Watching the UVa and VT game today, I am convinced, well I wish, we had a double bill with a game against ODU on the same day. A game tonight against ODU would be cool with the early afternoon game with UVa and VT. It would be good for the Commonwealth.

Of course the teams I always want on the schedule are...
1) Notre Dame
2) BYU
3) Virginia
4) Va. Tech
5) ODU
6) Beach Chickens

For the life of me just don’t understand why Liberty, Old Dominion, James Madison, App State, Marshall, and a few others aren’t playing in the same conference. Rivalries would be incredible and basketball tournament could be drivable for almost every school.

And a few out of conference wins against ACC schools in both football and basketball would give this conference legitimacy very quickly. The CAA proved that 10 years ago.

We all know the complications involved but the CUSA/Sunbelt realignment needs to happen. It would be the least problematic of all the options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(11-30-2019 08:27 AM)ODU1986 Wrote:  For the life of me just don’t understand why Liberty, Old Dominion, James Madison, App State, Marshall, and a few others aren’t playing in the same conference. Rivalries would be incredible and basketball tournament could be drivable for almost every school.

And a few out of conference wins against ACC schools in both football and basketball would give this conference legitimacy very quickly. The CAA proved that 10 years ago.

We all know the complications involved but the CUSA/Sunbelt realignment needs to happen. It would be the least problematic of all the options.

Absolutely agree. It makes complete sense to enable regional G5 rivalries. Another major reason is traveling costs. All universities in the realignment save money with the CUSA/Sunbelt realignment. This helps the students through one form of university cost control.

Not sure if LU goes into this conference. It might not be the best option for LU. The independent schedule works well for LU.

ODU, if we played them annually, would have a great shot at being not only a rival but our top rival. It helps we are both in Virginia, both recent move ups, and neither have established rivals.

New Mexico State had potential with four games in two years but taking the next few years off hurts. UMass has potential since they are our longest running opponent scheduled and our game last season really hurt.

I feel we have no shot at having a rivalry with Notre Dame, Virginia, or Virginia Tech no matter how much we want it. With only a couple teams that we play every season, we don't have many opportunities to develop a rivalry. It doesn't help that we aren't playing any of these schools in other sports to have it bleed into football.

(11-30-2019 08:27 AM)ODU1986 Wrote:  For the life of me just don’t understand why Liberty, Old Dominion, James Madison, App State, Marshall, and a few others aren’t playing in the same conference. Rivalries would be incredible and basketball tournament could be drivable for almost every school.

And a few out of conference wins against ACC schools in both football and basketball would give this conference legitimacy very quickly. The CAA proved that 10 years ago.

We all know the complications involved but the CUSA/Sunbelt realignment needs to happen. It would be the least problematic of all the options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m all for it. I like Indy but a regional conference is way too appealing. I’d do this conference if able to:

North:

Liberty
JMU
ODU
Marshall
WKU
App St

South:

Charlotte
FAU
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Troy
MTSU

Mine would be....

North - ODU, JMU, Liberty, Marshall, App, Charlotte

South - WKU, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Ga. State, Ga. Southern, Coastal Carolina

Then have the annual basketball tourney in Charlotte.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Liberty - Coastal Carolina
ODU - FIU
Marshall - FAU
App State - Georgia Southern
Charlotte - Georgia State
Western Kentucky - Middle Tennessee

Two divisions with one permanent crossover. I'm not crazy about Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, or Middle Tennessee but I can't see how you don't include them.

(12-01-2019 10:27 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  Liberty - Coastal Carolina
ODU - FIU
Marshall - FAU
App State - Georgia Southern
Charlotte - Georgia State
Western Kentucky - Middle Tennessee

Two divisions with one permanent crossover. I'm not crazy about Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, or Middle Tennessee but I can't see how you don't include them.

I didn’t add CCU because I think JMU would add more value. However, they would be a nice replacement so I’d be okay either way.

(12-01-2019 01:09 AM)ODU1986 Wrote:  Mine would be....

North - ODU, JMU, Liberty, Marshall, App, Charlotte

South - WKU, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Ga. State, Ga. Southern, Coastal Carolina

Then have the annual basketball tourney in Charlotte.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To enhance rivalries and reduce travel cost, my thoughts are to have almost entirely “drivable” divisions. Hopefully something is going on behind closed doors, but it is shocking to me a realignment hasn’t already taken place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(12-01-2019 08:33 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 10:27 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  Liberty - Coastal Carolina
ODU - FIU
Marshall - FAU
App State - Georgia Southern
Charlotte - Georgia State
Western Kentucky - Middle Tennessee

Two divisions with one permanent crossover. I'm not crazy about Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, or Middle Tennessee but I can't see how you don't include them.

I didn’t add CCU because I think JMU would add more value. However, they would be a nice replacement so I’d be okay either way.

JMU is afraid of FBS and would need two years to reclassify anyways. They have solid potential but they are like Goldilocks and need everything to be perfect if they will move. I know it's a hypothetical so I don't blame you or fault you for including them in what you want but I personally can't take them seriously. Heck, many of their fans believe they are the best candidate to be the 12th AAC member as-is despite being FCS.

The problem is, as everyone knows, is that the decision makers are the Presidents, while the doers are the AD's. College sports would run a lot smoother if AD's had more control.

Ideally, while Liberty is independent, we should have UVA, Tech, ODU, and BYU on our football and basketball schedules as much as possible. I'd love for JMU to become FBS and get in on our scheduling rotation as well. Heck, I wish we'd play them regularly in basketball and our olympics as well.

Until there is another realignment, I don't see Liberty joining CUSA or the Sun Belt, even if asked. I think it's probably AAC, P5, or independence. But I could be wrong. I would think they'd strongly consider a new regional conference that those with common sense dream of.