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Post by brandon1 on Aug 1, 2020 12:30:04 GMT -6
While I was at the beach a few weeks ago just outside of Pensacola, I had a chat with a West Florida alumni who is also a donor to the athletic department. We had a few beers from 6 ft apart and a good conversation.
He said they are getting ready to possibly join the ASUN in the near future. He is also being told that the ASUN will sponsor football. He said that the ASUN having football is very important because they may not be keen in playing football in the Big South.
What he said was, North Florida, FGCU and West Florida have been in conversation along with UNA and KSU about football potential in the ASUN. That was pretty much the extent of the conversation then.
We exchanged phone numbers and last night I got a call from him.
He is saying that UNF and FGCU would be more likely to start football programs if another Florida school was in the ASUN and the ASUN sponsors football. He also said Stetson has entered the conversation about having scholarship football if this happens because of the travel in the Pioneer League and the problems with the covid 19 virus and the vast geographical area of the conference.
So if it happens, the ASUN could quickly become a football conference and have 10 schools by adding West Florida. He said that UNA has been considered UWFs main all sports rival and would like to get back with UNA.
So ASUN football may happen...
UNA
KSU
UWF
UNF
Stetson
FGCU
8 is a good number for football and 12 would be okay overall. Hopefull that JSU would consider this... Chattanooga as well.
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Post by unalions on Aug 1, 2020 19:10:48 GMT -6
I would certainly love to have ASUN sports here in Pensacola, especially football!
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Post by unafied on Aug 2, 2020 5:16:01 GMT -6
Sadly I don’t think any of the schools without football will even think of starting a team until things on campus get back to some kind of “normal”. Obviously I have no inside information on that, I’m just thinking the situation right now is too volatile.
I would definitely like to see this plan happen, though. I would love to see JSU decide to join us. Hopefully they would see an opportunity to consistently play in Florida as an advantage over trips to Kentucky and Missouri.
If Chattanooga would join us it would be icing on the cake. If not, I would still like to have UWG or Valdosta come on up. ASUN football would have a chance to be really, really strong with that combination of teams involved. No reason we couldn’t compete for multiple playoff spots in that scenario.
Damn this stupid virus for likely delaying any plans.
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Post by brandon1 on Aug 2, 2020 5:59:49 GMT -6
Sadly I don’t think any of the schools without football will even think of starting a team until things on campus get back to some kind of “normal”. Obviously I have no inside information on that, I’m just thinking the situation right now is too volatile. I would definitely like to see this plan happen, though. I would love to see JSU decide to join us. Hopefully they would see an opportunity to consistently play in Florida as an advantage over trips to Kentucky and Missouri. If Chattanooga would join us it would be icing on the cake. If not, I would still like to have UWG or Valdosta come on up. ASUN football would have a chance to be really, really strong with that combination of teams involved. No reason we couldn’t compete for multiple playoff spots in that scenario. Damn this stupid virus for likely delaying any plans. It would not happen immediately.... Covid may have a positive side as well, it gives schools, especially the ones that have considered football more opportunity to really evaluate it. I personally have not heard of 1 ASUN school in any financial trouble in this pandemic. Obviously, that dont mean there isnt one, but we are hearing all over the country that there are schools dropping different sports, other than JU (pre covid) I havent heard of any ASUN schools planning to drop anything. Of course this could change at any time. Out of West Georgia or Valdosta I would hope Valdosta would join. In the past they have been dead set against D1, but that dont mean they cant change their mind. If JSU, West Florida and Valdosta joined UNA with other schools in Florida, that would be FCSs GSC 2.0. |
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Post by unafied on Aug 2, 2020 10:25:15 GMT -6
Sadly I don’t think any of the schools without football will even think of starting a team until things on campus get back to some kind of “normal”. Obviously I have no inside information on that, I’m just thinking the situation right now is too volatile. I would definitely like to see this plan happen, though. I would love to see JSU decide to join us. Hopefully they would see an opportunity to consistently play in Florida as an advantage over trips to Kentucky and Missouri. If Chattanooga would join us it would be icing on the cake. If not, I would still like to have UWG or Valdosta come on up. ASUN football would have a chance to be really, really strong with that combination of teams involved. No reason we couldn’t compete for multiple playoff spots in that scenario. Damn this stupid virus for likely delaying any plans. It would not happen immediately.... Covid may have a positive side as well, it gives schools, especially the ones that have considered football more opportunity to really evaluate it. I personally have not heard of 1 ASUN school in any financial trouble in this pandemic. Obviously, that dont mean there isnt one, but we are hearing all over the country that there are schools dropping different sports, other than JU (pre covid) I havent heard of any ASUN schools planning to drop anything. Of course this could change at any time. Out of West Georgia or Valdosta I would hope Valdosta would join. In the past they have been dead set against D1, but that dont mean they cant change their mind. If JSU, West Florida and Valdosta joined UNA with other schools in Florida, that would be FCSs GSC 2.0. Yeah I definitely think it can have a positive effect on conferences shifting back to a tighter footprint. I hope JSU looks at yearly trips to Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, and Southeast Missouri and decides it would much rather travel to Florence and Kennesaw regularly. The Florida trips might not be a whole lot closer, but dang, who wouldn’t rather travel to Pensacola than Cape Girardeau? I agree, I’d rather have Valdosta than UWG and assume KSU would as well. That would give the ASUN teams in both north and South Georgia. That’s a good move for the conference. Forget state lines, and a conference with UNA/JSU/KSU in the north, FGCU and Stetson in the south, and UNF/VSU/UWF in between is about as geographically compact as a conference can be without having teams falling over each other. |
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Post by roaringsince96 on Aug 2, 2020 11:26:48 GMT -6
I would think Covid probably pushed back any D2 school thinking about D1. Money is already tough and then add sports not bringing in as much money. I do not see many considering a change with fees and upgrades required for D1 transition.
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Post by northalaspectator on Aug 2, 2020 12:52:35 GMT -6
I don’t see anything happening until 2026 other than some D2 call-ups provided the current 9 teams remain in the conference until 2026. Maybe the NCAA will relaxed that 8 year rule and change it to possibly 5 years.
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Post by brandon1 on Aug 2, 2020 18:13:51 GMT -6
I don’t see anything happening until 2026 other than some D2 call-ups provided the current 9 teams remain in the conference until 2026. Maybe the NCAA will relaxed that 8 year rule and change it to possibly 5 years. Why 2026? 8 years? I dont see the ASUN splitting into two conferences anymore. I think it will just be expansion and have football. That is if UNF and FGCU decide to start football. If they dont, I dont suspect football will happen in the ASUN. I do however think either one of these scenarios will make for a top 3 FCS conference. Scenario 1 ASUN adds West Florida, JSU and Chattanooga Scenario 2 ASUN adds West Florida, Valdosta St and JSU Side note, I read that Chattanooga has bought the old baseball stadium in Chattanooga and has plans to transform it into a football stadium that will hold 12,500 with expansion to 15,000. (Kind of sounds familiar.) I have also been in touch with people I know in Chattanooga (fans) and they are pretty much indifferent on the SoCon these days and are more interested in JSU, KSU and they said they are looking forward to starting the series with UNA. I think if JSU will make the move to the ASUN, Chattanooga will do their best to follow. That's 6 schools (Lipscomb, Bellarmine, UNA, JSU, Chattanooga and KSU) in very close proximity to each other in 1 conference. With the covid issue, how can they argue that that's not better? Even if they have to play in the Big South, it may be better. The Big South could potentially be UNA Chattanooga JSU KSU West Florida NCA&T Gardner Webb Campbell Charleston Southern Hampton There would be no real need to have Monmouth and RMU. They could get NEC associates membership and be better off. |
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Post by unafied on Aug 3, 2020 7:23:21 GMT -6
I don't think we'll know the financial implications until after this school year. How many games do we get to play? How much money do we lose out on? And it'll be the same for so many other schools. Hopefully everyone in the ASUN is in good shape and won't need to drop any sports, but you also have to wonder, how long will it be until we actually get to have full stadiums/arenas again? I certainly hope it's next year, but I suppose that all depends on whether we knock this virus out.
If this academic year puts a hurting on a large number of schools, I could see the NCAA potentially relaxing a lot of rules as it concerns conferences and conference membership. So if movement is going to happen, I would expect it to start picking up after this year.
I'd honestly like to see more football-only conferences, and allow the Olympic sports to especially pair up with teams in a more geographic-friendly area.
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Post by lion1979 on Aug 4, 2020 8:55:53 GMT -6
Pretty big day for FCS football. NCAA board of governors voting on fall sports championships sometime this afternoon. If the vote is to cancel, you’d have to think a lot of the remaining conferences will cancel the fall season. I’m wondering if UNA will HAVE to make up some sort of schedule for it to count as a transition year. A lot rides on this vote.
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Post by brandon1 on Aug 4, 2020 10:34:52 GMT -6
Pretty big day for FCS football. NCAA board of governors voting on fall sports championships sometime this afternoon. If the vote is to cancel, you’d have to think a lot of the remaining conferences will cancel the fall season. I’m wondering if UNA will HAVE to make up some sort of schedule for it to count as a transition year. A lot rides on this vote. I would think they get a waiver on the year. There is nothing UNA could do about the circumstances with this. Same for all other transitional schools, I think there is 5? |
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Post by brandon on Dec 7, 2020 14:24:21 GMT -6
Got some info from ASUN official (not Gumbart) about what the plan for ASUN expansion and football are.
The ASUN wants to add 4 football schools for a total of 6. That is the minimum needed for football and an AQ. He did say there are a couple schools interested in associate football memberships.
We know who 3 targets are, EKU, JSU and UCA. Who would the 4th be?
Going by Gumbarts statements earlier in the year, we would not take enough to put another conferences AQ in jeopardy. So it cant be a OVC member. You cant expect a single Louisiana school either (but that's speculative)
You also cant have West Florida if the quick goal is Football. They would keep the AQ status too low for 4 years.
With this news also begged the question about the Big Souths plans.... all I got was, MEAC...
The most stellar get for this scenario would be Chattanooga.... it would be a dream conference for all, us especially.
EKU, UCA, Chattanooga, UNA, JSU, KSU.
Then you could go after West Florida.
Let's hope this comes together....
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Post by northalaspectator on Dec 7, 2020 20:19:47 GMT -6
Got some info from ASUN official (not Gumbart) about what the plan for ASUN expansion and football are. The ASUN wants to add 4 football schools for a total of 6. That is the minimum needed for football and an AQ. He did say there are a couple schools interested in associate football memberships. We know who 3 targets are, EKU, JSU and UCA. Who would the 4th be? Going by Gumbarts statements earlier in the year, we would not take enough to put another conferences AQ in jeopardy. So it cant be a OVC member. You cant expect a single Louisiana school either (but that's speculative) You also cant have West Florida if the quick goal is Football. They would keep the AQ status too low for 4 years. With this news also begged the question about the Big Souths plans.... all I got was, MEAC... The most stellar get for this scenario would be Chattanooga.... it would be a dream conference for all, us especially. EKU, UCA, Chattanooga, UNA, JSU, KSU. Then you could go after West Florida. Let's hope this comes together.... Why not another OVC School, they have 9 that play football. If Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State leaves then that is 7 schools left with football, it only takes 6 for an AQ. |
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Post by roaringsince96 on Dec 7, 2020 20:34:27 GMT -6
Murray State would be cool. Austin Peay. Who has the best mascot....that’s important. No more Wonder Boys, Bo Weevils, or the Hose? Could you imagine being a recruit and then being told welcome you are a Hose for life!
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Post by brandon on Dec 7, 2020 21:19:01 GMT -6
Got some info from ASUN official (not Gumbart) about what the plan for ASUN expansion and football are. The ASUN wants to add 4 football schools for a total of 6. That is the minimum needed for football and an AQ. He did say there are a couple schools interested in associate football memberships. We know who 3 targets are, EKU, JSU and UCA. Who would the 4th be? Going by Gumbarts statements earlier in the year, we would not take enough to put another conferences AQ in jeopardy. So it cant be a OVC member. You cant expect a single Louisiana school either (but that's speculative) You also cant have West Florida if the quick goal is Football. They would keep the AQ status too low for 4 years. With this news also begged the question about the Big Souths plans.... all I got was, MEAC... The most stellar get for this scenario would be Chattanooga.... it would be a dream conference for all, us especially. EKU, UCA, Chattanooga, UNA, JSU, KSU. Then you could go after West Florida. Let's hope this comes together.... Why not another OVC School, they have 9 that play football. If Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State leaves then that is 7 schools left with football, it only takes 6 for an AQ. I dont think they would want them to fall below 7. 6, gets you a conference with AQ, but I think you have to have 7 to maintain AQ status. I forget how it works... Anyway, who knows who the others may be... |
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