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Post by elitetaylor33 on Jul 21, 2016 19:26:38 GMT -5
QUICK QUESTION: Does the Rugby Team still Fight in groups and act as a Frat would? Also, do they still wear those all important Black Rugby jackets around like they are real athletes?? Just kind of wondering if anything has changed REAL ATHLETES? I've known a few rugby players in my life...they are DEFINITELY REAL ATHLETES Thank you Tom! I don't why this guy has such a problem with rugby players, but i went back and looked at his comments since he signed up, and half of them of are pessimistic, stupid comments.. Seems like he's been harboring a chip on his shoulders for awhile, and he's living in the past, a past that he obviously didn't like. He also reminds me of a certain poster, that hasn't been on here for awhile! lol.. But i hope you're enjoying your summer bud!
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Post by sneakers on Jul 22, 2016 7:27:22 GMT -5
Surprisingly (to many of you), about 10% of the incoming male students in last year's class (20 students) came to Bonas because they were recruited to play rugby. Most of these students had never heard of Bonas until they got a call from our coach, visited the campus, etc. The Rugby program self-funds scholarships for many of these players through alumni donations and big fund raisers. This team has had great success over several decades, but has really stepped it up in recent years and was ranked as high as number six in the nation this past spring and was invited to Nationals. This team is no longer about partying and having a great time, with a little blood and guts rugby on the side. It is serious and it shows. A lot of alums have preconceived notions about the rugby club. As a club sport the focus of the team changed a lot over the four decades it has been around, depending on who was running it. That all came to an end about 10 years ago when Clarence Picard took over as coach. It will now change even more with the addition of US Eagle and two time collegiate national championship coach Tui Osborne joining the coaching staff. He is a huge difference maker in both recruiting and on field coaching.
Bringing the sport to the varsity level at SBU will help immensely in recruiting more players, better players and better students academically. Recruiting woman players for the first time will also be a boost to enrollment. This team is very good, and very fun to watch. Our coaching staff is as good or better than any in the nation. If you've never watched it, give the game a shot. It should be on TV a lot next month as rugby is now a Summer Olympic sport. It is a fun sport to watch as well as play. Go Bonas!
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Post by demourse on Jul 22, 2016 11:13:59 GMT -5
After reviewing thecoach's posts, and his obsession with a club team that wears black jackets and jumps people rather than fight one-on-one, I'm thinking he may be a fire fighter that likes to set fires. Usually whenever the Ruggers are attacked for being a club team, etc., the Bona community quickly comes to their defense. I wouldn't be surprised if thecoach is a former rugger that needs reassurance of others that rugby is appreciated.
I could be wrong, but either way, thecoach's shtick is played out.
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Post by elitetaylor33 on Jul 22, 2016 16:28:20 GMT -5
Surprisingly (to many of you), about 10% of the incoming male students in last year's class (20 students) came to Bonas because they were recruited to play rugby. Most of these students had never heard of Bonas until they got a call from our coach, visited the campus, etc. The Rugby program self-funds scholarships for many of these players through alumni donations and big fund raisers. This team has had great success over several decades, but has really stepped it up in recent years and was ranked as high as number six in the nation this past spring and was invited to Nationals. This team is no longer about partying and having a great time, with a little blood and guts rugby on the side. It is serious and it shows. A lot of alums have preconceived notions about the rugby club. As a club sport the focus of the team changed a lot over the four decades it has been around, depending on who was running it. That all came to an end about 10 years ago when Clarence Picard took over as coach. It will now change even more with the addition of US Eagle and two time collegiate national championship coach Tui Osborne joining the coaching staff. He is a huge difference maker in both recruiting and on field coaching. Bringing the sport to the varsity level at SBU will help immensely in recruiting more players, better players and better students academically. Recruiting woman players for the first time will also be a boost to enrollment. This team is very good, and very fun to watch. Our coaching staff is as good or better than any in the nation. If you've never watched it, give the game a shot. It should be on TV a lot next month as rugby is now a Summer Olympic sport. It is a fun sport to watch as well as play. Go Bonas! I completely respect your post, and thank you for continuing to comment on how well Coach Picard, and the Rugby team has been winning and developing over the yrs.. But theres one thing that i would like to address, and maybe I'm taking it wrong, and if i am, please let me know!. But in the days before Clarence took over, yes there were a lot of Rugby teams that liked to party, but there was without question a lot of players that were all about the "team", and winning was the only thing that mattered! As i posted, I went to Bona's because i came from a winning HS Rugby team, and Rob DeFazio sold me on it, when i visited with my old man (oh and seeing those "little black rugby jackets" being worn all over campus certainly didnt hurt lol). This was back in 2000, and i wasn't the only one that came from a HS that had Rugby as a "sport", the only other player that was in my class that yr, did the same.. So yes parting was apart of those rugby teams, but winning was a big deal, and so was trying to further develop the program. I know the guys that came in during my time, had the alums of the '90's to thank, because they would always come back for games, and were always still apart of Bona's Rugby!
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Post by sneakers on Jul 23, 2016 8:37:19 GMT -5
I fully agree. I played (and was president and captain of the team) in the 80's and we won a NYS college championship. We were a very good team focused on winning. SBU won states in many years after that as well. SBU has had one of the best rugby programs in the state for four decades. I'm not putting down our history in any way.
I'm just saying that as a club sport the quality and focus (the balance between winning and having a great time) varied a bit depending on the year. The team was primarily student run (and student coached in many years), so it depended a lot on upper-class leadership. It is a FAR better organized, consistent and focused sport now. We are also now playing on a national level rather than a state level. We have two full-time paid coaches (and several part time coaches) with great experience to lead the team, raise funds, recruit players, hold clinics, monitor off season workouts, etc. When I played we had one volunteer coach that came to practice about once or twice a week, which is a huge task as there were over 40 players on the team to teach, and unlike you, many learned the game in college (thanks Al Siliker!). There is now also an academic focus that has never been part of the team. Players will have study hall requirements if their grades are below a 3.0.
I hope you remain actively involved with the team. The alumni base is solid and very involved with supporting the team. It is a great model for other sports at SBU to follow.
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Post by elitetaylor33 on Jul 23, 2016 16:51:12 GMT -5
I fully agree. I played (and was president and captain of the team) in the 80's and we won a NYS college championship. We were a very good team focused on winning. SBU won states in many years after that as well. SBU has had one of the best rugby programs in the state for four decades. I'm not putting down our history in any way. I'm just saying that as a club sport the quality and focus (the balance between winning and having a great time) varied a bit depending on the year. The team was primarily student run (and student coached in many years), so it depended a lot on upper-class leadership. It is a FAR better organized, consistent and focused sport now. We are also now playing on a national level rather than a state level. We have two full-time paid coaches (and several part time coaches) with great experience to lead the team, raise funds, recruit players, hold clinics, monitor off season workouts, etc. When I played we had one volunteer coach that came to practice about once or twice a week, which is a huge task as there were over 40 players on the team to teach, and unlike you, many learned the game in college (thanks Al Siliker!). There is now also an academic focus that has never been part of the team. Players will have study hall requirements if their grades are below a 3.0. I hope you remain actively involved with the team. The alumni base is solid and very involved with supporting the team. It is a great model for other sports at SBU to follow. I couldn't agree more with everything you said above, and I'm glad to hear that you too played, and were one of so many that were about winning!.. And like i said in my post, i thought this is what you meant, i just wanted clarify it, maybe for some like "thecoach", who have misconceptions about what the rugby team was about.. And I'm still involved with the team, donate yearly (its great to see the growing list of alumni that are donating), and I'm hoping to make it back up for a game in September!..
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Post by thebonafan08 on Jul 24, 2016 6:21:06 GMT -5
Does anyone know if Rugby being a NCAA recognized sport will happen anytime soon (5-10yrs)? Nice job by Bona giving them a spot on gobonnies.com and official logo. This might be the first thing Bona is thinking forward with ever?
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Post by sneakers on Jul 24, 2016 8:16:29 GMT -5
Right now women's rugby is recognized by the NCAA "emerging sport", but men's rugby is not recognized. This is primarily due to Title 9 as football has so many players and money, it needs to be offset by women's sports. This is similar to college rowing, where women's crew us a recognized NCAA sport, but men's isn't. That doesn't stop men's rowing from thriving at the schools that offer it. Men's rowing is governed by USRowing.
Similarly men's rugby is governed by USA Rugby. Rugby becoming an Olympic sport this year may bring pressure on the NCAA to recognize it. However, having the sport governed by USA Rugby is likely an advantage for Bonas because, unlike the NCAA, USA Rugby does not favor large schools over smaller schools and it has fewer regulations relating to recruiting, etc.
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Post by agoo on Jul 24, 2016 11:18:16 GMT -5
Does anyone know if Rugby being a NCAA recognized sport will happen anytime soon (5-10yrs)? Nice job by Bona giving them a spot on gobonnies.com and official logo. This might be the first thing Bona is thinking forward with ever? Like Snakers stated, I'm not sure ncaa recognition would be a good thing. USA Rugby has a strong and growing structure in place and I'm not sure that it would be good for schools to switch over to an ncaa sport with all those requirements and regulations. Title IX considerations are major here as rugby is a big team sport with 15 on the field at a time and 7 more on the bench. Many teams can field a B-side as well like a JV squad for developmental purposes.
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Post by thebonafan08 on Jul 24, 2016 21:20:31 GMT -5
Right now women's rugby is recognized by the NCAA "emerging sport", but men's rugby is not recognized. This is primarily due to Title 9 as football has so many players and money, it needs to be offset by women's sports. This is similar to college rowing, where women's crew us a recognized NCAA sport, but men's isn't. That doesn't stop men's rowing from thriving at the schools that offer it. Men's rowing is governed by USRowing. Similarly men's rugby is governed by USA Rugby. Rugby becoming an Olympic sport this year may bring pressure on the NCAA to recognize it. However, having the sport governed by USA Rugby is likely an advantage for Bonas because, unlike the NCAA, USA Rugby does not favor large schools over smaller schools and it has fewer regulations relating to recruiting, etc. Got it, thanks for the info. I imagine NCAA recognition might bring more TV possibilities compared to USA Rugby but that's neither here nor there. Anyways in the short term, good stuff and hopefully the success continues to bring in more students!
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