(03-01-2013 09:33 AM)darkdragon99 Wrote: A10 can look to the CAA all they want, doesnt mean those schools are going to jump.
CAA schools will jump because their TV contract with NBC is in jeopardy and the A10 is on more solid ground. Most CAA schools want to be in the A10.
The question more I think is which CAA schools could get into the A10? George Mason is a lock but I'm not sure outside of them.
A10 South: Richmond, VCU, GMU*, GW, Duquense, La Salle
A10 North: St. Joe's, St. Bonaventure, Fordham, UMass, URI, Northeastern*
George Mason and Northeastern are the 2 largest schools in the A10 and make sense to protect the footprint.
That knocks the CAA down to 8 schools.....
CAA: CofC, Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra,
JMU, Towson, UNCW, W&M
James Madison would be no longer playing in a conference containing most of the major in-state schools (VCU, ODU, GMU). Travel costs will go up for JMU to the point where they might as well be playing in the Sun Belt or MAC.
I could also see where Liberty and Davidson might have interest in joining the CAA. Davidson interest in the CAA with the Southern Conference losing ASU and Southern. Liberty to upgrade its football program. This is if Liberty does not get raided by the Sun Belt which is also a possible situation.
The creation of a 32nd automatic conference may be positive for a lot of low major conferences in the south that have been forced to expand to 12+ members.