(06-02-2020 07:12 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the 9 schools they have left stay put them the MEAC is safe but if they lose any more it could be trouble.

You have to think a few schools might be getting worried and sending out feelers.

I think the ASun’s FCS project dubbed the UAC might be dead on arrival. NC A&T is spoken for; FAMU is moving to the SWAC; this probably means Alabama St and Alabama A&M are staying put. I don’t know that there’s 6 schools that UNA and Kenn St can attract.

If Tenn St ends up being the 12th SWAC school I imagine UNA or Kenn St will go to the OVC.

I found an article about the 4 higher HBCU conferences could form a Super Conference for travel cost and all that. That would include DC from ECC and Lincoln in MIAA. You can't have games count if some of the schools still listed as D2 if you are D1 like basketball.

(06-02-2020 07:31 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 07:12 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the 9 schools they have left stay put them the MEAC is safe but if they lose any more it could be trouble.

You have to think a few schools might be getting worried and sending out feelers.

I think the ASun’s FCS project dubbed the UAC might be dead on arrival. NC A&T is spoken for; FAMU is moving to the SWAC; this probably means Alabama St and Alabama A&M are staying put. I don’t know that there’s 6 schools that UNA and Kenn St can attract.

If Tenn St ends up being the 12th SWAC school I imagine UNA or Kenn St will go to the OVC.

I think it all depends on if they get that autobid. For the 3 public FCS SoCon schools, Jacksonville St, Kennesaw St, and UNA, that tight footprint of like minded schools would be ideal.

That gets you to 6 but where are you going to get the other 2 needed for an 8 member conference? They’d probably need to get some more OVC schools to turn or someone like N.C. Central (travel partner for WCU?)

(06-02-2020 08:29 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 07:31 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 07:12 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the 9 schools they have left stay put them the MEAC is safe but if they lose any more it could be trouble.

You have to think a few schools might be getting worried and sending out feelers.

I think the ASun’s FCS project dubbed the UAC might be dead on arrival. NC A&T is spoken for; FAMU is moving to the SWAC; this probably means Alabama St and Alabama A&M are staying put. I don’t know that there’s 6 schools that UNA and Kenn St can attract.

If Tenn St ends up being the 12th SWAC school I imagine UNA or Kenn St will go to the OVC.

I think it all depends on if they get that autobid. For the 3 public FCS SoCon schools, Jacksonville St, Kennesaw St, and UNA, that tight footprint of like minded schools would be ideal.

That gets you to 6 but where are you going to get the other 2 needed for an 8 member conference? They’d probably need to get some more OVC schools to turn or someone like N.C. Central (travel partner for WCU?)

I think Eastern Kentucky would bite. They were looking at the Sunbelt but got beat out by Coastal. EKU and Jacksonville St both left the OVC, they might be able to peel off Tennessee Tech too for number 8.

I get the impression OVC is really healthy. We know Murray and maybe Belmont aspire for higher, but it’s not too bad. Didn’t UTC consider going there? UAC/ASun is just a big step down. A step up for MEAC, but a step down for most else.

(06-02-2020 10:16 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I get the impression OVC is really healthy. We know Murray and maybe Belmont aspire for higher, but it’s not too bad. Didn’t UTC consider going there? UAC/ASun is just a big step down. A step up for MEAC, but a step down for most else.

On the surface you may think it's a step down.

But if the right schools are involved, it may be a big step up.

If you look at it objectively, and the schools are hypothetical because we only know of 2 schools 100%.


UNA
JSU
Kennesaw State
Chattanooga
ETSU
Western Carolina
Eastern Kentucky
Murray State.

Easy travel
Only 8 schools to share money with
Extremely strong football
The possibility of a 2 bid basketball conference (with only 8 schools to share money with)

Travel for the schools and the fans cut down, which means more butts in seats, and saving money in travel.

And rivalries and potential rivalries everywhere you look.

It may very well be a step up....

Bethune has steadied their financial picture, I understand. SC State is more at-risk financially than Bethune at this point.

(06-02-2020 10:31 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 10:16 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I get the impression OVC is really healthy. We know Murray and maybe Belmont aspire for higher, but it’s not too bad. Didn’t UTC consider going there? UAC/ASun is just a big step down. A step up for MEAC, but a step down for most else.

On the surface you may think it's a step down.

But if the right schools are involved, it may be a big step up.

If you look at it objectively, and the schools are hypothetical because we only know of 2 schools 100%.


UNA
JSU
Kennesaw State
Chattanooga
ETSU
Western Carolina
Eastern Kentucky
Murray State.

Easy travel
Only 8 schools to share money with
Extremely strong football
The possibility of a 2 bid basketball conference (with only 8 schools to share money with)

Travel for the schools and the fans cut down, which means more butts in seats, and saving money in travel.

And rivalries and potential rivalries everywhere you look.

It may very well be a step up....

This could be any conference, in theory. It’s more a matter of who is happy and stable and who is not. Even for the OVC and SoCon, you’re trading a spot in one of the more competitive non-major basketball conferences for a spot in what will probably remain as a single-bid league. For the OVC, maybe it does hinge on what might happen to Murray and Belmont, that others may also peel off. I don’t know if Tennessee State to the SWAC, if even a stand alone act, make others think whether they should leave OVC.

And let’s not joke around too much. If spots open in OVC, Big South and ASun schools will want in. Bellarmine, Lipscomb, maybe even UNCA would want to shift. And who knows if ETSU and UTC would go west of SoCon. And if SoCon sheds, it could be at the expense of that entire region.

(06-01-2020 02:05 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Interesting information being presented to the Board of Trustees at FAMU

http://www.famu.edu/BOT/Athletics%20BOT%...Final_.pdf

CONFERENCE UPDATE
SWAC
➢ Reduces travel expense by 30 percent ($400,000)
➢ Alignment with strong brands and stronger revenue exposure (min $1,000,000)
➢ Similar fan base and institutional autonomy
➢ Autonomy of multimedia and apparel agreements
MEAC
➢ Concerned over sustainability and membership expansion
➢ Limited revenue exposure
➢ Extreme travel cost
➢ Fan empathy
➢ Required conference deals

Did they mean “Fan apathy” or “Fan empathy”?

(06-02-2020 07:07 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 06:09 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Virginia State is viable in the sense that it has the facilities and fan support for at least lower-tier D1 and a decent-sized market that only has one D1 football school (Richmond; though Virginia is only an hour or so up the road). They had some financial drama a few years ago but I think it passed? They and Winston-Salem State are definitely the CIAA schools best positioned for a move up.

WSSU joined the MEAC in 2007 but returned to the CIAA in 2010.

Someone made the point that they tried to move at a bad time (Great Recession). Not that this is a better time, of course, but depending on leadership I'm sure they'd give it at least a little consideration. If nothing else they're still better positioned than ECSU, Fayetteville or the private CIAA schools.

(06-03-2020 09:20 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 07:07 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(06-02-2020 06:09 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Virginia State is viable in the sense that it has the facilities and fan support for at least lower-tier D1 and a decent-sized market that only has one D1 football school (Richmond; though Virginia is only an hour or so up the road). They had some financial drama a few years ago but I think it passed? They and Winston-Salem State are definitely the CIAA schools best positioned for a move up.

WSSU joined the MEAC in 2007 but returned to the CIAA in 2010.

Someone made the point that they tried to move at a bad time (Great Recession). Not that this is a better time, of course, but depending on leadership I'm sure they'd give it at least a little consideration. If nothing else they're still better positioned than ECSU, Fayetteville or the private CIAA schools.

If I were desperate, I would entertain a possible return regardless of long-term stability. Were I responsible, hard pass. They may be liked and have history, but you would want someone who can commit to this level for the long haul. But, which one is MEAC now?

If FAMU is having an actual vote today, this is a done deal. They might have an informative session like Clemson and FSU did about the Big 12, but an actual vote means the deal is done.

(06-03-2020 01:07 PM)bullet Wrote:  If FAMU is having an actual vote today, this is a done deal. They might have an informative session like Clemson and FSU did about the Big 12, but an actual vote means the deal is done.

Correct. The invite is there, just a formality at this point. Rice doesn’t have discussions about the Big 12 conference during their meetings because there is no invite coming.

Yup, looks like it's going to happen

https://hbcugameday.com/2020/06/03/famu-...swac-move/

They have to deal with exit terms of the MEAC. MEAC has a 3 year schedule commitment, but I suspect that will be negotiated away, since it's HBCU conference to HBCU conference move. Probably an agreement to schedule a couple MEAC schools could be the compromise, plus some money.

I'm sure a big concern for FAMU is MEAC dropped to 7 other football schools, meaning FAMU had to find another opponent. Now with them leaving the schedule drops from 8 games in '19 to 7 in '20 and 6 in '21.

Note, MEAC Golf will be down to 3 schools plus affiliate Augusta University (Georgia) after NC A&T and FAMU leave.

Would the SWAC go to division-less play in football with 11 members, imbalanced divisions at with 6 and 5, or add a twelfth? If a twelfth is added, how substantial are rumors that it would be Tennessee State?

(06-03-2020 07:52 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  Would the SWAC go to division-less play in football with 11 members, imbalanced divisions at with 6 and 5, or add a twelfth? If a twelfth is added, how substantial are rumors that it would be Tennessee State?

I could see imbalanced divisions or divisionless both working—divisionless is probably better.

No clue on the seriousness of Tenn St’s interest in joining into the HBCU super conference

(06-03-2020 07:52 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  Would the SWAC go to division-less play in football with 11 members, imbalanced divisions at with 6 and 5, or add a twelfth? If a twelfth is added, how substantial are rumors that it would be Tennessee State?

Divisions are meaningless in FCS, because schools make playoffs or in the case of SWAC the Celebration Bowl

(06-03-2020 08:22 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-03-2020 07:52 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  Would the SWAC go to division-less play in football with 11 members, imbalanced divisions at with 6 and 5, or add a twelfth? If a twelfth is added, how substantial are rumors that it would be Tennessee State?

I could see imbalanced divisions or divisionless both working—divisionless is probably better.

No clue on the seriousness of Tenn St’s interest in joining into the HBCU super conference

The SWAC is big on their championship game

I would think they would maintain divisions and get that game certified as an official exempt championship game. Currently the SWAC plays 7 conference games. Going to the traditional 2 division 12 team format would allow them to play 8 conference games and a championship game. More home games = more revenue

(06-02-2020 08:29 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  That gets you to 6 but where are you going to get the other 2 needed for an 8 member conference?

Is eight members to have one as a cushion against the Div1 requirement for 7 members?

Florida A&M to leave MEAC, join SWAC in 2021
https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...-swac-2021