Marcus Thornton led William and Mary with 26 points, his buzzer beater three proved to be the game winner for the Tribe 68-66 over Drexel.
Thanks Tribe Athletics TV
"I just pulled back, created separation and was able to hit the shot; it felt great."Thornton was quoted in The Virginia Gazette, "This is what you work the whole summer for, to be able to hit a shot like that for your team."
"Guys in this league know he (Thornton) can play." Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint said. "Give him credit. He made a huge shot."
Showing posts with label Colonial Athletic Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colonial Athletic Association. Show all posts
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Old Dominion Fires Hoops Coach Effective Immediately
He's not a big name coach and Old Dominion University is not a big name basketball school. But their immediate firing of head coach Blaine Taylor Tuesday afternoon caught more than a few people by surprise.Yes, the Monarachs were limping through a 2-20 season on the heels of 8 straight years of post-season basketball, but the decline this year was nothing short of mind-boggling.
Reading the schools press release, the firing of Taylor wasn't necessarily record related. The school wouldn't go into to detail, only saying "This decision is not based solely on wins and losses, but on a number of factors by which a head coach is evaluated".
You can read the entire nebulous statement RIGHT HERE
Taylor leaves as the schools winningest coach, going 239-144 in 12 years including 4 NCAA Tourney berths and a stirring 2010 Upset of Notre Dame.
Associate Head Coach Jim Corrigan takes over today.
Here's some of the press conference, thanks to our friends at WAVY-TV
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Georgia State Promotion Has More Money Than Fans
((HT: Rick Limpert))
The Georgia State football program has decided to move from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Sun Belt Conference. And in their transitional year of moving from I-AA to Division I-Big Boy football, the Panthers are taking their lumps.
The average attendance has dropped under 10,000 and the NCAA mandates that you need a three-year average of 17,000 or you can go on probation (or other really evil penalizing things) for up to ten years on the Division I level.
Not something they want to have to look forward to...
So, they came up with this promotion in the wake of their game against New Hampshire- a game in which GSU lost again...
Wonder what the meeting was like to drop $10,000 in vouchers from the ceiling inside the Georgia Dome was like...???
Here's the evidence...
300 GSU students were chosen to run around and try and grab as many of the vouchers as possible in a set time frame at half time. Presumably, to get people to wander by and see some really bad football.
Oh, 10-grand in vouchers were dropped...
The announced attendance was just over 9,000...
The HQ feels for Bill Curry and what he has helped build in downtown Atlanta. We also hope the ascent to the Sun Belt wasn't too far-too fast...
The Georgia State football program has decided to move from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Sun Belt Conference. And in their transitional year of moving from I-AA to Division I-Big Boy football, the Panthers are taking their lumps.
The average attendance has dropped under 10,000 and the NCAA mandates that you need a three-year average of 17,000 or you can go on probation (or other really evil penalizing things) for up to ten years on the Division I level.
Not something they want to have to look forward to...
So, they came up with this promotion in the wake of their game against New Hampshire- a game in which GSU lost again...
Wonder what the meeting was like to drop $10,000 in vouchers from the ceiling inside the Georgia Dome was like...???
Here's the evidence...
300 GSU students were chosen to run around and try and grab as many of the vouchers as possible in a set time frame at half time. Presumably, to get people to wander by and see some really bad football.
Oh, 10-grand in vouchers were dropped...
The announced attendance was just over 9,000...
The HQ feels for Bill Curry and what he has helped build in downtown Atlanta. We also hope the ascent to the Sun Belt wasn't too far-too fast...
Saturday, September 22, 2012
RECORD BREAKER: ODU's Taylor Heinicke Throws For NCAA D-1 Record 730 Yards In 64-61 Win Over New Hampshire
Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke put together an entire
season in one game. Heinicke threw for
an NCAA division one record 730 yards in the Monarchs 64-61 win over New Hampshire.
Here’s a
game report. (Thanks WAVY-TV)
Heinicke
broke the NCAA Division one record held by Houston’s David Klinger who threw
for 716 yards against Arizona State in 1990.
Heinicke was just one yard shy of
the all-division record set by Zamir Amin of Menlo (Div. III) who passed for
731 yards against Cal Lutheran in 2000.
The passing yards record wasn’t the
only one Heinicke broke today. His 61
yards rushing gave Heinicke 791 yards of total offense breaking Klinger’s FBS record
of 732 set in the ASU game in 1990.
While ODU accumulated 824 yards of
total offense New Hampshire totaled 725 yards of total offense. That added up to an NCAA FCS record of 1,549
yards of total offense. The previous
mark was 1,423 in a game featuring Murray State (816) and Missouri State (607) back
on October. 9, 2010.
The defensive coordinators for the
Monarchs and the Wildcats are going to have a lot to say during film sessions.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Yet Another Conference Move: Old Dominion To Join C-USA
This won't send shock waves through the college athletic world but it is another blow to the Colonial Athletic Association.
Old Dominion will announce in a 2:30pm news conference today that they will leave the CAA and join Conference USA. ODU is expected to join C-USA for the 2013-14 academic year.
For the second time this week the CAA has lost another signature basketball program, Virginia Commonwealth announced the Rams will join the Atlantic 10 conference.
Like most of conference realignment its about football and this move will be a huge step for the three year old Monarch football program and further upgrade ODU football who would join the Football Bowl Subdivision.
According to ESPN's Andy Katz, the Colonial may now pursue from a list of Davidson, Charleston, Boston University, and Stony Brook. If Georgia State and ODU can't participate in post-season tourneys next year, they'll only have seven active members to do so next season in all sports.
ODU has to pay a $250,000 exit fee and is leaving $400,000 on the table for the conference.
Here's early returns from our friends at WAVY-TV
In a letter explaining the move, ODU President John Broderick said:
"While the university was not actively seeking a change, recent events necessitated an earlier consideration of our future, and in particular, for our football program. C-USA’s invitation provided the right opportunity at the right time to reclassify our football program and broaden the national footprint of our athletic program."
"While the university was not actively seeking a change, recent events necessitated an earlier consideration of our future, and in particular, for our football program. C-USA’s invitation provided the right opportunity at the right time to reclassify our football program and broaden the national footprint of our athletic program."
Old Dominion will announce in a 2:30pm news conference today that they will leave the CAA and join Conference USA. ODU is expected to join C-USA for the 2013-14 academic year.
For the second time this week the CAA has lost another signature basketball program, Virginia Commonwealth announced the Rams will join the Atlantic 10 conference.
Like most of conference realignment its about football and this move will be a huge step for the three year old Monarch football program and further upgrade ODU football who would join the Football Bowl Subdivision.
According to ESPN's Andy Katz, the Colonial may now pursue from a list of Davidson, Charleston, Boston University, and Stony Brook. If Georgia State and ODU can't participate in post-season tourneys next year, they'll only have seven active members to do so next season in all sports.
ODU has to pay a $250,000 exit fee and is leaving $400,000 on the table for the conference.
Here's early returns from our friends at WAVY-TV
Officials: ODU will join Conference USA: wavy.com
In a letter explaining the move, ODU President John Broderick said:
"While the university was not actively seeking a change, recent events necessitated an earlier consideration of our future, and in particular, for our football program. C-USA’s invitation provided the right opportunity at the right time to reclassify our football program and broaden the national footprint of our athletic program."
"While the university was not actively seeking a change, recent events necessitated an earlier consideration of our future, and in particular, for our football program. C-USA’s invitation provided the right opportunity at the right time to reclassify our football program and broaden the national footprint of our athletic program."
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
VCU moves to Atlantic 10 and is moving fast
((ht: times-dispatch.com))
It's not "Galactic" in terms of realignment, but its very interesting if you are a basketball fan.
Virginia Commonwealth University announced today (Tue) they are leaving the Colonial Athletic Association and heading to the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Oh...they are leaving in July.
Of this year.
It will cost $250,000 to bail out and $750,000 to join their new band of friends. Small change for most.
VCU as many of you know is a small, but highly recognized basketball program that was in the NCAA Final Four as recently as 2011. Coincidentally, the team they played back then, Butler, is moving to the A-10 with them.
Read more about the move from Times-Dispatch.com RIGHT HERE
Check out FOSG Greg Burton of ESPN 950's interview with Colonial Prez Tom Yeager and VCU's Mark Ellis, you can find the interview RIGHT HERE
While not doing much for football, the Atlantic 10 is primarily a basketball conference. And its loaded with the so-called "Mid-Majors". Between VCU, Butler, current member Xavier and others, there is some seriously good basketball teams in the conference.
Conversly, the Colonial is dying a slow death. VCU's departure, combined with Georgia State leaving for the Sun Belt, leaves them with a slew of very small basketball schools. They are primarily a FCS Football conference, which is not as significant.
Sure, we know it isn't exciting...unless you are a basketball fan, but it is sort of interesting as conferences both big and small continue adding and subtracting with nobody knowing for sure just what the landscape is going to look like in the next couple of years.
Friend of the OSG Lane Casadante of WTVR in Richmond provides us video of the presser with VCU President Michael Rao:
It's not "Galactic" in terms of realignment, but its very interesting if you are a basketball fan.
Virginia Commonwealth University announced today (Tue) they are leaving the Colonial Athletic Association and heading to the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Oh...they are leaving in July.
Of this year.
It will cost $250,000 to bail out and $750,000 to join their new band of friends. Small change for most.
VCU as many of you know is a small, but highly recognized basketball program that was in the NCAA Final Four as recently as 2011. Coincidentally, the team they played back then, Butler, is moving to the A-10 with them.
Read more about the move from Times-Dispatch.com RIGHT HERE
Check out FOSG Greg Burton of ESPN 950's interview with Colonial Prez Tom Yeager and VCU's Mark Ellis, you can find the interview RIGHT HERE
While not doing much for football, the Atlantic 10 is primarily a basketball conference. And its loaded with the so-called "Mid-Majors". Between VCU, Butler, current member Xavier and others, there is some seriously good basketball teams in the conference.
Conversly, the Colonial is dying a slow death. VCU's departure, combined with Georgia State leaving for the Sun Belt, leaves them with a slew of very small basketball schools. They are primarily a FCS Football conference, which is not as significant.
Sure, we know it isn't exciting...unless you are a basketball fan, but it is sort of interesting as conferences both big and small continue adding and subtracting with nobody knowing for sure just what the landscape is going to look like in the next couple of years.
Friend of the OSG Lane Casadante of WTVR in Richmond provides us video of the presser with VCU President Michael Rao:
Monday, May 14, 2012
DEVELOPING: VCU To A-10 In 2013
((HT: CSNWashington))
Ben Standig is reporting that the Rams are heading to the Atlantic-10 conference for the 2013 season as part of the replacements for Charlotte's move to Conference USA and Temple's move to the Big East.
The Rams join Butler as new neighbors and could be there as Old Dominion looks to possibly leave the conference in the near future since they need to look out for the football interests in other places than the Colonial Athletic Association.
Galactic Realignment guru, CBS Sports Brett McMurphy, says that fellow soon-to-be-ex CAA'er George Mason wasn't even invited to the transfer dance.
On Friday, George Mason, which along with VCU and Butler had discussions with the Atlantic 10, announced it was staying in the CAA. However, sources told CBSSports.com at the present time the Atlantic 10 was looking to add only one more school and VCU got the nod over Mason.
And this gets VCU out of a one-bid CAA as well...
Here's the early news from NBC12 in Richmond...
More when we know more...
Ben Standig is reporting that the Rams are heading to the Atlantic-10 conference for the 2013 season as part of the replacements for Charlotte's move to Conference USA and Temple's move to the Big East.
The Rams join Butler as new neighbors and could be there as Old Dominion looks to possibly leave the conference in the near future since they need to look out for the football interests in other places than the Colonial Athletic Association.
Galactic Realignment guru, CBS Sports Brett McMurphy, says that fellow soon-to-be-ex CAA'er George Mason wasn't even invited to the transfer dance.
On Friday, George Mason, which along with VCU and Butler had discussions with the Atlantic 10, announced it was staying in the CAA. However, sources told CBSSports.com at the present time the Atlantic 10 was looking to add only one more school and VCU got the nod over Mason.
And this gets VCU out of a one-bid CAA as well...
Here's the early news from NBC12 in Richmond...
More when we know more...
Monday, April 9, 2012
Surprising No One, It's Official For Georgia State
((HT: GSU Football))
This works for the Sun Belt as it gives them a top-10 media market...
It works for the other GSU Sports since it gives them the opportunity to get automatic basketball bids a lot sooner than it may have had they been in the Colonial for much longer... Ron Hunter gave the team a post-season run in one of those non-CBS aired tourneys, so it's a solid move.
The move also comes a day before the Colonial was to hold an announcement proclaiming the cost of a conference buyout would increase from $250k to a million dollars.
The GSU move also works from a travel standpoint in most cases- except for the roadtrips to Denver and Dallas to play DU and North Texas. The other games are buses or short hops on planes (Miami twice, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mobile, Troy, Nashville)...
So, for those of you who don't like still pictures, but ones that move...
Here's how it was on their website...
((HT: GeorgiaStateSports.com))
"The addition of Georgia State to the Sun Belt Conference provides further strength for our league and is the beginning of a new era for GSU that will unquestionably be a time of great success for the Panther athletic program," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson in a release. "We strongly believe that the addition of GSU will continue to help the Sun Belt Conference in its rise to prominence."
GSU Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick added in the same release from the conference, "Under President Becker's leadership, Georgia State University is growing in size and stature as one of the nation's leading urban research institutions, so it is only fitting that our athletic program moves to the top level of college athletics.
"We want to thank Chancellor Hawkins and Commissioner Benson for this opportunity, and we look forward to an exciting new era in Georgia State Athletics," she continued. "The Sun Belt Conference is a tremendous fit for Georgia State, offering top-quality competition, increased exposure, and the chance to build rivalries with schools in driving distance for our fans."
More when we know more...
This works for the Sun Belt as it gives them a top-10 media market...
It works for the other GSU Sports since it gives them the opportunity to get automatic basketball bids a lot sooner than it may have had they been in the Colonial for much longer... Ron Hunter gave the team a post-season run in one of those non-CBS aired tourneys, so it's a solid move.
The move also comes a day before the Colonial was to hold an announcement proclaiming the cost of a conference buyout would increase from $250k to a million dollars.
The GSU move also works from a travel standpoint in most cases- except for the roadtrips to Denver and Dallas to play DU and North Texas. The other games are buses or short hops on planes (Miami twice, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mobile, Troy, Nashville)...
So, for those of you who don't like still pictures, but ones that move...
Here's how it was on their website...
((HT: GeorgiaStateSports.com))
"The addition of Georgia State to the Sun Belt Conference provides further strength for our league and is the beginning of a new era for GSU that will unquestionably be a time of great success for the Panther athletic program," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson in a release. "We strongly believe that the addition of GSU will continue to help the Sun Belt Conference in its rise to prominence."
GSU Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick added in the same release from the conference, "Under President Becker's leadership, Georgia State University is growing in size and stature as one of the nation's leading urban research institutions, so it is only fitting that our athletic program moves to the top level of college athletics.
"We want to thank Chancellor Hawkins and Commissioner Benson for this opportunity, and we look forward to an exciting new era in Georgia State Athletics," she continued. "The Sun Belt Conference is a tremendous fit for Georgia State, offering top-quality competition, increased exposure, and the chance to build rivalries with schools in driving distance for our fans."
More when we know more...
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Report: Ga.State to the SunBelt on Monday
((ht: cbssports.com/mcmurphy))
No, it isn't "Galactic Realignment", but for the folks in the metro Atlanta area it is kind of interesting.
According to CBSSports.com reporter Brett McMurphy, Georgia State University is about to become the newest member of the SunBelt Conference.
McMurphy said the "Big Announcement" will be Monday afternoon at the Georgia Dome.
Read McMurphy's report RIGHT HERE
The move takes the Panthers out of the Colonial Athletic Association, where they've been since 2005. But the CAA doesn't play Division I football and that is the ultimate goal for the Panthers and head coach Bill Curry. The move will make them eligible to jump from the Football Bowl Subidivision to the "Big Time" in 2-years
No, it isn't "Galactic Realignment", but for the folks in the metro Atlanta area it is kind of interesting.
According to CBSSports.com reporter Brett McMurphy, Georgia State University is about to become the newest member of the SunBelt Conference.
McMurphy said the "Big Announcement" will be Monday afternoon at the Georgia Dome.
Read McMurphy's report RIGHT HERE
The move takes the Panthers out of the Colonial Athletic Association, where they've been since 2005. But the CAA doesn't play Division I football and that is the ultimate goal for the Panthers and head coach Bill Curry. The move will make them eligible to jump from the Football Bowl Subidivision to the "Big Time" in 2-years
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Georgia State Commissions Look To FBS Football
Georgia State University has commissioned Collegiate Consulting to conduct a study to see how good an idea it would be to move to Division I for football.
Currently, the school is coming off a Division I-AA season where they're moving into the Colonial Athletic Association after a 3-8 year. The only opponent from the CAA the Panthers played last year was Old Dominion who they lost to 40-17.
From the Georgia State University folks their own selves:
“We are performing our due diligence to fully understand potential opportunities in the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics and particularly college football,” said Georgia State Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick. “We will evaluate the information in the feasibility study to determine the best course of action for Georgia State.
“No decisions have been made, and Georgia State has not received an invitation from any conference,” she added.
GSU turns full-fledged Colonial next year with 8 conference games along with games against South Carolina State, Tennessee, and Texas-San Antonio.
Here's the highlights from the GSU-ODU game from last year...
((HT: CAAFootball))
The logical place for GSU to go would be the Sun Belt Conference since the new commissioner, Karl Benson, is going to want to make a splash of some degree. South Alabama is becoming the 10th member this season and adding the Panthers long-term would give them 11 and a huge increase of households and market size.
Right now, Miami, Dallas, and Nashville are the three largest markets that have Sun Belt attachments. The Colonial was doing the same thing when they decided to add Georgia State after time in the Atlantic Sun and TAAC before that to give the league a footprint from Boston to Atlanta.
Interesting to see how this will play out...
Currently, the school is coming off a Division I-AA season where they're moving into the Colonial Athletic Association after a 3-8 year. The only opponent from the CAA the Panthers played last year was Old Dominion who they lost to 40-17.
From the Georgia State University folks their own selves:
“We are performing our due diligence to fully understand potential opportunities in the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics and particularly college football,” said Georgia State Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick. “We will evaluate the information in the feasibility study to determine the best course of action for Georgia State.
“No decisions have been made, and Georgia State has not received an invitation from any conference,” she added.
GSU turns full-fledged Colonial next year with 8 conference games along with games against South Carolina State, Tennessee, and Texas-San Antonio.
Here's the highlights from the GSU-ODU game from last year...
((HT: CAAFootball))
The logical place for GSU to go would be the Sun Belt Conference since the new commissioner, Karl Benson, is going to want to make a splash of some degree. South Alabama is becoming the 10th member this season and adding the Panthers long-term would give them 11 and a huge increase of households and market size.
Right now, Miami, Dallas, and Nashville are the three largest markets that have Sun Belt attachments. The Colonial was doing the same thing when they decided to add Georgia State after time in the Atlantic Sun and TAAC before that to give the league a footprint from Boston to Atlanta.
Interesting to see how this will play out...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
OSG Buzzer Beater: George Mason Gets By VCU
This was a big game in the Colonial Athletic Association and the finish was better. George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth are battling at the top of the CAA. Tuesday night Mason got the upper hand thanks to a buzzer - beating three pointer by Sherrod Wright.
Here's a full report including sound from the GMU hero Sherrod Wright plus head coach and FOSG Paul Hewitt. (Thanks CSN Washington)
Wright finished with 11 points, Ryan Pearson led Mason with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Here's a full report including sound from the GMU hero Sherrod Wright plus head coach and FOSG Paul Hewitt. (Thanks CSN Washington)
Wright finished with 11 points, Ryan Pearson led Mason with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Monday, February 13, 2012
NBC Sports Network Has Inked A Collegiate Conference, The Colonial Athletic Association
Now that the NBC Sports Network, which was launched January 2, 2012, is up and running they need programming. 
You can only show so much of hockey and hunting and fishing shows.
Monday NBCSN and the Colonial Athletic Association announced an new five year agreement to air CAA games.
“We are thrilled to be associated with the NBC Sports Group,” CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager said in a press release by the conference. “The NBC Sports Network now provides a national platform to elevate the conference in conjunction with the relationship we’ve had with the Comcast SportsNets, which have been the foundation of our television package for almost three decades.”
The five year agreement calls for 12 national telecasts of CAA men’s basketball games, including national television coverage of the semifinals and finals of the CAA Men’s Basketball Championship for the first time. Five national telecasts of CAA Football games for the first time in conference history and other CAA games and championships on NBCSports.com.
How much of a financial windfall this is for the CAA is not known, no financial numbers were released.
The CAA is the best football conference in the Football Championship Subdivision. Since 1998 the CAA has produced five NCAA national championships in football.
How that will translate nationally remains to be seen. The FCS is the old 1-AA and not on the big time scale for football.
As for college basketball the CAA has become the darlings of the mid-majors with George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth making memorable NCAA Final Four runs the last six years.
The member institutions in the CAA are: Delaware, Drexel, George Mason, Georgia State, Hofstra, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Old Dominion, Rhode Island, Towson University, Virginia Commonwealth and the College of William & Mary. The football only schools in the CAA are Villanova, Maine, Rhode Island and Richmond.
Keep in mind cable networks only care about size of TV markets and the CAA does deliver some major ones. With Georgia State you have the Atlanta market. Towson the Baltimore, Maryland market. Northeastern delivers the Boston market. Drexel the Philadelphia market and George Mason the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. market. That's impressive.
Congrats to the CAA for inking a big time cable deal.
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