Krocker Krapp
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I Root For: RU, SJU, UConn
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RE: Charlotte Football
If you are speculating on a possible CAA split, 49rFootballNow, the America East is more likely to form a football league with UMass and URI as associate members than the A-10 would ever be to restart football. The schools in the A-10 all play football at too many different scholarship levels to be able to form a viable conference. What would actually make more sense would be for Charlotte to join the CAA while one of that league's non-football schools, like Drexel, goes to the A-10.
CAA UNDER THAT SCENARIO (9/12)
Northeastern / Hofstra
Delaware / Towson
George Mason (non-football) / James Madison
VCU (non-football) / William & Mary
Old Dominion / UNC Wilmington (non-football)
Charlotte / Georgia State
That would give the CAA a total of 9 schools with football and 3 schools without football. It would allow for a balanced 4/4 home/away schedule and let the associate members go their own way.
A-10 UNDER THAT SCENARIO (14)
Rhode Island (football in AEC) / Massachusetts (football in AEC)
Fordham (football in AEC if PL votes down schollies) / St. Bonaventure (non-football)
Duquesne (football in NEC) / Temple (football in MAC)
St. Joseph's (non-football) / LaSalle (non-football)
Drexel (non-football) / George Washington (non-football)
Richmond (football in AEC) / St. Louis (non-football)
Dayton (football in PFL) / Xavier (non-football)
As you can see, schools are playing at several different levels right now, and no one knows what will happen to Fordham, pending a Patriot League vote on instituting scholarships, or Temple.
AEC UNDER THAT SCENARIO (4/9 or 5/10)
Maine / New Hampshire
Vermont (non-football) / Boston U (non-football)
Hartford (non-football)
Albany / Stony Brook
Binghamton (non-football) / UMBC (non-football)
POSSIBLE NEW FULL MEMBER (1): Central Connecticut (or Fordham)
FOOTBALL ONLY ASSOCIATES (4): Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, and Villanova
In an ideal world, of course, Massachusetts and Rhode Island would simply switch places with Boston U and Hartford to make things simpler but they value the A-10 basketball brand more than solidifying their football identity or creating regional solidarity. Fordham could also be a surprise possibility to join as the 10th member, rather than Central Connecticut, should the Patriot League vote not to add scholarships and they really make good on their threat to leave that conference.
CAA UNDER AN EVEN BETTER SCENARIO (9/12)
Fordham / Hofstra
Delaware / Towson
George Mason (non-football) / James Madison
VCU (non-football) / William & Mary
Old Dominion / UNC Wilmington (non-football)
Charlotte / Georgia State
This version of things would have Fordham leaving the Patriot League if they decide to vote against scholarships and switching places, so to speak, with Northeastern, which has budget concerns.
A-10 UNDER AN EVEN BETTER SCENARIO (13)
Boston U (non-football) / Hartford (non-football)
St. Bonaventure (non-football) / Duquesne (football in NEC)
Temple (football in MAC)
St. Joseph's (non-football) / LaSalle (non-football)
Drexel (non-football) / George Washington (non-football)
Richmond (football in AEC) / St. Louis (non-football)
Dayton (football in PFL) / Xavier (non-football)
Here the A-10 would sit tight at 13 for a year or two following a Fordham departure to see what happens with Temple and a FCS level all-sports affiliation as well as St. Louis, Dayton, and Xavier.
AEC UNDER AN EVEN BETTER SCENARIO (7/10)
Maine / New Hampshire
Vermont (non-football) / Massachusetts
Rhode Island / Central Connecticut
Albany / Stony Brook
Binghamton (non-football) / UMBC (non-football)
FOOTBALL ONLY ASSOCIATES (2): Richmond and Villanova
I like the second three scenarios better because they help shrink the footprint of the CAA. The A-10 would end up with a lot less football clutter so the majority of the members could put even more focus on basketball and not have to worry as much about which schools may be planning to leave in the future. Furthermore, the AEC would be a lot more football focused, all the while putting most of the big Northeast public FCS schools together in one league. It is unlikely though.
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04-19-2009 02:30 PM |
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