Just saw on WLOS ticker that SoCon commissioner Imarino is stepping down, effective June 30.
Anyone who says money can't buy happiness never had season tickets.
Imarino Stepping Down
Interesting timing. He obviously didn't want the announcement to attract attention away from the tournament, which is commendable. Leaving without a clear succession plan isn't optimal.
According to the release, he initiated the "SoCon Academic Exchange". Is this where Furman would send used outdated textbooks to Georgia Southern?
BTW, JJ is in commissioner business now ...
According to the release, he initiated the "SoCon Academic Exchange". Is this where Furman would send used outdated textbooks to Georgia Southern?
BTW, JJ is in commissioner business now ...
furman88 liked this
On second thought...Fessor wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:17 pmInteresting timing. He obviously didn't want the announcement to attract attention away from the tournament, which is commendable. Leaving without a clear succession plan isn't optimal.
According to the release, he initiated the "SoCon Academic Exchange". Is this where Furman would send used outdated textbooks to Georgia Southern?
BTW, JJ is in commissioner business now ...
Excellent news. Hopefully the SoCon can move forward now.
Paladin575 liked this
Imarino has done nothing for the SoCon, and anybody who knows even a little about the mute guy knows that
Today the crappy OVC got 2 teams in while the SoCon which has much better ratings still only got 1 team in yet again
Good riddance Imarino
Today the crappy OVC got 2 teams in while the SoCon which has much better ratings still only got 1 team in yet again
Good riddance Imarino
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Since he's been a punching bag on here for a while, I'll come to his defense. Anybody that has spent more than 5 minutes with him (I have) knows how quality of a person he is and what he has meant to the league. Conference commissioner is not an easy job - at any level - but to deal with the egos of school presidents and administration while also putting together a quality hoops league after losing Davidson, CofC, Elon, App State and GSU is absolutely remarkable. I think at times the league has played catch-up in some aspects, but to get the hoops championship to Asheville and to get Flour Field in the mix for baseball tourney is commendable and great for the league. The league has also capitalized on the ESPN3 opportunities and will have instant replay in football. Not to mention the fact that the league truly values it's non-revenue sports. If you've ever been to the cross country championships or volleyball tourney you would see it. Lastly, he's hired a lot of people that have stayed around the league office for quite a while that are well respected in the league. That says something about his leadership and ability to hire and retain quality people.
He has not been horrible, but he has essentially not advanced us at all eitherfufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:28 pmSince he's been a punching bag on here for a while, I'll come to his defense. Anybody that has spent more than 5 minutes with him (I have) knows how quality of a person he is and what he has meant to the league. Conference commissioner is not an easy job - at any level - but to deal with the egos of school presidents and administration while also putting together a quality hoops league after losing Davidson, CofC, Elon, App State and GSU is absolutely remarkable. I think at times the league has played catch-up in some aspects, but to get the hoops championship to Asheville and to get Flour Field in the mix for baseball tourney is commendable and great for the league. The league has also capitalized on the ESPN3 opportunities and will have instant replay in football. Not to mention the fact that the league truly values it's non-revenue sports. If you've ever been to the cross country championships or volleyball tourney you would see it. Lastly, he's hired a lot of people that have stayed around the league office for quite a while that are well respected in the league. That says something about his leadership and ability to hire and retain quality people.
Adding ETSU was taking back an old conference team and the only thing that salvaged losing the other schools, not really an impressive feat of genius, pretty much a no-brainer
Moving the tourney to Asheville was good for location purposes but a downgrade on venue, no video boards, VIP room is dated and court is not visible as it is in Greenville VIP lounge, ect., I see no reason why something can't be worked out with downtown Greenville to bring the tournament back to a larger, nicer venue now that the conference is getting big crowds again
He is a mute for the most part that only speaks when spoken to, and sits by himself for the majority of the SoCon tournament
He must not know many people or have connections as SoCon was a lot better, the OVC guy must have connections that is why a much much worse league got 2 teams in, Imarino being a mute worked against us in this regard I speculate
Why do we need a bigger venue? I still saw a lot of empty seats in Asheville. Greenville would be great, but I'm not buying that the community would embrace the tourney more. And Asheville is certainly an upgrade over rotating it every couple of years where one of the options was Chattanooga's home court.DungeonRealm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:37 pmMoving the tourney to Asheville was good for location purposes but a downgrade on venue, no video boards, VIP room is dated and court is not visible as it is in Greenville VIP lounge, ect., I see no reason why something can't be worked out with downtown Greenville to bring the tournament back to a larger, nicer venue now that the conference is getting big crowds againfufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:28 pmSince he's been a punching bag on here for a while, I'll come to his defense. Anybody that has spent more than 5 minutes with him (I have) knows how quality of a person he is and what he has meant to the league. Conference commissioner is not an easy job - at any level - but to deal with the egos of school presidents and administration while also putting together a quality hoops league after losing Davidson, CofC, Elon, App State and GSU is absolutely remarkable. I think at times the league has played catch-up in some aspects, but to get the hoops championship to Asheville and to get Flour Field in the mix for baseball tourney is commendable and great for the league. The league has also capitalized on the ESPN3 opportunities and will have instant replay in football. Not to mention the fact that the league truly values it's non-revenue sports. If you've ever been to the cross country championships or volleyball tourney you would see it. Lastly, he's hired a lot of people that have stayed around the league office for quite a while that are well respected in the league. That says something about his leadership and ability to hire and retain quality people.
fufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:42 pmWhy do we need a bigger venue? I still saw a lot of empty seats in Asheville. Greenville would be great, but I'm not buying that the community would embrace the tourney more. And Asheville is certainly an upgrade over rotating it every couple of years where one of the options was Chattanooga's home court.DungeonRealm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:37 pmMoving the tourney to Asheville was good for location purposes but a downgrade on venue, no video boards, VIP room is dated and court is not visible as it is in Greenville VIP lounge, ect., I see no reason why something can't be worked out with downtown Greenville to bring the tournament back to a larger, nicer venue now that the conference is getting big crowds againfufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:28 pmSince he's been a punching bag on here for a while, I'll come to his defense. Anybody that has spent more than 5 minutes with him (I have) knows how quality of a person he is and what he has meant to the league. Conference commissioner is not an easy job - at any level - but to deal with the egos of school presidents and administration while also putting together a quality hoops league after losing Davidson, CofC, Elon, App State and GSU is absolutely remarkable. I think at times the league has played catch-up in some aspects, but to get the hoops championship to Asheville and to get Flour Field in the mix for baseball tourney is commendable and great for the league. The league has also capitalized on the ESPN3 opportunities and will have instant replay in football. Not to mention the fact that the league truly values it's non-revenue sports. If you've ever been to the cross country championships or volleyball tourney you would see it. Lastly, he's hired a lot of people that have stayed around the league office for quite a while that are well respected in the league. That says something about his leadership and ability to hire and retain quality people.
6,400 is full capacity, as the league expands we will need more seats for semifinals and champ games
Still had to get it done. Plus Samford and Mercer were good moves. Got us back into Georgia and into Alabama. VMI is not helpful in the league, but at least it gives us a Virginia footprint. So six states that are all close. That's pretty ideal. Not like the WAC or Sun Belt. Or Pioneer leagues.DungeonRealm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:37 pmAdding ETSU was taking back an old conference team and the only thing that salvaged losing the other schools, not really an impressive feat of genius, pretty much a no-brainerfufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:28 pmSince he's been a punching bag on here for a while, I'll come to his defense. Anybody that has spent more than 5 minutes with him (I have) knows how quality of a person he is and what he has meant to the league. Conference commissioner is not an easy job - at any level - but to deal with the egos of school presidents and administration while also putting together a quality hoops league after losing Davidson, CofC, Elon, App State and GSU is absolutely remarkable. I think at times the league has played catch-up in some aspects, but to get the hoops championship to Asheville and to get Flour Field in the mix for baseball tourney is commendable and great for the league. The league has also capitalized on the ESPN3 opportunities and will have instant replay in football. Not to mention the fact that the league truly values it's non-revenue sports. If you've ever been to the cross country championships or volleyball tourney you would see it. Lastly, he's hired a lot of people that have stayed around the league office for quite a while that are well respected in the league. That says something about his leadership and ability to hire and retain quality people.
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fufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:45 pmStill had to get it done. Plus Samford and Mercer were good moves. Got us back into Georgia and into Alabama. VMI is not helpful in the league, but at least it gives us a Virginia footprint. So six states that are all close. That's pretty ideal. Not like the WAC or Sun Belt. Or Pioneer leagues.DungeonRealm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:37 pmAdding ETSU was taking back an old conference team and the only thing that salvaged losing the other schools, not really an impressive feat of genius, pretty much a no-brainerfufanatic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:28 pmSince he's been a punching bag on here for a while, I'll come to his defense. Anybody that has spent more than 5 minutes with him (I have) knows how quality of a person he is and what he has meant to the league. Conference commissioner is not an easy job - at any level - but to deal with the egos of school presidents and administration while also putting together a quality hoops league after losing Davidson, CofC, Elon, App State and GSU is absolutely remarkable. I think at times the league has played catch-up in some aspects, but to get the hoops championship to Asheville and to get Flour Field in the mix for baseball tourney is commendable and great for the league. The league has also capitalized on the ESPN3 opportunities and will have instant replay in football. Not to mention the fact that the league truly values it's non-revenue sports. If you've ever been to the cross country championships or volleyball tourney you would see it. Lastly, he's hired a lot of people that have stayed around the league office for quite a while that are well respected in the league. That says something about his leadership and ability to hire and retain quality people.
Honestly I would be more on your side of the fence had we gotten more or atleast as many teams as the OVC which is much worse in the NCAA's this year, I can't get past the fact that I know Imarino is not much of a driver for the league (he is not social at all) and that affected us this year with his lack of connections to the committee
We need someone who is more vocal, approachable and personable to be the head of the SoCon
Not someone who only speaks when spoken to
Not someone who only speaks when spoken to