(11-17-2020 04:45 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 04:21 PM)ccd494 Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 04:18 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  I don't know if Monmouth and Robert Morris are going to appreciate having their football programs tossed around as filler.

They made their own beds. They knew the repercussions for leaving the all-sports NEC: leaving a stable home for football for the uncertainty of affiliate membership in the Big South.

Right, but they didn't sign on for the MEAC or A-Sun.

I agree, but to some extent they decided that taking care of their other sports was more important than football. They knew that being an affiliate has an element of the tenuous, and they did it anyway.

(11-17-2020 04:31 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 08:38 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  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.

Have you considered that Liberty is probably bankrolling this? By solidifying the A-Sun, Liberty ensures that it has a stable home for its Olympic sports.

Hard to be a big time athletics program when your conference collapses underneath you and you end up wandering the wilderness looking for another conference. By ensuring a stable A-Sun, Liberty can ensure they can focus all resources on football and the hunt for FBS conference membership.

I'm sure Liberty wants a stable home for its Olympic sports, and I'm almost as sure that they don't want it to be the ASUN, at least in the long term. They're not really any less an awkward fit in the ASUN as they were in the Big South, as far as facilities, budget and ambition go. BYU at least has the WCC; the ASUN is closer to the WAC than the WCC. There's no non-football conferences on the East Coast that a) Liberty would want or b) would want Liberty.

Their only hope is to get into a FBS conference; even if you think Liberty football can make independence sustainable for the long haul, it's also about the other sports. But will CUSA or the Belt be any more interested now than they were a few years ago?

(11-17-2020 03:01 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 02:40 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Here’s just a wild idea if the WAC is serious about its own expansion plans too:

WAC fb: Dixie St, Tarleton St, Sam Houston St, Lamar, SF Austin, ACU

Southland fb: Incarnate Word, HBU, SE LA, NW St, Nicholls St, McNeese St

ASUN fb: Robert Morris, UCA, EKU, Jacksonville St, UNA, Kenn St

Big South fb: Monmouth, Hampton, NC A&T, Campbell, G-W, Charl-South

4 FCS conference all at the NCAA minimum for an autobid. I don’t like it but this might be what they are attempting.

If you’re IWU or HBU, wouldn’t you try like hell to get into the WAC?

You would, but if the schools going to the WAC are trying to get away from you, you might not have a whole lot of say in the matter.

(11-17-2020 05:01 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 04:31 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 08:38 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  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.

Have you considered that Liberty is probably bankrolling this? By solidifying the A-Sun, Liberty ensures that it has a stable home for its Olympic sports.

Hard to be a big time athletics program when your conference collapses underneath you and you end up wandering the wilderness looking for another conference. By ensuring a stable A-Sun, Liberty can ensure they can focus all resources on football and the hunt for FBS conference membership.

I'm sure Liberty wants a stable home for its Olympic sports, and I'm almost as sure that they don't want it to be the ASUN, at least in the long term. They're not really any less an awkward fit in the ASUN as they were in the Big South, as far as facilities, budget and ambition go. BYU at least has the WCC; the ASUN is closer to the WAC than the WCC. There's no non-football conferences on the East Coast that a) Liberty would want or b) would want Liberty.

Their only hope is to get into a FBS conference; even if you think Liberty football can make independence sustainable for the long haul, it's also about the other sports. But will CUSA or the Belt be any more interested now than they were a few years ago?

I dont think Liberty is bankrolling any of this. Its deeper than just keeping one school happy.

(11-17-2020 05:01 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 04:31 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 08:38 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  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.

Have you considered that Liberty is probably bankrolling this? By solidifying the A-Sun, Liberty ensures that it has a stable home for its Olympic sports.

Hard to be a big time athletics program when your conference collapses underneath you and you end up wandering the wilderness looking for another conference. By ensuring a stable A-Sun, Liberty can ensure they can focus all resources on football and the hunt for FBS conference membership.

I'm sure Liberty wants a stable home for its Olympic sports, and I'm almost as sure that they don't want it to be the ASUN, at least in the long term. They're not really any less an awkward fit in the ASUN as they were in the Big South, as far as facilities, budget and ambition go. BYU at least has the WCC; the ASUN is closer to the WAC than the WCC. There's no non-football conferences on the East Coast that a) Liberty would want or b) would want Liberty.

Their only hope is to get into a FBS conference; even if you think Liberty football can make independence sustainable for the long haul, it's also about the other sports. But will CUSA or the Belt be any more interested now than they were a few years ago?

Liberty is playing the long game. Either they will get good enough that people over look whatever problems they may have with Liberty, or they will simply wait until someone needs a school and slide into a higher level league that way. Either way, things are simply going to work out for them because they have the resources to sustain athletics. Nearly every other school involved, from Cusa, Sunbelt, not to mention the Big South or Asun have to be much more practical than Liberty.

(11-17-2020 04:25 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:42 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:18 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:09 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  My opinion on what's about to go down.

The ASUN gets UCA, EKU and JSU and the Big South (football) goes with 12.

Later, the ASUN picks up 2 more, and starts FCS football.

The Big South let's Monmouth and RMU find another home. The Big South no longer has a partnership with the ASUN in football. But makes the same deal with the MEAC for football only. The Big South and ASUN help keep the MEAC together. And the ASUN puts together a very strong FCS football conference.

Problem is, if the MEAC no longer has football, they're going to have to find two men's team sports to sponsor to remain a Division 1 conference. Football's what's keeping them alive; without it, they're doomed.

Monmouth and RMU to the MEAC as Football affiliates would help stabilize in the short term

But can the economically strapped MEAC schools afford the travel to Pittsburgh and NE New Jersey?

The DC/MD area to Pittsburgh and NJ isn't awful. Can't you bus that?

(11-17-2020 05:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:01 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 02:40 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Here’s just a wild idea if the WAC is serious about its own expansion plans too:

WAC fb: Dixie St, Tarleton St, Sam Houston St, Lamar, SF Austin, ACU

Southland fb: Incarnate Word, HBU, SE LA, NW St, Nicholls St, McNeese St

ASUN fb: Robert Morris, UCA, EKU, Jacksonville St, UNA, Kenn St

Big South fb: Monmouth, Hampton, NC A&T, Campbell, G-W, Charl-South

4 FCS conference all at the NCAA minimum for an autobid. I don’t like it but this might be what they are attempting.

If you’re IWU or HBU, wouldn’t you try like hell to get into the WAC?

You would, but if the schools going to the WAC are trying to get away from you, you might not have a whole lot of say in the matter.

I also think the name dropping of large D2 schools not happy that also include the large schools in the Georgia and Florida region that could leave as well.
Valdosta State, West Georgia, Augusta, Columbus State, West Florida, Tampa and Nova Southern all could leave for D1 tomorrow. Southern Indiana, Lindenwood and Indianapolis who are large also could go D1 as will. Lone Star, RMAC, GNAC, the California publics and MIAA schools along with some from the Northern Sun and from the Michigan publics are finally looking to jump. D2 Championship funding is coming from the NCAA. If the pay for play takes hold at D1? Money for their championship sports will go down. Would a large Texas or California schools that have 15,000 up to 40,000 students want to share the pot with schools with 500 students and not being financially stable? I think A-Sun is on the way to create that two conferences to have one for all sports and the other one for non-football.

As for the Southland? They could get Kingsville, Commerce, Midwestern State, Central Oklahoma and Arkansas Tech finally. That depends on the situation. West Texas A&M, Angelo State and UTPB to the WAC with Colorado Mesa and Northern Colorado.

I think the WCC might finally add Seattle and also add California Baptist. Chicago State could go to either Horizon or OVC. Brown hinted that the future of the WAC would be Arizona, Texas, Utah and Colorado. Augustana is a long shot.

Since UCA was brought up for both ASUN and the WAC? The Southland is sounding like a sinking ship.

So my theory on this at the moment is that for the 3 schools supposedly moving to the A-Sun, it's a knee-jerk reaction to their current conferences suspending football due to COVID along with all other FCS conferences. All 3 have continued to play FB in spite of this, EKU and UCA more than any other FCS schools except SFA. Maybe Gumbart pledged to never shut down football even in case of pandemics.

I think Liberty would be happy staying Independent which for them I think is sustainable and having their Olympic sports in the Atlantic 10. To me that would be the most ideal situation for the university.

(11-17-2020 08:28 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 04:25 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:42 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:18 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(11-17-2020 03:09 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  My opinion on what's about to go down.

The ASUN gets UCA, EKU and JSU and the Big South (football) goes with 12.

Later, the ASUN picks up 2 more, and starts FCS football.

The Big South let's Monmouth and RMU find another home. The Big South no longer has a partnership with the ASUN in football. But makes the same deal with the MEAC for football only. The Big South and ASUN help keep the MEAC together. And the ASUN puts together a very strong FCS football conference.

Problem is, if the MEAC no longer has football, they're going to have to find two men's team sports to sponsor to remain a Division 1 conference. Football's what's keeping them alive; without it, they're doomed.

Monmouth and RMU to the MEAC as Football affiliates would help stabilize in the short term

But can the economically strapped MEAC schools afford the travel to Pittsburgh and NE New Jersey?

The DC/MD area to Pittsburgh and NJ isn't awful. Can't you bus that?

If only the entire conference were in the DC area.

It's a 10 hour bus ride from Orangeburg to Pittsburgh. 11 to West Long Branch.

I mean, if the MEAC wanted to push SCSU into the Big South it would make sense......

I forgot someone said on here after Bellarmine left that Lindenwood and Southern Indiana could move to D1. They are not that far from UCA, Bellarmine and North Alabama.

OVC could look at the D2 Indianapolis and the Michigan schools to restock.

I think all this is a stem from what from what the ADs at both Tarleton State and West Texas A&M mentioned that there are a lot of unhappy schools at the D2 level that looks like they want to leave. There are several D2 schools who were unhappy that D2 postponed football until the spring, but played anyways.

If only those D2 schools who are mad because football was postponed to spring had been in the FCS.

(11-18-2020 12:12 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  I forgot someone said on here after Bellarmine left that Lindenwood and Southern Indiana could move to D1. They are not that far from UCA, Bellarmine and North Alabama.

OVC could look at the D2 Indianapolis and the Michigan schools to restock.

I don't see Indianapolis moving up. I lived there for many years, and UIndy gets hardly any support or coverage. To be fair, though, it's an extremely crowded sports market.

Similar story for Lindenwood: their campus is nice, and (at least pre-pandemic) enrollment, etc. was booming, but they don't generate any buzz in the St. Louis market. If I had to choose, though, I think LU would try D-I before UIndy.

On the other hand, I could see Southern Indiana trying to move up sooner rather than later; among other things, their new arena is great. Before the ASUN move, I figured Bellarmine and USI one day would wind up together in the Horizon, but who knows what the heck the future holds now?

Belmont will definitely push for Lipscomb/Bellarmine adds. If the other schools insist on a FB school, it’ll be WIU by default. If Lipscomb/Bellarmine decline, USI gets in.

(11-18-2020 12:43 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  If only those D2 schools who are mad because football was postponed to spring had been in the FCS.

That is also another straw as well.

(11-18-2020 01:33 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  

(11-18-2020 12:12 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  I forgot someone said on here after Bellarmine left that Lindenwood and Southern Indiana could move to D1. They are not that far from UCA, Bellarmine and North Alabama.

OVC could look at the D2 Indianapolis and the Michigan schools to restock.

I don't see Indianapolis moving up. I lived there for many years, and UIndy gets hardly any support or coverage. To be fair, though, it's an extremely crowded sports market.

Similar story for Lindenwood: their campus is nice, and (at least pre-pandemic) enrollment, etc. was booming, but they don't generate any buzz in the St. Louis market. If I had to choose, though, I think LU would try D-I before UIndy.

On the other hand, I could see Southern Indiana trying to move up sooner rather than later; among other things, their new arena is great. Before the ASUN move, I figured Bellarmine and USI one day would wind up together in the Horizon, but who knows what the heck the future holds now?

Indianapolis is looking at going to another conference. With the talk of both Southern Indiana and Lindenwood looking to D1? Indianapolis wants to look for a new home. Some of the schools in that conference are in financial problems. They are big, but they may try for Horizon, OVC or MVC. They could play in the OVC for a few years and then go to MVC with Murray State.

(11-18-2020 05:04 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-18-2020 01:33 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  

(11-18-2020 12:12 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  I forgot someone said on here after Bellarmine left that Lindenwood and Southern Indiana could move to D1. They are not that far from UCA, Bellarmine and North Alabama.

OVC could look at the D2 Indianapolis and the Michigan schools to restock.

I don't see Indianapolis moving up. I lived there for many years, and UIndy gets hardly any support or coverage. To be fair, though, it's an extremely crowded sports market.

Similar story for Lindenwood: their campus is nice, and (at least pre-pandemic) enrollment, etc. was booming, but they don't generate any buzz in the St. Louis market. If I had to choose, though, I think LU would try D-I before UIndy.

On the other hand, I could see Southern Indiana trying to move up sooner rather than later; among other things, their new arena is great. Before the ASUN move, I figured Bellarmine and USI one day would wind up together in the Horizon, but who knows what the heck the future holds now?

Indianapolis is looking at going to another conference. With the talk of both Southern Indiana and Lindenwood looking to D1? Indianapolis wants to look for a new home. Some of the schools in that conference are in financial problems. They are big, but they may try for Horizon, OVC or MVC. They could play in the OVC for a few years and then go to MVC with Murray State.

Yeah, I can see UIndy going to another D-II conference, but not D-I; that mid-sized city is not big enough for three D-I programs plus two major league franchises.

USI seems destined for the Horizon (assuming COVID-19 doesn't completely revamp higher education), and I suppose Lindenwood eventually might consider D-I, but that likely won't be until quite a while after the pandemic and the economy settle down.

(11-18-2020 03:16 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Belmont will definitely push for Lipscomb/Bellarmine adds. If the other schools insist on a FB school, it’ll be WIU by default. If Lipscomb/Bellarmine decline, USI gets in.

Wouldn't Belmont object to Lipscomb in the OVC based on territorial grounds?

(11-18-2020 05:13 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  

(11-18-2020 05:04 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-18-2020 01:33 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  

(11-18-2020 12:12 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  I forgot someone said on here after Bellarmine left that Lindenwood and Southern Indiana could move to D1. They are not that far from UCA, Bellarmine and North Alabama.

OVC could look at the D2 Indianapolis and the Michigan schools to restock.

I don't see Indianapolis moving up. I lived there for many years, and UIndy gets hardly any support or coverage. To be fair, though, it's an extremely crowded sports market.

Similar story for Lindenwood: their campus is nice, and (at least pre-pandemic) enrollment, etc. was booming, but they don't generate any buzz in the St. Louis market. If I had to choose, though, I think LU would try D-I before UIndy.

On the other hand, I could see Southern Indiana trying to move up sooner rather than later; among other things, their new arena is great. Before the ASUN move, I figured Bellarmine and USI one day would wind up together in the Horizon, but who knows what the heck the future holds now?

Indianapolis is looking at going to another conference. With the talk of both Southern Indiana and Lindenwood looking to D1? Indianapolis wants to look for a new home. Some of the schools in that conference are in financial problems. They are big, but they may try for Horizon, OVC or MVC. They could play in the OVC for a few years and then go to MVC with Murray State.

Yeah, I can see UIndy going to another D-II conference, but not D-I; that mid-sized city is not big enough for three D-I programs.

USI seems destined for the Horizon (assuming COVID-19 doesn't completely revamp higher education), and I suppose Lindenwood eventually might consider D-I, but that likely won't be until quite a while after the pandemic and the economy settle down.

Not sure where they go to in D2 right now. The all Ohio conference is quite full right now. Do not know where else they are going since several schools closed in their area, some dropping down to NAIA and 1 was supposed to join them and others in the conference, but backed out and stayed in D3.

(11-17-2020 10:37 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  So my theory on this at the moment is that for the 3 schools supposedly moving to the A-Sun, it's a knee-jerk reaction to their current conferences suspending football due to COVID along with all other FCS conferences. All 3 have continued to play FB in spite of this, EKU and UCA more than any other FCS schools except SFA. Maybe Gumbart pledged to never shut down football even in case of pandemics.

Alternately, it's a ruse meant as a warning to the OVC and Southland, though it seems silly to get mad at your own conference for not playing when all FCS conferences did the same.