Liberal Arts vs. D1 Athletics

[paladinfan12]

I know the title of this thread may sound like I'm pitching athletics against academics, but instead I wanted to point out how well Furman performs at both liberal arts academics and athletics. I don't think a lot of people acknowledge this sometimes, but this is a small group to be a part of. Below are the US News and World Report Rankings of the top 100 Liberal Arts Schools. I've removed the ones that have less than D1 athletics and where they don't play football.

17) Colgate
17) Naval Academy
21) Westpoint
23) Richmond
27) Holy Cross
35) Bucknell
39) Lafayette
39) Air Force
46) Furman
72) VMI
72) Wofford

Rankings go to 300+

[The Jackal]

Factor too that we are really good in a lot of other sports. Basketball has developed into a legitimate mid-major program. Our distance running is among the tops in the country. Soccer has always been strong.

[FUBeAR]

I know the title of this thread may sound like I'm pitching athletics against academics, but instead I wanted to point out how well Furman performs at both liberal arts academics and athletics. I don't think a lot of people acknowledge this sometimes, but this is a small group to be a part of. Below are the US News and World Report Rankings of the top 100 Liberal Arts Schools. I've removed the ones that have less than D1 athletics and where they don't play football.

17) Colgate
17) Naval Academy
21) Westpoint
23) Richmond
27) Holy Cross
35) Bucknell
39) Lafayette
39) Air Force
46) Furman
72) VMI
72) Wofford

Rankings go to 300+

Riddle me this, Batman...How the heck are the Service Academies classified as “Liberal Arts Schools?” All have Engineering Schools & (pretty sure) most of the attendees major in Engineering of some type. I reject USN&WR’s classification of the SA’s as LA Schools...

...and recast the rankings of Liberal Arts Schools with NCAA Division 1 Athletics thusly...

1) Colgate
2) Richmond
3) Holy Cross
4) Bucknell
5) Lafayette
6) Furman

[paladinfan12]

Small company

I heard a few years ago when App, Davidson, GSU, Elon, and CofC all left the SoCon, Furman had explored a move to the Patriot league as well. Rumor had it they were trying to lure Citadel, Wofford, Elon, Davidson, and a few others to create a Patriot League South. I can see why they might want to do that now.

Let it be known these were rumors and I don't trust my sources, but given how Furman schedules their OOC games I wouldn't be surprised.

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[CharlieFU]

Isn’t Davidson D1 only in basketball? Non Schollie D3 in football.

Remarkable we can sustain a competitive sports program and still rank high academically. Our rank had gone down, especially as a result of Pres Smolla’s decisions. Pres Davis is working hard to restore that ranking. While there are a lot of games played in the ranking business, it does matter.

[MNORM]

Isn’t Davidson D1 only in basketball? Non Schollie D3 in football.

Remarkable we can sustain a competitive sports program and still rank high academically. Our rank had gone down, especially as a result of Pres Smolla’s decisions. Pres Davis is working hard to restore that ranking. While there are a lot of games played in the ranking business, it does matter.

Since 1991, NCAA rules do not permit playing D1 basketball while playing D3 football...hence the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League (Dayton, Davidson, Drake, Butler, etc).

[paladinfan12]

Small company

I heard a few years ago when App, Davidson, GSU, Elon, and CofC all left the SoCon, Furman had explored a move to the Patriot league as well. Rumor had it they were trying to lure Citadel, Wofford, Elon, Davidson, and a few others to create a Patriot League South. I can see why they might want to do that now.

Let it be known these were rumors and I don't trust my sources, but given how Furman schedules their OOC games I wouldn't be surprised.

Patriot League South could now include:
Furman
Citadel
Wofford
Presbyterian
Stetson
Davidson
VMI
Pioneer North & West:
Butler
Dayton
Drake
Marist
San Diego
Valparaiso
Morehead State
(Or switch Stetson to the North and West group, calling it East instead; and switch San Diego to the South group).
(Or switch Marist & San Diego to the South group, calling it Coastal instead; and switch Davidson & VMI to the North & West group, calling it Central instead).

Not sure I follow this logic. Patriot league is a full scholarship football athletic conference based around the MD, PA, NY area. All of their schools are similar to Furman in size and academics (Colgate, Bucknell, Holy Cross). What does the Pioneer have to do with any of this? I don't think non-scholarship football was ever on the radar during conference realignment.

[tim]

Certain posters stubbornly have a Pioneer League agenda for Furman Football. It seems to come up every year.

[Davemeister]

Certain posters stubbornly have a Pioneer League agenda for Furman Football. It seems to come up every year.

Correctamundo, tim. We must be ever vigilant.

[MNORM]

Certain posters stubbornly have a Pioneer League agenda for Furman Football. It seems to come up every year.

I'll never understand this....ever. Why raise the bar with the last two AD hires if the intent is to play in a crappy non-scholarship football conference? Defies logic.

[gman]

Certain posters stubbornly have a Pioneer League agenda for Furman Football. It seems to come up every year.

I'll never understand this....ever. Why raise the bar with the last two AD hires if the intent is to play in a crappy non-scholarship football conference? Defies logic.

Because FCS is a money pit. By the way, Davidson is FCS Division I, right?

[apaladin]

I don't think it will ever happen but a non-scholarship football program would be a disaster. I know for sure they would lose this season ticket holder.

[tim]

It would destroy whats left of the Furman fanbase.