Post by brandon on Sept 17, 2020 13:43:26 GMT -6
In my mind, conferences have rivals just as well as schools have rivals.
Examples
Big 10 vs Pac 12 (traditional rose bowl)
SEC vs ACC (most come from the original SoCon)
CUSA vs Sun Belt
What is the ASUNs version?
You may think the Big South, but I dont think so. The Big South is mostly small, private schools with the exception of a few that are in an extremely tight geographic footprint.
So who is the ASUNs rival in terms of similar schools, similar geographic footprint?
By now you should have figured out who I'm talking about, the OVC...
Present day, which is the best? We will leave football for last.
Last I looked, ASUN and OVC are neck and neck in most areas. The difference? Numbers. ASUN is at 9 currently and the OVC at 12.
They are making about the same reasonably as far as NCAA money but the ASUN only splits it 9 (hopefully 10 soon) ways vs the 12 by the OVC.
The ASUN gets to travel to Florida, quite a bit, and that can be huge for recruiting. The OVC, no...
The OVC has some traditionally good schools, but traditional stuff comes with time. The ASUN is getting that with Lipscomb, FGCU and Liberty. UNA and Bellarmine both have their own traditions in sports, it's just got to be put in D1.
As for football, not having football could be seen as a disadvantage in this, but if you look at what is happening in the Big South, it's about to get extremely difficult. The OVC has been on more of a downward trend.
All of that to say this,
In my opinion, the most logical thing the ASUN could do to get to 10, is invite JSU.
Why?
JSU sits right in the middle of the modern ASUN. They are the outliers in the OVC.
They fit in with ASUN schools and have natural and historical rivalries in the ASUN that also play football.
Football being important, the Big South will be a top 5 FCS conference soon, with or without JSU. JSU could push it to top 4.
With JSU in the ASUN, it also opens up future options for the conference.
If football is a hope for the ASUN in the future, there are already 4 FCS schools if you include JSU. You only need 6.
I have emailed ADs at both UNF and FGCU and the biggest issue they both expressed about starting football is the conference situation. So I take it that if the ASUN had a legitimate football sponsorship, they would move forward on starting programs. I also think Stetson would consider it as well, at least a "modified" football membership, possibly scheduling on rotation with ASUN football schools, similar to Notre Dame and the ACC.
So there is 5 if you include JSU, UNF and FGCU. Need 6 to sponsor football and 2 more for 12 overall.
Bring in West Florida and Valdosta State, and start ASUN football as soon as their transitions are done.
All of the sudden, the ASUN has bolstered all sports.
My ASUN
Liberty
Bellarmine
Lipscomb
UNA*
JSU*
KSU*
West Florida*
Valdosta State*
UNF*
JU
Stetson#
FGCU*
If Liberty leaves, invite West Georgia.
If Bellarmine leaves, invite UAH.
Examples
Big 10 vs Pac 12 (traditional rose bowl)
SEC vs ACC (most come from the original SoCon)
CUSA vs Sun Belt
What is the ASUNs version?
You may think the Big South, but I dont think so. The Big South is mostly small, private schools with the exception of a few that are in an extremely tight geographic footprint.
So who is the ASUNs rival in terms of similar schools, similar geographic footprint?
By now you should have figured out who I'm talking about, the OVC...
Present day, which is the best? We will leave football for last.
Last I looked, ASUN and OVC are neck and neck in most areas. The difference? Numbers. ASUN is at 9 currently and the OVC at 12.
They are making about the same reasonably as far as NCAA money but the ASUN only splits it 9 (hopefully 10 soon) ways vs the 12 by the OVC.
The ASUN gets to travel to Florida, quite a bit, and that can be huge for recruiting. The OVC, no...
The OVC has some traditionally good schools, but traditional stuff comes with time. The ASUN is getting that with Lipscomb, FGCU and Liberty. UNA and Bellarmine both have their own traditions in sports, it's just got to be put in D1.
As for football, not having football could be seen as a disadvantage in this, but if you look at what is happening in the Big South, it's about to get extremely difficult. The OVC has been on more of a downward trend.
All of that to say this,
In my opinion, the most logical thing the ASUN could do to get to 10, is invite JSU.
Why?
JSU sits right in the middle of the modern ASUN. They are the outliers in the OVC.
They fit in with ASUN schools and have natural and historical rivalries in the ASUN that also play football.
Football being important, the Big South will be a top 5 FCS conference soon, with or without JSU. JSU could push it to top 4.
With JSU in the ASUN, it also opens up future options for the conference.
If football is a hope for the ASUN in the future, there are already 4 FCS schools if you include JSU. You only need 6.
I have emailed ADs at both UNF and FGCU and the biggest issue they both expressed about starting football is the conference situation. So I take it that if the ASUN had a legitimate football sponsorship, they would move forward on starting programs. I also think Stetson would consider it as well, at least a "modified" football membership, possibly scheduling on rotation with ASUN football schools, similar to Notre Dame and the ACC.
So there is 5 if you include JSU, UNF and FGCU. Need 6 to sponsor football and 2 more for 12 overall.
Bring in West Florida and Valdosta State, and start ASUN football as soon as their transitions are done.
All of the sudden, the ASUN has bolstered all sports.
My ASUN
Liberty
Bellarmine
Lipscomb
UNA*
JSU*
KSU*
West Florida*
Valdosta State*
UNF*
JU
Stetson#
FGCU*
If Liberty leaves, invite West Georgia.
If Bellarmine leaves, invite UAH.