Interesting! But, Matt Brown disagrees.

I ask this honest question.

WHO is sideline sports network? How long have they been around? Have they "broke" any stories?

Have they mis-reported any or very many stories? Do they concentrate on pro or college? Report mainly on P5 or smaller schools?
In other words--how reliable are they? What is their track record?

Maybe they are great OR maybe not. I have NO idea.

I did notice they had no industry quotes and did not reference any source--not even "off the record" sources.

Again--maybe they are dependable and fine. But either they or Matt Brown are incorrect on this information.

(05-12-2023 11:31 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  I ask this honest question.

WHO is sideline sports network? How long have they been around? Have they "broke" any stories?

Have they mis-reported any or very many stories? Do they concentrate on pro or college? Report mainly on P5 or smaller schools?
In other words--how reliable are they? What is their track record?

Maybe they are great OR maybe not. I have NO idea.

I did notice they had no industry quotes and did not reference any source--not even "off the record" sources.

Again--maybe they are dependable and fine. But either they or Matt Brown are incorrect on this information.

It will take a deeper dive than I have at the moment (getting prepped for daughter's graduation at Brescia U.). They are out of Columbia SC and have been on Twitter since 2012.

Did anyone from UWF, VSU, or the ASUN come out and say this was 100% false? If they did, I missed it.

I so wish it was true. But, I kinda doubt it because they don't fit into the UAC's stated aspirations at all. Obviously, they will have to transition for 4 years (unless that is finally cut in half after being teased for so long) just to be FCS playoff-eligible.

But again, selfishly, I want D1 sports in Pensacola! All three of the mentioned GSC schools are larger than most schools in the ASUN including UNA (and even CUSA-bound Jax State) and would have no problem once they started the upgrades needed (similar to how UNA had to do).

Heck, I wish UWG would also jump into the mix and get the ASUN to 14 again, with 7 having scholarship football. They are much better off in facilities than the other two.

(05-31-2023 09:00 PM)unalions Wrote:  Did anyone from UWF, VSU, or the ASUN come out and say this was 100% false? If they did, I missed it.

I so wish it was true. But, I kinda doubt it because they don't fit into the UAC's stated aspirations at all. Obviously, they will have to transition for 4 years (unless that is finally cut in half after being teased for so long) just to be FCS playoff-eligible.

But again, selfishly, I want D1 sports in Pensacola! All three of the mentioned GSC schools are larger than most schools in the ASUN including UNA (and even CUSA-bound Jax State) and would have no problem once they started the upgrades needed (similar to how UNA had to do).

Heck, I wish UWG would also jump into the mix and get the ASUN to 14 again, with 7 having scholarship football. They are much better off in facilities than the other two.

UWG has a better baseball facility and softball facility than Georgia State.

Pre-Season Polls

Athlon:

22. UCA

Teams to Watch: APSU

https://athlonsports.com/college-footbal...op-25-2023


HERO Sports:

21. EKU

RV: APSU

https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2023...p-25-bzbz/


Lindy's:

17. UCA

21. EKU

Question from an outsider. If you are one of the teams constantly in the bottom half of the MVC or the Big Sky, why wouldn't you consider joining the UAC? Is it they would rather be "members" of the best-perceived conference? Or, is the fact that there seems to be an endgame of moving up to FBS keeping many schools that might be interested away?

(06-07-2023 07:31 PM)elpasoeagle Wrote:  Question from an outsider. If you are one of the teams constantly in the bottom half of the MVC or the Big Sky, why wouldn't you consider joining the UAC? Is it they would rather be "members" of the best-perceived conference? Or, is the fact that there seems to be an endgame of moving up to FBS keeping many schools that might be interested away?

I guess mostly geography.... the only realistic way they could join would be to move to the WAC... how spread out do you want to be for all sports?

The only realistic options in the MVFC to join the ASUN would be Missouri St, and Youngstown State and neither would fit in with the rest of the schools...


What most people fail to realize about the schools involved in the UAC is they are very similar schools, some even peer schools to each other. That's why there are some speculation among some that schools like West Florida, Valdosta St, West Georgia, Tennessee Tech, and even McNeese St may be interested in joining. (Disclaimer, I'm not starting that rumor, just speculation...)

(06-07-2023 07:31 PM)elpasoeagle Wrote:  Question from an outsider. If you are one of the teams constantly in the bottom half of the MVC or the Big Sky, why wouldn't you consider joining the UAC? Is it they would rather be "members" of the best-perceived conference? Or, is the fact that there seems to be an endgame of moving up to FBS keeping many schools that might be interested away?

There have been a couple of Big Sky teams rumored to be interested in this grouping of schools. Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado had floated around in some circles.

But, the uncertainty of the partnership and classification goals are likely huge detractors to most interested parties, especially any potential D2 callups. It's kind of annoying, which is one reason we see a big stepping-back of the FBS aspirations in the media. It's like, let's just become a conference first. Please?

That said, I must admit that one "rumor" about NAU and UNC is that they were interested in the FBS potential of the grouping. So, some folks may be in a wait-and-see type discussion with Luck and the Presidents.

Personally, I hate all the movement. LOL. But, I'm just glad UNA is in an alliance with plenty of schools for a full schedule in 2024 with an AQ in FCS. This season will be another interesting hodge-podge mix of games for the UAC AQ which was just odd last season.

2023 Preseason Strength of Schedule:

6. North Alabama (UAC) – .573 (71-53), 11 of 11

9. Central Arkansas (UAC) – .568 (67-51), 10 of 11

25. Stephen F. Austin (UAC) – .536 (67-58), 11 of 11

31. Eastern Kentucky (UAC) – .523 (67-61), 11 of 11

T45. Utah Tech (UAC) – .500 (64-64), 11 of 11

61. Austin Peay (UAC) – .488 (61-64), 11 of 11

T75. Tarleton (UAC) – .470 (54-61), 10 of 11

78. Abilene Christian (UAC) – .469 (60-68), 11 of 11

86. Southern Utah (UAC) – .460 (52-61), 10 of 11

https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/06/team-b...cs-season/

Are there plans to start a site for the United Athletic Conf. or keep splitting the conversations between the two boards?

(06-22-2023 04:37 PM)elpasoeagle Wrote:  Are there plans to start a site for the United Athletic Conf. or keep splitting the conversations between the two boards?

The only UAC conversation that matters is on the ASUN board...

(06-26-2023 08:14 PM)RCI Wrote:  Dave Cambell has his predictions for UAC. Pick up his mag to read his discussions:
1. Central Arkansas
2. Eastern Kentucky
3. SFA
4. Austin Peay
5. ACU
6. Tarleton
7. North Alabama
8. Utah Tech
9. Southern Utah

(07-04-2023 10:05 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  United Athletic Conference
Transfer Portal Class Rankings

#4 Abilene Christian
#7 Tarleton State
#10 North Alabama
#21 Stephen F. Austin
#30 Central Arkansas
#43 Eastern Kentucky
#65 Southern Utah
#108 Utah Tech

https://twitter.com/athlinkd/status/1675...7IleA4WEPw

I'm eager to see the logo.

44 days!!

Update on tomorrow's media day:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT: UNITED ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY

ARLINGTON, Texas-- The United Athletic Conference will officially kick off its inaugural NCAA Division I FCS football season with the conference's Media Day this Friday, July 14, in Arlington, Texas, at Texas Live!

Head coaches and student-athlete representatives from all 10 schools will meet for a full day of activity. In addition to media availability, which will be streamed live ESPN+, coaches and student-athletes will participate in promotional content, along with other activities.

http://www.roarlions.com/news/2023/7/11/...a-day.aspx

The UNA guys are having fun in Arlington!