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.
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