DobbsRover2
Slap me 10
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- Aug 27, 2011
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While searching for any clue why the WCBB selection committee would blow off the "no having 1-4 seeds from the same conference in the same region rule" for the seemingly less important geography rule (couldn't find any NCAA statement that supports Creme's contention for the 2014 tourney), I ran across the big NCAA rule change concerning the Confederate flag and the relaxation of the rule that formerly prevented South Carolina and Mississippi teams from hosting tourney games because their capital's statehouse flies the Rebel flag. The rule change is only in effect for the women's tourney, not the men's. Link
This is a big change, and obviously USCar is relieved now that they don't have to worry so much that Dawn Staley will get frustrated that her team can't host tourney games and leave for less Dixie pastures. The NCAA did not consult the NAACP about the change beforehand, and in its usual double-talking ways stated that it has not changed any rules or its views that "the flag is a symbol of oppression," it has just "altered the format of the women's basketball tournament" and allowed basically South Carolina to host subregionals starting next year. Since the men's tournament requires bids for the subregionals and the NCAA still won't consider a bid from a Confederate flag waving state, no SC or MS schools can host a men's tourney game.
I could not find any announcement of the "alteration" on the NCAA site for some reason. The South Carolina NAACP opposes the change, but business is business for the NCAA. It has been noted that the SEC and ACC have ignored the rule for conference championships for "minor sports" like baseball and women's basketball, but the new "alteration" concerns a national event. And on some occasions, the ACC has bowed to public pressure and changed the original tourney host site in SC.
So the women get to lead the way into the brave new world that ignores that inconvenient flag flying down at the statehouse. But at least the geography rule is respected since the Gamecocks can now make some frosty mornin' March stands at home in Dixie.
This is a big change, and obviously USCar is relieved now that they don't have to worry so much that Dawn Staley will get frustrated that her team can't host tourney games and leave for less Dixie pastures. The NCAA did not consult the NAACP about the change beforehand, and in its usual double-talking ways stated that it has not changed any rules or its views that "the flag is a symbol of oppression," it has just "altered the format of the women's basketball tournament" and allowed basically South Carolina to host subregionals starting next year. Since the men's tournament requires bids for the subregionals and the NCAA still won't consider a bid from a Confederate flag waving state, no SC or MS schools can host a men's tourney game.
I could not find any announcement of the "alteration" on the NCAA site for some reason. The South Carolina NAACP opposes the change, but business is business for the NCAA. It has been noted that the SEC and ACC have ignored the rule for conference championships for "minor sports" like baseball and women's basketball, but the new "alteration" concerns a national event. And on some occasions, the ACC has bowed to public pressure and changed the original tourney host site in SC.
So the women get to lead the way into the brave new world that ignores that inconvenient flag flying down at the statehouse. But at least the geography rule is respected since the Gamecocks can now make some frosty mornin' March stands at home in Dixie.
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