And, as is the case these days, mergers and acquisitions can't even escape the land of colleges and universities...
The University System of Georgia had a round of mergers and dissolves within the past year that had an effect on two Atlanta-area universities: Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University. Southern Poly ranked highly in a lot of categories state-wide including enrollment increases, test scores, and all those academic-type things that keeps you desirable and profitable in a university system.
But, at the end of the day confusing a lot of people, Southern Poly was told THEY were the ones who were going to be merged with Kennesaw and not going to be left to their own devices as a technology university.
That meant one thing- a lot of people were going to lose their jobs...
And even more students were going to be displaced athletically in four sports...
The Hornets have a history: The baseball, soccer, and basketball teams have won conference titles and made plenty of post-season appearances in the NAIA tournaments. This season alone, the women's basketball team under LaQuanda Dawkins won the SSAC Eastern Division title and made an appearance in the NAIA tournament in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Here's that story about leaving a legacy in the "Southern States Showcase" TV program from early March
The segment airs at the 9:45 mark...
((HT: Workhorse Video Productions))
And the baseball team is ranked in the top-20 in the country...
The issue with the transition in the first place is always the "when..."
Initially, the thought was that SPSU players, coaches, and personnel would have another year to figure out their futures. But that idea got squashed and put the slow fade of the Hornets on a fast track. As a result, when teams would lose their last game of the 2013-2014 season, it would be their last loss ever.
Like the last home game for the men's basketball team...
((HT: Taylor McDonald))
And, this weekend, the last home game for regular-season baseball... a three-game, two-day series against the University of Mobile. The two teams split the Thursday double-header which led to Senior Day on Friday.
The outgoing president, Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, was there with her husband and pit bull mix- wearing a Southern Poly hat that was given out to all who wanted one. Her husband, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, had as a condition to them getting married that she had to learn how to score a baseball game.
She can do that, by the way...
The day had more of an Irish wake feel to it than a baseball game if you knew what was going on. People could have lunch, take their picture taken with the Hornets' mascot (who, from the looks of things, was well on his or her way to losing a good ten pounds in water weight), play side-show games, or watch the game itself. And, by the transitory nature of the crowd, it seemed like people would come by. They just couldn't stomach hanging around for the end.
Both literal and figurative...
After the last regular season game with the Rams, all that is left of a six-decade athletics program is the conference tournament and a possible trip to regionals-slash-nationals...
And that's it...
No more nothing... except alums and a Hall of Fame-to be...
And it also makes you wonder... do you claim your alma mater with a sense of pride or hide from it once your school is eaten up in today's view of colleges and universities...??? All the banners in the gym get rolled up. The floor gets put somewhere unless Kennesaw wants to use the facility for intramurals and the same goes for baseball...
All you're left with are memories because you're history...
As both an imperative and an adjective...
UPDATE: So you know, naturally, the last game on campus lasted a while... especially near the end...
Mobile broke out to a 6-0 lead, but Southern Poly scored three in the 7th and 10 in the 8th...
Southern Poly sent 15 hitters to the plate in the 8th inning, scoring 10 runs on six hits after the inning started with a walk, two hit-batsmen, a walk and a grand slam. There were 14 pitchers used in the game, including eight by SPSU. Mobile pitchers issued 18 walks and hit five batters in the game. Southern Poly left 15 runners on base and the Rams nine.
It was Senior Day for Southern Poly’s eight senior players - Chris Dykes, Forrest Garrett, Chad Livingston, Dalton Martinez, Reese Patten, Tyler Roach, Zach Smith and Khirus Ware
Southern Poly finishes their last regular season going 38-16 and will play Wednesday in the conference tournament in Montgomery.
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