(11-16-2020 03:43 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 03:31 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 03:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’m not sure what the appeal would be for any of those 3. Are they trying to put together schools interested in being FBS independents or something?

Hmmm

Liberty already there.

EKU had applied to the Sun Belt. JSU has made FBS noise before.

Hadn't heard anything about UCA in that regards UCA is the strangest one - way out of the footprint. At least the other two have a fairly close team already in the A-Sun

Maybe the commissioner has contacts in C-USA/SBC that are telling him that a reshuffle is eminent and he’s trying to put together a group of schools who could catch the schools left out:

UCA could be a travel partner for ULM.

Jacksonville St, Kennesaw St, UNA, and EKU are all centrally located.

Then you’ve got Liberty, who would then have an FBS home after being previously excluded from C-USA and the SBC.

That's a stretch...

(11-16-2020 03:49 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 03:43 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 03:31 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 03:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’m not sure what the appeal would be for any of those 3. Are they trying to put together schools interested in being FBS independents or something?

Hmmm

Liberty already there.

EKU had applied to the Sun Belt. JSU has made FBS noise before.

Hadn't heard anything about UCA in that regards UCA is the strangest one - way out of the footprint. At least the other two have a fairly close team already in the A-Sun

Maybe the commissioner has contacts in C-USA/SBC that are telling him that a reshuffle is eminent and he’s trying to put together a group of schools who could catch the schools left out:

UCA could be a travel partner for ULM.

Jacksonville St, Kennesaw St, UNA, and EKU are all centrally located.

Then you’ve got Liberty, who would then have an FBS home after being previously excluded from C-USA and the SBC.

That's a stretch...

Which happens a lot here...Realignment Yoga!

Central Arkansas to FBS? It is 30 minutes north of Little Rock. I guess it fills that niche that some wanted for UA-Little Rock. I'm still not sure if Arkansas can support three FBS schools, especially with the statewide reach of the Hogs.

Or, perhaps they're planning for the restructuring of the Southland in any number of rumored ways? Makes sense for them to get out of Texas if some of those schools are planning to leave the Southland. Even if nothing happens, that removes the odd-numbered school in a (relatively) far-flung part of the footprint. The SLC would move to 12 schools, 10 with football.

One thing for sure: ASun no longer stands for Atlantic Sun. It's just ASun. There's nothing Atlantic about Conway, Arkansas.

(11-16-2020 04:00 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Central Arkansas to FBS? It is 30 minutes north of Little Rock. I guess it fills that niche that some wanted for UA-Little Rock. I'm still not sure if Arkansas can support three FBS schools, especially with the statewide reach of the Hogs.

Or, perhaps they're planning for the restructuring of the Southland in any number of rumored ways? Makes sense for them to get out of Texas if some of those schools are planning to leave the Southland. Even if nothing happens, that removes the odd-numbered school in a (relatively) far-flung part of the footprint. The SLC would move to 12 schools, 10 with football.

One thing for sure: ASun no longer stands for Atlantic Sun. It's just ASun. There's nothing Atlantic about Conway, Arkansas.

“American Sun”

If the schools were looking at moving to FBS, couldn't they just stay in their current conferences? They're not obligated to play FCS just because that's what their home conference offers, right?

(11-16-2020 04:00 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Central Arkansas to FBS? It is 30 minutes north of Little Rock. I guess it fills that niche that some wanted for UA-Little Rock. I'm still not sure if Arkansas can support three FBS schools, especially with the statewide reach of the Hogs.

Or, perhaps they're planning for the restructuring of the Southland in any number of rumored ways? Makes sense for them to get out of Texas if some of those schools are planning to leave the Southland. Even if nothing happens, that removes the odd-numbered school in a (relatively) far-flung part of the footprint. The SLC would move to 12 schools, 10 with football.

One thing for sure: ASun no longer stands for Atlantic Sun. It's just ASun. There's nothing Atlantic about Conway, Arkansas.

Or; return to the original name when the conference stretched from Abilene, Houston, and Little Rock to Atlanta, Statesboro, and DeLand.

But, central arkansas to FBS? The brainwashing by the pigs is too strong (I was able to escape it). They really don't have any room to expand their stadium to FBS standards anyway.

Central Arkansas to the ASun is fascinating. We certainly knew the ASun was up to something a year or two ago when they started announcing their 'grand plan' if you will.

There was talk a few weeks ago about several Southland schools (SHSU, Lamar, Abilene and SFA) moving to the WAC. Central Arkansas was not mentioned in the group.

If the Texas schools mentioned were to leave, would Central Arkansas want to be left in a conference with the Louisiana schools, Incarnate Word, A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist? I am not sure that they would find that to be the best fit for their institution in multiple regards.

If Central Arkansas is seriously considering leaving, there must be some movement afoot amongst the other schools and/or you can add Central Arkansas to the list of schools who have some sort of discontent with the Southland Conference as it is made up right now.

It would certainly be a shame if the four Texas schools listed above left the league. The league is based in Texas and the Southland (no offense to UIW, Corpus or HBU) would be losing it's flagship institutions in its home state.

(11-16-2020 04:35 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 04:00 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Central Arkansas to FBS? It is 30 minutes north of Little Rock. I guess it fills that niche that some wanted for UA-Little Rock. I'm still not sure if Arkansas can support three FBS schools, especially with the statewide reach of the Hogs.

Or, perhaps they're planning for the restructuring of the Southland in any number of rumored ways? Makes sense for them to get out of Texas if some of those schools are planning to leave the Southland. Even if nothing happens, that removes the odd-numbered school in a (relatively) far-flung part of the footprint. The SLC would move to 12 schools, 10 with football.

One thing for sure: ASun no longer stands for Atlantic Sun. It's just ASun. There's nothing Atlantic about Conway, Arkansas.

“American Sun”

American Sun - Like the American, only brighter

I’m just trying to figure out why 3 schools in FCS conferences would want to join a conference that has just 2 FCS schools. 5 is not enough to play FCS as your own conference

For those 3 targets to even dream of making that move there has to be a bigger plan. What’s the plan?

(11-16-2020 04:58 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’m just trying to figure out why 3 schools in FCS conferences would want to join a conference that has just 2 FCS schools. 5 is not enough to play FCS as your own conference

For those 3 targets to even dream of making that move there has to be a bigger plan. What’s the plan?

A-Sun has an agreement with the Big South currently that any FCS teams that join the A-Sun automatically become football affiliates in the Big South.

(11-16-2020 04:42 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 04:00 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Central Arkansas to FBS? It is 30 minutes north of Little Rock. I guess it fills that niche that some wanted for UA-Little Rock. I'm still not sure if Arkansas can support three FBS schools, especially with the statewide reach of the Hogs.

Or, perhaps they're planning for the restructuring of the Southland in any number of rumored ways? Makes sense for them to get out of Texas if some of those schools are planning to leave the Southland. Even if nothing happens, that removes the odd-numbered school in a (relatively) far-flung part of the footprint. The SLC would move to 12 schools, 10 with football.

One thing for sure: ASun no longer stands for Atlantic Sun. It's just ASun. There's nothing Atlantic about Conway, Arkansas.

Or; return to the original name when the conference stretched from Abilene, Houston, and Little Rock to Atlanta, Statesboro, and DeLand.

But, central arkansas to FBS? The brainwashing by the pigs is too strong (I was able to escape it). They really don't have any room to expand their stadium to FBS standards anyway.

The Trans America Athletic Conference! I remember it well.

I agree: UCA to FBS is a pipe dream. But it looks like they may have reason to look south and east for FCS instead of to Texas.

"hi, Sunshine State Conference? Stetson here. So do we fill out an application or set up an appointment or something, how do we get the ball rolling?"

So if, for whatever reason, this actually comes to be, the A-Sun will be at 12 members for 2021, and the Big South will have 12 BB and 12 FB members.

A-Sun
BB (East): FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, North Florida, Stetson
BB (West): Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, North Alabama

Big South
BB (East): Campbell, Hampton, High Point, Longwood, NC A&T, Radford
BB (West): Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Winthrop

FB (North): Campbell, Eastern Kentucky*, Hampton, Monmouth*, NC A&T, Robert Morris*
FB (South): Central Arkansas*, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville State*, Kennesaw State*, North Alabama*

* = FB only

This would actually be good for the Southland, because they'd be down to even numbers of schools (12 BB and 10 FB). The OVC would be down to 10 BB members and only 7 FB. Maybe they'd be willing to take on some MEAC refugees. It'd give Tennessee State HBCUs to play in-conference, so they might at least be in favor. NCCU and SCSU aren't too far out of footprint.

Technically, if the 5 A-Sun schools with FB in the Big South were to get, say, either Robert Morris or Monmouth on board, they would have just enough FB members to sponsor FCS, and would leave just enough members for the Big South. However, I see little point in doing so.

(11-16-2020 05:41 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  So if, for whatever reason, this actually comes to be, the A-Sun will be at 12 members for 2021, and the Big South will have 12 BB and 12 FB members.

A-Sun
BB (East): FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, North Florida, Stetson
BB (West): Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, North Alabama

Big South
BB (East): Campbell, Hampton, High Point, Longwood, NC A&T, Radford
BB (West): Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Winthrop

FB (North): Campbell, Eastern Kentucky*, Hampton, Monmouth*, NC A&T, Robert Morris*
FB (South): Central Arkansas*, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville State*, Kennesaw State*, North Alabama*

* = FB only

This would actually be good for the Southland, because they'd be down to even numbers of schools (12 BB and 10 FB). The OVC would be down to 10 BB members and only 7 FB. Maybe they'd be willing to take on some MEAC refugees. It'd give Tennessee State HBCUs to play in-conference, so they might be in favor.

Technically, if the 5 A-Sun schools with FB in the Big South were to get, say, either Robert Morris or Monmouth on board, they would have just enough FB members to sponsor FCS, and would leave just enough members for the Big South. However, I see little point in doing so.

On the contrary, if the ASUN has 5 football schools and 1 fb affiliate and the Big South has 5 football schools and 1 affiliate they each get an autobid in football and can have a scheduling alliance between the two to help fill schedules.

(11-16-2020 05:59 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 05:41 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  So if, for whatever reason, this actually comes to be, the A-Sun will be at 12 members for 2021, and the Big South will have 12 BB and 12 FB members.

A-Sun
BB (East): FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, North Florida, Stetson
BB (West): Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, North Alabama

Big South
BB (East): Campbell, Hampton, High Point, Longwood, NC A&T, Radford
BB (West): Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Winthrop

FB (North): Campbell, Eastern Kentucky*, Hampton, Monmouth*, NC A&T, Robert Morris*
FB (South): Central Arkansas*, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville State*, Kennesaw State*, North Alabama*

* = FB only

This would actually be good for the Southland, because they'd be down to even numbers of schools (12 BB and 10 FB). The OVC would be down to 10 BB members and only 7 FB. Maybe they'd be willing to take on some MEAC refugees. It'd give Tennessee State HBCUs to play in-conference, so they might be in favor.

Technically, if the 5 A-Sun schools with FB in the Big South were to get, say, either Robert Morris or Monmouth on board, they would have just enough FB members to sponsor FCS, and would leave just enough members for the Big South. However, I see little point in doing so.

On the contrary, if the ASUN has 5 football schools and 1 fb affiliate and the Big South has 5 football schools and 1 affiliate they each get an autobid in football and can have a scheduling alliance between the two to help fill schedules.

Would the A-Sun be granted an autobid automatically? In any case, having the bare minimum number of FB members (and using out-of-region affiliates with dubious FB commitment to do so) seems extremely imprudent.

Imprudent, yes, but if there is pact between the 2 that if either conference falls under the required 6 members that they will just re-merge it’s a sneaky way to get get 2 autobids for what I’d effectively a 12 member football conference.

[/quote]
That's the one I have trouble wrapping my head around. EKU/JSU wanting to play football with UNA/KSU makes sense. But what's in it for UCA to leave a LA/TX league?
[/quote]

Perhaps all the rumors of SFA, Sam Houston, Lamar, and Abilene Christian possibly looking at the WAC spooked them. The leadership at UCA began looking around at what would be left of the Southland if the rumor came to fruition, and didn't like what they saw. UCA had been rumored to be talking to the WAC as well.

(11-16-2020 05:23 PM)HatterFan Wrote:  "hi, Sunshine State Conference? Stetson here. So do we fill out an application or set up an appointment or something, how do we get the ball rolling?"

Why?

(11-16-2020 05:41 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  So if, for whatever reason, this actually comes to be, the A-Sun will be at 12 members for 2021, and the Big South will have 12 BB and 12 FB members.

A-Sun
BB (East): FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, North Florida, Stetson
BB (West): Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, North Alabama

Big South
BB (East): Campbell, Hampton, High Point, Longwood, NC A&T, Radford
BB (West): Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Winthrop

FB (North): Campbell, Eastern Kentucky*, Hampton, Monmouth*, NC A&T, Robert Morris*
FB (South): Central Arkansas*, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville State*, Kennesaw State*, North Alabama*

* = FB only

This would actually be good for the Southland, because they'd be down to even numbers of schools (12 BB and 10 FB). The OVC would be down to 10 BB members and only 7 FB. Maybe they'd be willing to take on some MEAC refugees. It'd give Tennessee State HBCUs to play in-conference, so they might at least be in favor. NCCU and SCSU aren't too far out of footprint.

Technically, if the 5 A-Sun schools with FB in the Big South were to get, say, either Robert Morris or Monmouth on board, they would have just enough FB members to sponsor FCS, and would leave just enough members for the Big South. However, I see little point in doing so.

I dont know how the BS will do it, but if the ASUN goes to divisions, it will likely be North and South, not East and West.

North
Central Arkansas
Bellarmine
EKU
Liberty
Lipscomb
North Alabama

South
JSU
KSU
North Florida
Jacksonville
Stetson
FGCU

(11-16-2020 02:27 PM)usffan Wrote:  

USFFan