Dane96

First, with all due respect to UNH and EVERY OTHER PL SCHOOL, I almost went to Air Force and Army, and Danefan went to Air Force. The academies academic profile...irrespective of whatever is published...is higher than all of those schools...each and every one on a general basis. The AI of the student body and the AI of athletes are probably near identical. William and Mary, in my personal opinion, is of a higher academic standing overall than UNH when it comes to the general student-body vs. athletes...though UNH has a high academic-athletic profile.

A public institution of higher education CANNOT use bias when admitting or rejecting a student. They can, however, choose to reject people who fit in a "pool" of their student body.

In the instance of the AI and my understanding of it, the AI at UNH would be disparate to the rest of the student body if the AI is used as currently applied. It could mean that the AI would cause UNH to reject an athlete who is both a State of New Hampshire resident AND an athlete which, if the student was not a prospective athlete, would not occur because the AI would not be used to admit the non-athletic student body.

Then you have the fact that an in-state student would arguably be ousted from scholarship contention...again when their academics matched that of the student body. The counter would be a privilege vs. a right issue--to the scholarship--but basically again, a student athlete who could not afford school would be rejected not because of grades...but because the AI of the PL would cause student athletes to have to be at a higher standard of academics.

That is the issue. All of the arguments are debatable without question. Point is...I highly doubt the school's admins want to get into a public relations nightmare over this...and I highly doubt the Governor, the AG, the Higher Ed board...etc....want the same.

It's a political football in the "Live Free or Die" state. Good luck getting the middle-class to buy off on, "Shit...my kid has a B+ average but can't go to UNH on a football scholarship."

IMHO, shocking if allowed.

BucBisonAtLarge

Over on AGS, it was reported a while back that there is an opening in new year's PL football schedule for someone (successive weeks of open dates in the latter half of the season, I would guess...) They do have a naturally-occurring bye, due scheduling seven teams, but it points out the ease with which a new member might be scheduled.

The origin of the original post, with its mention of W&M, Villanova and JMU, is pretty scurrilous. JMU/UD would follow UMass into the MAC more readily... but they do not have the A-10 at hand for other sports. JMU has not built a one-sided bowl, seating 25K, to move to the Patriot.

mainejeff

I think that it is interesting that Delaware really set all of this in motion when they lead the charge out of AE. Hofstra, Drexel, and Towson were going no where without Delaware. And now it is Delaware that is in one of the most awkward positions when it comes to future conference affiliation.

Dane96

Yup...and it's why their fans are testy and irrational right now.

Aceinthehole

Personally, I think the odds are signifigantly higher that UNH and Maine would both possibly join the NEC for football only, rather than just UNH would join the PL for all sports.

If we are going to seriously debate a 'rumor' posted by a new guy on the CAA board, I would read what a seemingly more credible URI fan posted on their board:

http://rhodyrams.8.forumer.com/viewt...?p=62545#62545

UNHFan

A lot would have to change to NEC football for UNH to play there. Marty has been quoted numerous times that football is going to drive any decision made by UNH in conference alignment and that they want to continue to play at the highest level of the FCS. The highest level of FCS is the CAA. I think all of this is just people speculating on something they read from some so called expert. There is no way in my humble opinion that UNH joins the Patriot League and no way they leave the CAA for football. I just wish whatever is going to happen happens so we can all move on.

UVM Hoop Cat

I think just by the fact that the Patriot League added a school with 18,000 students tells me they might be looking to do some things differently. Just sayin'. BU doesn't look anything like the current schools in that conference.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM Hoop Cat

Instead of reading realignment posts you can instead watch this video:

Begin at 2:15. In fact, just continuously rewind and play that back....for the rest of the summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZE1rtNbriQ

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

iamsirjoshua

Bingo. While at this point speculation is just that - speculation, I think saying "the PL would never do that" is off the table at this point because a month ago that exact same statement would apply to BU joining.

__________________
All hail the mighty AU Eagles

Dane96

Ummmm...you really think they are going to give up the academic prestige to let in UNH and W&M in a way to allow them to legally fit into a much drastically reduced AI.

Sorry...don't think so.

NortheastPLFan

It would certainly not be a case of "letting in" William and Mary, which was slated to be a charter member before they left over football scholarships at the advent of the PL. Even though the AI wasn't in existence then, I'm sure W&M would have zero issue with joining the PL and fitting in with the other schools academically. Their hesitance has to do with travel and redshirting, if you believe the rumors.

UNH is a different situation. I just don't see the AI being an issue there, at least not in the way you describe. I would imagine of UNH is seriously interested in the PL, they're looking at it as a chance to increase its own academic profile. But I don't know the ins an outs of the AI like some others do.

Majestic Mapp

Does BU get a vote in this? I can't imagine them doing any favors for UNH after the whole barred from AE Championship thing.

Dane96

Bottom line: You cannot exclude someone differently than another who is an in-state student if the same said student would be let in otherwise.

The AI would precisely do that at a public school.

Dane96

How could BU get a vote; they aren't an official member.

And I'd bet the other schools would tell them to STFU if they did have a vote.

NortheastPLFan

What if UNH increased its academic stands so they were in line with the AI? Not just for athletes, but across the board, thus eliminating the discrepancy?