I posted this on your board, you guys took one of ours way back when who turned out to be a pretty good player for you guys. While I wish we didn't have to return the favor, I hope we can.

Speculation…

Where does UAB land?

Who replaces UAB in Conference USA?

There might be a scenario where they keep UAB for all other sports and add a football only. I could also see them adding a full member with football and another full without football to have 14 members in basketball. It's going to have to be a big name in the mid major ranks though for that to happen.

(12-22-2014 03:35 PM)BucDoctor Wrote:  Speculation…

Where does UAB land?

Who replaces UAB in Conference USA?

Funny, the fan poll at the bottom of the article had the SoCon in the lead as the most likely conference they would land in.

UTC just killed UAB on the basketball court last night....

(12-24-2014 07:31 AM)Efan Wrote:  [quote='BucDoctor' pid='11574608' dateline='1419280504']
Speculation…

Where does UAB land?

Who replaces UAB in Conference USA?

Funny, the fan poll at the bottom of the article had the SoCon in the lead as the most likely conference they would land in.
[/quot

Another UNCG (of course - great academics) with better basketball history -- giving SoCon a twenty-game basketball round robin schedule (if that's desirable)?
Of course, us old ETSU types would have to overlook ETSU's earlier departure/removal from the SoCon.

UAB is far from a UNCG. Unbelievably great med school, tough academics and poor decision on football aside, some pretty good athletic teams overall.

...and this year we'd be an easy 'W' for several SoCon teams. :(

OK, other than getting a former C-USA school -- the pros and cons for the SoCon of adding UAB as the 11th basketball school?

There is no cons for the Southern. This would be a major add.

Would be strange if ETSU dropping football got them kicked out of the SoCon, but UAB dropping football got them invited!? I could see it happening, but I wouldn't bet on it.

(12-25-2014 12:08 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Would be strange if ETSU dropping football got them kicked out of the SoCon, but UAB dropping football got them invited!? I could see it happening, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Not a happy topic around here for the past decade. But, looking back, getting kicked out of the SoCon may have greatly helped get football back at this juncture. If the SoCon had of kept ETSU, it could have damaged the argument for bringing it back in 2015. Of course when ETSU was booted in 2003 for dropping football, the league kept those who were not playing SoCon football at the time on technicalities -- which greatly annoyed Bucs fans. So, strange stuff can be the spice of college athletics at times.

Yea, it is a stretch to see UAB in the SoCon given their DI basketball history. They now resemble VCU, for example, and will likely try to land somewhere that helps preserve their position in the pecking order. But where is the big question.

For posterity's sake:

ETSU-SoCon Split

“One of the CEOs [conference officials] said that when he heard we were dropping it, he said that he felt like he was slapped in the face,” Stanton said. “But I’d been talking about the possibility for two years.” Danny Morrison, Southern Conference commissioner at the time, said a vote was never taken regarding ETSU’s status in the Southern Conference; ETSU, he said, left the conference of its own accord. “I went up to one of the CEOs and said, ‘Y’all are kicking us out,’ ” Stanton said. “And he said, ‘No. You’re leaving.’ It was a different take, depending on your perspective. “It was a very low moment. That’s all I can say. Not totally surprised, but surprised enough that I was probably a little bit shocked.”

(12-25-2014 06:14 PM)Seattle Bucs Wrote:  For posterity's sake:

ETSU-SoCon Split

“One of the CEOs [conference officials] said that when he heard we were dropping it, he said that he felt like he was slapped in the face,” Stanton said. “But I’d been talking about the possibility for two years.” Danny Morrison, Southern Conference commissioner at the time, said a vote was never taken regarding ETSU’s status in the Southern Conference; ETSU, he said, left the conference of its own accord. “I went up to one of the CEOs and said, ‘Y’all are kicking us out,’ ” Stanton said. “And he said, ‘No. You’re leaving.’ It was a different take, depending on your perspective. “It was a very low moment. That’s all I can say. Not totally surprised, but surprised enough that I was probably a little bit shocked.”

Title: How Stanton Got His Butt Handed To Him On A Platter

Interesting stuff there! I agree that if football had to be canceled at ETSU, it was good you had to drop down in conference to boost the effort in bringing football back.

Which got me thinking... if UAB lands in a higher basketball conference, or somehow stays in C-USA (which I highly doubt)... then they would have a much weaker argument to bring football back.

(12-25-2014 07:05 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Interesting stuff there! I agree that if football had to be canceled at ETSU, it was good you had to drop down in conference to boost the effort in bringing football back.

Which got me thinking... if UAB lands in a higher basketball conference, or somehow stays in C-USA (which I highly doubt)... then they would have a much weaker argument to bring football back.

UAB's men's basketball current RPI is 313. Unless politics rule, be difficult for them to move to a higher basketball conference.

(12-25-2014 07:05 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  Interesting stuff there! I agree that if football had to be canceled at ETSU, it was good you had to drop down in conference to boost the effort in bringing football back.

Which got me thinking... if UAB lands in a higher basketball conference, or somehow stays in C-USA (which I highly doubt)... then they would have a much weaker argument to bring football back.

You make a very good point. It was done in such a back-handed fashion at ETSU they almost guaranteed that no bigger conference would dare want us. I wish the best for UAB and hope they get their football team back as no one deserves to lose football.

My how things have changed..................

I've been hesitant to initiate this discussion, as there's really not much effect to trickle down to ETSU or the SoCon anytime soon - but one never knows.

I think many/most know UConn is "going home" to the Big East, leaving a 'hole' in the AAC. Most pundits seem to think the AAC will stay as it is, with that loss, and not choose to add another team back in. BUT.............just having that conversation brings up interesting scenarios.

And the reason I put this as an appendage to this old thread is because UAB, with their fantastically successful football revival, is certainly in that conversation. Here's a couple of links to show the lay of the land. Folks on the UAB board have been talking this up a storm since the UConn news. There are several threads there to peruse, should one have the interest, but this one is as good as any to get started:

UAB to position themselves to move?

The "BOT" in that thread is in reference to the U of A Board of Trustees, who have apparently already given their approval for UAB to move (up?), or explore such an option.

Linked elsewhere on that site, is a very interesting article:

2019 realignment - or not?

Quite an interesting perspective.

By the way........and as sorta a "p.s.".........the overall growth at UAB has apparently been quite phenomenal since football came back. They apparently didn't get the paul stanton memo.

(06-27-2019 01:40 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  My how things have changed..................

I've been hesitant to initiate this discussion, as there's really not much effect to trickle down to ETSU or the SoCon anytime soon - but one never knows.

I think many/most know UConn is "going home" to the Big East, leaving a 'hole' in the AAC. Most pundits seem to think the AAC will stay as it is, with that loss, and not choose to add another team back in. BUT.............just having that conversation brings up interesting scenarios.

And the reason I put this as an appendage to this old thread is because UAB, with their fantastically successful football revival, is certainly in that conversation. Here's a couple of links to show the lay of the land. Folks on the UAB board have been talking this up a storm since the UConn news. There are several threads there to peruse, should one have the interest, but this one is as good as any to get started:

UAB to position themselves to move?

The "BOT" in that thread is in reference to the U of A Board of Trustees, who have apparently already given their approval for UAB to move (up?), or explore such an option.

Linked elsewhere on that site, is a very interesting article:

2019 realignment - or not?

Quite an interesting perspective.

By the way........and as sorta a "p.s.".........the overall growth at UAB has apparently been quite phenomenal since football came back. They apparently didn't get the paul stanton memo.

https://www.theringer.com/2019/6/27/1876...ealignment

Can UAB ever be in the same sentence with Alabama and Auburn? Of course not.

ETSU can never be in the same sentence with Tennessee. As for the Bucs — the compact, regional, solid academic SoCon is fine for now. The current Sun Belt is not an attractive option. However, a spin off of the eastern division of Sun Belt to form a real regional, familiar, historic relationships conference could be appealing if another shake down comes.

I think in terms of overall athletic program ETSU leap frogged UTC as the most attractive school in the SoCon for a future move up.

I see ETSU overtaking MTSU if the trajectory continues as best non-SEC/AAC team in Tennessee.