(11-13-2017 10:28 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:38 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:28 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  Threadjack, but on another forum someone posted that the Big South is planning on adding two new members. One, supposedly, plays football; the other is apparently being called a first for Division I. That's all I can say at this point, but the news should break this week.

What would that first possibly be? An all female D1 school like Converse College?

That could be. I didn't realize there were even any all-women's colleges at the D2 level, but Converse is and it's in the footprint.

If Converse were to move up they would be DI in name only. To call their basketball arena high school would be an insult to numerous high schools around here, and they play softball at a county recreational complex.

If I were looking for a female only school in the footprint I would look more towards Columbia College.

(11-14-2017 06:59 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 10:28 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:38 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:28 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  Threadjack, but on another forum someone posted that the Big South is planning on adding two new members. One, supposedly, plays football; the other is apparently being called a first for Division I. That's all I can say at this point, but the news should break this week.

What would that first possibly be? An all female D1 school like Converse College?

That could be. I didn't realize there were even any all-women's colleges at the D2 level, but Converse is and it's in the footprint.

If Converse were to move up they would be DI in name only. To call their basketball arena high school would be an insult to numerous high schools around here, and they play softball at a county recreational complex.

If I were looking for a female only school in the footprint I would look more towards Columbia College.

Columbia College (SC) is NAIA. They would have to spend eight years at DII until they are eligible.

Women's sports wouldn't draw much at Converse anyway, but the move would create major buzz nationwide. Converse has many sports that women could benefit.

From what I've read, there's only three D2 all-women's schools (and I have no idea who or where they are, if that's even still the case), so if that's the D1 first, it'd have to be one of them.

There's a number of D3 women's colleges in the region but unless the NCAA granted them a waiver to move directly to D1, that's not an option.

It seems like it would make more sense for Converse or any other women’s college to join the SoCon to offset VMI or The Citadel . . . Unless if VMI is coming back to the Big South. (I know both VMI and The Citadel have limited women’s Athletics programs, but there still would be some gaps, in particular in basketball).

(11-14-2017 08:21 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  It seems like it would make more sense for Converse or any other women’s college to join the SoCon to offset VMI or The Citadel . . . Unless if VMI is coming back to the Big South. (I know both VMI and The Citadel have limited women’s Athletics programs, but there still would be some gaps, in particular in basketball).

That's a good point, but Big South schools generally aspire to the SoCon. The Big South is a stepping stone for the SoCon, which hasn't taken direct moveups.

(11-14-2017 08:08 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  From what I've read, there's only three D2 all-women's schools (and I have no idea who or where they are, if that's even still the case), so if that's the D1 first, it'd have to be one of them.

There's a number of D3 women's colleges in the region but unless the NCAA granted them a waiver to move directly to D1, that's not an option.

Texas Women's is in the Lone Star Conference. That is 2 with Converse. Not sure who the third one would be. There are many in D3 and NAIA.

(11-14-2017 07:38 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 06:59 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 10:28 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:38 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:28 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  Threadjack, but on another forum someone posted that the Big South is planning on adding two new members. One, supposedly, plays football; the other is apparently being called a first for Division I. That's all I can say at this point, but the news should break this week.

What would that first possibly be? An all female D1 school like Converse College?

That could be. I didn't realize there were even any all-women's colleges at the D2 level, but Converse is and it's in the footprint.

If Converse were to move up they would be DI in name only. To call their basketball arena high school would be an insult to numerous high schools around here, and they play softball at a county recreational complex.

If I were looking for a female only school in the footprint I would look more towards Columbia College.

Columbia College (SC) is NAIA. They would have to spend eight years at DII until they are eligible.

Women's sports wouldn't draw much at Converse anyway, but the move would create major buzz nationwide. Converse has many sports that women could benefit.

Forgot about that, that's how superior Cola College is to Converse when it comes to facilities.

And I don't know how much of a buzz it would create. They'd pretty much be a laughingstock.

(11-14-2017 08:41 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 08:08 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  From what I've read, there's only three D2 all-women's schools (and I have no idea who or where they are, if that's even still the case), so if that's the D1 first, it'd have to be one of them.

There's a number of D3 women's colleges in the region but unless the NCAA granted them a waiver to move directly to D1, that's not an option.

Texas Women's is in the Lone Star Conference. That is 2 with Converse. Not sure who the third one would be. There are many in D3 and NAIA.

#3 is Ursuline in the GMAC.

(11-14-2017 09:03 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 07:38 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 06:59 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 10:28 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-13-2017 07:38 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  What would that first possibly be? An all female D1 school like Converse College?

That could be. I didn't realize there were even any all-women's colleges at the D2 level, but Converse is and it's in the footprint.

If Converse were to move up they would be DI in name only. To call their basketball arena high school would be an insult to numerous high schools around here, and they play softball at a county recreational complex.

If I were looking for a female only school in the footprint I would look more towards Columbia College.

Columbia College (SC) is NAIA. They would have to spend eight years at DII until they are eligible.

Women's sports wouldn't draw much at Converse anyway, but the move would create major buzz nationwide. Converse has many sports that women could benefit.

Forgot about that, that's how superior Cola College is to Converse when it comes to facilities.

And I don't know how much of a buzz it would create. They'd pretty much be a laughingstock.

Any buzz, positive or negative, would be good as it creates awareness. I live only 100 miles or so away in TN and never heard of either Converse or Columbia College.

Even P5 schools don't generally have good fan support for their women's sports anyway.. The cost wouldn't be that much more than DII and they don't have to support football, so they can probably afford it.

Since the Big South has announced USC-Upstate as a new member could this mean the Blue Hose depart in ALL sports for a lower division?? The Spartans as simply a replacement?

(11-15-2017 06:53 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Since the Big South has announced USC-Upstate as a new member could this mean the Blue Hose depart in ALL sports for a lower division?? The Spartans as simply a replacement?

It seems plausible based on the timing.

I'm kind of shocked they didn't go with Kennesaw St.

If Presbyterian was moving down, they wouldn't concern themselves with what the Big South thought, they would just do it. Non-scholarship football is coming, so they need to keep in the good graces of the Big South.

Would Carson-Newman or Catawba move up? They seem to fit in with the Big south schools. They are larger with students than Presbyterian. They have been strong in football.

(11-15-2017 11:57 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Would Carson-Newman or Catawba move up? They seem to fit in with the Big south schools. They are larger with students than Presbyterian. They have been strong in football.

NOBODY is moving up. HBCUs are likely moving down soon due to financial issues. Hampton is one of the more well-funded and well-known HBCUs so it makes sense it is moving up in the world. Its rival Howard will hopefully be moving with it some day.

(11-16-2017 12:01 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 11:57 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Would Carson-Newman or Catawba move up? They seem to fit in with the Big south schools. They are larger with students than Presbyterian. They have been strong in football.

NOBODY is moving up. HBCUs are likely moving down soon due to financial issues. Hampton is one of the more well-funded and well-known HBCUs so it makes sense it is moving up in the world. Its rival Howard will hopefully be moving with it some day.

Not sure the Florida HBCUs to move down either.
Carson and Catawba are not HBCUs either.

(11-16-2017 12:20 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-16-2017 12:01 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 11:57 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Would Carson-Newman or Catawba move up? They seem to fit in with the Big south schools. They are larger with students than Presbyterian. They have been strong in football.

NOBODY is moving up. HBCUs are likely moving down soon due to financial issues. Hampton is one of the more well-funded and well-known HBCUs so it makes sense it is moving up in the world. Its rival Howard will hopefully be moving with it some day.

Not sure the Florida HBCUs to move down either.
Carson and Catawba are not HBCUs either.

NO, Carson-Newman and Catawba are not moving up. They have no desire to and a lot of their fans are still hoping that Presbyterian would come back to D2. The combined enrollment at the two schools is less than 4,000.

We have our answer. Hampton is joining, a 12th in basketball, and a 7th in Football.

Presbyterian is staying in the Big South, just no longer in Football (swapping with Campbell).

So Hampton is taking Liberty's football slot and Campbell is taking Presbyterian's, keeping the football conference the same size. The all sports side is growing to 12 with the addition of Hampton and USC Upstate allowing for divisions again

Liberty
Longwood
Hampton
Radford
Campbell
High Point

UNC Ashville
Gardner Webb
Charleston Southern
Winthrop
Presbyterian
USC Upstate

Football: Hampton, Campbell, Gardner Webb, Charleston Southern, Kennesaw St, Monmouth

Gotta think NC A&T, UNC Central, South Carolina St, and Norfolk St will be looking at Hampton's choice to see how it goes

A 16 team Big South consisting of
North: Liberty, Longwood, Radford, Hampton, Norfolk St, High Point, NC A&T, UNC Central
South: Charleston Southern, USC Upstate, Presbyterian, Winthrop, South Carolina St, UNC Ashville, Gardner Webb, Campbell

With Football being a solid core of:
Hampton, Norfolk St, NC A&T, UNC Central, South Carolina St, Gardner Webb, Campbell, Charleston Southern w/ Kennesaw St and Monmouth as affiliates.

would be very stable and geographically friendly for everyone

(11-16-2017 08:05 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Gotta think NC A&T, UNC Central, South Carolina St, and Norfolk St will be looking at Hampton's choice to see how it goes

A 16 team Big South consisting of
North: Liberty, Longwood, Radford, Hampton, Norfolk St, High Point, NC A&T, UNC Central
South: Charleston Southern, USC Upstate, Presbyterian, Winthrop, South Carolina St, UNC Ashville, Gardner Webb, Campbell

With Football being a solid core of:
Hampton, Norfolk St, NC A&T, UNC Central, South Carolina St, Gardner Webb, Campbell, Charleston Southern w/ Kennesaw St and Monmouth as affiliates.

would be very stable and geographically friendly for everyone

South Carolina State has bigger problems than worrying about conferences.

Earlier this month they had to re-open the application period because they only received one application to fill 11 spots on the Board of Trustees. They have to have at least five or their accreditation is in jeopardy.

Not to mention the fact that due to budget cuts the football program could only recruit players from South Carolina in the last recruiting cycle, and they have to either extend HC Buddy Pough or replace him because his contract is up this year.