(06-21-2020 01:23 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(06-21-2020 12:55 AM)MercerFan Wrote:  I think a good start to the ASUN plans would be to divide the schools into categories.

Transient Schools:
Bellarmine
Liberty
North Alabama

Would jump at an offer from another conference, but might not get one:
Kennesaw State
Lipscomb

Unlikely to receive an offer, but has an out:
Stetson (could make football FCS Scholarship to get an offer)

Unlikely to receive an offer and is stuck:
North Florida
Jacksonville
Florida Gulf Coast

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If you have this information presented to you, it's obvious you can't make "plans" around anyone but the Florida schools. If you add schools from other states you're just continuing the same pattern of short term survival.

100%. The schools who will be in the ASUN long-term are the 4 Florida’s. The other 5 will always be flight risks for a more suitable league.

ASUN would be wise to build off the Florida core. If it’s not Bethune-Cookman, it should be West Florida. UWF has the benefit of doubledipping between bolstering the Florida core *and* giving UNA/KSU a bus trip. It is an exclusive, short list of schools who provide both.

I disagree mostly.

While Liberty may find a new home if an FBS conference comes, and Bellarmine may decide to leave, I dont see UNA, KSU or Lipscomb actively looking for other options. In UNA and KSU, that also depends on football.
For those 3, I think the ASUN fits them pretty well.

West Florida would be a great addition though. But with them, like UNA and KSU, football becomes a major factor.

So, the only real way to "bolster" so to speak, the ASUN is to add football schools in the so called, "core" footprint and start sponsoring football. In order to do that, several things would need to happen.

First, invite West Florida, they have to go through the transition process.

Then invite at least 2 more schools in the footprint that have football. There cant be too many transition schools, so they need to already be D1.

Then convince North Florida and FGCU to start programs, and hopefully that entices Stetson into offering scholarship football.

Then you have 8.

If none of that happens, or you cant assure that that will not happen, West Florida or any other football school is more than likely off the table. At least as long as the ASUN schools are still playing football in the Big South.

If a partnership with the OVC for football is somehow created, then the chances go up drastically.