(01-30-2015 03:44 PM)zablenoise Wrote:  Having never experienced the Old CAA, I'm incredibly jealous of past students. Imagine Having Navy, Richmond, and ECU in conference instead of Drexel, Hofstra, and Towson. **** Towson. We went from having local, prestigious schools to schools with no history or academics scattered across the Eastern seaboard

Mason and VCU went to the Final 4, but hands down the best team to ever grace the CAA was the Naval Academy team anchored by the Admiral, David Robinson.

No one ever believed me when I told them we used to play against David Robinson. Most students I met thought that the CAA was a joke and had always been a joke.

(01-30-2015 03:44 PM)zablenoise Wrote:  Having never experienced the Old CAA, I'm incredibly jealous of past students. Imagine Having Navy, Richmond, and ECU in conference instead of Drexel, Hofstra, and Towson. **** Towson. We went from having local, prestigious schools to schools with no history or academics scattered across the Eastern seaboard

It may look that way but as recall, only Richmond of that group was a big draw at the time, along with JMU. Navy had 3 years of greatness with Robinson - other than that, they were at the same level as today. ECU was not good and still isn't. Mason wasn't either back then. AU was never a big rival. UNCW is getting stronger now in my view.

It was still a nice line-up.

The games I miss are the home/home with Virginia Tech, the VMI games were usually good (was one of our largest crowds last year fwiw) and the occasional ACC home game - UVA, Maryland, Duke or UNC. Of course, ODU, which we still maintain.

Next year we'll have home games with Richmond, ODU and, rumor has it, VCU. Possibly a good question for Tony at his big Lunch with Tony event at Anna's Brick oven on Richmond Road at noon this coming Tuesday. Always a terrific info luncheon with coach and usually some of his players.

W&M vs. Richmond used to mean something in basketball. Even during the horrible Chuckie days of the late 80s, W&M Hall would fill halfway, and the Robins Center was packed and deafening when these two met. I can remember seeing the Spider faithful pack their arena to the top with standing, red-clad, obnoxious students. Was intimidating, and to be envied.

When W&M met Richmond this past December, there might have been 50 students, and the place was devoid of energy. Too bad, because it was an outstanding game.

Back to the subject, though... I made the trip to AU at least 3 times as a student to see us play. Their gym made Elon's look like a pro arena, and quite literally NO ONE would show up. It was worse than most high school gymnasiums; you could walk in at tip-off, sit with your feet on the court and have a normal-volume conversation with someone sitting on the other side of the court. And as pathetic as their basketball program was... we could never beat them when it mattered.

I thought Tony mentioned in an interview after the UR game earlier in the season that we may not be playing Richmond next year.

If true, it could be the end of a rivalry and rob us of a decent home out of conference game.

Not playing UR would be sad.

(01-30-2015 05:07 PM)WM Beancounter Wrote:  .
Back to the subject, though... I made the trip to AU at least 3 times as a student to see us play. Their gym made Elon's look like a pro arena, and quite literally NO ONE would show up. It was worse than most high school gymnasiums; you could walk in at tip-off, sit with your feet on the court and have a normal-volume conversation with someone sitting on the other side of the court. And as pathetic as their basketball program was... we could never beat them when it mattered.

That's what I remember...losing in the AU gym

American had one of the best college players I ever saw live. Russell "Boo" Bowers was a big muscular player with a real smooth jump shot, but he could leap out of the gym and come down with a huge power move and dunk. I think he averaged about 25 points per game.

I remember watching Gary Williams (yes, that Gary Williams) down on one knee coaching these guys with all he could muster. He had a hole worn through his brown loafer, and I'll be it was the only pair he had. Of course that same fire lead him out of DC before he returned to coach Maryland. I'll never forget watching him coach.

(01-30-2015 12:40 PM)BigTribe Wrote:  The one thing not having American in the CAA now is that we have no Washington, DC
presence since Mason left. League really needs coverage by the Post, especially its significant sports columnists, and other DC media.

Maybe Mason would like to come back as they've flopped in the A=10.

Not only that, but WM has a relatively large alumni presence in DC and the surrounding area. It would be nice if we had a regular rotation of DC-area opponents on the schedule for regional exposure, and for alums like me who selfishly want to make easy trips to away games.

Georgetown, George Washington, American, GMU, and Maryland would be nice nonconference opponents. I bet GW, AU, and GMU could be coaxed into a home-and-home as well.

As for ever getting any of the "big boys" to come play us at the Kap... I believe the magic formula is winning, winning, and more winning.

(01-30-2015 03:47 PM)Tribal Wrote:  OT, but I just read that W&M set another record for undergrad applicants. Expect to enroll about 1,500 of 15,000 applicants.

Like I said "There's a sucker born every minute."
WC Fields