I dont live nearby CU, so im kindof out of the loop on news/rumors regarding athletics. Thats why I depend on some of you. Ive read numerous reports on CU possibly jumping to Big South. Is that true or just a rumor? Or possibly wishful thinking. Does anyone have any legit info on the future conf affiliation?
I haven't heard any Big South talk. Where are you seeing this?
(With all the changes lately, you never know.)
I'm sure you already knew this, but it looks like Campbell may be taking the route of Gardner-Webb. The athletic website says that in 2008, the football team will be competing in the Pioneer Football League meaning for the time being they will, as GWU and JU for that matter, remain in the A-Sun for all other sports. The only thing about the Big South is this: Every school I've heard about getting a team their first response is "ok lets go to the Big South now". Not that they do, or don't for that matter, however, through the rumor mill, it seems to be at the top of everyone's priority list as far as that is concerned. But good luck with the football. Hopefully my Owls will be playing you in the not so distant future.
I just can't see Campbell back in the Big South after the way we left that conference... But who knows at CU besides Uncle Jerry...
Do I take this thread as indication that some of you involved with Campbell want out of the A-Sun? Do you think that you could fit into the Southern or CAA?
I don't think anybody is really wanting out.
The only advantage I see to being in the Big South is travel. The schools are much closer together. THe only A-Sun team even near Campbell is Gardner Webb and Upstate. There is just a lot of travel and everyone is so spreadout.
Campbell will never be able to get out of the A-Sun until they change the no play on Sunday rule. No other conference would agree to it. I think after the way the bridge was burned with the Big South the chances of that conference taking them back is remote. Also football would have to be made scholarship and the university would lose money in that endeavor because instead of the school having people pay them they would be paying the athletes scholarships.
I think after we completely drop Baptist affiliation we are going to get Sunday games.
I think the PFL is the way to go at least for 4-5 years; then maybe a jump to another league. I am impressed with the quality schools in the PFL..
What schools in the Atlantic Sun play football?
Welcome '76! From the A-Sun, CU and Jacksonville play fb and are in the Pioneer. Rumors are that Mercer and Lipscomb are looking at addding non-scholly fb soon and might be the next additions. Also, ETSU and Kennesaw are discussing it. I've heard High Point fom the Big South has explored the idea, too.
In 2-3 years, an A-Sun football conference could consist of...
Lipscomb
Campbell
Mercer
Jacksonville
Davidson
Morehead State
The PFL would have.....
San Diego
Drake
Butler
Valparaiso
Dayton
Marist
and maybe Iona, Detroit Mercy, Evansville
Or we could have a big PFL with 2 divisions. The next couple of years will be interesting. Watch Mercer, Lipscomb, ETSU, Kennesaw, Iona, and that A-Sun meeting in June...............
For the Pioneer League's sake I hope your right. I have heard some of the same rumors about Mercer and Lipscomb. That would terrific. The travel is going to be a huge obstacle to overcome unless some "more local teams" start playing football. Davidson is close and Jacksonville is close but all the travel to the Midwest, California and New York will eventually catchup-- budget wise.
Also I would not be surprise if San Diego eventually goes scholarship. They are a school that is the farthest away from everyone and the travel has to be absolutely the worst for them.
I didn't hear anything about High Point, but I have heard on numerous occasions that Winthrop has also explored the possibility to add football. Both schools have "can-do" AD's so that would not surprise me at all.
For Campbell right now I'm just hoping administration finishes the stadium. I think the team and the idea of football are great, but you only get one chance to make a first impression and the fact the stadium is not or will be complete is going to take some of the shine off the new toy.
i certainly agree on the finishing stadium post. Are they saying they wont finish it now? hopefully all 10,000 seats are there next season.
As of right now only half the stadium will be (hopefully) done and they will be using temporary bleachers (much like it was for the spring game) on the other side. At the moment there is just a field with no stand or anything else around there. And even when finished in a few years I think the maximum capacity for the stadium will be somewhere between 3,000-4,000. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
camels7778 Wrote:At the moment there is just a field with no stand or anything else around there. And even when finished in a few years I think the maximum capacity for the stadium will be somewhere between 3,000-4,000. Some one correct me if I am wrong.
The fieldhouse is completed, except for possible future additions in the back of the building.
I believe I heard seating capacity in 08 might be around 1200. Maybe that is the capacity of the future visitor's side (home side this year). There were 1400 at the spring game. Better bring in 4-5 additional temporary bleachers for the games this fall.
As I see it Campbell has 6 options for conference affiliation. Look at it as options for football and options for the remainder of the sports.
1. Pioneer (fb) & A-Sun (other). Our present situation. PFL has good schools and is coast-to-coast, but you're only talking about 3-4 long trips a year, and you're visiting those places only every other year. A-Sun has good, comparable schools, but these they are spread apart which means lack of rivalries, road trip opportunities, and media coverage in N.C. outside of the Raleigh/Fayetteville area.
2. Pioneer (fb) & Big South (other). Might take some diplomacy. Less travel and more opportunities for fan road trips and rivalries. I like some of the BS schools ok, but I don't care for others....maybe that's good. BS schools might be a step-down academically.
3. Pioneer (fb) & Southern (other). Just like Davidson. SoCon is at 12 now, might not be room. Equally good travel as BS and opportunities for fan road trips and rivalries. Good schools, several former league mates with CU.
4. A-Sun (fb) & A-Sun (other). The league will supposedly discuss sponsoring ns fb in June. We'll see if more A-Sun schools add non-scholly fb and if CU remains committed to this level. Might take a few years for this to materialize.
5. Big South (everything). Campbell will have to add fb scholarships. I believe the Big South gets an auto bid to the FCS playoffs beginning in 2010. Again, fan road trips, rivalries, and media coverage in other parts of the state.
6. Southern (everything). Same as #5 but the SoCon will have better academics and facilities. Great football conference. (We should be playing SoCon schools regularly anyhow.)
I've left out the Colonial, but you never know.
Might be interesting to rank these options as far as preference and likelihood. Discuss!!
Those are definitely the future option for Campbell. I think eventually the travel for both the Pioneer League and the ever farther moving "southern" Atlantic Sun will catch-up. I think if the A-Sun adds football with the addition of Mercer and Lipscomb that will be the best short-term solution. Eventually 10-12 years or so down the line another option may have to be discussed. The Southern Conference is a possibility as far as location and academic reputation and also they may be looking for an additional/replacement member if App. State ever moves up to straight FBS, as has been said a few times.
It will be seen where the state of the athletic program is at the point. At the moment I think whatever conference Campbell moves to would be a struggle athletically, but the addition of the new facility for basketball and football may start turning the tide and make all the teams more competitive. Athletically, Campbell in my opinion just doesn't match-up in terms of talent to even the other teams in the A-Sun let alone the athletes that are produced at the Southern Conference, Big South or CAA level.
But you seem to have decent leadership, which can get you a long ways.
Campbell dominated the Big South Commisioner's Cup the last few years we were there. (Winthrop was the cellar-dweller in basketball then, too.)
If the Southern ever looks for additions/replacements, they would have to give Campbell a serious look. There seems to be a public v. private issue in the SoCon as private Elon, Wofford, and Samford (and only public CofC) being the last additions. Maybe they'll lean toward adding publics. But, CU has to be in the mix of potentials.
My dream conference....
Campbell
Elon
Davidson
Richmond
Wofford
Furman
Mercer
Stetson
then, maybe High Point, Samford, Charleston, and/or William & Mary
I think when the Southern looks to add members they look for schools with high academic standards and lean towards those with a private affiliation. I feel as if or when the Southern ever needs to regroup, Campbell would have to be one of the first schools that would be mentioned. I think the new facilities and additional program of football are bound to attract a higher class of athletes without hopefully sacrificing much if any of the strong academic reputation. I think at that point Campbell/Davidson would both have to be in the formative stages of making their programs scholarship for football. Granted we are talking several years down the line (8-10) when football has already established itself as a program at Campbell that it is deserving and is in need of being a scholarship program to advance to the next level.