The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

The NSU/MEAC debate, I would like to think, is one of those "walk-and-chew-gum" moments. A few observations:

--> This year's scheduling is below par. Part of that may be the last-minute cancellation by St. Bonaventure, but not all of it. If the P5 is now out of reach for our men's basketball program (and I find that suspect), the Jones and Wood really do need to knock off the annual game with UMES in favor of a higher caliber opponent.

--> NSU is in the MEAC, but they are a special case. I realize that this is an unpopular view on this board, but I would love to see the game at scope become an annual event. It is good for the community and it is good for both schools. That NSU has more to play for is, if anything, more of a reason to play this game. A team that has expectations for an NCAA tournament appearance, whether via an at-large bid (not in prospect this season) or via a four-game sweep in the conference tournament, had better be ready to play other teams that are highly motivated.

--> Last, the touchy subject. I don't know Cyniclone, but based upon his posting track record I did not read his 3rd paragraph as racial in nature. In fact, it did not even occur to me up until I read the responses. I instead understood Cyniclone's lecture as a reminder that we ought to think twice before sneering at others who we view as less than us. Some on this board think that we shouldn't play Liberty in football, because they espouse a non-mainstream ideology. That, in my view, is crap. If they are athletically competitive, we should play them.

--> As Cyniclone points out, the anti-MEAC argument is the same attitude that we see from so many in the P5. I refuse to go on the VCU board, but I would suspect that the same attitude is voiced by the limp-dick fans of that school. I wouldn't expect any more out of that miserable set. But I do expect more out of us.

--> Particularly when it comes to NSU. Scope Arena is not as nice as the Ted. But NSU is worth making an exception for. Just my view, and one which I presume is not shared by many on this board.

So let me finish with a more palatable comment: Merry Christmas to one and all!