(04-11-2013 05:09 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Source: AnyGivenSaturday.com

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthre...Presidents

WCU's board

http://forums.delphiforums.com/catamount...sg=12098.1

ETSUfan1,
Who do you have your money on, your original post of unanimous support or Jeff Hartsell of The Post & Courier?

I think ETSU will receive the support to return to the SoCon. Whether we do or not is up to Dr Noland.

UTC athletic director (below) doesn't sound real thrilled with how the SoCon brass are moving on this thing. How much persuasion would it take to get UTC to go to the OVC with ETSU?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/...n-meeting/

(04-13-2013 10:57 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  I think ETSU will receive the support to return to the SoCon. Whether we do or not is up to Dr Noland.

us and UTC to OVC would be my first choice, SoCon as the fallback

Dol- You're getting ahead of yourself.

Remember, you have to look at this from a standpoint of "What does ETSU offer a conference" and not "What does the conference offer ETSU."

And right now ETSU may be at the nadir of their sports existence. We remember how ETSU fell when they were looking at a new conference in 2003.

I'll pose this question- does ETSU present a better candidacy in 2013 than they did in 2003?

From the standpoint they have football- sure. But in 2003 ETSU was going to bring in a powerful basketball program.

Facilities? We told any new suitor we'd be building new facilities. Same as now. I can show you a Johnson City Press article stating Memorial Center would likely be raised in 2014. Think that's going to happen now?

There are some new facilities- don't discount that. But how much does a new softball field really mean to the SoCon/OVC/Whoever, especially with no football field, an obsolete basketball and indoor track facility, and a track record of not building new facilities on time?

There isn't David Mullins as the AD. But instead there is an interim guy, and if I'm a conference president, I really don't know who I'm going to be dealing with in 2014?

And really, I don't believe a president really means that much. You could say that a "respected gentleman who has been at the school for many years" would be just as, if not more, attractive as "the young go-getter who will likely be gone in a few years."

Personally, I think we've looked too much at the college president thing. I'm of the belief half the posters on here believe he's going to coach the basketball team eventually and make it his priority.

If I am remembering what I read in Chip Kessler's book correctly, ETSU went from the NAIA to the OVC and NCAA in 1957 primarily on the back of Madison Brooks.

We are in a much, much better position now than we were in 2003. I do think that the softball, soccer, and baseball stadiums make an impact, as does a President that is incredibly active in athletics.

I also think that the landscape has changed to the point that any of our destinations will be less competitive on the field, and less attractive to fans than the old Southern Conference.

(04-14-2013 01:42 PM)PittsburghBucs Wrote:  Dol- You're getting ahead of yourself.

Remember, you have to look at this from a standpoint of "What does ETSU offer a conference" and not "What does the conference offer ETSU."

And right now ETSU may be at the nadir of their sports existence. We remember how ETSU fell when they were looking at a new conference in 2003.

I'll pose this question- does ETSU present a better candidacy in 2013 than they did in 2003?

From the standpoint they have football- sure. But in 2003 ETSU was going to bring in a powerful basketball program.

Facilities? We told any new suitor we'd be building new facilities. Same as now. I can show you a Johnson City Press article stating Memorial Center would likely be raised in 2014. Think that's going to happen now?

There are some new facilities- don't discount that. But how much does a new softball field really mean to the SoCon/OVC/Whoever, especially with no football field, an obsolete basketball and indoor track facility, and a track record of not building new facilities on time?

There isn't David Mullins as the AD. But instead there is an interim guy, and if I'm a conference president, I really don't know who I'm going to be dealing with in 2014?

And really, I don't believe a president really means that much. You could say that a "respected gentleman who has been at the school for many years" would be just as, if not more, attractive as "the young go-getter who will likely be gone in a few years."

Personally, I think we've looked too much at the college president thing. I'm of the belief half the posters on here believe he's going to coach the basketball team eventually and make it his priority.

If I am remembering what I read in Chip Kessler's book correctly, ETSU went from the NAIA to the OVC and NCAA in 1957 primarily on the back of Madison Brooks.

agree to disagree...I think we are in a better situation now than we were in 2003 or even 2008 for that matter when we were considering the OVC. 1.) New President and AD who actually want the athletics dept. and programs to grow 2.) New facilities with more on the way (football stadium) 3.) still a legitimate basketball program with good fan support (even though some changes need to be made) 4.) Yes it will be a couple of years before football is fully up and running but we bring a lot to the table in terms of geographic location, facilities, and stability of our other sports. On a side note, the mini dome is not a deal breaker...I'm not sure why so many people focus on it. Football will not be played there and it is fine right now with basketball. Get off the obsession with the dome.

It really depends on whether or not Noland follows through with the rest of the renovations to the dome. If he does and it helps to enclose the basketball part, it won't be as much of a hindrance.
On campus facilities for softball, soccer, tennis, baseball, and ones coming for track, and football do help, but the drawback is we still have an interim A.D. and a water buffalo with the competency level of a used diaper. Sometimes I wonder if Stansbury didn't hire that moron knowing he was leaving just to piss people off.
The bones are good, but ETSU needs work. Good enough to take a chance on.

Its not much taking a chance for the SoCon at this point- they are losing every good member that they had.

We have made all of these comparisons to the SoCon and ASUN through the years, which ive always thought was silly. Of course the SoCon was always better. But the ONLY advantage the SoCon has over the ASUN right now after losing their top 4 teams is that they sponsor football, and that they do not have the reputation as being a transitional league for those moving to Division 1.

The SoCon needs us more than we need them at this point.

The SoCon name will attract Big South members that want to go and any A-Sunner that wants it. I'm not shocked at all that Davidson is sniffing around leaving again.

Not since 1932, 1953, and 1976 has the Southern Conference taken such a hit. Obviously FCS football and mid-major basketball are about to be damaged goods. Those who are about to be left behind are facing decision time. So, will the SoCon accept its new, lesser position and seek replacements who will fit that deminished place while offering little or no prospect for future growth, or will they seek new members who offer more possibility of future growth and increased conference strength. Replacing these departures with privates will assure the diminished state of the SoCon for the future. Replacing them with mostly state schools will give them a better prospect of regaining some of their former self. To do this, they should go after ETSU, Kennesaw State, Coastal Carolina, Radford, Winthrop, and private Mercer, or ETSU, Kennesaw State, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, and Mercer.

(04-16-2013 07:08 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  Obviously FCS football and mid-major basketball are about to be damaged goods.

You sound like Paul Stanton.

It is obvious ETSU is not in better shape to join a new conference this year than they were in 2003 or 2008. For crying out loud, in 2008 the OVC wanted the Bucs. Today, it seems they are comfortable with 12 teams.

ETSU doesn't really give them much except slicing up the pie a bit more.

One thing I'd like people to ask- would Morehead St. really want ETSU in the conference? Look, here's ETSU pushing to do everything the opposite of how Wayne Andrews recommended they do things athletically. Now they are going to be his neighbor? That would make him look like a fool.

My guess is that he'd do everything in his power to prevent membership.

I think it's going to either be the SoCon or stay in the A-Sun.

Boy, did Stanton/Mullins/for purposes of this arguement Andrews really do a number on ETSU!

And also, concerning facilities, ETSU now plays basketball in a place that in 2003 held 12,000 (or more) fans. It was one of the top 60 NCAA basketball facilities in terms of seating capacity. In theory, it was possible to lure in major opponents, and had with Michigan State, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, South Carolina, etc. in the past.

Now, it is an incredibly weak venue to promote, with a guarantee to always feel empty with, by law, 6,000 empty seats, poor sight lines, etc.

The A-Sun cared about soccer stadiums, softball fields, and baseball parks. The OVC? Less so.

I think the Mini dome current legal seating is 8,539 which is a good size, just completely messed in the configuration.

Have they then added 2,000 seats from the days of the NBA exhibition and A-Sun Tourney?

Still, whether the amount is a guarantee of 6,000 and/or 4,000 empty seats, the place is destined to have an empty feel for even sellout events until a renovation or changing the fire code.

Please tell me you know that already, Rod.

(04-17-2013 10:52 AM)PittsburghBucs Wrote:  Have they then added 2,000 seats from the days of the NBA exhibition and A-Sun Tourney?

Still, whether the amount is a guarantee of 6,000 and/or 4,000 empty seats, the place is destined to have an empty feel for even sellout events until a renovation or changing the fire code.

Please tell me you know that already, Rod.

They lost the use of one side of the dome,also I think the dome seated 12,500 for football not just 12,000.

One side + floor seating=8,500+.

Yes I do know that see above post where I said.


"just completely messed in the configuration" messed just messed UP in

One side of nothing is always going to look half filled/empty.

It speaks of the job that the previous athletic administration has done, but I don't think, as we speak, ETSU is in better shape to join a conference than they were in 2003.

(04-17-2013 07:41 AM)PittsburghBucs Wrote:  

(04-16-2013 07:08 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  Obviously FCS football and mid-major basketball are about to be damaged goods.

You sound like Paul Stanton.

Stay in context. I was referring to Southern Conference FCS football and Southern Conference mid-major basketball being damaged. I believe Stanton's reference to I-AA football in 2003 was based on his brilliant prediction that large numbers of I-AA football programs would be going out of business.

Isn't anything that taller sideline bleachers, new lighting that's already been installed and a big damn curtain won't fix.