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Saint Peter's Leaving the MAAC ?

HeavenUniv.

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Sep 21, 2004
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I was talking with someone the other day who works in a college athletic department in New Jersey (not at Rutgers) who told me the MAAC has just about had it with Saint Peter's due to their horrible attendance and may ask them to leave the league. SPU plays in a larger than average high school gym that was built in the early 70's. From highlights I see from time to time, their home games look like they get MAYBE 400-500 fans. If they are kicked out, I don't see them going to the Atlantic Sun (travel costs) and I don't see them as a good fit for the Patriot League. So, I assume they might end up in the NEC (most likely) or America East. If the MAAC brings in another school, who would it be---NJIT, Stony Brook, Albany ? Someone else ?
 
I can’t see the MAAC dropping schools. The only conference that would take S t Peters would be the NEC.
 
Can we move in for 1 year?

Play an independent schedule in football and get to a bowl
Win the MAAC regular season and tournament and finally go to NCAAs

Not sure how the losing 60,000,000 would go though.

Might As well. Current admin is pissing away the $60 mil anyway
 
I was talking with someone the other day who works in a college athletic department in New Jersey (not at Rutgers) who told me the MAAC has just about had it with Saint Peter's due to their horrible attendance and may ask them to leave the league. SPU plays in a larger than average high school gym that was built in the early 70's. From highlights I see from time to time, their home games look like they get MAYBE 400-500 fans. If they are kicked out, I don't see them going to the Atlantic Sun (travel costs) and I don't see them as a good fit for the Patriot League. So, I assume they might end up in the NEC (most likely) or America East. If the MAAC brings in another school, who would it be---NJIT, Stony Brook, Albany ? Someone else ?

Horrible basketball attendance in the MAAC? Other than Siena who draws 6000, local teams like Iona, Manhattan and Fairfield avg 1000-1500. St Peters has around 600 per game. Is that a reason to kick them out?
 
- If Saint Peter's were to get bumped out of the MAAC, I don't think Albany or Stony Brook would be reasonable replacements. They don't fit the conference at all as larger public universities.

- When Monmouth and Quinnipiac joined the MAAC 6 years ago, Wagner was thought to be making the jump with them. Not sure if there'd still be interest. With that said, MAAC could do just fine with an even 10 schools without St. Pete's.

- Saint Peter's would fit relatively well in the NEC in a lot of respects. Would also make for an even 12 schools with Merrimack coming in soon. That is the only conference that would make any sense.
 
Yanitelli Center has the same number of seats (3200) as Rose Hill Gym at Fordham. One big problem at St. Peter’s is the parking situation. It’s very congested.
 
As a kid growing up in JC in the sixties, it was the SPC games at The Armory (a slightly smaller Palestra) that got me hooked on college basketball. Great teams (Harry Laurie, Elnardo Webster, Pete O’Dea) and great local rivalries (LIU Blackbirds, Manhattan Jaspers, NYU Violets, St. Francis [NY and PA]). Run baby run!
 
Atlantic Sun to be a travel partner with NJIT

Colonial or Northeastern if they take 2 teams like NJIT and St Peters to go to 12

Northeast would be good for teams on a limited budget since most schools are within a couple of hours of NJ
 
As a kid growing up in JC in the sixties, it was the SPC games at The Armory (a slightly smaller Palestra) that got me hooked on college basketball. Great teams (Harry Laurie, Elnardo Webster, Pete O’Dea) and great local rivalries (LIU Blackbirds, Manhattan Jaspers, NYU Violets, St. Francis [NY and PA]). Run baby run!

That was my dad as well...a JC kid though maybe a little bit older than you during that era of St. Peter’s hoops

He watched those players regularly for St. Peter’s and heard the stories growing up
 
Saw the amazing Calvin Murphy and his Niagara team play St. Peter’s at the Jersey City Armory. Murphy was fantastic that night. I couldn’t believe how great a player he was. Many moons ago. A lasting memory.
 
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