(03-21-2012 01:34 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  So what did Mullins say? "We are happy with the ASUN and aren't looking"?

Dave wasn't his normal self. He kept referring to Dr. Noland and made it sound like everything was on the table, including a new basketball arena. He said Dr Noland was evaluating the $50 million cost of a new one vs a Dome renovation that would be about $25 million. This is the first time he did not dismiss the idea of a new arena in quite a while.

(03-22-2012 09:45 PM)abuc90 Wrote:  

(03-21-2012 01:34 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  So what did Mullins say? "We are happy with the ASUN and aren't looking"?

Dave wasn't his normal self. He kept referring to Dr. Noland and made it sound like everything was on the table, including a new basketball arena. He said Dr Noland was evaluating the $50 million cost of a new one vs a Dome renovation that would be about $25 million. This is the first time he did not dismiss the idea of a new arena in quite a while.

I vote for a new arena. The Dome originally cost around $10 million. To put $25 million into what essentially is a FOOTBALL facility to convert it to full-time basketball is rather lame. If we RENOVATE any facility on campus, it really should be Brooks Gym.....add a second level of seating, build seating in the stage area, etc. (if anyone has been to an ETSU volleyball game or UH basketball game in the last few months, you'd be impressed with the really good condition of the floor and the rehab to the seating). But, with regards of TENS of MILLIONS of dollars . . . that kind of expenditure is deserving of a brand new facility.


ETSU basketball plan (should be):
1. GET A BIG MAN or two. They don't have to be good . . . just big. They can develop over time.
2. BUILD A NEW ARENA with video boards and men's rooms with individual urinals instead of troughs.
3. LEAVE THIS CONFERENCE! OVC, Big South, and Southern are pretty obvious. But, geographically, A-10 or MEAC would be wonderful destinations as well.

ETSU basketball plan (actually):
...is located on page 12 of an 11 page university document.



.

Agree with everything you've said 60's buc, however, the Big South and MEAC would be a major downgrade in my opinion. The SoCon is the most realistic option as stated in previous threads. I realize the A-10, CAA, or C-USA are longshots; but I would be beyond ecstatic if we were able to join one of those 3 conferences.

And so we who have been honest about the asun all these years are being vindicated. A real president comes in and is actively working to put etsu back in socon. Mullins demeanor changes as reality is setting in. His days are numbered.


Oh what fun it will be to watch white reverse his positions.

It will be fun to listen to Dave talk about the SoCon being a better league when he has tried to say it wasn't for years.

And the fact is the SoCon isn't any better, in actuality. It IS better for rivalries and certainly for travel, which I think is what is driving this decision, both from ETSU and the conference.

dont get too bogged down on the socon. there are other conferences in play as far as a potential move. i personally think the socon is the best fit, but i am biased. like i said before though, it will be a "better" conference for etsu.

(03-23-2012 07:33 AM)slappywhite Wrote:  dont get too bogged down on the socon. there are other conferences in play as far as a potential move. i personally think the socon is the best fit, but i am biased. like i said before though, it will be a "better" conference for etsu.

Socon and OVC? Are there others?

The OVC is full and wants a spot for Lipscomb. They really like the idea of all their teams being so geographically close together. SoCon, Big South, or perhaps a new FCS conference gets formed? I have no inside info but it would seem that the state schools in the SoCon and some of the geographically challeneged programs in the Big South and OVC might look at doing something new. Think ETSU, UT-C, Western, EKU, Morehead (he said Morehead), VMI, perhaps App if they don't move up, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville St, Radford, and even NKU. One might put Radford in this list too. The idea is to basically do what the Big South and OVC have by taking some of the outliers that are spread further away from their conference affiliation's base. Probably a pipe dream, but I believe with the rising costs in travel the mid and low mid majors are going to have to do anything they can to cut travel costs as much as possible.
Onto the arena. We need a new one. Put just a little bit into the dome in renovations to make it a multi-purpose indoor practice complex for all the outdoor sports. I still like the idea of a new arena on the plot of land where McDonald's, the strip center that only houses that bookstore and Chrome in it. Chrome will screw up again, and once it's padlocked just like The Dirty P, Tu La Fe and The Seahorse were then ETSU could just buy the damn space. A pedestrian bridge linking it to the baseball stadium AND a parking garage across the street are a perfect scenario. It builds the connection to downtown and parking wouldn't be too bad there. Again, probably a pipe dream but the baseball stadium and arena across the street with each other would look really nice in the university landscape.
Lastly, it does sound like Dr. Noland has it together, but I remember feeling a few years ago that Stanton/Mullins understood the need for football. Maybe I'm being negative, but I view these university president/a.d. types as politicians and until we see tangible, on paper results, we should be optimistic but not stay guarded and not be overly hopeful.

I don't know if you guys have noticed, but the economy took a bit of a dip in 2008 and although it's slowly returning, higher ed funding is still in the basement. So, it make a whole HELL of a lot of sense to have your teams geographically close together, because there's substantial travel costs (i.e. gas, meals). Money is going to play a big part at this level, and what does your money go towards besides salaries? Travel. At the major D-1 level, if you haven't noticed, things are a just a wee bit different (i.e. WVU is in the Big 12). We need to be close to our opponents, and they need to be close to us. So I'm thinking that the SoCon needs ETSU back in the fold. It won't hurt them in terms of being competitive, and maybe they can have a team with a winning record in the North Division....

(03-22-2012 11:41 PM)Buced_Up Wrote:  Agree with everything you've said 60's buc, however, the Big South and MEAC would be a major downgrade in my opinion. The SoCon is the most realistic option as stated in previous threads. I realize the A-10, CAA, or C-USA are longshots; but I would be beyond ecstatic if we were able to join one of those 3 conferences.

Yes, please please please for the love of God no Big South or MEAC. I'd much rather be in the A-Sun than those two conferences. Plus isn't the MEAC only composed of HBCU's?

I'd love to get a shot at the CAA but I just don't think it's happening. A-10 and C-USA are enormous longshots, especially the A-10 as Pitt said we just don't fit whatsoever with that conference and that isn't a knock at ETSU.

The Socon is where we belong, it's where we've always belonged. Just read the UTC board they are even saying the Socon hasn't been the same without us. The tournament is back in Asheville now. With ETSU in the Socon that would make another school that would travel to fill that place up.

(03-23-2012 08:12 AM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  Onto the arena. We need a new one. Put just a little bit into the dome in renovations to make it a multi-purpose indoor practice complex for all the outdoor sports. I still like the idea of a new arena on the plot of land where McDonald's, the strip center that only houses that bookstore and Chrome in it. Chrome will screw up again, and once it's padlocked just like The Dirty P, Tu La Fe and The Seahorse were then ETSU could just buy the damn space. A pedestrian bridge linking it to the baseball stadium AND a parking garage across the street are a perfect scenario. It builds the connection to downtown and parking wouldn't be too bad there. Again, probably a pipe dream but the baseball stadium and arena across the street with each other would look really nice in the university landscape.
Lastly, it does sound like Dr. Noland has it together, but I remember feeling a few years ago that Stanton/Mullins understood the need for football. Maybe I'm being negative, but I view these university president/a.d. types as politicians and until we see tangible, on paper results, we should be optimistic but not stay guarded and not be overly hopeful.

McDonalds just rebuilt that store and it is a big money maker I don't see them having any interest in giving up that corner.

I'm sure it is, but why not integrate McDonald's into the arena and relocate over off South Roan? Have a walk in McDonald's that accessible during the day at the arena that can be open during events as well as a traditional store off South Roan? I get they just did the major reno on it, but that gives them the chance to make a truckload of money double dipping off of each restaurant as well as during basketball games, concerts, special events, etc...
Plus, anyone will listen when the thought of making more money is out there.

South Roan is a awful location compared to where they are now. I am sure for the right price they might (but it would have to be a big $$$$) but in the long run it would be a bad deal for McDonalds.

Give it up, go.

Arby's on South Roan does well over a million dollars in sales a year and has since it opened the doors. The North Roan Arby's only does around 850K. While it's not as good as where they currently are, an integrated location into the arena plus one over in that area would do fine. I'm trying to be optimistic here Rod. Students will drive over to McDonald's, and I get that there's a better chance of you forming a bromance of your own with Dave Mullins and Barbie Breedlove, , but it never hurts to have some optimism that the city and all parties involved would do something beneficial to the entire community.

(03-23-2012 08:21 AM)GoBucsGo Wrote:  I don't know if you guys have noticed, but the economy took a bit of a dip in 2008 and although it's slowly returning, higher ed funding is still in the basement. So, it make a whole HELL of a lot of sense to have your teams geographically close together, because there's substantial travel costs (i.e. gas, meals). Money is going to play a big part at this level, and what does your money go towards besides salaries? Travel. At the major D-1 level, if you haven't noticed, things are a just a wee bit different (i.e. WVU is in the Big 12). We need to be close to our opponents, and they need to be close to us. So I'm thinking that the SoCon needs ETSU back in the fold. It won't hurt them in terms of being competitive, and maybe they can have a team with a winning record in the North Division....

GoBucsGo is spot-on about the travel expense money factor. And, if it's on our minds (the lowly fans), it's got to be on the minds of the penny-pinching university presidents.

Here's a nifty scenario: The presidents form a new conference with each member institution within 250 miles of each other requiring NO air-travel or overnight stays (most, actually, would be within 100 miles of each other).

Appalachian State
Campbell
ETSU
Gardner-Webb
Highpoint
UNC-Ashville
UNC-Charlotte
UNC-Greensboro
USC-Upstate
Western Carolina

APSU, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, Highpoint, and Western all already have football. UNC-Charlotte will have football this fall. We have a football stadium with no team.* Rumor has it that USC-U is going to get football. That only leaves UNC-A and UNC-G as football-less.**



*The Dome is nearing 40 years old. A sparkling new facility would be dreamy, but I can live with the big metal monster for the next 2 decades if it means getting football back!!!

**Sadly, the way things are going right now, it wouldn't surprise me at all if UNC-A and UNC-G quickly get football before we do.

Hey Sixties -
I understand the comment about the 'penny-pinching' university presidents, but they wouldn't be so penny-pinching if there were more funds available, which there's not.

I like the conference you mentioned, but I think the way things are going SoCon would be a good move for ETSU, based on regional rivalries and travel. Athletics needs a shot in the arm and I think that would do it.

(03-23-2012 08:10 PM)GoBucsGo Wrote:  Hey Sixties -
I understand the comment about the 'penny-pinching' university presidents, but they wouldn't be so penny-pinching if there were more funds available, which there's not.

I like the conference you mentioned, but I think the way things are going SoCon would be a good move for ETSU, based on regional rivalries and travel. Athletics needs a shot in the arm and I think that would do it.

GoBucsGo:
You are 112.5% right!!! Of all existing conferences, going back to the SoCon would be perfect for ETSU as per the reasons you mentioned. I'm wondering, though, if they would actually want us back...since they gave us the boot, rather than the other way around. Also, (please let me know if you've heard this too) I have heard on two seperate occasions from a coach here at ETSU and from another coach at Appy that the private schools in the SoCon want the remaining state schools gone and replaced with private schools (only exception being the military school).

That would certainly explain why they reached so far southwest to get Samford. On a similar (and somewhat depressing) note, I've heard that Lipscomb (just like every one else in that A-Sun . . . except for ETSU, of course) is looking at getting football. So, I bet they'll be leaving us behind for the SoCon at some point. I'll go even further and crazy-speculate that Stetson (with their upcomming football program) and Jacksonville (who already has football) are candidates to leave the A-Sun for the SoCon as well. That would be private school replacements for 3 of the remaining SoCon state schools...if, indeed, that's the way the SoCon wants to move.

The real kick-in-the-pants of an all-private-school-SoCon will be when the SoCon passes over ETSU for football-rich Tusculum when they decide to move up from their current level. When that day comes, I'm sure we'll all recognize it as a lasting legacy of the good 'ole Stanton/Mullins times.

I'm not negative......just gloomy, defeated, and overly A-Sunified.

(03-23-2012 08:22 AM)Bucster Wrote:  

(03-22-2012 11:41 PM)Buced_Up Wrote:  Agree with everything you've said 60's buc, however, the Big South and MEAC would be a major downgrade in my opinion. The SoCon is the most realistic option as stated in previous threads. I realize the A-10, CAA, or C-USA are longshots; but I would be beyond ecstatic if we were able to join one of those 3 conferences.

Yes, please please please for the love of God no Big South or MEAC. I'd much rather be in the A-Sun than those two conferences. Plus isn't the MEAC only composed of HBCU's?

I'd love to get a shot at the CAA but I just don't think it's happening. A-10 and C-USA are enormous longshots, especially the A-10 as Pitt said we just don't fit whatsoever with that conference and that isn't a knock at ETSU.

The Socon is where we belong, it's where we've always belonged. Just read the UTC board they are even saying the Socon hasn't been the same without us. The tournament is back in Asheville now. With ETSU in the Socon that would make another school that would travel to fill that place up.

Yeah, I think you all are exactly right about the MEAC being all historical black institutions (leaves out ETSU). Though they might not be "top picks" for a new home, I would like to present some points to consider that contrast the perception of the MEAC and Big South as being "downgrades" from where we are:

1) Travel. They are both superior choices to the A-Sun with regards to geography.

2) Familiarity. We've already shared conferences with some members of the Big South: Campbell (A-Sun), Gardner-Webb (A-Sun), and VMI (SoCon).

3) Football. We want it . . . Big South and MEAC have it . . . A-Sun doesn't recognize it.

4) 2012 Basketball. A-Sun's "shining star" Belmont gets stomped by 15 in NCAA 1st round. Davidson loses close (by 7) to Louisville. MEAC's Norfolk State eliminates the Big 12's #2 seed Missouri in the very same round, advances to next round.

5) Stability. Neither the Big South nor the MEAC appear to be a suit-case conference like the A-Sun. (ugh! I am so terribly A-Sunburnt!!!)

6) Facilities. Liberty has a 20,000 seat football stadium and Campbell has a 4 (or so) year old basketball arena. (o.k., I admit this is a weak and shaky arguement; but, wouldn't we like to say that we can seat 20,000 for football and have a new basketball arena?)