http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?opt...e&id=12247

"School officials at UNC-Charlotte have approached the Southern Conference concerning the possibility of becoming an associate member in football only.

UNCC made the proposal during the SoCon's annual spring meetings in Charleston, SC. The 49ers won't field a football team until 2013, but SoCon commissioner John Iamarino said school presidents will vote on the issue June 16."


It appears the CAA is no longer viable with the UMASS and Villanova on the move. It looks like the SoCon wants UNCC for all sports.

(06-07-2011 04:16 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?opt...e&id=12247

"School officials at UNC-Charlotte have approached the Southern Conference concerning the possibility of becoming an associate member in football only.

UNCC made the proposal during the SoCon's annual spring meetings in Charleston, SC. The 49ers won't field a football team until 2013, but SoCon commissioner John Iamarino said school presidents will vote on the issue June 16."


It appears the CAA is no longer viable with the UMASS and Villanova on the move. It looks like the SoCon wants UNCC for all sports.

gotta crawl before walking...

their fans should enjoy those rivalries with wofford, samford, and elon...

The CAA offered Charlotte all sports and they turned it down. Charlotte wants football only wherever they go. Its not like theyre going to leave the Atlantic 10

(06-07-2011 06:52 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  gotta crawl before walking...

their fans should enjoy those rivalries with wofford, samford, and elon...

I believe they'll have to build those rivalries out of conference while starting thier FCS conference membership in the Big South. UNCC is offering nothing at this time to the SoCon other than a startup, currently non-existent, football team (we already have Davidson as an anchor in the city of Charlotte).

If UNCC were to join as a full member I would be all for it, but their stated goal is to go FBS as soon as possible. So essentially when they finally build their program to the point of respectability they'll leave. Also, they've been reluctant to schedule home and home games in their marquee sport (basketball) with several SoCon schools. Why should the SoCon help help their fledgling football program with it's marquee sport (football) while they have refused to do the same for several current SoCon teams in basketball. Sometimes the way you've treated others comes back to bite you.

Personally I'd also be against them because, adding them would ruin the regular season conference race. We play every SoCon team so we have a real conference champion each season. The SoCon already has 9 teams and in FCS there are only 11 regular season games so there will be no 9 game conference schedule. With the playoff schedule there's no way to have a conference championship game so expanding to 12 with affiliate members and forming divisions won't work either.

I believe the older ASU, UL, ULM, and even the occasional lurking Tech and NIU fan would agree that having done the football only thing before, it is difficult from a marketing standpoint to have a conference football schedule that looks nothing like or little like your conference basketball schedule.

Looks like it will be independent football for the 49ers. Both the SoCon and the Big South have said No to the football-only, associate membership request.

http://gmine.blogspot.com/2011/06/socon-...49ers.html

(06-08-2011 02:06 PM)97App Wrote:  Looks like it will be independent football for the 49ers. Both the SoCon and the Big South have said No to the football-only, associate membership request.

http://gmine.blogspot.com/2011/06/socon-...49ers.html

As you all know very well, I have touted UNCC starting a football program. I am very confused and discouraged by this football only approach. Going independent will bury their program before it gets started. The basketball program is at the bottom of the A-10. Why not move to the SoCon where you get the immediate and hot rivalry with Ap State. I do not get this approach by UNCC.

(06-09-2011 08:08 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  As you all know very well, I have touted UNCC starting a football program. I am very confused and discouraged by this football only approach. Going independent will bury their program before it gets started. The basketball program is at the bottom of the A-10. Why not move to the SoCon where you get the immediate and hot rivalry with Ap State. I do not get this approach by UNCC.

The impression many in the SoCon have is that UNCC doesn't want to "soil" their basketball program by slumming it in the SoCon while they don't mind using the SoCon as a stepping stone to FBS for thier upstart football program. There's really no "Win" for the SoCon in the football only scenario. IMO, I don't think the UNCC admin really appreciate the history and overall conference pride of the SoCon members. The SoCon has a long and storied history as a football centric conference and to think that the conference is only good enough to be an incubator for their football program is insulting.

They should have taken the CAA all sports offer. Joining the A-10 has hurt their support and set their basketball program back 10 years. Their fans just don't care about their conference mates and no true rivalries have developed. With ODU and GA State they would have a roadmap for entry and in-conference support from schools that have recently went down the same path. Plus a much more local flavor with a teams in Atlanta, Wilmington and several just north in VA. Local conference rivalries are what make college sports special.

I'm all for their starting a football program. I think the App State - UNCC games in the future could create an interesting rivalry. Currently, I'd like to see their fans appreciate the FCS level more as I think they've been indoctrinated by the BCS media bias over the years and don't grasp that there's real talent at a level below the BCS and you're not going to reorder the FCS world simply because you're in Charlotte.

I wonder how serious they are about FBS being their top priority, the reason I ask, is this...

I'd imagine that not only is CUSA UNCC's goal, I'd imagine they also already think they're too good for the Sun Belt. So if CUSA doesn't extend them an invite and are given the impression that there won't be one coming any time soon, we can only assume that they would approach the Sun Belt as a football only associate member, which I feel pretty confident in saying that we, just like the aforementioned FCS conferences, would tell them to pound sand.

So if FBS is really their ultimate goal, top priority etc. and CUSA won't invite them and we won't give them their desired football only, it would seem their only option would be to apply to the Sun Belt for full membership. I'm not saying we would accept if they did, but unless they can get into CUSA, it seems they'll have to "slum it" in basketball eventually to get to the FBS level.

What you want to bet UNCC's goal is Big East.

In their mind UNCC's going to be in the SEC anytime now. Both their fans feel that way.

(06-09-2011 10:01 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  In their mind UNCC's going to be in the SEC anytime now. Both their fans feel that way.

It seems they suffer from the same delusional desease Georgia State has.

(06-10-2011 08:00 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-09-2011 10:01 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  In their mind UNCC's going to be in the SEC anytime now. Both their fans feel that way.

It seems they suffer from the same delusional desease Georgia State has.

Why bring us into this? You have real issues dude.

As for Charlotte they are being proactive. I haven't heard too many delusional fans from their side. Just a lot of angry App fans. Whatever Charlotte's fate, they cannot afford to languish for 15 years in FCS. The city of Charlotte has way too many entertainment options. Everyone has to look out for themselves. Why would they leave the Atlantic 10 before they absolutely have to? They are looking for a conference to park their football program because filling an 11 game schedule as an independent is a hell of a lot harder than 3 OOC games. Are they looking to move up? Who isnt? FCS was not created for urban schools with over 25k students. So you can figure out where the App State comments are coming from. If expansion comes in 3 to 5 years where would you rather go to for a league game? Charlotte or Boone? Which one has an international airport? Ask TCU if a big airport helps you during expansion talks.

(06-10-2011 02:43 PM)panama Wrote:  If expansion comes in 3 to 5 years where would you rather go to for a league game? Charlotte or Boone?

I'd rather go to Boone and Blowing Rock.

(06-10-2011 02:43 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 08:00 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-09-2011 10:01 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  In their mind UNCC's going to be in the SEC anytime now. Both their fans feel that way.

It seems they suffer from the same delusional desease Georgia State has.

Why bring us into this? You have real issues dude.

As for Charlotte they are being proactive. I haven't heard too many delusional fans from their side. Just a lot of angry App fans. Whatever Charlotte's fate, they cannot afford to languish for 15 years in FCS. The city of Charlotte has way too many entertainment options. Everyone has to look out for themselves. Why would they leave the Atlantic 10 before they absolutely have to? They are looking for a conference to park their football program because filling an 11 game schedule as an independent is a hell of a lot harder than 3 OOC games. Are they looking to move up? Who isnt? FCS was not created for urban schools with over 25k students. So you can figure out where the App State comments are coming from. If expansion comes in 3 to 5 years where would you rather go to for a league game? Charlotte or Boone? Which one has an international airport? Ask TCU if a big airport helps you during expansion talks.

Id rather go to Boone, im a sucker for smaller college towns and Mountain scenery.

(06-10-2011 03:06 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 02:43 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 08:00 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-09-2011 10:01 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  In their mind UNCC's going to be in the SEC anytime now. Both their fans feel that way.

It seems they suffer from the same delusional desease Georgia State has.

Why bring us into this? You have real issues dude.

As for Charlotte they are being proactive. I haven't heard too many delusional fans from their side. Just a lot of angry App fans. Whatever Charlotte's fate, they cannot afford to languish for 15 years in FCS. The city of Charlotte has way too many entertainment options. Everyone has to look out for themselves. Why would they leave the Atlantic 10 before they absolutely have to? They are looking for a conference to park their football program because filling an 11 game schedule as an independent is a hell of a lot harder than 3 OOC games. Are they looking to move up? Who isnt? FCS was not created for urban schools with over 25k students. So you can figure out where the App State comments are coming from. If expansion comes in 3 to 5 years where would you rather go to for a league game? Charlotte or Boone? Which one has an international airport? Ask TCU if a big airport helps you during expansion talks.

Id rather go to Boone, im a sucker for smaller college towns and Mountain scenery.

From a conference standpoint, especially one with divisions, a lot of people and media do not relish the idea of a 2 or 3 hour flight followed by a long drive. Its the reason why TCU being in the big east is not a big deal. Its a 2.5 hour flight from most big east cities and you fly into a major airport hub. Try getting to Provo, Utah or Boise, Idaho. So while I agree that some picturesque small towns are fun, the reality is that I live in Atlanta. So I can see going to a small town in Georgia or Alabama or Tennessee because its within 3 or 4 hours driving. Texas, Louisian or Arkansas might be a stretch.

(06-10-2011 03:12 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 03:06 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 02:43 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 08:00 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-09-2011 10:01 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  In their mind UNCC's going to be in the SEC anytime now. Both their fans feel that way.

It seems they suffer from the same delusional desease Georgia State has.

Why bring us into this? You have real issues dude.

As for Charlotte they are being proactive. I haven't heard too many delusional fans from their side. Just a lot of angry App fans. Whatever Charlotte's fate, they cannot afford to languish for 15 years in FCS. The city of Charlotte has way too many entertainment options. Everyone has to look out for themselves. Why would they leave the Atlantic 10 before they absolutely have to? They are looking for a conference to park their football program because filling an 11 game schedule as an independent is a hell of a lot harder than 3 OOC games. Are they looking to move up? Who isnt? FCS was not created for urban schools with over 25k students. So you can figure out where the App State comments are coming from. If expansion comes in 3 to 5 years where would you rather go to for a league game? Charlotte or Boone? Which one has an international airport? Ask TCU if a big airport helps you during expansion talks.

Id rather go to Boone, im a sucker for smaller college towns and Mountain scenery.

From a conference standpoint, especially one with divisions, a lot of people and media do not relish the idea of a 2 or 3 hour flight followed by a long drive. Its the reason why TCU being in the big east is not a big deal. Its a 2.5 hour flight from most big east cities and you fly into a major airport hub. Try getting to Provo, Utah or Boise, Idaho. So while I agree that some picturesque small towns are fun, the reality is that I live in Atlanta. So I can see going to a small town in Georgia or Alabama or Tennessee because its within 3 or 4 hours driving. Texas, Louisian or Arkansas might be a stretch.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I may be off base, but I sort of doubt that a big airport is the
deciding factor for TCU going to the Big East Conference.

BTW, TCU is still a MWC member.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06...ndary.html

(06-11-2011 10:35 PM)paco Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 03:12 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 03:06 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 02:43 PM)panama Wrote:  

(06-10-2011 08:00 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  It seems they suffer from the same delusional desease Georgia State has.

Why bring us into this? You have real issues dude.

As for Charlotte they are being proactive. I haven't heard too many delusional fans from their side. Just a lot of angry App fans. Whatever Charlotte's fate, they cannot afford to languish for 15 years in FCS. The city of Charlotte has way too many entertainment options. Everyone has to look out for themselves. Why would they leave the Atlantic 10 before they absolutely have to? They are looking for a conference to park their football program because filling an 11 game schedule as an independent is a hell of a lot harder than 3 OOC games. Are they looking to move up? Who isnt? FCS was not created for urban schools with over 25k students. So you can figure out where the App State comments are coming from. If expansion comes in 3 to 5 years where would you rather go to for a league game? Charlotte or Boone? Which one has an international airport? Ask TCU if a big airport helps you during expansion talks.

Id rather go to Boone, im a sucker for smaller college towns and Mountain scenery.

From a conference standpoint, especially one with divisions, a lot of people and media do not relish the idea of a 2 or 3 hour flight followed by a long drive. Its the reason why TCU being in the big east is not a big deal. Its a 2.5 hour flight from most big east cities and you fly into a major airport hub. Try getting to Provo, Utah or Boise, Idaho. So while I agree that some picturesque small towns are fun, the reality is that I live in Atlanta. So I can see going to a small town in Georgia or Alabama or Tennessee because its within 3 or 4 hours driving. Texas, Louisian or Arkansas might be a stretch.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I may be off base, but I sort of doubt that a big airport is the
deciding factor for TCU going to the Big East Conference.

BTW, TCU is still a MWC member.

Of course its not the deciding factor but it was a factor. When people were arguing that TCU was too far away from the east coast, the reality is that they are no further from northern BE schools than USF because they are in a major city with a major US hub. And THAT is why you will never see Boise State in the BE.

panama and 49rfootballNOW have a preconceived notion that it doesn't matter about anything basically except they are located in a large city. There are a lot of colleges in large cities that have no program because they have no support or very little support.