That really sucks, I hope they have an ace up their sleeve.

MercerFan Wrote:That really sucks, I hope they have an ace up their sleeve.

It is commonly believed that a school moving up to DI is fully eligible after five years. But the new rule requiring 13 years of DI membership is an attempt by the BCS-type conferences to put the screws to the autobids of lower level conferences and limit move ups from DII. The intention seems to be for lower-level conference to lose their autobid, and failing that, for lower level conferences to be grouped as 10 or 12 members, rather than 8.

If East Tennessee leaves, is there a Big South school that would move over?

I can't see one wanting to leave. I mean Winthrop might be a good fit here, but why leave? They kill people in the Big South, host the conference tournament every year, so why leave?

A conference that falls below the core member requirement can appeal to the NCAA for a waiver. I can't imagine the NCAA not granting a waiver to a league that has been around for nearly three decades. Maybe that is why the Atlantic Sun leadership is not worried at all.

Winston Salem State and North Carolina Central, by the way, will join the MEAC over the next couple of years. Presbyterian is headed to the Big South. Perhaps your leaders are waiting to see if East Tennessee makes a move. No sense expanding only to contract again.

If football returns to ETSU, it is probably most likely that G-W and ETSU would go to the Big South.

It makes geographic sense for both teams and certainly if the Bucs and Bulldogs went to the Big South it would be a better hoops conference than the A-Sun.

For ETSU, it would provide them with an avenue to win quickly in football they would not have in the OVC or SoCon (not that the latter would let the Bucs back in).

Quit trying to be a shill for the Big South on another board pitt. Everyone knows you believe anything other than Southern Conference for ETSU is a failure.

If Winthrop has an off year, the Big South will hit rock bottom in hoops. They are ranked below the A-Sun with Winthrop doing as well as they do.

They won't. Winthrop is very similar to what Charleston was years ago. They're beating up on everyone in the conference, and their coach has done an OUTSTANDING job getting support, and by winning a couple of quality games and playing some big games close (see Winthrop/Tennessee in the NCAA last season) it's gotten them necessary exposure, which makes it easier to recruit players.
Think of it this way, you're a coach, recruiting at this level, and let's be hoenst, most of the players on your team will have marginal D-1 talent, and most would be great D-2 players (yes I'm saying that about ETSU as well), if you can say hey, we play tough teams out of conference, but get into the conference we win, we normally host our conference tournament as the regular season champion and make regular NCAA tourney appearances. If you're 17 and have the choice of going to Winthrop, or going to a school like Liberty where it's still considered the purple teletubby is a homosexual, where are you going to go? (Okay so Liberty is a bad example, throw in any Big South, SoCon, or A-Sun school here).

Yea I agree with ya. I don't believe Winthrop would have an off year, just an outside possibility. They are a great program that many wish they could be.

It just hit me today --- What about Bethune Cookman out of Daytona, FL? The league they are in right now is pathetic (especially baseball)... Bethune walks into the NCAA's in baseball every year. They could be a decent addition since they play baseball relatively well.

yea that wouldnt be bad..though they would get beat up pretty bad in baseball conference play..something they wouldnt be used 2

Bethune-Cookman is D-1?

I'm not sure if you're just making fun of them or not -- but yes they are DI

Buccaneerlover Wrote:Bethune-Cookman is D-1?

I looked it up since you got me thinking. They are in the MEAC. Seven schools play baseball there. One is above .500 (11-9). This is nothing new for MEAC baseball. The two bottom teams combine for 1 win.

Bethune might enjoy an easy conference tourney, but they'll never be better than a #4 seed and will never be able to be considered a real power.