Is this Christian scheduling?
I saw this score on the ESPN bottom line earlier this week and assumed that it was either a typo or that I really needed to get some sleep.
It read, "The Citadel 126, Kissimmee 43"
What?!? Look, I saw The Citadel play earlier this year, and the Bulldogs are, in a word, not good. Just what kind of team could be soooo bad that it would lose by 83 POINTS to these guys?
I had to know.
As it turns out, Kissimmee isn't even the name of the opponent. It's Florida Christian College, in Kissimmee, Florida.
Why was The Citadel playing this team? You really need to read this article by Jeff Hartsell of the Charleston Post & Courier, which curiously, is posted on The Citadel's website.
There are some priceless quotes in there.
Like this:
"We need a good fundamental practice (today), because this game, I don't think we got a lot out of as far as getting better." -- Pat Dennis, head coach of The Citadel
and this:
"The reason I did this was for the experience for our kids. They've never played in a place this big against a team like The Citadel. This will only help them when we get into our conference." -- Phillip Smith, head coach of Florida Christian
How does an 83-point loss help? I'm really curious to find out. I'll be tracking FC's progress - or lack thereof - this season (assuming I can find their scores) to find out if there really is honor in such a pathetic defeat.
Comments (2)
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The proud Charleston Cougars played these guys too, and beat them by 50 or 60. UNCG manhandled Charleston on Saturday night.
These non D-1s on schedules need to stop (except for that first exhibition season).
You cannot convince me that with UNCG, Davidson, Charleston, UTC, App. State and Ga. Southern the Southern Conference shouldn't be a top 15 RPI conference every year.
Granted the Non D-1s don't hurt the RPI, but they also don't help when you go up against good squads every year.
UNCG is even GOING to Montreat this season. The Spartans stand a chance of going to 5-3 on Tuesday evening. A 5-3 (or even 4-4) team who has lost to UW Green Bay (because of player suspensions), Vandy and South Carolina should not be going to a DII school ever.
Is Florida Christian even DIII? Or are in some other classification?
Posted on December 5, 2005 11:12 AM
Steve,
I'm in agreement with you in general about D-1 schools playing non-D-1 schools. (Florida Christian is NAIA by the way. NOOOOO excuse for playing them).
Having said that, here are a couple of explanations SoCon coaches might give you for doing this.
1) You hit on a huge issue with the RPI. Why would a school like UNCG schedule a Montreat as opposed to, say, a MEAC or Bis South school? Granted, the Spartans should beat thos teams, but if they happen to lose to, say, Morgan State, they take a HUGE hit in the RPI area. If they win, they probably still get hurt. So why not play a D-2, pick up a win for your record and don't hurt yourself in the RPI, win or lose. (Again, I'm playing Devil's Advocate here. I'm not necessarily in agreement.)
2) I remember talking to Fran McCaffery a couple of years ago when UNCG was forced to schedule a home-and-away with Campbell in the same season. Why? Because it was the only way the Spartans could get a D-1 opponent to come to Fleming Gym. They just don't want to do it. Other SoCon coaches are in the same boat. So often they bring in non-D-1 teams just to fill the schedule and actually get some revenue-producing home games. My guess is that UNCG is going to Montreat probably to get two home games against Montreat in the future. Just a guess.
Still, Florida Christian? C'mon.
Posted on December 5, 2005 4:55 PM