(04-21-2018 10:53 AM)The Grape King Wrote:  Ok, here's my final answer. UMass and Old Dominion for all sports; they are high ceiling publics in major media markets, fit perfectly with the brand and culture the conference wants to build. VCU and Rhode Island non football. Both add necessary depth to the basketball side, fit just as well with the brand. All of the sudden, this conference has a serious presence in the most important sports region in North America, filled with some of the most important public institutions in the area. Gives the conference great geographic balance, adds value to all other members by helping cultivate that strong culture. You finally bring some geographic proximity, potential for amazing, long term rivalries (ODU and VCU is already a great one, and I don't care what UConn fans desperately clinging to the past say, those 3 New England schools would be an amazing rivalry for years to come).

I think this makes a lot of sense. Aresco has said the conference won't go west, and this route adds a hell of a lot more value than schools like UAB or Southern Miss. We get over the Dayton hurdles by replacing them with URI, which is a much better cultural fit anyway.

I'd be ok with this. Would really create 2 separate pods: east coast and western. Florida schools would still be on their own island. But overall really solid.

Enrollments:
ODU- 25k
UMASS- 29k
VCU- 31k
URI- 18k