Could we make it

[brandon1]

If we went indy in football?

If we could play JSU, Samford, KSU, Chattanooga, UT Martin, Central Arkansas every year and schedule other Higher profile games along with a FBS game here and there?

[roaringsince96]

Playing for a conference championship is a big deal. I think we would miss out on quite a few recruits that we may typically have a shot. Also think we would likely receive less coverage, no media day, ESPN plus package would dry up for independent, lose a big measuring stick for the program, and players would never be all conference, etc.

[unafied]

I would honestly prefer that over the Big South snoozefest, but I agree that conference championships are good to play for.

I do wish the Big South has stayed at 6 or 7 teams so we could schedule more non-conference games. That was honestly the only appealing aspect of the conference to me.

[tuna85]

Just seems a little too early to make a judgement call on the Big South. This Covid pause is a pain. Still, the conference is evolving and the make up of football members is interesting going forward.

[brandon1]

Aug 18, 2020 6:39:26 GMT -6 tuna85 said:

Just seems a little too early to make a judgement call on the Big South. This Covid pause is a pain. Still, the conference is evolving and the make up of football members is interesting going forward.

That's a good point...

My only concern with the Big South is travel for UNA and KSU.

(Disclaimer- this is just opinion based talk, not rumors or thinking anything like this will happen. Before people start blasting me about it.)

I like the overall direction that the Big South has been able to go, as far as football goes. And going to Monmouth every two years in itself is okay I guess. But as a whole, RMU is in Pittsburgh area, Monmouth in New Jersey, then the rest of the schools are in the Carolinas and Virginia.

I think since Hampton and NCA&T has joined, we should be able to help find a football home outside of the Big South for Monmouth and RMU. I think the Patriot League would be a good fit.

Hampton, NCA&T, Campbel, Gardner Webb, Charlston Southern, KSU and UNA, I think is every bit as interesting as, Eastern Illinois, SEMO, Murray State, UTM, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State.

The only thing better to me for the OVC is JSU and EKU. (On a football standpoint)

My thoughts on indy was for travel and being able to possibly schedule more high intrest (for fans and students) games.

I listened to an interview with Charlston Southerns AD, they have a new facilities plan in place that includes renovations to their football stadium with a goal of 18k seats eventually, assuming they need that many in a future phase. So they are recommitting to football.

The ASUN realistically needs a 10th member, I know for a fact that while the UAC thing was a possibility, JSU was on board. So what if JSU joined the ASUN and Big South football? They would have 2, real conference rivals that are very close in proximity, UNA and KSU. And would have room to schedule their other big rival, UTC, every year.

If you add JSU to the Big South football, with or without Monmouth and RMU, the Big South will be in conversation as a top 5 FCS conference. And will no doubt get multiple playoff spots every year.

UNA will have their two rivals in conference, KSU will have two rivals in conference, and for all sports.

Then the ASUN could concentrate on possible expansion to 12, with West Florida and the next does not have to be football schools. But with JSU, West Florida will be very beneficial for all sports. Number 12 will be easier to get as well. I was kinda thinking Morehead State, maybe, bring in another Kentucky school for Bellarmine, they play non scholarship football for Stetson to have an all sports conference partner. They have also had runs when they are very good at basketball and baseball, that would make all ASUN schools happy.

[tuna85]

Aug 18, 2020 9:50:42 GMT -6 brandon1 said:

Aug 18, 2020 6:39:26 GMT -6 tuna85 said:

Just seems a little too early to make a judgement call on the Big South. This Covid pause is a pain. Still, the conference is evolving and the make up of football members is interesting going forward.

That's a good point...

My only concern with the Big South is travel for UNA and KSU.

(Disclaimer- this is just opinion based talk, not rumors or thinking anything like this will happen. Before people start blasting me about it.)

I like the overall direction that the Big South has been able to go, as far as football goes. And going to Monmouth every two years in itself is okay I guess. But as a whole, RMU is in Pittsburgh area, Monmouth in New Jersey, then the rest of the schools are in the Carolinas and Virginia.

I think since Hampton and NCA&T has joined, we should be able to help find a football home outside of the Big South for Monmouth and RMU. I think the Patriot League would be a good fit.

Hampton, NCA&T, Campbel, Gardner Webb, Charlston Southern, KSU and UNA, I think is every bit as interesting as, Eastern Illinois, SEMO, Murray State, UTM, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State.

The only thing better to me for the OVC is JSU and EKU. (On a football standpoint)

My thoughts on indy was for travel and being able to possibly schedule more high intrest (for fans and students) games.

I listened to an interview with Charlston Southerns AD, they have a new facilities plan in place that includes renovations to their football stadium with a goal of 18k seats eventually, assuming they need that many in a future phase. So they are recommitting to football.

The ASUN realistically needs a 10th member, I know for a fact that while the UAC thing was a possibility, JSU was on board. So what if JSU joined the ASUN and Big South football? They would have 2, real conference rivals that are very close in proximity, UNA and KSU. And would have room to schedule their other big rival, UTC, every year.

If you add JSU to the Big South football, with or without Monmouth and RMU, the Big South will be in conversation as a top 5 FCS conference. And will no doubt get multiple playoff spots every year.

UNA will have their two rivals in conference, KSU will have two rivals in conference, and for all sports.

Then the ASUN could concentrate on possible expansion to 12, with West Florida and the next does not have to be football schools. But with JSU, West Florida will be very beneficial for all sports. Number 12 will be easier to get as well. I was kinda thinking Morehead State, maybe, bring in another Kentucky school for Bellarmine, they play non scholarship football for Stetson to have an all sports conference partner. They have also had runs when they are very good at basketball and baseball, that would make all ASUN schools happy.

I think it will be interesting to see how the Big South plays out...has the potential to be very strong. The best scenario to me would be if the Asun supported football as it would be nice to have all of our sports under one umbrella and not possibly become an after thought. Barring all that, my perfect football conference would be a tight regional fit. While Florida is a great recruiting field, I'd rather only have to go there a couple of times. My ideal footprint would be two teams each from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia and possibly two from either South Carolina or Kentucky. I would have said "or Mississippi" but unlike the MEAC, the SWAC schools look pretty solid behind their conference. Anyway, I can see an 8 to 10 team league with the last game of each year being against your natural instate rival. I can picture a league with UNA/JSU, UTC/Aust Peay, KSU/Vald St, West Fla/Fla A&M for example.

Would not want to be an Indy if for no other reason than the challenges in scheduling. Would really like to have JSU in whatever conference we are in. I think the feeling is mutual but JSU will have to force the issue on their end. Their conference did not want us but I think whatever conference we are in (including the current one) would welcome them.