. of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions (UAPB): The Golden Lions are in the same situation as Grambling State, with not being able to participate in the FCS Playoffs. Ark at PB would add another rivalry to the Southland Conference by playing the Central Arkansas Bears and fits geographically.

· Prairie View A&M Panthers: PVA&M is a Texas based team, who along with UAPB and Grambling State also play in the SWAC Conference. The Panthers football team is on the rise and currently are the SWAC champions. Unfortunately, even with a 9-3 record, because of the SWAC rules, they were forced to sit at home during the FCS Playoffs.

 

 

Big Sky Conference

Over the years the Big Sky Conference has molded itself to become a solid conference with power-house football program, the Montana Grizzlies, and solid programs like Weber State Wildcats, Eastern Washington Eagles and the Montana State Bobcats.

Currently the conference has nine members; adding three more members would give the Big Sky a conference championship game.

· San Diego Toreros: The Toreros would be a nice fit with the Big Sky. As stated in the Great West Conference portion, the Toreros are out of place in the Pioneer Conference.

San Diego would give the Big Sky another California-based team as well as the San Diego market, which could be a nice area for a conference championship game if the conference expanded to 12 teams.

Also it would add another rivalry to the conference with fellow California based team the Sacramento State Hornets.

· Southern Utah Thunderbirds : Southern Utah is a team out of the Great West Conference. The Thunderbirds definitely fits geographically and gives the conference another Utah-based program.

· North Dakota Fighting Sioux : North Dakota (the nickname “Fighting Sioux” will soon change) gives the conference another team that fits regionally. North Dakota plays in the Great West Conference.

The Fighting Sioux’s football program is currently getting better. North Dakota is known for its men’s hockey team, but is solid in other sports as well.

· South Dakota Coyotes: The Coyotes, like the “Fighting Sioux” plays in the Great West Conference. Regionally they also fit as well.

· Univ. of California-Davis Aggies: The UC Davis Aggies is another California based team that plays in the Great West Conference. The Aggies have a rising football program and would give the conference another California based team and would add another rivalry to the conference with Sacramento State.

 

Great West Conference

 The Great West Conference is a fairly new football conference in the FCS, only comprised of five football members. This without more members, in my opinion this leaves the conference open to being raided.

If the conference was able to add two or three more teams it could help it become a more solid conference.

The Great West Conference does not have an automatic berth bid to participate in the FCS playoffs, it's invitation only. Adding more members could change that. Here is a possible candidate.

 

· San Diego Toreros: The Toreros currently plays in the Pioneer League, which is comprised of teams mostly based in the mid-west, Ohio valley and the east coast. San Diego University is the only team from California and the western region of the United States.

The Great West Conference would be a perfect fit. It would help with the cost of travel and with current Great West Conference member Cal Poly Mustangs would give the conference a solid in-state rival.

 

Big South Conference: In 2002 the Big South began sponsoring football. Currently the conference only has seven football members.

At this time the Big South has an automatic bid into the FCS Playoffs. Adding a school or two would help strengthen this conference.

· Jacksonville Dolphins: The Dolphins currently play in the Pioneer Conference. If the Big South would add the Dolphins to their conference, it would give them the Jacksonville, Florida market and its surrounding areas.

It would also open up more recruiting in the state of Florida.

· Charlotte 49ers: The Univ. of Charlotte begins play in 2013, resuming its football program, which discontinued play in 1948. The 49ers have stated it would eventually like to move up to FBS status, but there is not time table set for such a move.

Inviting Charlotte to the Big South would be perfect, since one a number of their current members are based in the state of North Carolina and to it would give the Big South the Charlotte, N.C., market.

 



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Posted in College Football, NCAA, Opinion

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Breaking Down The 2010 McNeese State Cowboys Football Schedule

April 20th, 2010

With the start of 2010 college football season approximately five months away I would like to take some time to review McNeese State’s 2010 football schedule. Last year Cowboys went 9-2 in the regular season and where Co-Champions of Southland Conference. McNeese State finished its football season with a loss to New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS playoffs, ending their  college football season and finishing with a 9-3 overall record and 6-1 in conference play.

 

·         Sept 4 Lamar Cardinals – The Cowboys open the 2010 college football season verses the Cardinals. The Lamar Cardinals resumes its college football program after a 21 year absence.

·         Sept 11 at the Missouri Tigers – The Cowboys hit the road to take on a solid FBS team. Last year the Cowboys faced another FBS team on the road, the Tulane Green Wave and lost by 10; 42-32.

·         Sept 25 Cal Poly Mustangs – McNeese State returns home to take on the Cal Poly Mustangs. The Mustangs hail from the Great West Conference. Cal Poly finished the 2009 college football season 4-7, with a 1-3 conference record.

·         Oct 2 at the Northwestern State (La) Demons – The Cowboys are back on the road to battle their in – state rival. Last year the Cowboys punished the Demons by a score of 51-23. Northwestern State looks to improved from a dismal 2009 college football season. The Demons finished the regular season win-less with a 0-11 overall record and 0-7 in conference play.

·         Oct 9 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks – The Cowboys are back home to battle conference foe Stephen F. Austin. Last year SFA were the Southland Co-Champions with McNeese State. The Lumberjacks edged the Cowboys 16-13. SFA lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs and finished its college football season 10-3 with a 6-1 conference record.

·         Oct 16 at the LSU Tigers – McNeese State is back on the road to face another FBS team. This time they face off against SEC power-house LSU Tigers. Last year LSU finished with a 9-4 overall record and were 5-3 in conference play. The Tigers lost to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Bowl 19-17.

·         Oct 23 at the Southeastern La. Lions – The Cowboys continue its road trip to Hammond Louisiana to face another conference foe and in-state rival. Last year the Cowboys escape a lost to the Lions with a 36-35 victory. The Lions finished the 2009 college football season 6-4 overall with a 4-3 Southland Conference record.

·         Oct 30 Nicholls State Colonels – The McNeese State Cowboys are back home to face in state rival and conference for Nicholls State. The Cowboys knocked of the Colonels last year 38-17. The Colonels finished the 2009 college football season with a 3-8 overall record and 2-5 in conference play.

·         Nov 6 at the Sam Houston State Bearkats – This will be the Cowboys last road game of the regular season. McNeese State travels to Huntsville, Texas to battle the Bearkats a Southland Conference foe. Last year the Cowboys out lasted the Bearkats in a shoot-out winning by a score of 63-42. Sam Houston State finished the 2009 college football season, 3-4 in conference play and 5-6 overall.

·         Nov 13 Texas State Bobcats – McNeese State begins a two game home tilt, the first against the Texas State Bobcats. The Cowboys edged the Bobcats with a 30-27 win. Texas State finished the 2009 college football season with a 7-4 overall record and 5-2 in conference play.

·         Nov 20 Central Arkansas Bears – The McNeese Cowboys host the Central Arkansas Bears for their final game of the 2010 college football regular season. Last year the Cowboys knocked off the Bears 21-17 and clinched a share of the Southland Conference Title. The Bears finished with a 5-7 overall record and were 2-5 in conference.

 

 

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Posted in College Football, NCAA, Preview/Prediction

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Former Boston College Transfers Find Success After Switching Schools

April 19th, 2010

With the recent news that Boston College is losing both Rakim Sanders and Brady Heslip to transfer, here is a look at some recent Eagles who switched out of BC during their collegiate careers.

 

Daye Kaba, Marist:

Daye Kaba, a 6'3", 210 pound guard struggled finding playing time in his first two seasons at Boston College. Kaba decided to transfer and Marist was his ultimate destination.

After sitting out the 2008-2009 season, Kaba returned as a junior this past season, averaging 8.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg.

He started 20 games this season for the Red Foxes, although Marist struggled, finishing 1-29 overall and 1-17 in the MAAC.

 

Marquez Haynes, UT-Arlington:

Haynes might be the most successful Boston College transfer at the collegiate level. After two full seasons at BC, Haynes decided to transfer south to UT-Arlington.

An Irving, Texas native, Haynes sat out the 2007-2008 season and instantly found success in the Southland Conference. As a junior, he started 29 games and was named as a second-team All-Southland performer.

This past season, Marquez Haynes went off. Averaging 22.6 ppg, which was good enough for fourth in the nation. Haynes was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year.

 

Akida McLain, Indiana University of Pennsylvania:

After being suspended and then kicked off the team at Boston College, McLain decided to transfer closer to home and Division II, IUP was his destination.

McLain most recently finished up a successful senior season at IUP. He averaged 14.6 ppg and started 33 games.

IUP had one of its best seasons in school history, finishing 33-3 overall before eventually losing in the Division II men's basketball National Championship game to Cal-Poly Pomona.

 

Shamari Spears, Charlotte:

Shamari Spears returned to the court this past season after sitting out in 2008-2009. The former big man for BC had plenty of success in his first season in Charlotte.

Spears averaged 16 points per game, alongside six rebounds per game and became a real focal point for the 49ers. Spears played big on plenty of occasions, scoring 20 in a loss at Duke and a career-high 31 points against George Washington.

With a new coach coming in, Spears will enter his senior season at Charlotte with an opportunity to lead the 49ers to the NCAA Tournament.

 

Sean Williams, NBA:

He didn't transfer out of Boston College, he got kicked off the team for off-the-court issues alongside Akia McLain. Instead of staying in school, Williams entered the NBA Draft and was taken 17th overall by the New Jersey Nets.

This past season, Williams played in 20 games, before being released by the Nets in January. A defensive presence, Williams led the team in blocks as both a freshman and a sophomore before being dismissed from Boston College.

 

Some of the players were and could have continued to be key contributors had they finished their careers at Boston College. However, reasons aside, each of them still shot for success in their respective destinations.

Rakim Sanders and Brady Heslip will look to do the same as they continue their collegiate careers elsewhere.

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Posted in ACC Basketball, Boston, Boston College Basketball, College Basketball, NCAA, Opinion, US Cities

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Missouri Tigers News and Notes: Spring Practices Rapidly Approaching

February 13th, 2010

Don't know about you, but I'm getting a little sick of battling the shakes as part of my war with college football withdrawal.

Alas, relief is on the horizon, as only three and half weeks separate us from the beginning of the Missouri Tigers' spring practices, which commence on Mar. 9th.

Here's a few links to chew on regarding the MU football program and other happenings around the athletics department:

  • In the first of what figures to be a number of incidences of attrition within the program, No. 4 running back Gilbert Moye decided this week to leave the team and will reportedly transfer after the end of the current semester.

A redshirt sophomore, Moye began his career at safety but was converted to running back prior to the 2009 season. In very limited duty, he rushed for 35 yards on six carries, all of which came against Furman on Sept. 19th. He reportedly hopes to play his old high school position of quarterback at his new destination, likely a school from either the Southland Conference or Southwestern Athletic Conference, both FCS members.

With Moye's defection, assuming that each of the 23 newcomers who signed earlier this month qualify academically, MU now has 89 players on its roster. Per NCAA rules, 85 scholarships are allowed to be given out each season, which means the Tigers overshot their recruiting numbers purposely, perhaps under the assumption that Moye would be but one of a small handful of players who will either decide to transfer or have their scholarship stripped.

  • Gabe DeArmond of Power Mizzou gets an early jump on spring ball by breaking down what stories will dominate the Tigers' early-season practice period. Among them is whether either of the two newly-minted quarterbacks — freshmen Tyler Gabbert and James Franklin (above) — will be able to land the backup role.
  • DeArmond's father, Kansas City Star writer Mike DeArmond, spoke with MU head coach Gary Pinkel at a recent area function. When asked about the state of his team's defense, particularly the maligned secondary, Pinkel responded: "Coverage-wise, we’re looking at a couple of different options now. We’re talking to some people. We’ve got to get it fixed.”
  • Missouri joining the Big Ten makes sense. Colorado defecting to the Pac-10 probably even more so. Texas to either of those conferences? Forget about it.
  • In an attempt to zap even more emotion and enthusiasm from the game of college football, the NCAA is proposing a rule that would flag a player for taunting on his way to the end zone and assess the penalty at the spot of the foul, therefore negating the touchdown. If the incident occurs in the end zone, officials will apply the current rule, which imposes a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff.

If the NCAA were smart, it would not tinker with the ways things are now, which happen to be outrageously subjective to begin with, all because no official seems to have a clear grasp as to what actually constitutes taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct? Now they want to potentially rob a team of a game-winning score because of what one player may or may not have done?

  • Onto college basketball, where the notion of increasing the NCAA Tournament field to include 96 teams has been meant with fervor, with much of the opposition residing within the media. Meanwhile, coaches don't seem to mind the idea, while one writer in particular interjects with a dose of reason.
  • ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde recently polled writers from each of the six major conferences on the best and worst towns within their respective leagues, as well as which town was the best for basketball. Suffice it to say, I wasn't all that shocked that Columbia wasn't mentioned ahead of a place like Lawrence, albeit a hoops synagogue that resides in the "vast nothingness that is the middle of Kansas."
  • In the same article, Forde — an MU alum — lists Kansas' Mar. 6 date with the Tigers in Columbia as the Jayhawks' "scariest" game from here on out.
  • Believe it or not, the Missouri baseball team begins its season next week. The Tigers, which feature only three seniors, will play in the Collegiate Cactus Classic in Tuscon, Ariz., beginning on Feb. 17.
  • One final note, and it has to do with a bit of shameless self-promotion. Be sure to read my article, "Five New Ways To Watch The Olympics," which was recently posted at Askmen.com.

Photo credit: HSgametime.com

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Posted in College Football, Gary Pinkel, Missouri Tigers Football, NCAA, Rankings/List

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