Tell me what comes to mind when I mention the Atlantic 10: Xavier’s run to the Elite Eight. St. Joe’s near miss at an undefeated season in ’04. John Chaney. John Calipari and his 1996 Massachusetts Minutemen going all the way to the Final Four.


I’ll reckon you didn’t answer FBS football.



The time is ripe for the Atlantic 10 to lay a foundation for a Division I-A football league. Teams like Temple, SUNY-Buffalo, and East Carolina would love a new Eastern Division I conference. UNC-Charlotte and Massachusetts have legitimate Division I aspirations.


How can a 14-team Division I conference where only three schools are considering I-A football sponsor the sport at that level? A little bit of compromise—and one monster plan.


The Atlantic 10 currently has three schools that are/will (eventually) sponsor FBS football: UNC-Charlotte, Temple, and UMass.


UNC-CHARLOTTE


NC-Charlotte is likely starting up a football program, preferably at the FBS level. The board of directors will vote on officially adding a football program in September, which would likely start play in the 2013 season without conference affiliation. Charlotte will likely also break ground on a shiny new football stadium as part of the project.


TEMPLE


The Owls are the only A-10 team to currently sponsor Division I football. They play at Lincoln Financial field, home of the NFL’s Eagles, a stadium that seats 60,000. Though the Temple football program has fallen on hard times, they did average 30k attendance in 2007-08. Temple currently plays football in the MAC.


UMASS


The Minutemen are the least likely of the three schools to sponsor D-I football. They would need to make major upgrades to Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium to meet FBS attendance minimums.



There are other options for UMass. Massachusetts might also rent from the Patriots or build an entirely new stadium. UMass is currently awaiting the results of a task force on the feasibility of a Division I-A football program.



UMass, Temple, and UNC-Charlotte are the conference’s best and brightest. The Atlantic 10 can’t afford to lose these schools to the MAC or Sun Belt because they aspire to play football at the highest level. An Atlantic 10 football league is attainable despite the A-10’s large size.



The A-10 can start taking baby steps towards bringing Division I football to the conference simply by adding a football school now. But for the Atlantic 10 to really get the ball rolling on sponsoring FBS football, it has to wait for the Big East to split and expand.



If and when the Big East splits, the remaining Big East members (DePaul, Marquette, Georgetown, Saint John’s, Seton Hall, Providence, Villanova) will need a new member (or three) to fill up the vacant spots in their new conference.

The most likely scenario is for the Big East Catholic schools to cherry-pick the Atlantic 10 for Saint Louis, Xavier, and Dayton. We’ll assume the A-10 has lost three schools to the Big East, and that the "Public" Big East has poached UCF and Memphis from C-USA.



While losing Xavier, Dayton, and Saint Louis hurts the A-10 in the short term, long term it allows for the growth of a football league.



The A-10 would do well to follow one of the oldest plans in the book: the Gavitt Plan. The Gavitt Plan started out as a future plan of operation for the Big East by founder Dan Gavitt. It calls for the conference to expand to 16 and run an "umbrella league," or to house two conferences under one roof.



Our Umbrella League will contain 16 schools: eight of which play FBS football, and eight who don’t.



If the A-10 follows the Gavitt Plan, they would have five spots to fill. Five is also the number of teams the Atlantic 10 needs to support Division I football.



Using its leverage as a superior basketball league, the A-10 should cherry-pick the CAA for three schools.



DELAWARE



This is the easiest pick of the bunch. The Blue Hens have several notable accomplishments in Division I-AA, including 2007’s second-place finish in the FCS Playoffs and a 57-61 record against FBS competition.



Most importantly, they’ve had seven straight seasons with attendance north of the 20,000 mark in a stadium that seats only 22k. Plans are in the works to expand the on-campus stadium to 35,000. As an added bonus, the University of Delaware is located snugly inside the Philadelphia metro area.




GEORGIA STATE



The newest football program in the Atlanta area comes from this institution. Georgia State plays at the insanely huge Georgia Dome (70,000) in one of the South’s premier recruiting areas (they won’t get much coverage because of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and the Falcons, though). Georgia State has made a great hire in coach Bill Curry and plans to start football in 2012.





JAMES MADISON



James Madison has been one of the CAA’s premier football programs, going to the FCS playoffs in '06 and '07 and winning it all in '04. They currently have plans to expand their stadium to 25k. JMU would bring the Atlantic 10 another premier university in Virginia.



This gives the Atlantic 10 six football schools, the minimum number of institutions for sponsoring football. All members of this group could easily be ready to play FBS football by 2015.



The next step for the Atlantic 10 is to get a head start on the upgrading process. The four FCS schools could then join Temple and UNC-Charlotte in a brand new FBS conference.


First, however, the conference would need to win over three more schools.



APPALACHIAN STATE


The Mountaineers of Appalachian State, known best for 2007’s pummeling of Michigan, field one of the best FBS programs around. They already have the stadium for FBS (20k capacity) and are coming off three straight FCS national championships.



The Mountaineers would be an associate member for football purposes only so the new conference can remain 6/5 compliant and have an eight-game conference schedule.



EAST CAROLINA



The Mid-Atlantic at this time is a bad place to play football. You’re way out of your geographical footprint, no matter where you end up. East Carolina would happily join a more geographically sensible conference where they won’t have to trek to Texas every year.



ECU brings a rabid football fanbase and a football tradition that includes several top 25 finishes in the early '90s. C-USA will lose a lot of luster for East Carolina if Memphis leaves for the Big East.



SUNY-BUFFALO



SUNY-Buffalo’s football program has fallen upon hard times since it upgraded to DI-A in 1999. However, those attendance statistics aren’t as bad as the numbers lead you to believe. 15-20k is about average for a university so close to an NFL franchise.



The University has a large alumni base and a 30k on-campus stadium. All the tools are there for Division I football. SUNY Buffalo just needs wins and regional competition to strengthen its D-I football program.



Here's look at my finished product.



Atlantic 10 Football Members: Massachusetts, Temple, UNC-Charlotte, Delaware, Georgia State, James Madison, East Carolina, SUNY-Buffalo


Atlantic 10 Basketball Members: Richmond, Saint Bonaventure, Fordham, Duquesne, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, George Washington, Rhode Island



With the addition of SUNY-Buffalo, Appalachian State, and East Carolina, the Atlantic 10 would be ready to break ground on a brand new football conference. The Atlantic 10 would also have a 16-team basketball league: large, but organized and stable.



It will be a bright day for the A-10 and college football fans alike.

Interesting idea. Who wrote this. I don't see any links or anything. Or did you write this.

Good post/article. I agree with the idea that an additional eastern football conference is bound to form, probably within the next 10 years. The Atlantic 10 is a definite possibility, although I think it could be difficult to get everyone on board. Time will tell if the BB only schools would go for it.

A few things I would add:
- Majerus has openly stated he wants to see St. Louis in the Missouri Valley. Regional fan interest and travel may very well send them to that league, opening up a spot.
- Army and Navy have talked about joining a conference to guarantee/improve bowl opportunities. The Big East is too much for them, but this should be right at their level.
- I think if you have a base of Temple, ECU (takes the spot left open by St. Louis), Army (FB only) and Navy (FB only), that things start to fall into place. UMass and UNCC, if they are having any doubts, would be much more willing to go forward. Delaware, App State, and others having issues with FCS (no bye weeks is one of them) would strongly consider moving. As long as they can get 4 or so solid schools on board, it should work. It would at least increase the visibility of the A10.

You forgot some other teams in CAA and elsewhere...

Old Dominion (Norfolk) started a football team.
William & Mary
Richmond

Also remember that Coastal Carolina (Conway/Myrtle Beach SC) started a team.

I suspect that if teams decide to move up, CAA will be the stepping stone or CAA as a conference may try to move up. Most of these schools will struggle developing a fanbase. Sure, they may be able to get 10K, maybe 20K but think about moving to 40K. It is tough.

SO#1

Here's look at my finished product.



[b Wrote:Atlantic 10 Football Members:[/b] Massachusetts, Temple, UNC-Charlotte, Delaware, Georgia State, James Madison, East Carolina, SUNY-Buffalo


Atlantic 10 Basketball Members: Richmond, Saint Bonaventure, Fordham, Duquesne, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, George Washington, Rhode Island



With the addition of SUNY-Buffalo, Appalachian State, and East Carolina, the Atlantic 10 would be ready to break ground on a brand new football conference. The Atlantic 10 would also have a 16-team basketball league: large, but organized and stable.



It will be a bright day for the A-10 and college football fans alike.

Thanks for trying. I don't think this is what we are looking for...

Now, I support C-USA but if we were looking...

UCF
UAB
GSU
Charlotte
Old Dominion
James Madison
Marshall
Temple
Delaware

The challenge with this type of conference is attendance. Seriously, how many fans will show up for Charlotte? UAB? Georgia State? Temple?

Is this really a step up? I don't think so. Where we benefit by having closer games, we lose in prestige. Southern Miss, Houston, and Memphis are strong teams. We could say they have national appeal. We are stronger as a conference in C-USA.

What about Villanova and Georgetown ?

FAIL.

Why would Buffalo want to be in a conference with a bunch of southern teams? And this leaves them scrambling to find a place for their non-football programs because the MAC wouldn't let them stay.

I do agree that it's inevitable there will be a new FBS conference in the mid-Atlantic region, and that Temple may end up in it, but no way will Buffalo.

Delaware, Georgia State, James Madison, East Carolina, SUNY-Buffalo, Saint Bonaventure, Fordham, Duquesne, La Salle...

Is there any reason why Charlotte would want to stay in a gutted Atlanic 10? Adding football is meant to protect basketball (and baseball, soccer, golf, etc.) ... (EDIT)

This sounds like 'the-kick-Charlotte-in-the-head' re-alignment plan. If this plan were to be accepted immediately - that would mean that in the time it takes to earn a 4-year degree, a Charlotte student would have watched conference mates Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, DePaul, South Florida, Memphis, Xavier, Dayton, and Saint Louis all leave to the Big East.

survivor Wrote:Delaware, Georgia State, James Madison, East Carolina, SUNY-Buffalo, Saint Bonaventure, Fordham, Duquesne, La Salle...

Is there any reason why Charlotte would want to stay in a gutted Atlanic 10? Adding football is meant to protect basketball (and baseball, soccer, golf, etc.) ... you would think that UConn fans of all people would understand that.

This sounds like 'the-kick-Charlotte-in-the-head' re-alignment plan. If this plan were to be accepted immediately - that would mean that in the time it takes to earn a 4-year degree, a Charlotte student would have watched conference mates Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, DePaul, South Florida, Memphis, Xavier, Dayton, and Saint Louis all leave to the Big East.

I would find it hard for Duquesne to move up to D1A status. They would have to put alot of money into their program. They are just starting to give out scholarships for football this season. They are years if not decades away.

MAC has estsblished FBS bowls, TV, and holds its title game at Ford Field in Detroit. They hold their basketball tournament at the Q in Cleveland. UMass, James Madison and Delaware could join the MAC and not half to ask their state legislatures to build a 60k seat stadium in hard economic times. 25k seat stadium would work in the MAC since most teams would rather get that fat check that comes with road non-conferences games vs the BCS.

This is the reason Temple likely brings its basketball to the MAC and the MAC will add UMass. CAA and A-10 won't move up because the BCS schools won't want any more than 34 bowl games. MAC and Sun Belt likely add schools one at a time and perhaps the Big East cherry picks the worthy schools like Memphis, or UCF which can pass for a BCS program and boost revenues.

EDIT

People are talking about another Eastern conference popping up but wouldn't the MAC be considered that? They're kind of like the Big East where they are a Midwestern and Eastern conference.

survivor Wrote:What if we tweak it a bit?

Atlantic 10
Delaware
Georgia State
James Madison
East Carolina
SUNY-Buffalo
Saint Bonaventure
Fordham
Duquesne
La Salle
Providence
UConn

UConn is going to leave the BE for this mess? The A-10 is going to get rid of Temple, GW and St. Joe's but keep Bonaquitter and Duquesne?

You couldn't have come up with a worse and more unlikely conference if you pulled names out of a hat.

This is for you: Linky

CatsClaw Wrote:People are talking about another Eastern conference popping up but wouldn't the MAC be considered that? They're kind of like the Big East where they are a Midwestern and Eastern conference.

No, this is an Eastern conference:

UMass
Temple
Delaware
James Madison
Old Dominion
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Georgia Southern

And if gas prices get completely out of control, East Carolina and Charlotte might end up here as well. If not, maybe a Liberty or Coastal Carolina. If you make this an all-sports conference, I can see them bringing in Saint Joe's and GW.

zibby Wrote:You couldn't have come up with a worse and more unlikely conference if you pulled names out of a hat.

Agreed. It'a about as likely as these schools joining under the Atlantic Sun banner.

The A-10 has more schools that could form a I-AA conference (UMass, URI, Richmond, Duquesne, Fordham, Dayton) than a I-A one.

survivor Wrote:What if we tweak it a bit?

Atlantic 10
Delaware
Georgia State
James Madison
East Carolina
SUNY-Buffalo
Saint Bonaventure
Fordham
Duquesne
La Salle
Providence
UConn

and

Big East
Notre Dame
Georgetown
Louisville
Pitt
Rutgers
Temple
St. John's
Seton Hall
South Florida
UCF
Syracuse
Villanova
West Virginia
Marquette
Cincinnati
DePaul
Xavier
Memphis


UConn & Providence join other football programs that have moved up from IAA in the past decade while
Xavier & Temple make up for the basketball.

Please slowly step away from the crack pipe.

survivor Wrote:Delaware, Georgia State, James Madison, East Carolina, SUNY-Buffalo, Saint Bonaventure, Fordham, Duquesne, La Salle...

Is there any reason why Charlotte would want to stay in a gutted Atlanic 10? Adding football is meant to protect basketball (and baseball, soccer, golf, etc.) ... you would think that UConn fans of all people would understand that.

This sounds like 'the-kick-Charlotte-in-the-head' re-alignment plan. If this plan were to be accepted immediately - that would mean that in the time it takes to earn a 4-year degree, a Charlotte student would have watched conference mates Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, DePaul, South Florida, Memphis, Xavier, Dayton, and Saint Louis all leave to the Big East.

It’s not my idea

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/49847...m-near-you

You have to take in consideration if the Big East splits, Temple will be a target since there will be a hole in Philly (unless Villanova moves to FBS).

The Last Minuteman and I have discussed this. It is unlikely Buffalo jumps to the league unless Army is in it. There is no reason for UB to play southern teams when they are close to Ohio anyway.

I like this for all-sports:
UMass, Temple, Army, Navy, Delaware, James Madison, Old Dominion, Buffalo

non-football: Rhode Island, George Washington

Still could call it the A10

Murph1 Wrote:

survivor Wrote:What if we tweak it a bit?

Atlantic 10
Delaware
Georgia State
James Madison
East Carolina
SUNY-Buffalo
Saint Bonaventure
Fordham
Duquesne
La Salle
Providence
UConn

and

Big East
Notre Dame
Georgetown
Louisville
Pitt
Rutgers
Temple
St. John's
Seton Hall
South Florida
UCF
Syracuse
Villanova
West Virginia
Marquette
Cincinnati
DePaul
Xavier
Memphis


UConn & Providence join other football programs that have moved up from IAA in the past decade while
Xavier & Temple make up for the basketball.

Please slowly step away from the crack pipe.

EDIT

Question.

Why isn't this thread on the split/expansion board?