(04-06-2014 01:00 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(04-06-2014 10:04 AM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  I have thought that EKU was ultimately the answer for the SBC eastern add for some time.
-It has the size and almost perfect geographic location for the SBC (and App State).
-It has good FCS playoff caliber football and has shown an ability to fill it's stadium (24,000 WKY 2004) when the competition was exciting, which should be the case most of the time in FBS.
-It has a perennial top 100 RPI men's basketball program. That has to be huge.
-It is in a very good television market (63).

Some negatives have been posted.
The football stadium may not be the best, but it DOES meet FBS capacity requirements right now.
The EKU athletic budget, while small is still a bit larger than that of GaSo, and Southern has done just fine.

IMO, the SBC should add UMass in the short term for football only; for the instant ccg, and then add EKU for the eastern long term program.
With it's continued success in mbb; UConn's longevity in the AAC is very suspect, and likely UMass replaces them in a few years.

Without UConn in the AAC, there's no reason to stay in New England. I think Marshall might be more of a candidate to provide Temple/Navy/Cincy with a rival.

Marshall fans claim adamantly that they will never move to the AAC.
The AAC rules would not allow them their special program that enrolls certain special needs athletes and of bringing in certain football, basketball and others that do not meet the AAC requirements. They claim it would devastate their athletic programs.