Convention thoughts: Friends and votes

As I sit in the San Antonio Airport waiting for a flight back to Newark, some thoughts on a few days in the San Antonio area for the USTFCCCA Convention:

--It was great to catch up with Marist Running alum Julie Hudak, who was at the convention with her significant other Drew Gangemi, the head coach at Mt. St. Vincent in the Bronx, as well as our good friend Erica Maker, now the head women’s cross country coach at her alma mater, St. Olaf, but always a member of our Red Fox Running Family. We were able to intersect at lunch yesterday (see photo) as well as several other times during the week. Neat.

--Once again, in an effort to save some money, my roommate for the week was Canisius College head coach Nate Huckle. We share similar interests and sleep schedules, so this was a natural move. Always good catching up with Nate, as well as the other MAAC coaches in attendance.

--Apparently, when it comes to this convention, I have good timing. Back in 2016 and again this year, the only two times I’ve attended, there was hotly contested cross country legislation on the table. This year’s legislation elicited some of the most spirited and contentious debates of any in recent memory, according to coaches who regularly attend the convention. The proposed new format was narrowly voted down, which means the current regional format will continue for the foreseeable future – until another legislative change is inevitably suggested. To me, the legislative voting session is the primary tangible incentive to attend the convention. It’s the only way to vote on proposals – proxies are not allowed – and our voice needs to be heard. In this case, with the narrow scope of the vote, every ballot counted … even one from little old Marist College.

And with that? It’s time to leave the Alamo and head home for a few hours.