May 2, 2007

Of all the watershed moments in my life, perhaps the one I remember most clearly is that first night in my freshman dorm room. As college nights go, it was a pretty uneventful one I'm sad to say, but it was still important because of what it symbolized.

I was officially on my own. My decisions were mine. I had to grow up.

For most students there is a transformation that starts that first night. You metamorphose from a teenager reliant on the judgment and rules of others to a man or woman who is trying to join the adult world where expectations are higher. It's a smooth transition for some and rocky for others, but that evening is the genesis.

On April 15, the USA South Conference had an opportunity to show it was ready to emerge onto the big stage with the rest of Division III women's lacrosse. Unfortunately, instead of proving it was capable of playing with the Big Girls, the emerging league demonstrated that it is still the proverbial 21-year-old living in their parent's basement.

It was on the Ides of April, a Sunday, when Christopher Newport University and Greensboro College were scheduled to meet in the USA South championship game. The match-up was the expected culmination of the year. CNU, the defending champ, was the clear favorite but Greensboro spooked the Lady Captains, 15-11, during the regular season -- eight goals closer than any other conference team -- and The Pride was primed for a another shot.

Alas, weather would not cooperate. A slick field and a mass of green pixilation on the Doppler radar screen forced the event managers to call off the contest. Their decision was the right one, as thunderstorms rolled in shortly afterwards and a tornado warning was issued in the region.

No big deal, really. Selection Sunday was still three weeks off. It was just a matter of rescheduling this championship game, a contest that would determine the automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

Um, right?

Believe it or not, wrong.

Because of the stipulations in the conference handbook -- a document that evidently trumps common sense -- the title and automatic qualifier were awarded to Christopher Newport on the basis of regular season record. In fact, had the Lady Captains lost in the semifinals and the title game was canceled, it would still be CNU earning the bid.

If the weather problems occur on Selection Sunday, then yes, the last ditch solution is to give it to the regular season champs. But seriously, canceling the tourney with three weeks to spare?

"Our policy says the tournaments must be completed on the designated day," said USA South commissioner Rita Wiggs. "We cannot carry them over into the weeks beyond our championship dates and the reason for that is we have schools that have begun their exam schedules. We do not play any of our tournament games, and most of our schools don't play any games, period, during their exam periods."

Here's the thing: Greensboro traveled for non-conference games against Guilford on April 18 and Roanoke on April 21. Christopher Newport took to the road for contests versus Lynchburg on April 21 and Frostburg State April 28. Conference members Averett and Methodist also played games after the supposedly rigid zero barrier of April 15.

Is there something I'm missing? What happened to exams? Should I believe that both CNU and GC would not cancel their meaningless games on April 21, to choose one date, in order to settle the conference AQ the right way?

"This is something we don't take lightly," said Wiggs. "We realize the importance of this for our student-athletes and our coaches and we know what's on the line, so it's certainly not a decision that is arbitrarily made."

As far as I can judge on the phone, Wiggs is a fine representative of the conference and is simply the messenger. She is parroting poorly crafted guidelines created by the coaches and ratified by the athletic directors, so ultimately the responsibility to rectify this issue lies with them.

It's good to have handbooks and guidelines. Many times they make tough decisions easier. In this case, however, these same tools made an easy decision tough. It is unacceptable for a conference to play an entire season and determine its tournament champ in this fashion. Can you think of any conference in any sport at any level that would wash their hands of a conference automatic qualifier with three weeks in which to find a solution?

I've followed the USA South. I've spoken to several of its coaches. I've been impressed with the results they've posted against solid programs and leagues. The USA South is a conference that is expanding and has the ingredients to become a power player in the division down the road.

I'm not cynical enough to believe their is a diabolical plot against women's lacrosse in the USA South. I believe this was just an oversight by the conference, a vestige from the pre-AQ days. And after this debacle, it is an issue that will surely be addressed.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt this time. But just like a 21-year-old who expects mom to do the laundry, it's time for the USA South to grow up.