(08-09-2022 01:40 PM)jcohen42 Wrote:  From an all-sports perspective, yeah that seems to be pretty much ideal for the north. I might try to snag Fairfield to get to an even 10. I won't purport to know enough about the southern schools to comment on the specific arrangement, but the addition of Winthrop would certainly make things interesting.

As for football, again, not going to purport to know the inner workings of those schools. I just get the sense that the larger arrangement works out of convenience, and the autobid isn't so much of a priority with the FBS/FCS split. But perhaps down the line when something like this would actually occur, it would make sense to have separate football charters and simply schedule each other OOC as desired.

I don't see the CAA going above 16. If it is 16, which I am still unsure they will go past 14, then it is likely down to Fairfield, Albany, High Point, and Winthrop...my guess is will be the first two. For your scenario to happen, , the CAA North would need to split. Without knowing the direction the President's have given for today, I don't believe that will occur until any major FBS changes occur. In that world, I think the North group would go to 10-12 and look something like:

1.Northeastern
2.Stony Brook
3. Hofstra
4.Monmouth
5. Drexel
6. Delaware
7. Towson

Likely Adds:

8. Albany #172 USNWR; Carnegie R1; $492mm athletic budget; $24mm athletic budget

9. Fairfield #3 Regional North USWNR, Carnegie D/PU, $171 academic budget; $21mm athletic budget

With one to three of the following adds, in perceived order of likely preference for the CAA North group (from what I am hearing):

10. UNH- #136 National USNWR, Carnegie R1, $450mm academic budget; $28mm athletic budget. Is the third time a charm or do they stick to their Maine partnership.

11. UMBC- USWNR #162, Carnegie R1, $356mm academic budget; $17mm athletic budget. Solidifies the southern wing road trip partner. Clearly want to spend money on hoops.

12. Binghamton #83 National USNWR, Carnegie R1, $443 academic budget; 20mm athletic budget. Likely adding a hockey program, added a sparkling new baseball stadium, academic prowess, and long past the Kevin Broadus era.

13. Quinnipiac #148 National USNWR, Carnegie D/PU, $250mm academic budget. $28mm athletic budget. Their main issues are a lack of fan base and some admins thinking they are "hired guns" waiting to go off. Paired with Fairfield to tie up the corridor.

Monmouth would be the "center" of the league. The average trip from center is about 2:45. The shortest trip is 1:45 minutes (Drexel). The longest trip from center is to Northeastern (4:45). The longest end-end-end trip is Towson/UMBC to Northeastern (6:45, and in existence today).

If college athletics keeps moving towards a direction that we are seeing, this is a very probable scenario if, and only if, the CAA North/Split occurs.

Long Shots:

1. Iona #55 Regional North USWNR, Carnegie Masters $84mm academic budget; $14mm athletic budget. (poor academics, poor academic budget / school budget, poor athletic budget /one trick pony
2. Maine (distance)- otherwise checks the boxes
3. Vermont (distance and desire, and long standing issues with former AE members)- otherwise checks the boxes
4. Marist #10 Regional North USWNR, Carnegie Masters ($163mm academic budget; $15mm athletic budget. Would need serious upgrades to athletic facilities.