Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

fail.

since we are doing dumb ideas, I'll throw this one out there. It's all about TV markets yo...

UMASS (Boston, New England)
Army (National following, New York City/State)
Navy (National following, Washington DC, Baltimore)
Temple (Philadelphia)
Georgia State (Atlanta)
Illinois State (Chicago)
Missouri State (Kansas City, St. Louis)
Rice (Houston, Texas)

My idea: merge FBS and FCS, establish 12-school conferences alphabetically.

I'm already looking for tickets to Alabama @ Abilene Christian.

Alabama would drop football before they ever played @ Abilene Christian.

Incarnate Word is another story, though.

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty

New game:

Q: which one does not belong on this list?
A: Uconn

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

Which of these schools would get an at-large invitation this year?

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

Well, considering where the Big Ten has expanded to with it's latest additions, I think Big Brother would be fine with this.

People need to realize something like this will probably happen in the future. All it will take is one lawsuit of schools threatening Anti-Trust by not allowing other schools a chance move up or create a new conference. I could see making the rule putting the teams are not eligible for the CFP until the next contract but are allowed bowls and other recognition after the traditional FCS move up.

Ironically, I see the P5 for it and the G5 against it. Because the financial impact would be harder on the G5. While the P5 expands inventory for home only series and forcing G5 to less H/H series.

(02-01-2015 12:38 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

Well, considering where the Big Ten has expanded to with it's latest additions, I think Big Brother would be fine with this.

Right they are sitting at 14 with 1 private school included.

Replace EMU with Illinois State and then you have a nice G5 football conference full of rivalries.

(02-01-2015 12:52 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 12:38 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

Well, considering where the Big Ten has expanded to with it's latest additions, I think Big Brother would be fine with this.

Right they are sitting at 14 with 1 private school included.

Replace EMU with Illinois State and then you have a nice G5 football conference full of rivalries.

I was talking more about geographical entities than I was public vs private. The Big Ten and MAC often work in Home/Away/Home relationships. That means Big Ten teams visit once. Those two locations would be two good visit locations for Big Ten teams, especially since Maryland and Rutgers are now part of The Big Ten.

There is a very strong working relationship between the two conferences. So that type of move would make sense. I don't know about any potential removal of a team. I will admit I don't know enough about that to make a comment in either direction. My internal opinion is that they wouldn't do it despite the strong argument that could be made that lessening the presence in Michigan but I am not sure doubling up in Illinois is the best possible move if you are going to resort to such drastic measures such as removing EMU.

I would feel bad for those folks and I would imagine there are some good relationships between the folks of CMU, WMU and EMU. They are all pretty much in the same boat and in a way, voting to kick one of them out then kind of feels like a blow to them all or a potential future blow. Top that off with the worry that would then be felt by the Ohio schools. There are more Ohio schools than there are Michigan schools. I just don't see how a vote to remove EMU could happen due to the Ohio/Michigan centered nature of the conference.

(02-01-2015 12:57 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 12:52 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 12:38 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

Well, considering where the Big Ten has expanded to with it's latest additions, I think Big Brother would be fine with this.

Right they are sitting at 14 with 1 private school included.

Replace EMU with Illinois State and then you have a nice G5 football conference full of rivalries.

I was talking more about geographical entities than I was public vs private. The Big Ten and MAC often work in Home/Away/Home relationships. That means Big Ten teams visit once. Those two locations would be two good visit locations for Big Ten teams, especially since Maryland and Rutgers are now part of The Big Ten.

There is a very strong working relationship between the two conferences. So that type of move would make sense. I don't know about any potential removal of a team. I will admit I don't know enough about that to make a comment in either direction. My internal opinion is that they wouldn't do it despite the strong argument that could be made that lessening the presence in Michigan but I am not sure doubling up in Illinois is the best possible move if you are going to resort to such drastic measures such as removing EMU.

I would feel bad for those folks and I would imagine there are some good relationships between the folks of CMU, WMU and EMU. They are all pretty much in the same boat and in a way, voting to kick one of them out then kind of feels like a blow to them all or a potential future blow. Top that off with the worry that would then be felt by the Ohio schools. There are more Ohio schools than there are Michigan schools. I just don't see how a vote to remove EMU could happen due to the Ohio/Michigan centered nature of the conference.

There was a vote in the early 80's to remove EMU and Kent State from the MAC. Obviously it didn't pass.

When the football requirements to remain at the FBS level began to develop the MAC passed a rule that you must participate in all 6 core sports (Football, Volleyball, MBasketball, WBasketball, Softball, Baseball) to be a full member of the MAC. That was to put pressure on schools to either up the game or get out.

When Temple was added for football there was an internal move to try and cut EMU loose from the conference which never succeeded.

The current commish of the MAC Steinbrecher is very adamant about not pushing any of the members out, therefore EMU appears to be safe for a while. The spectre of EMU leaving the MAC lingers on every new administration or rule they comes by. Eventually it will probably happen. You just can't continue to fund a FBS program with zero support with a school that has a 250 million dollar university budget. The school would be much more successful at the FCS level.

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

JMU and Delaware would be much more favorable moves academically and bring in larger markets.

(02-01-2015 12:47 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  People need to realize something like this will probably happen in the future. All it will take is one lawsuit of schools threatening Anti-Trust by not allowing other schools a chance move up or create a new conference. I could see making the rule putting the teams are not eligible for the CFP until the next contract but are allowed bowls and other recognition after the traditional FCS move up.

Ironically, I see the P5 for it and the G5 against it. Because the financial impact would be harder on the G5. While the P5 expands inventory for home only series and forcing G5 to less H/H series.

Then the very next day the P5 will announce thier split from the NCAA and walk away saying "bye Felicia" to the proud lawsuit victors.

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

I would rather drop sports and work on becoming the next NYU.

(02-01-2015 11:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 11:40 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(02-01-2015 09:07 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

As a Liberty fan I'd like to be in whatever conference gets us to FBS. Having said that, I would really like to be in a conference like this.

Looking more from the leans of a conference architect, I think Charlotte over App State and ODU over Liberty would give you the same states but in better cities. It would maybe be a slight downgrade in football (until Charlotte gets up to FBS caliber) but basketball would be greatly improved.

What I think would be interesting if the MAC added Liberty and JMU to the conference.

Two nice Virginia Blue Ridge football schools. Plus it would give the MAC that private school so they can be like the B1G/SEC with 1 token private school included.

MAC East: JMU, Liberty, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent St, Akron, Miami
MAC West: Bowling Green, Toledo, EMU, WMU, CMU, Ball St, NIU

JMU and Delaware would be much more favorable moves academically and bring in larger markets.

Agreed. Liberty has no place in the MAC.

As for Delaware, though, they're well past their FBS move-up window. Missouri State is ideal. They're already a MAC member in multiple non-revenue sports and they fit the institutional profile.

(01-31-2015 11:45 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Buffalo, UMASS, UCONN, Temple, Army, StonyBrook, Georgia St, UAB, Appalachian St., & Liberty (because they have the money & support to compete).

This conference would have 8 FBS teams on day one, 8 states represented, 5 of the largest cities in the USA, and great traveling partners. They would probably have three teams in March Madness the first year.

UCONN & Temple would have to sacrifice the most and have the most to gain, because the conference would be built around them.

They'd definitely be sacrificing the most, but I have no idea what they'd be gaining at all. The AAC is light years ahead of that conference setup.