(08-13-2022 10:39 AM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  

(08-12-2022 09:28 PM)dan10 Wrote:  Albany is also a great aeast team. I hope the league keeps its focus on decent to good academic institutions while keeping it basically an I95 league. Easy travel and the ones not along the highway are super common flights from anywhere. Adding an outlier to that mold like Albany would be a downgrade for the conference profile. Some of the recent additions cant sit too well academically for some (W&M, NU and maybe even Delaware)

Laughing about the Albany academics comment here. For real? You may want to check your facts on that statement. If Albany joined today, they would be literally in the Top half of the league (if it expanded to 16) by any reasonable measure. ON USWNR rankings, which I am not a huge fan of in general, Albany would slot in RIGHT behind Hofstra at #8. On sheer prestige (overall academic rankings, Carnegie research, etc), Albany would slot in at #6...directly behind Drexel.

Let me just add that due to some serious criminal behavior (that administrator is currently awaiting sentencing on multiple federal charges due to what I am about to tell you about), Albany's CNSE (Nanotech program) was taken from it and given to nascent SUNY Poly. That removal dropped Albany from being ranked in the low 100's with more research expenditures than Stony Brook. Currently, talks are underway between the Governor, NYS Legislature, Albany, and SUNY Poly to return that program to Albany. With that return, Albany's R&D will grow by 200-250 million, brining it's annual spend to nearly $400 million...surpassing Buffalo and Stony Brook...both AAU institutions. It would be, by far, the most in the CAA.

Even if that move does not occur, which of course is always possible with politics, Albany would sit fifth in the CAA behind SBU, Delaware, Northeastern, an Drexel (by $5 million), in that order.

As for travel, I posted this elsewhere and you commented on it as well, going up I-95 to, let's say, Fairfield is literally a wash (20-25 minutes longer to Albany). This would account for all teams that would bus to Albany but for Stony Brook (hour more to Albany but a trip they have made since...forever). As for Northeastern, Albany and Fairfield are literally equidistant but the traffic risk to Fairfield is far worse.

As for Airports, Albany's International Airport is 8 minutes from campus. All CAA South teams would have to take a connecting flight for the limited times they play the CAA North, with Albany on the schedule. To Monmouth, Fairfield, and Stony Brook, the CAA South can get direct flights but for some schools (W&M and Hampton) that requires an 1-130 hr drive to Richmond. After landing, that requires an 130-145 drive to Monmouth, Stony Brook, or Fairfield (if they joined)...WITHOUT the notorious traffic.

So I am not really sure what you mean about travel being longer to Albany.

I ask this question: What school fits your mold that could be added in the North? Quinnipiac? Fairfield? Neither fit the mold you speak of at all....but honestly, I think the CAA North, if it expands...and I don't think it will for a bit, if ever, will be down to Albany or Fairfield...with Albany having the edge due to Football.

I'll address the past paragraph since I have no issue with the rest. Howard was/would be the likely add to the northern division and i'm not convinced they're out.

I have no opinion on any other northern adds except to say the CAA has become far more attractive to a lot of schools on the east coast. And the way ESPN is going I could easily see the A10 dropping in payouts from ESPN to bring on the CAA and make them equal. That seems to be the direction ESPN is going overall. And if the payouts to the Sunbelt are made the same as those to the AAC and the A10 is the same as the CAA, there will no longer be a need for schools to jump conferences. That will also allow a better geographic alignment since there will be no financial incentive to be in a conference with a bad geographical footprint.

ESPN seems to c

In fairness that is the problem with going to 16 (among others), choices are thin. I dont really have any in mind. Monmouth is lousy comparatively academically. A&T and Campbell arent great, but they did make national rankings (albeit barely). Howard would fit academically for sure, but would be a dreg for athletics. To me 16 is far too many for an at best second tier league (eventually, currently its 3rd tier). Connecting flights is my point, the others that require flights are all easily direct to minimize the time aspect for flying for classes etc.

For the record, I expect Albany to be added, probably next FWIW

(08-13-2022 05:06 PM)dan10 Wrote:  In fairness that is the problem with going to 16 (among others), choices are thin. I dont really have any in mind. Monmouth is lousy comparatively academically. A&T and Campbell arent great, but they did make national rankings (albeit barely). Howard would fit academically for sure, but would be a dreg for athletics. To me 16 is far too many for an at best second tier league (eventually, currently its 3rd tier). Connecting flights is my point, the others that require flights are all easily direct to minimize the time aspect for flying for classes etc.

For the record, I expect Albany to be added, probably next FWIW

Albany would be a significant increase in the average travel time for all schools. Would the north schools want that? Plus Albany is not a major airport for the southern schools.

Would everyone be up for that when there are closer options like UMBC, a travel partner for Towson

(08-13-2022 05:06 PM)dan10 Wrote:  In fairness that is the problem with going to 16 (among others), choices are thin. I dont really have any in mind. Monmouth is lousy comparatively academically. A&T and Campbell arent great, but they did make national rankings (albeit barely). Howard would fit academically for sure, but would be a dreg for athletics. To me 16 is far too many for an at best second tier league (eventually, currently its 3rd tier). Connecting flights is my point, the others that require flights are all easily direct to minimize the time aspect for flying for classes etc.

For the record, I expect Albany to be added, probably next FWIW

I'm wondering what you are basing academic strength on? Surely not US News and World Report? A&T is a strong STEM school. Campbell has a medical school, law school, Nursing, Pharmacy, Business etc. Neither is weak academically though they might not have the large endowments or national reputations of some.

Umbc is ranked higher than Albany in those US News and World Report rankings

Mark this post. I'm making a prediction Towson will be the next addition to the A10

(08-23-2022 11:31 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Mark this post. I'm making a prediction Towson will be the next addition to the A10

This is an interesting thought that makes a lot of sense. If that were to happen, I think UMBC would be in the CAA so fast your head would spiin

(08-23-2022 11:31 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Mark this post. I'm making a prediction Towson will be the next addition to the A10

Why Towson?

A10 tends to add basketball powerhouses in major markets

You think Towson will develop a competitive enough program to be considered by A10?

(08-24-2022 08:11 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(08-23-2022 11:31 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Mark this post. I'm making a prediction Towson will be the next addition to the A10

Why Towson?

A10 tends to add basketball powerhouses in major markets

You think Towson will develop a competitive enough program to be considered by A10?

They have better than CAA facilities, a media market the A10 isn't in, and state backed resources. Just because they havent been great on the floor (and odds are they are upper part of the league this year, which would help the sell) doesn't mean it isn't an attractive program.

(08-24-2022 09:41 AM)metsox Wrote:  They have better than CAA facilities, a media market the A10 isn't in, and state backed resources. Just because they havent been great on the floor (and odds are they are upper part of the league this year, which would help the sell) doesn't mean it isn't an attractive program.

I get all that, but Towson lacks the most important quality for A-10 membership: Being very good at men's basketball. Every A-10 addition in the last decade made an Elite Eight run before being invited, and four of them went the Final Four.

Could Towson do that in the future? Maybe! But this is a program that hasn't been to an NCAA tournament in 3 decades.

So it's plausible for sure. But it's gonna take more than winning the CAA even once or twice to do it, IMO.

(08-24-2022 10:16 AM)JonP Wrote:  

(08-24-2022 09:41 AM)metsox Wrote:  They have better than CAA facilities, a media market the A10 isn't in, and state backed resources. Just because they havent been great on the floor (and odds are they are upper part of the league this year, which would help the sell) doesn't mean it isn't an attractive program.

I get all that, but Towson lacks the most important quality for A-10 membership: Being very good at men's basketball. Every A-10 addition in the last decade made an Elite Eight run before being invited, and four of them went the Final Four.

Could Towson do that in the future? Maybe! But this is a program that hasn't been to an NCAA tournament in 3 decades.

So it's plausible for sure. But it's gonna take more than winning the CAA even once or twice to do it, IMO.

It would be truly embarrassing in my view for the A10 - that your choice for expansion would be a mediocre CAA team that averages about 2,000 per game. And while the facilities are ok, they aren’t exactly State of the art.

The thing is, the Baltimore market overlaps a lot with the Washington market. I can't imagine the A10 going out of their way to get into the Baltimore market unless a team was really attractive, a la Loyola Chicago.

Towson fits the profile the A10 is looking for. And I go with the "where there's smoke there's fire" philosophy. Sports writers have been slobbering all over Towson recently. They've also gotten invites to some pretty high caliber preseason tournaments.
This is my hunch and I'm sticking to it. The A10 could see the CAA as a threat and taking from us makes a lot of sense for them and marking their territory. If we are willing to house FCS football Towson would have no reason to stay and they have the best profile for the A10 in the conference.

(08-24-2022 10:16 AM)JonP Wrote:  

(08-24-2022 09:41 AM)metsox Wrote:  They have better than CAA facilities, a media market the A10 isn't in, and state backed resources. Just because they havent been great on the floor (and odds are they are upper part of the league this year, which would help the sell) doesn't mean it isn't an attractive program.

I get all that, but Towson lacks the most important quality for A-10 membership: Being very good at men's basketball. Every A-10 addition in the last decade made an Elite Eight run before being invited, and four of them went the Final Four.

I guess they better go on a run soon since nobody goes to the Final Four once you're in the A10.

(08-24-2022 01:23 PM)jcohen42 Wrote:  The thing is, the Baltimore market overlaps a lot with the Washington market. I can't imagine the A10 going out of their way to get into the Baltimore market unless a team was really attractive, a la Loyola Chicago.

No. Just no. They are 2 VERY distinct markets. I am surprised as a sports fan that is not a known fact. Proximity does not equate markets. However, that being said the Baltimore market is declining and is far from on the rise, so I would not understand the appeal to the A10

This seems farfetched to me. But I am not in the know or follow these things too closely. Why would we allow another Richmond scenario (house their football while they leave everything else for greener pastures)? Doesnt seem to make sense.

Would certainly raise the A10 lacrosse presence...

(08-25-2022 01:58 PM)dan10 Wrote:  

(08-24-2022 01:23 PM)jcohen42 Wrote:  The thing is, the Baltimore market overlaps a lot with the Washington market. I can't imagine the A10 going out of their way to get into the Baltimore market unless a team was really attractive, a la Loyola Chicago.

No. Just no. They are 2 VERY distinct markets. I am surprised as a sports fan that is not a known fact. Proximity does not equate markets. However, that being said the Baltimore market is declining and is far from on the rise, so I would not understand the appeal to the A10

This seems farfetched to me. But I am not in the know or follow these things too closely. Why would we allow another Richmond scenario (house their football while they leave everything else for greener pastures)? Doesnt seem to make sense.

Would certainly raise the A10 lacrosse presence...

I lived in Baltimore for about a half decade in the 2010s. The markets absolutely overlap. Every Washington media channel and station extends upwards to Baltimore. Treating them as completely distinct markets may have been accurate once upon a time, but it is nowhere near the case present day.

The CAA and CAA Football have different bylaws and membership structure

Its not all or nothing

(08-25-2022 02:06 PM)solohawks Wrote:  The CAA and CAA Football have different bylaws and membership structure

Its not all or nothing

I am aware. But I cant imagine the conference as a whole wants memberships all over the place with schools picking and choosing some sports vs others. The approach with additions sure has seemed focus on all sports memberships (with or without football). IF Towson were to leave to the A10 (doesnt make sense to me from the A10's perspective) I dont understand why the CAA would want to allow them to keep football here as a football only school.

(08-25-2022 02:45 PM)dan10 Wrote:  

(08-25-2022 02:06 PM)solohawks Wrote:  The CAA and CAA Football have different bylaws and membership structure

Its not all or nothing

I am aware. But I cant imagine the conference as a whole wants memberships all over the place with schools picking and choosing some sports vs others. The approach with additions sure has seemed focus on all sports memberships (with or without football). IF Towson were to leave to the A10 (doesnt make sense to me from the A10's perspective) I dont understand why the CAA would want to allow them to keep football here as a football only school.

But why not? If the CAA has different bylaws and membership structure why would the CAA boot Towson from football if they chose to move the rest of their programs to the A10? If that's the litmus test, wouldn't they already be forcing schools that are CAA football only to join as full members in the CAA rather than inviting a bunch of new schools to expand? Stony Brook is the only expansion that came from CAA football.

(08-24-2022 08:11 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(08-23-2022 11:31 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Mark this post. I'm making a prediction Towson will be the next addition to the A10

Why Towson?

A10 tends to add basketball powerhouses in major markets

You think Towson will develop a competitive enough program to be considered by A10?

Why not UMBC instead of Towson?