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North Georgia receives full membership from NCAA
By David Beall
After two years of forgoing postseason play, North Georgia is now eligible to compete for NCAA Division II national championships.
North Georgia became just the second school in the nation to only serve two years of the normal four-year probation period. Florida Gulf Coast is the only other school to have its probation cut in half.
Just two years removed from being an NAIA national powerhouse, the Saints will look to make their mark in the NCAA. “I am just ecstatic about receiving the waiver,” Athletic Director Randy Dunn said. “I think this will be the beginning of a new era for North Georgia Athletics.
With two years of post season hopes down the drain, hopefully North Georgia will be able to put past dreams behind them and move toward Peach Belt Championships and its first ever national championship at any level.
The Saints have already made their presence known in the NCAA. In only two years North Georgia has seen 28 All-Conference selections, 3 freshman of the year awards, 2 coach of the year honors, and Brian Lauderdale's conference and region player of the year in 2006.
Women's basketball coach and PBC coach of the year Buffie Burson, who likely suffered the most from the probation period, led her team to an astounding 23-4 record in 2006. The Lady Saints set a record for wins in the Peach Belt going 19-1 to capture the regular season crown.
How were they rewarded? By finishing off the season with a 74-61 meaningless win over Armstrong Atlantic in Savannah, Georgia. Players, coaches, and fans could only wonder if a possible national title could have been.
In 2005, senior Irina Watkins also suffered from the probation as she came from behind to capture the Peach Belt Cross Country Championship. Being one of the top runners in the southeast is all she could hold on to as the region championships went on without the conference champion.
So, with North Georgia Athletics only being able to wonder what could have been the past two years, 2007 will bring new hope for players and coaches. Dunn, who is ready to put North Georgia on the map, said, “I think we can make this university one of the elite competitors in NCAA Division II.”
If you walk into the North Georgia Athletic department you will find a sense of relief. Recruiting has suddenly become easier for coaches, who for the past two years have had to tell young men and women that if they came to Dahlonega they couldn't compete for championships.
“This is what we have been working towards for two years, Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator Lindsay Reeves said. “We are so excited, I don't think it has fully hit us yet what we have accomplished.”
Sports Information Director Travis Jerome's job just got a little harder. Jerome now has no idea when seasons will end for any sport.
“Through the year you now not only have to prepare game notes, game scripts, and programs,” Jerome said. “Now everyday after games I have to come in and start working on postseason media guides because they are expected when you go to conference and region tournaments.”
The trophy case in Memorial Hall needs some extra hardware as the women's basketball regular season championship trophy sits alone for the NCAA accomplishments.
“There will be extra work,” Jarome said. “But it will be beneficial because now we have the potential of winning national championships.”
Extra work is just the beginning. This summer the weight facility in Memorial Hall stays busy during the week with athletes meeting strength and conditioning graduate assistant Jared Ostrosky for off-season workouts. It may seem irrelevant now, but these athletes are committed to making North Georgia a winner.
After two years of seeing seasons end too early, a tip of the cap should be given to all the athletes who worked in the off-season and gave everything they had during competitions knowing that championships were out of the question.
This is a reflection of athletes who are competing for the love of the sport, and hopefully North Georgia teams in the near future can make up for the last two years and bring some national championships home to Dahlonega.
North Georgia became just the second school in the nation to only serve two years of the normal four-year probation period. Florida Gulf Coast is the only other school to have its probation cut in half.
Just two years removed from being an NAIA national powerhouse, the Saints will look to make their mark in the NCAA. “I am just ecstatic about receiving the waiver,” Athletic Director Randy Dunn said. “I think this will be the beginning of a new era for North Georgia Athletics.
With two years of post season hopes down the drain, hopefully North Georgia will be able to put past dreams behind them and move toward Peach Belt Championships and its first ever national championship at any level.
The Saints have already made their presence known in the NCAA. In only two years North Georgia has seen 28 All-Conference selections, 3 freshman of the year awards, 2 coach of the year honors, and Brian Lauderdale's conference and region player of the year in 2006.
Women's basketball coach and PBC coach of the year Buffie Burson, who likely suffered the most from the probation period, led her team to an astounding 23-4 record in 2006. The Lady Saints set a record for wins in the Peach Belt going 19-1 to capture the regular season crown.
How were they rewarded? By finishing off the season with a 74-61 meaningless win over Armstrong Atlantic in Savannah, Georgia. Players, coaches, and fans could only wonder if a possible national title could have been.
In 2005, senior Irina Watkins also suffered from the probation as she came from behind to capture the Peach Belt Cross Country Championship. Being one of the top runners in the southeast is all she could hold on to as the region championships went on without the conference champion.
So, with North Georgia Athletics only being able to wonder what could have been the past two years, 2007 will bring new hope for players and coaches. Dunn, who is ready to put North Georgia on the map, said, “I think we can make this university one of the elite competitors in NCAA Division II.”
If you walk into the North Georgia Athletic department you will find a sense of relief. Recruiting has suddenly become easier for coaches, who for the past two years have had to tell young men and women that if they came to Dahlonega they couldn't compete for championships.
“This is what we have been working towards for two years, Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator Lindsay Reeves said. “We are so excited, I don't think it has fully hit us yet what we have accomplished.”
Sports Information Director Travis Jerome's job just got a little harder. Jerome now has no idea when seasons will end for any sport.
“Through the year you now not only have to prepare game notes, game scripts, and programs,” Jerome said. “Now everyday after games I have to come in and start working on postseason media guides because they are expected when you go to conference and region tournaments.”
The trophy case in Memorial Hall needs some extra hardware as the women's basketball regular season championship trophy sits alone for the NCAA accomplishments.
“There will be extra work,” Jarome said. “But it will be beneficial because now we have the potential of winning national championships.”
Extra work is just the beginning. This summer the weight facility in Memorial Hall stays busy during the week with athletes meeting strength and conditioning graduate assistant Jared Ostrosky for off-season workouts. It may seem irrelevant now, but these athletes are committed to making North Georgia a winner.
After two years of seeing seasons end too early, a tip of the cap should be given to all the athletes who worked in the off-season and gave everything they had during competitions knowing that championships were out of the question.
This is a reflection of athletes who are competing for the love of the sport, and hopefully North Georgia teams in the near future can make up for the last two years and bring some national championships home to Dahlonega.
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For example, if Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank says something you don't agree with, don't tell the world that Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank is a no good dirty scoundrel who cuts off people in traffic and has owed you $20 since 1997. The Nugget asks you to please just stick to the issues at hand. That way we'll keep the debate lively, without getting personal. And remember, above all else, keep it civil and directed at the topic that's being discussed. We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
