Cincinnati being naughty?...Softball loses to BC 3-1 -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

QUESTIONS OVER BEARCATS WBB AND VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULING

The University of Cincinnati's Fifth-Third Arena...home to both Bearcat basketball squads and the volleyball team...is undergoing a major renovation. So, when the 2017-18 season rolls around for the sports, they will be displaced from their home court. For Mick Cronin's men's team, the new venue will be at Northern Kentucky's new built BB&T Arena...a facility that holds a little over 9,000 people. The men average 8865 a game, so it will be tight in there for some games...but doable. 

The women's squad, under Jamelle Elliott, and volleyball team will perform in the St. Ursula Academy high school gym...which holds around 1000. A high school facility. The WBB Bearcats averaged about 800 a game last year..but had three occasions where they pulled in over 1000...including the UConn game that brought over 4400 into the Fifth-Third Arena. Volleyball averaged over 650 per home contest and had two events that drew over 1000. 

Here's the rub of the grin. UC Athletic director Mike Bohn made the decision to downgrade the women without consulting head women's basketball coach Elliott or head Volleyball coach Molly Alvey. Elliott states: 

"I was told this is what it's going to be. The decision is out of my control." 

Supposedly, the women's squads could not be fit into the BB&T because of the complexities of scheduling, practice...so on and so forth. 

Balderdash.

Anyone ever head of double-headers? I would think that the NKU women's basketball and volleyball programs would gladly share court space with the UC gals and a combined night of two matches/games might significantly drive up attendance at BB&T...the Norse brought in around 300 for Volleyball and almost 1800 for hoops. 

Let's call this what it really is. Inequality. 

Cozy new temp home for UC WBB? Or return to high school?

St. Ursula is about two miles from the UC campus...which was pointed out when the designation of facility was made. Admission to all UC WBB and Volleyball events will be free....as it was last year at Fifth-Third.  Parking is free as well. 
That's nice...but it doesn't take the sting out of the discrimination. 

A college athlete accepts a scholarship under certain conditions and atmospheres. For some, the venue of participation is important. These 30+ student athletes that comprise the UC WBB and Volleyball rosters are basically being sent back to high school for a year. Other venues were supposedly checked out but St. Ursula supposedly was the best fit. 

I say, fire the seamstress. 

St. Ursula does hold more that where the Cards Volleyball squad will play next season, though...Cardinal Arena. North Carolina State WBB and Volleyball spent a season at Broughton High School's Holiday Gym in Raleigh, NC a couple of seasons ago when Reynolds Coliseum went under renovation...but there are differences there. Holiday Gym held over 3,000. The women's didn't share Reynolds with the men..it was their own specific facility. 

Another slap, or roundhouse punch...if you will at Title IX. 

BB&T Arena on the NKU campus. Guys get this option. 

The argument is this, as well.  
It is legal, not to mention fair, to give the men a better facility because they bring in more revenue and sells more ticket? 

Absolutely not. 

How much solace can the women student-athlete take in knowing they by sacrificing their home court for a year will lead to the eventual betterment of their facility in the long run..when you're not getting the same "relocation benefits" as the men? We have this nice new SUV for you to drive, guys...while your car is under repair. Haul out the 1991 Toyota Pickup for the girls. 

This, from a school that ran off Bob Huggins and has never regained basketball prowess or success since. From a school, much like Louisville, with an inner-city campus and community that has managed to maintain a viable entity in competing with a larger "state school" up the Interstate a few hours. Stumbling into the prom with their tux on backwards and bringing a goat for a date. 

UC...shame on you for the slight. Even in 2017, women's athletes are still being treated as second-class citizens in Cincinnati. Spin it however you want, Mike Bohn...but you're basically sitting baby in the corner here. 

And you wanted to be considered for the ACC ?  


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SOFTBALL FALLS 3-1 TO BOSTON COLLEGE

Lackabatitis. 

It isn't an official word...but it describes the situation yesterday in Chestnut Hill, MA...where the softball Cards fell to Boston College 3-1. 

Four hits for Louisville. Two of them by Jordan McNary...who has been cleared from concussion protocol and who was responsible for the only RBI in the game. McNary was also poised to be a run-scorer as well later in the game. A bunt turned into a chance for advancement on a throwing error but McNary was tagged out when trying to stretch it out to third base. 

One inning later,  BC's Jordan Chimento broke the 1-1 tie with a two run tater to left. 

Credit strong-arm Maryssa Becker for doing all she could from the circle. Three runs allowed would normally get a "W" next to her name in the typical Cardinal boxscore. This was not the typical Cardinal offensive performance, though...Louisville having trouble against pitcher Jessica Dreswick. The Boston College pitcher seemed to get better against the Cards the more she faced them. On Saturday she held Louisville to two runs after giving up five to them on Friday. 

Louisville heads home to prepare for a Wednesday night "Battle of the Bluegrass" against UK. And, to research a cure for "lackabatitis". 


paulie
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