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Post by unafied on Oct 10, 2018 11:44:47 GMT -6
I said it over in the football thread, but yeah, I've come around on UWF being a good addition. Do we have any idea how their administration feels about making the move up? They already have a larger enrollment than we do, if that counts for anything.
I like the idea of divisions Brandon, but I see one tweak they'd probably have to make. The home/home with your four division teams and then five games against the other division makes for 13 total. They'd probably want to make it an even 14. So I could see one "cross-division" opponent being played home/home each year. It could either be a permanent "rival" or something that rotates I suppose.
Something else UWF could possibly help with is strengthening the Big South in football. I'd really like to see the top half of the conference be able to compete with at least the Big Sky and CAA as far as "prestige".
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Post by northalaspectator on Oct 10, 2018 12:47:21 GMT -6
Since Liberty joined the ASun, that got the conference back to 9. I have been mulling over who could be 10. After last weeks game against West Florida, all I have been able to do is come up with reasons why they would be the best fit. 1- Fits the conference profile perfectly. (Other than NJIT) 2- even though they are in Florida, we all know the Panhandle is more Alabama and Georgia. 3- they are a strong athletic program in everything, like us, the transition would be frustrating, but I think they would do well. 4- you could break sports into division for better travel (ASun) 10 schools, North and South divisions, play all division schools home and home, all non division schools 1 time rotation home one year away the next. So UNA would play Lipscomb home and away every year and FGCU home this year and away next. North would be NJIT Liberty Lipscomb UNA KSU South West Florida North Florida Jacksonville Stetson FGCU And if NJIT left, it would be easy to be 9 again, or pick up another school for the North side. Then you have the football deal, (side note, FGCU is starting club football, taking the path of South Alabama it seems.) West Florida would easily replace Presbyterian for football in the Big South, and there is the possibility of Presbyterian joining the ASun as well. Wouldn’t that leave 13 Conference games instead of 18.
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Post by brandon on Oct 10, 2018 14:10:13 GMT -6
I guess it would, I didn't do the math, just putting an idea out. There may be better ways to have divisions.
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Post by brandon on Nov 1, 2018 13:48:41 GMT -6
I highly recommend and encourage anyone who cares to watch YouTube and subscription to the ASun channel. They have a new series on it called Ted Talks. Ted Gumbart, the commissioner of the ASun has a talk for a couple of minutes about different aspects and issues of the ASun, the last episode, he talked about North Alabama and Liberty being the newest in the ASun family. He also eluded to the possibility of a 10th member in the future. It is a good outlet for the conference and the schools in the conference. Please share with everyone who may be interested.
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Post by unalions on Nov 1, 2018 15:10:01 GMT -6
Thanks for posting about that, brandon!
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Post by unalions on Nov 14, 2018 0:53:22 GMT -6
Was just recognizing how great UNA's social media support has been to start the year.
The Lions have had six players this season to win an ASUN preseason fan-voted award.
Justin Watson (Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Emma Knight (Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Jayden Davila-McClary (Volleyball Player of the Year) Ivy Wallen (Women's Basketball Player of the Year) Brittany Panetti (Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year) Kendall Stafford (Men's Basketball Player of the Year)
Roar Lions!!
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Post by brandon on Nov 14, 2018 8:25:25 GMT -6
Was just recognizing how great UNA's social media support has been to start the year. The Lions have had six players this season to win an ASUN preseason fan-voted award. Justin Watson (Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Emma Knight (Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Jayden Davila-McClary (Volleyball Player of the Year) Ivy Wallen (Women's Basketball Player of the Year) Brittany Panetti (Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year) Kendall Stafford (Men's Basketball Player of the Year) Roar Lions!! Last time I talked to Ted, he said we have more fan interaction with our teams than anyone else in the conference. He said it has been a topic at conference meetings.
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Post by lions09 on Nov 29, 2018 15:46:20 GMT -6
Was just recognizing how great UNA's social media support has been to start the year. The Lions have had six players this season to win an ASUN preseason fan-voted award. Justin Watson (Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Emma Knight (Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Jayden Davila-McClary (Volleyball Player of the Year) Ivy Wallen (Women's Basketball Player of the Year) Brittany Panetti (Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year) Kendall Stafford (Men's Basketball Player of the Year) Roar Lions!! Last time I talked to Ted, he said we have more fan interaction with our teams than anyone else in the conference. He said it has been a topic at conference meetings. Hoops winning some Plays of the Week awards the same way. We definitely have the best social media fan support in the ASUN. It's interesting how winning football really builds a fan base. That said, the atmosphere in some of these ASUN arenas I'm watching on ESPN+ for volleyball and hoops are very impressive. Something we'll have to work on.
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Post by brandon on Feb 21, 2019 15:03:15 GMT -6
Almost done with year 1 in the ASun, the 2019-20 season is just around the corner. To this point in the season, and I will link football into this as well, but who would have thought that Soccer would have played for the conference tournament championship, football would have had a winning** season, women's basketball would be in the position they are in and be in the conference tournament, and mens basketball making the tournament?
I know we get frustrated for various reasons, pep band, GOLD, students and fans not showing up and so on, but we have to sit back and appreciate the fact that overall, so far, we are doing better that 90% thought we would. And after talking to various people associated with other schools in the conference, everyone is glad UNA is in the ASun and D1 in general. It's a good time to be a Lion...
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Post by Lion2001 on Feb 21, 2019 22:52:30 GMT -6
Almost done with year 1 in the ASun, the 2019-20 season is just around the corner. To this point in the season, and I will link football into this as well, but who would have thought that Soccer would have played for the conference tournament championship, football would have had a winning** season, women's basketball would be in the position they are in and be in the conference tournament, and mens basketball making the tournament? I know we get frustrated for various reasons, pep band, GOLD, students and fans not showing up and so on, but we have to sit back and appreciate the fact that overall, so far, we are doing better that 90% thought we would. And after talking to various people associated with other schools in the conference, everyone is glad UNA is in the ASun and D1 in general. It's a good time to be a Lion... Well said! Roar Lions!
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Post by unafied on Feb 22, 2019 8:18:58 GMT -6
Almost done with year 1 in the ASun, the 2019-20 season is just around the corner. To this point in the season, and I will link football into this as well, but who would have thought that Soccer would have played for the conference tournament championship, football would have had a winning** season, women's basketball would be in the position they are in and be in the conference tournament, and mens basketball making the tournament? I know we get frustrated for various reasons, pep band, GOLD, students and fans not showing up and so on, but we have to sit back and appreciate the fact that overall, so far, we are doing better that 90% thought we would. And after talking to various people associated with other schools in the conference, everyone is glad UNA is in the ASun and D1 in general. It's a good time to be a Lion... I agree, we have done well. I've said a few times here that I have been more excited about UNA athletics than I had been in a long time. And that's coming from someone that leans pessimist, and actually supported staying D2. I do now realize I was wrong on staying D2. I believe this move had to be made. Actually my biggest concern right now is the football program. I haven't necessarily seen anything to make me worry, I just think the jury is still out on the coaching staff, and the top of FCS is pretty dang good right now. I think we can get there, I just wonder if it might take longer than a lot of us tend to think. I hope I'm wrong to be concerned. This coming season should help give us a better idea of where we are.
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Post by brandon on Apr 10, 2019 9:44:17 GMT -6
Is anyone else having problems accessing the ASUN website? All of a sudden, when I go to it, it tells me access is forbidden.
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Post by catscratchfever4 on Apr 10, 2019 17:05:12 GMT -6
Was just recognizing how great UNA's social media support has been to start the year. The Lions have had six players this season to win an ASUN preseason fan-voted award. Justin Watson (Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Emma Knight (Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year) Jayden Davila-McClary (Volleyball Player of the Year) Ivy Wallen (Women's Basketball Player of the Year) Brittany Panetti (Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year) Kendall Stafford (Men's Basketball Player of the Year) Roar Lions!! Last time I talked to Ted, he said we have more fan interaction with our teams than anyone else in the conference. He said it has been a topic at conference meetings. And they haven't even heard how loud we get when we attack each other! 😃
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Post by brandon on Apr 19, 2019 22:12:52 GMT -6
Will the ASun make a power move?
With rumors swirling about potentially inviting Bellarmine, that would put the conference at an even 10.
But we all know, from past D2 days, West Georgia has wanted a move up as well. And we all know West Florida has the most potential to move. The ASun will be their only likely option.
Then there is UAH, our rival from the east. I get a strange feeling they are about to make a move. If you read al.com arrival about them wanting to build a multi purpose arena for Hockey and basketball, and the renderings of it, you have to think, they ain't staying D2.
Then, the old stubborn Valdosta State, their old rival UNA already gone, and the possibility of West Georgia moving up. Then couple that with West Florida and UAH, they have Shorter, uWA, Miss. College, Delta, and not much more. They could switch to another D2 conference, but what about football? Would the SAC let them and Florida Tech play?
Point is, will the ASun make a move over the next couple of years and make invites to all mentioned?
ASun (14) (north to south)
NJIT Liberty Bellarmine** Lipscomb UAH** UNA West Georgia** Kennesaw Valdosta** West Florida** North Florida Jacksonville Stetson FGCU
Big South football (10)
Monmouth Hampton Campbell Gardner Webb Charlston Southern Kennesaw West Georgia** UNA Valdosta State** West Florida**
(Presbyterian will be in Pioneer League after this year)
Something just feels like this could span out for some reason...
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Post by brandon on Apr 19, 2019 22:16:40 GMT -6
Not to mention, if a couple leave the ASun you still have 12 that likely would not leave.
And if Monmouth left the Big South Football, you still have a solid, Southern based 9.
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