Many apologies folks.

The Roop doesn't know what merging a server means but whatever it means Verizon did it. To The Roop it meant no internet for several days and in the aftermath it meant that The Roops ISP didn't function normally.

I know that everyone of the millions, and I mean millions, of The Roops fans have been anxiously awaiting the start of the LNCUTMV Womens Softball. The Roop has good news and The Roop has bad news...................... Bad news first. Hank Kimball Field has recently been declared a National Landmark as a school of snail darters were discovered nesting near the right field foul pole. This being said a dam will be constructed so that the snail darters will survive.

Good news................ The LNCUTMV Womens Softball season will go forward. However, it will be Indoor Softball held in Sam Drucker Arena. Appropriate netting is currently being installed and a 16" ball will be used. 16" Womens Arena Softball is the best that the LNCUTMV Conference can do at this point but the season will start this weekend. Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are planned.

The D4AA has announced that competition will be sanctioned under this format and the UCWI season will count as well. The request of Duane Churkey School of Engineering @South Beloit for a name change has also been approved. They will compete as the University of South Beloit and will be considered an Independent this year. The Roops former boss saw the website and asked nicely. The Roops point was proven.

USB creates many possible computer scenarios for this season and for the upcoming basketball season as well. Many teams from the USB system are expected to join D4. Just plug in and go is the feeling here. University of South Beloit-Roscoe is one of the many USB teams expected to join the UCWI, or perhaps they will form their own conference. The USBIAC maybe. D4 could be as many as 40 teams next year. How can anyone ignore that excitement.

When The Roop says it, it will be done. There are no questionable seedings in the D4 Tournament. What The Roop wants to see most is for teams to rise up and win when they should. A 14-16 National Champion is nice, but where were the real players in this years D4 Tournament?????