(01-26-2022 09:11 AM)UNAfied Wrote:  The talk about all of us "moving to FBS" always got the attention, but I think that's just because Ted Gumbart likes attention. UNA is just completing the transition to D1, so I don't think we really have FBS on our minds, at least not for another several years. I think the initial meaning behind that was promising the new schools that *if* they somehow moved to FBS as an independent, as Liberty was allowed to do, they'd still have a home for Olympic sports. I'm sure they were exploring how the conference could move as one to FBS some day in the future... but I don't think anybody thought it would happen very quickly.

What is more important is finding PUBLIC, football-playing schools that all desire to improve and grow their facilities to challenge the best teams from the CAA, MVFC, and Big Sky. You can debate whether it's realistic, but that's the goal. Build a rising tide to lift all ships, essentially.

As a fan, I'd like to keep a tight geographic core and would probably prefer to add teams such as Tennessee Tech or Tennessee State over the Big South teams. Or, with my alma mater's experience in D2, I'd like to bring up teams like Valdosta State and West Florida.

That being said, I think with the ASUN's previous "gentlemen's agreement" with the Big South, if they need a home, we will probably give them one. I'd prefer to keep it to the "Carolina 4" and see Robert Morris find another option, but that's simply due to geography. A 9-team conference moving forward with the ASUN-5 (minus JSU) and Carolina-4 would be acceptable (to me). I think it's a conference that could challenge for multiple playoff spots.

I heard the move up as a group comments from Dr. Teague (UCA AD) more than anyone.