G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[JDonAB92]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

My post was just to clarify any questions from earlier posts on this thread. That is all.

The "truth" comment was directed at MEC posters.

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I have tried to stay away from conference stuff. Haven't had time. It is June 29th. If anything is going to happen with schools coming and schools leaving, then I believe it would be done by tomorrow as I believe the calendar year commitment for conferences and NCAA is June 30th each year. Maybe it is July 31 but I am pretty sure it is June 30th.

I talked personally a couple of years ago to Janet Bailey who is the former AD at Glenville State. They have 3 people in their athletic department with ties to AB. She is retired AD from Glenville as of two years ago, but she is well respected and knows of what went on with the WVIAC breakdown. I also heard Kenny Osborne, assistant AD at Concord (who formerly was at Glenville) confirm the same stuff at the MEC tourney last year. I named my sources on this stuff and not used what many MEC posters say as "my source". Any one that knows me personally knows that I have a close friend that was a former assistant basketball coach at AB and then later at Glenville under Gary Nottingham and Bob Williams...and still resides in the community but works private sector now. There are always differing stories, and I keep a lot of stuff to myself. I was told the following:

When the WVIAC wanted to add UVA-Wise, the non-football schools were opposed. AB had already announced they were starting football by this time. The league had enough votes as AB was on board with UVA-Wise coming in and gave a verbal to the league. With further review, AB realized that UVA-Wise recruited heavily at the time out of the Hampton and Richmond area for football. AB was planning to target that area in football. When it came time to vote at league meetings, AB voted no and screwed the plans up. That was self-serving on AB's part and pretty stupid. However, Bailey told me that is NOT what kept AB out of the MEC.

The football schools elected later that school year to leave the WVIAC and form their own league. They could not kick the non-football schools out so they had to start their own league. It was headed by West Liberty's president Robin Capehart who has since resigned due to ethics violations. He was set to go before the WV Ethics Commission, but resigned right before hearings...pretty much admitting to misusing state funds for his own private movie business. Capehart led the formation of the MEC, although a few of the private schools did not like his arrogance during WVIAC president meetings. Nonetheless, it was a go. According to Bailey, AB was invited to go by Capehart as league schools were the ones that felt it was ok but under one condition: Dennis Creehan had to step down as head football coach. Creehan's brother had become president of AB a couple of years before all of this going down. Rick Creehan was president of AB. He brought his brother in to be head football coach and athletic director at AB when he arrived at the school. Dennis had been head football coach at WV Wesleyan. Creehan being named head football coach didn't bother a lot of people at AB. Removing JD Long as AD did, including myself. JD was respected as AD in the league and by alumni. I voiced my opinion as did some others. JD was later given a position as an assistant AD in charge of facilities, but also had some teaching gigs. He was named by the G-MAC last year as a faculty person of the year last school year (I forget the exact award).

There were many in the new MEC that didn't like the fact that AB had a president who had a brother that was both head football coach and AD at the same school he was at. It might have been valid but could have been some paranoia. They wanted Creehan to remove himself as head football coach. His brother Rick wasn't going to have it. So AB's invitation to go to the MEC was withdrawn therefore Wheeling getting the slot later on as they too were out the door at first. Remember that Seton Hill was originally going to be a part of the G-MAC but then got the PSAC offer. To add, several schools were going to commit to staying in the WVIAC because of Capehart wanting to move any thing and every thing out of Charleston. I got some more info on why many schools didn't like Capehart and his antics, but will refrain. UC and WV State stated they would try to keep the WVIAC in tact (newspaper articles can confirm this). However, there were only 3 football schools and UC and State had to go to MEC.

I think Rick Creehan did some good things at AB and had some really good ideas and vision. But you can interpret his brother getting some pretty good positions at the school as causing some issues with people. Rick resigned last year as president. Dennie is no longer head football coach. The other stuff is what I was told. If one wants to believe it or not, I don't care. I have shared what I consider two reliable sources and what they told me happened on the inside.

Thank you for sharing this. I cannot imagine how anyone could find this as not truthful. What a crazy time for you and AB. As for expansion, I think we hear something that may or may not be about this league. Seems to me that there could be quite a few announcements forthcoming tomorrow that could lead to a lot of movement.

[JDonAB92]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I have tried to stay away from conference stuff. Haven't had time. It is June 29th. If anything is going to happen with schools coming and schools leaving, then I believe it would be done by tomorrow as I believe the calendar year commitment for conferences and NCAA is June 30th each year. Maybe it is July 31 but I am pretty sure it is June 30th.

I talked personally a couple of years ago to Janet Bailey who is the former AD at Glenville State. They have 3 people in their athletic department with ties to AB. She is retired AD from Glenville as of two years ago, but she is well respected and knows of what went on with the WVIAC breakdown. I also heard Kenny Osborne, assistant AD at Concord (who formerly was at Glenville) confirm the same stuff at the MEC tourney last year. I named my sources on this stuff and not used what many MEC posters say as "my source". Any one that knows me personally knows that I have a close friend that was a former assistant basketball coach at AB and then later at Glenville under Gary Nottingham and Bob Williams...and still resides in the community but works private sector now. There are always differing stories, and I keep a lot of stuff to myself. I was told the following:

When the WVIAC wanted to add UVA-Wise, the non-football schools were opposed. AB had already announced they were starting football by this time. The league had enough votes as AB was on board with UVA-Wise coming in and gave a verbal to the league. With further review, AB realized that UVA-Wise recruited heavily at the time out of the Hampton and Richmond area for football. AB was planning to target that area in football. When it came time to vote at league meetings, AB voted no and screwed the plans up. That was self-serving on AB's part and pretty stupid. However, Bailey told me that is NOT what kept AB out of the MEC.

The football schools elected later that school year to leave the WVIAC and form their own league. They could not kick the non-football schools out so they had to start their own league. It was headed by West Liberty's president Robin Capehart who has since resigned due to ethics violations. He was set to go before the WV Ethics Commission, but resigned right before hearings...pretty much admitting to misusing state funds for his own private movie business. Capehart led the formation of the MEC, although a few of the private schools did not like his arrogance during WVIAC president meetings. Nonetheless, it was a go. According to Bailey, AB was invited to go by Capehart (when the league was being formed behind closed doors and unknown to many non-football schools) as league schools were the ones that felt it was ok but under one condition: Dennis Creehan had to step down as head football coach. Creehan's brother had become president of AB a couple of years before all of this going down. Rick Creehan was president of AB. He brought his brother in to be head football coach and athletic director at AB when he arrived at the school. Dennis had been head football coach at WV Wesleyan. Creehan being named head football coach didn't bother a lot of people at AB. Removing JD Long as AD did, including myself. JD was respected as AD in the league and by alumni. I voiced my opinion as did some others. JD was later given a position as an assistant AD in charge of facilities, but also had some teaching gigs. He was named by the G-MAC last year as a faculty person of the year last school year (I forget the exact award).

There were many in the new MEC that didn't like the fact that AB had a president who had a brother that was both head football coach and AD at the same school he was at. It might have been valid but could have been some paranoia. They wanted Creehan to remove himself as head football coach. His brother Rick wasn't going to have it. So AB's invitation to go to the MEC was withdrawn therefore Wheeling getting the slot later on as they too were out the door at first. Remember that Seton Hill was originally going to be a part of the G-MAC but then got the PSAC offer. To add, several schools were going to commit to staying in the WVIAC because of Capehart wanting to move any thing and every thing out of Charleston. I got some more info on why many schools didn't like Capehart and his antics, but will refrain. UC and WV State stated they would try to keep the WVIAC in tact (newspaper articles can confirm this). However, there were only 3 football schools and UC and State had to go to MEC.

I think Rick Creehan did some good things at AB and had some really good ideas and vision. But you can interpret his brother getting some pretty good positions at the school as causing some issues with people. Rick resigned last year as president. Dennie is no longer head football coach. The other stuff is what I was told. If one wants to believe it or not, I don't care. I have shared what I consider two reliable sources and what they told me happened on the inside.

[alumnifan]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

KWC officially announced on Facebook that the college will start a Varsity NCAA D2 Bowling team for women in 18-19. The Men will compete in the USBC.

Scott Thompson coached high school bowling in Warren County and also has worked as a sports announcer for WKU. He will start recruiting this academic year.

[alumnifan]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

No matter what happened with AB: They were an existing member of the WVIAC, not Virginia Wise. I think there is more to the story, and I don't have any agenda. AB will do what is best for them and that's cool.

[Looking For 9]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Well Wise has sure added much.

[ABjo]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I'll let the AB guys speaks as to specifics, but I know they announced the addition of football well prior to the formation of the MEC.

Correct. AB started club football in 2012. The stadium was already under construction. 2013 was to be their first year in the WVIAC football conference. Instead, we started play as an independent because the MEC was formed and were not invited to join. The decision to leave AB behind had nothing to do with us not having football.

The story, supposedly, goes that WVIAC held a vote on adding UVA-Wise as a member. AB and others voted no. Wise didn't have enough votes to get in. This ticked some people off and they left the WVIAC and started the MEC.

[BlueBlood]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I'll let the AB guys speaks as to specifics, but I know they announced the addition of football well prior to the formation of the MEC.

[alumnifan]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Refresh my memory, did the current MEC schools ever give a reason why they left AB out of the MEC???

Supposedly, because they did not have a football program. They created one and built a stadium while in the G-MAC. The First G-MAC football game, the Founders Cup, was played between AB and KWC.

If AB started football to get in the MEC, it has to be a financial decision and that is the bottom line for all small colleges.

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

So would D&E be screwed then? Maybe the idea of possibly adding NDC is in response to AB leaving possibilities? Not super close but at least they would be no longer than 3.5 hours away?

Also, am I the only one who has this feeling that something big is going to happen all across the MEC, G-MAC, GLVC, and GLIAC in the next few weeks?

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

My guts says that given the chance, they go. Money talks.

Not having any inside knowledge but looking at it logically, I agree and cold see it happening. Makes complete sense and I couldn't be even slightly mad. Hope we are wrong

[ABjo]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I can understand that. Schools now a days need to be very conscientious of that. No one wants to be the next St Joe. What does your gut tell you?

My guts says that given the chance, they go. Money talks.

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I want AB to stay too. The only reason to leave, in my mind, is financial.

I can understand that. Schools now a days need to be very conscientious of that. No one wants to be the next St Joe. What does your gut tell you?

[ABjo]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I want AB to stay too. The only reason to leave, in my mind, is financial.

[alumnifan]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I want AB to stay. They are Charter members. I remember that whole MEC/WVIAC fiasco. They shut AB out. That was a combination of colluding programs who plotted the destruction of a very historic conference in order to exclude some and start a new conference with an emphasis on Football. AB is in a pretty good Football Conference now.