It's no secret ETSU fans have been less than enthused about having to join the A-Sun after getting kicked out of the SoCon.

But for now, it's ETSU's conference. It's all of our conference. While I do dream of the day ETSU can be in a more prominent conference, I also don't have a problem with the A-Sun trying to raise its stature.

Instead, it appears that the A-Sun is simply happy to be the place where Division II schools go to be Division I and then see how long it takes to move elsewhere. Every year we see a school leave and then talk of a less than underwhelming college coming in to join us.

This is a conference that would do just about anything for Division II Rollins to move to Division I so they can accept them. This is a conference that fans actively say they wouldn't mind Savannah State- SAVANNAH STATE- join their ranks.

You can say it's kneejerk thinking, but with KSU adding football, it seems it's only a matter of time before they look to another conference to join. I can't believe they'd want to be a FCS Independent.

And then who comes in? Lincoln Memorial? King?

Anyone else believe enough is enough?

The question is- if you're the Conference Commish, what direction do you try to have this conference to take? It IS worth saving- a conference with a lot of big market potential with Nashville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Ft. Myers, and, for the time being, Atlanta.

My thoughts? Try to get non-scholarship football established at all of the schools. Make a conference the way the Pioneer League has. In time, grow the league into a scholarship program.

My other idea is more radical. Petition the NCAA to play baseball during the summer. Athletes are in school year-round anyway, and competitive college baseball will gather more attention if it isn't going up against basketball and spring training in March.

Hoops wise- try to establish tournaments with another larger conference- the way there is a "Big 10-ACC Challenge." You might not get a league of that caliber, but let's say you started one with the A-10. Northeastern schools get to make a trip south to Florida or Nashville or wherever.

Suddenly, you get more attention in the media in these large markets, a lot of tourist dollars in the A-Sun towns, and the strength of schedule increases. You MUST encourage A-Sun teams to schedule as difficult as possible. Shoot for the Top 10 Conferences.

Any other ideas?