(03-09-2017 02:49 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  They can have the IUPU schools (Indy and Fort Wayne).

(03-09-2017 02:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Well, maybe this isn't the only thing of Belmont's moving over to SoCon?

(03-09-2017 04:38 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 02:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Well, maybe this isn't the only thing of Belmont's moving over to SoCon?

It's the only thing. I would read no more into in that Air Force being a Big 12 Affiliate ... in wrestling. These are zero spectator, zero revenue sports. NCAA soccer is played in front of friends and family in lawn chairs. Glorified club level for the most part. There is no great interaction here. Soccer affiliates operate on 2 year or 4 year contracts. I suspect the move has mostly to do with the Horizon deciding it didn't want to bother with the administrative work for a single affiliate, nothing more.

Belmont's men's soccer has been an orphan because the OVC doesn't sponsor it - not uncommon in football conferences. And since Belmont doesn't play football it needs another men's team sport (soccer) in its place to qualify for D-1. There are 13 men's soccer programs in D-1 who are affiliates in other conferences because their primary conference doesn't sponsor it (5 MWC, 2 SEC, 1 B12, 3 SLC, 1 Big Sky, and Belmont in the OVC). As far as affiliates go, the SoCon is in a category with the WAC and A-SUN, a large number of affiliates in different sports.

(03-09-2017 04:52 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:38 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 02:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Well, maybe this isn't the only thing of Belmont's moving over to SoCon?

It's the only thing. I would read no more into in that Air Force being a Big 12 Affiliate ... in wrestling. These are zero spectator, zero revenue sports. NCAA soccer is played in front of friends and family in lawn chairs. Glorified club level for the most part. There is no great interaction here. Soccer affiliates operate on 2 year or 4 year contracts. I suspect the move has mostly to do with the Horizon deciding it didn't want to bother with the administrative work for a single affiliate, nothing more.

Belmont's men's soccer has been an orphan because the OVC doesn't sponsor it - not uncommon in football conferences. And since Belmont doesn't play football it needs another men's team sport (soccer) in its place to qualify for D-1. There are 13 men's soccer programs in D-1 who are affiliates in other conferences because their primary conference doesn't sponsor it (5 MWC, 2 SEC, 1 B12, 3 SLC, 1 Big Sky, and Belmont in the OVC). As far as affiliates go, the SoCon is in a category with the WAC and A-SUN, a large number of affiliates in different sports.

YMMV, though. Some of these affiliations are more intentional than others. At the very least, you are formalizing a relationship between the school, this conference, and its members.

Nothing may happen now, but I find this curious after there's something out there on SoCon trying to rebuild basketball strength. Oh, and hey, here's Belmont to the SoCon...for something else. Seems...more than coincidental.

Could also be a one-way street, where SoCon takes Belmont, and Belmont is tickled pink, but that's about it. Like Boise's sport in the PAC. Or those looking to get in on CAA.

(03-09-2017 05:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:52 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:38 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 02:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Well, maybe this isn't the only thing of Belmont's moving over to SoCon?

It's the only thing. I would read no more into in that Air Force being a Big 12 Affiliate ... in wrestling. These are zero spectator, zero revenue sports. NCAA soccer is played in front of friends and family in lawn chairs. Glorified club level for the most part. There is no great interaction here. Soccer affiliates operate on 2 year or 4 year contracts. I suspect the move has mostly to do with the Horizon deciding it didn't want to bother with the administrative work for a single affiliate, nothing more.

Belmont's men's soccer has been an orphan because the OVC doesn't sponsor it - not uncommon in football conferences. And since Belmont doesn't play football it needs another men's team sport (soccer) in its place to qualify for D-1. There are 13 men's soccer programs in D-1 who are affiliates in other conferences because their primary conference doesn't sponsor it (5 MWC, 2 SEC, 1 B12, 3 SLC, 1 Big Sky, and Belmont in the OVC). As far as affiliates go, the SoCon is in a category with the WAC and A-SUN, a large number of affiliates in different sports.

YMMV, though. Some of these affiliations are more intentional than others. At the very least, you are formalizing a relationship between the school, this conference, and its members.

Nothing may happen now, but I find this curious after there's something out there on SoCon trying to rebuild basketball strength. Oh, and hey, here's Belmont to the SoCon...for something else. Seems...more than coincidental.

Could also be a one-way street, where SoCon takes Belmont, and Belmont is tickled pink, but that's about it. Like Boise's sport in the PAC. Or those looking to get in on CAA.

There was just an article in the Chattanooga paper the other day about the Southern upgrading basketball. When another event happens soon after that talk that is a confirmation, I take notice, even though Stugray wants to p*ss all over it.

The SoCon already has a CST team with Samford and Chattanooga and ETSU could use a Nashville presence. Something could very well be upart. CoC going too would be much more difficult. Belmont doesn't need Lipscomb to hang with. Lipscomb can take Belmont's plave.

(03-09-2017 05:53 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:52 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:38 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 02:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Well, maybe this isn't the only thing of Belmont's moving over to SoCon?

It's the only thing. I would read no more into in that Air Force being a Big 12 Affiliate ... in wrestling. These are zero spectator, zero revenue sports. NCAA soccer is played in front of friends and family in lawn chairs. Glorified club level for the most part. There is no great interaction here. Soccer affiliates operate on 2 year or 4 year contracts. I suspect the move has mostly to do with the Horizon deciding it didn't want to bother with the administrative work for a single affiliate, nothing more.

Belmont's men's soccer has been an orphan because the OVC doesn't sponsor it - not uncommon in football conferences. And since Belmont doesn't play football it needs another men's team sport (soccer) in its place to qualify for D-1. There are 13 men's soccer programs in D-1 who are affiliates in other conferences because their primary conference doesn't sponsor it (5 MWC, 2 SEC, 1 B12, 3 SLC, 1 Big Sky, and Belmont in the OVC). As far as affiliates go, the SoCon is in a category with the WAC and A-SUN, a large number of affiliates in different sports.

YMMV, though. Some of these affiliations are more intentional than others. At the very least, you are formalizing a relationship between the school, this conference, and its members.

Nothing may happen now, but I find this curious after there's something out there on SoCon trying to rebuild basketball strength. Oh, and hey, here's Belmont to the SoCon...for something else. Seems...more than coincidental.

Could also be a one-way street, where SoCon takes Belmont, and Belmont is tickled pink, but that's about it. Like Boise's sport in the PAC. Or those looking to get in on CAA.

There was just an article in the Chattanooga paper the other day about the Southern upgrading basketball. When another event happens soon after that talk that is a confirmation, I take notice, even though Stugray wants to p*ss all over it.

The SoCon already has a CST team with Samford and Chattanooga and ETSU could use a Nashville presence. Something could very well be upart. CoC going too would be much more difficult. Belmont doesn't need Lipscomb to hang with. Lipscomb can take Belmont's plave.

Belmont would go from being in the center of a conference to being a far outlier.

Average distance to OVC: 175 miles
Average distance to SoCon: 344 miles

Belmont currently has:
1 cross-town school
2 schools 60-90 minutes away (depending on traffic)
5 more school <225 miles
Furthest school is 310 miles.

SoCon closest school would be fifth closest in OVC
SoCon only has 3 schools closer than current FARTHEST.


That's a whole lot of extra driving for little gain, if any.

And Belmont is not in the same conference as Lipscomb

(03-09-2017 06:38 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:53 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:52 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:38 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  It's the only thing. I would read no more into in that Air Force being a Big 12 Affiliate ... in wrestling. These are zero spectator, zero revenue sports. NCAA soccer is played in front of friends and family in lawn chairs. Glorified club level for the most part. There is no great interaction here. Soccer affiliates operate on 2 year or 4 year contracts. I suspect the move has mostly to do with the Horizon deciding it didn't want to bother with the administrative work for a single affiliate, nothing more.

Belmont's men's soccer has been an orphan because the OVC doesn't sponsor it - not uncommon in football conferences. And since Belmont doesn't play football it needs another men's team sport (soccer) in its place to qualify for D-1. There are 13 men's soccer programs in D-1 who are affiliates in other conferences because their primary conference doesn't sponsor it (5 MWC, 2 SEC, 1 B12, 3 SLC, 1 Big Sky, and Belmont in the OVC). As far as affiliates go, the SoCon is in a category with the WAC and A-SUN, a large number of affiliates in different sports.

YMMV, though. Some of these affiliations are more intentional than others. At the very least, you are formalizing a relationship between the school, this conference, and its members.

Nothing may happen now, but I find this curious after there's something out there on SoCon trying to rebuild basketball strength. Oh, and hey, here's Belmont to the SoCon...for something else. Seems...more than coincidental.

Could also be a one-way street, where SoCon takes Belmont, and Belmont is tickled pink, but that's about it. Like Boise's sport in the PAC. Or those looking to get in on CAA.

There was just an article in the Chattanooga paper the other day about the Southern upgrading basketball. When another event happens soon after that talk that is a confirmation, I take notice, even though Stugray wants to p*ss all over it.

The SoCon already has a CST team with Samford and Chattanooga and ETSU could use a Nashville presence. Something could very well be upart. CoC going too would be much more difficult. Belmont doesn't need Lipscomb to hang with. Lipscomb can take Belmont's plave.

Belmont would go from being in the center of a conference to being a far outlier.

Average distance to OVC: 175 miles
Average distance to SoCon: 344 miles

Belmont currently has:
1 cross-town school
2 schools 60-90 minutes away (depending on traffic)
5 more school <225 miles
Furthest school is 310 miles.

SoCon closest school would be fifth closest in OVC
SoCon only has 3 schools closer than current FARTHEST.


That's a whole lot of extra driving for little gain, if any.

And Belmont is not in the same conference as Lipscomb

NC and SC have more music students that can afford Belmont than Kentucky and rural Tenn. Belmont is a significant feeder school to the Country and Christian music industry in Nashville.

The OVC is a blue collar first generation college student league that doesn't fit Belmont's students or profile. The SoCon leans white collar with many similar institutions.

Belmont and Lipscomb moved to DI's Atlantic Sun together, but when Belmont got the OVC invite they parted ways. Trevecca Nazarene would have liked to join them earlier, but maybe can upgrade now. All three are very different church related schools in America's Protestant Rome, Nashville.

(03-09-2017 06:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 06:38 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:53 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 04:52 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  YMMV, though. Some of these affiliations are more intentional than others. At the very least, you are formalizing a relationship between the school, this conference, and its members.

Nothing may happen now, but I find this curious after there's something out there on SoCon trying to rebuild basketball strength. Oh, and hey, here's Belmont to the SoCon...for something else. Seems...more than coincidental.

Could also be a one-way street, where SoCon takes Belmont, and Belmont is tickled pink, but that's about it. Like Boise's sport in the PAC. Or those looking to get in on CAA.

There was just an article in the Chattanooga paper the other day about the Southern upgrading basketball. When another event happens soon after that talk that is a confirmation, I take notice, even though Stugray wants to p*ss all over it.

The SoCon already has a CST team with Samford and Chattanooga and ETSU could use a Nashville presence. Something could very well be upart. CoC going too would be much more difficult. Belmont doesn't need Lipscomb to hang with. Lipscomb can take Belmont's plave.

Belmont would go from being in the center of a conference to being a far outlier.

Average distance to OVC: 175 miles
Average distance to SoCon: 344 miles

Belmont currently has:
1 cross-town school
2 schools 60-90 minutes away (depending on traffic)
5 more school <225 miles
Furthest school is 310 miles.

SoCon closest school would be fifth closest in OVC
SoCon only has 3 schools closer than current FARTHEST.


That's a whole lot of extra driving for little gain, if any.

And Belmont is not in the same conference as Lipscomb

NC and SC have more music students that can afford Belmont than Kentucky and rural Tenn. Belmont is a significant feeder school to the Country and Christian music industry in Nashville.

The OVC is a blue collar first generation college student league that doesn't fit Belmont's students or profile. The SoCon leans white collar with many similar institutions.

Belmont and Lipscomb moved to DI's Atlantic Sun together, but when Belmont got the OVC invite they parted ways. Trevecca Nazarene would have liked to join them earlier, but maybe can upgrade now. All three are very different church related schools in America's Protestant Rome, Nashville.

I am well aware of all three - I used to live in Nashville, knew many Lipscomb and Belmont students.

You have no factual basis for your other claims, other than a WAG.

Just because the SoCon has a few privates, doesn't mean it is worth doubling travel. Belmont has worked hard to grow beyond it's Southern Baptist roots, and lessening the association with hard-line evangelical schools like Lipscomb and Trevecca (who is too small for DI, to begin with) is part of that.

(03-09-2017 02:41 PM)insomniaisevil Wrote:  I liked the idea of Belmont and Lipscomb being a new travel pair and coming over to the Horizon.

I'm not sure who logical candidates are for the Horizon if they want to go to 12. They have such nice, clean travel pairs now, so you'd have to look at 2 schools that work as a group.

(03-09-2017 07:06 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  The question is would Southern Conference would take a risk with a D2 upgrade from Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky. They have over 20 sports, and they are thinking of adding women's LAX and football as well. The way they are spending money on upgrading their facilities and buying land? I think they want to go to D1 which I would not ignore them as well.

(03-09-2017 07:22 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 06:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 06:38 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:53 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  There was just an article in the Chattanooga paper the other day about the Southern upgrading basketball. When another event happens soon after that talk that is a confirmation, I take notice, even though Stugray wants to p*ss all over it.

The SoCon already has a CST team with Samford and Chattanooga and ETSU could use a Nashville presence. Something could very well be upart. CoC going too would be much more difficult. Belmont doesn't need Lipscomb to hang with. Lipscomb can take Belmont's plave.

Belmont would go from being in the center of a conference to being a far outlier.

Average distance to OVC: 175 miles
Average distance to SoCon: 344 miles

Belmont currently has:
1 cross-town school
2 schools 60-90 minutes away (depending on traffic)
5 more school <225 miles
Furthest school is 310 miles.

SoCon closest school would be fifth closest in OVC
SoCon only has 3 schools closer than current FARTHEST.


That's a whole lot of extra driving for little gain, if any.

And Belmont is not in the same conference as Lipscomb

NC and SC have more music students that can afford Belmont than Kentucky and rural Tenn. Belmont is a significant feeder school to the Country and Christian music industry in Nashville.

The OVC is a blue collar first generation college student league that doesn't fit Belmont's students or profile. The SoCon leans white collar with many similar institutions.

Belmont and Lipscomb moved to DI's Atlantic Sun together, but when Belmont got the OVC invite they parted ways. Trevecca Nazarene would have liked to join them earlier, but maybe can upgrade now. All three are very different church related schools in America's Protestant Rome, Nashville.

I am well aware of all three - I used to live in Nashville, knew many Lipscomb and Belmont students.

You have no factual basis for your other claims, other than a WAG.

Just because the SoCon has a few privates, doesn't mean it is worth doubling travel. Belmont has worked hard to grow beyond it's Southern Baptist roots, and lessening the association with hard-line evangelical schools like Lipscomb and Trevecca (who is too small for DI, to begin with) is part of that.

Samford is Baptist rooted as is Belmont, but still chose to get out of the OVC ten years ago to go SoCon. Belmont will make the same decision. SoCon>OVC>ASun.

(03-09-2017 07:37 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 07:22 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 06:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 06:38 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 05:53 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Belmont would go from being in the center of a conference to being a far outlier.

Average distance to OVC: 175 miles
Average distance to SoCon: 344 miles

Belmont currently has:
1 cross-town school
2 schools 60-90 minutes away (depending on traffic)
5 more school <225 miles
Furthest school is 310 miles.

SoCon closest school would be fifth closest in OVC
SoCon only has 3 schools closer than current FARTHEST.


That's a whole lot of extra driving for little gain, if any.

And Belmont is not in the same conference as Lipscomb

NC and SC have more music students that can afford Belmont than Kentucky and rural Tenn. Belmont is a significant feeder school to the Country and Christian music industry in Nashville.

The OVC is a blue collar first generation college student league that doesn't fit Belmont's students or profile. The SoCon leans white collar with many similar institutions.

Belmont and Lipscomb moved to DI's Atlantic Sun together, but when Belmont got the OVC invite they parted ways. Trevecca Nazarene would have liked to join them earlier, but maybe can upgrade now. All three are very different church related schools in America's Protestant Rome, Nashville.

I am well aware of all three - I used to live in Nashville, knew many Lipscomb and Belmont students.

You have no factual basis for your other claims, other than a WAG.

Just because the SoCon has a few privates, doesn't mean it is worth doubling travel. Belmont has worked hard to grow beyond it's Southern Baptist roots, and lessening the association with hard-line evangelical schools like Lipscomb and Trevecca (who is too small for DI, to begin with) is part of that.

Samford is Baptist rooted as is Belmont, but still chose to get out of the OVC ten years ago to go SoCon. Belmont will make the same decision. SoCon>OVC>ASun.

Samford was on the edge of the OVC. Not in the middle. Again, a WAG that you are no clue about.

I know, Belmont to the WAC! Along with North Dakota!!