I just don't get VMI. It's not like they have to please the Citadel. Where are they going to go? This just shows that the small time thinking of the SoCon is still around. WHY?

(04-11-2013 12:55 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  I just don't get VMI. It's not like they have to please the Citadel. Where are they going to go? This just shows that the small time thinking of the SoCon is still around. WHY?

What are the other options? Keep in mind that, to my knowledge, Mercer is still playing non-scholly football and wouldn't be in the SoCon.

I would assume that Richmond and W&M are rated above VMI, but have said no thanks. Getting into Virginia would be great for the SoCon.

Mercer is non-scholarship and would essentially occupy Charleston's spot. VMI is all they got a shot at in Virginia.
Should be an interesting next month.

Mercer has said they will add scholarships if the SoCon will take them.

(04-11-2013 03:09 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Mercer has said they will add scholarships if the SoCon will take them.

Source?

I've heard this on other message boards. I'll have to search around and find it.

Fan1- How is ETSU significantly better than VMI now?

You know The Citadel would want VMI, and one might philosophize that with the SoCon's history, in which VMI has been a longtime member, it makes lots of sense for VMI.

With the departures going on in conferences, VMI gives the SoCon identity as a long time member? ETSU? Less so.

We talk about how bad VMI is with football. ETSU had the worst historical winning pct. in the SoCon and is starting football up; VMI has kept the sport all these years.

ETSU can boast a bigger TV market, but facilities are only on the talking point and as we speak, the Bucs have no coach.

But we're seeing that when it comes to finding a new conference, its much more important to have a new basketball court than a softball field.

Thanks Dave!

(04-14-2013 10:41 AM)PittsburghBucs Wrote:  Fan1- How is ETSU significantly better than VMI now?

You know The Citadel would want VMI, and one might philosophize that with the SoCon's history, in which VMI has been a longtime member, it makes lots of sense for VMI.

With the departures going on in conferences, VMI gives the SoCon identity as a long time member? ETSU? Less so.

We talk about how bad VMI is with football. ETSU had the worst historical winning pct. in the SoCon and is starting football up; VMI has kept the sport all these years.

ETSU can boast a bigger TV market, but facilities are only on the talking point and as we speak, the Bucs have no coach.

But we're seeing that when it comes to finding a new conference, its much more important to have a new basketball court than a softball field.

Thanks Dave!

If VMI is added over ETSU the decision will have nothing to do with the quality of the athletic departments. VMI hasn't mattered in basketball since the 70s and haven't won a conference title in pretty much anything besides those years for basketball. They are not a good athletic dept. If they are selected for the SoCon over ETSU it wouldn't matter if the Bucs played in a 20,000 seat palace, because clearly the SoCon would be looking for something other than athletic competitiveness.

Atlantic 10 close to adding Davidson

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketba...g-davidson

This could really effect the dynamics of the SoCon expansion talks.

SoCon should add Mercer, ETSU, Kennesaw, and Belmont (hoops to replace Davidson).

People keep mentioning Belmont. Why in the world would Belmont LEAVE a conference who's office is literally a ten minute drive away, where the conference tournament is held in their hometown, where the majority of the teams they play are within a four hour drive to play in a conference largely based in the Carolinas?
Not to mention they specifically went to the OVC to cut travel costs and have geographically friendly rivals.

(04-14-2013 10:31 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  People keep mentioning Belmont. Why in the world would Belmont LEAVE a conference who's office is literally a ten minute drive away, where the conference tournament is held in their hometown, where the majority of the teams they play are within a four hour drive to play in a conference largely based in the Carolinas?
Not to mention they specifically went to the OVC to cut travel costs and have geographically friendly rivals.

Belmont's athletic mission is as much about advertising its academic mission as it is about athletics.

Belmont is reasonably well known in Tennessee and Kentucky, but less known in Georgia and the Carolinas. Moreover, there are many more potential students in Georgia and the Carolinas that have the capability to pay Belmont's tuition. With Belmont academics appealing to musicians and those wanting an "in" to the business side of Music Row, why wouldn't it want to be in a conference that better fits with recruiting and academics and appeals to more potential students? Elon, Wofford, Furman, Samford, and possibly Mercer fit Belmont's profile much more than any other OVC school. Moreover, if ETSU joins and with UTC, Belmont would still be in a conference with heavy Tennessee presence.

I thought Mercer would be a lock before, but if Davidson is gone that should make Mercer even more attractive.

Belmont's not going anywhere. The SOCON is in a state of flux and at this point is only a slightly better option than the A-Sun.

The OVC continues to be the best choice IMO, with or without UTC coming along.

Loyola (IL) is replacing Creighton in the Missouri Valley.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/college-sport...nce-report

(04-14-2013 10:04 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Atlantic 10 close to adding Davidson

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketba...g-davidson

This could really effect the dynamics of the SoCon expansion talks.

SoCon should add Mercer, ETSU, Kennesaw, and Belmont (hoops to replace Davidson).

Replaces Charlotte.

(04-14-2013 10:56 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 10:31 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  People keep mentioning Belmont. Why in the world would Belmont LEAVE a conference who's office is literally a ten minute drive away, where the conference tournament is held in their hometown, where the majority of the teams they play are within a four hour drive to play in a conference largely based in the Carolinas?
Not to mention they specifically went to the OVC to cut travel costs and have geographically friendly rivals.

Belmont's athletic mission is as much about advertising its academic mission as it is about athletics.

Belmont is reasonably well known in Tennessee and Kentucky, but less known in Georgia and the Carolinas. Moreover, there are many more potential students in Georgia and the Carolinas that have the capability to pay Belmont's tuition. With Belmont academics appealing to musicians and those wanting an "in" to the business side of Music Row, why wouldn't it want to be in a conference that better fits with recruiting and academics and appeals to more potential students? Elon, Wofford, Furman, Samford, and possibly Mercer fit Belmont's profile much more than any other OVC school. Moreover, if ETSU joins and with UTC, Belmont would still be in a conference with heavy Tennessee presence.

Playing in the SoCon will not give them that bang for the buck. Playing in the NCAA tournament more than does that for them. Paying out extra in travel when they just slashed it by half is going to be a difficult sell for anyone, and most Belmont music majors never actually finish college. The business end folks go to Middle, it's more affordable plus you get contacts in a solid rock scene and growing hip hop scene here.

Is there evidence that the OVC wants to expand?

I have seen none. Hopefully in this time of conference shifting, they will see benefit in adding more schools to feel secure.

The OVC currently has 12 teams. For the OVC men's basketball drives the bus (as it should for mid- majors) and any more teams will dilute the $$$ gained from NCAA credits. I'm glad ETSU is restarting football but if the OVC expands (which is unlikely) I'd hope the conference adds Wright State and NKU.

If Davidson leaves, just two long-term SoCon members will have cracked the top 250 in RPI this year - Elon (181) and Western Carolina (245) - while the A-Sun had 6 of its 10 schools in that top 250. That means it's very likely that anyone going from the A-Sun to the SoCon is will be an immediate contender for the conference title in 2014-15.

If they lose Davidson, Mercer is a shoo-in for the SoCon, and that really helps our chances as well. I really have to wonder if they wouldn't start looking at some Big South schools besides VMI for additional membership. Would they be desperate enough to let Coastal in despite shaky academics, or would they rather go after Campbell or even non-football schools like UNCA and Winthrop?