(04-17-2021 11:07 AM)Florida tribe fan Wrote:  

(04-15-2021 07:47 PM)WMSportsBlog Wrote:  With W&M's struggles of this past year in the rear-view & a new AD expected to be hired in the coming months, we ask the question: should W&M consider pursuing the PATRIOT LEAGUE? The arguments for W&M in the Patriot make sense...

Read our article here exploring the topic. But would love to hear informed opinions on the topic here (and get everyone's thoughts on the article itself). LET'S GO TRIBE

Article: https://wmsportsblog.com/2021/04/16/shou...ot-league/

The preliminary results of the request for informed opinions requested above on whether Wm & Mary should pursue Patriot League membership are interesting when compiled in one place.

Would note at the outset that one Maine fan thinks it's a splendid idea. That said, eleven Tribe fans expressed opinions ranging from apathy to concern to dismay, offering a variety of reasons. To summarize:

Because the "Patriot League sucks." And because going Patriot League would be the same as going NAIA or club sports, and because going to the Patriot League is giving up on sports.

Because the authors mistakenly compared CAA football members to Patriot League basketball members.

Because the thread is DOA.

Because of reasons posted to Facebook (as someone whose life is unimproved by Facebook, am unable to provide in this summary).

Because Wm & Mary should mirror Richmond and join the A-10 and stay in CAA for football.

Because Wm & Mary used to play big name schools on its fields/courts, and because the College President will be growing enrollment, and because this should make us hopeful more big name schools will return to playing on Wm & Mary's fields/courts.

Because the ODAC is a closer fit than the Patriot League.

Because the CAA is stronger now, except for basketball.

Because Wm & Mary should "try to be a creative independent."

Because Wm & Mary should engage in "some sort of reshuffling to create a more mid Atlantic focused conference."

Personally, am disinclined to be too harsh on the authors because it's unclear anyone at the College has ever done a particularly good job at assimilating data about conference fit. If this work exists, I don't recall having seen it. What might improve their blog is some additional data/analysis:

How does Wm & Mary undergrad enrollment stack up against Patriot League and CAA members?
How do Wm & Mary coaching salaries compare against those for Patriot League and CAA?
What is the comparative Olympic sports overlap for each of the conferences?
Which conference is likely to have more stable membership going forward?
What are the likely future rivalry opportunities for each league. And along those lines would, for example, would alumni events at Georgetown and Fordham football games turn out more than at Albany and Towson?
What is anticipated impact on basketball attendance?

I think it's a useful exercise in conjunction with the "All In" initiative. If the vision is to raise $55M, continue to produce the same competitive outcomes, but just not have to worry about money, there may be some disappointed stakeholders.