Tennessee St would be the right get. There are historical names in D-II but they’re not ready for a move up. North Carolina Central is likely Big South bound. The Atlantic Sun, with NJIT, makes the entire Atlantic coast of schools a possibility.

(06-08-2020 06:45 AM)solohawks Wrote:  He also was very clear that while 12 was nice it was not a priority and 11 would work. To me that indicated that Buthene Cookman was a no go

The only reason the SWAC would consider B-C is if FAMU had insisted on B-C as a partner in order for FAMU to join the SWAC. In the HBCU world, FAMU is akin to a Texas or a USC or a Michigan, they are a blue-chip brand name, so well worth pursuing even if it means a tagalong. And that's what B-C would be, because there's nothing about B-C that is inherently appealing to the SWAC. While B-C is in Florida, they are 240 miles east of FAMU and thus far outside the SWAC footprint. They are also in peninsular, east-coast beach Florida, which is culturally quite different from the SWAC profile, and they aren't large enough or brand-big enough to overcome that.

Since FAMU obviously was willing to join the SWAC without B-C, this means that didn't happen and so B-C will not be joining.

Really, Tennessee State is the only needle-mover. They are also a blue-chip HBCU football brand, and while they are outside the SWAC footprint they are only 115 miles from the nearest SWAC school so not egregiously so, and they play a traditional Classic game vs Jackson State and also often play another SWAC school, Mississippi Valley State. This past season they played games versus three SWAC teams.

Tennessee State is IMO unlikely to leave the OVC for the SWAC. They seem to like having feet in both worlds - playing about three fellow HBCUs each year OOC but playing in a non-HBCU conference. In a way, they already have what Hampton and NC A&T are trying to reach with their recent moves. Plus, as you mentioned, being a northern Tennessee school, the OVC offers better travel, which is the big thing these days. But the SWAC would welcome them.

Still, don't expect the SWAC to be publicly overt about pursuit of Tennessee State. Not only did the SWAC commissioner mention tampering, but you have to remember that just nine or so years ago, during the 2010/2011 year, the SWAC invited Tennessee State to join and nothing came of it, so the SWAC doesn't want to be embarrassed like that again.

(06-08-2020 11:14 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-08-2020 06:45 AM)solohawks Wrote:  He also was very clear that while 12 was nice it was not a priority and 11 would work. To me that indicated that Buthene Cookman was a no go

The only reason the SWAC would consider B-C is if FAMU had insisted on B-C as a partner in order for FAMU to join the SWAC. In the HBCU world, FAMU is akin to a Texas or a USC or a Michigan, they are a blue-chip brand name, so well worth pursuing even if it means a tagalong. And that's what B-C would be, because there's nothing about B-C that is inherently appealing to the SWAC. While B-C is in Florida, they are 240 miles east of FAMU and thus far outside the SWAC footprint. They are also in peninsular, east-coast beach Florida, which is culturally quite different from the SWAC profile, and they aren't large enough or brand-big enough to overcome that.

Since FAMU obviously was willing to join the SWAC without B-C, this means that didn't happen and so B-C will not be joining.

Really, Tennessee State is the only needle-mover. They are also a blue-chip HBCU football brand, and while they are outside the SWAC footprint they are only 115 miles from the nearest SWAC school so not egregiously so, and they play a traditional Classic game vs Jackson State and also often play another SWAC school, Mississippi Valley State. This past season they played games versus three SWAC teams.

Tennessee State is IMO unlikely to leave the OVC for the SWAC. They seem to like having feet in both worlds - playing about three fellow HBCUs each year OOC but playing in a non-HBCU conference. In a way, they already have what Hampton and NC A&T are trying to reach with their recent moves. Plus, as you mentioned, being a northern Tennessee school, the OVC offers better travel, which is the big thing these days. But the SWAC would welcome them.

Still, don't expect the SWAC to be publicly overt about pursuit of Tennessee State. Not only did the SWAC commissioner mention tampering, but you have to remember that just nine or so years ago, during the 2010/2011 year, the SWAC invited Tennessee State to join and nothing came of it, so the SWAC doesn't want to be embarrassed like that again.

My impression, and I could be completely wrong here, is that Tennessee State is trying to move beyond being pigeonholed as an HBCU. Most of the HBCUs are still BCUs so to speak - it's not just historical, they remain overwhelmingly black serving to this day. Tennessee State is about 70% black, which I'm willing to bet is rather beneath what the SWAC and MEAC schools mostly are. FAMU, for instance, is 86% black. Tennessee State is the only public university in Nashville, so it necessarily serves more than just the traditional HBCU mission, and it historically absorbed UT-Nashville as well. If Tennessee State's goal is to move beyond simply being an HBCU and being recognized as a comprehensive university that serves Nashville at-large (while still maintaining its legacy certainly), then sticking with the OVC meets that mission a lot more.

(06-08-2020 12:10 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(06-08-2020 11:14 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-08-2020 06:45 AM)solohawks Wrote:  He also was very clear that while 12 was nice it was not a priority and 11 would work. To me that indicated that Buthene Cookman was a no go

The only reason the SWAC would consider B-C is if FAMU had insisted on B-C as a partner in order for FAMU to join the SWAC. In the HBCU world, FAMU is akin to a Texas or a USC or a Michigan, they are a blue-chip brand name, so well worth pursuing even if it means a tagalong. And that's what B-C would be, because there's nothing about B-C that is inherently appealing to the SWAC. While B-C is in Florida, they are 240 miles east of FAMU and thus far outside the SWAC footprint. They are also in peninsular, east-coast beach Florida, which is culturally quite different from the SWAC profile, and they aren't large enough or brand-big enough to overcome that.

Since FAMU obviously was willing to join the SWAC without B-C, this means that didn't happen and so B-C will not be joining.

Really, Tennessee State is the only needle-mover. They are also a blue-chip HBCU football brand, and while they are outside the SWAC footprint they are only 115 miles from the nearest SWAC school so not egregiously so, and they play a traditional Classic game vs Jackson State and also often play another SWAC school, Mississippi Valley State. This past season they played games versus three SWAC teams.

Tennessee State is IMO unlikely to leave the OVC for the SWAC. They seem to like having feet in both worlds - playing about three fellow HBCUs each year OOC but playing in a non-HBCU conference. In a way, they already have what Hampton and NC A&T are trying to reach with their recent moves. Plus, as you mentioned, being a northern Tennessee school, the OVC offers better travel, which is the big thing these days. But the SWAC would welcome them.

Still, don't expect the SWAC to be publicly overt about pursuit of Tennessee State. Not only did the SWAC commissioner mention tampering, but you have to remember that just nine or so years ago, during the 2010/2011 year, the SWAC invited Tennessee State to join and nothing came of it, so the SWAC doesn't want to be embarrassed like that again.

My impression, and I could be completely wrong here, is that Tennessee State is trying to move beyond being pigeonholed as an HBCU. Most of the HBCUs are still BCUs so to speak - it's not just historical, they remain overwhelmingly black serving to this day. Tennessee State is about 70% black, which I'm willing to bet is rather beneath what the SWAC and MEAC schools mostly are. FAMU, for instance, is 86% black. Tennessee State is the only public university in Nashville, so it necessarily serves more than just the traditional HBCU mission, and it historically absorbed UT-Nashville as well. If Tennessee State's goal is to move beyond simply being an HBCU and being recognized as a comprehensive university that serves Nashville at-large (while still maintaining its legacy certainly), then sticking with the OVC meets that mission a lot more.

You'd be wrong!

The addition of FAMU cements the SWAC at FCS. FAMU made the move because it appears the MEAC is dropping down to DII because of money.

(06-09-2020 05:15 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  The addition of FAMU cements the SWAC at FCS. FAMU made the move because it appears the MEAC is dropping down to DII because of money.

Maybe the SWAC itself, but I wouldn't put it past FAMU to pursue FBS again down the road. Same for NC A&T. They would have a heck of a recruiting pitch to sell as the only, or one of only two, HBCU's in FBS.

(06-09-2020 07:19 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(06-09-2020 05:15 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  The addition of FAMU cements the SWAC at FCS. FAMU made the move because it appears the MEAC is dropping down to DII because of money.

Maybe the SWAC itself, but I wouldn't put it past FAMU to pursue FBS again down the road. Same for NC A&T. They would have a heck of a recruiting pitch to sell as the only, or one of only two, HBCU's in FBS.

I think it would be interesting to take the 8 best HBCUs and make them an FBS conference.

(06-09-2020 07:48 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-09-2020 07:19 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(06-09-2020 05:15 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  The addition of FAMU cements the SWAC at FCS. FAMU made the move because it appears the MEAC is dropping down to DII because of money.

Maybe the SWAC itself, but I wouldn't put it past FAMU to pursue FBS again down the road. Same for NC A&T. They would have a heck of a recruiting pitch to sell as the only, or one of only two, HBCU's in FBS.

I think it would be interesting to take the 8 best HBCUs and make them an FBS conference.

But who are they, really? The ones with the most successful sports, or the schools with the best resources? If this conference comes to exist, is Howard a part of it?

I’ll give it a crack. “Locks” to me would be Southern, Grambling, Alabama State, Tennessee State, FAMU, and NCAT. If we’re going with a total of 8, the other two spots would come down to the Texas schools, Jackson State, and Howard IMO.

(06-09-2020 09:46 PM)3BNole Wrote:  I’ll give it a crack. “Locks” to me would be Southern, Grambling, Alabama State, Tennessee State, FAMU, and NCAT. If we’re going with a total of 8, the other two spots would come down to the Texas schools, Jackson State, and Howard IMO.

My 8: Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Howard, Tennessee St, Southern, Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, Jackson St

My 10: above plus Alabama St and Grambling St

My 12: above plus North Carolina Central and Hampton

Those 12 into divisions:

Southwest: Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern, Southern, Grambling St, Jackson St, Florida A&M
Mideast: Alabama St, Tennessee St, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Hampton, Howard

Division names give respect to the two HBCU conferences of today.

(06-08-2020 12:10 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  My impression, and I could be completely wrong here.........

Just decided to stop you right there because you are completely wrong...lol.