(05-06-2021 09:15 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Only if it’s West Florida..... my opinion only.

Competitively, I'd put Valdosta State up there as well. They'd have the added benefit of somewhat bridging the gap geographically between the Florida schools and KSU/JSU.

The downside with the Blazers is, they historically haven't shown much of a willingness or desire to move up to FCS, let alone FBS. If the ASUN Football schools are on a slow march upward, it makes one wonder if Valdosta would conflict with that plan.

Then there's West Georgia. Competitively, they're not much. A public D-II school in that location *should* be winning championships in every sport on a regular basis. And yet, they're consistently mediocre. Moving up a division certainly won't help.

Geographically, they raise a big question: though they're right in the middle of the footprint, would they be too close to JSU and KSU? On one hand, it looks like a definite yes. But then, they're on the fringe of a metro area of six million people. Atlanta could probably support another FCS program without blinking. FBS? Who knows?

But the biggest issue with UWG boils down to what they'd add to the ASUN. They wouldn't expand the footprint (like UWF) and they wouldn't bridge any gaps (like VSU). They wouldn't bring championship-level athletics, and they wouldn't bring a fiercely devoted fan base. And even though they're technically part of the Atlanta Metro, they're not going to move the dial at all when it comes to media coverage.

So I'd rank these three as follows:

1) West Florida - ABSOLUTELY YES.
2) Valdosta - Yes, with some reservations.
3) West Georgia - I guess so, but sheesh... Are we that desperate?!

My favorite Georgia expansion team is North Georgia. Too bad they don’t play football.

Forgive me, but let me throw out a wild idea. The A-Sun’s 5 football schools plus the WAC’s Texas 4 (plus Tarleton St)

East: EKU, JSU, UNA, KSU, UCA

West: Tarleton St, ACU, SF Austin, Sam Houston St, Lamar

Maybe tack on a few non-fb schools to create mostly divisional play schedules in Olympic sports.

On a different note, I hope that Liberty will add men's lacrosse along with women's golf in a year or two. This looks like a great opportunity to those programs and shouldn't be an issue for title IX regulations.

Any chance the sixth football school could be Southeastern Louisiana University? It’s not too far from the panhandle of Florida, got a nice 7400 seat stadium, and 14k enrollment. It adds another state but makes travel manageable. UIW is apparently in talks with the WAC so the Southland teams are probably looking for an out.

(05-20-2021 02:32 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  Any chance the sixth football school could be Southeastern Louisiana University? It’s not too far from the panhandle of Florida, got a nice 7400 seat stadium, and 14k enrollment. It adds another state but makes travel manageable. UIW is apparently in talks with the WAC so the Southland teams are probably looking for an out.

SLU is the only Southland school I'd consider for all sports, and then, I'd wince at what they'd do to our men's basketball SoS.

But if we're talking football-only, I'd welcome them as well as the other three LA Southland schools.

First, SLU ... The Lions went 4-3 this spring, but in 2019, they went 8-5, including a 1st round win over No. 8 Villanova. (We won't speak of the Montana game the following week.) They have a connection to a couple of ASUN teams, as they were members of the Gulf South Conference in D-II. (UNA is playing them this fall, on Sept. 4.) Notably, they're one of only a small handful of schools whose fans have openly expressed a desire to move to the ASUN.

McNeese has struggled on the field lately, but their fan base is outstanding, and historically, they're a great program. Bad fit geographically, but for football only, it'd be fine.

Nicholls doesn't really thrill me, but they've become a solidly competitive program in recent years (finishing #25 this spring; #14 in 2019).

The only weak one of the bunch is NWSU, but I'd assume we'd have to take them by default if we took the other three. On the plus side, they'd be one of the nearest teams to UCA.

(05-20-2021 03:42 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(05-20-2021 02:32 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  Any chance the sixth football school could be Southeastern Louisiana University? It’s not too far from the panhandle of Florida, got a nice 7400 seat stadium, and 14k enrollment. It adds another state but makes travel manageable. UIW is apparently in talks with the WAC so the Southland teams are probably looking for an out.

SLU is the only Southland school I'd consider for all sports, and then, I'd wince at what they'd do to our men's basketball SoS.

But if we're talking football-only, I'd welcome them as well as the other three LA Southland schools.

First, SLU ... The Lions went 4-3 this spring, but in 2019, they went 8-5, including a 1st round win over No. 8 Villanova. (We won't speak of the Montana game the following week.) They have a connection to a couple of ASUN teams, as they were members of the Gulf South Conference in D-II. (UNA is playing them this fall, on Sept. 4.) Notably, they're one of only a small handful of schools whose fans have openly expressed a desire to move to the ASUN.

McNeese has struggled on the field lately, but their fan base is outstanding, and historically, they're a great program. Bad fit geographically, but for football only, it'd be fine.

Nicholls doesn't really thrill me, but they've become a solidly competitive program in recent years (finishing #25 this spring; #14 in 2019).

The only weak one of the bunch is NWSU, but I'd assume we'd have to take them by default if we took the other three. On the plus side, they'd be one of the nearest teams to UCA.

I doubt we would add more than one. I think SLU makes the most sense.

I just have a hard time seeing the ASUN being able to poach one LA school without taking the others. If SLU leaves the Southland, regardless of what UIW does, they are down to only 5 football playing schools. They would lose their autobid and be in a terrible position. There are likely no FCS schools willing to join, any Texas D2 school would probably prefer the WAC, and there are very few D2 schools in the surrounding states that even have the potential to move up.

I don't know how much autonomy those Louisiana schools have, but would the state government allow one to head off to greener pastures while negatively impacting the other three?

The only way I can personally see them in the ASUN is if we take all 4. That puts us at 16 for all sports, and 9 for football. With divisional play in Olympic sports it might not be too bad. Football would potentially be strong to very strong. Unfortunately, if that happens the Southland likely just dissolves. Would the ASUN be ok with being the primary reason?

Of course, in saying all of this, we aren't mentioning the fact that Central Arkansas wanted out of the Southland. Was it because of the Louisiana schools? Who knows. But if there is animosity there (for whatever reason), how would they feel about the ASUN inviting the very schools they were attempting to move on from?

I still think the best case scenario is...
1. at least one SoCon school
2. N.C. A&T
3. West Florida

(05-21-2021 07:35 AM)UNAfied Wrote:  I just have a hard time seeing the ASUN being able to poach one LA school without taking the others.

Agree 100%. Not just with this sentence, but with your entire post.

There are some individual sports where taking all four LA schools would give us a boost, at least at the top, but on the whole, outside football, the Southland is terribly weak. That was one of the reasons for the Texas teams to head to the WAC, and it may have played into UCA's decision as well.

I've heard the LA schools face state budgetary requirements which keep them from fully funding their athletic programs to a solid D-I level. If this is the case, I can see why UCA bolted, especially since the Bears have eyes on FBS.

And if this is the case, unless it was just a temporary football-only measure until one or more other schools could be locked in (or a D-II move-up becomes eligible), I don't see ANY of the Southland schools, including SLU, as viable options.

(05-21-2021 09:34 AM)army56mike Wrote:  I still think the best case scenario is...
1. at least one SoCon school
2. N.C. A&T
3. West Florida

I'd be willing to negotiate a single additional OVC school at No. 4, if they've demonstrated a commitment to facility and coaching upgrades which would allow them to compete at a high FCS/D-I level (with eyes toward FBS).

As a best case, your Top 3 is just about perfect.

(05-21-2021 10:42 AM)whupemall Wrote:  And if this is the case, unless it was just a temporary football-only measure until one or more other schools could be locked in (or a D-II move-up becomes eligible), I don't see ANY of the Southland schools, including SLU, as viable options.

I actually don't think a football-only approach would be too bad. With 12 in our conference we don't necessarily NEED any other schools for Olympic sports. If football could add the Louisiana 4 as affiliates (or, like the MVFC, just a "football-only conference") that would be fine with me. The Southland could then stay together in all other sports.

Of course, let me stress that I would GREATLY prefer the likes of Chattanooga, Western Carolina, NCA&T, or even West Florida over the Louisiana schools. Nothing personal against them, I just don't think they have a lot of opportunity to grow. They should be seen as an absolute last-ditch effort IMO.

Is the whole 2 conference split thing still happening? Or is that canceled in favor of just one enhanced ASUN conference? I feel like it's the 2nd, and maybe the ASUN is still waiting to see how the cards will fall before deciding.

I think going to heavy on the football-only side could really be bad for stability. Besides that, if there is any FBS hope at all down the road I think there is a minimum number of football-playing full members that you need. I'm not saying one or two football-only members would be awful, but frankly if that's what it's going to come to then I feel like all of us who just joined were sold a bill of goods about what the plans for this league are.

Let me add the following idea, I see Stetson, Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, and North Florida joining the Southland Conference. The Southland adding a D2 School from Texas and D2 West Florida and possibly D2 Valdosta State down the road.

The ASUN adding schools from the SCON and OVC. As a FCS Conference I see eight Public Schools playing football with an additional of two private schools. Among the private schools would be Lipscomb, Bellarmine, Belmont, with Liberty in the balance.

My number one concern would be if two or more schools decide to go the FBS route and leave the Conference without the AQ in football.

If it’s the plan for the Conference to eventually go the FBS route my choice of adding schools would be different.

Whichever route my first choice would be UT - Chattanooga. As an FBS Conference I would consider James Madison, Delaware, North Carolina A&T, and Youngstown State.

I think a Louisiana school makes sense geographically but I don't see one that would make sense to add.

I really don't expect the ASUN to go FBS so I wouldn't worry about that. Having said that, it would be in our best interest to add schools who want to and are willing to invest in themselves to build up the conference.

IMO the best pick is still Chattanooga. Austin Peay and ETSU could be good adds. Of course I am leaving out those who would definitely say no ( ex.-Murray St.). Now I guess if the MVC gave a definite forever no and A.P. came along then maybe the Racers would listen-maybe- but still doubtful.

Translation:

"We got nobody else willing to jump in this fire, at this time."

(05-25-2021 11:09 AM)The Cats Wrote:  Translation:

"We got nobody else willing to jump in this fire, at this time."

You have to have at least one school committed by July 2022 or the ASUN, especially the Commissioner made a mistake. They have public announce that the ASUN will have conference football in 2022.

Yeah, that's not what you want to hear. Perhaps I was foolish to believe there was actually a concrete plan here. If nothing pans out here, what is the plan for the 2022 season? This AQ7 thing isn't going to last as the other WAC members join the Texas 4.

(05-25-2021 01:28 PM)eku05 Wrote:  Yeah, that's not what you want to hear. Perhaps I was foolish to believe there was actually a concrete plan here. If nothing pans out here, what is the plan for the 2022 season? This AQ7 thing isn't going to last as the other WAC members join the Texas 4.

I think worst case scenario they have a D2 that would fill a spot. They obviously are looking to add someone like UTC.