Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

[Stea1th]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

Name one thing that the MEC did to take care of Shepherd. Meanwhile, Daddy Reid made sure that his friends at West Liberty were taken care of. WJU should've never been in the conference. They were only there because West Liberty wanted them there. The MEC basketball tournaments were moved to Wheeling. And when no one was near Shepherd or UVA-Wise, there was no movement toward conference expansion. You either move forward or cease to exist. Also, everyone tosses in the two Ohio schools together, but it isn't like they're next door to each other. Most of the schools were taken care of with geography. And the only school on the fringe that was taken care of was West Liberty.

A few years ago, I was frustrated when some of the Ohio schools were looking to make a move and the MEC appeared to show no interest at all. It would have really helped NDC and Urbana out. I practically got my head bit off on here for even mentioning Ohio expansion as something to consider. Now, I understand that message board posters don't represent their school's leadership, but I got a strong inclination right then that the MEC masses weren't looking to accommodate the outliers.

[Ram Tough]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

A few years ago, I was frustrated when some of the Ohio schools were looking to make a move and the MEC appeared to show no interest at all. It would have really helped NDC and Urbana out. I practically got my head bit off on here for even mentioning Ohio expansion as something to consider. Now, I understand that message board posters don't represent their school's leadership, but I got a strong inclination right then that the MEC masses weren't looking to accommodate the outliers.

West Liberty is literally the only school that the MEC did anything special to accommodate.

[ctrabs74]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

Says the man who's conference just "went after" a member from the MEC as opposed to the DII Lincoln (PA).

Seems like the PSAC as well could have a "very stable 9, 10, 11 team league with no worry" that fostered "natural rivalries"...Yet they chose not to.

What makes you think the PSAC didn't approach Lincoln, only to be turned down because Lincoln, a 'state-related' HBCU, preferred to stay in the HBCU-centered CIAA despite road trips to Virginia and North Carolina (and, starting next year, South Carolina)?

[ctrabs74]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

Wonder were Penn State, Pitt and Temple rank? Also doesn't help when you heap on a mountain of debt!!

Pitt = $50,700 (28th-32nd)*
Temple = $48,600 (40th)
PSU Main = $48,500 (41st-61st)**

* - The Oakland (Main), Johnstown, Greensburg and Bradford campuses were listed separately.
** - University Park and all satellite campuses were listed separately.

Because of those two factors I noted, the actual state-wide rankings can be seen as skewed, for lack of a better word, but it's not like you're going to get that much richer having gone to Pitt compared to West Chester.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

My favorite has always been the ones who pay for a Pitt or Duquese only to major in something like elementary education or marketing .... something like that -- and then work their whole career right alongside 90% of PASSHE grads.

They likely paid double (at least) for their degree to make the same amount as us lowly state school folk.

[ESU Warrior]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

Says the man who's conference just "went after" a member from the MEC as opposed to the DII Lincoln (PA).

Seems like the PSAC as well could have a "very stable 9, 10, 11 team league with no worry" that fostered "natural rivalries"...Yet they chose not to.

I was told by someone in the know that the PSAC reached out to Lincoln before they ever entertained Shepherd.

[boatcapt]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

Name one thing that the MEC did to take care of Shepherd. Meanwhile, Daddy Reid made sure that his friends at West Liberty were taken care of. WJU should've never been in the conference. They were only there because West Liberty wanted them there. The MEC basketball tournaments were moved to Wheeling. And when no one was near Shepherd or UVA-Wise, there was no movement toward conference expansion. You either move forward or cease to exist. Also, everyone tosses in the two Ohio schools together, but it isn't like they're next door to each other. Most of the schools were taken care of with geography. And the only school on the fringe that was taken care of was West Liberty.

OK...Which WVIAC school (or other existing DII school) should the MEC have invited in place of Wheeling Jesuit? As for the move of the basketball tourney, are you advocating for continuing to have it in Charleston? We did that for 5 years...Think a change was overdue. I note that Wheeling is actually closer to Shepherd that Charleston so the MEC was actually saving Shepherd travel $'s by moving the tourney starting this coming year!

[Ram Tough]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

OK...Which WVIAC school (or other existing DII school) should the MEC have invited in place of Wheeling Jesuit? As for the move of the basketball tourney, are you advocating for continuing to have it in Charleston? We did that for 5 years...Think a change was overdue. I note that Wheeling is actually closer to Shepherd that Charleston so the MEC was actually saving Shepherd travel $'s by moving the tourney starting this coming year!

How about not invite Wheeling Jesuit and at least TRY to go after other schools. They seemed happy with this idea of 12 schools, including one that didn't have football. The basketball tournament being moved to Wheeling isn't an awful idea. But it's just another thing to help out WLU.

He basically said to hell with Shepherd, Wise, NDC and Urbana when he didn't even try to help their situations. Would he have found someone? I don't know, but he sat on his hands and only made sure to make a special consideration for one school. I'm happy to soon be done with this clown show.

[boatcapt]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

How about not invite Wheeling Jesuit and at least TRY to go after other schools. They seemed happy with this idea of 12 schools, including one that didn't have football. The basketball tournament being moved to Wheeling isn't an awful idea. But it's just another thing to help out WLU.

He basically said to hell with Shepherd, Wise, NDC and Urbana when he didn't even try to help their situations. Would he have found someone? I don't know, but he sat on his hands and only made sure to make a special consideration for one school. I'm happy to soon be done with this clown show.

I find the whole canard about Reid Amos being "WLU's Boy" a little funny. Amos grew up in Fairmont, went to Fairmont HS, graduated from Fairmont State, was the golf coach at Fairmont State for 5 years and lead Fairmont to two NCAA Tourney births, two WVIAC golf titles and was the WVIAC Coach of the Year, and spent 13 years working as the sports director for a Fairmont radio station covering Fairmont.

Lets see...five years at WLU vs about 20+ in, at, covering, coaching Fairmont...

So your basic objection is that he didn't kiss Shepherd's a$$ enough??

[Ram Tough]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

I find the whole canard about Reid Amos being "WLU's Boy" a little funny. Amos grew up in Fairmont, went to Fairmont HS, graduated from Fairmont State, was the golf coach at Fairmont State for 5 years and lead Fairmont to two NCAA Tourney births, two WVIAC golf titles and was the WVIAC Coach of the Year, and spent 13 years working as the sports director for a Fairmont radio station covering Fairmont.

Lets see...five years at WLU vs about 20+ in, at, covering, coaching Fairmont...

So your basic objection is that he didn't kiss Shepherd's a$$ enough??

My objection is that he didn't even try. Why should Shepherd stay? There is not one good reason.

[Sportsnut]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

The way the MEC may unravel I certainly don't blame Shepherd for taking the lead and jumping to the PSAC. I'm hoping West Liberty has a plan B for worst case scenario but I doubt if they do. Let's face it, what could be their options, beg to get in the PSAC West, GMAC probably take them in a minute, go independent or go down to D3 in the Ohio Conference or the western PA Presidents Conference. Not good!

[Ram Tough]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

The way the MEC may unravel I certainly don't blame Shepherd for taking the lead and jumping to the PSAC. I'm hoping West Liberty has a plan B for worst case scenario but I doubt if they do. Let's face it, what could be their options, beg to get in the PSAC West, GMAC probably take them in a minute, go independent or go down to D3 in the Ohio Conference or the western PA Presidents Conference. Not good!

I mean, this is a move based on an opportunity. If the spot hadn't opened up in the PSAC, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[ABjo]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

The way the MEC may unravel I certainly don't blame Shepherd for taking the lead and jumping to the PSAC. I'm hoping West Liberty has a plan B for worst case scenario but I doubt if they do. Let's face it, what could be their options, beg to get in the PSAC West, GMAC probably take them in a minute, go independent or go down to D3 in the Ohio Conference or the western PA Presidents Conference. Not good!

[boatcapt]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

My objection is that he didn't even try. Why should Shepherd stay? There is not one good reason.

Did Shepherd object to WJ joining the MEC? Did they ask for a different school(s) to be invited? Either at the start of the MEC or at any point over the last six years? My understanding is no to all.

[boatcapt]

Re: Derek Redd reports Shepherd is leaving the MEC after next year

The way the MEC may unravel I certainly don't blame Shepherd for taking the lead and jumping to the PSAC. I'm hoping West Liberty has a plan B for worst case scenario but I doubt if they do. Let's face it, what could be their options, beg to get in the PSAC West, GMAC probably take them in a minute, go independent or go down to D3 in the Ohio Conference or the western PA Presidents Conference. Not good!

The MEC is not "unraveling." We've lost two teams. I would not want to be in the GMAC as they are effectively the WVIAC but in a different state. I'd much rather be independent than be a member of either the GMAC or the PSAC.