(06-25-2020 08:40 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 05:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 04:39 PM)North Ala Supporter Wrote:  CollegiateConsulting@CollConsulting1h
Bethunecookman just informed MEAC they are leaving the conference to join the SWAC.

Good for them. Tennessee St must've said "no" or Florida A&M insisted on Bethune-Cookman. Now to see how the MEAC responds...or doesn't.

I doubt FAMU insisted on B-C. Its just that the realistic choices were:
1) stay at 11;
2) Tennessee St. who wasn't likely;
3) B-C;
4) Go to 14 and effectively kill the MEAC making the SWAC the lone Div I HBCU conference.

Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 08:40 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 05:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 04:39 PM)North Ala Supporter Wrote:  CollegiateConsulting@CollConsulting1h
Bethunecookman just informed MEAC they are leaving the conference to join the SWAC.

Good for them. Tennessee St must've said "no" or Florida A&M insisted on Bethune-Cookman. Now to see how the MEAC responds...or doesn't.

I doubt FAMU insisted on B-C. Its just that the realistic choices were:
1) stay at 11;
2) Tennessee St. who wasn't likely;
3) B-C;
4) Go to 14 and effectively kill the MEAC making the SWAC the lone Div I HBCU conference.

Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

The SWAC had all the power. They could have told FAMU to FO if BCU had to be taken. FAMU is the one moving for travel and media rights reasons.

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 08:40 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 05:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 04:39 PM)North Ala Supporter Wrote:  CollegiateConsulting@CollConsulting1h
Bethunecookman just informed MEAC they are leaving the conference to join the SWAC.

Good for them. Tennessee St must've said "no" or Florida A&M insisted on Bethune-Cookman. Now to see how the MEAC responds...or doesn't.

I doubt FAMU insisted on B-C. Its just that the realistic choices were:
1) stay at 11;
2) Tennessee St. who wasn't likely;
3) B-C;
4) Go to 14 and effectively kill the MEAC making the SWAC the lone Div I HBCU conference.

Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

(06-26-2020 09:44 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 08:40 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 05:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 04:39 PM)North Ala Supporter Wrote:  CollegiateConsulting@CollConsulting1h
Bethunecookman just informed MEAC they are leaving the conference to join the SWAC.

Good for them. Tennessee St must've said "no" or Florida A&M insisted on Bethune-Cookman. Now to see how the MEAC responds...or doesn't.

I doubt FAMU insisted on B-C. Its just that the realistic choices were:
1) stay at 11;
2) Tennessee St. who wasn't likely;
3) B-C;
4) Go to 14 and effectively kill the MEAC making the SWAC the lone Div I HBCU conference.

Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

As far as needing to be at 12 with all HBCUs, this is true. However, I'm not sure why they rushed to 12 unless Tennessee St said "no" and Bethune-Cookman was potentially pursued by another conference like the Atlantic Sun.

(06-26-2020 09:47 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:44 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 08:40 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 05:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Good for them. Tennessee St must've said "no" or Florida A&M insisted on Bethune-Cookman. Now to see how the MEAC responds...or doesn't.

I doubt FAMU insisted on B-C. Its just that the realistic choices were:
1) stay at 11;
2) Tennessee St. who wasn't likely;
3) B-C;
4) Go to 14 and effectively kill the MEAC making the SWAC the lone Div I HBCU conference.

Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

As far as needing to be at 12 with all HBCUs, this is true. However, I'm not sure why they rushed to 12 unless Tennessee St said "no" and Bethune-Cookman was potentially pursued by another conference like the Atlantic Sun.

The point is that there is nobody else. Why wait if there is only one option? Durham, NC and Norfolk, VA are a long ways away and make no sense as a #12. Maybe as a #13/#14 pair. SIAC schools cannot afford Div. I.

https://hbcugameday.com/2020/06/25/bethu...-for-swac/

It's official BCU to the SWAC in 2021

Wow,

(06-26-2020 09:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:47 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:44 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 08:40 PM)bullet Wrote:  I doubt FAMU insisted on B-C. Its just that the realistic choices were:
1) stay at 11;
2) Tennessee St. who wasn't likely;
3) B-C;
4) Go to 14 and effectively kill the MEAC making the SWAC the lone Div I HBCU conference.

Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

As far as needing to be at 12 with all HBCUs, this is true. However, I'm not sure why they rushed to 12 unless Tennessee St said "no" and Bethune-Cookman was potentially pursued by another conference like the Atlantic Sun.

The point is that there is nobody else. Why wait if there is only one option? Durham, NC and Norfolk, VA are a long ways away and make no sense as a #12. Maybe as a #13/#14 pair. SIAC schools cannot afford Div. I.

I definitely understand your point. I'm just not sure why the SWAC felt it necessary to go to 12 for the sake of 12. I'm sure there was a purpose.

Tennessee State must have said no.

(06-26-2020 11:40 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:47 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:44 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

As far as needing to be at 12 with all HBCUs, this is true. However, I'm not sure why they rushed to 12 unless Tennessee St said "no" and Bethune-Cookman was potentially pursued by another conference like the Atlantic Sun.

The point is that there is nobody else. Why wait if there is only one option? Durham, NC and Norfolk, VA are a long ways away and make no sense as a #12. Maybe as a #13/#14 pair. SIAC schools cannot afford Div. I.

I definitely understand your point. I'm just not sure why the SWAC felt it necessary to go to 12 for the sake of 12. I'm sure there was a purpose.

Even numbers make scheduling easier in both basketball and football Otherwise somebody has to go out of conference on each date. Also makes their division cleaner when both halves have the same number.

And maybe there is some calculation on becoming THE HBCU conference in Division I. But they wouldn't admit that.

Has there ever been talk about SWAC schools going to PWI conferences like the Southland or OVC?

Texas Southern was rumored with Southland Conference last year, per some HBCU sports talk host.

(06-26-2020 12:48 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Texas Southern was rumored with Southland Conference last year, per some HBCU sports talk host.

The Board of Rebents is the wrong board to make that decision

(06-26-2020 12:48 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Texas Southern was rumored with Southland Conference last year, per some HBCU sports talk host.

Rebent, sinnerbs!

Would have been a terrible move. Good thing they stayed, if they were even invited. Joining the bloated Southland wouldn’t have been smart.

(06-26-2020 11:40 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:47 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:44 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 10:07 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Bethune-Cookman is not exactly a good fit for the SWAC which is why I wonder if Florida A&M insisted.

If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

As far as needing to be at 12 with all HBCUs, this is true. However, I'm not sure why they rushed to 12 unless Tennessee St said "no" and Bethune-Cookman was potentially pursued by another conference like the Atlantic Sun.

The point is that there is nobody else. Why wait if there is only one option? Durham, NC and Norfolk, VA are a long ways away and make no sense as a #12. Maybe as a #13/#14 pair. SIAC schools cannot afford Div. I.

I definitely understand your point. I'm just not sure why the SWAC felt it necessary to go to 12 for the sake of 12. I'm sure there was a purpose.

My guess is that they wanted more highlighted games. With more FBS schools pulling back from scheduling FCs schools, this guarantees a 9 game conference schedule. Plus they can add a conference championship game which will probably be played in New Orleans.

(06-26-2020 01:19 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 11:40 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:47 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(06-26-2020 09:44 AM)bullet Wrote:  If you want 12 and TN St. isn't coming, B-C is the next best fit.

As far as needing to be at 12 with all HBCUs, this is true. However, I'm not sure why they rushed to 12 unless Tennessee St said "no" and Bethune-Cookman was potentially pursued by another conference like the Atlantic Sun.

The point is that there is nobody else. Why wait if there is only one option? Durham, NC and Norfolk, VA are a long ways away and make no sense as a #12. Maybe as a #13/#14 pair. SIAC schools cannot afford Div. I.

I definitely understand your point. I'm just not sure why the SWAC felt it necessary to go to 12 for the sake of 12. I'm sure there was a purpose.

My guess is that they wanted more highlighted games. With more FBS schools pulling back from scheduling FCs schools, this guarantees a 9 game conference schedule. Plus they can add a conference championship game which will probably be played in New Orleans.

...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAC_Championship_Game

Also, a 10-team conference can guarantee 9 conference games just as well as a 12-team conference can.

(06-26-2020 11:40 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  I definitely understand your point. I'm just not sure why the SWAC felt it necessary to go to 12 for the sake of 12. I'm sure there was a purpose.

It's not just for the sake of 12 if they bring the Florida Classic in-conference.

As far as staying at 10 and having a 9 game schedule, they kind of already decided to go to 12 when they decided to take FAMU. If Tennessee State said no, it's not clear where there is a better #12 than B-C, and since B-C came to them asking for a sport, no risk of getting turned down.

Indeed, since they knew full well that taking FAMU would put B-C in even worse travel cost issues in a single division MEAC, there wouldn't be much risk in taking FAMU looking at Tennessee State as #12 Plan A and B-C as #12 Plan B.

So I was thinking again about which of the 3 Mississippi schools will be moving to the West Division. If we consider geography, there's not much difference between the 3 schools in terms of longitude, with Alcorn being the farthest west and JSU the farthest east by a hair over MVSU.



Alcorn might make the most sense from a purely geographic perspective, but I would argue that from a competitive perspective and considering existing rivalries, the best choice to move to the West is Jackson State.

Right now the West Division has a distinct edge over the East in terms of football strength. Alcorn is the strongest team in the East (even including FAMU and BCU), so moving them West would only exacerbate the disparity. Conversely, MVSU is the weakest team in the whole conference (perhaps even in all of FCS), and moving them to the West would actually skew the competition in favor of the East. As a middling performer on the gridiron, JSU would take the average of the West schools down a peg, while FAMU and BCU bolster the average of the East, making the divisions roughly equal in average football strength.

Also, in terms of rivalries, the only cross-division one that even has a name is JSU and Southern's "BoomBox Classic". So there's some additional logic in moving JSU as opposed to Alcorn or MVSU.

Any thoughts?

Call me crazy but I think the SWAC should try to go the HBCU mega-conference route—bring in 4 more strong programs. Have two 8 team divisions with the AL schools and the newcomers in the East.

The Celebration Bowl becomes the title game and de facto HBCU National Championship.

They'll slide Alcorn in the west. It's on the MS/LA border and just within bus range for the TX schools.

Alcorn
SU - 2:00
GSU - 2:30
UAPB - 3:45
TSU - 6:00
PV - 6:30