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Post by brandon on Feb 20, 2022 19:58:02 GMT -6
Does anyone know either from an administration viewpoint or from an alumni fan base which of the following schools have FBS aspirations? Eastern Kentucky Kennesaw State North Alabama Central Arkansas Austin Peay From an fan base at least 5% of the fans I personally think all have aspirations to go FBS... I also think one way or another, they all will, possibly at the same time. |
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Post by unafied on Feb 21, 2022 7:07:13 GMT -6
? Not following you, pal. If the OVC would have done the right thing in 2011, chances are they wouldn't be in this position... Possibly so. But, and I know ekusteve could probably comment on this better than me, apparently the OVC has a lot of leadership issues. Passing on us was one of them, I suppose. In an alternate timeline, we might have just joined EKU, JSU, and Austin Peay as teams from the OVC leaving to join the ASUN. |
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ekusteve
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Post by ekusteve on Feb 21, 2022 7:41:03 GMT -6
If the OVC would have done the right thing in 2011, chances are they wouldn't be in this position... Possibly so. But, and I know ekusteve could probably comment on this better than me, apparently the OVC has a lot of leadership issues. Passing on us was one of them, I suppose. In an alternate timeline, we might have just joined EKU, JSU, and Austin Peay as teams from the OVC leaving to join the ASUN. I think 2011 started the issue for both EKU and JSU. Not adding UNA with football and only adding non-football schools was definitely an issue. Last football school added was EIU in 96. |
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Post by unaman on Feb 21, 2022 9:29:51 GMT -6
Does anyone see the irony in all this? Ironically, if UNA would have done the right thing in the 90s when OVC extended invite to them, we wouldn’t be in this predicament and barely getting by as D1. |
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Post by brandon on Feb 21, 2022 10:34:55 GMT -6
Does anyone see the irony in all this? Ironically, if UNA would have done the right thing in the 90s when OVC extended invite to them, we wouldn’t be in this predicament and barely getting by as D1. I don't recall the OVC extending an invite in the 90s... |
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Post by brandon on Mar 31, 2022 17:54:05 GMT -6
Doing some reflection on our current situation... Question...
What is the ceiling for the ASUN as a whole? What can we expect in the big sports? (Baseball, Football, Basketball, men's and women's. And Softball)
After Liberty and JSU is gone.
My thoughts is
Men's Basketball can get 2-3 in eventually if we can (a) keep current lineup and (b) keep KSU, JU and UNA improving.
Football can be a top 3 conference in FCS
Baseball can be the best non power 5 conference in the country. And better than some depending on the year.
Women's Basketball can be a great conference if UNA can improve. It would be hard not to have 2 in the tournament if FGCU and someone (Hopefully us) Step up and battle for both the reg season champ and the tournament champ.
Softball, I'm not sure. But with Liberty and JSU leaving, UNA has an opening to take over the conference. Not sure how deep it will be.
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Post by unaman on Apr 1, 2022 8:51:28 GMT -6
I love your optimism!
Basketball-ASUN will always be a 1 bid league unless a team becomes a well known name like Butler or Murrary State and have great 30 win seasons over the span of 5 years and they end up losing in the conference championship.
Football- Has a chance at being top 5, but this will require UNA to be more competitive each year
Baseball- Can be a top 5 non power 5 conference; Sun Belt, CUSA, and American are far better... ASUN has to have teams like UNA, UCA, Jacksonville, and North Florida to be more competitive
Women's Basketball-Agreed, can be a great league with FGCU and UNA
Softball- UNA is competitive right now, but still behind other teams like UCA, FGCU, and others
Golf is the one sport UNA needs to invest in, as UNA could be a top D1 program with the right investments.
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Post by unalions on Apr 1, 2022 10:11:17 GMT -6
That’s not the word that came to my mind first. lol. |
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Post by brandon on Apr 1, 2022 11:23:57 GMT -6
I love your optimism! Basketball-ASUN will always be a 1 bid league unless a team becomes a well known name like Butler or Murrary State and have great 30 win seasons over the span of 5 years and they end up losing in the conference championship. Football- Has a chance at being top 5, but this will require UNA to be more competitive each year Baseball- Can be a top 5 non power 5 conference; Sun Belt, CUSA, and American are far better... ASUN has to have teams like UNA, UCA, Jacksonville, and North Florida to be more competitive Women's Basketball-Agreed, can be a great league with FGCU and UNA Softball- UNA is competitive right now, but still behind other teams like UCA, FGCU, and others Golf is the one sport UNA needs to invest in, as UNA could be a top D1 program with the right investments. Golf should be a great sport for UNA... I think Bellarmine, FGCU, Lipscomb can be the consistent top of conference, with UNA, KSU, EKU and UNF fighting for middle and upper tier spots regularly... It wouldn't surprise me to see 2 bids in the future. I think a couple of other conferences are way overblown to be honest and I think selection committee is seeing that as well. Overall, UNA, KSU and UCA needs to step it up a few notches, but I think it can happen |
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Post by unaman on Apr 1, 2022 13:55:37 GMT -6
I love your optimism! Basketball-ASUN will always be a 1 bid league unless a team becomes a well known name like Butler or Murrary State and have great 30 win seasons over the span of 5 years and they end up losing in the conference championship. Football- Has a chance at being top 5, but this will require UNA to be more competitive each year Baseball- Can be a top 5 non power 5 conference; Sun Belt, CUSA, and American are far better... ASUN has to have teams like UNA, UCA, Jacksonville, and North Florida to be more competitive Women's Basketball-Agreed, can be a great league with FGCU and UNA Softball- UNA is competitive right now, but still behind other teams like UCA, FGCU, and others Golf is the one sport UNA needs to invest in, as UNA could be a top D1 program with the right investments. Golf should be a great sport for UNA... I think Bellarmine, FGCU, Lipscomb can be the consistent top of conference, with UNA, KSU, EKU and UNF fighting for middle and upper tier spots regularly... It wouldn't surprise me to see 2 bids in the future. I think a couple of other conferences are way overblown to be honest and I think selection committee is seeing that as well. Overall, UNA, KSU and UCA needs to step it up a few notches, but I think it can happen Until conferences like CUSA, Sun Belt, Missouri Valley, and OVC get more than 1 bid, ASUN will never be a multi bid league. ASUN is currently ranked 21st, 23rd, and 25th best conference. While I agree that the Big Ten shouldn't have been given that many bids, ASUN or other small conferences won't be given a look in the near future. |
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Post by unafied on Apr 5, 2022 8:30:33 GMT -6
Murray State has officially joined the MVFC.
I won't say I'm disappointed, because they aren't a great program. But I think a part of me hoped we could bring them on board to go ahead and have the numbers we need for 2023. I'm sure the ASUN will add someone (Tennessee Tech?), but this waiting game is frustrating. The conference could REALLY use three more football schools IMO, but the FCS options seem to be getting slimmer.
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Post by brandon on Apr 5, 2022 13:47:17 GMT -6
Murray State has officially joined the MVFC. I won't say I'm disappointed, because they aren't a great program. But I think a part of me hoped we could bring them on board to go ahead and have the numbers we need for 2023. I'm sure the ASUN will add someone (Tennessee Tech?), but this waiting game is frustrating. The conference could REALLY use three more football schools IMO, but the FCS options seem to be getting slimmer. IF we get one more FCS schools we are okay. I'm sure we can eventually get Valdosta and West Florida. We know what kind of potential both have. |
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Post by unafied on Apr 8, 2022 7:19:12 GMT -6
Lamar University appears to be returning to the Southland Conference. This is after they had pledged to join the WAC for their return as a football league. But, without Sam Houston they are left as the easternmost team in a conference that is already pretty spread out.
Their move will leave the WAC with 6 football schools after they and Sam Houston leave. The Southland will have 7.
Suddenly, it seems the ASUN may be in the worst position of all these conferences. With the OVC/Big South alliance, the Southland being stabilized, and the WAC always having the ability to pull up a D2 Texas school, what will the ASUN plan to do to get us to 6 and beyond after JSU leaves? I know we keep saying Tennessee Tech is a possibility, but if they are indeed making the move, what's the holdup on an announcement?
I hope Gumbart isn't putting all his eggs in the "FBS or bust" basket and there are additions coming that we just haven't heard about yet.
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Post by brandon on Apr 8, 2022 8:06:58 GMT -6
Lamar University appears to be returning to the Southland Conference. This is after they had pledged to join the WAC for their return as a football league. But, without Sam Houston they are left as the easternmost team in a conference that is already pretty spread out. Their move will leave the WAC with 6 football schools after they and Sam Houston leave. The Southland will have 7. Suddenly, it seems the ASUN may be in the worst position of all these conferences. With the OVC/Big South alliance, the Southland being stabilized, and the WAC always having the ability to pull up a D2 Texas school, what will the ASUN plan to do to get us to 6 and beyond after JSU leaves? I know we keep saying Tennessee Tech is a possibility, but if they are indeed making the move, what's the holdup on an announcement? I hope Gumbart isn't putting all his eggs in the "FBS or bust" basket and there are additions coming that we just haven't heard about yet. Don't worry... Tennessee State is on the table at the moment. Tennessee Tech is as well From what I have heard, West Florida is very interested but don't want a timeframe at the moment. Valdosta is also seriously considering it even after years of saying they will stay D2. My thoughts are, the OVC will pick up another school, Possibly UIndy with football. Tennessee State and Tenn Tech will come to the ASUN. EKU, Bellarmine, APSU, UCA, Lipscomb, UNA, KSU, JU, UNF, SU, FGCU, TSU, TTU That's 13, then you have to think either Valdosta or UWF will make an even 14. If one or the Tennessee Schools don't join, and the other does, chances are that both Valdosta and West Florida join. And the fact that West Florida is no longer playing at Blue Wahoos baseball stadium, and playing on their practice field tells me they are about to build the stadium that they have on their master plan on campus. As bad as I don't want to lose EKU, I think even if we do, it will be okay. I still think the ASUN is the right place for UNA for a while. We still got a lot of building to do. |
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Post by unafied on Apr 8, 2022 9:11:57 GMT -6
Lamar University appears to be returning to the Southland Conference. This is after they had pledged to join the WAC for their return as a football league. But, without Sam Houston they are left as the easternmost team in a conference that is already pretty spread out. Their move will leave the WAC with 6 football schools after they and Sam Houston leave. The Southland will have 7. Suddenly, it seems the ASUN may be in the worst position of all these conferences. With the OVC/Big South alliance, the Southland being stabilized, and the WAC always having the ability to pull up a D2 Texas school, what will the ASUN plan to do to get us to 6 and beyond after JSU leaves? I know we keep saying Tennessee Tech is a possibility, but if they are indeed making the move, what's the holdup on an announcement? I hope Gumbart isn't putting all his eggs in the "FBS or bust" basket and there are additions coming that we just haven't heard about yet. Don't worry... Tennessee State is on the table at the moment. Tennessee Tech is as well From what I have heard, West Florida is very interested but don't want a timeframe at the moment. Valdosta is also seriously considering it even after years of saying they will stay D2. My thoughts are, the OVC will pick up another school, Possibly UIndy with football. Tennessee State and Tenn Tech will come to the ASUN. EKU, Bellarmine, APSU, UCA, Lipscomb, UNA, KSU, JU, UNF, SU, FGCU, TSU, TTU That's 13, then you have to think either Valdosta or UWF will make an even 14. If one or the Tennessee Schools don't join, and the other does, chances are that both Valdosta and West Florida join. And the fact that West Florida is no longer playing at Blue Wahoos baseball stadium, and playing on their practice field tells me they are about to build the stadium that they have on their master plan on campus. As bad as I don't want to lose EKU, I think even if we do, it will be okay. I still think the ASUN is the right place for UNA for a while. We still got a lot of building to do. I think my biggest concern is the ASUN needing those schools more than they need the ASUN. All of those schools could choose to stay where they are and likely be "ok" for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, if the CUSA decided to take EKU and KSU, for example, we are suddenly in a very precarious situation. I would really like to add the two Tennessee schools and one of the GSC schools, and call it a day. I have to think UWF and Valdosta are closely watching each other. The one that pulls the trigger first might have an advantage. I don't want to see GSC football die, but if it lost both of those schools to FCS it would lose a lot of national prestige. |
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