(12-31-2013 05:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Central Arkansas would never go along with promoting GSC teams. One of the reasons they got out of the GSC was to separate themselves from the Valdosta's of the world. They'd never go along with bringing the entire league back into the fold.

When UCA went FCS the Gulf South still included the other six Arkansas D-II schools. They're all in the GAC now, but still this plan doesn't make a lot of sense.

(12-29-2013 05:58 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  With the FBS schools looking to reduce games against FCS schools, the Southland should beef up by inviting the whole of the GSC.

Southland

Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Sam Houston State
Southeastern Louisiana
Stephen F. Austin

GSC

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
FLORIDA TECH
NORTH ALABAMA
SHORTER UNIVERSITY
VALDOSTA STATE GEORGIA
WEST ALABAMA
WEST FLORIDA (2016)
WEST GEORGIA

That would make a nice 16 team FCS conference

8 game conference schedule; 2 FBS opponents; conference championship game; FCS playoffs

Texas - 3 teams
Louisiana - 4 teams
Arkansas - 1 team
Mississippi - 1 team
Alabama - 2 teams
Georgia - 3 teams
Florida - 2 teams

The GSC also includes Mississippi College (joined in 2014 from DIII) and four non-football schools.

(05-19-2015 08:02 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(12-29-2013 05:58 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  With the FBS schools looking to reduce games against FCS schools, the Southland should beef up by inviting the whole of the GSC.

Southland

Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Sam Houston State
Southeastern Louisiana
Stephen F. Austin

GSC

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
FLORIDA TECH
NORTH ALABAMA
SHORTER UNIVERSITY
VALDOSTA STATE GEORGIA
WEST ALABAMA
WEST FLORIDA (2016)
WEST GEORGIA

That would make a nice 16 team FCS conference

8 game conference schedule; 2 FBS opponents; conference championship game; FCS playoffs

Texas - 3 teams
Louisiana - 4 teams
Arkansas - 1 team
Mississippi - 1 team
Alabama - 2 teams
Georgia - 3 teams
Florida - 2 teams

The GSC also includes Mississippi College (joined in 2014 from DIII) and four non-football schools.

Mississippi College have to play in D2 for 8 years before they can join D1.

I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

Whole in the wall or not, they play football. Livingston is about an hour from Tuscaloosa and Meridian on I 59/20. Valdosta State is a no brainer.

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

Auburn, Alabama is a hole in the wall town as well and you see Auburn in a P5 conference. What I am saying is that these GSC schools and some schools like Carson-Newman, Newberry and Catawba fits in the Southern Conference footprints.

(05-22-2015 03:41 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

Auburn, Alabama is a hole in the wall town as well and you see Auburn in a P5 conference. What I am saying is that these FCS schools and some schools like Carson-Newman, Newberry and Catawba fits in the Southern Conference footprints.

Auburn is like NYC compared to Livingston. Formerly lived in Mobile, so know the state.

Yeah, Livingston has some players, as thats part of Alabama's Black Belt. But saying W Alabama should go FCs is like saying Mississippi Valley St could go FBS because of the rich recruiting pool around it.

Valdosta St has an economic base around it, being half way between Orlando and Atlanta on the interstate. The motels in that town defy imagination. So yeah, someday Vadosta St will be FCS.

(05-22-2015 05:13 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-22-2015 03:41 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

Auburn, Alabama is a hole in the wall town as well and you see Auburn in a P5 conference. What I am saying is that these FCS schools and some schools like Carson-Newman, Newberry and Catawba fits in the Southern Conference footprints.

Auburn is like NYC compared to Livingston. Formerly lived in Mobile, so know the state.

Yeah, Livingston has some players, as thats part of Alabama's Black Belt. But saying W Alabama should go FCs is like saying Mississippi Valley St could go FBS because of the rich recruiting pool around it.

Valdosta St has an economic base around it, being half way between Orlando and Atlanta on the interstate. The motels in that town defy imagination. So yeah, someday Vadosta St will be FCS.

There are several schools in FCS that are around the same size as West Alabama's area. Don't count them out.

(05-23-2015 05:05 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-22-2015 05:13 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-22-2015 03:41 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

Auburn, Alabama is a hole in the wall town as well and you see Auburn in a P5 conference. What I am saying is that these FCS schools and some schools like Carson-Newman, Newberry and Catawba fits in the Southern Conference footprints.

Auburn is like NYC compared to Livingston. Formerly lived in Mobile, so know the state.

Yeah, Livingston has some players, as thats part of Alabama's Black Belt. But saying W Alabama should go FCs is like saying Mississippi Valley St could go FBS because of the rich recruiting pool around it.

Valdosta St has an economic base around it, being half way between Orlando and Atlanta on the interstate. The motels in that town defy imagination. So yeah, someday Vadosta St will be FCS.

There are several schools in FCS that are around the same size as West Alabama's area. Don't count them out.

Let's see how West Alabama does without Will Hall before we moved them up. People forget that Will Hall gave West Alabama the best years that they've had since the early 70s. UWA was a doormat for decades prior to Bobby Wallace taking over in 2006.

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

I know it's Wikipedia so perhaps it isn't correct --- but West Alabama had an endowment in 2010 of only $400,000. That's it.

Even if that had increased 10x fold by 2015 (doubtful) --- that's still minor league.

Nothing against the school, but they are the definition of what should be DII.

(05-23-2015 11:23 AM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 10:55 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 12:17 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-21-2015 06:59 AM)GTFletch Wrote:  I like this thread..... I can see Valdosta State going to ASUN/Big South so the Southland would be smart. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Valdosta State does not get a SOCON Look!

Southern Conference used to have some very strong football. Now after several schools left? They added schools who recently added football or a school with a losing record. They will not be strong until they invite some powerhouses in football to join them. North Alabama, Valdosta Georgia and West Alabama can help. Delta State fits better in the Southland.

Have you ever been to Livingston, Al? Its a literal hole in the wall. West Alabama is fortunate to be DII.

I know it's Wikipedia so perhaps it isn't correct --- but West Alabama had an endowment in 2010 of only $400,000. That's it.

Even if that had increased 10x fold by 2015 (doubtful) --- that's still minor league.

Nothing against the school, but they are the definition of what should be DII.

DII is to high for them. NAIA schools have shoestring budgets, just like W Alabama.

I posted this on CCU fansite earlier in the year but no one had any info:

There has been a rumor floating around West Georgia for more than a year, that UWG has been in contact with BSC officials. Have any of you heard anything? We have great facilities, an enrollment of 12,000+ and we're only about 50 miles from Atlanta. Plus, we finally have a REAL president who recognizes the role athletics plays in the "college experience". He has instituted policies that should make us competitive in all sports, and he has stated his desire to move UWG to the D1/FCS level of athletic competition. Would appreciate your thoughts and comments.

Later:

New rumor making the rounds at UWG says we will get an invite at the end of 2015 FB season and we will accept. Assume it's from BSC. Any of you heard anything?

Visual tour of UWG FB facilities: http://uwgsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&

Coliseum: http://www.westga.edu/coliseum/coliseum_arena.php

(01-01-2014 12:14 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(12-31-2013 05:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Central Arkansas would never go along with promoting GSC teams. One of the reasons they got out of the GSC was to separate themselves from the Valdosta's of the world. They'd never go along with bringing the entire league back into the fold.

What is UCA's problem with Valdosta State?

They always got beat by them and UNA.

(06-01-2015 07:11 PM)High Plains Drifter Wrote:  

(01-01-2014 12:14 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(12-31-2013 05:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Central Arkansas would never go along with promoting GSC teams. One of the reasons they got out of the GSC was to separate themselves from the Valdosta's of the world. They'd never go along with bringing the entire league back into the fold.

What is UCA's problem with Valdosta State?

They always got beat by them and UNA.

It was more not geography friendly which is why the Arkansas schools left and formed the GAC.

(12-29-2013 05:58 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  With the FBS schools looking to reduce games against FCS schools, the Southland should beef up by inviting the whole of the GSC.

Southland

Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Sam Houston State
Southeastern Louisiana
Stephen F. Austin

GSC

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
FLORIDA TECH
NORTH ALABAMA
SHORTER UNIVERSITY
VALDOSTA STATE GEORGIA
WEST ALABAMA
WEST FLORIDA (2016)
WEST GEORGIA

That would make a nice 16 team FCS conference

8 game conference schedule; 2 FBS opponents; conference championship game; FCS playoffs

Texas - 3 teams
Louisiana - 4 teams
Arkansas - 1 team
Mississippi - 1 team
Alabama - 2 teams
Georgia - 3 teams
Florida - 2 teams

You forgot Incarnate Ward who is already a member of Southland Conference.

(05-28-2015 07:48 AM)stillabrave Wrote:  I posted this on CCU fansite earlier in the year but no one had any info:

There has been a rumor floating around West Georgia for more than a year, that UWG has been in contact with BSC officials. Have any of you heard anything? We have great facilities, an enrollment of 12,000+ and we're only about 50 miles from Atlanta. Plus, we finally have a REAL president who recognizes the role athletics plays in the "college experience". He has instituted policies that should make us competitive in all sports, and he has stated his desire to move UWG to the D1/FCS level of athletic competition. Would appreciate your thoughts and comments.

Later:

New rumor making the rounds at UWG says we will get an invite at the end of 2015 FB season and we will accept. Assume it's from BSC. Any of you heard anything?

Visual tour of UWG FB facilities: http://uwgsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&

Coliseum: http://www.westga.edu/coliseum/coliseum_arena.php

I think West Georgia to the Big South has been in the works for a while. Just waiting for the right time.