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Post by ekusteve on Feb 8, 2021 18:36:27 GMT -6
Our AD said in the press conference after the announcement that they had met with the ASUN January of 2020. So it would not surprise me if the OVC queries were in reaction to that. Ted Gumbart is either a fantastic salesman, or you guys had grievances with the OVC before the COVID stuff. Am I wrong? I know y'all have an eventual goal of moving to FBS, but I'm guessing there's more to this move than just that (and I'll go on the record of saying this whole "move to FBS as a conference" idea is a fantasy). The OVC administration is really looking out of touch in this whole deal. Either way, I'm excited about being in a conference with EKU. I've tried to do my research on your university since all of this has went down. Richmond seems to be similar to Florence, in size if nothing else. Hopefully I can make it up there for some games eventually. The vote that blocked UNA and NKU didn't help matters after we agreed to add Belmont.
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Post by newkidontheblock on Feb 11, 2021 9:06:25 GMT -6
Here's what I have right now:
The ASUN is still working through options. Source says its unlikely they can add more members for the fall, but still not ruling it out.
The partnership with the Big South or WAC would be more of a showcase, per se. I.E. SEC/Big 12 basketball challenge. The two leagues would schedule a weekend where schools from both leagues play each other. That's an event they want to announce Feb. 23.
On the other side, the Big South says they don't expect to add anymore members for fall 21.
Basically, league officials are staying rather quiet.
Seems odd that the league would plan an announcement at the College Football Hall of Fame Feb. 23 with coaches, ADs and school presidents there if it wasn't BIG news, so I guess everyone will know then.
Personally, I'm expecting more teams to join. Just not entirely sure how soon that can take place.
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Post by unafied on Feb 17, 2021 6:46:55 GMT -6
This was posted on some other boards yesterday, but didn't see it here. This is ASUN Commissioner Gumbart's Twitter account and is in reference to the event on Tuesday. Pretty official that no other school will be added for this fall, at least. Hopefully '22?
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Post by roaringsince96 on Feb 17, 2021 8:53:35 GMT -6
Think you can rule out any D2 school being considered with timeline. I realize eventually Liberty football could be 6 if the conference truly has FBS aspirations. I also think there will be two other prominent universities make the switch within a year. This will be fun to follow.
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Post by ekusteve on Feb 17, 2021 19:17:42 GMT -6
I went back to listen to the Ted Talks on football. What Gumbart said really pointed to using partnerships for the 2021 season for all 5 to have AQ access and 2022 for at least a 6 team ASUN conference. Sounded like the goal is 14 conference members with 7 in football for 2022.
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Post by unafied on Feb 18, 2021 6:53:41 GMT -6
I went back to listen to the Ted Talks on football. What Gumbart said really pointed to using partnerships for the 2021 season for all 5 to have AQ access and 2022 for at least a 6 team ASUN conference. Sounded like the goal is 14 conference members with 7 in football for 2022. I'm curious to see what they come up with for the fall. I think the easiest path would be allowing you guys, JSU, and UCA to be in the Big South. But, it seems their commissioner has said in recent days that they don't expect to take on more teams. I guess he could mean "after this year", but I lean towards assuming the BSC schedule will mostly remain in tact this fall. Which I suppose has you guys potentially forming a "WACSUN" with the Texas teams for hopefully one year only. I almost wish the Big South would release us from the schedule for this coming year. Or at least let us remove two Big South teams and replace them with EKU and UCA. We already play JSU (and Kennesaw of course). What about a scenario where the WACSUN contains all 10 teams for the fall (the ASUN 5 + Southland Texas teams + Tarleton State), but the members only need to play 5 conference games? That would minimize travel. All 5 ASUN teams would have to play one Texas team. Obviously, if a team needed to fill out a schedule there could be a potential for more. The problem here would be if you had co-champs who didn't play each other. Who would win the autobid? Gumbart has us all guessing, which judging by his online personality, is probably something he enjoys.
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Post by brandon on Feb 18, 2021 11:20:28 GMT -6
I'm starting to think the Big South is upset and not willing to allow all of the ASUN schools in. UNA and KSU was already on the schedule so removing them causes problems.
The reason I think they are upset, is because two schools are definitely leaving soon, for the conference that helped them out of a bad situation.
If you go back and listen to the Big South/ASUN football agreement announcement, they said they would like to eventually get to 12 football schools in the Big South via both conferences. Well now they would have it, albeit for 1 season minimum. So why wouldn't they add the 3 to the schedule? Only reasonable explanation is they are upset.
I dont know the legalities, but I would assume that all ASUN schools play together with the WAC if that's what has to be done. (Although that's a lot of unwanted Purple. UCA, SFA, ACU, along with the good Purple UNA) heck, throw all the WAC including Dixie St in the deal, not just the Texas schools.
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Post by unafied on Feb 18, 2021 12:11:28 GMT -6
I'm starting to think the Big South is upset and not willing to allow all of the ASUN schools in. UNA and KSU was already on the schedule so removing them causes problems. The reason I think they are upset, is because two schools are definitely leaving soon, for the conference that helped them out of a bad situation. If you go back and listen to the Big South/ASUN football agreement announcement, they said they would like to eventually get to 12 football schools in the Big South via both conferences. Well now they would have it, albeit for 1 season minimum. So why wouldn't they add the 3 to the schedule? Only reasonable explanation is they are upset. I dont know the legalities, but I would assume that all ASUN schools play together with the WAC if that's what has to be done. (Although that's a lot of unwanted Purple. UCA, SFA, ACU, along with the good Purple UNA) heck, throw all the WAC including Dixie St in the deal, not just the Texas schools. I could see the Big South being miffed at the thought of UNA and KSU being indefinite short-timers in their conference. But then, Gumbart has been talking about this plan for at least the last year. I'm sure the administrations at JSU/EKU/UCA had been negotiating for a while before they were announced to be joining us. So certainly the Big South had to see this coming. It *does* put them back to only 5 full-time football playing members. If for some reason Monmouth and Robert Morris got offers to go somewhere else, they'd be back under the minimum number of teams. But again... the ASUN wasn't exactly keeping their desire to have a football conference secret. So unless there's more to it behind the scenes (which there obviously could be), I'm not sure the Big South has much of a reason to complain. Like I said earlier today, I'd be fine if the Big South released us from our schedule for the fall and we just played ASUN/WAC teams. Of course, if we DO get that waiver to compete for a playoff spot this year, I'd want assurance whatever "conference" we are in will have a bid to the playoffs.
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Post by unafan on Feb 19, 2021 10:09:27 GMT -6
ASUN Football will have Press Conference Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 9 am.
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Post by ekusteve on Feb 19, 2021 11:07:28 GMT -6
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Post by roaringsince96 on Feb 19, 2021 13:02:21 GMT -6
Congrats EKUSteve on picking up Sandburg. He looked like Auburns best passing QB last year.
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Post by brandon on Apr 9, 2021 13:25:57 GMT -6
Hearing rumors of a name change for the conference may be in the works soon.
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Post by tuna85 on Apr 10, 2021 7:11:16 GMT -6
Hearing rumors of a name change for the conference may be in the works soon. I'll bite. Would this be for all sports or a football only conference? Whichever, I hope the announcement includes a here is the #6 team addition for football.
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Post by brandon on Apr 10, 2021 7:43:59 GMT -6
I am hearing all sports... Changing the name of the ASUN. Don't know the validity at the moment. Just hearing it.
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Post by unalions on Apr 10, 2021 12:29:34 GMT -6
I am hearing all sports... Changing the name of the ASUN. Don't know the validity at the moment. Just hearing it. It would be a good move. ASUN makes no sense and most media outlets still call it the Atlantic Sun.
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