The ASun is a stepping-stone league. Teams are in and out...in and out.
Who do we schedule for our non-conference games and which non-conference games get the best turnouts? They are the OVC and former OVC member schools like MTSU, APSU, Murray, TSU, etc. Just think what meaningful conference games agains those latter 3 would be like? We could actually travel to many conference road games.
Conclusion, Belmont and DLU need to go OVC at the first opportunity. If we get stuck in a league with no autobid, it would be a disaster. It could happen to the ASun with the Campbell move, and who knows who else is looking to move?
We've been good soldiers, but can't go down with this ship. Go OVC!
Geographically, I totally agree with your idea and I'm not impressed with the ASun. I would love to attend more road games than I have the last few years.
On the flip side, we're already playing MTSU, APSU, and TSU on a regular basis. And, I don't believe our fan base is going to be too excited to watch Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, SIU Edwardsville, or SE Missouri. Over the past several years the OVC has declined in the quality of their basketball programs. The OVC RPI is not really impressive.
I would be more in favor of the OVC if we could take DLU and ETSU with us to raise the overall RPI. If not, I would be more in favor of a stronger mid-major conference.
The best thing we can do is to continue to raise our level of play and our RPI to make us more attractive to fans and other conferences. I think we are going in the right direction. I love the potential of our incoming freshmen and the late season play of our younger players.
I can't believe I'm saying this....but I would like to see the three of us depart the A-sun for the OVC. I don't know what the mentality is like at Belmont or DAVID lipscomb in terms of recognizing the importance of athletics....Our bonehead leadership would never recognize the opportunity of going to the OVC if said deal of all three teams were on the table. We already turned down the OVC a year ago. I can tell you that ETSU fans have no love for the A-sun. It's nice to see that you guys are wanting out too. I think where Belmont goes DAVID lipscomb will follow like sheep...and that could force our administration to make a desperate move. But then again I can't say that with any certainty. We have really been hijacked...you have no idea.
One thing is for certain....We will not be allowed back into the Southern Conference where we belong.
I thought the deal was for all 3 of us to go to the OVC and we declined. Seems like alot of ETSU fans thought it was actually a good idea to stay, but I was not one of them. The ASUN is just not stable enough. I wish we all would have left. Now what happens to ETSU if David Lipscomb and Belmont leave? We might as well pack it up and forget athletics all together.
I thought the deal was just for ETSU...was Belmont offered as well?
(05-18-2009 11:34 PM)Goldfinger Wrote: [ -> ]I thought the deal was just for ETSU...was Belmont offered as well?
I can't say there was an offer, but I heard that there were "talks" at the same time as ETSU. Pure rumor (as I seem to say a lot on this board, though they've been pretty good so far...).
I'm pretty sure that they wanted all three of us.
In that case we all three should have went. I thought the deal was just for us and I was therefor hesitant.
(05-19-2009 02:02 PM)Goldfinger Wrote: [ -> ]In that case we all three should have went. I thought the deal was just for us and I was therefor hesitant.
Belmont turned down overtures because it considers the OVC a step down academically from the ASun. The decision didn't come from athletics.