Try this

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s...ent=safari

I bet someone in the AD office messed up and thought the is could get staged in the background.

Looks like someone found a hidden page that wasn't supposed to be public yet

(01-25-2021 09:36 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Time for Belmont to go to the SoCon

Who would they replace? Last I heard, SoCon has no desire for expansion. So someone would have to leave, and all the experts on here says that will never happen.

(01-25-2021 10:02 AM)EKUSteve Wrote:  I bet someone in the AD office messed up and thought the is could get staged in the background.

My thought when I saw it

Stugray got mad computer skillz to uncover that.

(01-25-2021 10:14 AM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 09:36 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Time for Belmont to go to the SoCon

Who would they replace? Last I heard, SoCon has no desire for expansion. So someone would have to leave, and all the experts on here says that will never happen.

SoCon had a 9/12 model at one point.

If a school like Belmont wanted to join I could see them rebooting that idea

Remember the movie Titanic, and how DiCaprio's character lived in the bottom berths of the ship, I think the steerage area, stacked like sardines in little bunks?

These ASUN maneuvers are the equivalent of people in steerage swapping bunk beds or something.

Then there's this:

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/...551544002/

(01-25-2021 10:35 AM)ken d Wrote:  Then there's this:

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/...551544002/

You might want to look at the date. (2020)

(01-25-2021 10:35 AM)ken d Wrote:  Then there's this:

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/...551544002/

That article is a year old and still lists NJIT as a member of the A-Sun.

(01-25-2021 10:34 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Remember the movie Titanic, and how DiCaprio's character lived in the bottom berths of the ship, I think the steerage area, stacked like sardines in little bunks?

These ASUN maneuvers are the equivalent of people in steerage swapping bunk beds or something.

I won't deny we are a school/conference at the bottom of the ladder, so to speak.

What I will say is, if nothing else, I think this move excites the fans for several schools involved. We moved up from D2 into a conference with teams we had mostly never played before, in both football and Olympic sports. Now we'll have two former conference rivals (UCA and JSU) as mates. If rumors are true we could another school or two that we've either played in the past or is within easy traveling distance. Compare that to the Big South, where other than Kennesaw, every road game is 6+ hours of travel.

Maybe we're just improving our conference from "bad" to "mediocre". But as a fan, I'm excited, and I think others will be too. That SHOULD count for something.

(01-25-2021 08:17 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:56 AM)schmolik Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:29 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:25 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Well, I guess WIU is going to the OVC now. I wonder who the other replacement will be?

There are no other good football school additions

If I were Belmont I would push for WIU and a Lipscomb/Robert Morris football affiliate combo.

1 for the Western flank and 1 for the central TN schools. Football remains at 9.

If I were Belmont, I'd be begging the MVC for a lifeline.

Belmont already turned down the MVC.

They like their bus league.

Keeping Belmont happy means keeping both Belmont and Murray St from the MVC.

Don't understand why EKU wants to leave their bus league. For Jax its not much difference.

That link in the OP doesn't exist. I don't see anything in the news.

(01-25-2021 10:57 AM)UNAfied Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 10:34 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Remember the movie Titanic, and how DiCaprio's character lived in the bottom berths of the ship, I think the steerage area, stacked like sardines in little bunks?

These ASUN maneuvers are the equivalent of people in steerage swapping bunk beds or something.

I won't deny we are a school/conference at the bottom of the ladder, so to speak.

What I will say is, if nothing else, I think this move excites the fans for several schools involved. We moved up from D2 into a conference with teams we had mostly never played before, in both football and Olympic sports. Now we'll have two former conference rivals (UCA and JSU) as mates. If rumors are true we could another school or two that we've either played in the past or is within easy traveling distance. Compare that to the Big South, where other than Kennesaw, every road game is 6+ hours of travel.

Maybe we're just improving our conference from "bad" to "mediocre". But as a fan, I'm excited, and I think others will be too. That SHOULD count for something.

I admit: If these low-rung maneuvers make you and the NA fan base happier and more excited about your football, this is something, and I won't try to rain on that parade.

(01-25-2021 08:27 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  This is pretty big when Eastern Kentucky has played in the OVC since 1948 decides to make a jump as founding member of the OVC to another conference.

They must think a chance at FBS in the ASun is very real.

Jacksonville St hasn't been in the OVC nearly as long, is on the edge of the conference geographically and is not as much of a conference symbol.

Liberty must feel much better about its ASun membership with the addition of these to the ASun roster. Them with UCA brings ASun membership up to 12.

Conferences looking to join FBS is just going to piss off the G5 and/or lead to a P5+ departure.

(01-25-2021 09:08 AM)Gemofthehills Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 08:49 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:09 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Good for the ASun getting this first step done.

My gut is now they begin to work on UTC and any other SoCon publics that want to join too.

This part will be a bit tougher as UTC has already turned down the SunBelt and the OVC in the past.

What the OVC does next will be very interesting

I can’t figure out why a move would benefit UTC. Kennesaw and Lipscomb are a couple hours away each, but the SoCon holds more prestige.

Prestige in the bottom leagues is only known by junkies if it exist at all.
Basketball may have a few more than football with prestige but the P5 is where it starts and ends with the causal fan.

I’m not talking about fans, I’m talking about the university.

Prestige matters when you’re trying to get two teams in the FCS playoffs. I’m not convinced the strength of schedule is going to be there and I don’t see a compelling reason for them to move.

(01-25-2021 10:59 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 08:17 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:56 AM)schmolik Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:29 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-25-2021 07:25 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Well, I guess WIU is going to the OVC now. I wonder who the other replacement will be?

There are no other good football school additions

If I were Belmont I would push for WIU and a Lipscomb/Robert Morris football affiliate combo.

1 for the Western flank and 1 for the central TN schools. Football remains at 9.

If I were Belmont, I'd be begging the MVC for a lifeline.

Belmont already turned down the MVC.

They like their bus league.

Keeping Belmont happy means keeping both Belmont and Murray St from the MVC.

Don't understand why EKU wants to leave their bus league. For Jax its not much difference.

https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...l-carolina

EKU wanted the Sunbelt slot that Coastal was given.

If the ASun is promising potential FBS access it makes sense to me why they would jump.

Whether the ASun will be able to deliver is another matter

I expected that this was an IT guy pulling the trigger early, as it was up probably during the night, before any press conference or announcement. I think the body of the FAQ text came from the ASUN office, and was meant for review by EKU higher ups, i.e., the school President and Board of Regents. That line "The ASUN is a CEO driven conference and prides itself as the most innovative, adaptive and forward-thinking conference in Division I" definitely was from Gumbart's people, making sure the focus is on him, a sales pitch.

Here is the full text:

Quote:ASUN CONFERENCE EXPANSION
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]



When will UCA, EKU and JSU join the ASUN?
All three schools will begin full membership effective July 1, 2021, and compete in all sports in the 2021-22 academic year.

With these additions, will the ASUN be adding football?
Yes. The ASUN will begin sponsorship of FCS scholarship football. ASUN policy will permit members to declare their own status on football. No member will be compelled to change its sports sponsorship. Liberty will remain an FBS independent. Stetson will remain a member of the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League (PFL). No ASUN member has plans to add football.

ASUN ConferenceWill the ASUN immediately have an automatic qualification (AQ) for the NCAA FCS Football Playoffs?
Yes. Through our existing and developing conference partnerships, and future expansion plans, all ASUN FCS scholarship football schools will have immediate and ongoing annual access to automatic qualification (AQ) the FCS playoffs.

When will U. North Alabama as an NCAA member reclassifying to Division I become eligible for the ASUN Football AQ?
Currently, reclassifying schools are not eligible for NCAA postseason play in any of the school’s four-year reclassification period. Under this rule, UNA will be eligible to earn an AQ (football and all other AQ sports) in 2022-23 when the school will have completed its four-year reclassification period and will become an active member of Division I. However, we fully support a National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (NCAA SAAC) proposal that will allow reclassifying schools to be eligible for an AQ beginning in year three of the process. If that proposal passes this spring, then UNA would be eligible for the AQ in football and every other sport in the coming 2021-22 year. We stand hopeful that this proposal, initiated by the ASUN, will prevail and allow deserving student-athletes the right to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. If the proposal passes, Bellarmine will become eligible for AQ in 2022-23 instead of 2024-25.

Do you anticipate any other ASUN membership changes?
Only if it involves further expansion. All twelve members for 2021-22 are fully committed to the ongoing RISE of the ASUN. The ASUN expansion plans received unanimous support when the plan was launched in November 2019, and unanimous support when officially approved to activate this stage of the plan. The ASUN move into football was made only with the condition that there will be no reduction in focus, support, promotion, and emphasis on basketball success. All sports will become stronger through this expansion. The ASUN plays in divisions this year as a result of COVID influence on travel, safety and costs. With 12 members, the ASUN will continue divisional play in 2021-22.

What is the ASUN process for accepting new members?
ASUN membership applications are only considered if the invitation to apply is issued by the ASUN Presidents’ Council. Any invited application received requires approval from at least 75% of the active Council members in good standing at the time of the vote. With nine active members, seven votes of approval are required to extend new membership. Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State each received unanimous support from the Council.

Do Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State hold equal membership with the rest of the ASUN institutions?
All three schools (Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky & Jacksonville State) receive immediate rights to ASUN voting on any policy going into effect after July 1, 2021. After July 1, 2021, the expansion schools and their student-athletes enjoy all privileges of ASUN membership. The new members will participate fully in all ASUN regular season and postseason play as earned. The only special circumstance involves ASUN Revenue Sharing. The new schools have a phase-in period for sharing in basketball performance units. They will share in all other ASUN revenue distributions.

What plans does the ASUN have for further expansion?
The primary focus of our next expansion phase will be to move to six (6) football members that play scholarship FCS football. This will allow the ASUN to qualify for an FCS playoff spot without relying on a conference partnership. The ASUN intends to continue its conference partnerships in any case, but reaching a sixth football member is first. The ASUN Futures Committee remains extremely confident that it will have options in the next expansion phase. The Futures Committee is the Presidents’ Council subcommittee that guides expansion activity. It is made up of four presidents and one AD. All expansion decisions will continue to be fully vetted by the ASUN Presidents’ Council. The ASUN is a CEO driven conference and prides itself as the most innovative, adaptive and forward-thinking conference in Division I.

What schools are current ASUN expansion targets?
As noted in public statements during the most recent expansion phase, the ASUN does not make public statements on any membership activity. Membership is always a topic of examination and continues to be now. As noted, the ASUN Futures Committee remains confident that attractive options will permit the conference to expand on its own terms. The ASUN will build from strength. Any further expansion must provide added value to the current membership.

"The ASUN is a CEO driven conference and prides itself as the most innovative, adaptive and forward-thinking conference in Division I" is a classic Gumbart line. There isn't a more "look at me!" commissioner in college athletics than Ted Gumbart.