(11-16-2020 06:25 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 05:23 PM)HatterFan Wrote:  "hi, Sunshine State Conference? Stetson here. So do we fill out an application or set up an appointment or something, how do we get the ball rolling?"

Why?

Why? Because if in a time of needing to cut expenses, particularly travel-related, the ASUN is going to fully become the league of directional state schools and megachurches 15 hours away? When there's a perfectly serviceable cost contained league of private universities, all of which are within 3-4 hours at the most? I'm gonna go ahead and say that's why.

(11-16-2020 06:29 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  I dont know how the BS will do it, but if the ASUN goes to divisions, it will likely be North and South, not East and West.

North
Central Arkansas
Bellarmine
EKU
Liberty
Lipscomb
North Alabama

South
JSU
KSU
North Florida
Jacksonville
Stetson
FGCU

Could be. I was just trying to do it the most logical way. FWIW, East and West keeps the Alabama schools together. Liberty to Central Arkansas is awkward. Also, I expect that Liberty may have the most $ay in any divisional alignment, and I'd think it would behoove them to align with the Florida schools.

The other 4 schools to bring it to 16 are Chattanooga, Western Carolina, Tennesee Tech and NC Central.

(11-16-2020 06:48 PM)army56mike Wrote:  The other 4 schools to bring it to 16 are Chattanooga, Western Carolina, Tennesee Tech and NC Central.

It's good that we have someone in the know here.

(11-16-2020 06:48 PM)army56mike Wrote:  The other 4 schools to bring it to 16 are Chattanooga, Western Carolina, Tennesee Tech and NC Central.

Why wouldn't ETSU leave if Chattanooga and Western Carolina did?

(11-16-2020 06:47 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 06:29 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  I dont know how the BS will do it, but if the ASUN goes to divisions, it will likely be North and South, not East and West.

North
Central Arkansas
Bellarmine
EKU
Liberty
Lipscomb
North Alabama

South
JSU
KSU
North Florida
Jacksonville
Stetson
FGCU

Could be. I was just trying to do it the most logical way. FWIW, East and West keeps the Alabama schools together. Liberty to Central Arkansas is awkward. Also, I expect that Liberty may have the most $ay in any divisional alignment, and I'd think it would behoove them to align with the Florida schools.

They consider Lipscomb their main conference rival.

What happens to the Ohio Valley? Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State are already on their way out the door, and Tennessee Tech could be following them. Murray State has been flirting with the MVC for some time.

(11-16-2020 04:58 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’m just trying to figure out why 3 schools in FCS conferences would want to join a conference that has just 2 FCS schools. 5 is not enough to play FCS as your own conference

For those 3 targets to even dream of making that move there has to be a bigger plan. What’s the plan?

And EKU is a great geographical fit in the OVC and has a long history there.

Good news for OVC is they have 2 schools who’d say yes in a millisecond:
- WIU
- USI

And another two schools who’d probably still say yes:
- Lipscomb (reunite with Belmont)
- Bellarmine (association with Belmont, nearby conference tournament, no flights necessary now)

(11-16-2020 07:35 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Good news for OVC is they have 2 schools who’d say yes in a millisecond:
- WIU
- USI

And another two schools who’d probably still say yes:
- Lipscomb (reunite with Belmont)
- Bellarmine (association with Belmont, nearby conference tournament, no flights necessary now)

Keep ASUN schools out of it...

(11-16-2020 06:42 PM)HatterFan Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 06:25 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 05:23 PM)HatterFan Wrote:  "hi, Sunshine State Conference? Stetson here. So do we fill out an application or set up an appointment or something, how do we get the ball rolling?"

Why?

Why? Because if in a time of needing to cut expenses, particularly travel-related, the ASUN is going to fully become the league of directional state schools and megachurches 15 hours away? When there's a perfectly serviceable cost contained league of private universities, all of which are within 3-4 hours at the most? I'm gonna go ahead and say that's why.

Bye Felicia

God I hope so

ASUN Commissioner, who we’ve long suspected reads this board, has released a statement:

When did Davey predict UCA, JSU, and EKU to the ASun? Another missed “prediction” I’m sure.

(11-16-2020 08:09 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  When did Davey predict UCA, JSU, and EKU to the ASun? Another missed “prediction” I’m sure.

I don't recall seeing him "predict" EKU to any conference. He has "predicted" JSU and that other place to the Sun Belt.

(11-16-2020 07:35 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Good news for OVC is they have 2 schools who’d say yes in a millisecond:
- WIU
- USI

And another two schools who’d probably still say yes:
- Lipscomb (reunite with Belmont)
- Bellarmine (association with Belmont, nearby conference tournament, no flights necessary now)

WIU probably wouldn't bring its football with, though, and that's what the OVC would want more of. And your other suggestions all lack football.

Let the record show that Liberty isn't down with any alignment with Scottie Pippen's alma mater which brings them little upside. Florida is ripe for recrutiing Evangelical kids to become students. As a result, you can fully expect Liberty will push for the Florida schools. I could see Liberty swapping with Jakcsonville State in Lion's divisional forecasts.

Central Arkansas is a surprise. Getting Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville state isn't a surprise. I could see ETSU, UTC, and Western Carolina joining up to solidify this southern based public FCS.

Kudos to the ASUN. Its nice when midmajor leadership gets creative

(11-16-2020 08:31 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 07:35 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Good news for OVC is they have 2 schools who’d say yes in a millisecond:
- WIU
- USI

And another two schools who’d probably still say yes:
- Lipscomb (reunite with Belmont)
- Bellarmine (association with Belmont, nearby conference tournament, no flights necessary now)

WIU probably wouldn't bring its football with, though, and that's what the OVC would want more of. And your other suggestions all lack football.

If WIU wants its other sports in the OVC, it has to bring football with. Football would be the sole reason the OVC invites WIU.

I think it is very likely WIU would accept an OVC invitation, even at the expense of MVFC membership, because they’re barely hanging on in D1 as-is and OVC membership relieves some of the travel expense burden they have in the Summit.

(11-16-2020 08:56 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Central Arkansas is a surprise. Getting Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville state isn't a surprise. I could see ETSU, UTC, and Western Carolina joining up to solidify this southern based public FCS.

Kudos to the ASUN. Its nice when midmajor leadership gets creative

They’d be better off not involving Central Arkansas. ASUN without Central Arkansas is more attractive to ETSU, UTC, & WCU than an ASUN with Central Arkansas. UCA just devalues the league to prospective members.