but, the OVC will be here on Friday. What are our positives and negatives for us and the positives and negatives for the OVC of us possibly (not so likely) making the move?

Here's what my little birdies say-

If all things were equal, ETSU would stay in the A-Sun. It's better for golf and tennis, it's the same for hoops, it's in larger markets and the conference has been good to the Bucs.

Unfortunately, all things are not equal.

Remember when we were all scared a few years ago that the A-Sun could lose its automatic bid to the NCAA? Well, if Belmont and/or Lipscomb leaves the A-Sun WILL lose the bid until either 2011 or 2012.

The rule is that a conference must have six members who have been in the conference for five years. Those six teams must also have been Division I for eight years.

Right now, the six teams that fit that bill are Mercer, Jacksonville, Belmont, Gardner-Webb, Stetson, and Campbell. Gardner-Webb leaves after this season but luckily Lipscomb, which joined the A-Sun in 2003 and went Division I in 1999, will take their place and the bid will be secure.

However, if one of them leave, that means no automatic bid. If BOTH of them leave, it would take until 2012 at least until the bid came back (ETSU would become the fifth team to fit the criteria in 2010, then it would be either KSU and/or North Florida who would be the sixth team and I am figuring 2012-13 to be the eighth season they will be Division I. If the NCAA requires eight complete years, then it would be 2013-14 until they regained the bid).

This is pure speculation, but you tell me. Don't you think that would KILL the Atlantic Sun Conference?

You know YOU don't want to see the Bucs play for years without a chance to play in the NCAAs. Do you think Mercer, Jacksonville, Campbell, and Stetson do?

Where the teams would go is anyone's guess- though I have made some reasonable guesses this morning. There are some interesting scenarios I could see take place- such as Jacksonville going back to the Sun Belt or, yes, ETSU going BACK to the Southern Conference.

Though in order to do that, ETSU is going to have to make some sort of political move that will show they are a different program than they were when they left.

ETSU fans- I give you the sacrificial lamb.

His name is Dave Mullins.

Agreed Pitt. That's why we have to go. You almost must see that if Belmont and ETSU, for instance, join the OVC, their RPI will go up a few spots.

Pitt you make some really good points. I just hope they understand the consequences of staying in the A-Sun. To be in a conference that may lose there automatic bid would be absolutely terrible. I don't see Belmont or Lipscomb hanging around if they have a chance to leave. I just hope our administration doesn't put it off until it is too late.

You're all not looking at the big picture here.

First of all, what if Belmont, Lipscomb, and ETSU all believe they will be stronger in the A-Sun than the OVC (which, if everything was equal, would be the case)?

And, let's just say Jacksonville St. leaves the OVC for the Sun Belt, though I have to ask you- if you're the Sun Belt Conference- why do you WANT Jacksonville State? To have 14 basketball members and 11 football members? Do you WANT 11 football members?

Where does that make the Sun Belt a better conference?

But if JSU leaves, do they leave prior to 2011, which is the earliest they could play Division I-A football? More likely, they stay in before then.

The combinations are mind boggling. If I'm the OVC, the two schools I want are Belmont and SIU-E.

However, what's then to stop the SOUTHERN CONFERENCE, seeing an opportunity to improve their own RPI, to grab Belmont instead?

And does Belmont want to leave Lipscomb? One hand does wash the other here.

As I said, I can actually see if ETSU stays put coming out ahead by passing on the OVC. And I dont think they can leave for the OVC until 2011 anyway (though I would ask if the OVC could buy out the A-Sun).

Or I could see ETSU getting royally screwed.

But can we afford to say no? What if Lipscomb and Belmont tell ETSU they will stay put, and then bolt. Too risky to stay in my opinion.

Why do I get the feeling that last line will probably apply?

I'm not sure going to the OVC is a good idea....I'm really not.

How do we know Belmont and Lipscomb are interested

We don't know anything. There lies the problem.

That's the thing, 88. And we're trying to gauge their interest.

Now Fan1, here's the question. I think Belmont is the prize here. It seems most likely that SIU-E would get in, simply because it makes so much sense with divisions and travel partners.

However, what if Belmont demanded Lipscomb go with them? Or, if a conference offered a presumptive strike- such as the Southern (which Belmont would fit in with somewhat academically and such)?

I want you to understand this is TOTAL speculation. But, if Belmont left and it caused the A-Sun to lose it's bid, let us just say it might cause the conference to dissolve.

That leaves a free-for-all for everyone to try and get into whatever conference they could.

However, that might not be as bad as you might think. The Sun Belt and Southern might want to expand into larger markets and improve their basketball RPI with some of the top teams of the A-Sun. The Big South would love to get more teams. There's always the chance the A-10 and/or CAA might want to get involved, but I doubt it.

So, let us say-

OVC grabs Belmont and SIU-E.

When the A-Sun disolves, they pick up Lipscomb as well. It causes havoc at first, but makes sense if and when JSU leaves for a larger conference to play football in 2011.

THe Sun Belt is up first. They'd like to move into bigger markets and improve their RPI.

Kennesaw State makes lots of sense when you look at their enrollment and the fact they are relatively close to Atlanta. They are talking big but aren't real good right now.

Jacksonville is a former member and now plays in what would be one of the conferences top arenas and in a relatively big city. They don't have much enrollment and are private, but if they were to win the A-Sun this year could be perceived as a help for the RPI.

Now there's the Big South. They will have 10 basketball members and would like to bring in more.

I'm going to give them North Florida, USC-Upstate, Stetson, and Gulf Coast. This really improves their profile, helps them in baseball, and gets them into Florida.

Now there's our old friend the Southern Conference. They have 12 members with Samford, but need some more and would love to improve their RPI in hoops so they can become a two-bid league.

And over here is ETSU.

The Southern Conference picks up Mercer, which goes in nicely academically, has new facilities, and gives Georgia Southern an in-state rival.

But the So Con needs another college.

The other 12 members hem and haw. Sure ETSU is a natural fit, but nothing has changed since they left.

They look at other schools they can get. Maybe they'll ask Coastal Carolina to come in, but do they want to go to 10 football members? There's always Campbell over here, but they play in a gym that has 947 seats and won't help out with the RPI at all.

Citadel touts the virtues of VMI rejoining, while the usual suspects of William and Mary, James Madison, and Charlotte are discussed.

"We can't just take ETSU back. They haven't done anything to reverse the trends that made us want to get rid of them in the first place," someone says.

What can ETSU do? The So Con is less than impressed with a failed student vote and a half-built soccer field. Memorial Center is worse than when it was when the Bucs were a member. Nothing seems to have changed.

UNTIL- Realizing he has to play politics, Paul Stanton makes the move that allows him to save face while satisfying the conference members.

He fires David Mullins and replaces him with a REAL athletic director with vision on how to grow the programs.

The SO Con then looks at how their RPI would improve in hoops. Maybe that second bid is plausible after all.

And ETSU goes back to their REAL home!

The sidebar is poor Campbell gets screwed- as they have no place to go and have to play as an independent.

Yeah, a lot has to happen and break just right.

But, to steal a line uttered at one point or another in every sitcom in history-

"It's kinda crazy, but it just might work!"

OVC is here today......

You sound like the Nashville radio boobs. Plaster was saying the same thing because it would be harder for Belmont to win in the OVC, they didn't do ANY research on the A-Sun at all. They actually think that Belmont and Lipscomb are the premier athletic programs in the conference. As a matter of fact, anyone who feels the need to correct them on that via email, here's the link. http://www.1045thezone.com (novel idea here, an FM sports station)
Obviously they have more to talk about than the A-Sun, but still they need to be blown up.
Don't bother with the other station, outside of syndicated stuff from ESPN they are GARBAGE.

Goldfinger Wrote:I'm not sure going to the OVC is a good idea....I'm really not.