CSNbbs

Congratulations to the women's and men's teams!

Am I missing something?

Tennis

oh

That's eight team championships and counting for the program in 2008-09. More are possible (indeed likely in men's golf and men's outdoor track) before the end of the spring seasons. This would make it 10 for the year, breaking the previous school record of eight set in 2006-2007.

Congratulations to all the title teams and the entire program.

The list of titles so far:

Men's hoops (tournament)
Women's hoops (tournament)
Men's cross country
Men's indoor track
Men's Tennis (regular season)
Women's Tennis (regular season)
Men's Tennis (tournament)
Women's Tennis (tournament)

As long as basketball is winning....good.

I was there. The energy in the women's match was tremendous. It was so loud people came from the soccer and softball games to watch. There was about 220 people there - all of the bleachers were full with people lined up outside the fences. I could not believe that security people from basketball were there to control the access to the bleachers - we were directed to watch from outside the fence on the Warf Pickle side. The best thing was that 2 local girls helped clinch the match for ETSU with both being on the All Tournament team and Tara Byrne being tournament MVP.

(04-18-2009 08:14 PM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]That's eight team championships and counting for the program in 2008-09. More are possible (indeed likely in men's golf and men's outdoor track) before the end of the spring seasons. This would make it 10 for the year, breaking the previous school record of eight set in 2006-2007.

Congratulations to all the title teams and the entire program.

The list of titles so far:

Men's hoops (tournament)
Women's hoops (tournament)
Men's cross country
Men's indoor track
Men's Tennis (regular season)
Women's Tennis (regular season)
Men's Tennis (tournament)
Women's Tennis (tournament)

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer informs Jerry he is taking Ka-a-tae and is by far the best student in the class. When it is revealed that he is competing against children, Jerry is appalled, but Kramer insists it is the skill level that matters not age.
Buc2002, quit bragging about championships in the A-Sun. Campbell, Belmont, USC-Upstate & company are fine schools but are not ETSU peer institutions.
To answer an earlier statement you put forward on this board APSU and TTU with football would have great success in the A-Sun. Chattanooga, Appy State or Western Carolina with football would rule the A-Sun.
The A-Sun is full of small private schools that can’t compete with mid-size public universities. ETSU is a big fish in a very, very small pond.

(04-21-2009 07:00 AM)buc1997 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-18-2009 08:14 PM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]That's eight team championships and counting for the program in 2008-09. More are possible (indeed likely in men's golf and men's outdoor track) before the end of the spring seasons. This would make it 10 for the year, breaking the previous school record of eight set in 2006-2007.

Congratulations to all the title teams and the entire program.

The list of titles so far:

Men's hoops (tournament)
Women's hoops (tournament)
Men's cross country
Men's indoor track
Men's Tennis (regular season)
Women's Tennis (regular season)
Men's Tennis (tournament)
Women's Tennis (tournament)

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer informs Jerry he is taking Ka-a-tae and is by far the best student in the class. When it is revealed that he is competing against children, Jerry is appalled, but Kramer insists it is the skill level that matters not age.
Buc2002, quit bragging about championships in the A-Sun. Campbell, Belmont, USC-Upstate & company are fine schools but are not ETSU peer institutions.
To answer an earlier statement you put forward on this board APSU and TTU with football would have great success in the A-Sun. Chattanooga, Appy State or Western Carolina with football would rule the A-Sun.
The A-Sun is full of small private schools that can’t compete with mid-size public universities. ETSU is a big fish in a very, very small pond.

97,

You haven't been paying attention over the last year. ETSU had a chance to move into the same league with APSU and TTU last summer, even without football -- AND DECLINED. That decision was not an administrative one, but was made by a group of over 30 people consisting of local business leaders, ETSU admins, and government officials.

The reason why it was turned down was that the OVC absolutely does not rank any better than the A-Sun in any of its programs. In fact, the A-Sun is better year-in and year-out in most sports, and men's basketball was ranked higher than the OVC a year ago (not sure about the final ranking this year).

We could get into this discussion again and it would be pointless, because people are set in their beliefs when it comes to comparing the leagues, but I feel confident in saying that the Bucs would be having these same successes in all sports whether in the SoCon or OVC because the resources are there to win in those sports right now. Again, if the same were to happen for football in the future at ETSU, then the Bucs would succeed there as well. Whether in the SoCon, OVC or whatever.

I will continue to praise our student-athletes for their successes and be proud of them. 97, do you take pleasure in putting down these student-athletes and programs by suggesting they are simply beating up on lesser competition? That's sad.

Quote:97, do you take pleasure in putting down these student-athletes and programs by suggesting they are simply beating up on lesser competition? That's sad.

Where have I heard something like that before.....

"If you don't support the war, you don't support the troops"

Oh yeah. Right.

(04-21-2009 08:54 AM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]97,

You haven't been paying attention over the last year. ETSU had a chance to move into the same league with APSU and TTU last summer, even without football -- AND DECLINED. That decision was not an administrative one, but was made by a group of over 30 people consisting of local business leaders, ETSU admins, and government officials.

The reason why it was turned down was that the OVC absolutely does not rank any better than the A-Sun in any of its programs. In fact, the A-Sun is better year-in and year-out in most sports, and men's basketball was ranked higher than the OVC a year ago (not sure about the final ranking this year).

We could get into this discussion again and it would be pointless, because people are set in their beliefs when it comes to comparing the leagues, but I feel confident in saying that the Bucs would be having these same successes in all sports whether in the SoCon or OVC because the resources are there to win in those sports right now. Again, if the same were to happen for football in the future at ETSU, then the Bucs would succeed there as well. Whether in the SoCon, OVC or whatever.

I will continue to praise our student-athletes for their successes and be proud of them. 97, do you take pleasure in putting down these student-athletes and programs by suggesting they are simply beating up on lesser competition? That's sad.

If 02 were on my debate team, I'd have to fail him. DEBATE RULE NUMBER 2: WHEN YOU'RE ARGUMENT IS PROVEN TO BE INVALID BY THE OPPONENT, DETERMINE A NEW STRATEGY.

02,

If you can't come up with something new, then find someone in your VERY SILENT MAJORITY to help you out. Funny, I keep meeting ETSUers here and there and they don't seem to be in your majority, although they're pretty silent.

The SILENT MAJORITY of ETSU alumni that I run into seem to be silently resolved to the idea that their school doesn't field teams of interest and won't in the future.

First, don't you have to be offered something before you can decline it. I know the OVC commissioner stopped by but did they officially offer ETSU to join the OVC.

Second, no one outside the Country Club believes that non-ETSU employees had meaningful input into this decision. Didn't the so called committee only meet once? The OVC dropped their requirement on Jan 17 and OVC commissioner met with Stanton on Feb 8. Didn't the "committee" make the decision to stick with the OVC before February ended? How many meetings did the committee have? That must have been an amazing feat to get 30 people to agree on a date, seriously debate the issues and then make a decision in a few weeks. Not an administrative decision? What a joke

(04-21-2009 05:27 PM)Buc Wrote: [ -> ]First, don't you have to be offered something before you can decline it. I know the OVC commissioner stopped by but did they officially offer ETSU to join the OVC.

Second, no one outside the Country Club believes that non-ETSU employees had meaningful input into this decision. Didn't the so called committee only meet once? The OVC dropped their requirement on Jan 17 and OVC commissioner met with Stanton on Feb 8. Didn't the "committee" make the decision to stick with the OVC before February ended? How many meetings did the committee have? That must have been an amazing feat to get 30 people to agree on a date, seriously debate the issues and then make a decision in a few weeks. Not an administrative decision? What a joke

There would not have been a committee if an offer were not on the table. As I recall, the newspapers ran multiple stories from more than one meeting of the group. We turned them down, Buc, end of story.

To Kev's comment, I think most people on here really all want the "same" thing, we just have different ways and opinions on getting there. Some want to simply complain, some want to boycott ETSU athletics, and others want to continue to support the teams we have, see them succeed across the board, build a strong program from what we have currently, and then talk about the future and what that would mean.

Kev, I wouldn't take one of your classes to begin with. Don't like closed minded people or professors, especialy those who are completely stuck in a past they've glorified in their own mind (and I am not pointing to the four year stretch here so don't point me to the YouTube discussion). I'm fine with my debating skills and am OK standing up for those that continue to support the Bucs, that would include nearly 4,000 a game at men's basketball games, record setting numbers for attendance in all the other sports (including great numbers for women's hoops), and the record number of BASA members and corporate sponsors that are giving to ETSU. I think everyone would love to have more people and fans joining in.

Have a good day.

(04-22-2009 09:08 AM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-21-2009 05:27 PM)Buc Wrote: [ -> ]First, don't you have to be offered something before you can decline it. I know the OVC commissioner stopped by but did they officially offer ETSU to join the OVC.

Second, no one outside the Country Club believes that non-ETSU employees had meaningful input into this decision. Didn't the so called committee only meet once? The OVC dropped their requirement on Jan 17 and OVC commissioner met with Stanton on Feb 8. Didn't the "committee" make the decision to stick with the OVC before February ended? How many meetings did the committee have? That must have been an amazing feat to get 30 people to agree on a date, seriously debate the issues and then make a decision in a few weeks. Not an administrative decision? What a joke

There would not have been a committee if an offer were not on the table. As I recall, the newspapers ran multiple stories from more than one meeting of the group. We turned them down, Buc, end of story.

To Kev's comment, I think most people on here really all want the "same" thing, we just have different ways and opinions on getting there. Some want to simply complain, some want to boycott ETSU athletics, and others want to continue to support the teams we have, see them succeed across the board, build a strong program from what we have currently, and then talk about the future and what that would mean.

Kev, I wouldn't take one of your classes to begin with. Don't like closed minded people or professors, especialy those who are completely stuck in a past they've glorified in their own mind (and I am not pointing to the four year stretch here so don't point me to the YouTube discussion). I'm fine with my debating skills and am OK standing up for those that continue to support the Bucs, that would include nearly 4,000 a game at men's basketball games, record setting numbers for attendance in all the other sports (including great numbers for women's hoops), and the record number of BASA members and corporate sponsors that are giving to ETSU. I think everyone would love to have more people and fans joining in.

Have a good day.

02,

You are too funny.

Somebody get this guy a show. I believe Fox News probably has a place for him.

4,000. Whoo hooo.

Add all the attendance at all the other sports together. I dare you. Add average attendance for:

Women's basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Golf
Croquet

and anthing else they still play over there. I'd love to know what they add up to. Would they be as much as an average Science Hill basketball game?

(04-22-2009 09:12 AM)kevster Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-22-2009 09:08 AM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-21-2009 05:27 PM)Buc Wrote: [ -> ]First, don't you have to be offered something before you can decline it. I know the OVC commissioner stopped by but did they officially offer ETSU to join the OVC.

Second, no one outside the Country Club believes that non-ETSU employees had meaningful input into this decision. Didn't the so called committee only meet once? The OVC dropped their requirement on Jan 17 and OVC commissioner met with Stanton on Feb 8. Didn't the "committee" make the decision to stick with the OVC before February ended? How many meetings did the committee have? That must have been an amazing feat to get 30 people to agree on a date, seriously debate the issues and then make a decision in a few weeks. Not an administrative decision? What a joke

There would not have been a committee if an offer were not on the table. As I recall, the newspapers ran multiple stories from more than one meeting of the group. We turned them down, Buc, end of story.

To Kev's comment, I think most people on here really all want the "same" thing, we just have different ways and opinions on getting there. Some want to simply complain, some want to boycott ETSU athletics, and others want to continue to support the teams we have, see them succeed across the board, build a strong program from what we have currently, and then talk about the future and what that would mean.

Kev, I wouldn't take one of your classes to begin with. Don't like closed minded people or professors, especialy those who are completely stuck in a past they've glorified in their own mind (and I am not pointing to the four year stretch here so don't point me to the YouTube discussion). I'm fine with my debating skills and am OK standing up for those that continue to support the Bucs, that would include nearly 4,000 a game at men's basketball games, record setting numbers for attendance in all the other sports (including great numbers for women's hoops), and the record number of BASA members and corporate sponsors that are giving to ETSU. I think everyone would love to have more people and fans joining in.

Have a good day.

02,

You are too funny.

Somebody get this guy a show. I believe Fox News probably has a place for him.

4,000. Whoo hooo.

Add all the attendance at all the other sports together. I dare you. Add average attendance for:

Women's basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Golf
Croquet

and anthing else they still play over there. I'd love to know what they add up to. Would they be as much as an average Science Hill basketball game?

That's not the point. Of course those numbers are not large for the other sports. But they are growing. I would take the 4,000 that are coming to men's hoops games over the four or five on this board that just complain and offer nothing further (this does not include Gold, who still is a Buc fan as opposed to Kev).

The point is there has been improvement and the entire athletic program is improving and moving forward. This is a good thing, even for those who want football (even though I know that's hard for everyone to admit). The more success means the more attention athletics receives and the higher probability for more improvements, programs and facilities.

I will admit, Kev, one area in which I've failed on this debate. In all diplomacy there comes a point where more words and more discussions simply aren't moving any action forward. I think I've come to this place with you.

Again, have a good day, and we'll just agree to disagree.

(04-21-2009 08:54 AM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-21-2009 07:00 AM)buc1997 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-18-2009 08:14 PM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]That's eight team championships and counting for the program in 2008-09. More are possible (indeed likely in men's golf and men's outdoor track) before the end of the spring seasons. This would make it 10 for the year, breaking the previous school record of eight set in 2006-2007.

Congratulations to all the title teams and the entire program.

The list of titles so far:

Men's hoops (tournament)
Women's hoops (tournament)
Men's cross country
Men's indoor track
Men's Tennis (regular season)
Women's Tennis (regular season)
Men's Tennis (tournament)
Women's Tennis (tournament)

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer informs Jerry he is taking Ka-a-tae and is by far the best student in the class. When it is revealed that he is competing against children, Jerry is appalled, but Kramer insists it is the skill level that matters not age.
Buc2002, quit bragging about championships in the A-Sun. Campbell, Belmont, USC-Upstate & company are fine schools but are not ETSU peer institutions.
To answer an earlier statement you put forward on this board APSU and TTU with football would have great success in the A-Sun. Chattanooga, Appy State or Western Carolina with football would rule the A-Sun.
The A-Sun is full of small private schools that can’t compete with mid-size public universities. ETSU is a big fish in a very, very small pond.

97,

You haven't been paying attention over the last year. ETSU had a chance to move into the same league with APSU and TTU last summer, even without football -- AND DECLINED. That decision was not an administrative one, but was made by a group of over 30 people consisting of local business leaders, ETSU admins, and government officials.

The reason why it was turned down was that the OVC absolutely does not rank any better than the A-Sun in any of its programs. In fact, the A-Sun is better year-in and year-out in most sports, and men's basketball was ranked higher than the OVC a year ago (not sure about the final ranking this year).

We could get into this discussion again and it would be pointless, because people are set in their beliefs when it comes to comparing the leagues, but I feel confident in saying that the Bucs would be having these same successes in all sports whether in the SoCon or OVC because the resources are there to win in those sports right now. Again, if the same were to happen for football in the future at ETSU, then the Bucs would succeed there as well. Whether in the SoCon, OVC or whatever.

I will continue to praise our student-athletes for their successes and be proud of them. 97, do you take pleasure in putting down these student-athletes and programs by suggesting they are simply beating up on lesser competition? That's sad.

Buc2002,
I take no pleasure in putting down or insulting anyone. I offer my sincere congratulations to ETSU’s student-athletes for all their success.
My complaint is not against any student-athlete at ETSU but at the administration which insists in spite of ample evidence to the contrary that football does not bring great opportunities for increasing school spirit, funding rising and elevating the media profile of ETSU outside of the Tri-Cities region.
Although no longer living in the Tri-Cities area I try to keep up with ETSU sports. I don’t recall hearing or reading anything about a committee reviewing about ETSU switching conferences. Could you please give a list of committee members?
I know UT-C under AD Steve Sloan conducted a study on the assets/liabilities on staying in the SoCon or moving back to the OVC.
Perhaps this explains the Basketball tourney in Chatt. this spring.
Also the OVC invited SIU-Carbondale as its newest member. This was after Samford left the OVC for the SoCon.

(04-22-2009 09:55 AM)buc1997 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-21-2009 08:54 AM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-21-2009 07:00 AM)buc1997 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-18-2009 08:14 PM)Buc2002 Wrote: [ -> ]That's eight team championships and counting for the program in 2008-09. More are possible (indeed likely in men's golf and men's outdoor track) before the end of the spring seasons. This would make it 10 for the year, breaking the previous school record of eight set in 2006-2007.

Congratulations to all the title teams and the entire program.

The list of titles so far:

Men's hoops (tournament)
Women's hoops (tournament)
Men's cross country
Men's indoor track
Men's Tennis (regular season)
Women's Tennis (regular season)
Men's Tennis (tournament)
Women's Tennis (tournament)

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer informs Jerry he is taking Ka-a-tae and is by far the best student in the class. When it is revealed that he is competing against children, Jerry is appalled, but Kramer insists it is the skill level that matters not age.
Buc2002, quit bragging about championships in the A-Sun. Campbell, Belmont, USC-Upstate & company are fine schools but are not ETSU peer institutions.
To answer an earlier statement you put forward on this board APSU and TTU with football would have great success in the A-Sun. Chattanooga, Appy State or Western Carolina with football would rule the A-Sun.
The A-Sun is full of small private schools that can’t compete with mid-size public universities. ETSU is a big fish in a very, very small pond.

97,

You haven't been paying attention over the last year. ETSU had a chance to move into the same league with APSU and TTU last summer, even without football -- AND DECLINED. That decision was not an administrative one, but was made by a group of over 30 people consisting of local business leaders, ETSU admins, and government officials.

The reason why it was turned down was that the OVC absolutely does not rank any better than the A-Sun in any of its programs. In fact, the A-Sun is better year-in and year-out in most sports, and men's basketball was ranked higher than the OVC a year ago (not sure about the final ranking this year).

We could get into this discussion again and it would be pointless, because people are set in their beliefs when it comes to comparing the leagues, but I feel confident in saying that the Bucs would be having these same successes in all sports whether in the SoCon or OVC because the resources are there to win in those sports right now. Again, if the same were to happen for football in the future at ETSU, then the Bucs would succeed there as well. Whether in the SoCon, OVC or whatever.

I will continue to praise our student-athletes for their successes and be proud of them. 97, do you take pleasure in putting down these student-athletes and programs by suggesting they are simply beating up on lesser competition? That's sad.

Buc2002,
I take no pleasure in putting down or insulting anyone. I offer my sincere congratulations to ETSU’s student-athletes for all their success.
My complaint is not against any student-athlete at ETSU but at the administration which insists in spite of ample evidence to the contrary that football does not bring great opportunities for increasing school spirit, funding rising and elevating the media profile of ETSU outside of the Tri-Cities region.
Although no longer living in the Tri-Cities area I try to keep up with ETSU sports. I don’t recall hearing or reading anything about a committee reviewing about ETSU switching conferences. Could you please give a list of committee members?
I know UT-C under AD Steve Sloan conducted a study on the assets/liabilities on staying in the SoCon or moving back to the OVC.
Perhaps this explains the Basketball tourney in Chatt. this spring.
Also the OVC invited SIU-Carbondale as its newest member. This was after Samford left the OVC for the SoCon.

SIU-Edwardsville did join the OVC last year on Samford's departure. The OVC was and is looking for a second team to join.

What you'll find is that basically initial requests were made by the OVC to see what our interest was. There would have likely been an offer, even though an official one was not made (which I suppose was to spare the OVC any embarrassment to be turned down AFTER an offer). But the group studied the positives and negatives of both leagues and came to a quick, consice decision. I'm surprised you didn't know about this with all the coverage it received.

The exact people on the committee are not listed in these stories. It does say though that it included local business leaders. One that was quoted at the time was local entrepeneur Louis Gump.

Here is what I could find on a quick search:

By Joe Avento
Press Sports Writer
javento@johnsoncitypress.com

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If East Tennessee State decides to move to the Ohio Valley Conference, it will take one of two things to get the deal done: time or money.
Since money isn’t cheap, time seems to be the one thing the school is willing to invest to make the decision.

ETSU’s buyout, should it leave the Atlantic Sun Conference before June 30, 2011, is a cool million dollars. However, a move could come sooner if the school gives the A-Sun two-years notice. Under that scenario, no financial penalty would be assessed.

That means the soonest ETSU could leave the A-Sun without paying the $1,000,000 would be 2010, provided a decision is made – and notice is given – early this year.

Don’t count on anything happening quickly.

“We’re committed to the ASun,” ETSU President Paul Stanton said Monday. “In three years time, I think we’ll have a much better picture of these two conferences, and maybe there willll be other conferences that come calling.”

Of course, in three years, doors that appear open today could be closed.

“That’s the downside,” Stanton said. “We know two others they are looking at, Belmont and Lipscomb. At some point they will have an additional member or two. We’re not delusional thinking we have three years or longer to make up our mind. At the same time, I don’t think any of us feel we have to make the decision in the next day, week or month.”

ETSU became an attractive candidate for the OVC when school presidents amended that league’s constitution, eliminating the football requirement for new members. Stanton met with OVC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher last Friday. He said the meeting lasted about an hour.

“It was just a very cordial and courteous visit,” Stanton said. “He came and indicated that they have significant interest in further discussion.”

Stanton said he’ll solicit advice from several sources before he makes any decisions on ETSU’s future conference affiliation.

“I’ll put together what I call a ‘kitchen cabinet’ of friends and community leaders,” Stanton said. “We’ll probably meet once so I can get their input and ideas.”

One group from which Stanton has not yet heard on the issue is ETSU supporters. And he said that surprised him.

“To date, I have not had any significant push from any person or groups to move in one direction or the other,” he said. “You would have thought one way or the other that I would have heard from people about this. I find it kind of interesting that there hasn’t been more.”

The A-Sun has been through this kind of thing before. In recent years, the league has lost some strong members in Central Florida, Troy State, Georgia State and Florida Atlantic. Gardner-Webb leaves for the Big South after this year.

“The first reaction when something like this comes up is to discuss it with your member institution,” A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart said Monday. “We’ve done that and we feel very strongly that we do provide the best fit. All indications at this point are simply that nobody has any intent on moving.

“While we’ve had a little bit of transition with new members, we’re looking forward to a long, stable period. Instead of being noted for transition, we’re hoping to be noted for growth.”

At first glance, it might seem the OVC would be a better fit for ETSU because of tradition and travel. The league has four teams in Tennessee and three in neighboring Kentucky. ETSU was an OVC member from 1957-78.

But after further review, there’s not much difference between the two conferences when it comes to ETSU’s travel. Atlantic Sun Cities are an average of 403 miles from Johnson City. OVC cities average 352.

On the basketball court, there is a difference this year. The ASun is ranked higher, with an RPI of 23rd according to RPIratings.com. The OVC is currently 30th out of 31 conferences.

Stanton said he’ll consider several factors, including alumni bases in each conference city and exposure due to the size of media markets. But for the time being, ETSU isn’t going anywhere.

“I’m very comfortable with the A-Sun,” Stanton said. “We expect to be there through June 30 of 2011.”



Ohio Valley Conference looking at ETSU
By Joe Avento
Press Sports Writer
javento@johnsoncitypress.com

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The Ohio Valley Conference is coming to East Tennessee State next week. Whether the school returns the favor remains to be seen.
OVC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher is scheduled to meet with ETSU President Paul Stanton and athletic director Dave Mullins on Feb. 8. The meeting, to be held in Johnson City, is expected to be centered around the possibility of ETSU rejoining the OVC.

“We’re not out looking for another conference,” Stanton said Wednesday. “But we’d sit down and listen to anybody who wanted to come and talk. We’re going to let him come in and discuss whatever level of discussion he wants to have and then we’ll take things under consideration.”

ETSU approached the OVC when the school’s decision to drop football led to its ouster from the Southern Conference in 2004. At the time, OVC bylaws said schools were required to have football teams, so the application was denied. ETSU eventually joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005.

But on Jan. 16, OVC presidents amended the league’s constitution, eliminating the football requirement. That opened several new doors for the conference, and maybe a new one for ETSU.

“It’s a good conference,” Stanton said. “That’s why we had some interest a few years ago.”

Steinbrecher’s visit will likely be to gauge ETSU’s interest in rejoining the league should the OVC decided to expand. ETSU was a member of the OVC from 1957-78.

“We haven’t had enough time really to sit and discuss where we want to go,” Steinbrecher said. “We’ll have 10 members next year, and that’s a very good number. The membership is going to sit back and assess if that’s an appropriate number or if we need to move beyond.”

Steinbrecher is also reportedly set to meet with representatives of A-Sun members Belmont and Lipscomb. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, a strong Division II basketball program making the move up, has also been mentioned as a potential new member.

The OVC currently has 11 schools, but with Samford leaving for the Southern Conference this year, the league is likely in the market for new members. Another member, Jacksonville State, is looking into moving its football program up to the FBS (formerly Division I-A) level, meaning it would leave as well.

Should both schools leave, the OVC could add three new members to reach 12, the number that would allow it to use divisional play in basketball.

ETSU seems like a good fit for the league. And if Belmont and Lipscomb do leave the A-Sun, ETSU would be in danger of being left behind in a watered-down conference.

Losing Belmont, Lipscomb and ETSU would be quite a blow for the A-Sun. Those schools have dominated men’s basketball in the conference over the last two seasons, being the only teams to win the league’s regular season and tournament championships during that time. Before that, the last current member to win the A-Sun tournament was Mercer in 1985.

The A-Sun has been in a constant state of change over the past few years. Four of the 12 current members aren’t eligible for postseason play since they’re still in the “reclassification” period from Division II.

Any change in conference affiliation for ETSU would not happen quickly. Stanton said ETSU is committed to the A-Sun through June of 2011.

“The presidents all appreciate being in the A-Sun,” Stanton said. “And I think all of us appreciate wanting stability. I don’t see anybody bolting. We’re committed through June, 2011. All the schools are. That’s not that far out, and in almost every conference you’re expected to give at least two years notice.”

ETSU has a connection with at least one OVC school. Wayne Andrews, president of Murray State, was at ETSU for 17 years, most recently as the vice president of administration.






ETSU turns down OVC; will stay in A-Sun
By Joe Avento
Press Sports Writer
javento@johnsoncitypress.com

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East Tennessee State will be staying in the Atlantic Sun Conference for the foreseeable future. After meeting with staff members and community leaders on Tuesday, ETSU President Paul Stanton told the Ohio Valley Conference thanks, but no thanks.
The OVC had shown interest in ETSU after that league’s presidents amended its constitution to allow non-football playing members. OVC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher came to Johnson City to express that interest. Although no formal offer was ever made, it appeared as though there would be an opening for ETSU in the OVC if the school wanted it.

It never got that far.

Stanton convened a meeting Tuesday of 22 people, including athletic department staffers and members of various ETSU-related boards of directors. After athletic director Dave Mullins gave a presentation comparing and contrasting the two leagues, a discussion took place. When it was over, the group, Stanton said, was in unanimous agreement.

“We’re happy where we are,” Stanton said. “We do feel that rivalries such as with Belmont, Lipscomb and Jacksonville are becoming pretty significant to us. We like what we’re seeing there. The bottom line is we’re staying with the Atlantic Sun. We’ll live out our agreement, and then if we want, look at the options.”

ETSU’s agreement with the A-Sun runs through June of 2011 and has a buyout clause of $1 million should the school leave early.

Two of the rivalries which Stanton mentioned, Belmont and Lipscomb, are also being wooed by the OVC.

“I’ve talked to the presidents of both institutions as recently as today and yesterday and they are sitting tight,” Stanton said. “They have the same agreement and there’s no indication of any planned movement. I’ve been assured by both that they like where they are and have no plans to change.”

After Tuesday’s meeting, Stanton called Steinbrecher to let him know of the school’s decision to reaffirm its commitment to the A-Sun.

“We were never made a formal offer, but interest was shown,” Stanton said. “My reply to him was we were very much complimented and appreciated it, but we planned to stay in the A-Sun and live out our commitment there.”

Stanton said sometime in the next year he will put together a study group to make recommendations for the athletic department in time for the school’s Centennial in 2011.

“They’ll spend a lot of time on what we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, what we can do better and how we can become a real athletic powerhouse,” he said.

I'm just not seeing us leaving the A-Sun anytime soon. The two conferences being talked about on this board (SoCon and OVC) aren't any better and don't offer anything. I think upgrading the A-Sun by aggressively recruiting the better b-ball schools is the way to go. I could see C of C and Davidson getting wooed in the right set of circumstances.

You don't get to play tennis and golf in Flordia if you are in the OVC...

Buc2002,
Thank you for those articles. I must have been traveling and miss that campus issue. For me the newspaper articles raised several questions.
Why did the committee consider the A-Sun superior to the OVC when four of the 12 current members aren’t eligible for postseason play since they’re still in the “reclassification” period from Division II?
Stanton now maintains ETSU should keep its commitment to the A-Sun, why did he not insist the school stay committed to the SoCon?
My understanding is that Stanton never once attended a single meeting of the SoCon Presidents. This was one of the major reasons the SoCon schools were so adamant about booting ETSU out. Now Stanton “Mr. Athletics” what gives?