(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.

(01-26-2022 10:14 AM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(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.

I'm sure all of us in the conference have FBS as a "goal" to varying degrees. I just don't think anyone involved (most fans, included) realistically believed the entire conference would somehow move up in a couple of years. From what I've seen and heard from Ted Gumbart, he follows the old adage of "any publicity is good publicity". Hey, it got people talking.

I'd just like to see us be the best FCS conference we can be, and go from there.

(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.

Absorbing 4 teams for football really pushes the size of the ASUN up though unless the 4 are FB-only and stay Big South for everything else.

(01-26-2022 11:24 AM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(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.

Absorbing 4 teams for football really pushes the size of the ASUN up though unless the 4 are FB-only and stay Big South for everything else.

I should’ve clarified, but in my post I was referring to the 4 from the Big South being affiliates for football only. Though with 11 for all sports, I’m sure the ASUN would take one (or 3?) as full members if they wanted. I assume they’re all happy with the Big South for their Olympic sports, though.

(01-26-2022 11:29 AM)UNAfied Wrote:  

(01-26-2022 11:24 AM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(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.

Absorbing 4 teams for football really pushes the size of the ASUN up though unless the 4 are FB-only and stay Big South for everything else.

I should’ve clarified, but in my post I was referring to the 4 from the Big South being affiliates for football only. Though with 11 for all sports, I’m sure the ASUN would take one (or 3?) as full members if they wanted. I assume they’re all happy with the Big South for their Olympic sports, though.

I assumed that's what you meant but wasn't entirely sure. ASUN football could operate as a separate entity similar to CAA Football or the MVFC. Then you could add say the BS 5, TSU and TTU and have a nice 12 team Southern FCS conference.

ASUN could still grab Chattanooga and North Carolina A&T since both seemed willing to go to FBS. If you could flip schools from certain conferences that wants FBS? You work with them.

(01-25-2022 06:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  The goal of the ASUN FB schools is to build the southern FCS CAA/MVFC/Big Sky. Most Big South FB schools don’t fit that objective.

Most of the schools already in the ASUN don't fit that objective. They largely lack the money or the stability or both. On top of that, EKU and UCA are dicey to even stay. I'm surprised some of these schools haven't backed out yet.

This is the ASUN's entire history in a nutshell. Talk a big game, watch your plans fall apart because none of the members are on the same page, Shocked Pikachu Face, repeat. If they were smart, they would abandon what's left of their "plan" and work with the Big South on creating a stable conference that can benefit everybody in the region. The only way these programs are competing with the SoCon at this point is if they all band together and hold together.

Same old ASUN: Teams join with one foot out the door (JSU and a long list before them).

How to fix: Focus on Florida! They have 4 members down there with some strong longevity. None of them are candidates to leave. None of them have scholarship football, and one just canned their football team (JU). Add the best quality D2 teams you can find within Florida or close to it. I'd be begging Valdosta State and West Florida to get on board, and I'd be searching for more southern Florida candidates as well.

It would be nice if they can maintain 6 random football teams at all times, but that can't be the focus. The focus is stability and the only place you get that is southern teams.

(01-26-2022 08:39 AM)The Cats Wrote:  

(01-25-2022 09:46 PM)North Ala Supporter Wrote:  Problems I see

1. NCAA Continuity issue
2. Transition time issue from D2 to D1
3. SoCon - Apparently not wanting to expand or any schools wanting to leave.
4. ASUN Florida Schools that don’t play football.

My Solution would be For the Big South to acquire those 4 ASUN Florida Schools.

That would give the Bis South 15 for basketball. Then go after D2 Schools Valdosta State, West Florida, and West Georgia that play football.

Big South have a North and South divisions for basketball.


Playing under the ASUN banner would be:

Kennesaw State
North Alabama
Central Arkansas
Eastern Kentucky
Austin Peay
Lipscomb
Bellarmine

Add
Tennessee Tech

Maybe by that time the Public SoCon schools would be interest.

Also you got two non-football D2 schools that would be in the footprint.
Lincoln Memorial and Lee University.

Why is the SoCon standing pat - a problem? Seems to be one of the few stable conferences in the FCS...

With JMU off to the FBS and the CAA FB responding with more Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern schools - Hampton, Stony Brook, and Monmouth, the SoCon is now the premier Southeast-based FCS league. It doesn’t need to do anything at this point. Let’s consider the options for the sake of argument:

Idea 1: Approach and reacquire Elon and College of Charleston and poach UNC-Wilmington from the CAA. Problems: Elon wants to be in a conference with northern ties to mimic its student base and UNC-G may not want a conference basketball opponent only 19 miles away; SoCon basketball is a step down for UNC-W and step backwards for CofC.

Idea 2: Poach a smattering Big South FB and non-FB schools. Problems: As to FB schools, Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb seem too small and without sufficient resources. Campbell might be a good institutional fit with the private and military schools in the SoCon, but they aren’t great at FB and have only made the NCAA tourney once, 30 years ago. NC A&T would add good football but it would requiring doubling down in Greensboro, which UNC-G may not want. Looking at non-FB schools, the only potentially realistic candidates would be High Point and Winthrop. Neither Radford nor Longwood are worth the hassle of adding a second Virginia school to compliment VMI, and Wofford and Furman would block Presbyterian and USC-Upstate. As to HPU, while it is private and has a great new arena, it is probably too close to UNC-G for the Spartans liking. Winthrop I could maybe envision, but I think as a former women’s college it lacks the alumni/booster base to get politicos in Columbia to push for its inclusion, and I don’t think Wofford, Furman, or the Citadel would be particularly enthused about the addition. If Winthrop adds football and the “Metrolina” area around Charlotte continues to boom, maybe revisit this in a decade.

Idea 3: Poach the ASUN for FB and non-FB schools. Problems: the only FB school worth adding would be Kennesaw State, but it is not a good institutional fit as a commuter school with an enrollment of 42,000, more than double that of the SoCon’s largest school, UNC-G, which is just shy of 20,000 students. As for non-FB, while Bellarmine, Jacksonville, FGCU, and Lipscomb are all good at basketball, I don’t see the need for the SoCon to expand into Kentucky or Florida, nor is it imperative to add a third TN school that would stretch the footprint from East Tennessee into Middle Tennessee.

Basically, at this point, it ain’t broke, so don’t fix it.

No

The $2 Million buyout the SoCon implemented is probably a big "keep out" sign just as much as it is to keep current members in the conference.

No

Jacksonville State has announced its schedule for 2022, so the ASUN has its six for 2022. They can be working on other schools, like North Florida and FGCU, and West Florida which won the DII championship in their 26th game. Other targets would be Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, and maybe NCA&T.

I wonder Robert Morris would affiliate with the OVC, now that the Big South has lost their northern outposts. I doubt that the remaining three Big South schools have any aspirations for FBS. Campbell was in the Pioneer for a bit. Maybe they could get Stetson, Presbyterian, and Morehead State to form a low/no scholarship league.