A Very Important Question that I need answered...



 OK - For those of you who don't know, I'm Lee Henry of Athens 
State University (Athens, ALABAMA - not Georgia).  This is our first 
year to have a team and we've enjoyed relative success in Div. II. 

Now to my complex conundrum - 

1) Most tournaments limit Division II eligibility to players in 
their first 2 years of "Intercollegiate Competition" (such as 
Charlie's post about Moon Pie).  However, it is also stated that CBI 
experience does not count because it is so far-removed from the 
ACF/NAQT level.  My question is: Does Community College experience 
count?  I did play 2 years at Snead State CC in Alabama.  However, 
we played only other Community College teams within our own state. 
We only played out-of-state teams at a Berry Invitational and at a 
CBI - sponsored event in Florida.  The questions used in our 
Community College league were no where near the caliber used in the 
4-year tournaments that we have gone to this year.  I personally 
think that Community and/or Jr. College experience is even more 
drastically different from ACF/NAQT than CBI is, and I don't believe 
it should count towards Div. II eligibility. 

2) Athens State is a VERY rare university.  We ARE in fact a 2-YEAR 
SCHOOL.  However, unlike Community Colleges, we are a Jr/Sr 
institution.  This greatly reduces our recruitment chances because, 
unlike 4-year colleges, we cannot recruit players out of High 
School, but only from Alabama Community Colleges (which is another 
factor that affects my question). 

Basically I need to know what division we will be able to play in 
next year.  If Community College experience DOES count, then Athens 
State will forever be highly-handicapped in that we will never be 
able to field a Div. II team - because all of our players come from 
Alabama Community Colleges.  I really don't think that any player 
from an Alabama CC is ready to step right into Div. I.  I hope that 
this is an issue that can be discussed and resolved universally... 
IE - I'd like to hear opinions from ACF and NAQt representatives as 
well as invitational coordinators... If it is decided that CC 
experience does count, then we will go ahead and play in Div. I at 
Moon Pie... Obviously, I don't think that Athens State is ready to 
play in Div. I... But I want to abide by the rules.  Thanks. 

-Lee Henry 
Athens State University 

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