Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

Who are ODU's rivals? Who do you want to see them play regularly?

It makes sense when certain conferences don't offer certain sports. South Carolina for example plays in CUSA for men's soccer because the SEC doesn't sponsor it. UConn doesn't play Big east football because they don't offer it. BYU is WCC for the same reason. If the SEC decided to offer SMU an equestrian spot I would be cool with that.

Otherwise, I agree, it doesn't make sense except for Notre Dame/ACC

That's all well and good but I am sure there are schools USA would be willing to make an exception for, if they asked for non-football membership. Schools like Notre Dame or UConn or Wichita St.

Of course any school you would make an exception for, would probably not be interested in joining USA, so I guess it all works out.

(08-08-2019 12:55 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

Who are ODU's rivals? Who do you want to see them play regularly?

Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

(08-08-2019 04:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:55 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

Who are ODU's rivals? Who do you want to see them play regularly?

Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

So VCU is not a rival?

(08-08-2019 01:08 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  It makes sense when certain conferences don't offer certain sports. South Carolina for example plays in CUSA for men's soccer because the SEC doesn't sponsor it. UConn doesn't play Big east football because they don't offer it. BYU is WCC for the same reason. If the SEC decided to offer SMU an equestrian spot I would be cool with that.

Otherwise, I agree, it doesn't make sense except for Notre Dame/ACC

You make a good point about UCONN. It would appear they are striving to be a basketball only school, hence their joining a basketball only conference.

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:55 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

Who are ODU's rivals? Who do you want to see them play regularly?

Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:55 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

Who are ODU's rivals? Who do you want to see them play regularly?

Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 12:55 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Who are ODU's rivals? Who do you want to see them play regularly?

Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

(08-08-2019 05:20 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

And you don't think that if VCU joined the C-USA as a non-football member the basketball rivalry wouldn't be huge?

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

Concur

(08-08-2019 07:02 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:20 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

And you don't think that if VCU joined the C-USA as a non-football member the basketball rivalry wouldn't be huge?

Probably, but let's be real, that's not going to happen. I prefer to deal in reality.

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

The problem is the conference works for the schools, not the other way around. Schools generally aren't going to push things that limit their control over their own spending and their own athletic department just so you can fly every school's banner at the men's swimming and diving conference championship.

(08-08-2019 05:20 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Being rather new to the conference and new to football, rivalries have not really been established yet. But still, I think there's a better chance of establishing them if you play teams in basketball and football.

So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

Disagree. ODU and VCU are rivals in all sports and have been since the Sun Belt days and before that even. I don't think conference affiliation matters that much. ODU-VCU is an extension of a natural Norfolk-Richmond rivalry, the two being separated by about 100 miles of I-64. If teams or schools representing those cities are in the same league or conference, they are almost always each other's biggest rival.

VCU has had a longtime rivalry with Richmond, and the Spiders have had football a lot longer than ODU.

(08-08-2019 07:32 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:20 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:45 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  So VCU is not a rival?

To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

Disagree. ODU and VCU are rivals in all sports and have been since the Sun Belt days and before that even. I don't think conference affiliation matters that much. ODU-VCU is an extension of a natural Norfolk-Richmond rivalry, the two being separated by about 100 miles of I-64. If teams or schools representing those cities are in the same league or conference, they are almost always each other's biggest rival.

VCU has had a longtime rivalry with Richmond, and the Spiders have had football a lot longer than ODU.

Sure Richmond has football, but let's face it, it's not real football.

(08-08-2019 07:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 07:32 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:20 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 04:50 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  To me...no. We no longer play in the same conference, so no chance for conference post season play. Others are still clinging on, but honestly, that ship has sailed.

But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

Disagree. ODU and VCU are rivals in all sports and have been since the Sun Belt days and before that even. I don't think conference affiliation matters that much. ODU-VCU is an extension of a natural Norfolk-Richmond rivalry, the two being separated by about 100 miles of I-64. If teams or schools representing those cities are in the same league or conference, they are almost always each other's biggest rival.

VCU has had a longtime rivalry with Richmond, and the Spiders have had football a lot longer than ODU.

Sure Richmond has football, but let's face it, it's not real football.

Football National Championships:

Richmond 1
ODU 0


Chances of ODU winning a FB championship: 0%

(08-08-2019 12:53 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  Conference USA has 14 all sports members. If the conference offers the sport teams are required to play. Isn't this the preferred method. It seems to me that rivalries are made when teams play both basketball and football. Basketball only schools defeat that purpose. So why have them? Basketball only schools belong in basketball only conferences. Of course that's just my opinion, your's may differ.

There is no such thing as basketball only

(08-08-2019 07:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 07:44 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 07:32 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:20 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  

(08-08-2019 05:11 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  But they were a big rival when you both in the CAA?

Yes, it was a huge rivalry. I really think things started to change when we restarted the football program. Once it was determined that VCU would never have football that took some of the air out of the rivalry.

Disagree. ODU and VCU are rivals in all sports and have been since the Sun Belt days and before that even. I don't think conference affiliation matters that much. ODU-VCU is an extension of a natural Norfolk-Richmond rivalry, the two being separated by about 100 miles of I-64. If teams or schools representing those cities are in the same league or conference, they are almost always each other's biggest rival.

VCU has had a longtime rivalry with Richmond, and the Spiders have had football a lot longer than ODU.

Sure Richmond has football, but let's face it, it's not real football.

Football National Championships:

Richmond 1
ODU 0


Chances of ODU winning a FB championship: 0%

Yes I see what you mean, ODU 2 years in the Colonial, vs Richmond who has been playing football for 138 years. Yeah, that's a good comparison. The question for Richmond is why only one?

Personally I am not a fan of affiliate members. I think schools should be all in. Part of a conference’s identity should be that they sponsor a certain set of sports. If your conference mates have a divergent set of athletic offerings and priorities you don’t have a lot of conference unity. I hate to pick on Denver but they are a perfect example of this. Their priorities are men’s hockey, men’s lacrosse, and skiing. Note these are all niche sports that they play as affiliates elsewhere and as a result they don’t sport teams in sports their league does play. That hurts when your conference is on the fence when it comes to the number of teams for baseball and men’s soccer.