Concordia (InternationalS) dump program!

[the future]

Name Height Class Position Number
#1 Rafael Diaz 6'03" JR Setter/Outside Hitter San Juan, Puerto Rico
#5 Jesus Perez 6'04" SO Setter/Outside Hitter San Juan, Puerto Rico
#6 Peterson Metellus 6'06" JR Middle Blocker Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
#9 Adam Niemczynowicz 6'05" SR Opposite Elk, Poland
#10 Felipe Reichert 6'05" FR Opposite Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
#11 Juan Jose Parra 6'09" SR Middle Blocker Cali, Colombia
#14 Ricardo Maia 6'01" JR Outside Hitter Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
#15 Eduardo Oliveira 6'07" SO Middle Blocker Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Concordia Program Discontinued from Active Participation

Clippers run of five straight EIVA Tournament appearances ended

4/21/2003 -BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - After a valiant run including five straight Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association playoffs appearances, the Concordia (N.Y.) Men’s Volleyball program will be retired from active participation in the NCAA effective April 21, 2003.

Concordia’s current presidential administration has decided that the financial parameters required for the successful operation of this team are not affordable at this time and do not meet the philosophical beliefs of the institution.

All four remaining eligible to return student athletes will be given full releases based on the discontinued sport exception of the NCAA by-laws.

The Clippers achieved national recognition being ranked as high as 13th while reaching two quarterfinals, one semifinal, and two finals of the last five EIVA tournaments.

Concordia is deeply grateful to the many who supported, believed and cheered us throughout the years. The athletic administration will continue its commitment to work towards producing high quality & marketable NCAA Men’s Volleyball.

(Story and photo of Clippers huddle courtesy of Concordia athletics and sports information office.)

*******************************
I have mixed reviews of this news. Looking at the roster, which we see alot of today) not to many Potential USA boys will be affected here. (Yeah I know Puerto Rico!)

The article mentions that a couple of these kids have eligibility.....maybe someone can pick them up

I would never have sent a kid to this program anyway but it did make the EIVA a little stronger.
Now is the time that we really make a push for some more club programs in the East to step up.

Why can't we get men's Varsity programs in Rochester, Pitt, Buffalo, Philadelphia (more in Pennsylvania and Virginia etc.

Is this the responsibility of the EIVA, MIVA and MPSF or is it up to clubs to push for Varsity status.

We definetly have the growth in the Junior programs. These kids are dying for quality places to play!!!!

[vball710]

I believe that it is up to club teams to push for varsity status, which in many cases is difficult. I go to a school that dropped the volleyball program last year when it went from NAIA to division 3, and they said it was due to the lack of competition in the midwest for D-III teams, which is very true. Our coach is pushing for us to get back to D-III status, but there are many hurdles that must be overcome before we can do that, either within the school or through the NCAA. I know that schools like University of Illinois and many of the other big ten schools have club teams, but they do not go to varsity for reasons that I cannot explain. I think that a lot of the club teams would love to go varsity and play some of the top competition in the country instead of the weaker club teams, but their schools do not allow them to do so because of either bugetary concerns or maybe even title XI. In either case, there is a great interest in men's volleyball at the college level, whether it is varsity teams or club teams playing. The NIRSA nationals is a great example of the interest that people have in volleyball. There are some very gifted athletes playing on club teams because either they weren't recruited by bigger schools or they just decided that they wanted to go to a certain school and not worry about volleyball as much as if they played at a school where it was a varsity sport. There is a lot of growth in the college game, just at the club level instead of the varsity level where it should be.

[roy]

I know that they have club tournaments and even a national championship at the club level (or something equal to that). Are the clubs afraid of what might happen if all the NCAA teams disappeared? I would guess places like Hawaii, UCLA, and BYU would try to compete at the club level. But that might intimidate teams like Arizona who seems to be the top club volleyball team, or so people have said. Anyone have any ideas on this. I would really like to know more about this club volleyball in college stuff.

[the future]

I think we need also to realize that it is a national issue.

We have all seen changes in our leagues. Loyola-Marymount, SDSU among the top.

Even when I played PSU was threatened to be taken away. NOT a joke!

I know many of you love the sport......sometimes we can be Regionalistic about our views....but I have a dream of someday having that 8 team tourney too. It isn't going to happen unless we get pressure from all sides.

This is a sport that can generate a following, excitement and passion....and eventually money..a little anyway

Admittedly, the MIVA has gotten better and deeper whilte the EIVA is floundering.....well struggling.

I will do my part to start beating the drums....but I may need some help along the way.

[vbfan]

Maybe Arizona or Berkeley will step up to D-1

[NET2]

Sad to say it but this is the right decision for Concordia. The college is really struggling with enrollment & fiscal problems. It will have to do a lot more - well beyond athletics - to survive long-term.

In the east, the U of Maryland would be the ideal club team to move up to varsity status. Maryland's club team is already well established & the university's location between Penn State & George Mason would create an attractive new rivalry for both the Nittany Lions & the Patriots. But, DI schools that play big-time football are not adding new men's teams right now because of gender equity concerns.

[vball710]

I guess that it is better for Concordia to drop the program than leave itself in a lot more trouble financially. Marycrest International University, who was one of the top NAIA schools in the nation, had the same sorts of problems before they closed last year, but they never dropped their program and their coach was recruiting until the school officially closed. I felt really bad for the guys who were on the team at that time, because they had some great talent and they all had to find somewhere else to go. I'm guessing that Concordia was facing similar problems, but they got much more publicty because they were an ncaa team instead of NAIA, but it is equally sad to see either program go.