Ok… I want to start this rant with my congratulations to the University of Puget Sound Loggers and the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans. They both got recent wins over Division I opponents (University of California – Riverside and Princeton respectively). It was the first victories for D3 schools over D1 teams in a year. And as a Division III program, it certainly looked impressive (especially on an ESPN crawl).

But… that’s it! They didn’t even count!

In the grand scheme that is everything Division III, a game against a Division I opponent means as much as a game against a high school squad. It’s the same as if you played the game in the pre-season. And it doesn’t matter if you play the game in the first week of the season, half-way through the season, or at the end of the season… the game doesn’t count.

Period!

Sure, you can have your record indicate the game (win or lose), but for everyone else… and those who matter in Division III… it’s just erased.

The game is a wasted date on a schedule. It doesn’t count towards your overall Division III record; it doesn’t count towards your regional record; and it won’t help you get into the NCAA Championship Tournament.

Teams that schedule Division I opponents have nothing to gain… and everything to lose.

If you win the game, sure people talk about it. But if you need a Pool B or C bid at the end of the season, that win won’t help you. There won’t be any comments of “well, we should include Carnegie-Mellon because they beat Princeton” on the Selection Committee’s conference call at the end of February. If the comment was there, someone is sure to add “yeah, but they lost to Bluffton University. You know… the team from Ohio.”

I have heard almost every argument to keep scheduling Division I opponents. It’s a great recruiting tool; it allows our players to have their parents attend a game; there is money in it for our program. None of these are a good reason to play the game.

How is it a great recruiting tool? I can’t imagine a recruit telling people he rather go to Catholic University than another school, because CUA losses every year to American. Is the recruiting tool that a coach can guarantee a player at least one game he is going to play in… because the game will be out of hand at some point, so everyone on the bench will play? Your recruiting tool should be the fact you schedule the toughest Division III schedule possible. And because of it, the program is looked at as a top D3 team and a perennial pick for the post-season.

How does the argument that parents attending a game work? I heard one program argue a few years back that when they traveled to New Jersey to play a D1 opponent, it was great for the parents of the players who might not get to a game normally. Again, I would like to point out I don’t know how a parent can say with a straight face they were glad to see their son play against a team they didn’t have a chance beating. How about telling the parents, instead of Princeton… we’ll make sure to schedule Ramapo College so that you can see us play some of the best basketball in the region… against one of the best teams in the region.

And money?! I understand most schools have trouble financing their programs… but the good teams are the ones scheduling these games and the good teams are certainly not the ones struggling financially. This isn’t the Coppin State University men’s program (Division I, by the way) that takes a yearly trip around the nation playing programs much better than them to get money to help pay the bills (though, they are known to pull a few upsets).

Coppin State isn’t getting into the NCAA Tournament unless they win their conference. So, losing those games really doesn’t hurt them.

Puget Sound, Carnegie Mellon, Catholic and many of the others have a very good chance of getting into the NCAA Tournament without winning their conferences. But, they are shooting themselves in the foot scheduling Division I games in season.

Instead of scheduling a Division I opponent… why not schedule another regional game against whoever they want. They could choose an easy team… or a tough team. Either of those will have some weight on the Selection Committee. The easy team – an extra regional win. The tough team, a win gets them more notice and a stronger schedule… and an extra regional win.

So, stop with the “we’re playing a Division I team tonight” or “wow, we beat a Division I team tonight.” Great! Good for you! It must have been cool to be at that game!

Now tell me… how exactly did it help your season or your post-season chances?

A few weeks ago… in the first rant of the season… I criticized fans – and even coaches – for going after those working in game management for simple mistakes or not being quick enough on the draw.

I basically said that unless they were doing the job, back off.

This time, I am going to say a few things about some of those game management people. But I am not going to criticized them for the job the do… rather… for how they conduct themselves professionally.

I am in my 11th season as a public address announcer… and from my seat I have not only seen a lot of things… but also heard a lot of things.

I have announced primarily for Goucher College – my alma mater – and those working the table are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner.

That doesn’t just mean how they dress…but how they act… or should I say, don’t act.

But more and more I am seeing students and other game management personal either come to the sports and recreation center – or attends their own home games at other gyms – without the first thought of professionalism.

Now maybe I am old-fashioned (though I am certainly not old), but since when is the table the same as the bench?

The steadfast rule at Goucher has been that no matter what happens on the court, what calls are being made or not made, or how the fans, coaches, players, or referees react… we don’t!

Plain and simple.

We are there to do a job and we are to express no particular bias either way.

(Yes, for those of you wondering, there is an argument about public address announcers – we will cover that some other time.)

But in the last few years, from my seat next to the visiting book or others representing the visiting team, the conduct is more of a fan or a member of the bench than one of a professional.

Applauding the team or a player after each basket or great play…
Cheering on the team when they need to come up with a big play…
Vocally disagreeing with a referees call…
Clapping when a good thing happens for them… pounding the table and cursing when something goes badly.
I could go on… and on… and on… but I think you get my point.

I believe in what the first sports information director I ever worked with believed in. Kevin Fillman used to preach (and even had written on paper for everyone to read at each seat) that at no time would non-professional behavior – similar to what I gave as examples – be tolerated.

And that also went for how we dressed.

I wear a button-down shirt… dress pants… and a tie to each and every game I am at – whether it is a game no one is at… or the n-c-a-a playoffs.

The reason is simple… I am representing the athletic department… and in turn the school.

And that includes on the road. When I was a student traveling with teams for the sports information office… my attire was the same.

However, now-a-days it isn’t that surprising to see the person in charge of visiting team’s official book… wearing warm-ups and a t-shirt.

I am not saying everyone needs to dress up in a tie – even for their own home games – but, how about dressing at least in a way that represents your school appropriately.

This also goes for your behavior.

Don’t cheer your team on…
Don’t swear when something doesn’t go your way…
Don’t even clap or pound the table when the urge is there to do so.

You are working for the program… representing your school and athletic department… at what is supposed to be a working environment.
This means you are representing your school not only to fans who might be visiting your institution… but to those you are traveling to compete against.

This might be the reason people have trouble with some schools game management either at their facility or when they travel.

If they aren’t presenting themselves seriously or in a professional manner… why should anyone expect them to conduct themselves the same way.

Next time anyone reading this comes to Goucher and doesn’t present themselves in the same way the rest of the table does… don’t be surprised if the public address announcer turns to them and says something about it.

At almost any basketball game in the nation, you are bound to hear fans and even coaches yell and complain about fouls. This isn’t unexpected.

But, when they start complaining about the foul discrepancies between the two teams that is when I roll my eyes.

Apparently, many people feel that referees should call games tit for tat… not necessarily fairly!

You know… eye for an eye… hand-check for a hand-check.

In other words, the amount of fouls called on team should equal the amount called on another team.

If you haven’t seen the equation for this theorem, it looks a little like this:
(Team A Fouls) +/- 2 = (Team B Fouls) +/- 2

Now, if only the refs had that equation written on their hands… right?!

Give me a break!

Does anyone consider the situation, the teams, the game, and other very obvious – usually visible – facts?

Just because a team commits a foul does not mean the other team should be whistled the next time down the court. The point of the game isn’t so both teams make to the bonus free-throws at the same time!

There are many situations and games that won’t allow this to happen.
Is a team being aggressive defensively… or on offense?
What if a team is playing a man-to-man defense… or a zone?
How about that team that is running an offense that passes the ball around the perimeter instead of cutting through the lanes and driving to the basket?
And don’t forget… there could be a team out there that is simply undisciplined or lacks the experience on the court.

But, that certainly didn’t matter at a game I was at recently. At one point in the first half Team A had 13 team fouls to Team B’s 4. Sounds outrageous on paper and the fans – along with Team A’s coach – certainly pointed this out to the refs… numerous times.

But they weren’t really paying attention to why the fouls were being called in such a – I dare to say – lopsided way.

Team B was playing a 2-3 or 3-2 zone the entire half and Team A simply wasn’t attacking it. And every time Team A got the ball in the middle, Team B had a player already parked there. But that wouldn’t stop a player from Team A from elbowing, hip-checking, or bowling their way in the paint.

(They apparently couldn’t hit a five-foot jumper… they needed that lay-up, no matter who was in their way.)

Whistle! Offensive foul!

“WHAT!!! Are you kidding ME!!! You have called the 14th foul on the team to there four… there was NO WAY that was a charge!!!”

On the other end of the court, Team A was playing an extremely aggressive, in-your-face, man-to-man defense. But instead of backing away timidly, Team B attacked right back! They cut through the paint, set picks, drove the lane, and weren’t afraid of the contact. That resulted in many hand-checks, blocks, and pushing calls to be called on Team A.

Whistle! Hand-Check!

“WHAT!!! Seriously?! You are calling a hand-check on our player? But that is our 15th foul and you know the other team has GOT to be fouling our guys TOO!”

From my point of view, it really wasn’t that surprising. It wasn’t like the refs weren’t calling Team B for the same fouls. Those fouls simply weren’t taking place because Team A sat back on offense against a very simple zone defense.

How is a ref going to call hand-check or a blocking foul, if a player doesn’t even get close to the defender – or visa versa?

Team A was getting called for more fouls because they were initiating contact on defense and refused to attack on offense. All they had to do was attack the zone (and not when the player is camped out and in between them and the basket) and trust me; the fouls would have been called.

But, the fans screamed, the coach complained, and I got a headache.

All I am asking it that next time, before screaming at a ref to even the foul count… figure out if that is even possible. You have to understand that in certain situations, fouls simply can’t be called… no matter how much you are pleading for a whistle.

Taking the time to actually watch a game and learn from it might make you realize that your team is being dumb on the court or playing in a way that contributes to more fouls being called.

Refs certainly are not going to get all the calls right, but don’t ask them to make it up… because the number doesn’t look “fair” on the board.

The point of the refs isn’t to make the scoreboard even.

This is the first of a weekly “rant” I will post here on the Daily Dose, each week Hoopsville is on the air. This is simply a chance for me to comment about something I either have a problem with or wish would be recognized a bit more. Remember, this is strictly my opinion that will certainly bring about other opinions.

So here we go!

Having gone to a Division III school, been a raved fan, and been apart of some great environments that fans have made possible, I appreciate Division III fans for more than just their loyalty.

But since when did the fans become game management?

I was at a game recently that reminded me that fans are both loyal and die-hard… and can over step their bounds. That reminder brought on many thoughts, but I will start with this.

RELAX!
Relax when the scoreboard operator makes a simple and honest mistake.
Relax when they don’t do something fast enough for you.
And relax and give them the courtesy and the dignity to fix the problem without you yelling at them at the top of your lungs.
Would you want someone yelling and screaming at you when you make a simple mistake at your job?

At this particular game, there were several times when the scoreboard operator simply hit the wrong button or didn’t act fast enough for some fans. The result was a tirade of yelling – even cursing – from some fans until the problem was solved… and sometimes a few comments afterward for good measure.

I kept asking myself – and was tempted to ask them – when exactly was the last time YOU actually ran a scoreboard, clock, or simply were game management?

One occasion, there was a jump ball called and on the inbounds play, the ball was passed immediately inside and a basket made. The time it took for the ball to be inbounded and the shot made was all of three seconds. But in that amount of time, several fans already started their abuse towards those working the scorers table to switch the possession arrow!

Are you kidding me?!
You feel you need to tell – practically demand –when the possession arrow should be switched?!
What gives you the right?!
Let the people do their jobs!!!

The arrow was being changed just as the fans started their abuse from the bleachers above.

And if you notice when this abuse occurs… I have found that most times it’s the visiting team’s fans who are the ones throwing around the abusive words.

Give the game management and the rest of us fans, media types, and others at the game a break!

I can appreciate if you are not happy with the ref’s calls (that has several rants lined up for another time!) or with the frustrations you must have while watching your team … son … or daughter play. But, you have no right to come down on those working at the scores table, MOST especially if they are students making minimum wage.

This includes if they accidentally post the wrong score!

So stop wasting your breathe – and our hearing – by being a bully those working as game management.