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Post by northalaspectator on Oct 22, 2020 14:39:27 GMT -6
The WAC has invited 4 football playing schools from the Southland Conference. Stephen F. Austin Lamar Sam Houston State Abilene Christian
If all 4 leave, Remaining in the Southland Houston Baptist (non-football) Texas A&M Corpus Christi (non-football) New Orleans (non-football) Incarnate Word McNeese State Northwestern State Nichols State Southeastern Louisiana Central Arkansas
If the Southland added North Alabama Kennesaw State Jacksonville State
That would give 12 schools with 9 playing football.
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Post by newkidontheblock on Oct 22, 2020 15:31:35 GMT -6
Question... While I understand why folks on here like to talk about conference realignment and why it could seem like some are good options for the future...
What is wrong with the Big South in most of your opinions? Is it because it wasn't the ideal choice for UNA to begin with, geography with opponents, all of the above, etc?
Just wanted to gauge the crowd on this one.. Thanks.
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Post by brandon on Oct 22, 2020 16:12:32 GMT -6
Question... While I understand why folks on here like to talk about conference realignment and why it could seem like some are good options for the future... What is wrong with the Big South in most of your opinions? Is it because it wasn't the ideal choice for UNA to begin with, geography with opponents, all of the above, etc? Just wanted to gauge the crowd on this one.. Thanks. I dont mind the Big South in general. But, what's not ideal is the setup. Two ASUN teams have to travel more than the other Big South schools, and they add another associate member basically out of region(RMU) As far as schools in the Big South, there are only a couple that may intrest our fans on a yearly schedule, and I'm being modest.
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Post by brandon on Oct 22, 2020 16:14:19 GMT -6
The WAC has invited 4 football playing schools from the Southland Conference. Stephen F. Austin Lamar Sam Houston State Abilene Christian If all 4 leave, Remaining in the Southland Houston Baptist (non-football) Texas A&M Corpus Christi (non-football) New Orleans (non-football) Incarnate Word McNeese State Northwestern State Nichols State Southeastern Louisiana Central Arkansas If the Southland added North Alabama Kennesaw State Jacksonville State That would give 12 schools with 9 playing football. I would be intrigued... UNA, KSU and JSU playing primarily in Louisiana with some Texas. Not bad. And schools UNA fans should be interested in. And rumors are going around that New Orleans may have football back on the agenda. Oh yeah, Houston Baptist plays football...
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Post by northalaspectator on Oct 23, 2020 0:35:33 GMT -6
Question... While I understand why folks on here like to talk about conference realignment and why it could seem like some are good options for the future... What is wrong with the Big South in most of your opinions? Is it because it wasn't the ideal choice for UNA to begin with, geography with opponents, all of the above, etc? Just wanted to gauge the crowd on this one.. Thanks. The WAC has invited 4 football playing schools from the Southland Conference. Stephen F. Austin Lamar Sam Houston State Abilene Christian If all 4 leave, Remaining in the Southland Houston Baptist (non-football) Texas A&M Corpus Christi (non-football) New Orleans (non-football) Incarnate Word McNeese State Northwestern State Nichols State Southeastern Louisiana Central Arkansas If the Southland added North Alabama Kennesaw State Jacksonville State That would give 12 schools with 9 playing football. I would be intrigued... UNA, KSU and JSU playing primarily in Louisiana with some Texas. Not bad. And schools UNA fans should be interested in. And rumors are going around that New Orleans may have football back on the agenda. Oh yeah, Houston Baptist plays football... Sorry about not listening Houston Baptist as being a football school.
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Post by unafied on Oct 23, 2020 7:23:48 GMT -6
Question... While I understand why folks on here like to talk about conference realignment and why it could seem like some are good options for the future... What is wrong with the Big South in most of your opinions? Is it because it wasn't the ideal choice for UNA to begin with, geography with opponents, all of the above, etc? Just wanted to gauge the crowd on this one.. Thanks. To me, the Big South just feels like a stopgap solution. It's a mutually beneficial setup at the moment, but we still aren't "one of them". I assume they could end the agreement with the ASUN and leave us and Kennesaw out in the cold any time they feel like it. Not that they have a reason to, but still. Additionally, it's been hard for me as a fan to care much about the schools we are playing. Private schools in the Carolinas are just not that exciting. New Jersey? Pittsburgh? Fun places to visit maybe (Monmouth is basically metro NYC), but not really ideal travel destinations for our football program. Obviously moving to FCS meant playing new teams and developing new rivalries. But it's hard to invest in caring about building rivalries with these teams since it feels like the Big South is a temporary stop for us. I'd much rather be in the OVC and playing several teams within a reasonable driving distance and having JSU as a permanent opponent. The SoCon would be better as well, though they're snobs that probably won't have us. The Southland idea is probably still more intriguing to me than the Big South setup. We'd lose Florida as a recruiting ground for Olympic sports, but we'd gain access to Louisiana and Texas. And at least we have history with opponents like Central Arkansas and SELA, even though it's been a while. Now, if the ASUN/Big South could convince West Florida and Valdosta to move up... my mind could certainly change. But now I fear that COVID has made that even less likely than it was before. I just wish an FCS czar would take power and totally redraw the conferences in the southeast. There is no reason, for example, that UNA, Jacksonville State, and Chattanooga should be in three different conferences. I'm generally a traditionalist, but great rivalries and easy travel are being missed out on (for multiple teams) due to decades-old agreements.
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Post by brandon on Oct 23, 2020 8:41:02 GMT -6
Question... While I understand why folks on here like to talk about conference realignment and why it could seem like some are good options for the future... What is wrong with the Big South in most of your opinions? Is it because it wasn't the ideal choice for UNA to begin with, geography with opponents, all of the above, etc? Just wanted to gauge the crowd on this one.. Thanks. To me, the Big South just feels like a stopgap solution. It's a mutually beneficial setup at the moment, but we still aren't "one of them". I assume they could end the agreement with the ASUN and leave us and Kennesaw out in the cold any time they feel like it. Not that they have a reason to, but still. Additionally, it's been hard for me as a fan to care much about the schools we are playing. Private schools in the Carolinas are just not that exciting. New Jersey? Pittsburgh? Fun places to visit maybe (Monmouth is basically metro NYC), but not really ideal travel destinations for our football program. Obviously moving to FCS meant playing new teams and developing new rivalries. But it's hard to invest in caring about building rivalries with these teams since it feels like the Big South is a temporary stop for us. I'd much rather be in the OVC and playing several teams within a reasonable driving distance and having JSU as a permanent opponent. The SoCon would be better as well, though they're snobs that probably won't have us. The Southland idea is probably still more intriguing to me than the Big South setup. We'd lose Florida as a recruiting ground for Olympic sports, but we'd gain access to Louisiana and Texas. And at least we have history with opponents like Central Arkansas and SELA, even though it's been a while. Now, if the ASUN/Big South could convince West Florida and Valdosta to move up... my mind could certainly change. But now I fear that COVID has made that even less likely than it was before. I just wish an FCS czar would take power and totally redraw the conferences in the southeast. There is no reason, for example, that UNA, Jacksonville State, and Chattanooga should be in three different conferences. I'm generally a traditionalist, but great rivalries and easy travel are being missed out on (for multiple teams) due to decades-old agreements. The ASUN is the conference I think fits UNA very well. I hate to leave. Ideally for me is the ASUN have enough football members to sponsor football. Bring in JSU and a few more. But that's probably outside the realm of possibilities. I really dont like the OVC for a few reasons, and the only things I really like about it is JSU, Murray St and EKU. And that's not enough for me to want in the OVC, especially after what happened with them in 2011. The Southern Conference has problems as well, all though they stay together because of the hefty price tag associated with leaving. I know UTC isn't too happy, and now the Citadel is pissed. (Maybe the ASUN can pay their fees and bring them in to start football) UTC, UNA, JSU, KSU, Citadel and West Florida wouldn't be a bad start... The Southland would be my go to for UNA, there is some recent familiarity (UCA) and East Texas schools ain't too bad of a trip for UNA. If we got JSU and KSU involved, even better. But what could happen, if the WAC thing goes through, is the Southland stays pat. They dont have to add anyone, but decided not to sponsor football anymore, and instead work out a deal with the ASUN to have an independent football conference. I know, ideally you want all sports in the same conference... I get it, I'm just saying what could happen. If we go to the Southland, i would hope it's a package deal with JSU and KSU. I would also throw West Florida in the mix as well.
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Post by brandon on Oct 23, 2020 8:43:07 GMT -6
Question... While I understand why folks on here like to talk about conference realignment and why it could seem like some are good options for the future... What is wrong with the Big South in most of your opinions? Is it because it wasn't the ideal choice for UNA to begin with, geography with opponents, all of the above, etc? Just wanted to gauge the crowd on this one.. Thanks. I would be intrigued... UNA, KSU and JSU playing primarily in Louisiana with some Texas. Not bad. And schools UNA fans should be interested in. And rumors are going around that New Orleans may have football back on the agenda. Oh yeah, Houston Baptist plays football... Sorry about not listening Houston Baptist as being a football school. Not getting on ya, don't know if you realized that or not...
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Post by unalions on Oct 23, 2020 16:33:05 GMT -6
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Post by roaringsince96 on Oct 23, 2020 19:03:16 GMT -6
I like the Big South with Campbell, Charleston Southern, Hampton and Kennesaw State. Monmouth is also well known, just quite the travel, doubt I ever make it to that game. Imagine people from the south are very familiar with those teams. I think UNA could make the playoffs in their first year of eligibility in the Big South. Emphasize could, still work to do, but talent and depth seem to be improving. If UNA does change to another conference it should be conference with local teams like UTC or JSU in it. I do not think playing random teams in conferences with zero history will excite fans. FCS schools from other states aren't going to be well known, unless the FCS school is from state of Georgia or Tennessee, and sometimes that is still unknown.
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Post by brandon on Oct 23, 2020 21:31:05 GMT -6
I like the Big South with Campbell, Charleston Southern, Hampton and Kennesaw State. Monmouth is also well known, just quite the travel, doubt I ever make it to that game. Imagine people from the south are very familiar with those teams. I think UNA could make the playoffs in their first year of eligibility in the Big South. Emphasize could, still work to do, but talent and depth seem to be improving. If UNA does change to another conference it should be conference with local teams like UTC or JSU in it. I do not think playing random teams in conferences with zero history will excite fans. FCS schools from other states aren't going to be well known, unless the FCS school is from state of Georgia or Tennessee, and sometimes that is still unknown. We have history with several Southland schools. Most in the old GSC.
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Post by tuna85 on Oct 24, 2020 13:10:31 GMT -6
Not so much a fan of going out West. I have not actually looked but, throwing out Monmouth, is it that big of an advantage from a travel standpoint? I do like the potential of the Big South and could see some pretty good rivalries going forward. I know we had a pretty good rivalry with Central Arkansas but, thinking back to the days when we had a bunch of Arkansas Schools...well it seems that the school nicknames were the most entertaining part of that bundle. Wish there would be a realignment of FCS, along regional lines, but I figure that to be a bridge too far right now.
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Post by brandon on Oct 26, 2020 0:01:04 GMT -6
Not so much a fan of going out West. I have not actually looked but, throwing out Monmouth, is it that big of an advantage from a travel standpoint? I do like the potential of the Big South and could see some pretty good rivalries going forward. I know we had a pretty good rivalry with Central Arkansas but, thinking back to the days when we had a bunch of Arkansas Schools...well it seems that the school nicknames were the most entertaining part of that bundle. Wish there would be a realignment of FCS, along regional lines, but I figure that to be a bridge too far right now. I guess my hang up on the Big South at the moment has more to do with RMU and Monmouth. I'll accept Monmouth because they add more strength than RMU (maybe I'm wrong), I just dont like adding just to throw bones, and that exactly the case in RMU. I go back to the statement that was made when the Big South and ASUN partnered, "as long as the ASUN invites football members that is in the geographic footprint, or a neighboring state". Then why do they not go by their own rule? I think the majority of the Big South (football) is fine, without JMU and without potentially Monmouth. I like the Big South football more if we get rid of those two or mainly RMU and pull in a 10th for the ASUN that has football. I would prefer JSU or West Florida. I dont think West Georgia or Valdosta wants to move. And I understand the appeal of having everything in the same conference, but I think that having UNA and KSU in all sports and as strong as the Big South could be, JSU may be willing to move to the ASUN. In fact, at least in my opinion, it was kinda alluded to during the UNA-JSU game. And JSUs coach said in an interview that they probably need to be in the same conference, so its probably being looked at at least. My Big South Hampton Campbell Gardner Webb NCA&T Charlston Southern KSU JSU UNA I dont think the Big South adds anymore full members because with NCA&T they will be at 12 full members. The ASUN still has room, I like 10, but 12 could happen, and apparently while the ASUN/UAC thing was going, there were some schools on the hook or it wouldn't have been made public. So 12 may be in the near future.
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Post by tuna85 on Oct 26, 2020 9:08:43 GMT -6
Not so much a fan of going out West. I have not actually looked but, throwing out Monmouth, is it that big of an advantage from a travel standpoint? I do like the potential of the Big South and could see some pretty good rivalries going forward. I know we had a pretty good rivalry with Central Arkansas but, thinking back to the days when we had a bunch of Arkansas Schools...well it seems that the school nicknames were the most entertaining part of that bundle. Wish there would be a realignment of FCS, along regional lines, but I figure that to be a bridge too far right now. I guess my hang up on the Big South at the moment has more to do with RMU and Monmouth. I'll accept Monmouth because they add more strength than RMU (maybe I'm wrong), I just dont like adding just to throw bones, and that exactly the case in RMU. I go back to the statement that was made when the Big South and ASUN partnered, "as long as the ASUN invites football members that is in the geographic footprint, or a neighboring state". Then why do they not go by their own rule? I think the majority of the Big South (football) is fine, without JMU and without potentially Monmouth. I like the Big South football more if we get rid of those two or mainly RMU and pull in a 10th for the ASUN that has football. I would prefer JSU or West Florida. I dont think West Georgia or Valdosta wants to move. And I understand the appeal of having everything in the same conference, but I think that having UNA and KSU in all sports and as strong as the Big South could be, JSU may be willing to move to the ASUN. In fact, at least in my opinion, it was kinda alluded to during the UNA-JSU game. And JSUs coach said in an interview that they probably need to be in the same conference, so its probably being looked at at least. My Big South Hampton Campbell Gardner Webb NCA&T Charlston Southern KSU JSU UNA I dont think the Big South adds anymore full members because with NCA&T they will be at 12 full members. The ASUN still has room, I like 10, but 12 could happen, and apparently while the ASUN/UAC thing was going, there were some schools on the hook or it wouldn't have been made public. So 12 may be in the near future.
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Post by tuna85 on Oct 26, 2020 9:12:23 GMT -6
Not so much a fan of going out West. I have not actually looked but, throwing out Monmouth, is it that big of an advantage from a travel standpoint? I do like the potential of the Big South and could see some pretty good rivalries going forward. I know we had a pretty good rivalry with Central Arkansas but, thinking back to the days when we had a bunch of Arkansas Schools...well it seems that the school nicknames were the most entertaining part of that bundle. Wish there would be a realignment of FCS, along regional lines, but I figure that to be a bridge too far right now. I guess my hang up on the Big South at the moment has more to do with RMU and Monmouth. I'll accept Monmouth because they add more strength than RMU (maybe I'm wrong), I just dont like adding just to throw bones, and that exactly the case in RMU. I go back to the statement that was made when the Big South and ASUN partnered, "as long as the ASUN invites football members that is in the geographic footprint, or a neighboring state". Then why do they not go by their own rule? I think the majority of the Big South (football) is fine, without JMU and without potentially Monmouth. I like the Big South football more if we get rid of those two or mainly RMU and pull in a 10th for the ASUN that has football. I would prefer JSU or West Florida. I dont think West Georgia or Valdosta wants to move. And I understand the appeal of having everything in the same conference, but I think that having UNA and KSU in all sports and as strong as the Big South could be, JSU may be willing to move to the ASUN. In fact, at least in my opinion, it was kinda alluded to during the UNA-JSU game. And JSUs coach said in an interview that they probably need to be in the same conference, so its probably being looked at at least. My Big South Hampton Campbell Gardner Webb NCA&T Charlston Southern KSU JSU UNA I dont think the Big South adds anymore full members because with NCA&T they will be at 12 full members. The ASUN still has room, I like 10, but 12 could happen, and apparently while the ASUN/UAC thing was going, there were some schools on the hook or it wouldn't have been made public. So 12 may be in the near future. Your Big South looks to be pretty competitive. Would make for some strong football. Best of all world's would be one conference for all sports in a compact region. Wish the ASun could make it happen.
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