(06-04-2021 05:58 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Muskie: could/would TN St. get an invite from a conference with HBCUs?

They definitely could. I think the SWAC wanted them really bad. The MEAC would take any school with a pulse.

For whatever reason, they like the OVC, and all the bus trips. They don’t seem to have a problem getting HBCUs OOC.

(06-04-2021 06:41 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 05:58 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Muskie: could/would TN St. get an invite from a conference with HBCUs?

They definitely could. I think the SWAC wanted them really bad. The MEAC would take any school with a pulse.

For whatever reason, they like the OVC, and all the bus trips. They don’t seem to have a problem getting HBCUs OOC.

They have the best of both worlds - the HBCU Classics against the schools they want to play, and are in the center of the conference for their other sports.

In the new OVC, the longest drive is 310 miles. Average is 169 miles. 5 schools are 2 hours or less away.

Only one SWAC school is 2 hours away. Average is 500 miles, with at least four requiring flights (or all day bus trips).

MEAC would be even worse.

With the MEAC and OVC both being below 9, Tennessee state would be a natural for.the MEAC schools in need of extra non conference games

On a serious note, a few conferences have fallen below 6 in certain sports like Men's Golf, Men's Golf, Tennis, etc. Schools are going to have to decide between being Indy or finding somebody who will house their sport as an affiliate. I expect to see some announcements on that front for realignment, if not by July 1st, then certainly before September.

(06-04-2021 09:46 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  On a serious note, a few conferences have fallen below 6 in certain sports like Men's Golf, Men's Golf, Tennis, etc. Schools are going to have to decide between being Indy or finding somebody who will house their sport as an affiliate. I expect to see some announcements on that front for realignment, if not by July 1st, then certainly before September.

Right—the NCAA can only turn a blind eye to budget related cuts due to Covid for so long. At a certain point you have to face the music and either team up with another conference that’s under the limit or have your autobid revoked.

(06-04-2021 10:30 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 09:46 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  On a serious note, a few conferences have fallen below 6 in certain sports like Men's Golf, Men's Golf, Tennis, etc. Schools are going to have to decide between being Indy or finding somebody who will house their sport as an affiliate. I expect to see some announcements on that front for realignment, if not by July 1st, then certainly before September.

Right—the NCAA can only turn a blind eye to budget related cuts due to Covid for so long. At a certain point you have to face the music and either team up with another conference that’s under the limit or have your autobid revoked.

Yes, and with a two year grace period built in, it could even be this coming school year that they set the clock ticking.

(06-04-2021 06:41 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-04-2021 05:58 PM)Erictelevision Wrote:  Muskie: could/would TN St. get an invite from a conference with HBCUs?

They definitely could. I think the SWAC wanted them really bad. The MEAC would take any school with a pulse.

For whatever reason, they like the OVC, and all the bus trips. They don’t seem to have a problem getting HBCUs OOC.

The SWAC definitely wanted Tennessee State in years past but that window has closed now. The MEAC made a run at Tennessee State around 2016 when they went after Alabama State and Alabama A&M also. That deal was close to happening but fell apart in the 23rd hour.

Having both taught (adjunct) and attended (part-time) Tennessee State University, and working in the Nashville media (we cover TSU sports) ...

... TSU is very happy overall in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Now, if the OVC truly implodes, TSU might be forced to depart.

And there is a wildcard. As some of you might know, Tennessee State (partnering with the Nashville Predators franchise) is exploring the option of offering scholarship hockey (including, seemingly, for women, too). So if that materializes, it could potentially dictate the university's assessing other conference options.

If the OVC does not add Western Illinois then what other choice do they have? NONE that I can see. Talking a school which has FCS football of course. Have Morehead State rejoin the ranks of FCS? No money. Alabama A&M? Very doubtful. Take in a football only associate member or two? Who? Indiana St. ? (football only) very doubtful.

The OVC is in a VERY tough spot if they are going to add ANYONE with football.

(06-05-2021 06:18 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If the OVC does not add Western Illinois then what other choice do they have?

Stand pat.

WIU was never going to happen quick for a few reasons:
1. I dont think belmont wants to add a team that far out from their "bus league". They are the biggest asset to the OVC and the MVC would love to add them. Dont want to make the MVC more attractive to Belmont.
2. I imagine if money wasn't an issue for WIU (It is) that playing football in the MVFC and having a bunch of traditional rivalries in football would be worth playing the dakota schools and Denver. WIU, due to financial reasons, would have to accept an OVC invite. But even if they were to accept it, they may do LATE june so they can say "we still have to play in MVFC one more year"

These kind of things take time as they are not no-brainers a la VCU to A10 or Xavier to Big East GaSO/App to Sun Belt etc etc. so both sides are prollly going to have to negotiate and ease into things. Personally, I hope WIU doesnt go for selfish reasons.

Finally, with the exception of Indiana State, most folks do not mind being in a conference with the Dakotas, they are great for prestige and allow us to be top end FCS programs (we call ourselves the SEC of the FCS and its true). UNI does not want them in the conference for all sports though and I imagine Evansville, SIU, and IN ST would be opposed too. But their football is welcome to stay as long as they like.

Tennessee State might join NC A&T to the ASun for FBS football in the future. Those two, Florida A&M and Texas Southern might be the ones to be able to go FBS right now. The others may not be able to.

(06-06-2021 02:06 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Tennessee State might join NC A&T to the ASun for FBS football in the future. Those two, Florida A&M and Texas Southern might be the ones to be able to go FBS right now. The others may not be able to.

I've read a lot of buck wild things on the internet, but this might take the cake.

Belmont to the southern conference seems like a natural fit maybe with Tennessee tech or north Alabama

(06-05-2021 06:18 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If the OVC does not add Western Illinois then what other choice do they have? NONE that I can see. Talking a school which has FCS football of course. Have Morehead State rejoin the ranks of FCS? No money. Alabama A&M? Very doubtful. Take in a football only associate member or two? Who? Indiana St. ? (football only) very doubtful.

The OVC is in a VERY tough spot if they are going to add ANYONE with football.

Morehead State is still FCS. They're just in the Pioneer.

Should have said scholarship FCS regarding Morehead. Of course they cannot rejoin OVC FB unless they bring back schollies which is unlikely.

Someone may have addressed this already but here goes... What if the OVC added Western Illinois for FOOTBALL ONLY? Is it feasible? Would WIU or the OVC consider this option. Am I missing something here?

(06-14-2021 05:11 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Someone may have addressed this already but here goes... What if the OVC added Western Illinois for FOOTBALL ONLY? Is it feasible? Would WIU or the OVC consider this option. Am I missing something here?

Why would WIU do that?

They want to get in a bus league for women's volleyball not football

(06-14-2021 05:11 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Someone may have addressed this already but here goes... What if the OVC added Western Illinois for FOOTBALL ONLY? Is it feasible? Would WIU or the OVC consider this option. Am I missing something here?

Well, their home conference (Summit League) can't say anything. I'm not even sure that the MVFC schools would be sad to see them go--they have 11 teams to play an 8 game schedule with.

But I think if Western Illinois makes a move at all to save a few tens of thousands on travel, they might as well move everything.

(06-14-2021 05:11 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Someone may have addressed this already but here goes... What if the OVC added Western Illinois for FOOTBALL ONLY? Is it feasible? Would WIU or the OVC consider this option. Am I missing something here?

The draw of OVC for WIU would be everything but football (lower expenses, state/regional institutions, easier to compete).

The drawback of OVC for WIU would be football (no more ISU/SIU in-conference).