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Post by unalions on Feb 28, 2024 17:17:15 GMT -6
UMass headed to the MAC in a move that has surprised several. More rumblings of "mutual interest" between WKU and the MAC. Such a move would pave the way for EKU to get invited to CUSA. Others they would likely consider are Missouri State and Tarleton. A rumor on the D2 board is that UWF is not necessarily looking at the ASUN for a potential jump to D1. My guess is the Southland. Why would they want the Southland? They have history with UNA, UWG and most of the Florida schools... and if a better conference offers, why you take the other? I posted this to the D2 board to someone who mentioned the Southland. One UWG poster also said that they were lobbied hard by the Southland. With those three schools in the NOLA area, those are three conference foes within a 3-hour drive from Pensacola. Much closer than any other conference in D2 or FCS. Now, those three farthest Texas schools are way out (Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Dallas area are all over 10 hours by car) there but no more so than football games in Utah in the ASUN/UAC. All-sports? I dunno.
The ASUN puts similar drives in the picture such as even Ft. Myers here in our own state is over 8.5 hours to get there. Over 9 hours up to Louisville to play Bellarmine. Of course, all of those turn into flights. They try to schedule it so you're in Kentucky for both Bellarmine and EKU. Or in Nashville for both Lipscomb and Austin Peay. Or in Jacksonville, for both JU and North FL. But, it's still a lot of travel. I don't know if it's any better than 7-hour bus trips to Tennessee for Union and Lee from down here, etc, though.
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Post by brandon on Mar 4, 2024 12:06:37 GMT -6
I'm just bringing this up for conversation only, there is no mention that this is a consideration at all...
If any of you still pay attention to the GSC, they are on the brink of losing football all together.
And it's sad because UNA is a founder of the once great conference.
So, what I have gathered is, West Florida is the only football school remotely exploring a move to FCS D1. Valdosta is to my knowledge not planning on leaving D2.
That leave West AL and Delta.
It's a hard to swallow pill, but apparently Delta is on the brink of folding completely. Hopefully they can get a lifeline from Ole Miss or Mississippi State.
West AL on the otherhand has patiently sat back.
My question is, can our rivals in Livingston survive in D2, make the drop to NAIA or, could they possibly make a case for moving to FCS?
Let's look at them...
First endowment, it's low. No question, but is that a determining factor? JSU has a relatively low endowment...
Student population, less than 6k if I remember correctly. Is that really a problem for D1?
Location? Well...
My actually questions are, can the donors and supporters make it happen?
Can they add sports?
Can they upgrade/build new facilities?
Do they have any interest in joining to get back with UNA, West Georgia and possibly West Florida?
Anyway, I think it's something to look at, and discuss... be nice if Andy could reach out to some of their peaple and get them on here.
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Post by unalions on Mar 4, 2024 14:10:05 GMT -6
I'm just bringing this up for conversation only, there is no mention that this is a consideration at all... If any of you still pay attention to the GSC, they are on the brink of losing football all together. And it's sad because UNA is a founder of the once great conference. So, what I have gathered is, West Florida is the only football school remotely exploring a move to FCS D1. Valdosta is to my knowledge not planning on leaving D2. That leave West AL and Delta. It's a hard to swallow pill, but apparently Delta is on the brink of folding completely. Hopefully they can get a lifeline from Ole Miss or Mississippi State. West AL on the otherhand has patiently sat back. My question is, can our rivals in Livingston survive in D2, make the drop to NAIA or, could they possibly make a case for moving to FCS? Let's look at them... First endowment, it's low. No question, but is that a determining factor? JSU has a relatively low endowment... Student population, less than 6k if I remember correctly. Is that really a problem for D1? Location? Well... My actually questions are, can the donors and supporters make it happen? Can they add sports? Can they upgrade/build new facilities? Do they have any interest in joining to get back with UNA, West Georgia and possibly West Florida? Anyway, I think it's something to look at, and discuss... be nice if Andy could reach out to some of their peaple and get them on here. Most think UWA, DSU, and MC might consider the GAC as affiliates in football or as full members. VSU could possibly become an affiliate of the new Conference Carolinas. I don’t think any of them have or even want to spend the money it takes to be D1.
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Post by unafied on Mar 4, 2024 14:32:09 GMT -6
I saw some discussion about Delta merging with Mississippi Valley State. Obviously MVSU is an HBCU, so that would likely be a VERY politically-charged thing to do. But what's interesting is, IF it managed to ever happen, the combined school can use the sports team in the highest classification. Or at least, I think that's the rule. So they could potentially still use the Delta State branding (or a new one), but assume the D1 membership and conference affiliation of MVSU.
Again, don't really expect that to happen for several reasons. But I think it would be theoretically possible. Mississippi definitely has too many schools, but merging ANY schools is difficult enough without making it a (literally) black and white issue.
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Post by brandon on Mar 4, 2024 15:40:13 GMT -6
I saw some discussion about Delta merging with Mississippi Valley State. Obviously MVSU is an HBCU, so that would likely be a VERY politically-charged thing to do. But what's interesting is, IF it managed to ever happen, the combined school can use the sports team in the highest classification. Or at least, I think that's the rule. So they could potentially still use the Delta State branding (or a new one), but assume the D1 membership and conference affiliation of MVSU. Again, don't really expect that to happen for several reasons. But I think it would be theoretically possible. Mississippi definitely has too many schools, but merging ANY schools is difficult enough without making it a (literally) black and white issue. If they merged, would they still be considered an HBCU (Mississippi Delta Valley)? That's a headache to try to figure out. But if they somehow did, I would let them join the ASUN at that point (if the HBCU had to be scrapped because of political reasons) I honestly don't know how that would work though. But if you are right about the merging taking the highest athletics affiliation, would that mean that if Ole Miss would just scrap Deltas athletics? Or would they be able to have there separate thing?
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Post by mtc13 on Mar 7, 2024 16:03:32 GMT -6
I'm just bringing this up for conversation only, there is no mention that this is a consideration at all... If any of you still pay attention to the GSC, they are on the brink of losing football all together. And it's sad because UNA is a founder of the once great conference. So, what I have gathered is, West Florida is the only football school remotely exploring a move to FCS D1. Valdosta is to my knowledge not planning on leaving D2. That leave West AL and Delta. It's a hard to swallow pill, but apparently Delta is on the brink of folding completely. Hopefully they can get a lifeline from Ole Miss or Mississippi State. West AL on the otherhand has patiently sat back. My question is, can our rivals in Livingston survive in D2, make the drop to NAIA or, could they possibly make a case for moving to FCS? Let's look at them... First endowment, it's low. No question, but is that a determining factor? JSU has a relatively low endowment... Student population, less than 6k if I remember correctly. Is that really a problem for D1? Location? Well... My actually questions are, can the donors and supporters make it happen? Can they add sports? Can they upgrade/build new facilities? Do they have any interest in joining to get back with UNA, West Georgia and possibly West Florida? Anyway, I think it's something to look at, and discuss... be nice if Andy could reach out to some of their peaple and get them on here. Just read an article from September of last year that said Delta State was $11 Million in debt. Wow.
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Post by unalions on Mar 20, 2024 20:31:02 GMT -6
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Post by ekusteve on Mar 20, 2024 21:30:16 GMT -6
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Post by brandon on Mar 24, 2024 12:55:18 GMT -6
So we have a few different scenarios going on at the same time
1- the UAC will be down a football member. SUU, UT, ACU, Tarleton, SFA on the WAC side and UCA, UNA, APSU, EKU and UWG on the ASUN side. It evens both sides. So the ASUN or WAC may not be going after a football school at all.
2- seems both the SoCon and CAA is having several schools that are not happy with their current situations. In the SoCon, it's obvious ETSU and Chattanooga are not happy. The CAA schools is harder to figure out. Matt Brown wouldn't be posting it if it's not something to it.
3- what exactly does the ASUN want in terms of numbers? Obviously 12 is a great number, we could stand on it I believe. But if you can add strength, (Chattanooga, ETSU any southern CAA schools) why not go to 14 or 16?
I could be wrong and this is just me thinking without doing any research, but could there be a combination of those two conferences that we could add to 14 or 16 that would potentially make the ASUN a multi bid conference? (That may be what the schools in question could be looking at in the long run) if that's the case, it may be financially advantage for all involved.
Let's look at what schools have and or is doing facility wise.
UNA just upgraded Flowers, even though it holds less peaple than it did, it's a ton nicer. I've heard nothing but compliments from visitors of other schools. Then we have raised a substantial amount of money to build a new (two really) stadiums in a short amount of time.
EKU is upgrading their basketball arena, and I believe they aren't too far removed from a nice baseball stadium renovation.
APSU just built a very nice basketball arena.
Jacksonville has or is building a nice athletic training center. Hopefully they can upgrade their arena?
Stetson has upgraded their already nice baseball stadium.
ETSU built a very nice football stadium
W&M renovated their football stadium a few years ago and made it, in my opinion, one of the coolest in FCS.
My point is, maybe there is a lot more to these rumors that meet the eyes.
They have been saying the landscape is changing, why should the CAA and SoCon be any different? You may not have to be wanting to go to FBS to make a move that puts your program in a better position.
Also I have a question for someone more savy than I.
What is the ASUN media deal? When is it up and how much do they make?
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Post by ekusteve on Mar 24, 2024 15:53:26 GMT -6
I have to research the ASUN deal. I did check the CAA deal. Basketball is on CBS Sports Network. Football and other sports are on FloSports.
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Post by ekusteve on Mar 24, 2024 17:18:07 GMT -6
Other rumblings from other boards.
New thread on CSN BBS board about OVC accepting non-football schools since, from what the poster has heard, Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin are looking to leave the OVC.
Discussion on the AGS board on the potential of SFA returning to the Southland once the new president and AD are on board.
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Post by brandon on Mar 24, 2024 18:56:01 GMT -6
Other rumblings from other boards. New thread on CSN BBS board about OVC accepting non-football schools since, from what the poster has heard, Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin are looking to leave the OVC. Discussion on the AGS board on the potential of SFA returning to the Southland once the new president and AD are on board. I have talked to the Rev about SFA... his words, "there is no chance SFA is Leaving the WAC/UAC..." I have heard thar UT Martin and Tennessee Tech have wanted to join the ASUN. But it has taken so long and their fan base just isn't as vocal as ours (UNA and EKU) so it's hard to put them into a category. I have issues with both though, especially if we can get other schools from the CAA and SoCon potentially. What this tells me is that the ASUN is still in a Bull market.
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Post by ekusteve on Mar 24, 2024 19:55:05 GMT -6
Other rumblings from other boards. New thread on CSN BBS board about OVC accepting non-football schools since, from what the poster has heard, Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin are looking to leave the OVC. Discussion on the AGS board on the potential of SFA returning to the Southland once the new president and AD are on board. I have talked to the Rev about SFA... his words, "there is no chance SFA is Leaving the WAC/UAC..." I have heard thar UT Martin and Tennessee Tech have wanted to join the ASUN. But it has taken so long and their fan base just isn't as vocal as ours (UNA and EKU) so it's hard to put them into a category. I have issues with both though, especially if we can get other schools from the CAA and SoCon potentially. What this tells me is that the ASUN is still in a Bull market. Good to hear for SFA. East Coast conferences in a churn. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
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Post by unafied on Mar 25, 2024 6:40:39 GMT -6
Other rumblings from other boards. New thread on CSN BBS board about OVC accepting non-football schools since, from what the poster has heard, Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin are looking to leave the OVC. Discussion on the AGS board on the potential of SFA returning to the Southland once the new president and AD are on board. I have talked to the Rev about SFA... his words, "there is no chance SFA is Leaving the WAC/UAC..." I have heard thar UT Martin and Tennessee Tech have wanted to join the ASUN. But it has taken so long and their fan base just isn't as vocal as ours (UNA and EKU) so it's hard to put them into a category. I have issues with both though, especially if we can get other schools from the CAA and SoCon potentially. What this tells me is that the ASUN is still in a Bull market. I agree that the ASUN should aim higher if they can. I really want to grow as a basketball league, for one, and neither Martin or TTU really help much in that regard (historically anyway). If we can build a reputation and have our champs get up to that 12 or 13 line in the tournament, we can start winning some games. I actually think TTU has a high ceiling if they could ever start to put it together. I wouldn't mind taking them some day if they help balance out an odd number of teams. But I think IF there's a chance to grab someone from the CAA or SoCon, they have to be behind those targets.
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Post by roaringsince96 on Mar 25, 2024 7:29:11 GMT -6
Landing UTC would help in every sport and really give the conference that cornerstone piece. Would love to have them on schedule for all conference games. Would force the rest of the conference to get better.
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