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Post by unalions on Nov 11, 2021 14:12:20 GMT -6
Liberty leaving hurts our RPI and in turn hurts the individual school. But, at least we can build. Bellarmine and EKU should bring it up, I think we progressively get better as well. FGCU needs to get back to what they were doing and Lipscomb can consistently be a winner. I just wonder if we will keep divisions now or go back to playing everyone. Yeah I agree, FGCU needs to be successful again. Or, we can just take their place instead, haha. Liberty and JSU are still with us through next year, right? So two seasons counting this one? Plus we add Austin Peay next year. We have no choice but to find another football school once JSU leaves, but I'd assume finding two would be better. That would put us at 14. With 14 you can do two divisions, round-robin in your own and play everybody from the other division once to make 19 conference games. That seems to be the trend these days, and I'm guessing that's what the conference would like to do. Honestly I'd prefer to find four football schools, or at least three and a no-football to pair with them (Arkansas-Little Rock?). But unless the ASUN goes in for the kill on the OVC, the options seem limited. Yes, they leave July 1, 2023. So, the ASUN conference will be interesting next season with everyone. One call-up non-football school to consider is UAH. It would greatly benefit both programs to be back in the same conference.
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Post by northalaspectator on Nov 11, 2021 16:41:07 GMT -6
Yes need a football school, but also need some non-football schools from D2 call ups from the Sunshine State Conference and the Peach Belt Conference.
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Post by roaringsince96 on Nov 11, 2021 20:09:09 GMT -6
Can’t blame the D2 schools for staying pat. Cost a lot to move up to D1. We do have a higher attendance which helps and we also saved up for the 3 million buy in fee. That is a lot of money for D2 schools. West Georgia has some help with the lottery and their stadium is closer to D1 ready than anyone else…including us. I went to their stadium and was completely jealous. I have no idea what the basketball gym or other facilities size or condition are? Most D2 would have to add more sports to have the number for D1 which is quite a cost in itself. I am guessing the ASUN commish is glad our transition is almost over and wants to add some already established D1 programs. JSU hurt, I hate it because of the rivalry and that they have 1 upped us again. I think Samford is very logical choice. I hope Samford is part of the discussion.
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Post by unafied on Nov 12, 2021 6:51:45 GMT -6
Thinking some more on the D2 subject, I actually don't think inviting D2 schools would help us for 2023. Part of the reason that the WAC/ASUN alliance happened this year was that the WAC's D2 callups, Dixie State and Tarleton, couldn't be counted towards their conference number. Without them (and Southern Utah, who hasn't left the Big Sky yet), they only had the 4 defecting Southland schools to count as being part of the conference.
So the ASUN needs to come up with another current FCS school for 2023, or we run the risk of not keeping the playoff autobid. Now I think we'd probably qualify for the waiver for conferences that fall under 6, but I think it's just a 2-year waiver. So inviting D2 schools TODAY, and them starting a 4-year transition in, say, summer of 2022, would not help our numbers for an entire 4 years.
I hope Gumbart has kept up a good relationship with the Big South. Having to fall back to keeping football in the BS wouldn't be THAT bad, if we still get to bring all the ASUN teams in with us. Honestly, I think it could be a really solid conference.
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Post by unafied on Nov 12, 2021 12:21:25 GMT -6
FWIW, Incarnate Word has joined the WAC.
So, you now have the following FCS conferences in the south: - ASUN (5 members) - Southland (6) - OVC (6) - Big South: 7 (not counting us and KSU, but counting Monmouth and Robert Morris who are just football affiliates)
You know what SHOULD happen, but most likely won't? Just create 3 "football conferences" like the MVFC and divide those 24 teams into groups of 8. Let everyone keep their Olympic sports in whatever conference they're in. This really shouldn't be so difficult.
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Post by brandon on Nov 12, 2021 12:34:41 GMT -6
FWIW, Incarnate Word has joined the WAC. So, you now have the following FCS conferences in the south: - ASUN (5 members) - Southland (6) - OVC (6) - Big South: 7 (not counting us and KSU, but counting Monmouth and Robert Morris who are just football affiliates) You know what SHOULD happen, but most likely won't? Just create 3 "football conferences" like the MVFC and divide those 24 teams into groups of 8. Let everyone keep their Olympic sports in whatever conference they're in. This really shouldn't be so difficult. I think the ASUN should get a couple, if not 3 Southland schools, or 1 fro OVC and 1 or 2 from the Southland. Then the OVC or Southland should just drop football and combine with the other for football only. My scenario would include Murray State moving to the ASUN, they bring football, but more importantly they bring great basketball tradition and a couple of historical rivalries with Austin Peay and EKU. Then I would see what 2 Louisiana schools want to leave the Southland and join the ASUN the most. I do know that all 4 have approached the ASUN about possible membership.
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Post by brandon on Nov 12, 2021 12:38:46 GMT -6
As far as Murray State goes, I tend to think if the MVC wanted them, they would have invited by now, I could be wrong.
But I would make them, if they came to the ASUN, spend a little more money on football and baseball.
And maybe instead of bringing in a Southland school, I would still be begging West Florida to make the transition.
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Post by brandon on Nov 12, 2021 12:39:28 GMT -6
I think our top 2 going forward should be Murray and West Florida.
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Post by unafied on Nov 12, 2021 12:58:35 GMT -6
FWIW, Incarnate Word has joined the WAC. So, you now have the following FCS conferences in the south: - ASUN (5 members) - Southland (6) - OVC (6) - Big South: 7 (not counting us and KSU, but counting Monmouth and Robert Morris who are just football affiliates) You know what SHOULD happen, but most likely won't? Just create 3 "football conferences" like the MVFC and divide those 24 teams into groups of 8. Let everyone keep their Olympic sports in whatever conference they're in. This really shouldn't be so difficult. I think the ASUN should get a couple, if not 3 Southland schools, or 1 fro OVC and 1 or 2 from the Southland. Then the OVC or Southland should just drop football and combine with the other for football only. My scenario would include Murray State moving to the ASUN, they bring football, but more importantly they bring great basketball tradition and a couple of historical rivalries with Austin Peay and EKU. Then I would see what 2 Louisiana schools want to leave the Southland and join the ASUN the most. I do know that all 4 have approached the ASUN about possible membership. I keep forgetting about Murray, but yeah, I agree. They'd be a good add. We need to build up other sports and they'd easily be the best basketball program in the conference. Southeastern Louisiana would probably be the only one from the Southland I'd be interested in. But Nichols isn't really that far from them. They're both on the eastern side of the state, so I could see them both coming if one agrees to. Heck, the Southland promised the moon to McNeese to get them to stay. You have to wonder how that makes the other schools feel. Plus, McNeese is very open about wanting to go to FBS if they can find a conference that will take them.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 13, 2021 7:56:09 GMT -6
Have no problem with Southern Lou and Nichols, other than travel. Shoring up the ASun may require making concessions on travel. Travel to east La ain't great but it ain't terrible either. They may be ready to move on after the deal for McNeese. A move to ASun may be viewed as a risk due to the real potential of others (EKU) trying to follow the path of JSU. I'm sure this gives pause to those looking at a move to the ASun. We need to beef up. Also have no problem with Murray. I think it's honorable that we are trying to not bring about the demise of other conferences but we have to hope for reciprocation from those same conferences.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 13, 2021 7:58:27 GMT -6
As far as Murray State goes, I tend to think if the MVC wanted them, they would have invited by now, I could be wrong. But I would make them, if they came to the ASUN, spend a little more money on football and baseball. And maybe instead of bringing in a Southland school, I would still be begging West Florida to make the transition. Could probably point that same finger at us with regard to expenditures.
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Post by brandon on Nov 13, 2021 11:46:34 GMT -6
As far as Murray State goes, I tend to think if the MVC wanted them, they would have invited by now, I could be wrong. But I would make them, if they came to the ASUN, spend a little more money on football and baseball. And maybe instead of bringing in a Southland school, I would still be begging West Florida to make the transition. Could probably point that same finger at us with regard to expenditures. Yeah, but I'm banking on us raising our budget going forward out of the transition. Murray don't spend much compared to others for football. I would like to see them add on to there stadium instead of just having the one grandstand. I can't say too much about them other than what I've heard from people who have been around them or are affiliated with them.
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Post by unalions on Nov 16, 2021 16:47:33 GMT -6
Maybe it’s time for Gumbart to pressure Stetson football to join the ASUN. They started their program up again 2013 after stopping it in the late 50s. Maybe it’s time they up the ante from the Pioneer League and crazy travel.
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Post by tuna85 on Nov 16, 2021 17:41:59 GMT -6
Maybe it’s time for Gumbart to pressure Stetson football to join the ASUN. They started their program up again 2013 after stopping it in the late 50s. Maybe it’s time they up the ante from the Pioneer League and crazy travel. If they could get Stetson to step up, I wonder if that would encourage West Florida to move up. Pensacola to Daytona for travel partners?
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Post by unafied on Nov 17, 2021 7:35:55 GMT -6
So now Loyola Chicago from the MVC is moving to the A-10. Murray State is heavily favored to be at least one of their replacements in the MVC. That would leave the OVC at 7 for all sports, but just 5 in football.
Murray, I think, might have been the easiest school to convince to join the ASUN had this not happened. But if they get in the MVC like most expect, what do we do now?
I know Commissioner Ted said he wouldn't put the stake in another conference, but the OVC is dying. Bringing over at least 2 of the Tennessee schools makes too much sense to not do. Plus it may be the only hope we have to have a fully-functioning football conference.
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