(04-09-2021 02:21 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 02:10 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Ill add a clarifying statement:

Northeastern joined the CAA for football.

At the time the CAA needed a 6th football school and NE wanted to be that school

So the CAA wanted a 6th football school. However, Northeastern simply wanted to move from AmEast to the CAA, and it just so happened to have football, which is one reason why the CAA invited them. Football was a means to an end for Northeastern and not the end itself, as you're suggesting. That's why they dropped FB a few years after joining. You see the difference now?

Of course I do

But that doesn't change the fact that at the time Northeastern joined the CAA for football.

The CAA wanted a football school and Northeastern was to be that football school.

The fact that Northeastern had ulterior motives doesn't change anything

Well, I tried.

(04-09-2021 01:23 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  The CAA football schools felt betrayed by Northeastern and Hofstra for dropping their football programs. If they knew what they were going to do? They would not have invited them but instead invite schools like Stony Brook and Albany who would love to move. Now, you have a lot of disgruntled CAA members with football thanks to them.

Living in VA Beach and with ODU hoops' season tickets in the past, I went annual to the most underrated (then) conference tournament most years when the CAA was in Richmond. ODU, VCU, and George Mason were part of the Big Four of attendance (from my observation) then with UNCW the other. When the first three left, it just hammered what was a fine league.

There has long been talk that the two schools you mentioned (Stony Brook and Albany) are highly favored by the football schools who are also full-time members to join for all sports. But the other two you mentioned (NE and Hofstra) are also said to have formed a voting block with Drexel to make that impossible as 75% approval is required.

I have long wondered if the five full time schools --- JMU, Elon, W&M, Delaware, and Towson might break away and invite the four AE football only schools (Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Stony Brook). They could run with nine but I would think then they would still want the two non-football schools in the south with past success and nice support --- UNCW and College of Charleston.

I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 01:23 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  The CAA football schools felt betrayed by Northeastern and Hofstra for dropping their football programs. If they knew what they were going to do? They would not have invited them but instead invite schools like Stony Brook and Albany who would love to move. Now, you have a lot of disgruntled CAA members with football thanks to them.

Living in VA Beach and with ODU hoops' season tickets in the past, I went annual to the most underrated (then) conference tournament most years when the CAA was in Richmond. ODU, VCU, and George Mason were part of the Big Four of attendance (from my observation) then with UNCW the other. When the first three left, it just hammered what was a fine league.

There has long been talk that the two schools you mentioned (Stony Brook and Albany) are highly favored by the football schools who are also full-time members to join for all sports. But the other two you mentioned (NE and Hofstra) are also said to have formed a voting block with Drexel to make that impossible as 75% approval is required.

I have long wondered if the five full time schools --- JMU, Elon, W&M, Delaware, and Towson might break away and invite the four AE football only schools (Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Stony Brook). They could run with nine but I would think then they would still want the two non-football schools in the south with past success and nice support --- UNCW and College of Charleston.

I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

(04-09-2021 04:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 01:23 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  The CAA football schools felt betrayed by Northeastern and Hofstra for dropping their football programs. If they knew what they were going to do? They would not have invited them but instead invite schools like Stony Brook and Albany who would love to move. Now, you have a lot of disgruntled CAA members with football thanks to them.

Living in VA Beach and with ODU hoops' season tickets in the past, I went annual to the most underrated (then) conference tournament most years when the CAA was in Richmond. ODU, VCU, and George Mason were part of the Big Four of attendance (from my observation) then with UNCW the other. When the first three left, it just hammered what was a fine league.

There has long been talk that the two schools you mentioned (Stony Brook and Albany) are highly favored by the football schools who are also full-time members to join for all sports. But the other two you mentioned (NE and Hofstra) are also said to have formed a voting block with Drexel to make that impossible as 75% approval is required.

I have long wondered if the five full time schools --- JMU, Elon, W&M, Delaware, and Towson might break away and invite the four AE football only schools (Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Stony Brook). They could run with nine but I would think then they would still want the two non-football schools in the south with past success and nice support --- UNCW and College of Charleston.

I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

We went from being in a league with a bunch of VA schools that priortized basketball to being in league spanning up to Boston that cares primarily about FCS football.

Outside of Charleston joining it has largely been one large decline

(04-09-2021 04:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

I first appreciated their hoops when I visited family in Sacramento in 2002 and saw Brett Blizzard carry them to a #13 upset over #4 USC. They were one of the top four --- as mentioned previously with VCU, ODU, GMU --- programs in the CAA when it was much stronger than now.

But seeing it first person is what made that impression for me. They always brought around 2,500 fans to Richmond for the CAA tournament.

Right now, the SoCon might be a stronger league than the CAA?

Perhaps CofC might want to return to the SoCon? If so, could they convince UNCW to be their travel partners in a much more geographically suitable league for both?

(04-09-2021 05:00 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

I first appreciated their hoops when I visited family in Sacramento in 2002 and saw Brett Blizzard carry them to a #13 upset over #4 USC. They were one of the top four --- as mentioned previously with VCU, ODU, GMU --- programs in the CAA when it was much stronger than now.

But seeing it first person is what made that impression for me. They always brought around 2,500 fans to Richmond for the CAA tournament.

Right now, the SoCon might be a stronger league than the CAA?

Perhaps CofC might want to return to the SoCon? If so, could they convince UNCW to be their travel partners in a much more geographically suitable league for both?

If the SoCon would take both of us right now we would be wise to accept. I just don't think they're interested

(04-09-2021 05:00 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

I first appreciated their hoops when I visited family in Sacramento in 2002 and saw Brett Blizzard carry them to a #13 upset over #4 USC. They were one of the top four --- as mentioned previously with VCU, ODU, GMU --- programs in the CAA when it was much stronger than now.

But seeing it first person is what made that impression for me. They always brought around 2,500 fans to Richmond for the CAA tournament.

Right now, the SoCon might be a stronger league than the CAA?

Perhaps CofC might want to return to the SoCon? If so, could they convince UNCW to be their travel partners in a much more geographically suitable league for both?

I remember in the mid 2000s when Wilmington was a safe at-large team in the 8/9-seed range. Without looking it up, I think they drew the George Washington team that was undefeated much of the year in the 8/9 opening game.

(04-09-2021 05:09 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 05:00 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

I first appreciated their hoops when I visited family in Sacramento in 2002 and saw Brett Blizzard carry them to a #13 upset over #4 USC. They were one of the top four --- as mentioned previously with VCU, ODU, GMU --- programs in the CAA when it was much stronger than now.

But seeing it first person is what made that impression for me. They always brought around 2,500 fans to Richmond for the CAA tournament.

Right now, the SoCon might be a stronger league than the CAA?

Perhaps CofC might want to return to the SoCon? If so, could they convince UNCW to be their travel partners in a much more geographically suitable league for both?

I remember in the mid 2000s when Wilmington was a safe at-large team in the 8/9-seed range. Without looking it up, I think they drew the George Washington team that was undefeated much of the year in the 8/9 opening game.

That game was the end of an era. After that the wheels fell off and the new Chancellor's reign of destruction began to take hold

(04-09-2021 09:37 AM)solohawks Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 09:34 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 09:28 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Maybe AEast and Northeastern can work out a deal #fingerscrossed

Does Northeastern want to return to a more regional conference?

I would if I were them.

Why go to SC,NC, and VA every year for a 14 to 16 seed. You can do that in the AEast for a lot less

Northeastern joined the CAA for football.

That's not an issue anymore either and the prestige level is equal

I'd ask Hofstra and Drexel the same question.

The MAAC and Patriot League are also closer geographic conferences that are a higher level than the America East.

the A-East passed the MAAC a couple years ago and the MAAC won't be catching up anytime soon.

File this in the drawer with alignments that just won’t happen, but it would make a lot of sense for Northeastern and Hofstra to go back to America East, UMBC to go to the CAA, and then, to return the CAA back to 10, steal someone from the Big South—whoever their biggest budget program is, or say Howard.

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I have long wondered if the five full time schools --- JMU, Elon, W&M, Delaware, and Towson might break away and invite the four AE football only schools (Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Stony Brook). They could run with nine but I would think then they would still want the two non-football schools in the south with past success and nice support --- UNCW and College of Charleston.

Maine and UNH are not going to increase their non-football and non-hockey budgets to compete with those schools.

(04-09-2021 07:24 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  File this in the drawer with alignments that just won’t happen, but it would make a lot of sense for Northeastern and Hofstra to go back to America East, UMBC to go to the CAA, and then, to return the CAA back to 10, steal someone from the Big South—whoever their biggest budget program is, or say Howard.

My realistic ideal CAA

Drexel
Delaware
Towson
UMBC
JMU
W&M

Elon
UNCG
Campbell
UNCW
Winthrop
CoC

Interview with former provost of Connecticut State system who was in Hartford’s administration when they made the move to D1 in 1984.

He’s reversed course from the ‘84 decision he helped make and says Hartford should move to D3.
https://www.courant.com/sports/college/h...story.html

I got the impression the AmEast public members were starting to build up for an arms race. I still believe Stony has eyes for D1A but missed the mark with the 2020 campaign. Hartford would have to p*ss or get off the pot. For them, if CAA or Patriot won’t be options, and they can’t stay up with their current conference mates, they want no part of sizing up with MAAC or NEC, who might not really want them, either.

But what do they expect to do in D3? I don’t think their blood is blue enough for NESCAC or NEWMAC. NAC?

(04-09-2021 09:18 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Interview with former provost of Connecticut State system who was in Hartford’s administration when they made the move to D1 in 1984.

He’s reversed course from the ‘84 decision he helped make and says Hartford should move to D3.
https://www.courant.com/sports/college/h...story.html

They mention that UHart only brings in 2 million in athletic revenue, on about 15 million in expenses. That's pretty brutal, but who knows how exactly they do their accounting. Expenses include scholarships, but that's probably about as lean of a budget as they can get.

(04-09-2021 05:09 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 05:00 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:43 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I really feel for UNCW --- they really have been one of the biggest victims of realignment in my opinion.

To the bold: how so?

I first appreciated their hoops when I visited family in Sacramento in 2002 and saw Brett Blizzard carry them to a #13 upset over #4 USC. They were one of the top four --- as mentioned previously with VCU, ODU, GMU --- programs in the CAA when it was much stronger than now.

But seeing it first person is what made that impression for me. They always brought around 2,500 fans to Richmond for the CAA tournament.

Right now, the SoCon might be a stronger league than the CAA?

Perhaps CofC might want to return to the SoCon? If so, could they convince UNCW to be their travel partners in a much more geographically suitable league for both?

I remember in the mid 2000s when Wilmington was a safe at-large team in the 8/9-seed range. Without looking it up, I think they drew the George Washington team that was undefeated much of the year in the 8/9 opening game.

One of the biggest rip offs the committee ever made. Yes GW played UNCW in Greensboro and it went to OT. How do you give a two-loss A10 team an 8-seed and then have to play Duke? Utter horse ****. I wanted UNCW vs Duke haha

Will also have something on this on Monday, but I'll tell y'all this...Hartford hasn't told the America East office about intending to leave, or even that they're considering it.

(04-10-2021 08:00 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I got the impression the AmEast public members were starting to build up for an arms race. I still believe Stony has eyes for D1A but missed the mark with the 2020 campaign.

That would be news to the America East public schools. I don't think any of them, including Stony Brook, have the resources or political backing for an "arms race."