One Goes Dancing, Carmel Crazies Go Home

Colin Klebon heading to the big dance!!!!

Colin Klebon and the rest of the Bucknell Bison earned a birth in the NCAA Tournament with a big win over Lafayette on Friday.  It is the first appearance for the Bison since 2006. 

Congrats go out to Coach Paulsen, who after two sub-par years out of the gate, gets the Bison back on the national map.

Mount Carmel Area girls' basketball season came to end last night.  The Red Tornadoes did capture their first district title in 26 years years.  The future looks good.....keep your heads up.

Good luck to Shamokin's Wes Tillet who goes for AA gold this afternoon in Hershey.

Drexel's Bruiser Flynt shown the door at Sojka

This "fan" in light blue would never yawn at Sojka in the past?

Flannery has resigned at Bucknell

From the AM Press Conference

Posted by DAVID JONES, Of The Patriot-News April 18, 2008 10:06AM

Bucknell men's basketball coach Pat Flannery resigned today.
Bucknell president Brian Mitchell has just announced that Pat Flannery contacted him "earlier this week" and told him he wanted to retire as head men's basketball coach. Flannery will become involved in the university's $400 million fundraising drive. It appears this really was Pat's decision.

Here are some edited quotes from the press conference which concluded at 10:25 EDT:

Flannery:
"I couldn't be happier. And my family couldn't be happier. One thing you'll notice today is, I have a tie on and I'm not chasing an official. That will be something that I will very much enjoy in my next role."

"I've come to realize that I've reached a point in my life where I'm looking forward to this change [to an administrative role]. ... I'll be glad to get out of the limelight."

Regarding his health issues and missing games during the past four seasons, three times leaving contests while they were in progress, Flannery mentioned his wife Patti and boys Ryan and Jesse:
"The most important thing was my wife and my kids. I can't thank them enough...

"Your kids go to school and they're asked a lot of crazy questions. Especially when they take your dad out and you don't know where he went. They [his sons, of middle-school and grade-school age] handled it probably better than I have."

On whether his health mandated that he retire in any way or that he was forced to quit, Flannery said no, not at all:

"I have a clean bill of health. I feel great. I think if I wanted to keep going, [his doctors] I'm sure would've said, 'Go for it.'

"I think my thing was, where was it going to lead? Was I going to get any better? I haven't changed in 28 years [in coaching] from when I was a 22-year-old and now I'm 50. That was leading to a path where... we all have family and you have kids. We all evaluate."

Flannery said he told the BU players Thursday night in a previously scheduled meeting:
"There were a lot of good feelings. ... Painless memories. No regrets."

No successor has been named. BU athletics director John Hardt said a "national search" has begun.

Some facts of Flannery's career...

He earned his bachelor's degree in econ and poli-sci while playing for the Bison and graduated in 1980. He then earned a master's degree in college administration in 1983 while coaching as a grad assistant at BU.

After a successful Division III career at Lebanon Valley where he coached a national champion, Flannery was named Bucknell's head basketball coach in April 1994.

In 2005 and 2006, his teams won the Patriot League tournament championship and each year won first-round games in the NCAA tournament, the first over Kansas in Oklahoma City, the next over Arkansas in Dallas. They were the first two tournament wins for Patriot League teams in the NCAAs.

Flannery's record at Bucknell is 234-178, and his career record is 329-221. His 125 conference wins at Bucknell stand as a Patriot League record.

See Saturday's Patriot-News for an interview with Flannery.

Head Bucknell Basketball Coach Pat Flannery Decides to Step Down

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell University President Brian C. Mitchell announced this morning that Bison men's basketball head coach Pat Flannery has decided that effective July 1, 2008, he will retire as coach and will assume a new fundraising position within the University's Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Flannery, a graduate of Bucknell, has been the most successful coach in Patriot League history.

"Coach Flannery's decision to retire as head coach is a tremendous loss to our basketball program," President Mitchell said. "At the same time, the national respect he has earned as a coach, as a leader, and as an alumnus of the University will be an extraordinary asset to his alma mater. When I learned of Pat's decision, my thoughts as president immediately turned to the impact he could have as part of this campaign. He has earned national stature as a coach, as a leader, as an alumnus of the University, and as a friend to so many. I therefore was pleased to offer to Pat the opportunity to become a vital member of our fundraising program. To my considerable appreciation, he accepted. I have no doubt he will be a major figure in the largest fundraising effort in the history of Bucknell."

"It has been an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to coach outstanding young scholar-athletes here at my alma mater for 14 years," Flannery said. "I am grateful to my wife and children for the support they have given me throughout this time, and the understanding they have shown for the long hours and extensive travel that being a head coach at this level requires. With them in mind and after much reflection, I have decided it is time to move on to a new phase in my life. I am deeply grateful to President Mitchell and Bucknell for offering me this exciting new opportunity to serve this great institution I love, and look forward to doing what I can to support Bucknell and building on the commitment that I know Bucknellians around our country have for the University as this campaign goes forward."

Pat Flannery won 329 games during is coaching career, 234 of them at Bucknell.

"Coach Flannery has been an important figure in establishing the national reputation of Bison athletics as a leader in the scholar-athlete model," said Director of Athletics and Recreation John Hardt. "Pat has not only experienced tremendous success on the hardwood, he has won the right way, with young men of class and accomplishment. All of us in the athletics department are happy to know that we will still be able to call Pat a Bucknell colleague, and we have no doubt that he will continue to provide significant leadership and service to his alma mater in his new role within the University's fundraising campaign."

Hardt indicated that he had already begun putting together a national search process, and that the University is determined to bring in a new head coach who will continue in the Bison tradition of excellence in the Patriot League and at the national level.

Flannery earned his bachelor's degree in economics and political science in 1980 and his master's degree in college administration in 1983. Both degrees are from Bucknell. He became Bucknell's head basketball coach in 1994. In 2005 and 2006, his teams captured Patriot League championships and went on to win first-round games in the NCAA tournament, the first two tournament wins in Bucknell and Patriot League history. His overall record at Bucknell is 234-178, and his career record is 329-221. His 125 conference wins at Bucknell are a Patriot League record.

On July 1, Flannery will assume his new role as a fundraiser within the University's Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Bucknell recently initiated the largest fundraising campaign in its history, with an initial goal of $400 million.

Wrapping up the weekend

Photos above are Mount Carmel's #1 fan, Bill "Winks" Carta with family. A young fan with "Bucky" at Community Day at Bucknell. Assitant Mount Carmel coach Bob Chesney and Shamokin Assistant Mike Gurski talk about their days in the broadcast booth.

With all the great weather over the weekend, I was able to watch three football games. The battle for the Coal Bucket with Shamokin and Mount Carmel, Richmond at Bucknell, and Juniata at Line Mountain.

BUCKNELL FOOTBALL

I got a chance to see Bucknell against Richmond this past Saturday and watch Southern Columbia grads Ryan Slater and Ian Fullmer in action. Slater made his presence known with back to back defensive plays at the end of the first period. The Bison couldn't match the talent of Richmond and lost 45-14. Tim Hightower set a school record for the Spiders with 295 yards on the ground.

A moment I haven't seen since the 70's was an inadvertent whistle by the officials. It felt like 10 minutes before they let the home side know why they blew the whistle. Could you say run and hide?

The Bison are back in action September 29th at home against Marist at 6pm.

LINE MOUNTAIN

Line Mountain ran their record to 4-0 on the season and quarterback Clark Morris guided an offense that rushed for over 300 yards in downing Juniata 32-14. The Eagles, barring any significant injuries, should be favored in their games the rest of the way with the exception of week 10 when they host Millersburg.

An interesting playoff scenario involves Bloomsburg, Southern Columbia, and Line Mountain in District IV Class A. Last season, Line Mountain put up 31 points against a good Southern defense in defeat in 2006.

PHILLIES

Although the Phillies went down to Atlanta tonight, I never thought they would be in this postion. With injuries to Freddy Garcia, John Leiber, Ryan Madson for the season and Cole Hamels and Adam Eaton missing starts and losing closers Brett Myers and Tom Gordon for some time that was just the pitching problem for the Phils. Position players that spent some time injured were Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Shane Victorino. Playing his way back from the scrap heap was Pat Burrell.

Win or lose men, my hat's off to you.

PENN STATE

In the recruiting process with Josh Marks of Southern Area, I really didn't know how bad Penn State's offensive line's situation was going into the season. They had two defensive converts starting and not a lot of proven depth. The Lions struggled the first three games to get the running game going. Usually it wasn't until the second half until they started to pile up the yardage.

Their offensive scheme kept Michigan in the game long enough to win it. Didn't they learn anything from Oregon? I'm not saying change to the spread overnight, but there might be a few things to work in. Speaking to schemes check, out the Dave Jones article about the JoePa's scheme over the years.

Unfortunately, this September loss will keep Penn State from shot at the national championship.

Bucknell's men's basketball team comes up short in NIT bid

On Friday, my son and I ventured up to Hart Center on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross to see the Bison battle the Crusaders. While Bucknell came up on the short end on Friday. I was surprised they didn't receive a bid to the NIT.

Bucknell had a body of work that included a 27-1 league mark over the past two years. Two NCAA wins against Kansas and Arkansas. Three straight Patriot League championship games including two wins. A senior class that set a school record for wins with 87, ironically topping the class of 1987. They also never lost a Patriot league home game with a streak that now stands at 35-0. Seniors Abe Badmus, Donald Brown and Chris McNaughton will be missed and unfortunately didn't get a chance to showcase their talents just one more time.

I did watch the end of the game handshake. Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard hugged and spoke to the Bucknell seniors. They were the nucleus they kept the Crusaders out of two consecutive NCAA's. Willard is a class act.

What part of the season did the Bison suffer? Probably if you look at losses to Central Arkansas on a neutral court, Penn State, and Northern Iowa at home. Where you really think it mattered, Bucknell played well down the stretch and in their league.

Biggest Disappointments: Syracuse and Drexel

Biggest Gifts: Arkansas (Bucknell showed them the exit last season), Stanford

Interesting First Round Games: Villanova-Kentucy, ND-Winthrop

Early Exit: Michigan State (Great article by Tom Housenick)

Listening to the selection committee chairmen, Gary Walters is like listening to a Tony "Snowjob" Snow press conference. It seems that the so called power conference schools get selected by one set of rules while mid majors play by another set. Drexel did what it was asked to do. Syracuse went 10-6 in the Big East and are out. Look for them to struggle at home Wednesday night.

Enjoy it while your there: UCONN and Syracuse both won championships this decade and both are out(Although screwed is a better term for the Orange.) UCONN is not in the NIT.

About a month ago, Jim Boeheim commented that there are a few really good teams and about 40 to 45 that could beat each other.

Seen it's time: 64 team bracket. Last expansion was in 1985. Time to expand again. Get rid of the conference tournament. Go to top four team playoffs league playoffs.