Buccaneerlover
All American American
Posts: 8,063
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation: 57
I Root For: ETSU/Mid Majors
Location: Burb of MUSIC CITY!
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RE: Could the A-Sun be on it's last leg?
(02-12-2016 12:04 PM)shampoo Wrote: (02-11-2016 10:39 PM)Efan Wrote: I disagree. I think the Tri-Cities would be a little more attractive based on media market size. The Tri is ranked 97th and Macon is 120th. Not a huge difference, but it is significant. ETSU also is larger and has a much larger alumni base. We have 2 interstates running through our area just like they do, only difference is their proximity to a major city (Atlanta).
The market is attractive only if ETSU basketball and football can hold their own against UT & VT. Basketball is becoming competitive, but football will take years. Mercer, on the other hand, is off to a good start with football and beat Duke in basketball recently, so they're profile is higher status right now IMO. Things can change suddenly, though, as with FGCU a la Dunk City.
Market is just an excuse. Look at Appalachian. You really think 25/30K people are coming from Boone and Wilkesboro? They're also competing with UT, UNC, South Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, NC State, Va. Tech, and Clemson for butts in seats. It can be done, it just takes consistent winning, and making the atmosphere on gameday something that people want to participate in. It's no different than Marshall having to compete against West Virginia, Pitt, and Ohio State.
It all starts with winning.
As for the Atlantic Sun, it'll survive. Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville will eventually want to move up (they're already getting pressure from locals to do so), Bellarmine, North Alabama, UA-H, West Florida, and West Georgia have all shown at least a hint of wanting to move up. Any of these could move up and immediately add stability.
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02-12-2016 09:28 PM |
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